How close is Alexander-Arnold to leaving Liverpool? | Kane speaks out over scheduling concerns | Tuchel leaves out Maguire due to form
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Teddy Draper and joining me are the Mirage chief football writer John Cross and the Athletics football correspondent Karl Anka. Welcome to you both. Let's start with the back page of The Guardian, their headline closer to the real deal, the Real deal. Madrid finalising five-year contract for...

for Trent Alexander-Arnold. John, I suppose what we're all trying to piece together here in the papers and elsewhere is just how close is he to Real Madrid and to leaving Liverpool?

Pretty close, Teddy, I would say. Pretty close. Yeah, can I use that? Look, it's a strange story, isn't it? And it's divided the papers. You see some have kind of done, most have got it on their back page, but basically some have splashed on it, some have chosen not to, and kind of it's their sort of anchor across the top or the bottom. Because I don't really feel it's moved on too much.

Having said that, it's an incredibly exciting story, I think, because he's a Liverpool star. He's fantastic for Liverpool. I love watching him play. He's one of England's most talented players. I love him. I think he's fabulous to watch. And he's going to Real Madrid, which...

with it, glamour, you know, pizzazz and absolutely everything. And his best mate thrown in too, you know, in Drew Benningham. You know, you can't wish for more, really. He's such a talented player, Teddy. It's almost a study, isn't it, in kind of modern journalism. And basically, one of the sort of kind of more renowned and sort of European journalists, football journalists, has sort of tweeted it and broke a story on it yesterday, last night, really. It picked up a little bit here, but

sort of online this morning, and you guys yourselves at Sky and sort of kind of Carl's colleague David Ornstein sort of checking it out this morning, sort of kind of saying, well, actually, it wasn't quite sold as seen. He's not quite agreed it yet, but talks are underway, firmly underway, and they're moving in the right direction.

I think we can all agree this one's going to happen, isn't it? But it's not absolutely signed, sealed and delivered yet because Real Madrid absolutely have to inform Liverpool of their intention. I must say, I'll be sorry to see him go. I think it'd be a sad loss for the Premier League and indeed English football just because I love talented different players. And my word, Trent, is that. I think he's great.

Almost unrivaled, isn't it, in terms of creative output, Carl? Back page or front page of the Daily Telegraph Sport as well have Real hopes rise of sealing Alexander-Arnold deal. Jason Burt reporting for them with the caveat John's mentioned and we've mentioned on air as well. As sources insist, no formal agreement has been reached. One is being worked on for the Liverpool vice-captain. What do Liverpool lose? What do Real gain? Because we're discussing pre-show, Carl, won't we? This is a man with extreme statistics going forward and...

Defensively as well, he's not your typical right back, that's for sure. No, he's one of the more unusual

right-backs were unusual creative players in the Premier League, even though he's normally stationed or normally fielded as a right-back. He plays a lot of time inverting into central midfield. I think 20% of his touches over the last two or three seasons occur pretty much in the D outside the penalty area, and he's threading all manner of fantastic through balls and diagonals. I mean, his relationship with Mohamed Salah ahead of him is phenomenal as well. So Real Madrid aren't necessarily getting a...

buccaneering, overlapping, attacking right back. They are getting perhaps one of the more unique right-sided creative football players the Premier League has seen since maybe David Beckham in terms of ball striking and the ability to finesse a football. So if he does depart, and while we're not quite calling the fire brigade, there seems to be some murmurs of smoke. Liverpool are going to be losing not only a homegrown, phenomenal academy graduate, but

but also just a fantastic player. I mean, John's already spoken about what a joy he is to watch and some of the passes he pulls off or can pull off. I think there's only maybe three other football players in the Premier League who can currently do the things Trent Alexander-Arnold can do with the football. And he's doing that from, for giving point and air quotes, right back.

Only Kevin De Bruyne has created more chances since 2016 than Trent, which is quite a statistic, John. Back page of the Star has the headline, this time we know it's for Ray Allen. Real, what do you make of this, John? He's won everything he can, won at Liverpool, possibly a 20th title incoming to equal Manchester United, but people unhappy that he's walking away perhaps without a transfer fee on the Liverpool side. How do you see that criticism?

Look, I do think it's become a thing, Teddy, and sort of Liverpool fans, you know, I mean, can you really begrudge, I think, Trent for leaving? I mean, he's, you know, I sort of almost flip it on its head, actually, and say a player has been loyal. He's seen out his contract. You know, he's not actually broken it. He's seen it out. And OK, the dangers of that is then you leave for free at the end of it.

But I don't think you can question his loyalty to Liverpool. I don't think you can question his commitment to Liverpool. Yes, in an ideal world, they would be selling him for a lot of money. But I actually think that when it all plans out, it's not as if he's joining a direct Premier League rival, for example.

I think he's doing it to kind of almost further himself and further his career. He's talked about this bold ambition, hasn't he? The first full-back to win the Ballon d'Or, which, you know, is quite something. I believe that when I see it, by the way. But I just think that he'd actually probably go to Madrid and actually be more appreciated in Spain because they're just...

enjoy more freedom and more sort of expansive, skilful style. And I think he will really feel a lot of love there and he'll go there. And I think he'll, you know, he'll really be a world beater. I do think he'll, he'll blow them away. This is a player that if he'd been playing in the Carabao Cup final, I guarantee you that he would have created one, probably two big chances and in a game where Liverpool really, really struggling for creativity. That's the difference that he is.

I actually think, I struggle to remember the game now, but he sort of kind of made a couple of mistakes in one game that I saw at Anfield early in the season and the fans sort of kind of turn and sort of kind of question his commitment. I think that's so brutally harsh. I think that's too much, really. And I think that basically, yes, they're upset and they're heartbroken and, you know, understandably so. But I think when it pans out, hopefully in time, they'll look back and actually give him the credit, huge credit that he deserves for being a wonderful part of their success. Well, Sivi can make history and win that ballot.

We were marveling before the show, John and I at least, how Roberto Carlos hadn't won it, but Carl wasn't so sure. We won't talk about that here, though, Carlos. It's one week for another day. But let's talk about Trent some more with the help of the Express. Real closing on Trent Deal. And I just wonder, something you alluded to there, some of the statistics on the Sky Sports website, a piece by Nick Wright, also suggesting that he is Mo Salah's main line of ammunition as well. How much restructuring will Liverpool's attack need if Trent does leave?

I mean, it's not just if Trent leaves. We're talking about a Liverpool off-season in Liverpool's summer window where Virgil van Dijk's contract is up for discussion, Mohamed Salah's contract is up for discussion. You talk to Liverpool fans and they would like...

some form of recruitment done at left back as well because Robinson, he's been a phenomenal club servant as well. He perhaps cannot get up and down the left wing in the same way they used to in the 2019 pomp. So there is a real scenario where Liverpool could need to completely rework both their left wing and their right wing

in the summer. Virgil van Dijk, I think, might be a different situation there. And of course, as well, they're probably going to have to rework their striking options because, as John has mentioned about the Carabao Cup final, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota didn't do particularly much in that game. And I think Arnaz Lot will have some thoughts about how he can

turn that team into more of his side as well. So a lot of work to be done with Liverpool this summer. And if you are an Arsenal fan or a Manchester City fan, I'm sure you're wondering, okay, they've won one or they're likely to win this Premier League title. How do we stop them from going back to back?

Yeah, absolutely. It's a big question, isn't it? Interested to see how Liverpool respond as well to the setbacks in the Champions League and League Cup final live on Sky Sports against Everton a week on Wednesday. Let's come to your paper, John. Change topics to Harry Kane and player welfare. Great headline in your paper. Mike Walters for you. We're being caned. What is the nuts and bolts? It is a good headline. What are the nuts and bolts of the story? Here we go.

Yeah, look, this is Harry Kane. A few of us spoke to him in the mix zone following that England game. And he was really powerful, sort of, you know, and really had a story to tell. I actually think Harry Kane is almost underestimated, undervalued as a kind of a spokesman. I think he's been a very, very good England captain. I think he communicates really well with the squad.

And basically when something needs to be said and he's got a view on it, Harry Kane is someone that will step forward. Strong views on this. Listen, on the one hand, he is saying that I think players appreciate and want to play in big tournaments like the Club World Cup, which of course runs just after England's final two matches in June.

until potentially right until the middle of July. And he's saying that basically we've got to be careful of player welfare here. We are the ones that are playing, but we are the ones that are not being consulted and listened to. And it's a really powerful message, actually.

But be absolutely clear, he's said all along that I want to play in this, but he's almost saying, give us the opportunity to play at our best, look after us, give us the rest we need, I think, and basically, you know, respect the players and their worth. The PFA have done really good, strong work on this and they've had lots to say on it and they carry a really good argument and case forward because the players...

I feel are playing too many games. We are seeing so many injuries this season. It's completely unfair on the professional athletes who are being asked and pushed too much to play too often. And I'm sorry, I get wound up when basically people always say, oh, what about these meaningless international games?

you know, they are representing their country. These players want to play for their country. Make no mistake about that. It's an honour. It's a huge honour for a lot of these players, you know, unprecedented. So let's get the balance right here and make it absolutely clear that somehow we need to get a, a,

a universal calendar, a FIFA calendar to fall into line so that basically players will get four weeks off. So they will get a proper rest. They can downtime. So they won't get hamstring injuries. So they won't get constant muscle pulls, which has been a feature of this Premier League season. Why? Because we are at the end of a kind of a three, four year cycle with no proper rest. It's, you know, it's getting ridiculous.

actually. And I have to say, a lot of players will buy into, I think the Club World Cup will be hugely successful. But let's not kid ourselves. Around that, either before or after, we need to facilitate proper breaks for players. It's not enough. And I think Kane sends a really powerful and warranted message. Serious topic with some fun headlines as well, Carl, including in the sun, Kane raps Star Trek song.

Trek to USA, Captain Slog harrying burnout blast at Club World Cup. What do you think the answer is, Carl? Do you feel that the players are, as John maybe suggests, they're victims of a battle between club and international football?

It's a battle between club and international football. I think it's a battle between clubs and players in general, right? This is an employment crisis. This has been mentioned repeatedly from FIFPro since before 2019. I remember going to Brussels and hearing Vincent Kompany talk about

about this. He was saying football players cannot be, you cannot ask football players to consistently play 60 games a season at high intensity without suffering burnout or mass injuries. And then what happened was the COVID-19 pandemic causing what we now have this sort of super truncated situation

footballing calendar we crammed the World Cup into a season and that World Cup in Qatar perhaps was at a better quality because it happened in the middle of the season rather than at the end when everyone's exhausted I thought Euro 2024 the quality perhaps wasn't there because players are running on 60% at best Declan Rice looked a little leggy if you look back as a semi-final against the Netherlands as well the solution in my opinion is a maximum minutes cap we have to

truly take it out of players' hands and say, OK, no football player can play more than a certain amount of 90 minutes or a certain amount of minutes per season, if only to preserve themselves. I'm really, really sad about players like Saka, who's suffered just a huge hamstring tear. I mean, I'm fearful. Is Saka going to be able to sprint with the same explosivity that he used to before? We need to save these players from themselves. Everyone agrees there's too many games of football. No one is in agreement in which games they should be cut because, unfortunately, football's making too much money.

Yeah, soft muscle injuries, like I say, hamstrings as well, really significant issue. Back page of the mail, John, we are ignored. Kane players scared of summer burnout, but no one's listening. John, get your thoughts on that maximum minutes. I suppose in other workplaces, it's maximum hours, isn't it? Turnaround of shifts when you can be on site. Do you think that is as simple as that? Something objective that the players sign up to for a 12 month period?

Yeah, I do think it's a really good idea that Carl talks about. You know, other people put it forward, haven't they? I do think there used to be an understanding that you would get a maximum of four-week break. That seems to have kind of almost disappeared and that seems to have been eaten up. And I think that's a great shame because, you know, these players are put through so much stress mentally and physically, right?

that by the time they come to the end of their campaign, if you like, they really need a rest. They need a complete break from it. Make no mistake about it. These guys are so highly attuned athletes. The vast majority will keep themselves ticking over even when they go away for luxury breaks. That's just the way they are and they're top professionals. But they still need a rest.

And I think you have to kind of have something into the schedule that maximises that four weeks. How can a player be asked to, you know, I think, be asked to play in excess of 60 games in a season, which happens and it's just wrong. And you see the effect on someone like Rodri. I mean, you know, how Manchester City have missed him. You know, Carl referenced Saka. What a player he is.

And actually, I'm afraid to say he's been over-trained, he's been over-played, and then you get what happens in December. That is not bad luck. That is over-training and over-playing, and it's completely unfair on the

players in what other industry would you basically be allowed to kind of put forward an employee knowing that there's a great chance of risk or injury it's ridiculous honestly it's gone to it has gone too far I completely agree with with Carl and the basic feed pro and making that sort of kind of the standard PFA and sort of representing um uh you know sort of Premier League players and below um in a really really you know strong powerful way but I

it is time that they are listened to. I do think that the Club World Cup could be, you know, quite exciting this summer and, you know, and sort of FIFA are absolutely adamant that basically they are listening to it. They are working on a sort of kind of, you know, a player welfare programme headed up by Arsene Wenger and a

You know, having said all that, I just think we have to think about minimums now. We have to put in complete, you know, ground rules about what players can and can't do because at the moment, not only are they getting injured, in my view, we're damaging the product because they're not at their best.

which is a massive aspect of it. And also, if we play too many games, at what point does football become overkill and we kind of almost kill the golden goose? Let's go to the back of the times. So then the England head coach, Thomas Tuchel, left out Maguire due to form Jonathan Northcroft

Now, John, I know you were in this press conference with Tuchel as well. Is it welcome candour, unnecessary candour? What do you make of this situation with Tuchel and Maguire? Well, I do think he's very honest. I've done every press conference that Tuchel has held and he's been really serially honest in each. Look, the question was...

And I actually asked him, well, you know, Anne Maguire has been fantastic for England. Obviously, you know, moving forward, can you see that he would be, you know, back in your plans? Because he's been so good for England. Absolutely, you know, amazing servant, really. And look, he made it very, very clear that on this occasion, his primary consideration was based on form and basically thought that Konza and Mark Gay were ahead of, you know, Maguire on merit.

And basically, yeah, the injury issue, and Maguire has been nursing a calf knock for a little bit, was almost sort of secondary. And so he made his judgment on form. He did say that Maguire's got a chance to come back,

but he's seriously, you know, searingly honest about players. He was quite critical after last week's win of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden, wasn't he? So I don't think he takes prisoners really, but I do think it's an interesting point because Maguire, I think, you know, has been such a character and such a leader for England. There's sort of kind of the focal point of this kind of resurgence under Gareth Southgate and it was absolutely fabulous. So he always sparks a debate and look,

I have to say it sounded to me as if Tuchel was sort of saying other guys are ahead of him now so he's really got to fight his way back. I do think he's fighting to save his England future here. An interesting note, Carl, in The Guardian as well, David Heitner reporting saying that he said that Maguire had not been helped by United's struggles this season or Ruben Amarim's preference for a back three. What are your thoughts on that?

Yeah, this is a really interesting tidbit. I mean, England played four at the back in their two most recent games. And I know Tuchel has a reputation for being fond of wingbacks, at least in England. But historically, throughout his career at Dortmund, at PSG, and previous clubs in the Bundesliga as well, he played

He prefers to play four at the back. I think the reason he went for three at the back of Chelsea is because you have a player as gifted as James, at least before the hamstring injuries, you let him fly that wing back. Maguire in the middle of a back three works. We know this in an English shirt. We also know that he has history playing on the left of a back three. However, the league table does not lie. Magician Knight haven't been in great form and Maguire is not getting any younger. So,

the only position he can really exist in, if you're playing a back 3's in the middle, and if you're playing 4 at the back,

And Maguire's aerial ability, I think, is still ahead of Konca and Gueye in both boxes. But Tuchel, with only 18 months on this contract, perhaps wants to go win now and move on from one of Gareth Southgate's dependables. It's an interesting case. I really, really thought Maguire would have a fantastic 2025, both for Manchester United and for England. He's the sort of centre-back where, in theory, Tuchel should love him. However, he's got to earn that now.

Yep, we'll see if he gets back from that calf problem. Plays for Manchester United in that Europa League effort. Stay with you, Carl, in the mail as well. Interesting story about Mike Keegan. Howard Webb revealing that top flight refs rake in £240,000 a year. I was going to ask you where I can send my CV or is it too late for me to be a ref? But I'll focus on something you said in our pre-show chat about the importance of pay in driving standards.

Yes, yes. I think we, everyone who watches football to any amount of degree has had some complaints about refereeing and it's how do you solve refereeing, improving refereeing and then

One of the simple answers, it may not be a popular one, is if you want better referees, you should pay them more. And I know the £240,000 a year number sounds like enough, but if you can pay more, it's particularly at two or three levels, the jump between semi-professional to the professional level. And then as you get higher up the table, so from level four and five towards the elite stage, if you can stop the drop-off, instead of treating refereeing like a vocation in the same way we treat perhaps teaching or nursing refereeing,

if you can make it an actual lucrative career choice that will get people to go, oh, look at that fee. Maybe let me get my boots on and try and give it a go. Like you just joked about there. That's how you improve every ring. Yeah, absolutely. That's making more us in the game, paying more. Yeah. And it's a game which comes with its drawbacks as well and certainly pressure, doesn't it?

that job. Want to talk Wales quickly, John? We've got about 20 seconds. Dragons drama in the eye. I know in the mirror you had turnout for the Brooks, but Brooks hits Leveller with second stoppage time goal of the game. In about 15 seconds, just summarise, not the Sunday morning style goal we saw there, but how good Bellamy's start's been.

Oh, fantastic. I think he's unbeaten in eight now, isn't it? And the point is here, Teddy, is they never know when they're beaten. I mean, you go behind in the 91st minute. Sure, you've lost the game, but no, David Brooks comes up in the 96th minute. That is a tribute to Bellamy's, you know, absolutely dressing room spirit and the spirit that he's instilled. Absolutely phenomenal start. Chuff for Wales. What a great result.