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Power Rankings: Champions League winners Liverpool end season on top

After Liverpool’s first UCL title since 2005, the FC crew discuss their silverware prospects going forward with a number of players in their prime.

Shaka Hislop explains how Alisson’s presence in goal and saves in key moments have been an invaluable asset for Liverpool this season.
In a reversal of the Premier League standings, European champions Liverpool came out on top against Manchester City.
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Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.

Champions League, Europa League success for Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs shows power of ‘London effect’

Tottenham’s new stadium, in a drab part of outer/north London, is a thing of wonder. Automatic taps that fill the glasses from beneath can deliver 10,000 pints a minute, everything is cash-free and the South Stand alone can seat 17,500 people: more than Bournemouth’s entire stadium. The new White Hart Lane also symbolizes a shift in soccer power: for the first time ever, the British capital is becoming a capital of the European game.

It’s no accident that London has produced three of this season’s…

Lionel Messi beats Kylian Mbappe to season-long Player Power Rankings crown

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was awarded the Creu du Sant Jordi, an award given to an individual who has served Catalonia in defense of its identity, either civically or culturally.

We kicked off the 2018-19 Player Power Rankings campaign nine long months ago, with some famous faces coming in and out of our top 10 all season, and some surprise entrants making their presences felt. With the domestic calendars now all wrapped up, we looked back on a season’s worth of Player Power Rankings to bring you our year-end top 10.

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Let us know what you think of the countdown by commenting on Twitter using #ESPNFCrankings.

Frenkie De Jong is joining Barcelona but it’s nothing he can’t handle

Stewart Robson shares his thoughts on the best young players under 21 years of age, identifying the ones he believes will become superstars.

De Jong, left, has become too big for Ajax already but the step-up in pressure and attention could prove testing in Barcelona.

Frenkie de Jong receives a back-pass standing still in the Ajax half. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric charge at him but the Dutch playmaker, who seems to have all the time in the world, turns full circle and then accelerates away, leaving Modric chasing helplessly behind him. Vinicius, who has missed him by meters, falls over. The scene is a thing of beauty, like Charlie Chaplin escaping a posse of cops. Ajax won 4-1 in the Bernabeu on March 5.

There are supposedly no secrets in…

Alaba’s title-winning showing tops Player Power Rankings ahead of Sterling

Following a fairy tale ending to their Bayern Munich careers, ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol chimes on the departing Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

ESPN FC’s Craig Burley can’t hold in his excitement after watching Manchester City’s dominant FA Cup victory over Watford.

David Alaba excelled in Bayern’s title-winning victory, while Raheem Sterling’s performance in Man City’s FA Cup triumph fell short with our panel. Our global editors pick their top 10 performers from the weekend.

Also receiving votes: Jean-Paul Boetius (Mainz).

Let us know what you think of the countdown by commenting on Twitter using #ESPNFCrankings.

Power Rankings: Liverpool and Tottenham continue to lead the way

ESPN FC’s Craig Burley explains why Liverpool shouldn’t be considered failures after they came up short in the title race.

Craig Burley says Manchester City justified his past declaration that they’re the best team in club football after they edged Liverpool to the title.

Relive the best moments of a title race for the ages, as Man City edged Liverpool to the Premier League title, winning by a single point.
The Champions League finalists still set the standard, while newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City have moved up.
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Dropping out: None
Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.

Mane tops Player Power Rankings as Silva, Mahrez split Man City vote

ESPN FC’s Craig Burley explains why Liverpool shouldn’t be considered failures after they came up short in the title race.

Steve Nicol shares his candid thoughts on Liverpool’s second place finish, as their 97 points set a record for the most ever by the runners-up.

Relive the best moments of a title race for the ages, as Man City edged Liverpool to the Premier League title, winning by a single point.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol praises Manchester City’s mentality and defensive superiority during their run-in to a second straight Premier league title.

Sadio Mane earned a share of the Golden Boot to top the Player Power Rankings, as our allegiances were split between a pair of Man City champions. Our global editors pick their top 10 performers from the weekend.

Also receiving votes: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain).

Let us know what you think of the countdown by commenting on Twitter using #ESPNFCrankings.

Has the USL found the way forward in soccer’s concussion problem?

Jan Vertonghen’s injury was the latest flash point to call attention to football’s treatment of head injuries.

The issue of head injuries in soccer — and how to diagnose them — has received more attention in recent weeks. The handling of an incident involving Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen, who returned to the field in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Ajax after suffering a head injury, was criticized in some quarters after the player nearly collapsed shortly after being cleared for play.

Now, for the first time, a league is prepared to take the on-field diagnosis…

Premier League way too early 2019-20 predictions

Craig Burley makes his very premature prediction of Premier League’s top six next season one day after Manchester City secured the 2018-19 title.
Man City were only crowned 2018-19 Premier League champions yesterday, but it is never to early to start looking ahead to next season. Will City repeat? Which club will surprise? Who is in trouble? And finally which top-six club is headed for a transition season?
Nick Ames takes a way too early peak at the 2019-20 campaign and makes a few projections regarding the next edition of the Premier League.
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Manchester City to make it a hat trick

Pep Guardiola’s side squeaked it to another Premier League…

Power Rankings: Liverpool leapfrog Barcelona into lead, Tottenham second

Steve Nicol says he feels guilty for doubting Liverpool could pull off a comeback against Barcelona and reach the Champions League final.

Steve Nicol and Shaka Hislop examine where things went wrong for Ajax, pointing out the instances in which their inexperience cost them against Tottenham.

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop weighs up who will stay and who will go at Barcelona following their UEFA Champions League exit against Liverpool.
Sensational comebacks are reflected at the top of Shaka’s latest Top 10, which is led by the participants in an all-English Champions League final.
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Dropping out: Atletico Madrid
Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.

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