Tag Futebol

Liverpool were made to work for their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Arne Slot’s side put in an impressive performance to ensure they earned all three points and stayed at the top of the Premier League table, ahead of early title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

Liverpool took the lead against the Blues on Sunday via a Mohamed Salah penalty. The Egyptian legend slotted home from 12 yards following a foul from England international defender Levi Colwill.

Chelsea, however, got themselves back into the game through Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson. The Blues number 15 latched onto a pinpoint through ball from Moises Caicedo to equalise for the West London outfit. It was originally given offside, but after a VAR check, the striker was deemed onside.

The goal did not hinder Liverpool much at all, and just three minutes after Jackson’s strike, they managed to take the lead again. This time, it was Curtis Jones who found the back of the net, converting a well-placed cross from Salah.

Despite late pressure from Enzo Maresca’s team, Liverpool managed to hold on for all three points at Anfield. There were some eye-catching performances, although Jones was a standout player.

Jones’ stats vs. Chelsea

Liverpool academy graduate Jones has become an important player in Slot’s short tenure at the club so far. The 23-year-old has played seven times in all competitions this term, but Sunday’s performance was perhaps his very best all season.

The midfielder starred against the Blues, capping off a wonderful showing with his goal. He met Salah’s deep cross to the back post before Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal could react, taking a touch and lifting the ball over him to win the game.

Outside of that, the former England under-21 was superb off the ball, working hard and often coming out on top in duels. He also won the penalty which led to Salah’s opener.

His impressive showing was reflected in his stats from Sofascore, with the midfielder creating two chances and winning six from his eight attempted ground duels.

Stat

Number

Touches

56

Pass accuracy

90%

Passes completed

37/41

Ground duels won

6/8

Tackles won

3/4

Chances created

2

Penalties won

1

Jones’ performance earned him a deserved 9/10 rating from Mark Delgado, journalist for This Is Anfield. He explained the Reds number 17 ‘played an important role’ in helping to nullify the impact of Chelsea star Cole Palmer.

As good as Jones was against the West Londoners on Sunday, there were several players who were just as effective, including striker Darwin Nunez.

Nunez’s stats vs. Chelsea

The 2024/25 season has not really seen Nunez get much of an opportunity in that famous Red shirt. He has played eight games in all competitions but has just 367 minutes under his belt, equal to four full 90-minute games.

Sunday afternoon, however, provided him with the perfect chance to show why he deserves more game time. Diogo Jota unfortunately picked up an injury and was subbed off after 30 minutes, giving Nunez the platform he needed to shine.

It is fair to say the Uruguayan attacker took it with both hands. He received an 8/10 rating from Delgado, who was full of praise for the striker. He explained the Reds number nine ‘looked very locked in’ at Anfield, praising him for a ‘hard-working display’ against Chelsea.

His stats from the game certainly reflected his all-round performance. The 25-year-old won seven from 12 ground duels and two from five aerial duels he contested. On top of that, he won three from four tackles and four fouls.

It was not a classic striker’s performance from Nunez, although he has proven he can find the back of the net, despite some inconsistency at times. With a busy schedule coming up for Liverpool, this performance will no doubt be a massive confidence booster.

He is a player who can make a huge impact on the game, even if he is not scoring. Former Manchester United right-back and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville explained in 2023 that the Uruguayan would “frighten” him as a defender.

Next up, the Reds face RB Leipzig away from home in the Champions League tonight. Slot could well decide to start Nunez whether or not Jota is injured, as he looks to find his best form under the Dutchman and continue on from Sunday’s impressive performance.

Liverpool target Nunez replacement who was on the brink of joining Chelsea

He’s on fire so far this season.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 22, 2024

The Australia fast bowler with a finger injury wants to play a part in the ongoing ODI series, but not at the cost of his Test place

AAP17-Jun-2022

Mitchell Starc suffered a freak injury in the T20I series opener•AFP/Getty Images

Australian quick Mitchell Starc is still holding out hope of featuring in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, but only if it doesn’t compromise his chances of playing in the Tests.Starc sliced open his left index finger on his shoe spike during his follow through in the T20I series opener last week. The 32-year-old has been able to bowl full steam at training in recent days, but ICC rules preventing bowlers from using tape on their fingers means Starc hasn’t been able to feature in games.Starc had the stitches removed on Thursday, but just how well his finger recovers from this point on will determine whether he will be fit for game three of the ODI series against Sri Lanka on Sunday. He is hopeful of playing at least some part in the five-match series, but only if it won’t compromise his chances of featuring in the two Tests that follow.”I’m still holding onto hope that I will,” Starc said of his chances of featuring in the ODI series. “There’s still a fair bit of glue still in the wound. That will start to dissolve a bit more in the next couple of days. Once we get to Colombo we’ll have a look at it again and see where it’s at.”I’m still training. It’s just a matter of where the wound is at, and obviously with one eye on the Test series as well and not compromising that.”Starc said it was frustrating to feel super fit and still unable to play.”I feel really good with the ball in hand,” he said. “I’ve had to bowl at training with the tape on, and it’s purely that I can’t do that in the fixture due to the ICC rules which is why I’m not playing.”If it’s game three, four, or five [that I play], I’m not sure yet. We’re just making sure we’re not compromising the Test series [which starts on June 29].”Australia have been riddled by injuries on the tour to Sri Lanka. Marcus Stoinis (side strain), Sean Abbott (finger) and Kane Richardson (hamstring) will play no further part, while Ashton Agar (side strain), Starc and Mitchell Marsh (hamstring) have also been injured. Agar is out of the remainder of the ODI series but hopeful of being fit in time for the second Test.Star batter Steven Smith sent a scare through the camp in Friday’s 26-run ODI loss when he pulled up lame while sprinting for a second run. Although he was able to play on after receiving strapping on his upper left leg, he will be assessed over the coming days.”I don’t know how sore he is or how much of a niggle he might be,” Starc said. “After he got the strapping he played a pretty nice drive through mid-wicket, so I’m sure he’ll be fine to play the next game.”

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers was heavily backed by the board during the recent summer transfer window, as the club smashed their transfer record for the Northern Irishman.

The Hoops agreed a club-record fee of £11m to sign central midfielder Arne Engels from Bundesliga side Augsburg to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo, Viljami Sinisalo, Kasper Schmeichel, Alex Valle, Auston Trusty, and Luke McCowan were also brought in to add depth to the squad.

The new additions have pushed some players to the fringes of the group and one dud who has struggled for game time so far this season is Luis Palma.

Luis Palma's struggles at Celtic

The Honduras international joined from Greek side Aris in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed a promising debut campaign with the Scottish giants.

Palma showed plenty of signs of promise in the 2023/24 campaign in the Scottish Premiership, with a return of seven goals and nine assists in 28 appearances.

Unfortunately, the 24-year-old forward has not done enough to convince Rodgers that he deserves a place in the starting XI ahead of Daizen Maeda on the left flank, and has only played 37 minutes in the league this term.

The Honduran star, who scored two goals in the Champions League last season, has shown that the potential is there for him to be a key player for the Hoops if he can recapture his previous form, though, so there may still be a future for him at Parkhead.

One player who Rodgers should brutally ditch, however, is central midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who has played even fewer minutes than Palma.

Why Celtic should cash in on Odin Thiago Holm

It was reported that the Hoops splashed out a fee of £2.6m to sign the central midfielder from Valerenga on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023.

The 21-year-old flop has reportedly been earning £4.8k-per-week – £250k-per-season – and this means that he has earned roughly £300k in wages since his move to the club last year.

What have Celtic got in return for the £2.9m they have spent on Holm so far? He has produced one goal and one assist in 16 matches in all competitions, and has only started two league games in total – both of which came last term.

Francis Turley

1

0

Mikey Johnston

16

0

Hyun-jun Yang

22

0

Odin Thiago Holm

25

0

Luis Palma

37

0

As you can see in the table above, only Yang, Johnston, who has since left the club, and academy graduate Francis Turley, have played fewer minutes in the league this season.

Celtic have signed Engels, McCowan, and Bernardo in his position, on top of already having Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate, and Holm has not made a matchday squad in the league since Engels and McCowan arrived on deadline day.

At the age of 21, he is the same age as the Belgian starlet and one year younger than Bernardo, which does not suggest that his development is likely to see him outgrow them – as they are already ahead of him at a similar age.

Rodgers must drop Hatate for Celtic star who made a "massive difference"

The Hoops boss should finally unleash the summer signing from the start.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2024

Therefore, Rodgers must brutally ditch Holm from the squad and cash in on him in the January transfer window, with £2.9m already sent down the drain on him so far.

On Thursday morning, Yorkshire had wondered if they were at risk of bankruptcy. Twenty-four hours later, Headingley shone with positivity after the county’s members had given their restructuring plans thumping approval with more than 80 percent in favour. A lot remains to be done, but with Darren Gough and Ottis Gibson at the helm, there is positivity and affability in abundance and it could be a perfect antidote to any lingering resentment or self-pity after the upheavals of the winter.Gough, on loan from TalkSPORT as interim managing director of cricket, has exchanged the microphone for a calculator as he now finds himself overseeing player budgets. Gibson, his choice as coach, has called time on most of the past 15 years on the international circuit in the hope of a more settled lifestyle – even if he will now faces a 90-mile commute from Chester-le-Street into the eye of the stormiest county club in the land.Their challenge – to establish harmony and win cricket matches – is a daunting one, as Gough realised the first time he met up with the squad. Azeem Rafiq’s distressing evidence to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport last November was still fresh in the mind, and as arguments raged, the Yorkshire dressing-room was presented by some as a vision from hell.”When I took over in January, I saw almost fear and confusion in the players’ faces,” Gough said. “They have been through a lot, particularly in the past 18 months. But I am immensely proud of what they have done in the past three months.”The education process is underway. A shift in White Rose values, unity drawn from shared endeavour, and an attempt to bring more empathy to a county that has historically taken pride in being the most straight-talking and uncompromising in the land.”The one thing we have done as a squad is we have listened,” said Gibson, who counts a spell as England bowling coach among an impressive CV. “We have listened to what was being said about us and then we decided what we can do in that regard to help bring about that change.”We went to Dubai in pre-season and had a lot of conversations about how we can do things better and look out for each other better,” he added. “There was talk about inclusivity, how we can make sure that we’ve got each other’s backs, not just on the field but off the field, the language we use to each other and so on. Trying to address those things is an ongoing process.”Related

• Yorkshire board restructure approved as members back Lord Patel proposals

• Ottis Gibson to take over as Yorkshire's head coach

• Joe Root rested for opening rounds of County Championship

• Yorkshire sign Shadab Khan for Vitality Blast stint

Gough says he has not lost friends – he is not a Machiavellian sort, which helps – he is a deeper thinker about the game than many imagine and he has an open mind about the length of his stint as interim director. That future, in any case, will be determined by a largely independent board – and 600 applicants for that board have given Perrett Laver, the international head-hunting company, quite a task.That board must address a never-ending financial predicament – albeit there is optimistic talk of sponsors flooding back after the vote. But their prime task, an immense one, and not achievable overnight, will be not just to provide the development pathways for young, talented, minority-ethnic cricketers, but to find solutions to the cultural challenges that cause those pathways to be thick with brambles.”Last night’s EGM proved there’s 85 percent on all three resolutions who are with us,” Gough said. “They understood that not just Yorkshire, but I think cricket in general, needs to change. Sport, society, needs to change. All I can do is put things in place, along with Ottis and the players. We’ve been educated on a daily basis, by people that write articles, by reading, by watching, by communicating.”People are going to make mistakes; they’re going to continue to make mistakes. But it’s about forgiveness, it’s about education, it’s about moving forward together to make us great again. We want to be on the front and back pages for the right reasons, and we haven’t been. It’s sad what’s happened, we can never take it back, we can’t forget what’s happened, it’s about learning from it, moving forward and making sure that situation doesn’t happen again.”Talking of forgiveness, Yorkshire remain uncertain about the timeline of any further ECB investigations and potential points deductions and, this being English cricket, there is no certainty that any such deduction would be applied before their opening County Championship fixture at Bristol on April 14.”Discussions will probably go on all season,” said Gough, “but the way I look at it, we start the season on zero and if we get the most points we win the Championship.” Compared to a few months ago, when they were too low for zero, that sounds like a step forward.

Batting higher, Brad Hodge could have easily scored 500 runs this season, but his captain will gladly take the 50 he scored under pressure from No. 7

Sidharth Monga22-May-2013There is something reliable about stocky men with low back lifts. When the pitch is slow or when the reverse swing is considerable, these are the batsmen you want to be finishing your innings with. They are the least likely to play stupid shots under pressure, a Twenty20 trademark. When they break into rock-the-baby celebrations, they easily defend it as not mocking the bowler they have just hit for a match-winning six, a bowler who has won many a heart with his celebrations and uninhibited play. “I was pointing out I have got children too.”Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid can tell reliable men when he sees them. Throughout IPL 2013 he has used Brad Hodge, the 38-year-old Australian, low in the order, where he doesn’t get many chances. Or so it seems. “He doesn’t get many opportunities to bat,” says Dravid. “If he bats 3 and 4, there is no doubt he can score 500 runs as well. But there is nobody who can finish the game better than Brad Hodge, especially against quality pace.”The strategy has been put to severe test this season, and almost seemed to backfire on the big night. Dravid’s young batsmen all seemed to fall to the pressure and the charm of Sammy even when chasing just 133. The eliminator was turning into a match to be decided by slogs and hoicks. Sammy’s catch on the midwicket boundary to dismiss Shane Watson – full stretch in the air to pluck it overhead – was sensational, but after that it was just straight length bowling that took Rajasthan Royals from 50 for 1 to 57 for 5. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s stroke-play hadn’t been much better.The game was crying out for someone to pull it out of mediocrity, and out came Hodge. The asking rate – already nudging eight – was getting out of hand on a sticky surface, and Sanju Samson was to score just 10 off 21 at the other end. It was now time for a calculated assault on a tricky pitch by the last batsman who could win the game. Just the time for a stocky man with a short back lift.There were no risks taken. Hodge picked his bowlers – the hitherto successful Sunrisers legspinners – and chose to time his shots instead of slogging. There was a lesson there for the younger batsmen who had fallen before him. He read a Karan Sharma googly and sent it over long-on. Then he flicked him over square leg. Then he finally got the short ball. This wasn’t a bad over, but it went for 18. The asking rate was back to seven an over now.Hodge went after Amit Mishra too, but now the Sunrisers raised their game. Back came Dale Steyn and trapped Samson with reverse swing. Then James Faulkner played out dots. Even our stocky man with short back lift felt pressure now. He went slogging after Thisara Perera to kill the game in the 19th over. Failed to connect any. He was happy to accept he felt pressure. No false bravado.”I was probably trying to get the Chris Gayle distance instead of the Brad Hodge distance,” Hodge joked. “That’s what can happen. When you are under pressure and looking to try to take the pressure off by going for the big maximum, and you try too hard.”In the next over, though, the cool Hodge was back, and he broke the heart of the other hero on the night. Sammy had been everywhere. Scoring runs, taking catches, doing commentary, taking wickets, Sammy had all but owned the night. Then he bowled a short ball, which Hodge pulled for a six that went the Brad Hodge distance and not the Chris Gayle distance. The game was all but over, and Hodge nailed it with another six over long-off and stole what has been Sammy’s celebration this year.For a few minutes after the defeat, Sammy sat sullen in the dugout, but he will agree he lost to the better player on the day. And he has got children too.

Birmingham City have thrown down yet another massive statement of intent as they look to navigate their way out of League One, with the Blues tabling an offer to sign yet another star this summer.

Busy summer for Birmingham so far

After being relegated from the Championship, Birmingham City and Chris Davies have been hard at work to secure instant promotion back to the second tier of English football.

Headed by a £3.5m move for defender Christoph Klarer and a £3.3m deal for Willum Willumsson (from Darmstadt and Go Ahead Eagles respectively) they have wasted no time handing Davies one of the most expensive League One squads ever assembled.

A mammoth 15 new faces have been recruited this transfer window as they look to navigate League One, in an unprecedented series of spending that now means that they now boast three of the top six record signings in League One history, having spent over £12m on new signings. Combined, all 24 League One sides have spent just £20m, with Birmingham making up 60% of that expenditure.

Birmingham City summer signings

Player

Fee

Christoph Klarer

£3.5m

Willum Willumsson

£3.3m

Emil Hansson

£1.5m

Alex Cochrane

£1m

Lyndon Dykes

£1m

Ayumo Yokoyama

£850k

Ryan Allsop

£825k

Alfie May

£770k

Marc Leonard

£500k

Bailey Peacock-Farrell

£450k

Scott Wright

£300k

Taylor Gardner-Hickman

Loan

Ben Davies

Loan

Alfons Sampsted

Loan

Luke Harris

Loan

Transfermarkt

Rangers duo Ben Davies and Scott Wright have also been recruited, though neither have yet made their debuts for the Blues.

Now, they are trying to ramp up their spending even further still.

Birmingham make mammoth bid for striker

That comes as the reliable John Percy reports that Birmingham have made a mammoth deadline-day bid to sign Jay Stansfield from Fulham, with the striker having spent last season on loan with the Blues.

Despite finding the net 12 times in the Championship, he could not prevent their relegation and headed back to Fulham at the end of his loan spell, coming on as a late substitute on their opening-day defeat to Manchester United.

Still just 21 years old, he has three years left to run on his £10,000 a week deal at Craven Cottage, but that has not stopped Birmingham, with Percy reporting that a bid of "around £9-10m" has been submitted to try and bring him back to St Andrews permanently.

It has since been added that Fulham have turned down the bid, but with Birmingham's spending this summer already unprecedented, a second improved offer cannot be ruled out.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: summer transfer window 2024

Find every incoming and outgoing for each 2024/25 Premier League club here.

ByStephan Georgiou Sep 18, 2024

Stansfield has already come in for plenty of praise across his short career, none more so than from Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell, who singled him out for praise during his loan spell in Devon.

“Stanno has got that spark and when he came on he was sensational. He is a player I love working with because of his attitude and when I tell him the reason why, he buys into it.

“He doesn’t sulk, and has fantastic quality and energy. It was a real team effort and he is a real team player and that is the way it has to be.”

USMNT star Weston McKennie has revealed the demands that he had to meet in order to earn an extended stay at Serie A giants Juventus.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Questions asked of American's futureHad to prove his worth all over againEarned contract extension in ItalyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international has faced questions of his future in Turin since taking in a forgettable loan spell at Leeds in the Premier League during the second-half of the 2022-23 campaign. He returned to Italy that summer expecting to be moved on by the Bianconeri.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

McKennie earned favour again under Massimiliano Allegri, making 38 appearances in all competitions last season. Another managerial change has seen Thiago Motta take charge at the Allianz Stadium, with McKennie having to prove himself all over again.

WHAT MCKENNIE SAID

He has done just that, landing a contract extension in the process, with the 26-year-old prepared to take on any challenge that is asked of him. McKennie has told of silencing more future questions: “At the start of the season he [Motta] told me I have to work hard, play anywhere I am needed, which is fine with me. He wants that attitude and it’s only right.”

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

McKennie’s versatility is being put to good use, with a goal being scored from left-back against Monza as he helped to cover defensive absences. The hard-working midfielder added on his role: “The victory was the most important thing, as it was tough to have that many draws. The three points are good for us, for the fans, our family to help us all have a nicer Christmas. Scoring a goal or providing an assist is not the most important thing, it’s about the team getting the win.”

David Ornstein's dulcet tones so often send supporters into rapture, and the Manchester United fanbase have recently been excited by The Athletic's chief correspondent's all-important transfer update: INEOS have submitted a double bid Bayern Munich's way.

Indeed, United are pushing to sign centre-back Matthijs De Ligt and wide defender Noussair Mazraoui, reinforcing Erik ten Hag's backline after already signing dynamic forward Joshua Zirkzee, who won the 2023/24 Serie A Young Player of the Year, for £36.5m from Bologna.

Leny Yoro has also been signed in a staggering move, rising to £59m, from LOSC Lille, an 18-year-old centre-half projected to become one of the world's best, though he has been stricken with a three-month layoff after injuring his ankle in the Red Devils' pre-season clash against Arsenal at the end of July.

Old Trafford's rear might be getting all the attention right now, but few would argue against the pressing need to strengthen the midfield, and once defensive issues have been dealt with, the transfer cannon is set to shift to the engine room.

Man United transfer news

According to journalist Duncan Castles, speaking on his Football Transfers podcast, Man United are poised to move for Burnley midfielder Sander Berge in a shock transfer, should they fail to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte.

The 26-year-old, who joined Burnley for £12m last summer, impressed throughout the concluded campaign but failed to stop his team from falling back into the Championship, with Castles suggesting he is a player who the club are "discussing as an option".

While fans might initially turn their nose at the unexpected transfer news, he might just come to surprise a few.

Why Sander Berge could succeed at Man United

Berge completed 37 appearances in the Premier League last season and was awarded Burnley's Player of the Year after charging the engine with gusto, guile and a strong approach.

Now though, he deservedly seeks a move away, hailed as "the main man" by The Athletic's Andy Jones and charging the fluent brand of football that Burnley attempted to produce in the top flight.

Standing at 6 foot 3, he's rock-solid and commanding, with a sharp technicality and a wealth of experience in testing conditions – now, he's ready to step up to the task at The Theatre of Dreams.

He might be considered as the perfect alternative to the tough-tackling Ugarte, but he harbours qualities more similar to that of Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi, with Catalan outlet El Nacional claiming last week that United had tabled a bid for the Spanish maestro.

How Berge compares to Martin Zubimendi

Berge has proved himself with the likes of Sheffield United and the Clarets and now appears ready to move to a top outfit, especially given that he is set to depart his beleaguered side.

As per FBref, Berge ranked among the top 15% of centre-midfielders in the Premier League last season for pass completion and the top 7% for aerial battles won per 90, speaking of his steely presence in the middle of the field and indeed his ball-playing skills.

Burnley sought to inculcate a ball-playing sheen to their football under Vincent Kompany last season, ranking 12th in the division for total passes (16,447) after their promotion.

Having suffered relegation, going out with a whimper, they were never able to perform at the level they desired but Berge showcased his skills and may well prove to flourish at a team such as United, especially as he fits the pass-efficient template that is coveted.

Indeed, FBref record Zubimendi as one of the Norwegian's most comparable players, and when comparing the respective 2023/24 league campaigns, it begins to become discernible that Burnley's man could be a shrewd signing for United.

23/24 League Stats: Sander Berge vs Martin Zubimendi
Statistics	Berge	Zubimendi
Matches played	37	31
Matches started	34	29
Goals	1	4
Assists	2	1
Pass completion	89%	86%
Big chances created	5	2
Touches per game	53.1	60.1
Key passes per game	0.8	0.5
Ball recoveries per game	5.5	5.5
Dribbles per game	0.5	0.4
Tackles per game	2.1	1.6
Duels won per game	4.8 (54%)	4.0 (55%)
Stats via Sofascore

The £48k-per-week talent has been hailed for his "world-class" quality by former loan teammate Kieran Tierney, but statistical analysis shows that United could benefit from opting for the astute road and signing Berge, who has been described as an "unbelieveable" player by former teammate John Egan.

Especially given that the 25-year-old is valued at €60m (£51m), and after Sociedad agreed a deal with Arsenal for the transfer of Mikel Merino, it's decidedly unlikely that their metronome in the middle will be allowed to wander off for pastures new too.

Berge's deep-lying ability, mixing his crisp passing with concrete defending, could even be perfect for the development of Kobbie Mainoo, who is the cream of United's academy crop right now and will hope to raise his ceiling after an impressive breakthrough campaign.

A gifted and intelligent player, Mainoo, 19, exudes a composure and combativeness in Ten Hag's midfield that will see him grow into a force to be reckoned with over the next decade, but he needs an anchor he can rely on beside him.

Casemiro was shambolic across stretches of the 2023/24 season, with Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp even commenting that he "looks like he's in Soccer Aid" during one struggling showing.

Mainoo needs stability, and a partner who can enrich Man United's verve. Berge, who is desperate for a shot at a higher level, could be the perfect man for the job.

Constant contact: Man Utd chase "insane" £42m star to solve Yoro problem

The incredible international would be an excellent signing.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 2, 2024

Their batsmen may have flopped but their bowlers have done their homework and stuck to their plans

Aakash Chopra20-Aug-2013Australia’s bowlers have been the unlikely stars of the current Ashes. Even though England have collectively and decisively defended the title, their players’ individual imperfections have made them look somewhat error-prone. On the other hand, the Australia batsmen’s lack of skill seems to have widened the gap between their glorious past and the iffy present, but their counterparts, the Australian bowlers, quite the underdogs, have relentlessly challenged the England batsmen, irrespective of the final outcome.It hasn’t been the English batsmen or bowlers, and certainly not the Australian batsmen, who have prevented the proceedings from looking mundane, but the likes of Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, who have doggedly applied pressure on the hosts.That’s the beauty of a long series like the Ashes – it allows bowlers to plot and plan. The time available – five days in a match and five Tests in the series – allows bowlers to work on a batsman, set up dismissals, and showcase all their wares. The early help from the pitch and five days of wear and tear add an interesting sub-plot.In this Ashes too, in spite of the one-sided scoreline, Australia’s bowlers, time and again, have tirelessly brought their team back into the contest. The way they have trapped England’s batsmen has not only showed off their specific game plans but also their patience and discipline in executing those plans ball after ball.England have had plenty of problems at the top of the order – their top three have barely managed to contribute in the first four Test matches. Had it not been for runs from Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen, the series result could perhaps have read differently. But it’s not that England’s top three are all going through a bad patch; it has been made to look that way by some thorough thinking and execution by Australia.Nothing on leg: 33 of the 37 balls Alastair Cook faced in the second innings in Durham were outside off•ESPNcricinfo LtdAlastair Cook, who has been a prolific scorer for England, has been struggling to put a big score together in this series. There has been a concerted effort to attack his off stump, mostly from over the wicket, by the right-arm bowlers. They have made a conscious decision to stay away from his pads come what may. If they have erred, it has been on the side of going further outside off; they have rarely bowled on his legs.They have also bowled full, drawing Cook forward all the time, and that discipline seems to have squeezed him dry. He has stayed at the pitch for long periods but runs haven’t flowed, for he hasn’t been fed on his strength, which is to play off his legs. In the last innings of the fourth Test, Cook played 37 balls, of which 33 were outside off. That’s discipline.Almost 90% of those 33 deliveries that ended outside off, pitched inside or just a shade outside off stump. The Australian bowlers have used the angle to good effect to take the ball away from Cook, and that has made the occasional in-dipper more potent. Twice in this series Cook has got out leg-before expecting the ball to go away after pitching.While the Australians deciphered Cook at the beginning, they decoded his opening partner Joe Root as the series progressed. Root is an exciting young player who, in his pomp, reminds one of Michael Vaughan. His strength is his balance on the crease, which, in his case, stems from keeping the weight on the back foot. But while the balance gives him control, the weight staying on the back foot is the basis of his problem.Admittedly he doesn’t have too many issues to solve but the one he must fix soon if he wants to continue as an opener is his reluctance to get on the front foot. Early in an innings, his weight is so much on the right foot that bowlers get away with half-volleys. In fact, a half-volley outside off is a wicket-taking delivery before Root gets going.The Australians weren’t likely to miss the trick and after Root’s big innings at Lord’s, they didn’t allow him to breathe easy. In the first innings of the fourth Test, his front foot hadn’t even landed before the ball took the outside edge. One could understand if the bowler was very quick and Root was late on the ball because of the pace, but it was the military medium of Shane Watson that consumed him.While the Australian bowlers have had only one plan for Cook and Root, they have two for England’s No. 3 batsman. Jonathan Trott has a fairly pronounced front-foot trigger movement that allows him to throw his weight towards the ball when it is full, but the same trigger movement gets him into awkward positions if the bowler digs it in short. Trott’s weight is so much on the front foot that he finds it difficult to pull back in time and get into the right position to play an attacking shot.The pitch map for the deliveries Cook faced in the second innings in Durham•ESPNcricinfo LtdHe has been out twice to deliveries that have been dug in short, but not short enough to be left alone. He can still leave bouncers comfortably, but it’s the ones that climb up around his chin that are causing him a problem.His forward trigger movement is also resulting in his head falling over towards the off side, making him vulnerable to those that come in and pitch fuller.Mitchell Starc got Trott leg-before at Trent Bridge, and if you were to freeze the picture at the point of impact, you would find that his head was on top of off stump while the ball was hitting the line of leg stump. If your head is falling so much towards off, the chances of your bat coming down straight are minimal, which was highlighted at Old Trafford, where Trott’s angled bat provided catching practice to the slips cordon. The Australians have used a two-pronged attack against him: bowl full and straight, and aim a fair sprinkling of short-pitched stuff at his chin or thereabouts.These minor glitches would have gone unnoticed and unexploited even in a seven-match ODI series, for singles come so easy in ODIs that it’s overstating it to believe that you could plan and plot a dismissal. But in a Test series, there’s no room to hide. If the opposition discerns your weakness, it is sure to be exposed and exploited. And that’s when the true ability of a batsman comes to the fore. Quality batsmen somehow find a way.

West Ham have made a player-plus-cash offer to sign a 23-year-old international this summer, according to a new transfer claim that has emerged.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers have had a good summer transfer window to date, bringing in the likes of Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme, among others, but their business is unlikely to end there.

One report has suggested that Noussair Mazraoui has emerged as a key target for West Ham and that an agreement has now been reached, with the 26-year-old full-back currently plying his trade at Bayern Munich. However, since then, it has been added that a transfer is now off with an agreement not reached with the defender's agent.

He was seen as an additional signing on top of Aston Villa attacker Jhon Duran, who appears to be closing in on a move to the London Stadium. A verbal £35m agreement is rumoured to be in place.

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has also been linked with a summer move to West Ham, being seen as a potentially ideal centre-back partner for Kilman at the heart of Julen Lopetegui's defence. The Englishman isn't out of contract at Stamford Bridge until 2028 but could secure a move away sooner rather than later.

Should a move for Duran fail to materialise, Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth has emerged as a strong target for the Hammers, too, having shone for the La Liga side last season, netting 23 times in just 30 starts in the league.

West Ham make offer for 23-year-old ace

According to a new report from HITC, West Ham have made a bid for Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams, but have been unsuccessful in their efforts to date, seeing an offer rejected.

The Wales international was "seen as an ideal fit for Lopetegui’s system and it is understood a ‘player plus cash’ offer was made", but Forest have no intention of allowing the right-back to leave ahead of next season, with the report not mentioning the Hammers player offered.

Williams, 23, could have been a great option for West Ham this summer, considering he is a young player who has already proven himself at a high level, shining in the Premier League. He has made 70 appearances in the competition in total, not to mention winning 39 caps for Wales already, despite his tender years.

The former Liverpool defender is also rated by ex-teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who once said of him: "Neco is an amazing talent, he is someone who we all look to as being someone who can play for the club for a long amount of time and will have a bright future no matter what."

The hope could be that Forest's stance on Williams changes, considering what an excellent long-term signing he could be for West Ham moving forward, but at this point, it would be a surprise if he was suddenly allowed to leave the City Ground.

West Ham hit gold on star who's worth more than Duran & Mazraoui combined

The Hammers would field enquiries for his sale, but only if a record fee is thrown his way.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 26, 2024

At 31, Vladimir Coufal will need to be replaced at some point, and the Welshman could be an ideal figure to come in and provide competition, but it looks as if the search will go on.