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Interviews by Rob Dorsett, Tim Thornton, Chris Reidy, Nick Walsh.

Additional reporting and words by Ron Walker.

When the inaugural Premier League season began in 1992, 21 of the 22 managers in the dugouts on its opening weekend were from one of the four Home Nations. The one exception? Joe Kinnear from the Republic of Ireland.

Howard Wilkinson had just led Leeds to the final ever Division One title, while Graham Taylor continued the unbroken tradition of English managers leading the England men's national team, though the less said about their performance at that summer's European Championships, the better.

Fast forward 33 years and the Three Lions have just appointed their third foreign manager in Thomas Tuchel, while only two English managers - and another two from other Home Nations - are currently leading clubs in the Premier League.

Tuchel's appointment raised old questions about the state of English coaching, right down to the cost of FA coaching courses and the amount of qualified English compared to other leading nations.

The subject is often debated, but what is the answer?

For the first time, Sky Sports has spoken to those across the game who are closest to the issues at hand - including the Football Association, Premier League executives and some of England's current most-prominent managers.

Watch the full documentary below, listen to our accompanying podcast above - and read on for the deep dive into the state of English coaching.

This is English Coaches: The Decline.

If Wilkinson was told on the day he lifted the final Division One trophy with Leeds there wouldn't be another English title-winning manager for 33 years, what would he have said?

"My first answer would've been 'don't be stupid', based on what I saw at the time," the former Leeds, Sunderland and England interim manager tells Sky Sports.

"It's not sadness, a lot of it's sentimentality. But sometimes it does you good to be sentimental. My desire would be for the England team to have an English manager.

"But that has to be placed into perspective - do we think there are people around who can take the England team to where we would like it to be, in terms of position?

"If they don't think it's possible, they have to take that decision."

Prior to the formation of the Premier League, the top-tier title had been won by managers from England and Scotland, plus one from the Republic of Ireland, dating back to the 1880s.

The three decades since have changed beyond recognition, both on and off the pitch.

Just 13 foreign players featured across the opening weekend that year and all-but one club owner was British. The other, Wimbledon's Sam Hamman, was raised in Lebanon but had lived in England since 1975.

"Football has changed, and I think the Premier League has become the new Hollywood of the 1940s and 1950s," Wilkinson adds. "It's the place to be."

Since then, the Premier League has become a global phenomenon.

Just as foreign money, ownership and players have flooded England's top flight since then, a propensity to look further afield for managers has followed.

Undoubtedly, it is to the detriment of English managers - but is it a problem in itself? Eddie Howe, one of those two remaining English bosses and the first to win a major domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp in 2008, is not so sure.

"One of the beauties of the league we're in, whether you're a manager or a coach, is bringing the best people into the league from across the world," he tells Sky Sports.

"It's raised the standard of football and coaching, but with that there is always a consequence.

"If you're opening up opportunities up for everybody, then English managers will suffer in terms of jobs in the top league."

Howe, like the Premier League's other English manager Graham Potter, has had to do things differently to get his chance.

Never a star name as a player, the ex Bournemouth centre-back was always unlikely to be parachuted into a big job, which makes the rise he has been on since taking over the Cherries with the club second-bottom of League Two in December 2008 even more of a fairytale story.

Redknapp had become the most-recent English manager to lift a major domestic trophy by leading Portsmouth to the FA Cup earlier that year, a record which would remain intact until Howe himself broke it in the Carabao Cup final with Newcastle earlier this week.

"What better learning experience is there for a young manager to go into?" the Toon boss asks Sky Sports. "I'm a firm believer in the lower leagues.

"That system is so unique to English football. I love the fact that you can do what we did, take a team from League Two to the Premier League."

Potter's route is potentially even more hard-fought. Having retired at 29 and turned his hand to academia through the Open University, he then worked in a number of other universities before realising how tricky getting back into the professional game would be.

"Football doesn't really work like that," he tells Sky Sports. "I was a university coach. But my pathway was focusing on myself, education, developing a method of work and making mistakes in a safe environment.

"My journey allowed me time to make those mistakes and have those experiences. I had to go to Sweden, had three promotions, a major trophy, a European run. So you have to do a lot."

That time at Ostersunds, and then at Swansea in the Championship, gave Potter a valuable grounding, which has helped shape him into coach who has since led three Premier League clubs and was among the favourite to take the England job Tuchel ultimately beat him to.

But should English managers have to work so hard for any kind of shot at the big time?

Harry Redknapp is one of only four English managers - including Howe - to have led a side in the Champions League group stages since the turn of the millennium, with the late Sir Bobby Robson and Frank Lampard completing the quartet.

Of the traditional 'big four' of Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea only one has been managed by an Englishman in that time with Potter and Lampard both given brief spells, but neither lasting more than 18 months.

Sam Allardyce, who briefly served as England boss in 2016 and has managed the fifth-most Premier League games of any coach, once quipped if his surname was 'Allardicio' he would have a better chance of managing one of that quartet.

He had and still has sympathisers with his position - not least in Redknapp, who felt fortunate enough to get any sort of opportunity with Tottenham.

"English managers don't get the chances to manage a team who has the chance to get there, it's that simple," Redknapp tells Sky Sports. "I would never have done it without going to Tottenham.

"Sam's spot on. There used to be that progression, back in the day. You'd have a chance. You'd win your stripes in the second or third division, and then you'd have a chance to move up the ladder. A big club would give you a chance.

"You can't tell me the Chris Wilders of this world couldn't go and manage at the top level. He knows the game, he's got common sense. You go all the way down the ladder - Ian Holloway walks in at Swindon, and all of a sudden they go from bottom of the league to half-way up.

"It's not rocket science."

Sheff Utd boss Wilder initially led the club to 9th in the Premier League in 2020, but left the Blades mid-way through the following season after a dismal start to the campaign.

Despite the achievement of getting them to the top flight in the first place - only two years after they had been playing in League One - his next two jobs came back in the Championship and were both short-lived before he was re-appointed at Bramall Lane 16 months ago.

The 57-year-old is as unconvinced as Redknapp about the opportunities afforded to English coaches at the top level and feels as an Englishman, winning promotion is the only realistic route to the Premier League.

"That's how I see it, 99 times out of 100," he admits to Sky Sports.

"Unless someone absolutely excels and somebody takes a punt on them, the majority of time that's the case.

"I do think there's some tremendous talent right the way through the divisions. I've had the opportunity of managing in all four divisions and the National League.

"It does shock me and disappoint me, but it doesn't surprise me."

So what's happening in board rooms which is blocking the pathways for English coaches? Is it prejudice, is it ignorance - or are Premier League owners right to look further afield?

"I've been a sporting director for over 10 years, there's been times when an opinion's been that foreign coaches are more adaptable and can play different ways," Luke Dowling, formerly of Watford, West Brom and Nottm Forest, tells Sky Sports.

"I haven't already agreed with that. I didn't always think it was true - but it's peoples opinions.

"There's a lot more coaches available to choose from if you look outside Britain, of course. The more and more foreign players in our leagues now, that can sway people's decisions to get a foreign coach who can speak two or three languages.

"I don't think any club doesn't look at an English or British coach and think they can't succeed, but with foreign ownership it naturally leads to more foreign coaches.

"Does that mean they're better than British coaches? I don't think it does."

Dowling can stand by his record in his role in his approach towards employing British managers.

He was involved in giving Englishmen Wilder and Rob Edwards an opportunity at Watford and was sat alongside Allardyce when he was unveiled as West Brom manager.

He knows as well as any the affect of overseas influence from working under a succession of foreign owners, most notably Gino Pozzo at Watford.

After taking over the club in 2012, the Italian quickly brought a global feel to the Championship never before seen in the division at the time, with players and then managers from all over the continent - and beyond.

"You can't put a gun to people's heads and tell them what to do, they own the club and they can do what they want," he adds.

"The FA have stipulated what they want clubs to do with academy players, trying to push them through to the first team naturally - but is there something we can do in the Premier League whereby there has to be a British coach on every backroom staff?

"If Ruben Amorim comes in at Man Utd as he has done, and brings in four or five staff, no problem. But with that rule, it would certainly help - and then it's whether they those coaches can go and get the opportunity we want them to."

But coaches can only be employed in the first place with the right qualifications. And that brings us to a subject which rears its head every time this topic comes to the fore - the pool of English men and women which clubs have to choose from altogether.

Football associations around Europe run four UEFA-accredited licensing schemes to get coaches qualified, and allow them to progress through to work in the professional game and beyond.

Each course is delivered by the country's individual association, who will decide the way it is delivered plus number of places available and fees charged.

A UEFA B Licence allows coaches to manage in Leagues One and Two, the UEFA A in the Championship, and the UEFA Pro Licence for Premier League clubs, as well as matches in Europe.

The FA runs all of its courses at its dedicated home of football, at St George's Park in Staffordshire. But earning a place on some of its higher-end courses is a challenge, with the A Licence reportedly nearly 10-times oversubscribed for its 120 places a year.

Demand outweighs supply so much for the qualification that it has put some coaches off from continuing their journey altogether, while others have looked abroad to continue their rise up the ladder.

One of those is Simon Goodey, who was denied a spot on an A Licence course three times by The FA and a fourth by the Scottish FA, despite previously coaching in Southampton's male and female youth setup and with Colchester United.

From there, he decided moving to Spain would provide a better opportunity to complete his badges than trying again through the English authorities - despite speaking none of the language and having to take on a second job as a PE teacher to support himself on the continent.

His experiences since have included coaching Fernando Torres' son Nicolas while working for two years in the Atletico Madrid academy. He now runs one of the U19 sides at fourth-tier SD Compostela and has ambitions of becoming a senior head coach in the future.

"Spain was something I saw as an opportunity to progress," he tells Sky Sports. "I got a bit stuck in England since I'd done my B Licence at 19.

"It was a lot easier going to Spain. That still came with a lot of challenges, I had to learn Spanish and do a Spanish exam to even enrol in the A Licence course.

"Spending five years abroad now, I would definitely recommend it if you're a young coach coming through. It's a great avenue to consider.

"Unfortunately, it's harder for coaches to get abroad since Brexit. It would be great if the FA could find ways for young coaches to spend time with a club in a different country, or to put on regional A Licences like already exist in Spain.

"It would make it a little bit cheaper, because coaches wouldn't have to pay for accommodation [at St George's Park]. I see a lot of coaches who fall out of love with the game because they can't progress."

The FA is outwardly comfortable with the current set-up, particularly with pricing which they consider competitive across Europe despite anecdotal reports that has also proved a difficult barrier for some coaches.

The Pro Licence costs a substantial amount in England at almost £14,000, though that is still less than coaches pay in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

In Spain, the course costs around half the price of England, though it is delivered regionally with significantly lower accommodation costs than through The FA, where all attendees are required to stay at St George's Park while studying.

"Where we deliver our courses centrally, particularly in the professional game, helps us to enhance standards across coaching," the FA's head of coach development Dan Clements tells Sky Sports.

"If another nation was delivering it a different way, that may suit their culture, system and the regulations they're run by.

"By us having one central place where we can deliver our coach education, that drives standards, I think."

There is the same feeling about the difficulties getting onto the A Licence. The FA points to the quality of their teaching and suggest it's something it is not willing to compromise on to increase accessibility.

They also defend their record on prioritising former players for those few available spots - despite the rise in coaches who have never played professionally in the top levels of the game.

"The A Licence is a very good qualification," Clements says. "It's a real driver within the professional game.

"With that, our priority sits within the professional game. It is quite challenging for individuals outside of the professional game to get onto it.

"We're really proud of the work we're doing in that space, and committed to providing more opportunity for those coaches who do have ambitions to progress into the professional game."

Ultimately, with the number of places for the Pro Licence set by UEFA as 24 per country, the number of potential Premier League managers coming through year on year is no different to any other major nation.

But whether they will be given that chance appears to be the biggest barrier. While 10 per cent of Premier League bosses are English, that number rises to 54 per cent in the Championship, 63 per cent in League One and 67 per cent in League Two.

So no question the managers are there. But does the Premier League feel the need - or bare the responsibility - to give them that opportunity in a world full of other options?

With the direction of travel since 1992, there is little sign to suggest that is the case.

Unless something more widely changes, these exact same conversations will likely be had again when England come looking for Tuchel's successor.

There is a revolution happening in youth scouting and it is changing football. “Today, on the platform, there are 250,000 players,” Benjamin Balkin tells Sky Sports. “Last year, there was 130,000. Next year, there will be half a million.”

Balkin is the co-founder of Eyeball, a platform you might not have heard of but one that has most likely become central to how the club you support recruits young players. It is already being used by the majority of them in Europe's top five major leagues.

The sell is simple. The platform provides video clips with thousands of data points for each player. But this is not the Premier League. These are youngsters playing in amateur football in France, in academies in Africa and, very soon, all across South America.

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This is how football's next superstar will be unearthed. And they could be anywhere. Was there once a genius from Mali never discovered? "One hundred per cent, there was," says Oliver Dürr Dehnhardt, Balkin's colleague. "In fact, there were probably 10."

He adds: "I am not claiming Eyeball has the solution to find all 10. They still need to play for a club we cover. But the route to finding all 10 is clearer now. Everybody knows the potential of Africa but nobody knew how to unlock it. Now you can, it will just spiral."

Five years ago, Eyeball was just an idea. Like the best of them, it stemmed from the need to solve a problem. Balkin, born in France to Danish parents, was a one-time Monaco prospect who found himself trying to identify young French talent for clubs abroad.

"Everything started from personal experience. We had a network of clubs interested in finding 14- to 16-year-olds in France. That was our niche. But it was a jungle out there. You were heavily relying on agents. Our problem was a lack of video in youth football."

They knew it made sense to base themselves in the big cities, Paris and Marseille, but it was just an educated guess which matches to watch. A contact would call about a prospect in Brittany. Another in Lyon. "Everywhere except where it was practical to be."

He explains: "What we were doing was trying to be lucky basically. Just picking a game a bit instinctively on a Saturday afternoon. Going to watch it and hoping that the left-back you were looking for, for that English club that was in need, was going to be on the pitch.

"How many times have you heard that it was the luck of being in the right place at the right time? 'I was just out watching a game and there he was right in front of me.' But, in 2025, no football club in their right mind wants to build a strategy based around luck."

That was the situation. They were sticking a pin in a map, trying to find players in France. And even when they did, their reports were missing something. Clubs wanted to see clips not mere written reports. "We decided to start filming the games ourselves."

This was amateur football. "Nothing was on TV, no rights, nothing. We just bought cameras, clipped up the players we liked." But it worked. "The response rate from clubs increased. The decision-making time got way shorter." Eyeball was the answer.

The challenge for Balkin and co-founder Emil Kjeldsen back in 2020 was to scale it. "The problem was that most clubs did not have a camera. And if they did, they were just using it for internal coaching purposes and analysis. We tried to remove that barrier," he says.

"By providing clubs with a camera system free of charge and the analysis that comes with it, in exchange we were able to get the team sheets and the information that we required on their players in order to build an actual searchable database in the end."

Dehnhardt came at the situation from the other angle having worked at Ajax for three years as their international scout, responsible for Scandinavia and France but also exploring potential markets in Africa and beyond. "My focus was on emerging talent."

Ajax have long been regarded as one of the best clubs in Europe when it comes to identifying that talent. "A very well-funded scouting system, very good scouts," agrees Dehnhardt. "But they were working on the same basis like any other club," he adds.

"If an agent they trust called on Thursday to say there was a good player in Prague, they would fly there on the weekend to watch him and then say 'no'. If there were 10 agents calling then they would pick one and then go see the others on the next nine weekends.

"With Eyeball, you watch 20 minutes and decide whether to put them on the list. If the live validates the video, I would send the name to Amsterdam where 10 video scouts are working. Within two days, I would have 10 independent reports. You can make a decision.

"At Ajax, we made Eyeball central to our strategy. I saw for myself the potential, how it can completely change things.

"Ten days instead of 10 weeks or longer? Time is money in this space. Very few clubs in the world have the luxury of time not being a factor. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain can move at the last second and just pay. Everyone else needs to be earlier.

"Look at Mathys Tel, he has barely turned 19 and is already on the second big transfer of his life. If Mathys Tel had been born two years later, then there would have been 45 games of him before his debut for Rennes. The decision would be made even earlier."

Having recognised the opportunity, Dehnhardt is now working for Eyeball, based in their Copenhagen office. "It is really the first big shift in youth scouting in the past 30 years, to be honest," he insists. "That is why I am here now. It is a game changer."

Of course, football itself is changing too. Globalisation coupled with increased financial restrictions actively encourages clubs to cast the net wider - and younger. "Emerging talent used to be defined as U23 but now it is U19," explains Dehnhardt.

"More and more clubs do not really care where a player comes from as long as they are good enough. That is already the strategy of clubs at first-team level but with the barrier to international scouting now lowering, clubs will have to transition more and more."

Balkin agrees. "If everything shifts younger, how does the scouting strategy adapt to that? Data has been focused on first-team football for the past decade but players are moving at 19 now. Maybe it will be 17 soon. The clubs need to know about them at 14."

Eyeball is the means by which they can do that.

Balkin talks through it and it is stunningly simple, Football Manager for real. "I can select my data points to make my shortlist. Let's search for a centre-back, this year, European passport, national team player, this tall. It really makes the scout's life much easier."

Within clicks, a teenager from west Africa can be found and a scout in northern Europe is watching clips from a game being played on another continent where there were no fans present. "You are not just going to go to Senegal, are you? It kills the geography."

But it is not just the big clubs that benefit. The logistics in Africa have been straightforward because clubs there have embraced it. "Those academies, their entire business model is to sell players. They treat it with so much care. They are fantastic to work with."

In England, most of the clubs in the Championship are now on board, tailoring their use of it for both cost and practicality. "You do not need to buy everything, just subscribe to the countries relevant to your scouting department, your strategy," says Balkin.

Below that, Bolton Wanderers are in an interesting position in the food chain. They film their games from the age of 13 up, proving video and team sheets. It helps showcase talent to sell but also provides released players with a chance of being picked up elsewhere.

"You do not have to trust some agent you have never heard about who wrote to you on LinkedIn with a good video," says Dehnhardt. "You can do your own due diligence. At the same time, on Eyeball, you have the direct contact to the club. No intermediaries."

Having said that, the big agencies are on Eyeball. "It makes sense," says Balkin. "They are a part of the ecosystem with analysts of their own. They make data-driven decisions on players they want to represent, not just on a recommendation from someone else."

"There are definitely transfers being made purely on Eyeball," claims Dehnhardt. Even moves that, on the face of it, appear to be examples of traditional scouting, are in fact fuelled - before and after - by extensive research that is done on the Eyeball platform.

"As a general rule, if the club is using Eyeball and the player is on Eyeball, Eyeball played a role in the due diligence. It is likely that 70 to 80 per cent of the scouting reports made on young players are actually made on video based on Eyeball. It is as simple as that."

Valy Konate, the Ivory Coast player from Racing Club Abidjan who recently shone at the Toulon Tournament and subsequently earned a big move to Monaco, still required some background checks. "The follow-up was on Eyeball, I have no doubt about that."

Put simply, it is now integral to the scouting process. "We have passed the tipping point now," says Balkin. "If you are not using Eyeball, you are the exception. I think there are four in the Premier League not using it. Two in Ligue 1." And it is only going to grow.

"We have 130 partner academies in Africa and we will reach 200 to 250 by the end of the calendar year." But the big project, one that Balkin, bashfully rather than boastfully, admits Eyeball have already invested nine figures in, is to expand into South America.

"No one wants just a Brazilian strategy. They want a South American strategy. So we are putting a lot of money into mapping Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador. We have three full-time people on the ground there and we are going all in. Asia is next."

Eyeball is getting bigger. As a result, the world is getting smaller.

Ipswich striker Liam Delap has spoken of an inspirational training session he had with England captain Harry Kane.

The 22-year-old frontman is with the England U21s but was invited to train with the senior group by new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.

That allowed Delap - who has scored 10 Premier League goals this term - to play with and talk to England's record goalscorer.

“That was the first time I’ve trained with Harry. He is someone I've looked up to for ages and he's got everything," said Delap.

“He's had the most amazing career and he's still flying so there's someone as young as me to look up to him and then be able to watch him live is an incredible experience.

“I had a little chat with him, he's a really nice guy. I watched him enough in the shooting drill to take so much from him and he's just incredible. What I noticed was that just everything goes in!

“His all-round game is incredible and he's played at the top level for so long now but as a striker it's something I really enjoy doing, to watch the best practice and it's the best I've seen."

Ipswich striker Liam Delap has spoken of an inspirational training session he had with England captain Harry Kane.

The 22-year-old frontman is with the England U21s but was invited to train with the senior group by new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.

That allowed Delap - who has scored 10 Premier League goals this term - to play with and talk to England's record goalscorer.

“That was the first time I’ve trained with Harry. He is someone I've looked up to for ages and he's got everything," said Delap.

“He's had the most amazing career and he's still flying so there's someone as young as me to look up to him and then be able to watch him live is an incredible experience.

“I had a little chat with him, he's a really nice guy. I watched him enough in the shooting drill to take so much from him and he's just incredible. What I noticed was that just everything goes in!

“His all-round game is incredible and he's played at the top level for so long now but as a striker it's something I really enjoy doing, to watch the best practice and it's the best I've seen."

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna says it was positive to have Julio Enciso back despite defeat at Crystal Palace.

The Brighton loanee returned to the starting XI after missing nearly a month of action with a knee injury picked up against Aston Villa.

Enciso provided a bright spark for Ipswich during the game, after which McKenna lauded his importance.

"Julio is just a positive, having him back," McKenna said.

"He's versatile, he can play left-10, he can play right-10. He's got a really good level of individual quality that we feel can take us to another level and we'll use him in a few different roles behind Liam [Delap] or George Hirst.

"He's done both of them for us already so he's going to be really useful for us.

"We feel that Julio is going to be a big addition for us, he can help us. It's been a big blow to lose him but good to have him back today."

Ipswich remain winless in the league this year – their last win was against Chelsea at Portman Road in December – Crystal Palace have won five of their last seven.

That run has lifted Oliver Glasner’s side well clear of relegation trouble into 12th place and their improved form is not lost on McKenna.

“There’s no game in the Premier League that is going to be anything less than competitive,” he added.

“If we can do a lot of things well then we’ll make the games competitive and Crystal Palace are a very strong side, they have certainly improved as the season has gone on.”

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is not ready to abandon his footballing principles in his side’s fight for Premier League survival.

The Tractor Boys sit five points from safety in the bottom three and have 11 games left to avoid an instant return to the Sky Bet Championship, with Crystal Palace next up at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

McKenna said: “If you keep approaching them in the right way, finding the right response in your daily work, whether it goes well or against you.

“If you stay consistent in your behaviour, in our processes, driving the culture here, I think that builds a trust between the group.

“Of course the later you get towards the end of the season, because there’s less games ahead, the results feel more important.

“But the best way we believe to get the points is to focus on performances and to try and perform as well as you can with whatever the game plan is in that particular game.”

Ipswich have been dealt another injury blow as forward Sammie Szmodics requires ankle surgery and will be ruled out until the closing weeks of the season.

The Tractor Boys' Premier League survival battle is being undermined by injuries and the crisis shows no sign of easing, with defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess also added to a lengthy list of absentees.

Boss Kieran McKenna, whose side will bid for just their fourth league win of the season on Saturday at Crystal Palace, said: "Sam Szmodics has gone for an ankle operation, unfortunately.

"So he's going to be out for an extended period of time. He originally suffered the injury in a tackle in the Fulham game, then had a recurrence of it in the Coventry (FA Cup fourth round) game, then he had a recurrence of it after the Manchester United game.

"I don't know the exact timescale, but it's going to be a good number of weeks and if we see him again this season it will be in the last couple of fixtures."

Smzodics, a £10m summer signing from Blackburn Rovers, has scored four goals in 19 Premier League appearances so far this season.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna defended Jack Taylor after the midfielder had his crucial spot-kick saved in the FA Cup fifth round defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Taylor was unsuccessful with the tenth penalty after nine perfect attempts from both sides after the two teams could not be separated following a 1-1 draw.

The midfielder dropped the ball on the spot after taking the walk, with referee Tony Harrington then telling him to replace the ball as it was in the wrong place.

"There’s certainly an element of luck to it," said McKenna to ITV Sport.

"Disappointed to lose, no doubt about that. A really challenging night in so many aspects, and really proud of the effort.

"We took pretty good penalties, all four. Even Jack’s is a good save but it comes down to a tiny margin.

"That’s a team with a lot of changes, where the group has been and where it’s grown, to be on this stage and to lose two out of our three defenders in the half-time period was a big blow as well.

" It makes it more of a challenge to get through extra-time as we used a lot of our subs early. We met a lot of challenges tonight in many, many different aspects. We met it head on and had a performance to be proud of."

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has stated it was the correct decision to send off Patrick Dorgu during the 3-2 loss to Manchester United.

Dorgu was sent off by referee Darren England after VAR advised the match official to review the 20-year-old defender's challenge on Omari Hutchinson just before half-time.

"It was a red card. I was right in front of it. He has gone over the ball," he said.

"I assume he has not meant it but he went over the ball and it resulted in Omari going off in the second half. That was a blow for us and hopefully Omari will be okay."

On Hutchinson's fitness after going off injured following the challenge from Dorgu, McKenna added: "I've not heard anything from the medical team but we will need to assess it.

"It is heavy damage on the shin but he managed to play on."

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has slammed the game management of his team following the 3-2 loss to Manchester United.

United were reduced to 10 players after Patrick Dorgu was sent off shortly before Jaden Philogene scored his second of the afternoon to make it 2-2.

However, Harry Maguire would go onto head home the winner two minutes after the restart for United, despite the hosts facing a numerical disadvantage.

"No doubt about it," McKenna said when asked if it was a wasted opportunity.

"Very frustrating outcome and we are very annoyed with the goals we have conceded. Went from a good start to a difficult position. We've managed and played the second half poorly.

"Big priority after half-time was to not concede and tonight we were not able to deal with their physicality and strength in the penalty box.

"We didn't do it within a minute of the restart. In the second half, they showed their quality. They were stronger on both ends of the pitch."

Kieran McKenna when asked if he still believes Ipswich can stay up despite defeat to Spurs:

“No doubt.

“Wolves picked up a good result today against 10 men with an early red card with a VAR. These are really small margins in football. And they haven't gone our way this year.

"I don't think anyone can say that we've had any sort of fortune or margins go our way too often. We know we've got a big challenge to stay in the division. We know we're going to have to pick up points at a greater rate in our last 12 games. I believe that we can pick our points up at a greater rate, for sure.”

Sky Sports News' Sanny Rudravajhala at Ipswich's training ground:

Kieran McKenna was his usual sanguine self this afternoon ahead of Tottenham on Saturday.

Speaking to the other local journalists in the room, they say he’s changed little since their League One days which, remember, were only two seasons ago.

Despite the big changes at the club and news of a new training ground in development, the 38-year-old was as generous with his time as he seemingly has always been.

It was interesting to gauge his reaction to facing the side where he worked through the ranks as a youth player before injury saw him move into coaching at the club.

The Northern Irishman told us that his focus was solely on the game but did reveal that two of his best mates are on the coaching staff at Tottenham Ange Postecoglou’s assistant manager Matt Wells and Rob Birch, Spurs’ goalkeeping coach. Friendships that go back to their childhoods in the Tottenham Academy will be paused, for 90 minutes at least.

When I asked McKenna whether he had any sympathy for his opposite number, he replied that Ange Postecoglou had handled the injury issues well and had ‘done brilliantly with his career’.

He was also rueful that they weren’t facing Tottenham a few weeks earlier when the injuries and European exertions were pushing them to their limits.

Ipswich’s survival hopes may rest in the hands of a new goalkeeper, Alex Palmer, signed in the transfer window from West Brom. He was their hero in taking a point from Villa Park last week, with Town down to ten for the best part of an hour.

“He’s done very well. He’s a really good communicator and you can tell he’s played a lot of games over the last couple of seasons”, the Ipswich boss told me.

“We don’t expect him to be perfect, no one is. There’s going to be mistakes along the way from every player, but he’s a very good goalkeeper and he’s made a good start.”

Those sentiments were echoed by one man who’ll be starting in front of the 28-year-old, defender Jacob Greaves.

Ipswich regularly bring a player to their press conferences and the ex-Hull City centre half told me on Palmer, “He’s been a really nice addition, he’s chatty he talks a lot, sometimes a bit too much! But he’s been good, especially his debut against [Aston] Villa. He made a lot of top saves and sometimes when you go to those places you need it from your ‘keeper.

Even his kicking as well, I thought was excellent. It’s a nice face to have in goal and hopefully, he can carry on that form that he showed in the Villa game.”

Ipswich have won only one game in the Premier League at home all season.

McKenna told me that it’s the finest of margins that have denied them more victories at Portman Road. Let’s see if Palmer is the man to make the difference as Ipswich’s quest for survival continues tomorrow.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna feels Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou does not need anyone's sympathy as he looks to turn the club's fortunes around following a testing spell.

A raft of injuries saw Spurs go through a difficult winter, but Postecoglou's depleted squad were still able to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.

A 1-0 win over Manchester United last weekend moved Postecoglou's side back up towards the top half of the Premier League table.

With the likes of Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson all returning to fitness, there is renewed belief Spurs can push on through to the business end of the campaign with growing confidence.

McKenna, though, has enough concerns of his own in kick-starting Ipswich's survival bid when Spurs head to Portman Road on Saturday.

"He certainly doesn't need that (sympathy) from me, I don't think," McKenna said.

"He had done brilliantly in his career, the progression that he has had. He is an excellent manager.

"He has gone through a spell where they have had a lot of injuries and some challenges.

"We all know that comes at some point for any team, for any any manager, and I think he has handled that situation well.

"I am sure they will be able to pick up for him in the months ahead. We have got to try and make sure that doesn't continue on Saturday."

Ipswich have been handed a boost with news on-loan forward Julio Enciso's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.

Paraguay international Enciso, 21, on loan from Brighton until the end of the season, was forced off after only 17 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League.

An MRI scan of his left knee on Tuesday revealed only "minor trauma", according to the Paraguay national team's chief medical officer Dr Osvaldo Insfrán.

“Julio Enciso is greatly improved, the resonance [MRI] threw nothing of gravity,” Dr Insfrán told Paraguayan radio station 650AM.

“He will enter a recovery regime in Ipswich, they don't have an estimated time at his club for his return.

“We talk about trauma or sprain, studies will be done. There’s no talk of a recovery time, we hope he can get back to training. He will do physiotherapy and rehabilitation work.”

Enciso underwent two operations on the same knee in 2023 having torn his meniscus during training, sidelining him for six months.

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Analysis: Saka can challenge world's best

Sky Sports' Nick Wright:

It is a testament to Saka's importance to Arsenal that even now, despite having missed the last three months through injury, he remains their leading provider of goals and assists this season.

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Saka's combined total of 22 in all competitions, comprised of nine goals and 13 assists, puts him three clear of Kai Havertz in second place. It is some going from only 24 appearances.

The numbers of a reminder of just how much Arsenal have missed without him. They also reflect the pattern of improvement behind the club's determination to reportedly secure his future with a new contract. Saka has increased his output every season under Mikel Arteta and, at only 23, his peak years are still ahead of him.

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Arteta has already moulded him into one of the world's best right-sided attackers. In fact, Saka's rate of productivity before his injury - he was averaging 1.08 goal involvements per 90 minutes - puts him second only to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah among Premier League players this season.

Salah's stunning efforts have made him a shoo-in for the Premier League player of the year awards and put him in contention to win the Ballon d'Or too, but Arsenal can feel confident that Saka has the capacity to reach a similar level in the not-too-distant future.

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At 23 and a half, he is already the best and most important player for a team routinely competing for the Premier League title. He has racked up an extraordinary 250 club games at the top level. At the same age, Salah had played a fraction as many having been farmed out on loan by Chelsea to Italy.

Chelsea would come to regret that decision, of course. Salah has flourished for Liverpool, delivering his best season yet at 32. But Saka, nine his junior, is on track to the hit similar heights - and do so sooner. No wonder Arsenal are trying to tie him down.

'Arsenal to open contract talks with Saka'

Arsenal are set to begin discussions with forward Bukayo Saka over a new deal at the Emirates, according to reports on BBC Sport.

The England international, who has been sidelined since December with a serious hamstring injury, has just over two years left to run on his current contract in north London.

The 23-year-old has contributed nine goals and 13 assists in 24 matches in all competitions this season.

Lewis-Skelly eager to repay Arsenal faith after earning first England call

Myles Lewis-Skelly is determined to continue repaying the faith Arsenal have placed in him after receiving a maiden England call-up which left him “shouting around my house” in delight.

The 18-year-old left-back was included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad on Friday for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

That was reward for some impressive displays since breaking into the Arsenal team this season, with the versatile teenager making his 26th senior appearance in Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Chelsea.

Victory saw Arsenal end a three-match winless run and close the gap on runaway leaders Liverpool to 12 points heading into the international break, where Lewis-Skelly could continue his rapid rise by winning his first cap.

“I’m buzzing, you know,” he told Arsenal’s website about being called up by England. “Honesty I was elated, just shouting around my house.

“Obviously I’m excited for what’s coming up, but you’ve always got to stay locked in on the present and not get too attached to the feeling that’s coming later down the line.”

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher discusses whether Arsenal should have been given a penalty for a possible handball by Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

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Jurrien Timber was heard telling Enzo Maresca to ‘try harder’ as the pair came together towards the end of Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Chelsea at the Emirates.

Analysis: Arsenal defence highlights missing piece to title puzzle

Sky Sports' David Richardson at the Emirates following Arsenal's win over Chelsea:

'When Arsenal's defence is so good, it makes their lack of forward options even more obvious.

'"We continue to do a lot of things defensively so well that earn us the right to attack open spaces but there were so many situations, huge advantages that we just gave away," said boss Mikel Arteta after their 1-0 win over Chelsea.

'Arsenal didn't need to be at their best defensively to keep out a toothless Chelsea side, but they still were.

'"We have to track back 70m and on that face, we were one of the best teams in the world today because we were unbelievable in the way we've done it," added Arteta.

'Just 24 goals conceded in 29 games has been the backbone to Arsenal's title tilt which has faded because of their issues at the other end.

'Mikel Merino scored for the fourth time in seven games while ending Arsenal's scoring drought from corners, but they are yet to put together the full package to become champions.'

The Verdict: Arsenal show versatility as Chelsea lack plan B

Arsenal continue excellent 'big-six' run

Arsenal continued their brilliant record in the big games this season by extending their unbeaten run against the 'big six' to 19 matches via a 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Should the Gunners avoid defeat to Liverpool in May, then they will have gone two straight seasons without a loss against the traditional top-six sides.

Their last defeat in one of those fixtures came in April 2023, when they lost 4-1 to Manchester City in a title decider.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the Gunners' defensive displays allow them to do that.

"We are capable of competing against them consistently, with high standards again. Any kind of opposition," said Arteta about the record after the 1-0 win over Chelsea.

"We continue to do a lot of things defensively so well that earn us the right to attack open spaces but there were so many situations, huge advantages that we just gave away.

"So we have to track back 70m and on that face, we were one of the best teams in the world today because we were unbelievable in the way we’ve done it.

"If we continue to do those things, we get rewarded."

'You're still here!' - Arteta pretends to exit interview after Saka question

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Mikel Merino's first-half header was enough to settle Arsenal's 1-0 win over Chelsea in a feisty and tense Super Sunday London derby.

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Saka has 'good chance' of returning after international break

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka has a "good chance" of returning to action after the international break.

The 23-year-old required an operation after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December.

Arteta said in midweek that Saka was making "very good progress" and following Arsenal's 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday, Arteta was asked about Saka's chances of featuring in April.

"Yes, he's got a good chance," Arteta told Sky Sports.

Arsenal host Fulham on April 1 when they return to Premier League action.

On Friday, Arteta had said: "He is going to be here [at the Arsenal training ground], hopefully more with ball at his feet than he has had," Arteta said.

"That will mean he is passing the ball and shooting and running and everything. He has done quite a lot already on the pitch working on his own.

"Next we need to arrange it with people around him in a more competitive training session and see how he goes with that.

"He's getting closer, he's stepping up and making a very good progress, I would say.

"So let's see when we start to throw him in with the team how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly."

Arteta: Saka making 'very good progress' in recovery

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Bukayo Saka is making "very good progress" in his recovery from hamstring surgery.

The 23-year-old required an operation after suffering the injury in Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December.

Saka will be sidelined for several more weeks, according to reports, but Arteta has provided a more optimistic update about his recovery.

"He is going to be here [at the Arsenal training ground], hopefully more with ball at his feet than he has had," Arteta said.

"That will mean he is passing the ball and shooting and running and everything. He has done quite a lot already on the pitch working on his own.

"Next we need to arrange it with people around him in a more competitive training session and see how he goes with that.

"He's getting closer, he's stepping up and making a very good progress, I would say.

"So let's see when we start to throw him in with the team how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly."

Analysis: 'Money Talks but Arsenal growing from within'

Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill at Arsenal's training ground:

"The music was again blaring out across Arsenal's training ground as the first team warmed up. The music of choice?

"Dirty Cash - Money Talks.

"Apt, some might say, as yet another season comes and goes without an out-and-out striker being bought.

"And yet, training in front of the loudspeakers, are great examples of what big money can't buy - thrilling young talent produced and nurtured by the club.

"Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ethan Nwaneri Max Dowman. All looked very at home with their older teammates. One is already in the England squad at 18. One in the U21s at 17.

"And one ready to blast onto the Premier League stage next season, when he eventually turns 16.

"The drafting of Lewis-Skelly into Thomas Tuchel's first squad has sent a purr of satisfaction flowing through London Colney.

"All the players have congratulated him. So has Mikel Arteta. He spoke at the news conference of his pride at his role on his progress.

"MLS as he’s known in the dressing room, was originally a midfielder, until Arteta saw his potential as a left back. Now he may be the future of England in that position.

"Arteta wants him protected. Myles has miles of self-confidence. But he’s a fast tracker now being even faster-tracked and needs a protective environment.

"Arteta hasn’t spoken to Tuchel about looking after one of his most prized assets. But says he expects to be involved in the process.

"He calls it a 'really nice story' that gives hope to young people everywhere.

"Something else Arteta his loving is the English core at Arsenal. Rice, Saka, Lewis-Skelly, White (again), Nwaneri (soon), Sterling (recently).

"'It's very important culturally to have that DNA at our club" he says. The DNA and the culture counts at Arsenal.

"Money talks. But the emergence of the youngsters speaks volumes."

Arteta: Two dominating teams when we face Chelsea

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on the threat of Chelsea:

"It’s two teams who want to be very dominant in their way of playing. They’re very aggressive in the high press and the way we have to have the ball.

"There’s a lot of individual quality on that pitch, it’s about imposing what you want and keep them far from their strengths."

Arteta: No signs of setbacks in White recovery

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Ben White's slow return from injury:

"He’s been involved for the last two weeks with no reaction. He’s a really important player for us, he brings something different to the team dynamic. We’re very happy to have him back."

Arteta: PSV performance will help Sterling

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Raheem Sterling missing out against his parent club:

"It would’ve been good for him, but it is what it is. He knew about it, he played well and was contributing to the goals we scored as well. It’s what we need, players in good form with good confidence and that performance will help him."

Andy Robertson is confident his time at Liverpool is not yet up despite the Merseyside club being linked with "pretty much every left-back in the world".

The 31-year-old signed for the Reds from Hull in 2017 but there have been reports Liverpool are looking for a replacement.

The Scotland captain, in Athens for the Nations League play-off against Greece on Thursday night, addressed the speculation, saying. "I think we've been linked with pretty much every left-back in the world.

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"That comes with playing with one of the greatest clubs in the world. I look back on these eight years I've had as the starting left-back at that club and I feel a lot of pride.

"Your time comes and I don't think it's my time yet but even if we do bring someone in, then so be it. I'll always back myself.

"Sure, this season there have been a couple of moments when I haven't covered myself in glory but some things have been taken way out of proportion.

"I think the performance levels have been there for me. I think I've had a relatively good season but one thing people will say about me is that I've been pretty consistent, so when you make a couple of mistakes, then people can

talk.

"That's the world we live in, that's the Premier League. Everyone has eyes on you, everyone has an opinion.

"It is what it is but I'm always confident in my ability. I've shown that right throughout my career but especially during my time at Liverpool."

Robertson admits meeting up with his Scotland team-mates has helped him get over the Carabao Cup final disappointment, where Liverpool lost to Newcastle at Wembley, days after being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.

Robertson said: "It's part and parcel of football. It probably wasn't one of our best weeks in football, though thankfully we've had plenty of good weeks this season.

"For many reasons, last week wasn't meant to be. But it's always great to meet up with the Scotland lads, always an honour, always good to see fresh faces and take a break from a really intense time at Liverpool.

"It's been nice, it's made it easier to get over the disappointment."

Clarke: Tierney return 'a nice problem to have'

On the topic of left-backs, Steve Clarke admits the return of Kieran Tierney has left him with "a lot of thinking to do" ahead of Scotland's Nations League play-off against Greece on Thursday night.

Clarke returned to a back four during the Nations League campaign due to the Arsenal defender's absence through injury, where previously he was a key part of a back three.

However, Tierney is back in the squad for the first leg in Athens and Clarke said: "No headache, a nice problem to have when you have good players to select from.

"We've also lost a few players in the build-up to the game so we brought some younger ones in and it has freshened training up a bit, so it has been good preparation.

"As a coach, you want as many difficult choices as possible and I have a few of them. I'm always thinking of changing things. You have to wait to see the team on the pitch.

"It gives us another option. We have discussed it and spoken about it and hopefully we can come up with the right solution for the game.

"Obviously we changed the whole way we approached the Nations League when we went with four.

"It worked well because we also had the outlet on the right-hand side with the pace of Ben [Doak]. So we didn't have the option of putting Kieran into the team. So, yes, it's given me a lot to think about."

Clarke believes his players should embrace the atmosphere in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on Thursday night.

He said: "It's not an issue. You want the strongest atmosphere you can get if you're a player.

"You've got to come here and enjoy this type of occasion, this type of atmosphere. We're used to it. We've played against good teams away from home before.

"Recently we've had a couple of good results away from home. Hopefully we can get another one here tomorrow night. It's always good for the players to play in a strong atmosphere, to enjoy it."

Clarke spoke about fielding an experienced side but was full of praise for new-boy George Hirst.

The 26-year-old forward, who plays for Ipswich, was included after the paperwork cleared. Hirst qualifies for Scotland through his grandfather.

Clarke said: "He's good, obviously. He's a big lad. He's had injury problems this season so he's been a little bit in and out of the Ipswich team.

"He's scored some goals recently, which is good. I have always liked him. He's similar in style and stature to Lyndon Dykes, who misses out with an injury.

"Hopefully he can bring as much to the team as Lyndon has always brought to the team. He's a target player.

"We've always tried to have that type of forward player because we feel we've got goals in the midfield. I pray that George can help us to maybe score a few more goals."

Clarke is determined Scotland will still be a League A side following Sunday's Hampden Park second leg. He added: "It's important because of the work we have put into the group stage. We spent a long time trying to get into the top section of the Nations League.

"We managed to get into a position that puts us in the play-off and obviously we want to stay there."

The UK Government are "really keen to crack on" to get Manchester United's new stadium "off the ground" - and are confident the new 100,000-seater project will go ahead.

Earlier this month, United confirmed plans to leave Old Trafford and move to a new 100,000-seater stadium - which would be the largest in the UK.

The new stadium - which follows United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe's desire to build a 'Wembley of the North' - will be built on club-owned land adjacent to Old Trafford, with architect Lord Foster saying it will take five years to construct.

Q&A: Everything you need to know about Man Utd's new stadium

Man Utd to leave Old Trafford as new 100,000-seater stadium revealed

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Speaking to Sky Sports News, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said of the project: "It's a moving feast at the moment, but we are impatient to get the economy growing again and get projects like this off the ground. We're not wasting a minute.

"The Chancellor, Business Secretary and I have been in discussions and we're really keen to crack on.

"Manchester United have to make their own plans and satisfy their own investors. What we have to do as a Government is maximise the benefits of projects like these for the communities that they serve.

"That's why we are working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and others. But we're really confident we can do that."

The new stadium, referred to as 'New Trafford' in a briefing document, will feature an umbrella design which, according to its architects, will harvest solar energy and rain water. It will also include three masts that will make it visible from 40km away.

United, who have debts of over £1bn, are yet to confirm how building the new stadium will be funded, though Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham revealed that no public money would be used to build the 100,000-seater venue.

"If the government really gets behind this scheme, we will build an iconic football stadium," added Ratcliffe on the day United's new stadium project was launched.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said on the same day that the proposals involve significant investment and could generate 90,000 jobs and a significant boost to the economy.

"We have been in close contact with the club but also with the Mayor of Greater Manchester," added Nandy.

"The exciting thing about this project is not just what it will do for Manchester United but what it will potentially do for the whole area and communities who live there.

"We are really excited for the project, we're talking to them about how we can best work together to deliver it.

"We've seen it in other parts of the country where if you can build new infrastructure, you are able to open up more opportunities to young people from those communities to come in, play football and use those facilities.

"We have got huge waiting lists in the country for boys and girls who want to get involved in football, not just inspired by the men's game but by the Lionesses. We've been racing to keep up with the facilities that are available.

"But it's not just that. People will flock in, spend money in local shops, restaurants, cafes and takeaways. There's a huge knock on effect for the whole local economy so we're really excited about the project."

Q&A: Everything you need to know about Man Utd's new stadium

Manchester United have confirmed plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium next to Old Trafford.

Sky Sports looks at some of the key questions surrounding the announcement - including:

What becomes of the current Old Trafford stadium?

When will it be completed?

Will Man Utd have to play elsewhere for a period of time?

What's wrong with Old Trafford?

Will capacity be reduced at Old Trafford while work goes on?

What will new stadium be called?

What is the cost? And how will it be funded?

If there is one country that epitomises football's shift in emphasis from defence to attack, it is surely Norway. Once a home to dogged defenders, stoic centre-halves and full-blooded full-backs, this is now the nation of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

It is a testament to the technical development of the game. But it is only natural there are those in Norway wondering whether the balance is wrong. For all the attacking talent now being produced, they have been unable to replicate the success of the past.

Under Egil Olsen, affectionately known as Drillo in his homeland, their direct style helped them eliminate England in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup and then go on to reach the knockout stages at France '98. They have not been to the tournament since.

In conversation with Thomas Brantsaeter, Norway's head of player identification, he lays out the problem - and the efforts being made to solve it. "We are doing a lot of work at the federation on raising the focus on defending," Brantsaeter tells Sky Sports.

"We are more into just passing and the technical skills now, so we are developing different types of players these days, for sure. But defending was crucial to our success under Drillo and it seems maybe that we have forgotten the art of defending a little bit."

The game has undoubtedly changed. Over the course of the previous decade, the total number of passes per season in the Premier League increased by almost 50,000. Meanwhile, the total number of tackles per season decreased by almost 4,000.

Brantsaeter is blunt about the scale of the problem. "We get players coming into our national teams and they are blank when it comes to defending." These are Norway's best young players but he talks of almost having to start their education from scratch.

"We have a project now, going to the regions, doing presentations and practical sessions about defending - zonal defending, in particular. That is our tradition from the Drillo era. We think that with small adjustments it can still be the Norwegian way.

"In particular, we are focusing on defending inside the box. Arsenal have been tremendous at defending their box for quite a long time now. This is where games are decided and it can seem we are not training it at all or at least not enough."

The top teams still have the top defenders. Pep Guardiola's success was built on their defensive record, albeit rooted in the principle that possession was the best form of defence. It is Manchester City's vulnerability at the back that has undermined them.

Consider how Real Madrid stood firm against Guardiola's City both this season and last, a reminder that while world-class defenders tend to operate on the halfway line in the majority of matches, they are able to protect a box better than the rest if they have to.

As Brantsaeter suggests, Arsenal are emblems of that. They had the best defensive record in the Premier League last season and are on course to repeat the feat. Their rearguard away to City with 10 players in September showcased that desire to defend.

The Gunners were once famous for it under George Graham, of course. One-nil to the Arsenal. Alan Smith, the winner of the Golden Boot in both of their title wins under Graham, knows this success was built on the solid defence operating behind him.

"It will be different methods to George Graham, I would imagine, back in the day," Smith tells Sky Sports. "But I am sure that (Mikel) Arteta has worked really hard on that defensive team shape, put the time in with the back four and the goalkeeper.

"It is that kind of attention to detail from the management that is key and I think it has been one of his best achievements, if not the best. Of course, so much of it is about recruitment. But once you have those players, it becomes about coaching them.

"We have seen many other clubs bring in expensive defenders and they do not gel into a unit. So much of it is about positional sense, that positional work, making sure you know where your man is, know where your goal is and you have all got your bearings.

"But it is also that willingness to attack the ball and be aggressive with it. Not everybody does want to put their head on the ball. They might find ways of getting around that. But Arsenal have certainly got those type of players who want to put their head on the ball.

"Look at Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, two out-and-out defenders who just loved that unspectacular side of the business. I think you have got to have that mentality as a defender, that you enjoy it. The club lost that resilience somewhere along the way."

They have rediscovered it now.

Gabriel is a defender in that mould, relishing that physical contest. William Saliba is different but still excels in one-against-one situations. "You want defenders to be good on the ball and Saliba is," says Smith. "But his priority is shutting out the opposition."

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There is something almost unnatural about great defending, even Smith admitting the odds can be loaded against them. "It has always been the case, defenders react and strikers anticipate. Sometimes, you have immediately got half a yard on that defender."

Partnerships are key, whether it is Campbell and Toure or even Tony Adams and Steve Bould long before that. "That understanding comes with playing together over an extended period," says Smith. Arsenal's record with Gabriel and Saliba bears that out.

It is similar at full-back. "The emphasis is on getting forward to overlap or inverting to join in. But managers will soon complain if a full-back does not stop the cross and it is curled into the box and somebody scores. A defender's job is to stymie the opposition."

The underlying statistics show that Arsenal do that better than anyone, particularly on transition. They have faced fewer shots on transition than any other team in the Premier League, although it owes as much to their dominance and structure as the individuals.

That is because Arsenal defenders find themselves in one-on-one situations far less frequently than those of other sides. Strength in numbers is not just for the weak. Arteta's side prevent those counter-attacks before they happen - by fair means or foul.

"City did it down the years, that tactical foul, which you can learn to do without getting a booking sometimes. There is an art to it, stopping the counter-attack, ticking down the clock a little bit. It winds up the opposition and their fans but it is all part of the game."

Arsenal will come up short in the Premier League this season, Liverpool outscoring them so heavily. But there is still that chance of glory in the Champions League. "If you are hard to beat," says Smith, speaking from experience, "one goal might be enough."

It is a point well worth remembering. Over in Norway, it is now uppermost in their thoughts. "We still believe defending is important and we are working hard to educate both attack and defence," concludes Brantsaeter. "It is not a case of either or."

Liverpool may be closing in on the Premier League, but that accomplishment should not disguise the size of the rebuilding job facing head coach Arne Slot at Anfield this summer.

Slot has just endured his hardest week in the job since replacing Jurgen Klopp, following back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United that ended the club's Champions League and Carabao Cup hopes respectively.

It is the first time the Dutchman has suffered consecutive losses during his debut campaign in charge of the Reds, but, as is so often the case, he will have learned so much more about his team - in particular their weaknesses - in those two reverses than from any of their numerous victories this season, as he and sporting director Richard Hughes prepare for a busy summer.

Liverpool drop-off holds lessons for Slot

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Similar to when Liverpool last won the league five years ago, rather than heralding a new era of dominance on Merseyside, this season's expected title triumph could actually represent the end of an era for the side Jurgen Klopp built as Slot looks at changes for next season.....

The 'elephants' in the room

The not so hidden 'elephants' in Liverpool's room remain Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold and it bears repeating that, as things stand, that trio will all leave Anfield for free when their contracts expire at the end of June.

So, what happens with their futures will have a knock-on effect recruitment-wise this summer, meaning Slot and Hughes may be on the lookout for a new right-sided forward, centre-back and right-back.

Not only that, but the club have also been in discussions with Ibrahima Konate about extending his deal that only runs until 2026, but still with no breakthrough, while reports continue to link Luis Diaz, who has two years left on his contract, with a move away this summer.

And all this before we even begin to talk about any possible new arrivals to strengthen the team for next season.

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Stop Salah, stop Liverpool?

Liverpool need to bolster their options up front this summer, according to Jamie Carragher, who wants his former club to bring in two forwards to take some of the burden off Salah's shoulders should he opt to remain at Anfield.

"The lack of pace in the team is glaring in the attack," he told Sky Sports. "I feel a bit sorry for Salah. He's taken a bit of stick in the last games against PSG, but he doesn't get help off the other attackers.

"The other attackers Liverpool have got are good players, not great players. Liverpool need to buy two attackers. Not squad players, but players to hopefully play alongside Salah."

The numbers back Carragher up, with Diaz [1], Diogo Jota [1], Darwin Nunez [3] and Federico Chiesa [0] having scored a paltry five top-flight goals between them in 2025, meaning Salah has been responsible for a league-high 63.8 per cent of all Liverpool's goal involvements this season, an unhealthy over reliance that is surely not sustainable going forward.

There are reports Liverpool are considering offloading the injury-prone Jota and Nunez, who the club rejected a big-money offer for from the Saudi Pro League in January, while Diaz and Chiesa could also be on the move this summer, despite the latter having only signed from Juventus at the start of the season.

Were the Premier League's top scorer to also leave, then that would leave a sizeable rebuilding job in attack for Hughes to undertake, with the Reds reportedly doing due diligence on Newcastle's Alexander Isak, Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton's Joao Pedro.

Ageing squad needs a refresh

The physical - and also mental - toll on Liverpool's players has been evident in their two losses of late, in part due to Slot's reliance on a key core of trusted lieutenants all season, with only Man Utd's Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes having played more Premier League minutes than Van Dijk and Salah so far.

Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have also been racking up the minutes in the Reds' midfield engine room, with all three looking leggy and off the pace as a result in recent weeks.

All managers rely on experienced stars, of course, especially having just taken over at a club, but there are clear danger signs for Slot, with Liverpool having the fourth-oldest average starting XI age [27.65] and their average of 1.76 line-up changes per game is the seventh-lowest this season.

While it is important to remember Slot made just one signing last summer, this reluctance to rotate is also indicative of the Dutchman's lack of trust in back-up players Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott to cover in midfield, with Carragher calling on owners the Fenway Sports Group [FSG] to also bring in a holding midfielder to allow more rest for Gravenberch next season.

"I don't think he [Slot] has any time for four or five players in that squad, and the fact that he didn't change players at home to Southampton between the PSG games - against one of the worst teams ever in the Premier League - I can accept that this season as this isn't really his squad, but next season I'm sure he'll bring players in," the former Liverpool captain said on The Overlap Fan Debate. "He needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger."

Liverpool tried, of course, to sign Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi last summer, only for the Spain international to have a late change of heart over moving to Anfield.

However, with Arsenal now closing in on the player's signature, according to Sky Sports News, Slot and Hughes will have to look elsewhere for alternative targets as the Dutchman tries to mould the squad more in his image this summer.

How do you replace record-breaking full-back?

While there is still no news on Alexander-Arnold's future at the club, the silence from both parties is ominous, and with Real Madrid having already made their intentions clear after a bid was rejected for the right-back in January, many expect this to be his last season at his boyhood club.

That would leave a huge void to fill not just on the right-hand side of Liverpool's defence, but also in attack given Alexander-Arnold's unrivalled passing ability that has produced 64 assists since 2016, a Premier League record for a defender.

Conor Bradley has always proved an able deputy for Alexander-Arnold and would be an option for the role, but the England international's absence in Sunday's League Cup final once again showed how hard it will be for anyone to replace the defender were he to join Madrid.

And there could even be a scenario this summer where Hughes is having to recruit both a right and left-back following reports Liverpool are also monitoring left-sided full-backs to provide competition for Andy Robertson, including Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez and Ajax's Jorrel Hato.

Jeepers 'keepers

Another player who recently reminded everyone of his status as one of the best in the world was Alisson after his Champions League heroics to thwart PSG at the Parc des Princes.

Alisson is still only 32, so normally would have at least another five years as the club's No 1 and yet the Reds brought in Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia last summer - before loaning him back to the LaLiga side - with a view to challenging for a first-team spot next season.

And were Saudi clubs to reignite their interest in Alisson at the end of the season after he turned down a big-money approach last summer, it will be interesting to see if Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at FSG, cashes in on both the Brazil international and Caoimhin Kelleher in order to help fund a squad rebuild.

A new leader at the back

Van Dijk was again coy when quizzed about his Reds future in the aftermath of Sunday's League Cup loss to Newcastle, but Slot will be absolutely desperate for his compatriot to extend his stay at Anfield beyond this season.

The Liverpool captain is irreplaceable in terms of his on-field contributions, as well as his influence in the dressing room, but replace him they may have to.

Even were Van Dijk to stay, however, Carragher still believes his former club "needs a centre-back as back-up to the two [Van Dijk and Konate] that we have," with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen reportedly on Liverpool's summer radar.

All of which points to one of the biggest squad overhauls in recent Reds history, with Carragher calling for the arrival of "at least five or six players - three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups - with still so many areas of the team to improve".

Liverpool free agents top Europe at £137m

Sky Sports' data journalist Adam Smith:

"Liverpool could lose £137m from players leaving the club as free agents this summer - more than any other club in Europe's top five leagues, according to Transfermarkt data.

"Reds trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all have deals set to expire at the end of this season.

"Their combined value is more than double the value of upcoming free agents at any other club in Europe's top five leagues, with Ligue 1 side Lille [£64.6m] next on the list.

"Alexander-Arnold commands the highest estimated value among this summer's potential free agents with a price tag of £63m, while Salah [£46.2m] ranks second and Van Dijk [£23.5m] ranks sixth."