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It might not have been pretty, but Liverpool have that winning feeling again, having ended their recent rut with a deserved 1-0 win away at Inter Milan on Tuesday evening.

There few highs, but also – more importantly – few lows at San Siro for Arne Slot’s side, with the reigning Premier League champions looking far more comfortable than they did just days earlier amid the chaos at Elland Road.

Perhaps that speaks to the gulf in quality that has opened up between the Champions League and England’s top flight, although, regardless, seeing off last season’s losing finalists is no mean feat. Slot needed that.

Having been vindicated in his decision to leave out Mohamed Salah for the trip to Italy, the title-winning Dutchman’s ruthless streak might well be beginning to pay off.

The issue is, the Egyptian isn’t the only problem still to be solved, with more members of last season’s glorious side still looking way off the pace.

Liverpool's worst performers against Inter in numbers

Now, this isn’t to try and pop the balloon following what was a much-needed victory for Slot and co, although the former Feyenoord boss himself would admit that his side were far from perfect on the night.

Indeed, a string of absences – and not just that of Salah – saw the Reds lineup with something of a new-look forward line, albeit with it taking a controversial Dominik Szoboszlai spot-kick to eventually settle the affair.

All eyes were on the pairing of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike – with the night marking just their second start together all season – yet, perhaps as to be expected, there was little in the way of fluency or dynamism, even with the visitors posing the greater threat during the first half, in particular.

Isak, in particular, endured yet another frustrating outing to continue his Merseyside woes, with the £125m Swede regularly failing to make things stick through the middle, losing the ball on eight occasions from just 25 touches, as per Sofascore, prior to being withdrawn on the 68-minute mark.

While the price tag may suggest otherwise, the 25-year-old shouldn’t necessarily be the only avenue for concern, with it also proving a difficult outing for Joe Gomez at right-back.

The Englishman was safe and steady, although he provided little attacking flair, having lost the ball 11 times himself, while failing to provide a single successful cross or key pass, having won just a solitary duel all night.

The Anfield side looked far more progressive and threatening with substitute Conor Bradley unleashed down that side, with the hope being that the Northern Ireland star can remain injury-free heading into a hectic festive period.

Slot will surely wish to bring the academy graduate into the starting lineup on a regular basis, although one man who could fall out of the reckoning is last season’s star, Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool's new Joe Allen & Lucas Leiva

Central to what made Slot’s side so impressive last term was the midfield unit, with the Dutchman reinvigorating Ryan Gravenberch in that deep-lying role, while also finally getting a tune out of Szoboszlai in an advanced, attacking berth.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It was also, however, another fine campaign for that man Mac Allister, with the 2023 summer arrival from Brighton having cemented his status as “one of the best signings” that the club had made in the FSG era, in the view of DaveOCKOP.

The World Cup winner was the key, the glue keeping it together in the centre of the park, having also showcased his attacking flair with 13 goals and assists in all competitions.

From that knack for delivering clutch moments, the Argentine has frustratingly tailed off this time around, with his effort against Real Madrid earlier this season having been his only goal to date in 2025/26.

With just two assists also added into the mix, the 26-year-old is morphing into Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen territory at present, representing a solid but unspectacular option at the heart of the midfield.

Indeed, neither man was particularly adept at making the difference in a creative sense, with Allen scoring just seven goals in 132 games during his time at Anfield, while cult figure Leiva also netted just seven times himself, albeit from 346 total games.

To compare Mac Allister to such a limited pairing might appear hyperbolic, although again on Tuesday night, he was distinctly lacking any spark or flair, having failed to provide a single key pass, nor attempt a single shot or dribble.

He did win six of his seven ground duels, while losing the ball just five times, but again, there was that risk-averse feel to his performance, echoing those sorry days of Allen and Leiva lining up in the Brendan Rodgers and early Jurgen Klopp era.

As already stated, Mac Allister’s prior work ensures he remains one of FSG’s “best signings”, not least considering his bargain £35m fee, although like many of his teammates, the former Seagulls star simply doesn’t look like the player of 2024/25.

As bad as Isak vs Inter: Liverpool mainstay must now be axed by Slot

Liverpool secured a significant victory at Inter Milan in the Champions League.

By
Angus Sinclair

1 day ago

“We had great expectations, but we couldn’t play up to those. All the criticism is quite natural,” admits Taskin Ahmed

Mohammad Isam02-Nov-2021There’s a popular belief – mired more in hope than anything else – in Bangladesh that the team would often pull out a win whenever they were backed into a tight corner.They did it, for instance, when their very existence as a Full Member was questioned. They did it after a big group of players defected to the Indian Cricket League. They did it after they were smashed in their home World Cup.Related

• T20 World Cup: Bangladesh, the rot within, and a campaign destined to fail

• Mashrafe: Bangladesh 'succumbed' to BCB criticism at T20 World Cup; board should learn from BCCI

• Rabada returns to form but SA batting still a concern

• Group 1 scenarios: SA strong contenders to join England in semis

• Rabada, Nortje set up SA's rout of Bangladesh

So, there was some hope that after losing their first three matches in this T20 World Cup, Bangladesh would feel cornered enough to bounce back strongly. Instead, it was the other less popular, but more regular scenario, that panned out in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.Faced with two dead rubbers, Bangladesh appeared to be homesick children after a long school outing. They appeared disinterested in the slim mathematical probability of their semi-final chances. Then came the Shakib Al Hasan blow, which reduced their squad to 13 members.Then, the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Dwaine Pretorius, aided by seam movement and bounce, hit them hard. When they were 45 for 6 in the 12th over, Bangladesh were at risk of getting bundled out for a total lower than West Indies’ 55 from earlier in this tournament, or their own 70 all out from the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of Bangladesh vs South Africa is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

Some of Bangladesh’s dismissals appeared to give a window into their mindset. Feeling frustrated in only the fourth over, Mohammad Naim hit one straight to midwicket. Seniors like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were undone by short-of-a-length deliveries. Mushfiqur played around it while Mahmudullah didn’t know the ball hit his thumb, asking for a review. Afif Hossain missed a slog first ball, before Liton Das, who rarely faces a left-arm unorthodox bowler, got easily duped by Tabraiz Shamsi.They still have Australia to play later this week, but already the tournament feels too long for Bangladesh. This is usually how ICC events have ended for them. For many years, there have been reports of Bangladesh feeling homesick during long tours, particularly at ICC tournaments. Bangladesh had a poor ending to a bright 2007 World Cup in West Indies. They finished their 2015 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy meekly. New Zealand stuffed them in their last match in the 2016 T20 World Cup. They ended the 2019 World Cup with huge defeats, too.What is most worrying is how the batters have gone missing for most of this tournament. Bangladesh’s 84 all out against South Africa was the third time they got bowled out in double figures this year. They have averaged 129 runs in the Super 12s phase. Clearly, something is wrong in their batting in T20Is. The string of ten home matches against Australia and New Zealand on raging turners in pitches in Dhaka didn’t help their cause or confidence.”We haven’t played according to our potential. We are better than this,” an articulate Taskin Ahmed said at the press conference. “We lost games that we were supposed to win. Maybe we are not as good as other T20 sides, but even then we didn’t play up to our potential. I think we could have played better than this.”It could have been a different story if we made even 120 or 125. I think today’s wicket was different. The ball was seaming. There was off-the-pitch movement in both innings. They took nearly 14 overs to score 85 runs.”Taskin admitted that T20s are all about making runs, but Bangladesh couldn’t combine batting and bowling in this competition.”At the end of the day, runs are a factor in T20s. We didn’t have regular big totals. When we did get a big score in one game, we didn’t bowl well on that day. The opposite also happened. We made different mistakes in every game.”Losing is not fun. Nobody wants to lose. We had great expectations, but we couldn’t play up to those expectations. All the criticism is quite natural. We have to accept it.”We have to get over it before the next match, or the next series. We just want to give back one win for the country.Of course Taskin is hopeful. Perhaps he has a point to prove given that he has been in and out of the team throughout this T20 World Cup. But many of the batters, too, had to show their worth. Instead, they now simply appear to want to get out of the bio-bubble in the UAE, having been riddled with defeats, injuries and controversies.

Seamer earns praise from both captains after player-of-the-match performance

George Dobell28-Aug-2021A “real find” was Virat Kohli’s description; “phenomenal” was Joe Root’s word: whichever way you look at it, England have a man for the long haul in Ollie Robinson.Robinson was named player of the match as England completed an innings-and-76-run victory in the third LV= Insurance Test at Leeds. He claimed 7 for 81 in the match, including 5 for 65 in the second innings. With James Anderson and Stuart Broad coming towards the end and Jofra Archer facing an uncertain future, in Test cricket at least, Robinson’s emergence gives England great reassurance for the future.Robinson took 4 for 25 in eight metronomic overs on the fourth and final morning. Running in from the Kirkstall Lane End, he quickly settled on a consistent length which threatens the stumps and both edges of the bat. Yes, he had a new ball with which to work. But the pitch was flat and the sun was hot. These were not easy wickets picked up on an English seamer.It was interesting to hear Robinson credit the influence of Anderson after the second five-wicket haul of a career which is only four Tests old. For almost as impressive as the statistics with Robinson is his apparent ability to pick up new tricks. Here, in the lead-up to the game, he noticed Anderson was gripping the ball slightly differently to other bowlers. Reasoning that there was nobody better to learn from, he quickly picked Anderson’s brains.”I noticed Jimmy held his wobble grip slightly different to how I and a few others held it,” Robinson said. “I spoke to him when we got to Headingley after the break and just tried to practice it in the nets. It went quite nicely. I tried it in the game and it worked quite well. It’s something I need to practise a bit more, but learning off Jimmy is invaluable at this stage of my career and luckily it came off today.”Related

• Ollie Robinson: 'Getting stuck into the opposition is a role I've taken upon myself'

• England march to 1-1 with Ollie Robinson five-for

• James Anderson puts things right after learning lessons of Lord's

• Six specialist batters to guard against collapses? 'I don't believe in that balance,' says Virat Kohli

• 'This is the situation we love best' – Virat Kohli eager to prove doubters wrong

This ability to pick-up skills from other bowlers is nothing new from Robinson. He grew up idolising Glenn McGrath and then played Grade cricket in Australia with Josh Hazlewood. Their influence can be seen both in his wonderfully smooth, repeatable action and his ability to thump out an excellent, consistent, probing length. Earlier in the series, he produced a knuckle ball – changing his grip even as he gathered to deliver – which also demonstrated his wide range of skills.He says his stock ball is the one delivered with a wobble seam which he hopes will hold up and leave the right-hander. And it was just such a delivery which accounted for Kohli, whose habit of flirting a little outside off stump was punished when Robinson persuaded one to bounce and at least straighten.But equally dangerous is the one which darts back into the batters. And while Robinson’s bounce – even from a pretty full length, Hawkeye tends to show the ball bouncing over the stumps – and the sometimes prodigious nature of his inswing might render leg-before dismissals a little more rare than you would expect (Mohammed Shami was, at one stage, reprieved by DRS when it looked for all the world as if he had been trapped in front), the fact that he can move the ball in both directions creates confusion. That’s why Cheteshwar Pujara left one which would have hit his off stump and Kohli fiddled with one he could have left. The fact that it’s all delivered with the nagging accuracy of toothache just wears at the batters’ concentration. It’s a terrific package.It was interesting that Kohli, while offering praise afterwards, also added a caveat. “He understand his skills really well,” Kohli told the BBC. “He swings the ball both ways and he’s very consistent; especially in these conditions. He is a real find for them.”No doubt there will be days, in Asia in particular, when that “these conditions” line proves true. But Robinson might enjoy South Africa, Australia and, depending on the surfaces, the Caribbean, too. He has played a fair amount of Grade cricket already and, while he is unlikely to gain the same amount of swing from a Kookaburra ball, he may well enjoy the extra bounce off the pitch. He’ll still hit the seam; he’ll still bowl an impeccable length. These are skills that should render him a useful addition to the attack in most conditions.Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed by Ollie Robinson•Getty Images”My strength is consistency,” Robinson said. “It’s something I look at with the analyst and the bowling coach, Jon Lewis, every day after I bowl. I see how I’ve bowled and check my lines and lengths. If I can be as consistent as possible, not go for runs and build the pressure, then hopefully I’ll get wickets with that.”My stock ball is just to wobble the seam and try to get it to hold away from the right-hander. I’m learning a few things at the moment that I won’t reveal, but I’m trying to improve myself all the time, really. Learning from Jimmy, speaking to Jon Lewis – trying to improve myself all the time to become the best I can be really.”The one doubt England had about Robinson was his ability to back up performances. But he has managed to bowl more overs than anyone else this series and generally retained both his consistency and pace.”It’s been phenomenal to watch him perform as he has,” Root, his grateful captain, said. “He’s had big influences on all the Tests he’s played. We’ve known how skilful he is. It was a question of whether he’d be able to back it up in his third spell with the ball a little older. And he’s shown huge skill in being able to do that time and time again with big workloads under his belt. He’s shown what he is capable of doing and long may that continue.”Robinson said: “I was confident I could perform at this level. Over the last three or four years in county cricket, I’ve been up there with leading wicket-takers and getting good players or overseas players out often. So I knew that if I stepped up to Test cricket I could do the same and luckily I have been able to.”It feels like a very special day. It’s one of the great days in my cricket career: to get my first Test win and to take the vital wickets is really special. The noise when we got Kohli out was deafening. It was just an unbelievable experience and feeling to get that wicket.”So, yes. I’m very happy. I’ve had to wait a while for my chance, but hopefully I’ve taken it now and it will keep me in the team for years to come.”There seems every chance of that.Craig Overton celebrates a wicket•Getty ImagesCraig Overton had a decent game, too. With bat, ball and in the slips, he looked a sound addition. He may well struggle to retain his place if and when Archer, Broad and Woakes return. But his consistency and his obvious relish for the challenge render him a decent option at this level. He may well have moved ahead of Sam Curran in the pecking order now.In the short-term, England remain hopeful that Woakes and Mark Wood may be available for the fourth Test, which starts on Thursday at The Kia Oval. Both have bowled in the last day or so – Woakes in The Blast and Wood in training – and will be monitored to see how they recover. The extra day off won’t have done anyone involved in this game any harm, either.But Jos Buttler looks less likely to feature. Root would neither confirm or deny, but Buttler may be absent on paternity leave for either or both of the next two Tests. With his enthusiasm to tour Australia in current circumstances also doubtful – quite understandably, it should be added – there is a possibility (just a possibility) he could have played his last Test. Jonny Bairstow is likely to replace him with the gloves at The Oval, if required, with Ollie Pope set to come into the middle-order. Dan Lawrence has been released to play County Championship cricket from Monday.Such issues can wait until next week. For now, we can relish the prospect of an increasingly intriguing series which will remain ‘live’ right to the end. Every ball counts, you know.

The need for a new striker at Manchester United is there for all to see, with their lack of ability within the final third hugely evident throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Ruben Amorim’s side only managed to find the back of the net on 44 occasions in their 38 Premier League outings, an average of just 1.15 goals per match.

Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes ended the season as the joint-top scorers, both registering eight goals, with no player in the squad registering double figures, highlighting the need for added reinforcements.

Two centre-forward options, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, only managed seven league goals between them, with the former hugely touted with a move to Inter Milan this summer.

Given such form, it’s a surprise to no one to see the hierarchy prioritising a move for a player in such a department, with countless players already on their radar.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Over the last couple of weeks, numerous names have been mentioned to fill the striker void at Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed to bolster Amorim’s side.

The likes of Hugo Ekitiké, Moise Kean and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been mentioned as potential summer signings for the Red Devils, but it appears that attention has been turned elsewhere.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is the latest on their radar this summer, with the Napoli talisman expected to leave the Serie A outfit, according to United In Focus.

Their report claims that talks have already been held for the 26-year-old star over a move to Old Trafford, undoubtedly providing a superb option for the club after scoring 37 times on loan at Galatasaray in 2024/25.

It also states that after rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia, his priority is a switch to the Premier League, potentially seeing the Red Devils move to the front of the queue for his signature.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has been a player firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of months, unsurprisingly so given his previous stint under Amorim.

The Swede netted 54 goals in his 52 appearances across all competitions this campaign, undoubtedly being one of the hottest prospects in Europe, with Arsenal also in the race for his services.

It was reported earlier this week that the hierarchy have made contact with the 27-year-old’s representatives over a switch to the Premier League, with a £55m transfer fee mooted.

There’s no doubt that such a goalscoring record would improve the situation at the manager’s disposal, but he’s never showcased his talents in Europe’s top five leagues, posing a potential risk given his price tag.

Osimhen has managed to thrive in such a department, scoring 65 league goals in his five seasons as a first-team regular with Napoli – helping them claim the Scudetto back in 2022/23. He’s truly one of the great forwards, with European football expert Zach Lowy notably suggesting he is already “one of the best strikers of this century.”

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Nigerian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further backing up why he’d be a better addition.

He may have registered fewer goals to date, but has notched a higher goal per shot on target rate, highlighting his clinical edge within the final third.

He’s also won more aerials and completed more take-ons, handing Amorim an all-round option that could take United to the next level throughout 2025/26.

Whilst either of the pair would hand the club the talisman they’ve been craving in recent months, it’s pivotal that, with such big money being spent, the right man arrives in the coming months.

From the stats produced and their previous experience in Europe, it’s evident that the Nigerian would be the better choice, pushing them in the right direction to try and return to their former glory.

Amorim's answer to Cherki: Man Utd to make huge bid for "phenomenal" star

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could be their Rayan Cherki.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 10, 2025

The visitors secured a huge victory in the opening Test against Sri Lanka but there are some key achievements Lyon still wants to tick off

AAP03-Feb-20252:48

Steven Smith: ‘A near-flawless performance’

Nathan Lyon has warned Australia could still be years away from Test greatness, despite continuing their blistering summer with a record-breaking rout of Sri Lanka.Australia claimed their biggest ever win on the subcontinent, thrashing Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the Galle series opener, only weeks after sealing their first series defeat of India in a decade.Related

• Kuhnemann, Lyon consign Sri Lanka to their biggest defeat

• Length, more than pace, key to Australia spinners' success, says Smith

• McDonald credits Kuhnemann recovery, Dubai training camp for Galle rout

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph confirmed Australia’s spot in a second consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final, with the ICC’s top-ranked side winning more Test matches in the past cycle than any other team.Elder statesman Lyon saw signs of greatness in the win in Galle, where Australian appeared in control from a first over that featured three fours off Travis Head’s bat. But Lyon does not feel the current crop of Australian players can yet lay claim to being a truly great side.”We want to become a great Australian team. We’re on that journey, we’re not there yet. That’s our end goal,” he said. “Part of that journey is making sure that when we close the window, we nail it shut. It’s all about being ruthless and doing our best thing for long periods of time.”The win in Galle ensured Australia would continue to hold every bilateral trophy for which they are eligible, alongside the ODI World Cup and the WTC trophy.But Lyon was quick to point out that Australia had drawn and not won the past two Ashes series played in England, last winning outright on the road in 2001. Australia have also not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India since Ricky Ponting’s side took out the four-match series 2-1 in 2004.Nathan Lyon took seven wickets in the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

“There’s a few things [Australia needs to achieve],” said 37-year-old Lyon. “This is only me and my thoughts as well. We’ve got some great players within that change-room, there’s no point hiding behind that. “Australia will have to wait until 2027 for chances at away series wins in India and England. The country’s greatest ever offspinner, Lyon said he “100 percent” hoped to play on that next trip to spin-friendly India as a 39-year-old.Sri Lanka may be the last time before then that Lyon has the chance to bowl in tandem with fellow offspinners Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann.The trio took 17 of Australia’s 20 wickets in Galle, but the team does not have a subcontinent Test tour planned between the ongoing two-match series and India in 2027.”We’re going okay, but I still feel like we’ve got a lot of improvement to do. That’s about being ruthless,” Lyon said of the offspinning trio. “We’re three totally different bowlers with three totally different mindsets as well. I feel like I’m learning off Todd and Matt, and I feel like they’re pushing me to try and get better as well. Hopefully I’m passing on a little bit of knowledge here and there.”Lyon is mostly free of a left hip injury he suffered in the summer, though he is still in pain if he falls on the area.”But I didn’t have to land on it today, so all good,” said Lyon, who took match figures of 7 for 135 in Galle. “Apparently I ripped the deep tissue off the fascia [hip muscle], whatever that means. Apparently there was a bit of excess blood or something in there. Not ideal, but all good now.”

Fast & Furious actor Vin Diesel has delivered an inspirational “no limit” message to Karim Benzema and Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.

• Benzema and Co taking in friendly games
• A-list visitors to the dressing room
• Preparing to face Ronaldo again in 2025-26

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Hollywood superstar was granted access to the Al-Ittihad dressing room as they take in pre-season friendly dates during a training camp in Portugal. Diesel was joined by film director and legendary New York Knicks fan Spike Lee.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Diesel is best known for playing the character Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise. He is a leader of friends and family in those movies, with motivational speeches often being delivered.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT DIESEL SAID

  He gave another when crossing paths with Benzema and Co. Diesel said, with an interpreter on hand: “Each one of you should take it upon yourself to take the team as high as you can. You never have a moment off. No matter what time of day it is, you always have to be planning how to elevate your profile, your fame, because you are really talented. There is no limit for you. You are stars. The whole world is going to know your name.”

  Diesel signed off by saying, as he turned to embrace Real Madrid legend and former France international Benzema: “I mean that guys, especially you brother.”

Earlier in the match, Haris Rauf went off the field with what was later confirmed to be a low-grade side strain

Danyal Rasool08-Feb-2025New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra is unlikely to feature in the ODI against South Africa on Monday, after sustaining a blow while fielding during Saturday’s tri-series ODI against Pakistan.Fielding at deep square leg in the 37th over, Ravindra steadied himself to take a catch as Khushdil Shah slog-swept Michael Bracewell towards the on side. But Ravindra seemed to lose the ball, struck flat and low, mid-flight, and took no evasive action as it struck him square on the forehead. He was seen staring at the ground, apparently in a daze, as blood streamed down his face while medical staff rushed onto the field.New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has since released a statement saying that Ravindra is “otherwise well” and will continue to be monitored.Related

• Lockie Ferguson in doubt for Champions Trophy and Pakistan tri-series

• Phillips 72-ball hundred flips the script as New Zealand beat Pakistan

“Rachin Ravindra sustained a laceration to the forehead after being struck by the ball in yesterday’s ODI tri-series win over Pakistan in Lahore,” the release said. “Ravindra passed the initial head injury assessment and the laceration, which required stitches, was addressed and treated at the ground. He is otherwise well and will continue to be monitored under HIA (Head Injury Assessment) protocols. He is unlikely to feature in tomorrow’s match against South Africa.”A stunned silence took hold of the ground after Ravindra went down. A stretcher was brought on as well, though it was ultimately not required. The Pakistan team doctor, nearest to the incident, also rushed on to provide first-aid assistance. After lying down on the ground while receiving a few minutes of treatment, Ravindra got up with the assistance of medical staff, and walked off the field, holding a towel to his head, to warm applause from what had just recently been a packed Gaddafi Stadium.New Zealand, riding on Glenn Phillips’ maiden ODI ton, won the opening game of the tri-series comfortably by 78 runs. Ravindra had earlier opened the batting and scored a brisk 25 off 19 balls to get his side up and running and sent down three overs.Haris Rauf walked off the field with a side strain•Associated Press

Earlier in the match, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf went off the field two balls into his seventh over, and the PCB later revealed he had complained of “sharp pain in the left side of the chest and abdomen muscles”, which was later confirmed to be a “low-grade side strain”. Rauf, it was confimed, would not come out to bat during Pakistan’s chase.These developments come just 11 days before the start of the Champions Trophy, which begins when these two sides meet in Karachi on February 19. New Zealand’s next game is on Monday, when they take on South Africa in the second match of this tri-series, while Pakistan are scheduled to meet South Africa on Wednesday.As the Champions Trophy looms, New Zealand could also be without the fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who suffered a hamstring injury while playing in the ILT20 in the UAE. As yet, the team is awaiting reports of a scan on Ferguson’s injury.GMT 0925 The news report was updated following NZC’s statement on Ravindra’s injury.

Bayern Munich have struck a €75 million (£65.6m/$88.1m) deal with Liverpool to sign Luis Diaz, who is reportedly set to undergo a medical within 24 hours. The Colombian winger has been granted permission to leave the Reds’ pre-season tour in Tokyo and join Harry Kane’s side as Die Rekordmeister prepare for a fresh Bundesliga title charge.

• Diaz set to leave Liverpool for Bayern in €75m transfer deal
• Set to undergo medical with Bayern over next 24 hours
• Liverpool eye Isak after signing Ekitike earlier this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool have accepted Bayern’s €75m offer for Diaz, as per The Athletic, after having previously rejected a lower bid earlier this summer from the Bundesliga champions. The Colombian, currently in Tokyo with Liverpool’s pre-season squad, has been granted permission to leave and complete his medical with Der Rekordmeister and become Bayern’s latest high-profile signing under Kompany.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Diaz’s departure is part of a wider shake-up at Liverpool under Arne Slot this summer. The Merseyside club have already brought in Hugo Ekitike and are chasing Alexander Isak as a possible addition. With Darwin Nunez also potentially on the move, Liverpool’s attack could boast a very different look in 2025/26 as they prepare their Premier League title defence.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Diaz made a total of 148 appearances for Liverpool after arriving from Porto in the summer of 2022 before playing a key role in the Reds' domestic cup double that season. During his time with the Merseyside club, he scored 41 goals and provided 23 assists.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DIAZ?

  The 28-year-old Colombian is expected to complete his medical and sign a long-term deal with Bayern Munich within the next 48 hours. Liverpool will turn their focus to finalising a move for Isak as they rebuild their frontline. More changes could follow as the transfer window progresses.

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have been blessed with an abundance of world-class players in the past.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were unreal in the early 2000s, while Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez were the shining lights of the latter Arsène Wenger years.

However, on top of the bonafide stars, the Gunners also had more than their fair share of those who fell one or two rungs below, those who were still incredibly talented but are now seen as cult heroes more than anything else.

Theo Walcott would likely fall into the category for many fans, as while he never really fulfilled the potential so many believed he had, the former England international was still more than a handful, responsible for some iconic goals and was arguably the club’s best attacker for a season or two.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international who could be the Mikel Arteta’s own Walcott.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented internationals touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Rodrygo and Mohammed Kudus.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former is reportedly available for around £84m, which might be a fee worth paying, as in 51 games for Real Madrid this season, he has scored 14 goals and provided ten assists.

On the other hand, Kudus might prove even more challenging to pry away from West Ham United as, according to reports from last week, he has a release clause worth up to a staggering £120m in his current deal.

Fortunately, another attacking talent has entered the frame for Arteta and Co: Anthony Elanga.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in the Nottingham Forest star ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.

The report claims that, alongside the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely.’

However, on top of dealing with the potential competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up a hefty fee of around £60m to get their man.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Elanga’s ability and the potential for him to improve further, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he could be their new Walcott.

Why Elanga would be Walcott 2.0

Okay, while there are certainly numerous reasons why Arsenal would want to, and probably should, sign Elanga this summer, let’s first address just why he could be the club’s new Walcott.

The first is that, like with the former Southampton gem, it would be another example of the Gunners signing an exciting and dynamic right-winger who can play in other positions from a fellow Premier League side.

Moreover, while the Swede is a fair bit older than the Englishman was when he moved to North London, the fact he’s still just 23 years old means there is plenty of time for him to further develop and grow in N5.

However, there is another, even more significant similarity between the two players: their pace.

While he was playing under Wenger, the former Arsenal star wasn’t always necessarily the most technical of footballers, but he was blisteringly quick, as shown by the Castol Football Index calculating his top speed to be 22.72 mph in March 2014, which converts to about 36.56 km/h.

In comparison, the Forest star reached an even higher speed of 22.78 mph this season, which is about 36.66 km/h, but did even better and hit 22.93 mph last season, which is around 36.91kmph.

Impressively, that is currently the fourth-fastest sprint since Premier League records began and more than justifies his statement that he’s “one of the fastest players in the league.”

Finally, on top of being absurdly fast, the “special” talent, as dubbed by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, is also a potent threat, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in just 43 appearances, totalling 2752 minutes this season.

That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 152.88 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more attacking talent to the squad this summer, and someone who’s a genuine threat while also being incredibly fast sounds like just the player they should be signing.

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Having put pen to paper to officially become the new Rangers manager, Russell Martin has instantly reportedly shifted his focus towards what would be a bargain swoop for the Gers.

Martin already targeting Rangers incomings

The former Southampton boss has got straight to work with the 49ers and is already looking to build a Rangers squad in his vision and one capable of catching Old Firm rivals Celtic. Together with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, Martin will be desperate to get off to the best possible start at Ibrox in the summer transfer window.

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Speaking to the club’s official media channels, Thelwell reiterated that success won’t come easy but it is a must at Rangers. He said: “This is a new chapter for Rangers, and while we recognise success won’t come easy, our goal is clear: we need to win. My focus is on delivering that, with discipline and ambition. We’ll give everything to move this club forward as quickly and sustainably as we can.”

The start of a new chapter may yet see the introduction of more new characters too. The rumours have been coming thick and fast as to who could become the first arrival of the Martin era, from Dor Turgeman to a player who the manager knows very well in Flynn Downes.

Using Martin’s Premier League links will likely prove key this summer if the Gers are to bridge the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. And Downes wouldn’t be a bad start. Martin worked with the midfielder at both Southampton and Swansea in a partnership which could be renewed at Ibrox this summer.

The midfielder’s not the only Premier League target that Rangers have on their radar, however. The Scottish giants have also reportedly turned their attention towards a free agent who just left Nottingham Forest.

Rangers and Martin targeting Toffolo

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers and Martin are also targeting a deal to sign Harry Toffolo not long after he left Nottingham Forest at the end of his contract this summer.

The experienced left-back will therefore be available for nothing and could instantly jump ahead of the likes of Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz in Rangers’ pecking order down that side. Meanwhile, if there are any concerns that negotiations will be difficult, then the fact that Toffolo is represented by the same agent as Rangers forward Danilo may ease those concerns.

From the very start of his Nottingham Forest career in 2022, Toffolo found himself at the centre of praise. Welcoming the defender to the City Ground, former manager Steve Cooper said at the time: “Harry is an excellent addition to the squad and adds quality and depth to a position that we were keen to strengthen this summer.”

Now, it could be Martin’s turn to welcome the 29-year-old to his squad in what would be a solid way for Rangers to commence their summer business. An experienced defender who’s available at a bargain price, Toffolo is not one that the Gers will want to miss out on.