Rafa the Gaffa

#LFC fan. Also enjoy Boxing, Cricket, F1 and other sports. Likes havin a rant and retweeting random crap...
Music PS4 & 🍺
#YNWA #JFT96 #dontbuythesun

[Rafa the Gaffa @LFCTOMM]

@piersmorgan @benstokes38 Something more must of happened...

[The Rock Revival @TheRockRevival_]

The story of how Trevor Dietz discovered Fontaines D.C. 💚

[Anfield Fix @AnfieIdFix]

As sporting director, if you're seeing Anderson + Wharton for £100m, Fernandes for £85m, Scott for £80m, and your gut instinct isn't to immediately reopen contract talks with Jones, then leave the sport. Don't just leave my club. Leave the sport and isolate yourself from society

[talkSPORT @talkSPORT]

EXCLUSIVE: Ben Stokes 'to step down' as England captain and could retire from cricket https://t.co/6yHaMgmfO2

[𝗦𝗧🐺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿¹⁸ @WWFC_ST21]

End of the day they have some class stadiums, for the way they enjoy their sports and the theatrics etc, they’re perfect

For the way we enjoy football ours are perfect, better suited to us and we wouldn’t change them, now let’s stfu and enjoy the World Cup

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

England have their “scrimmage” game against Miami United at some point. It’ll be hot, a good work-out, a chance to assess corner routines, and bed in partnerships further. At least it is unlikely to be as confusing as England’s final Italia 90 warm-up - Gianfranco Zola’s Sardinia 2, England 10 - when Steve McMahon deliberately scored an own goal from the kick-off as a sign of what an own goal for England it would be if fans rioted during the tournament. Confusion reigned as England told the press in advance – but not the fans in the stadium.

Or as chaotic as before Euro 96 against the pink-shirted Hong Kong Golden Select XI who got one player off the beach, some others almost from retirement, to take on England at Happy Valley Stadium. England won 1-0 – and lifted the Golden Inventec Cup (doesn’t count for the years of hurt) and then headed off to the Dentist’s Chair. No caps but some sore heads.

Or as challenging as 2010 when England played Platinum Stars near their base/boot camp in Rustenburg. England gave away a pen, got slaughtered at half-time by Fabio Capello, Hart got shouted at by Capello “WHY??” during the game, the strikers didn't click. England won 3-0 but Rooney was almost dismissed for tangling, dissent then swearing. And everyone got deafened by vuvuzelas. #ENG

[FC Barcelona @FCBarcelona]

79' Origi scores, Liverpool now ahead on aggregate
🔵🔴 #LFCBarça (4-0, agg 4-3)

[Sky Sports Cricket @SkyCricket]

James Cole shares the latest on the ECB investigating a "breach of team protocols" involving England men's Test captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson following an incident at a nightclub.

[ESPNcricinfo @ESPNcricinfo]

NEW: Ben Stokes' future as England Test captain is in doubt after it was announced that he and Gus Atkinson are being investigated by the ECB for an undisclosed "incident" at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.

It is understood neither Stokes nor Atkinson were hurt in the incident, which also involved players from Saracens rugby club as part of their end-of-season celebrations.

ESPNcricinfo understands the incident, described by the ECB as "a breach of team protocols", is serious enough for Stokes to be considering his position as captain.

[James William @JamesWillliam_]

🚨Exclusive: Liverpool closing in on a deal for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande with the German club looking to secure a deal in excess of £90m. Yan Diomande was previously in talks with the current European champions Paris Saint-Germain however the French side cooled interest as they look to land Maghnes Akliouche.

#LFC

[The Rock Revival @TheRockRevival_]

If you could change one thing about music festivals, what would it be? 🤔

[Bennetts @bennetts_]

Heaviest pair this year.

[Test Match Special @bbctms]

And breathe!

Here's how day one unfolded at Lord's as the English Test summer began with wickets, wickets... and more wickets 🤯

[THE CLAUSE @theclauseuk]

Liverpool in their element…

Tickets already running low for dates on our biggest tour yet this winter. Grab them while you can x

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

Welcome to the Reds, Andoni 👋

[Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague]

How did the Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola moves unfold?

Both are represented by the same agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, which must have been tricky for him.

I'm convinced Xabi Alonso was Liverpool's top choice after Arne Slot, and Chelsea's No.1 target too.

The message coming back, though, was that Liverpool weren't prepared to move Slot.

When Chelsea entered the picture, the initial reaction was hesitation by his entourage. Chelsea? Not sure.

But gradually the idea grew on Xabi and his family. London. A young squad. No European football. Room for growth. A historic club with huge potential in the best league in the world. And the promised of changing the model as it has shown to be insufficient.

One phrase Xabi's camp kept repeating: "Two plus two is not always four."

The logical move might have been to wait. If things went wrong at Liverpool, perhaps the Anfield job would become available. Xabi once told me it was a dream to manage there.

But football doesn't always follow logic. In reality, only one manager in the world can truly pick and choose his next destination: Pep Guardiola.

So Chelsea went for it in a big way and Xabi accepted.

When Liverpool eventually moved for a new manager, Richard Hughes already knew Iraola well. And the more you think about it, the more it makes sense.

Iraola's values fit Liverpool. He's Basque, and there are surprising similarities with Scouse culture: collectivism, humility, hard work, generosity, community spirit. He sees himself as part of a bigger whole rather than the centre of it.

It's impossible to say who would have been the better appointment. Xabi Alonso is further along in his managerial journey. Iraola is still building his path.

But what they share is a deep understanding of the game and of what modern football demands.

My feeling? Both are going to succeed.

[The Rock Revival @TheRockRevival_]

The Kairos covering 'Left Hand Free' by alt-J (Live for The Rock Revival)

What a cover 🔥

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨💣 BREAKING: Liverpool reach agreement in principle to appoint Andoni Iraola as new manager, here we go! 🔴🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

Exclusive story from Saturday, 100% confirmed: Arne Slot left and Iraola will lead #LFC project, as expected.

Talks advanced over last 48h and deal in place.

[Aaron Warburton @AaronWar_]

Assuming England win Group L, this would be their most likely route to the 2026 World Cup Final.

[The Figen @TheFigen_]

43 years ago, Michael Jackson walked on stage wearing that fedora and introduced the moonwalk to the world during his iconic Billie Jean performance.
Pure magic that still blows minds today…