Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

The Journey of a Reject to Liverpool LegendThere was the Barcelona comeback on the night he ruffled Lionel Messi's hair, the Champions League triumph in Madrid, winning Liverpool's first league title in 30 years and pressing five Manchester City players in one career-defining run at Anfield when 4-1 up. But the best feeling Andy Robertson experienced at Liverpool was "climbing the mountain" with Jürgen Klopp's all-conquering team. Nobody climbed higher or harder.The boy who was rejected by Celtic at 15 and tweeted: "Life at this age is rubbish with no money" after his debut for Queen's Park aged 18 became the man many consider to be Liverpool's finest left-back, and arguably the best in the world at his peak. With 377 fiercely committed appearances in a Liverpool shirt behind him, Robertson will say goodbye on Sunday. The 32-year-old Scotland captain leaves "with no regrets, no bitterness" and "glad that one of our Egyptian friends might take a bit more of the limelight. I can just sneak underneath that."The Climbing of the Mountain Together"We were on the most amazing journey ever, all together," he reflects. "When we started out Mo Salah didn't sign as the best player in the world or the best winger in the world. Virgil van Dijk had the potential to be but wasn't the best centre-back in the world. Alisson wasn't the best goalkeeper in the world. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] wasn't the best right-back in the world. Hendo [Jordan Henderson] was still trying to find his feet as captain. We were all just on this journey from the bottom to the very top together and climbing that mountain was the best feeling ever."Every day we came in knowing we were getting better and better and starting to click as a team. We'd beat teams in the tunnel. Genuinely. When I speak to my Scotland teammates, they were lining up in the tunnel and looking over thinking: 'We're going to need to run our socks off today to get anything.' And more often than not they didn't get anything."We had an unbelievable environment to express ourselves, to play with freedom, but in our minds we knew we had to work at 100%. That was obviously from the manager, from the coaches, and I think then all the staff and people behind the scenes bought into it and you had the whole training ground determined to achieve all our dreams. Everyone was on the same page and we just made magical things happen thankfully."The Impact of Tragedy and TransitionRobertson's reminiscence prompts an inevitable follow-up. Why does Liverpool not feel like that now? His reply stops everyone in their tracks, and brings home the tragic reality of what this season has entailed for the now deposed Premier League champions. "In terms of the club I am leaving behind I think we are not at the 2017 stage, we are at the transition stage," begins one of Diogo Jota's closest friends. The Liverpool forward's death in a car crash alongside his brother in north-western Spain last July cast a dark pall over the campaign."This year hasn't worked out for a variety of reasons. We can't hide away from it, and it is not an excuse, but what we went through in the summer no team will ever go through. No member of staff will go through. I hope they never go through it because the devastation we went through … football didn't matter. We didn't care about football for weeks. None of us wanted to train. You were getting treatment off physios and physios didn't want to treat you. That is the reality of it."As footballers we of course have a duty, we have to move on and we managed that. We started the season fairly well although it was still an emotional time for us. The [season-opening] Bournemouth game was ridiculously emotional with all of Jots' family being there. I think after the 20th minute you saw a real dip in performance because of the emotional impact that it had on all of us.The Future of Liverpool FC"But then the season has been inconsistent. We bought players that we all got excited about, and they will all have an unbelievable career at Liverpool. I have no doubt about that. But they are also young. The one thing I get annoyed about in football is that footballers do not control their price tag. The market controls it. These players will be successful for Liverpool but they probably need a bit of time."Then some players who have played at a ridiculously high level haven't played to that level. If you add all that in then we have had an inconsistent season and that is the huge frustration for us. We have been too easy to play against. There is no hiding away from that but I believe they have more than enough in that changing room to be successful for Liverpool again."

England's preparations for the 2026 World Cup are underway, with manager Thomas Tuchel working to finalize his squad. Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No 1 goalkeeper, while Harry Kane is irreplaceable up front. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look certain to start in midfield.The team's recent friendlies against Japan and Uruguay have provided some insights into Tuchel's plans. Marc Guéhi wore the captain's armband during the loss to Japan and is emerging as the senior centre-back. However, there are still many questions about the team's composition, particularly in defense and midfield.John Stones and Anthony Gordon face uncertain futures due to injuries and inconsistent form. Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be overlooked by Tuchel, despite his exceptional talent. The manager has been experimenting with different players and formations, including Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in various roles.The article also mentions several players who are likely to miss out on the World Cup, including Fikayo Tomori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ivan Toney. On the other hand, young players like Max Dowman and Archie Gray could be considered for wild-card picks.Tuchel's squad selection will be crucial in determining England's success in the 2026 World Cup. The team's predicted squad includes:Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.Defenders: Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Nico O'Reilly, Lewis Hall, Reece James, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento.Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, James Garner, Morgan Rogers.Forwards: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck.

Thomas Tuchel admitted with a wry smile that trying to assemble a cohesive side in just three days for the Uruguay friendly was "ridiculous," underscoring the chaotic nature of England’s recent international window. The match at Wembley ended in a 1‑1 draw with Uruguay, followed three days later by a 1‑0 loss to Japan. Tuchel framed these results as preferable to a harsher narrative, but the underlying issues were far more complex. Tuchel’s strategy hinged on a 24‑man squad for Uruguay, with the intention of auditioning fringe players, before bolstering the team with eleven established internationals for the Japan game. However, a cascade of injuries crippled his plans: John Stones withdrew with a fitness problem, Reece James was sidelined, Jude Bellingham arrived unfit, and later Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane all pulled out. These absences forced Tuchel to experiment with formations – a 4‑2‑4 against Japan featuring twin No 10s Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, and a hurriedly assembled setup against Uruguay after only four training sessions in three days. The result was a lackluster performance, with moments of technical skill but no decisive attacking thrust. Tuchel emphasized the concept of load management, noting the heavy minutes his players logged during a grueling club season. He argued that the friendlies allowed a lighter touch, yet the fatigue was evident, especially in the Japan match where he observed “clear signs of tiredness.” Despite the setbacks, Tuchel took responsibility for the tactical choices, stating, “I am responsible for changing the structure because I wanted to give us more security.” He also highlighted that the squad’s resilience in September, October and November will be crucial as they head toward the World Cup. Looking forward, Tuchel stressed that avoiding over‑exertion now could pay dividends in the summer, insisting, “We will not start doubting. We will not let go of our dream.” The manager’s candid assessment suggests a cautious approach to player workload as England prepares for the next competitive phase.

Arsenal manager Thomas Tuchel has defended Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka over their withdrawals from the England squad, citing '100% trust' in their integrity. The players were absent due to discomfort after the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.Rice and Saka reported for training but continued to feel discomfort, prompting them to stand down. Tuchel emphasized that the pair wanted to be involved but were clearly uncomfortable. He understands the optics of multiple Arsenal players being unavailable or withdrawing from international duty but stressed his trust in Rice and Saka's honesty.The withdrawals come amid a busy schedule for Premier League clubs, which Tuchel sees as a threat to England's World Cup hopes due to player fatigue. He noted that scans on Noni Madueke's knee were 'slightly better than his feeling but he will be out for some days'.Jude Bellingham will not play against Japan as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Jordan Henderson is unlikely to feature after following an individual program.

England and Uruguay ended in a 1-1 draw during their friendly match at Wembley Stadium. James Trafford, the Manchester City goalkeeper, made a quiet debut but was beaten by Fede Valverde's equalizing penalty, earning a rating of 6.Tino Livramento was untroubled in defense, supporting the attack with energetic runs, though connections were lacking, also scoring 6. Harry Maguire had a solid return to the international scene with booming passes and a set-piece threat, rated 6.Fikayo Tomori was unruffled in his first England appearance since November 2023, despite a toothless Uruguay attack, earning 6. Djed Spence was fine defensively but struggled as a right footer at left-back, checking back frequently, rated 6.Jordan Henderson was occasionally bypassed in midfield and offered little on the ball before being substituted at half-time, scoring 5. James Garner had a decent debut, delivering dangerous corners, rated 6.Noni Madueke won some corners but often held onto the ball too long and went off injured, earning 6. Phil Foden failed to deliver as the No 10 and may worry about his World Cup place, rated 5.Marcus Rashford had an underwhelming night, mostly dribbling into dead ends, scoring 5. Dominic Solanke tested Fernando Muslera from long range and worked hard without looking likely to score, rated 6.The substitutes had varied impacts: Jarrod Bowen was quiet, Adam Wharton offered urgent passing and a crucial block, Cole Palmer had a lively cameo and delivered the corner for the goal, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed wide from a free-kick.

Mohamed Salah's final game before announcing his departure from Liverpool FC was a fitting tribute to his legacy. In a match against Galatasaray, Salah scored a goal, showcasing the skills that have made him a legend at Anfield. Throughout his time at Liverpool, Salah has been part of two great trios: the forward line with Sadio Mané and Robert Firmino, and the right side with Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. His ability to score goals and create chances has been crucial to the team's success. Salah's statistics are impressive: 255 goals for the club, third on the all-time list behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. He has scored in 10 games in a row, a club record, and has scored 20 or more goals in a campaign for Liverpool eight seasons in a row. His most important goal was probably the penalty that set Liverpool on their way to victory in the 2019 Champions League final. His greatest goal, however, was his solo run in the 2-2 draw at home against Manchester City in October 2021. As Salah leaves Liverpool, his legacy will live on. He will be remembered as a club legend, and his contributions to the team's success will not be forgotten.