Yan Diomande produced a standout display as Côte d’Ivoire opened their World Cup campaign with a 1–0 win over Ecuador. The 19-year-old winger, a target for Liverpool, provided a sustained reminder of why RB Leipzig will reportedly demand a fee in excess of $100 million.

From kickoff Diomande was the focal point of the Ivorian attack. He repeatedly beat Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié with bursts of acceleration and direct dribbling, creating multiple clear openings inside the first 20 minutes. A cut inside from the right supplied Elye Wahi with a close-range chance that Hernán Galindez comfortably collected, while a later byline run produced a cut-back that was blocked.

Diomande’s most dangerous first-half contribution arrived in the 37th minute when he evaded Hincapié and supplied a precise pass to Nicolas Pépé near the penalty spot. Alan Franco blocked Pépé’s eventual attempt, denying what was the clearest Ivorian chance of the opening 45 minutes. At halftime Diomande had created three chances, completed two of four dribbles and contributed four defensive actions.

He continued to dictate play after the break. In the 51st minute a run down the right led to a delivery toward Wahi that struck the crossbar. After Manchester United’s Amad Diallo entered in the 56th minute, Diomande switched to the left and forced another opportunity, beating two defenders before sending a shot over the crossbar.

Ecuador adjusted, and the teenager found himself double-marked in the final 20 minutes. His influence dipped in that period, but he still produced the match’s final dangerous action by powering away from Joel Ordóñez and Kevin Rodríguez before feeding Pépé. Diallo’s 90th-minute finish ultimately decided the match, but Diomande was widely the game’s standout player despite not registering a direct goal or assist.

Match statistics
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
xG + xA: 0.55
Accurate passes: 41/51 (80%)
Chances created: 5
Successful dribbles: 4/6 (67%)
Shots: 2
Duels won: 11/15 (73%)
Defensive contributions: 7

Arne Slot admitted he had no issues being viewed as the “bad guy” responsible for Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool this summer. With Slot no longer patrolling the Anfield touchline, speculation has shifted but concrete signs of a reversal remain limited.

Salah is focused on the World Cup with Egypt, yet an international teammate has suggested a possible change of heart. “The prospect of leaving Liverpool has affected Mo psychologically, but the situation might change and he could still stay with the team,” goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy insisted to ON Time Sports. “He even told me that he doesn’t know anything about his future yet.”

Liverpool recently named Salah on their retained list, submitted to the Premier League at the end of every season to confirm which players will depart on free transfers at the end of June. Legally, the process of his departure is underway. There is precedent for late reversals: in the summer of 2024 Millwall re-signed veteran defender Shaun Hutchinson less than three weeks after his contract was allowed to expire.

Nonetheless, multiple reports indicate there is little chance of the Egyptian staying with the Reds. Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, took to social media to downplay El Shenawy’s comments and to suggest the goalkeeper did not have full detail of negotiations. “Mohamed is doing perfectly fine and neither he nor I prefer to discuss sensitive future plans with people not involved in them,” he wrote. “Both he and I are very private about these things. Yes, people may ask and they may get a standard polite response but that’s about it.”

There is nothing in law preventing Salah from returning to Liverpool, but both parties are understood to have drawn a line under his nine years as a Red and there are currently no suggestions that he could continue beyond this summer. For years a move to the Saudi Pro League has appeared most likely; Salah admitted he came close to making that move before signing a new contract last summer. Interest in Saudi Arabia is believed to remain, while clubs in Major League Soccer and some in Europe are also thought to be options.

Curtis Jones’s situation is forcing Liverpool to weigh short-term registration needs against longer-term contract strategy.

Inter, who tracked Jones’s limited minutes in January, have renewed their interest this summer. Sporting director Piero Ausilio confirmed a fresh approach will be made and underlined the club’s continuing attention. “The interest in the lad was there in January and is still there now,” he confessed. “Jones is a player we’ve been paying attention to for some time. We tried to negotiate in January and we will try again. If we find a common ground, great. Otherwise, we will do something else.” Reports claim a $23 million (€20 million, £17 million) offer was rebuffed and that Liverpool are asking nearer $35 million (€30 million, £26 million). When asked about the valuation gap Ausilio said: “You say there’s minimal distance, but they’re not your millions!” he stressed.

At first glance the move looks like a modest transfer for a fringe player entering the final year of his contract. In practice it connects to wider squad-building questions that have followed Liverpool in recent seasons. The club allowed several senior elements of the core to move on without replacing homegrown registrations. Trent Alexander-Arnold left last summer and is set to be joined at Real Madrid by center back Ibrahima Konaté on a free transfer.

Those departures affected Liverpool’s European planning. UEFA rules require a minimum of eight homegrown players—those trained at a club in England for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21—in the squad. The consequence for failing to meet that quota is a blocked non-homegrown spot rather than a fine. For Liverpool, what could have been a 25-man Champions League roster ended up being restricted to 22.

Jones is one of the few homegrown players remaining. Selling him would further reduce European registrations unless another homegrown player is recruited. That trade-off presents a clear headache for manager Andoni Iraola. Being restricted to no more than 21 senior players for a Champions League campaign would be a huge problem for new manager Andoni Iraola. Keeping Jones helps registration but risks losing an unsettled player on a free transfer next year.