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Marcus Rashford was key in his side holding out for a draw in what was a frantic and exciting European tie at Camp Nou on Thursday.

Marcus Rashford was the game-changer yet again for Manchester United as they secured a 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou on Thursday.

The Red Devils looked strong in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie against Xavi's men but they were unfortunate to give away two fairly soft goals to Marcos Alonso and Raphinha.

Rashford produced a fine finish at the near post for United's first goal and a strong cross that resulted in an own goal from Jules Kounde, while Erik ten Hag owes a lot to Casemiro and Raphael Varane, who were solid when it came to the defensive work.

GOAL rates Manchester United's players from Camp Nou…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David de Gea (7/10):

  Made a strong save to deny Robert Lewandowski early and was reliable other than when Raphinha's long range effort snuck past him.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (4/10):

  Defensively horrendous as he ended up overwhelmed and made it easy for Barca to create danger from his side.

  Raphael Varane (8/10):

  Tasked with keeping Lewandowski quiet, he did well to prevent the hitman getting time on the ball.

  Luke Shaw (7/10):

  Another strong performance in the middle of defence for the away team, giving nothing away.

  Tyrell Malacia (6/10):

  Worked hard down the left side as always and put in some heavy tackles to keep Barca out. Pushed forward a lot to offer an option in attack, too.

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  Midfield

  Casemiro (8/10):

  Vital in protecting the back-four to maintain control in midfield and mopped behind the defence at times, but a nervy moment late on when he hit his team's post.

  Fred (7/10):

  Got forward to help out in attack but offered no challenge for Marcos Alonso for the opening goal. His neat pass set up Rashford's equaliser.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  Carved out big chances for the away side as their most creative player. Was their best player in the first half and was key in the second.

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  Attack

  Jadon Sancho (6/10):

  Wasted a great chance in the second half but helped create a good one for Rashford. Still should have done more to help out his side.

  Wout Weghorst (6/10):

  His poorly placed effort ruined a great goal scoring opportunity in the first half. Was busy pressing the Barca defence when United were out of possession.

  Marcus Rashford (8/10):

  A strong charge forward, neat touch and fine finish to equalise and then his cross started the trouble that resulted in Jules Kounde's own goal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):

  Came on in the last 10 minutes for Jadon Sancho but could did not get much of a chance to affect the game as Barca pushed for a late winner.

  Erik ten Hag (7/10):

  Set his team up well for a difficult trip to Camp Nou. They were the more dangerous team in the first half and responded well to going a goal down.

The Norwegian striker netted five goals in an amazing individual display as City secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals

An insatiable Erling Haaland tore RB Leipzig to shreds with five goals as Manchester City treated their fans to a 7-0 drubbing. The Norwegian's hunger for goals is never satisfied and this was an utter feast on a night in which records tumbled as fast as the visiting defenders.

Haaland scored five goals in a club match for the first time in his career, and also became City's all-time highest scorer in a single season, taking his tally for the campaign to 39 in all competitions.

>He also overtook Kylian Mbappe as the youngest player to reach 30 Champions League goals, and overtook Ruud van Nistelrooy as the fastest player to hit the milestone, doing so in only 25 matches compared to the former Netherlands' striker's 34.

🏆 TOP STORY: Liverpool's 'small club' celebrations slammed

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Are Man Utd doomed without Casemiro?

🚨 MUST READ: Where are the NXGN 2017 wonderkids now?

Haaland was helped by a resurgent performance from Kevin De Bruyne, who completed the rout with a highly-deserved late goal, and an impressive Jack Grealish.

GOAL rates Manchester City's players from the Etihad Stadium.

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (5/10):

  Hardly had to make any saves but was erratic on the ball and in the first half made a wild charge from his area, almost fouling Timo Werner.

  John Stones (7/10):

  Really solid in the unfamiliar role of right-back.

  Manuel Akanji (7/10):

  Was assured in possession and never let Werner or Emil Forsberg get a sniff of goal.

  Ruben Dias (8/10):

  Supported Ake all night, was dominant in the air and a whisker away from scoring with his header which came off the post before Haaland made sure it went in.

  Nathan Ake (7/10):

  Looked more dangerous in attack than against Crystal Palace.

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  Midfield

  Kevin De Bruyne (9/10):

  Orchestrated the thrashing then got the goal his performance deserved.

  Rodri (7/10):

  As physically strong as ever.

  Bernardo Silva (8/10):

  Highly energetic and incisive down the right wing.

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  Attack

  Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):

  Scored a superb goal and always kept Leipzig on their toes.

  Erling Haaland (10/10):

  Utterly formidable in every aspect and just wanted to keep on scoring. The only negative is he was not kept on the pitch for 90 minutes to see how many he could get.

  Jack Grealish (8/10):

  Was really positive on the ball and was constantly harrying Leipzig's defenders.

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  Subs & Manager

  Phil Foden (6/10):

  Did not manage to have a great impact as the game was already over by the time he came on.

  Riyad Mahrez (8/10):

  Was really lively and keen to help keep the goals flowing.

  Julian Alvarez (N/A):

  Will be disappointed not to have scored after replacing five-goal Haaland.

  Kalvin Phillips (N/A):

  Got some much-needed game time.

  Sergio Gomez (N/A):

  Gave City extra pace down the flanks when he came on.

  Pep Guardiola (8/10):

  Got his selection spot-on. But why did he have to take off Haaland?!

A number of Liverpool fans have been angered by the choice of referee for this week’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.

The Reds picked up a vital 2-0 win at home to Southampton last Saturday, keeping their top-four hopes alive this season.

On Thursday night, the champions make the trip to Old Trafford to face bitter rivals United, in what could be another pivotal evening in the battle for Champions League football.

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Jurgen Klopp is still yet to win there as Liverpool manager, and if that is still the case come Friday morning, his side’s top-four outlook could look extremely bleak.

Clashes between the Reds and United can often be feisty affairs, with referees crucial, in terms of keeping control of the contest.

It has been confirmed by a Premier League announcement that Anthony Taylor will take charge of Thursday’s match, which is a little baffling, considering he was born in Manchester. Paul Tierney, also of Greater Manchester, is on VAR duty.

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Liverpool fans unhappy with referee choice

These Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to provide their unhappy thoughts at Taylor’s appointment, saying it makes no sense.

“This surely has to be investigated @premierleague @LFC”

Credit: @LKingofeurope

“Should we even bother watching?”

Credit: @FullbackRole

“Couldn’t write it”

Credit: @DPrescott95

“I mean…..how?”

Credit: @GraemeKelly1

“They might as well just let Neville ref it.”

Credit: @tonymc589

“This better be fake, Bruno better get that peno spot polished”

Credit: @od_jay

“Might as well bring back Howard Webb out of retirement”

Credit: @hartsfortworth

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy at the Reds being linked with one Premier League star. Find out who it is here.

The Gunners host Jurgen Klopp's side in the Premier League on Sunday looking to maintain their spot at the top of the table

Arsenal host Liverpool on Sunday as they look to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League. 

Victory would see them open up a 14-point gap over the Reds and it would back up their convincing success over north London derby rivals Spurs last week.

Ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash with Jurgen Klopp’s side, GOAL takes a look at some of the big pre-match talking points, including the latest Arsenal team news and the predicted starting XI.

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  Arsenal team news

  Arsenal are in good shape heading into Sunday’s game.

  Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny are the two long-term absentees and they will remain sidelined until after the World Cup.

  Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt. He was not part of the squad against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League and did not train earlier in the week having limped away from the stadium following the north London derby.

  Arsenal will make a late call on the Ukraine international. If he is not deemed fit enough then Kieran Tierney will come in at left-back.

  Mikel Arteta rotated his squad massively for the Europa League game on Thursday night, leaving out a host of his senior players.

  But they will all return on Sunday as the Gunners look to build on their impressive start to the Premier League season.

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• Talking point

  There’s been lots of talk ahead of the game about whether Arsenal are ready to mount a serious challenge for the title.

  But a lot of that talk has been somewhat premature.

  Whilst the victory against Tottenham in the north London derby was impressive, beating Spurs at home is hardly a rare occurrence for Arsenal.

  In fact, they have beaten their neighbours on home territory in five of their last six league meetings at the Emirates.

  So that 3-1 success on its own does not make them serious contenders. Victory against Liverpool, however, would be a different story.

  Jurgen Klopp’s side have won six of the last seven Premier League meetings between the sides and also came out on top in the League Cup semi-final last season, winning 2-0 in north London.

  So if Arsenal could get the victory this time around then that would be far more of a statement in terms of what it could mean for the rest of the season than the win over Spurs last weekend.

  It would also see them move 14 points clear of Liverpool in the league table, which even at this early stage of the season would be a very big gap to try and close.

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  What has Arteta said?

  When asked by reporters whether Sunday's game was a chance for Arsenal to make a real statement about their ambitions this season, Arteta said: "Every game is the same. It is a big match.

  "It is a fixture everyone is looking for against an opponent that has shown in the last five to six years the level that they have.

  "We have to show against this opponent that we have raised the level and we are ready to compete against them.

  "I am very conscious we can get much better than we are today and there are a lot of aspects that we have to do better to be the team we want to be.

  "The challenge now is to do it every three days."

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  Key man

  From an Arsenal perspective, it has to be Gabriel Jesus.

  Can he get the better of Virgil van Dijk and set the tone for the rest of the team to follow in terms of his pressing and work rate from the front?

  Liverpool have looked shaky at times in defence this season and if Jesus can disrupt the backline and pull them out of position, that will be vital to Arsenal’s hopes of getting a result.

  Jesus has been sensational since joining Arsenal, scoring five goals, but this will be his toughest test to date.

  Liverpool will know that if they can keep the Brazilian quiet, then they will nullify the most potent part of the Arsenal attack.

  And that will allow them to try and take control of the game and get their danger men on the ball.

Leeds United’s away record under Marcelo Bielsa has been highlighted by an incredible statistic which emerged after their victory at Burnley this weekend.

The Lowdown: Leeds thump Burnley

The Whites were at their brilliant best on Saturday afternoon, winning 4-0 at Turf Moor and producing a scintillating second half performance. Mateusz Klich’s 44th-minute goal was later supplemented by a Jack Harrison strike and a brace from Rodrigo as Leeds’ impressive first season back in the Premier League continues.

The Latest: Superb statistic emerges

Bielsa’s side have excelled on the road in 2020/21 and Leeds-supporting Opta statistician Jonny Cooper revealed on Twitter how impressive they have been in away fixtures with regards to their record after scoring the first goal in a match:

“Truly bonkers away record under Marcelo Bielsa when scoring first. 30 wins from 31 games, 70 goals scored and only 14 conceded.”

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The Verdict: Memorable season for Leeds

The eye-opening statistic is a testament to the job that Bielsa is doing, with the Turf Moor triumph being Leeds’ ninth away win in this season’s Premier League. In that 31-match sequence, the 3-1 defeat at Chelsea in December is the only away game where they have lost after scoring first.

The Whites are not only a technically-gifted side with an admirable work ethic, but they are also resolute. Once they go ahead, opponents find it quite hard to get back into the game, and hopefully they can take this form with them into Elland Road next season also.

In other news, some Leeds fans were critical of one player after the victory at Burnley. Find out who it is here.

The World Cup champions romped to a 5-0 win in a friendly match, with a Mbappe brace plus goals from Giroud, Ben Yedder and Guendouzi sealing it for …

It's questionable as to whether Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos sent out the best available XI against France on Tuesday night.

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  A footballing lesson

  Bafana Bafana were out-classed, out-muscled and out-thought as they came up short in every department.

  The scoreline could have been worse had France not hit the woodwork a couple of times and had Ronwen Williams not made some great saves.

  It's doubtful a different SA starting XI would have influenced the result, but perhaps Bafana could have done better than they did had head coach Hugo Broos not made some seemingly surprising omissions from his starting XI, which GOAL highlights:

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  Keagan Dolly

  Bafana were all over the place in the first half and could barely keep a hold of the ball. Several of the youngsters lost their composure and Dolly's cool head, assured first touch and strength on the ball, could have helped the visitors to get some kind of foothold into the game. It's difficult to see why Lyle Foster, ineffective against Guinea, started in front of the Kaizer Chiefs attacker.

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  Bandile Shandu

  The Orlando Pirates player has been one of the best performers in the PSL this season and was also excellent against Guinea in the previous Bafana game. Instead, Broos started the more attack-minded Fagrie Lakay on the right wing, which left right-back Nyiko Mobbie exposed.

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  Khuliso Mudau

  Mudau was probably Bafana Bafana's man of the match against Guinea, so why drop him to the bench in place of Mobbie? Mudau should have been allowed to continue his promising partnership with Shandu. By the time Mudau was brought on, France were all over South Africa and his frustration ended in a red card.

Some Liverpool fans have been calling for the Reds to sign Ozan Kabak on a permanent deal following an impressive spell on loan at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp has had a torrid time of things at centre-back this season, with injuries in that area playing a major part in his team’s struggles during 2020/21. Virgil van Dijk has been out since October and Joe Gomez isn’t too far behind, while Joel Matip is also sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

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These issues meant that Klopp was forced into signing a new centre-back in the January transfer window, with Kabak arriving from Schalke 04 and Ben Davies also coming in from Preston.

The Turkish defender only joined on loan, but there was an option to buy him for £18m this summer, which journalist Fabrizio Romano claims is still the case [via Anfield Watch on Twitter].

Liverpool fans call for the Reds to sign Kabak permanently

These Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to get behind the idea of Kabak becoming a permanent Reds player moving forward, based on impressive performances such as the one against RB Leipzig last month.

“Have to pay it. You can’t lose money on a young player who’s that good already. Worst case you flip him for like £25million”

Credit: @rayan_heravi

“Make it happen. Time to move on for Matip I think. Too injury prone, think both him and us need a fresh start”

Credit: @my_sum

“Buy him and sell Matip”

Credit: @nathan_brauner1

“Please buy him”

Credit: @hezlfc

“LFC please I beg you. Sign him up. He has been fantastic. Save us the time for another trial and error”

Credit: @FcJurgen

“We better sign him”

Credit: @ynwaMattH

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a Bundesliga star and some supporters are excited. Read more here.

After one of the most remarkable European Cups in recent memory, Goal picks out the top performers from this year's competition

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  Alisson

  What a difference a great goalkeeper makes!

  This time last year, Liverpool were left counting the cost of Loris Karius' calamitous errors in their Champions League final showdown with Real Madrid. Now, they are heralding Alisson as the best goalkeeper in the world after the Brazilian helped them claim a sixth European Cup.

  Nobody made more saves than the Selecao No.1 in this season's tournament (46), he racked up the most recoveries (119), while his save percentage was better than any other shot-stopper to have made the knockout stage (79).

  It's fair to say that the £56 million ($71m) Liverpool paid Roma for Alisson last summer was money well spent.

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold

  Trent Alexander-Arnold may have been reluctant to accept any plaudits for the moment of inspiration that eliminated Barcelona in the semi-finals but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp didn't hold back when it came to the quickly-taken corner which caught the Catalans napping at Anfield: "Oh my God, genius!"

  Of course, we shouldn't have been surprised by Alexander-Arnold's deadly delivery. This, after all, is the man who this season broke the Premier League assists record for a defender (12).

  The 20-year-old hometown hero has been just as impressive in the Champions League.

  Alexander-Arnold's ranked second for successful crosses (22) and third for chances created (22) among defenders but it's also worth pointing out that he finished fifth for interceptions (18) and second for recoveries (78), only further emphasising his all-round excellence and perceptive reading of the game.

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  Virgil van Dijk

  Virgil van Dijk cost Liverpool £75m ($95m) yet that record-breaking fee for a defender is now looking like one of the best deals in the club's long and illustrious history.

  Since his arrival at Anfield in January 2018, the Reds have reached back-to-back Champions League finals, primarily due to the way in which the Dutch centre-half has completely transformed Jurgen Klopp's backline.

  Liverpool may have struggled on the road during the group stage, while Van Dijk had a rare off night against Barcelona at Camp Nou, but he has been colossal for the most part, even chipping with a couple of goals, the first of which was the killer second goal in the away win at Bayern Munich in the last 16.

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• Olaf Kraak
  

  Matthijs de Ligt

  "It's a dream getting crushed," Matthijs de Ligt admitted after Ajax's semi-final elimination against Tottenham. "I would have loved to play the final, but it's not happening."

  It may not have happened this year but, if the 19-year-old defender's performances in this season's tournament are anything to go by, it's only a matter of time before De Ligt realises his dream.

  The youngest captain in Ajax's history led his side to the last four with grace, grit and no end of inspiration, typified by the towering header which saw the Dutch champions knock out Juventus in their own backyard in Turin.

  De Ligt ranked second among defenders for recoveries, aerials won and possession won and whomever manages to sign him this summer will be acquiring one of the best centre-halves in the world.

As the new year looms, Goal looks back on some of the best and most significant moments in football during the last 12 months

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  Messi's audacious Clasico shirt celebration

  Back in April, as the 2016-17 Liga title race was heading towards a heated finale, Real Madrid and Barcelona locked horns at the Bernabeu. Barca came into the clash at the Bernabeu behind their bitter rivals and needed a win to haul themselves back into the title race.

  Things got off to a bad start for the Blaugrana as Casemiro fired Real ahead, but Lionel Messi cancelled it out five minutes later. Ivan Rakitic then put Barca ahead mid-way through the second half, but James Rodriguez struck in the final five minutes to haul Madrid level. However, Messi rose to the occasion once again, blasting the winner past Keylor Navas in the 92nd minute. 

  What followed was one of the most iconic images of 2017 and certainly one that will endure in the annals of Clasico history as Messi coolly held aloft his shirt in front of Real Madrid fans to mark his 500th Barca goal and the one that saw him overtake Alfredo Di Stefano as the all-time Clasico top scorer.

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  Messi single-handedly dragging Argentina to the World Cup

  As the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification cycle came to a conclusion it looked like Argentina might not make it. Defeats to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador, as well as too many draws, left the Albiceleste needing a win in their final in order to ensure their safe passage to Russia in 2018.

  The game against Ecuador in Quito got off to a disastrous start as Romario Ibarra shot Los Amarillos in front after the first minute and it looked like Jorge Sampaoli's men were set to miss out on a place at the world's biggest tournament for the first time since 1970.

  However, Messi was in no mood for such a narrative and he scored two goals within 10 minutes to put his country ahead before putting the icing on the cake with his hat-trick strike in the final 10 minutes. The Barcelona star had rescued his country and ensured that his talents will grace a fourth World Cup.

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  The retirement of Francesco Totti

  May 28, 2017 was an emotional day in Italy as one of its greatest sporting heroes brought the curtain down on his career. After 25 years, Francesco Totti finally called it a day and he was given his swan song as a second-half substitute in Roma's 3-2 victory over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

  The World Cup winner bid farewell to the faithful with a passionate and tearful address, delivered from the pitch and it is a moment that will, no doubt live long in the memory.

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  Real Madrid win consecutive Champions Leagues

  Real Madrid are the most successful team in the history of the Champions League and they made yet more history in June 2017 when they became the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the modern era.

  Real won the European Cup four years in succession in the 1950s, while Bayern Munich and Ajax each won it three times in a row in the 1970s. AC Milan won it twice in a row in the late 1980s, but notably no club had managed the feat since the adoption of the new format in 1992.

  Los Blancos blew Juventus away in the final, easily beating the Italian champions 4-1 in Cardiff, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

As part of the NxGn series, Goal takes a look at the most promising young players in the U.S. national team talent pool

The U.S. national team youth movement is in full swing, and we have already seen some teenagers break in early as they look to help the United States rebuild after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

The battle for playing time in Major League Soccer for teenage players continues to be a point of contention, with more and more fans calling for teams to "play their kids." Tyler Adams is leading the charge on that front as one of the New York Red Bulls' top players, while D.C. United's Chris Durkin has started to earn minutes with his club after making his MLS debut earlier this season.

Tim Weah earned his first U.S. cap in Tuesday's friendly win against Paraguay, capping a whirlwind start to 2018 that saw him make his first-team debut with Paris Saint-Germain. The 18-year-old forward has seen his stock rise considerably since impressing at last year's U-17 World Cup.

With Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie set to leave the teenage ranks with birthdays later this year, here is a look at the best American prospects born after 1998.

• 1Ulysses Llanez, LA Galaxy II

  Regarded as the top American prospect born in 2002, Llanez narrowly missed out making last year's U-17 World Cup squad and is already establishing himself as a top candidate for the next U.S. U-20 team. He impressed at the LA Galaxy's preseason training camp and, after making his pro debut with Galaxy II in 2017, Llanez should see an increased role this year with the USL side.

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• North Carolina State Athletics
  

  2Manny Perez, North Carolina State

  The U.S. Under-20 national team defender is an exciting right back prospect who would have been a top two pick in the 2018 MLS draft had he chosen to sign the Generation Adidas offer made to him. A solid defender who is dangerous in the attack, Perez should turn pro soon and is already generating interest from European scouts.

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  3Andrew Carleton, Atlanta United

  The former U.S. Under-17 national team playmaker enjoyed a breakout showing at the U-17 World Cup last year, but the question now is when and if he will have his chance with Atlanta United. Minutes have been tough to come by in 2018, but he has shown glimpses that suggest he could handle an increased role.

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  4Jonathan Amon, Nordsjaelland

  A speedy winger who started generating buzz after breaking through at Danish club Nordsjaelland at the end of 2017, Amon is a South Carolina native who could emerge as solid left wing option in the upcoming U.S. Under-20 national team cycle. Left wingers are hard to come by, and he's showing himself to be a dangerous one, although he's been sidelined by injury in recent months. He turned heads at the U.S. youth national team super camp in January.