O Santos perdeu para o RB Bragantino fora de casa por 2 a 0, em jogo válido pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Com péssima atuação de todo setor defensivo, o Peixe foi amplamente dominado pelo rival e escapou de levar uma goleada. Assista no vídeo acima os melhores momentos da partida.
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After a disappointing season in 2024/25, Manchester City will be desperate to bounce back next term. Pep Guardiola’s side have been active in the summer transfer window, as they look to improve on their third-place finish and Champions League play-off elimination to Real Madrid.
There have already been six new faces through the door at the Etihad Stadium this summer. Rayan Cherki, his namesake Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders all joined before the Club World Cup, a competition City were dumped out of at the quarter-final stage. They’ve also added young talent Sverre Nypan, and goalkeepers James Trafford and Marcus Betinelli.
With two shot-stoppers already signed this summer, it seems that Guardiola wants to bring in a third.
Manchester City’s next summer target
It seems like it will be all change for City this summer between the posts. Two new faces are already signed, and Ederson could leave, with reports at the start of the month suggesting Galatasaray could pursue a move.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, City are lining up a move for another new goalkeeper, with Football Insider claiming they ‘are entering the race’ to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Gianluigi Donnarumma.
They have recently ‘expressed an interest’ in signing the Italian and Hugo Viana’s transfer team are now ‘exploring a move’ for the goalkeeper.
However, this will not be a straightforward deal to do. City are set to face competition from arch-rivals Manchester United, who are also interested in a move for the Euro 2020 winner. As for the fee, it was reported that as much as £43m would be enough to seal the deal for City in the coming weeks.
Why Donnaraumma would be a good signing
One of the heroes of PSG’s Champions League victory last season, Italian shot-stopper Donnarumma, is about to enter his peak years.
He is just 26 years of age, having first broken through for AC Milan back in 2015/16. Back then, he was described as a “phenom” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Last term, that ability shone through as PSG lifted their first Champions League title. He conceded just 43 goals in 47 games for the French giants, keeping 17 clean sheets in that time.
It is saves like that one against Leandro Trossard which led him to be nominated for the Yashin Trophy. Indeed, Donnarumma’s stats from the 2024/25 Champions League campaign are superb.
In 15 matches, he conceded 14 goals and had a save percentage of 72%.
Clean sheets
0.4
6
Goals conceded
0.9
14
Expected goals conceded
1xGC
15.7xGC
Saves
2.3
36
Save percentage
72%
72%
Accurate long balls
3.6
55
Goals prevented
0.11
1.69
Interestingly, too, there could certainly be similarities drawn between Donnarumma and former City maverick Mario Balotelli. The journeyman centre-forward was once described as a “crazy” character but “one of the nicest guys ever” by former teammate at the Etihad Stadium, Micah Richards.
Away from some of the controversy that followed the former Italy striker, he was an important player for City, helping them to win the Premier League in 2011/12.
That season, he bagged 13 goals in 23 top-flight games, and ended his career in East Manchester with 30 strikes in 80 appearances.
Already, the similarities are there to see. Two Italian superstars who have both been in the spotlight for a number of years. In fact, the word “crazy” was also used to describe Donnarumma, who said himself back in 2017 that he is “the most crazy one in the team”.
Of course, let’s not forget, Balotelli is also a former Milan player, just like the Italy goalkeeper. That further increases the similarities between the pair, with their careers potentially crossing over in many ways.
It is easy to see how Donnarumma could be the second coming of Balotelli. Both are strong characters who have dealt with the pressure of the spotlight and know a thing or two about winning.
City fans would surely love to have a character as big as Donnarumma in the dressing room, in what could be seen as a real throwback to Balotelli’s time at the club.
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Celtic are said to be keeping tabs on a “unique” attacking player during the summer transfer window, as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his forward options.
Celtic in need of Kuhn replacement
The Hoops are on the verge of losing star winger Nicolas Kuhn to Serie A side Como this summer, with the 25-year-old closing in on a move there.
While losing such a talented attacking player is clearly a setback for Celtic, ahead of the defence of their Scottish Premiership title, Rodgers has found positives to it, calling it good business for all parties.
“He’s come in and in the 18 months he’s done absolutely fantastic for us. He was aware of interest towards the end of last season and that sort of followed through. Other teams have joined in that interest over the summer and that’s why a lot of the young players come.
“It’s a wonderful, brilliant club to come to develop and improve. And you can see within a short period of time, 18 months, he’s now getting the move that he wants. He’s done brilliant for us in the 18 months and if he does end up going and signing for Como then it’s great business all round.”
It’s now a case of Celtic finding a strong replacement for Kuhn this summer, with a bid already made for Isak Jansson, and it appears they are also planning for the long haul with the pursuit of a rising young talent from Italy.
Celtic keeping tabs on Italian striker
According to a new update from SportMediaSet [via Celts Are Here], Celtic are interested in signing young Napoli striker Giuseppe Ambrosino this summer.
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The 21-year-old is seen as a strong option to bolster the Hoops’ attacking options next season, having scored five goals in Serie B on loan at Frosinone in 2024/25.
Ambrosino may still be a relatively unproven player at a high level, but his long-term ceiling is clear, having scored seven goals for Italy across three separate youth teams, as well as being hailed as “unique” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.
His agency, GG11, have facilitated around £100m worth of deals for rising talents in Italy to move to the UK in the past, representing the likes of Hamed Junior Traore to Bournemouth, Lucas Torreira to Arsenal and Tottenham duo Guglielmo Vicario and Radu Drăgușin in moves from Italian clubs.
At 21, there is so much time for Ambrosino to mature as a player, developing under the talented Rodgers, but it remains to be seen how easy it will be to get a deal over the line, even on a loan basis.
Italy Under-21s
11
2
Italy Under-20s
12
4
Italy Under-19s
8
1
The report points out that the Italian may want to continue his development in Serie A, but the hope is that the lure of joining a huge British club is too great to ignore.
ECB also confirms first women’s Test at Lord’s when India return in 2026 summer
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2024England have announced their home fixtures for next season, with the men’s and women’s teams taking on India during concurrent series in the middle of summer. The ECB has also confirmed that Lord’s will host its first women’s Test when India return for a one-off game in 2026.The 2025 season will see a joint visit by West Indies men’s and women’s teams, while England Men will face Zimbabwe in a one-off Test before finishing the summer by hosting South Africa for ODI and T20I series.The international season commences at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury on May 21, with England Women playing West Indies in the first of three T20Is, to be followed by three ODIs.The men will begin with a four-day Test against Zimbabwe – their first international meeting since the 2007 World T20 – to be staged at Trent Bridge from May 22-25, before the white-ball teams play three ODIs and three T20Is against West Indies.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland Men’s five-Test series against India will kick off at Headingley on June 20, before back-to-back games at Edgbaston and Lord’s, followed by Old Trafford and The Oval.At the same time, England Women will take on India in five T20Is, the first of which will be at Trent Bridge on June 28, followed by a three-match ODI series that will also see the teams play at Lord’s.With the Hundred likely to take up much of August, England Men’s international programme will conclude with six white-ball games against South Africa before travelling to Ireland for a three-match ODI series.”Staging England Men’s and England Women’s series alongside each other has been popular with fans and supported the continued growth of the women’s game, with both the Ashes last year and the Pakistan series earlier this year proving successful,” Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive officer, said.”I’m excited we’ll be doing the same again for the West Indies and India series next year. Cricket fans are in for a real treat, and I hope they’ll be out in force to support both men’s and women’s sides.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”India touring is always a big draw and a highlight of any cricket summer. The last men’s Test series here was a nailbiter and I’m sure next year’s clash will be just as exciting, while our women’s series are always fiercely competitive. I’m delighted we’ll also be welcoming both West Indies teams back again for white-ball series, following this year’s men’s Test series.”To be welcoming Zimbabwe back for a men’s Test Match will be a historic moment, more than 20 years since their last visit. Test cricket is so beloved in this country, and we know that we have an important role to play in supporting developing Test-cricketing nations so that this format of the game thrives long into the future.”I’m also delighted we can confirm that India Women will return in 2026 to take on England Women in the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s. It will be a truly special occasion, and one of real significance.”England home international fixtures 2025England Women vs West Indies Women 1st Vitality T20I – May 21, Canterbury 2nd Vitality T20I – May 23, Hove 3rd Vitality T20I – May 26, Chelmsford1st Metro Bank ODI – May 30, Derby 2nd Metro Bank ODI – June 4, Leicester 3rd Metro Bank ODI – June 7, TauntonEngland Men vs Zimbabwe Men Only Rothesay Men’s Test – May 22-25, Trent BridgeEngland Men vs West Indies Men 1st Metro Bank ODI – May 29, Edgbaston 2nd Metro Bank ODI – June 1, Cardiff 3rd Metro Bank ODI – June 3, The Kia Oval1st Vitality T20I – June 6, Chester-le-Street 2nd Vitality T20I – June 8, Bristol 3rd Vitality T20I – June 10, SouthamptonEngland Men vs India Men 1st Rothesay Test – June 20-24, Headingley 2nd Rothesay Test – July 1-6, Edgbaston 3rd Rothesay Test – July 10-14, Lord’s 4th Rothesay Test – July 23-27, Emirates Old Trafford 5th Rothesay Test – July 31- August 4, The Kia OvalEngland Women vs India Women 1st Vitality T20I – June 28, Trent Bridge 2nd Vitality T20I – July 1, Bristol 3rd Vitality T20I – July 4, The Kia Oval 4th Vitality T20I – July 9, Emirates Old Trafford 5th Vitality T20I – July 12, Edgbaston1st Metro Bank ODI – July 16, Southampton 2nd Metro Bank ODI – July 19, Lord’s 3rd Metro Bank ODI – July 22, Chester-le-StreetEngland Men vs South Africa Men 1st Metro Bank ODI – September 2, Headingley 2nd Metro Bank ODI – September 4, Lord’s 3rd Metro Bank ODI – September 7, Utilita Bowl1st Vitality T20I – September 10, Cardiff 2nd Vitality T20I – September 12, Emirates Old Trafford 3rd Vitality T20I – September 14, Trent Bridge
Having secured Champions League qualification by the skin of their teeth last season, Newcastle United are under no pressure to sell players this summer.
Of course, Eddie Howe will still have to comply with Profit and Sustainability (PSR) regulations in order to make sure the club are balancing the books this summer.
The last time Newcastle played in Europe’s premier club competition, they failed to make it out of the group stages.
Howe will be expecting a much better showing this time around, although this means simultaneously keeping his star players while adding in much-needed squad depth.
Alexander Isak has been the subject of links to Liverpool recently, following on from another wonderful campaign on Tyneside.
The Toon are not willing to let their star striker leave, never mind selling to a Premier League rival. As such, they have placed a valuation of around £150m on his head.
Whether this deters potential suitors or not remains to be seen, but the Swedish centre-forward does appear happy at the club.
He isn’t the only player attracting interest of late. Indeed, winger Anthony Gordon is another who enjoyed a productive season in 2024/25.
While Isak appears indispensable to the club’s success next term, could Gordon be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in?
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Anthony Gordon
Any move may cost around £75m as both Chelsea and Arsenal have joined the Anfield side in declaring their interest in the former Everton sensation.
Last season, Gordon registered 16 goal contributions – nine goals and seven assists – in all competitions for the Magpies.
While he didn’t play in the League Cup final, the winger scored twice on the club’s road to the trophy, and his efforts in the Premier League sealed a top-five finish for the Toon.
Goals
6
Assists
5
Big chances created
6
Key passes per game
1.5
Successful dribbles per game
1.1
Shots per game
1.7
Via Sofascore
When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last season, Gordon ranked in the top 7% for crosses into the penalty area (0.63) per 90 and in the top 5% for fouls drawn (2.63) per 90, proving how much of a menace he is down the flanks.
It is perhaps no wonder that so many clubs are keen on signing the Englishman, especially as he isn’t even the finished article yet.
Will Howe be prepared to accept an offer worth around £75m for the player? Especially as it could fund a few potential signings this summer?
That much remains to be seen, but if so, the club will need to spend in order to sign an able replacement. That’s for sure.
It appears as though Howe has already targeted a youngster who could potentially fill the void left by Gordon. Should he depart Newcastle, that is.
Newcastle eye move for French sensation
Howe has been working hard on trying to make something happen this summer in terms of incoming signings.
Players such as Jadon Sancho, Marc Guehi, and even Marc-Andre Ter Stegen have all been linked with moves to Newcastle in recent weeks.
All three would be excellent signings, without a shadow of a doubt, but the lack of progress is slightly worrying.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
Now, according to ESPN, Newcastle are one of the clubs lining up a deal for Lyon starlet Malick Fofana this summer, although they face some stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea, Everton, Brighton, and Fulham for his signature.
As per the report, Fofana could cost around £45m, which, for a player of his age and lack of experience, is an astronomical amount. His ceiling for development is massive, however, which could entice Howe into making a swoop for the 20-year-old, especially if Gordon goes.
Fofana is a right-footed winger who likes to play on the left, and he would be the perfect replacement for the Englishman.
Why Newcastle must sign Malick Fofana
The youngster has already made his senior debut for Belgium after what was a breakthrough season with Lyon in 2024/25.
Indeed, across 41 games in all competitions for the French side, he scored 11 goals and grabbed a further six assists, showcasing his ‘explosive’ skillset, as it was labelled by Astorre Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines.
It was in the Europa League where the talented winger really demonstrated his talents. Not only did he record an impressive eight goal contributions in the competition, but he shone in a range of metrics.
When compared to his positional peers, he ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05) per 90, while also ranking in the top 1% for touches in the opposition penalty area (8.23) and for progressive carries (7.88) per 90 in the tournament.
This certainly proves that he loves taking on defenders regularly, while taking the ball into dangerous zones during matches.
His eye for goal could also be advantageous for Howe, who would look for a goalscoring winger to replace Gordon. Fofana is only going to get better, too, that’s for sure.
Fofana was hailed by U23 scout Antonio Mango for his “game-changing potential” late last year and certainly showcased his talents for Lyon throughout 2024/25.
He even starred in Ligue 1 for the French side. The youngster created six big chances and succeeded with 0.8 dribbles per game.
Lyon's Malick Fofana against AC Milan.
There is no doubt that he is ready to take the next step. After shining in the Europa League, could the Champions League be the platform for him to continue his development?
Howe must think so, and while a fee of £45m is big, especially given his lack of experience on the biggest stage, he must think of the long-term future.
Fofana could be a player who eventually brings the club a major profit a few years down the line, which will go a long way in his thinking, given his impressive form for Lyon, which suggests that he could be a brilliant replacement for Gordon.
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The Magpies are well in the fight to land their man…
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin seems like he might leave the club on a free transfer in the summer.
After a 239-game stint with the Toffees, he seems set to depart after failing to agree upon a new contract. West Ham United are seemingly ready to pounce, with Football Transfers reporting that they have made contact over a summer move.
With 57 Everton goals to his name in the Premier League, there is no doubt Calvert-Lewin made a real name for himself during his time at Goodison Park. However, he fell well short of Romelu Lukaku’s tally for the Toffees, and it feels like they are yet to find an attacker who can dazzle just as he did in Merseyside.
Ex-Everton forward Romelu Lukaku.
Well, that could all change this summer, if transfer rumours into the club are to be believed.
Everton’s exciting attacking target
The Toffees have certainly struggled to find an attacker who can get anywhere near the quality Lukaku brought to the club. This is not a slight on other players, but praise to their all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League.
Maybe Jack Grealish can be the man to fill Lukaku’s shoes from a quality point of view. A recent report from The Telegraph suggests Tottenham Hotspur ‘will not enter the race’ for the attacker, and Scudetto winners Napoli ‘will not match’ his wage demands, thus making the Toffees one of the favourites to sign him should they follow up on their recent interest.
Manchester City's JackGrealishduring the warm up before the match
On the 11th June, Football Insider broke the news that Grealish ‘favours a move to Everton’ over another rival club, Newcastle United.
However, wage demands would be an issue, and any move for the Manchester City attacker would ‘need to be a loan deal’ this summer, particularly as he has a £50m price tag.
Why Grealish would be a good signing for Everton
The 2024/25 season has obviously not been what Grealish might have hoped for at the Etihad Stadium.
He played just 32 games, scoring and assisting eight times, and failed to make City’s Club World Cup squad.
Manchester City's JackGrealishon the substitutes bench
Yet, Grealish is an “inevitable” footballer, according to Statman Dave, and players like that always come good. His talent was on show for all to see as a City player in previous campaigns, including the famous treble-winning season of 2022/23, where he played 50 games and contributed to 16 goals, creating a whopping 94 chances across the season, as per Sofascore.
Grealish key stats in 2022/23 season
Stat (all comps)
Per 90 minutes
Total
Chances created
2.4
94
Big chances created
0.4
16
Dribbles completed
1.9
74
Tackles and interceptions
1.3
50
Expected goal involvements
0.39xGI
14.93xGI
Goal involvements
0.4
16
Stats from Sofascore
On top of that, let’s not forget the impact the England international had at Villa Park, for his boyhood club, Aston Villa. He played 213 games for the West Midlands side, scoring 32 goals and grabbing 43 assists, numbers that promoted a remarkable £100m move.
His goal away to Manchester United, when he was still donning the Claret and Blue of the Villans, showed exactly what he can do. Arguably his best goal for the club, Grealish picked up a loose ball on the left-hand corner of the box, before cutting inside and bending an effort into the far corner.
Moments like that are strong evidence for how Grealish can become Everton’s best attacker since Lukaku. Not necessarily in the same vein of goalscoring form, of course. After all, the Belgian legend is their all-time Premier League top scorer, with 68 strikes, whereas Grealish’s game is more well-rounded.
He certainly has the ability to change a game, like the 32-year-old, who bagged 87 goals for the Toffees in 166 games. Described as “the complete striker” by former boss Roberto Martinez, he was often a catalyst to their success.
That is what Grealish can replicate in an Everton shirt. Like Lukaku, he has that maverick instinct, someone who can flip a game on its head and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. That has been on show countless times for City and Villa.
Although this might only be a temporary deal, signing Grealish would surely be a fantastic piece of business for the Merseyside club.
The excitement and dynamism he would bring could certainly replicate what Lukaku brought to the table. The 29-year-old could, without doubt, be their best attacker since the legendary Belgian.
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And so, it all comes down to this. A pivotal game that could not only define a season, but also define the future of Manchester United.
Victory in the Europa League final would see United sneak into next year’s Champions League, providing the benefit of additional funds and an extra negotiating tool for upcoming transfer negotiations.
It would also provide a welcome boost for the early Ruben Amorim regime, a moment to kickstart a tenure that has been largely wretched on the Premier League front.
The Portuguese coach has repeatedly stated that winning the competition would not be enough to “save” the club’s season, although the prospect of potentially finishing empty-handed and in 17th in the table is too grim to ponder.
In truth, the Red Devils simply have to win. The problem is, the same will be true of Tottenham Hotspur, amid the need to end their own 17-year barren run with regard to silverware.
With so much riding on a game of immense magnitude, Amorim and co can’t afford any passengers – something which a certain Rasmus Hojlund is looking like right now.
Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Chelsea
While Ange Postecoglou took the decision to rest his key men against Aston Villa on Friday – with Micky van de Ven among those left out of the matchday squad at Villa Park – Amorim opted for a different approach at Chelsea, having deployed what could well be his starting lineup for tonight’s clash in Bilbao.
The worry for the former Sporting CP boss will be that despite an encouraging opening, which saw Harry Maguire’s fine finish chalked off for offside, the Red Devils still ended up on the losing side, having again failed to provide that cutting edge in the final third.
Amid what was the eighth league game in succession without a win for the Old Trafford side, chances were few and far between, with Amad Diallo coming closest with an effort from the angle late on.
For Hojlund, meanwhile, it represented yet another game this season in which he failed to even register a shot in the top-flight, having merely been a bystander to proceedings at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, the struggling Dane lost the ball on 13 occasions from his 26 touches, as per Sofascore, having also failed to complete a single successful dribble, alongside recording a 65% pass accuracy rate.
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A particular issue remains the 22-year-old’s desire to engage in needless battles with opposition centre-backs, as he ultimately won just two of his 11 total duels, getting little change out of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.
Amorim subsequently stated that he is “really happy” with the former Atalanta man, although perhaps the Portuguese is merely attempting to gee up the misfiring marksman, amid the lack of an obvious alternative through the middle.
Games (starts)
14 (10)
Goals
6
Shots*
1.5
Big chances missed
4
Goal frequency
154min
Assists
2
Big chances created
5
Key passes*
1.3
Total duels won*
36%
Possession lost*
5.4
Indeed, it might be time to consider actually replacing Hojlund with a wildcard solution, even if it would be a risk in a game of such importance…
How Man Utd can replace Hojlund
With just ten goals to his name in 2024/25, including just four in the top-flight, Hojlund is approaching the end of a miserable second season in Manchester, having failed to build on a debut campaign that saw him finish as the club’s highest scorer in all competitions.
Those woes have ensured that it would be worth considering a potential centre-forward replacement for Wednesday night’s clash, albeit with options limited due to Joshua Zirkzee’s recent absence through injury.
The Dutchman has been pictured in training, alongside Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot, although whether he will be rushed back into the action this evening remains to be seen.
One solution may be to trial Kobbie Mainoo in that role once again, following his surprise start as a striker against Crystal Palace in February, albeit with that experiment failing to work out as the youngster ‘faded after the first 15 minutes’, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Man Utd top scorers
The aforementioned Maguire, meanwhile, should surely only be a last resort in the dying embers of a game, with the Englishman needed to hold the fort defensively, amid concerns over the likes of Matthijs de Ligt.
With that in mind, Amorim may instead need to call upon talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, to slot into a false nine berth, with the 30-year-old yet to be trialled in that role in this 3-4-3 system.
The Portugal star has previously played in that central berth in the past, having notably worked in tandem with Scott McTominay as part of a front two in last year’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
A player of invaluable versatility and quality, the playmaking “genius” – as hailed by Erik ten Hag – appears to thrive wherever he is deployed, with such a switch then allowing Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte to offer greater defensive solidity as part of the midfield two.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes, meanwhile, could then be flanked by two of Alejandro Garnacho, Amad and Mason Mount in the number ten berths, with that fluid frontline potentially able to cause problems for a Spurs side who have endured their own notable woes this term.
A further benefit of that switch would be Fernandes’ ability to drop deep and drag the likes of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero with him, rather than the alternative of Hojlund attempting to engage in a duel with the stellar duo.
As The Athletic’s Jay Harris has noted, ‘with Van de Ven and Romero in the starting XI, Spurs can play thrilling football and look capable of competing for trophies. Without them, they look mediocre.’
Trying to get the better of the centre-back pairing will be vital at San Mames, with Fernandes able to give the two men something more to think about, rather than being content in dealing with the hapless Hojlund.
Yes, it would be a bold call to make such a switch for a final, yet with his performance at Stamford Bridge having been so underpar last time out, Hojlund can’t merely be guaranteed of start simply because of the lack of alternatives.
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Today, Liverpool fans, may well be the day Anfield erupts as Arne Slot’s brilliant squad of brilliant players clinch the Premier League title.
It’s in Liverpool’s hands. This afternoon, the Reds must simply avoid defeat against Tottenham Hotspur to put the trophy out of Arsenal’s reach and officially end four years of Manchester City dominance, tying Merseyside red ribbons onto the cup for a record-equalling 20th time.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool have consumately steered their way through the 2024/25 campaign, Slot’s first in the dugout, with such balance and equipoise, such quality oozing across every corner of the pitch.
It’s been a long time since Liverpool started a Premier League matchweek below the division’s summit – it was the term’s ninth round of fixtures, in fact, before City stumbled.
Liverpool – Recent Record vs Tottenham at Anfield
Season
Competition
Result
24/25
Carabao Cup
4-0 win
23/24
Premier League
4-2 win
22/23
Premier League
4-3 win
21/22
Premier League
1-1 draw
20/21
Premier League
2-1 win
Sourced via Transfermarkt
Spurs and Liverpool have played out some memorable matches at Anfield in recent years, but this could be the pick of the bunch, should the hosts hold their nerve and professionally get the job done.
Slot and his coterie have managed to keep Liverpool treading above the water on the injury front this season, and there aren’t too many setbacks to disrupt this potentially watershed occasion.
The latest Liverpool team news
Joe Gomez is set to miss out once again as he continues his recovery from injury. The versatile defender is, however, expected to feature before the end of the season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an emphatic off-the-bench winner at Leicester City, but Conor Bradley may well reprise his place at right-back.
Tyler Morton is still out, bogged down by an ongoing shoulder issue. It’s unlikely the young midfielder would have featured anyway.
Fringe stars such as Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa will be hoping for minutes, but with Liverpool in need of a professional performance to clinch the title, Slot isn’t likely to make drastic changes.
However, the Dutchman might make one or two tweaks, with Dominik Szoboszlai in line to be dropped from his position standing proud of the central midfield.
Why Slot should drop Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai has been a regular feature throughout Slot’s first season at the helm, starting 25 times in the Premier League. He ebbed and flowed last year under Jurgen Klopp, but looks more focused and confident in his football.
Dominik Szoboszlai in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)
23/24
24/25
Matches (starts)
33 (25)
31 (25)
Goals
3
5
Assists
2
3
Touches*
57.5
47.6
Shots (on target)*
1.8 (0.5)
1.9 (0.6)
Pass completion
87%
86%
Big chances created
7
10
Ball recoveries*
5.2
3.8
Dribble (success)*
0.7 (47%)
0.6 (59%)
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
1.3
Total duels (won)*
2.9 (41%)
2.8 (44%)
Stats via Sofascore
However, Szoboszlai still hasn’t mastered the art of scoring, of creating goals for his teammates. Across 89 total Liverpool appearances, the Hungarian has only scored 14 times and supplied 11 assists.
Having now gone five Premier League games without notching a goal contribution, the 24-year-old should be dropped; Szoboszlai brings a load of energy and tenacity to Liverpool’s first team, but pundit Jamie Carragher has recently remarked that the Reds “can improve” in attacking midfield, citing the minimal output as a potential issue going forward.
While he’s not a dramatic upgrade from a prolific standpoint, the hosts might want to consider unleashing Curtis Jones from the outset against Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side, with the England international’s
Nick Pope is beaten by Dominik Szoboszlai
Jones, also 24, has been hailed for his “special” qualities and “complete” approach by Slot, having played an important role this season as he threads things together in the centre while adding a dimension on the edge of the danger area, driving even further forward when he can.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area, and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.
This is quite the array of strengths across the sweep of the midfield game, certainly highlighting Jones’ ability to influence a match.
With three goals and seven assists across 41 matches in all competitions this year (just 24 starts), Jones’ ball-playing ability clearly lends itself to a playmaking strength that could spark Mohamed Salah and co back into goalscoring action.
It’s no wonder he’s earned his keep in the Three Lions set-up, impressing on the international stage too.
Not only is Jones crisp in possession, incredibly completing 94% of his passes in the Premier League this season, but he’s also proven himself to be a highly efficient ball carrier, succeeding with 67% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.
Getting at this shaky Spurs defence will be crucial later this afternoon, for Liverpool’s frontline haven’t been in the sharpest form as a collective, and they will need support from behind.
Jones has also shown his passion, his devotion, toward Liverpool’s cause, and that is a factor which is bound to come into play against the Lilywhites, with the boyhood star certain to be desperate for a standout performance in a match which could close the title-challenging chapter and indeed send Liverpool back to the top of the English pyramid.
That’s not to say Szoboszlai wouldn’t bring his own brand of burning intensity to the contest, but it may be that Jones is the best option to play alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in this one, freshening things up ahead of what might just prove to be a momentous day for Liverpool.
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India broke their own record to put up the fastest 100 in men’s Test cricket in Kanpur against Bangladesh
Sampath Bandarupalli30-Sep-20241 – India’s hundred came in just 10.1 overs, making it the fastest team hundred in men’s Tests (where data is available).India broke their own record by 2.1 overs – they had taken only 12.2 overs against West Indies in last year’s Port of Spain Test.24.2 Overs needed for India to reach the 200-run mark. It is the fastest-recorded team 200 in men’s Tests, bettering Australia’s record, who got there in 28.1 overs in their second-innings against Pakistan in 2017 in Sydney.India also broke the record for fastest team 150 and 250. The previous fastest team 150 was also by India off 21.1 overs against West Indies in 2023, while the previous quickest 250 came in 34 overs by England in their 2nd innings vs Pakistan in 2022 in Rawalpindi.3.0 – Overs that India needed to get to fifty. It is also the fastest recorded team fifty in men’s Tests, bettering England’s record – 4.2 overs against West Indies in Nottingham and in Birmingham earlier this year.0 – Instances of India completing their fifty inside the first 20 balls of the innings in men’s internationals (all formats) before Monday. Their previous fastest fifty was in 3.4 overs, also against Bangladesh, in last year’s Asian Games (T20I).ESPNcricinfo Ltd8.22 India’s run rate during their 285 for 9 in Kanpur is the highest in men’s Test innings (minimum 200 balls). The previous highest was 7.36 by England against Pakistan when they made 264 for seven in 35.5 overs in the 2022 Rawalpindi Test.No team had a run rate of eight in a Test innings where they scored 100-plus runs, before India on Monday.14.34 – The scoring rate during the 55-run opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, which came in only 23 balls.It is the fastest fifty partnership in men’s Tests in terms of run rate (where data is available – complete FOW data is available only since 1998).The previous highest run rate for a partnership of 50-plus runs was 11.86 by Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes, who added 87 off 44 balls against West Indies in Birmingham, earlier this year.5 Number of Indian batters to have scored 20-plus runs while striking at 100 and more in the first-innings in Kanpur, the joint-most in a men’s Test innings. England also had five batters scoring 20-plus runs at a strike rate of 100 and more in their first innings against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.96 – Sixes hit by India batters across the eight Test matches they have played in 2024. These are the most sixes hit by a team in a calendar year in Test cricket, bettering England’s tally of 89 in 2022.Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing•BCCI4 – Recorded instances of a player hitting the first two balls they faced in a Test innings for sixes, including Rohit off Khaled Ahmed in Kanpur.Foffie Williams against Jim Laker in the 1948 Barbados Test was the first.Two other India batters have also done it – Sachin Tendulkar off Nathan Lyon in the 2013 Chepauk Test and Umesh Yadav off George Linde in the 2019 Ranchi Test.4.5 Overs in which Hasan Mahmud conceded 50 runs in India’s first innings. Only two bowlers had conceded 50 runs in fewer overs in a men’s Test innings since 2002 – 4.2 by Graeme Cremer against South Africa in 2005 and 4.4 by Murali Kartik against Australia in 2004.34.4 Overs batted by India before declaring, the fifth shortest declared first-innings in men’s Tests. The total of 285 for nine is also the lowest-ever declaration total for India in the first innings.
By not always being one thing all the time since he retired, he has become omnipresent in a way that contrasts with how Imran Khan is famous
Osman Samiuddin30-Nov-2022In a few months, it’ll be 20 years since Wasim Akram played his last international game for Pakistan. It’s a little past 38 years since he played his first international game. Apologies if this comes across as one of those sobering exercises where the realisation of time’s creep is the splash of ice-cold water on the face first thing in the morning, but it’s impossible not to wilt a little in the knowledge that 38 years before Akram’s debut was just after the end of the Second World War.The way to not let this make you feel old is to watch some of his bowling because that still feels fresh and modern. After all, we’re still cooing at left-armers who can swing the ball into right-handers; still secretly wondering if the yorker is not as effective only because it’s not bowled by Akram; still being struck by the possibilities of the angles he opened for left-armers. His bowling retains currency in a way that batting and fielding from his era simply do not.Akram is now 56, in the whirl of a publicity blitz for his second memoir, . It is warmer, more expansive and less bitter than his first, . That’s no surprise, given was published in 1998, a moment of peaking chaos and toxicity in Pakistan cricket such that it’s a miracle Akram came out of it with diabetes and no other scars.Related
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As with all autobiographies, is an exercise in legacy, Akram wanting to leave an accounting of his life and career behind for family and for the rest of us. To leave behind sounds too hopeful, though, because it assumes legacies are etched in stone once a player stops playing. It’s much more complicated than that. Increasingly, they are fluid because great players like Akram no longer really exit the stage. Modern athletes live out post-career lives as public as during their careers. Some do so while actively depleting their legacy; others manage to enhance it; all are forever reshaping it in some way. Only a handful in recent memory – Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf – have left their legacies all but unchanged by stepping away entirely from public life, and naturally theirs have tended to feel somewhat overtaken by the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.Akram has never not been around over the last two decades. He’s not always been a coach. He’s not always been a wrist-whisperer to fast bowlers. He’s not always been a commentator. He’s not always been a sports news anchor (as he was, briefly, with ESPN-Star in the mid-2000s). He’s not always hawking some product. He’s not always hosting game shows with Shoaib Akhtar. He’s not always introducing his own perfume range. He’s not always on your social-media feeds as a doting father, grateful husband or – a favourite – plain grumpy citizen chiding the public into a greater sense of civic duty.But by not always being one thing all the time he has become, somewhat benignly, omnipresent, his playing days receding in the distance, yet up ahead and not signposted, is the envelope of Akram as the horizon himself. The intensity of the public glare is a little weaker but it has not moved away.
Akram will likely never convince doubters of his innocence, though that funnels into a broader truth about him as a very human, very vulnerable – and so, very relatable – sort of hero
Modern day legacy-building can be quite a cynical exercise too, the mining of memories and nostalgia to trigger our dopamine, the entire idea of turning the human into a brand. Somehow it has not felt so acute with Akram, although no doubt we should be thankful that the surrounding PR machinery required for this is not quite as refined in Pakistan as elsewhere. To some extent, it’s also because he never seems to dwell unduly on his own career, almost as if everything he worked more than half his life towards is only of passing import. In , as in , for example, there’s little forensic recreation of his greatest (or worst) moments on the field, or of bowling itself, mostly cursory recollections.It has always been odd, this side of him – for such an exact and exacting bowler to be so unexacting in recall, to celebrate so little his own greatest feats. It’s endearing in a way that he wears his genius so lightly. Imagine not being fussed about that career? Maybe he understands he doesn’t need to because that is what we’re here for.Alas, legacies are also more hotly contested than ever before. They are no longer the sole preserve of the legator. For instance, one of the motivations behind is to set the record straight as Akram sees it over the match-fixing allegations. In truth, it has never appeared like he was much in need of redemption. He had no bans to fight in court, was not barred from official positions, had no asterisk in front of his records. He’s in both the ICC and PCB halls of fame. Work in cricket has been plentiful for him. And being the inspiration for the PSL logo – while still alive – is solid informal validation of his impact.But clearly, it has gnawed away at him, amplified no doubt by social media. The toll of online trolling and abuse weighs heavy on all of us, but celebrities and public figures are at the sharpest end of it. And to read and hear Akram talk about it now is to also be reminded that in 20 years he has never really spoken about it – presumably out of choice – while everyone else has.5:59
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He hadn’t even read the Qayyum report until he had to when was being written. He is a significant presence through the report, the subject of four specific allegations, second to Salim Malik’s five. He was fined and it was recommended he be removed from the captaincy (though by the time the report was published he had already stepped down). Unsurprisingly, he thinks dimly of the report. This much is true that the Qayyum report is comprehensive in documenting and giving order to the snaking rumours, half-truths and speculation of the time, but is not definitive, hamstrung by its own terms of reference and a fatal lack of hard evidence. Justice Qayyum’s own confession years later that he went soft on Akram did neither of the parties any favours. Ultimately even those who were not heavily sanctioned were left dangling in the perma-hellscape between innocence and guilt.Akram will likely never convince doubters of his innocence, though that funnels into a broader truth about him as a very human, very vulnerable – and so, fairly relatable – sort of hero. More so by contrast to the man he was meant to be succeeding, Imran Khan, whose God complex seems only to have grown since he left the game. Akram has always been more approachable, less prone to taking himself too seriously. If Imran strutted around as if he was Punjabi aristocracy (even when he wasn’t), Akram lolled around with a warmer, earthier Punjabi charm. And it feels relevant to expand briefly that he is charming, rather than a charmer who deliberately uses that charm to manipulate and profit. His friends, he writes, call him – a bumpkin misplaced in the big city – and he doesn’t seem minded to dispute that description.In this light, the revelations about his cocaine addiction, the unsettled early childhood – an openness that is still rare in public figures from South Asia – are a welcome way into him. In some sense the candidness works to ease the burdens of legacy, that it must mean something, that it must be built upon, that it must inspire, that it must emulate and be emulated. Instead, what we are left with is what we have: a 56-year-old man simply coming to terms with the joys and traumas of an extraordinary life.What we also have is the comfort of knowing Akram is still around, which, in a year in which Shane Warne was lost, is not something to undervalue. Life hasn’t yet passed us by to the extent that Akram means nothing. Far from it. But it has passed us by enough so that if you YouTube his finest work – recent enough that we can still understand and appreciate it within the game around us – it hits this sweet spot in the thirst for nostalgia, the quenching of which is as much a part of growing old as reading glasses. It’s sweet refuge, nostalgia, and who doesn’t need refuge these days?