Image Credits: Imago Images
It was a frustrating night on the international stage for several Liverpool stars coming amid Brighton signing a former Liverpool goalkeeper.
Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all went out with the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the round of 32.
Germany suffered similar heartbreak against Paraguay, with Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz – who joined the club last summer – involved in the key moments but unable to prevent an upset.
Wirtz supplied the cross for Kai Havertz’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw after extra time, yet Paraguay’s Orlando Gill produced heroics in the shootout as the underdogs triumphed 4-3 on penalties to dump the four-time champions out.
While it was a night to forget for Liverpool faces at the World Cup, there has been movement on the women’s side, where clubs are already busy reshaping squads for 2026-27.
Brighton have agreed a deal with Spurs for Eleanor Heeps, who originally joined Tottenham from Liverpool in 2021 as an 18-year-old.
Heeps arrived at Tottenham having spent five years developing in the Reds’ academy system.
She impressed enough to earn a new contract running to 2028, then made her competitive debut in November 2024 with a clean sheet against Aston Villa in the Women’s League Cup, after spending time out on loan in the Women’s Championship with Blackburn Rovers, Coventry United and Sheffield United.
She has since clocked up six senior appearances across all competitions and been recognised with an England Under-23 call-up
Women’s first team head coach Dario Vidosic said of the transfer: “I am pleased to welcome Eleanor to the club and look forward to seeing her add good competition to our goalkeeping team.
“She has had different experiences at different levels and we hope this will help her get off to a good start with us.”