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Liverpool moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over West Ham United in front of their home support at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds went into the break with a 1-0 lead against the Hammers thanks to a tap-in from Luis Diaz after Mohamed Salah brilliantly teed up his fellow winger with a delicious outside-of-the-boot cross.

An own goal from Andy Robertson, however, made it 1-1 in the second half, before Virgil van Dijk scored the winning goal from a corner in the 89th minute.

Arne Slot’s side are now right on the edge of winning the Premier League title, which will only be the second time the club have won the division, with six matches left to play.

It was almost, though, a disappointing performance and result for the Merseyside giants as they needed that late goal to avoid a draw with the Hammers after Robertson’s own goal.

How Andy Robertson almost cost Liverpool

The Scotland international started the match on the bench after Kostas Tsimikas was selected ahead of him from the start by Slot in the left-back position.

Liverpool’s Greek defender put in a fairly average shift, winning three of his six duels and being dribbled past twice, but did not make any significant errors before being substituted in the 60th minute.

It was, instead, Robertson who made a significant error in his 30 minutes on the pitch in the second half, when he bundled the ball into his own net from a cross from the left flank.

The Scottish full-back and Virgil van Dijk appeared to get in the way of each other as they both went to clear the cross, which led to it hitting the ex-Hull City man and rolling past Alisson into the bottom corner.

Minutes

30

Clearances

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Duels won

1/2

Pass accuracy

55%

As you can see in the table above, Robertson had a rough 30 minutes on the pitch after replacing Tsimikas in the second half, completing just 55% of his attempted passes to go along with his own goal.

It was, therefore, a disappointing cameo by the long-serving defender, who has yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premier League this season, and he has not done his chances of coming back into the starting line-up next time out any favours.

Robertson was not the only poor performer of the afternoon for the Reds, however, as centre-forward Diogo Jota also produced a lacklustre display from the start.

Why Diogo Jota must be dropped

Slot selected the Portugal international to play as the team’s number nine ahead of Cody Gakpo, Diaz, or Federico Chiesa, and the forward let him down.

The Dutch manager must, now, ruthlessly ditch the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star from the team for Liverpool’s next match after he failed to provide a quality performance against the Hammers.

Jota earned a player rating of 6/10 from the Express, who noted his ‘little impact’ on the match, which summed up his uneventful afternoon at Anfield.

It was a poor display from the striker because there was nothing of note worth mentioning from his showing, which is not what you want from your leading centre-forward.

Minutes

60

Shots

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Pass accuracy

67%

Key passes

1

xA

0.01

Big chances created

0

Duels won

0/3

As you can see in the table above, Jota did not take a single shot on goal in 60 minutes and only created one chance, which had an xA value of 0.01, whilst he also lost 100% of his duels.

This shows that he offered very little in the final third, as either a scorer or a creator, and that led to him being withdrawn from the match at 1-0 with 30 minutes still left to play.

Chalkboard

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

The Portuguese dud produced this performance off the back of missing one ‘big chance’ and completing 25% (2/8) of his attempted passes in 67 minutes in the defeat to Fulham in the previous match.

His last two outings as a starter in the centre-forward position suggest that it is time for Slot to ruthlessly ditch him from the team to unleash another player in that role, whilst they also suggest that Liverpool should be in the market for a striker this summer.

Why Liverpool need to sign a striker this summer

The Reds need to go out and land a new number nine when the summer transfer window opens for business because they do not currently have a reliable option in that position.

Slot has a number of players who can play in that role but his best two finishers out of the lot – Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo – are wingers by trade, rather than natural centre-forwards, as you can see in the table below.

Luis Diaz

10.60

11

+0.40

Diogo Jota

8.26

6

-2.25

Cody Gakpo

6.35

8

+1.65

Darwin Nunez

5.30

5

-0.30

Federico Chiesa

0.46

0

-0.46

Diaz and Gakpo are the only two options on the list that have outperformed their xG in the Premier League this season for Liverpool, whilst Jota has underperformed his xG by the most.

It was recently reported that the Reds are interested in a deal to sign Alexander Isak from Premier League rivals Newcastle United, and he would be a huge upgrade on what the club currently have at their disposal.

The Swedish star scored 21 goals from 20.29 xG in 30 appearances in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, to go along with two assists.

So far this term, the former Real Sociedad dynamo has scored 20 goals from 16.28 xG in 27 appearances in the top-flight, which speaks to his consistency and his ruthlessness in front of goal for the Magpies.

With this in mind, Liverpool must pursue a deal for a new striker, whether that is Isak or a similar talent, to give themselves a reliable and consistent number nine in the 2024/25 campaign, allowing them to permanently move on from Jota as a starter.

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Former England captain is optimistic about prospects but warns against presuming all-out pace is key

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Oct-2025Michael Vaughan believes winning the Ashes would vindicate Ben Stokes’ work as Test captain, adding the allrounder may prove to be England’s most valuable bowler on “very English” Australian pitches.With the first Test in Perth just three weeks away, the majority of England’s Test squad are in New Zealand, either involved in the ongoing ODI series or training alongside it. The Ashes group will come together in Western Australia on Monday, where they will be joined by the England Lions who will help them prepare with a three-day game starting on November 13, eight days before the series opener at Optus Stadium.Despite their last Test win on Australia soil coming in January 2011 – confirming a historic 3-1 success – and an aggregate 13-0 scoreline in the three tours since, England are optimistic. Much of that is down to the belief and more confrontational style instilled in the group by Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.Results have dramatically improved under Stokes. He has personally overseen 22 wins in 36 Tests as full-time skipper, flipping a slump of one win in 17 prior to his appointment. However, England have yet to win a five-match series since he and McCullum took the reins at the start of the 2022 summer, which includes a 2-2 draw in 2023’s home Ashes. They have also failed to make an impression in the World Test Championship, sitting sixth in the current cycle after drawing with India this summer.Speaking at a Viagogo event, Vaughan, who marshalled England’s 2005 Ashes success, ending an 18-year drought, feels the time has come for Stokes to mark his captaincy with some tangible success.”I think they need a trophy,” he said.”I mean, would I take two-all now? Probably, let’s be honest. In the last few series, 2010-11 is the only time that I’ve seen England have success. We won one Test match in 2002-03, we won three Test matches in 2010-11. We haven’t won a Test since. So actually looking at growth in terms of what English cricket is delivering and, crikey, if you could get a two-all series, you’d obviously take that.Michael Vaughan and Chris Woakes speak to the media at a Viagogo event in London•Viagogo”But I think Ben and his mentality, and the way that he plays his cricket, this is his moment. He has to deliver and he has to get that urn in his hand. And it’s not putting him under pressure. They’ll be speaking in this kind of language in the dressing room. They will expect to win this series and now’s the time to deliver.”Vaughan also warned England not to get carried away with the notion that all-out pace is the way to go in Australia.The tourists have spent the last two years cultivating a more rounded seam attack for all conditions, but particularly in Australia with the Kookaburra ball.James Anderson was pushed into retirement last year, ultimately, because they did not believe, at 43, he would be effective on this tour. In turn, there was a focus on raising the average speed of their attack and favouring those with high release points, with the likes of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Diligent work behind the scenes has ensured Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, two of the quickest in the world, have made it to this hallmark series.As such, England believe they possess the fastest attack they have ever taken on an Ashes tour. However, it is worth noting recent Australian pitches have tended to be greener and thus more amenable to the Kookaburra ball.The numbers highlight the shift, with top seven batters averaging 30.22 since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, compared to 38.14 in the previous 20 Tests. Following the retirement of Chris Woakes and the non-selection of Sam Cook, Vaughan sees Stokes as the only bowler with the wares to excel if conditions turn out to be more sporting than anticipated.”I don’t think it’s all about pace,” said Vaughan. “I’d be very, very wary to just think that because we’ve got Jofra, because we’ve got Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson that can bowl with a bit of gas, that’s all you need.Related

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“Scott Boland, he averages 12 (12.63) because he hits the top of off stump more often than not, and the ball just wobbles around a bit. This series is the series that I look and think. ‘give me a Chris Woakes or a Sam Cook’ just in case, because we might get conditions that are very, very English and top of off will still be the main threat. And it’s who’s going to consistently hit the top of off stump.”There’s not many quick bowlers that hit the top of off stump. They’re basically there to bowl a bit of pepper and change up the pace of play.”I guess Ben’s the one bowler that you can just go, okay, you go back to top of off. It’s the one concern I have about the England attack that I’m thinking, who’s going to continuously hit the top of off if the ball’s wobbling around? Pace, yes, but it might be a series where the top of off stump is the area to go for.”Though Stokes is working his way back from a shoulder injury in New Zealand, he comes to Australia in perhaps his best bowling form. His 17 wickets at 25.23 in the home season’s Anderson-Tendulkar trophy were his most productive, beating a previous best 15 in 2013-14 Ashes, his first Test series.Despite arriving into the 2025 summer off the back of two right hamstring tears in the space of six months, Stokes was remarkably fit. His speeds were consistently challenging, around the mid-80s, and his skills undimmed. That he had also retained his will for long spells was a nod to his remarkable endurance, but also a familiar cause for concern when he broke down on the final day of the fourth Test against India.Feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, he continued bowling, subsequently ruling himself out of contention for the decider at the Kia Oval. England went on to lose a thriller, allowing India to square the series. It was the fifth Test Stokes had missed in the space of 12 months.Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder on day one of that fifth Test, leading to his international retirement, urged his former teammate to play it sensible to ensure he features throughout the series.”He’s bowling probably the best he’s ever bowled in his career,” said Woakes. “He’s as fit as he’s ever been. But as he’s getting older and you know, he’s a chance of breaking down.”I think at Old Trafford this year, I think he knew was f**ked, basically. ‘I’m broken anyway, I’ll just keep going’. Which isn’t a clever thing to do, but that’s the way Stokes is. He wants to give all to the team, as a leader, he wants to be the guy to do it. We need him to play all five Test matches.”

يرى نجم منتخب فرنسا السابق، أن نادي برشلونة يبالغ كثيرًا في الاعتماد على لامين يامال، كاشفًا في الوقت ذاته عن نقطة ضعف الفريق الكتالوني.

يامال يعتبر بين أبرز اللاعبين في صفوف برشلونة خلال السنوات الأخيرة، في ظل مستواه الرائع مع النادي الإسباني.

لكن إيمانويل بيتيت، نجم منتخب فرنسا السابق ونادي برشلونة وآرسنال كذلك، يرى أن يامال لن يمنح البارسا الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا، موضحًا أن النادي الإسباني لديه نقطة ضعف واضحة في خط دفاعه.

وقال بيتيت في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”: “برشلونة قادر على المنافسة على الدوري الإسباني، ولكن ليس على دوري أبطال أوروبا إطلاقًا، هل يعتقد أحد أنه قادر على الفوز بهذا اللقب بهذا الدفاع؟ لقد رأينا ذلك ضد إنتر ميلان، كيف يمكن أن تستقبل سبعة أهداف في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا؟”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ثنائي برشلونة جاهز لمواجهة ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني

وأضاف: “يجب على برشلونة أن يثق في لامين يامال اليوم واللاعبين المتميزين الآخرين، ولكن ليس لديهم نجوم عالميون مثل ليونيل ميسي، لا يستطيع لامين الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا وحده، مع كل الاحترام، لم يكن ميسي ليحقق ذلك بدون تشافي، إنييستا، بويول”.

واختتم: “الآن يعتمد كل شيء بشكل كبير على لامين يامال، يمتلك برشلونة لاعبين من الطراز الرفيع لكنهم لا يمتلكون لاعبين من الطراز العالمي، كما كان ليونيل ميسي في زمانه، هل يمكن الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا مع هؤلاء المدافعين؟ مستحيل، هم يتلقون الكثير من الأهداف ورأينا ذلك الموسم الماضي في نصف النهائي ضد إنتر”.

 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has lavished praise on a Gunners who’s done something he never expected.

Arsenal look to extend unbeaten run against Brentford

Arsenal return to the Emirates tonight seeking to rebuild momentum against Brentford following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, where Arteta’s side failed to capitalize on their one-man advantage despite playing almost an hour against ten men.

The north Londoners have also seen their five-point lead atop the Premier League table reduced to two after Man City’s thrilling 5-4 win away to Fulham on Tuesday, so nothing but a win will do against one of the worst away teams in the division this evening.

Arteta faces selection dilemmas ahead of Brentford’s visit, with defensive concerns persisting following the unexpected absence of both first-choice centre-backs at Stamford Bridge.

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William Saliba suffered a training ground injury in the build up to Chelsea, compounding Gabriel Magalhaes’ absence and marking only the second occasion in 162 matches both defenders have missed simultaneously.

It could well be the third time in 163 matches against Brentford, with Saliba a doubt for tonight’s clash and Gabriel still weeks away from returning to the field.

Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten streak has now reached 17 matches across all competitions, yet Arteta demands improvements following the Chelsea stalemate. The Gunners managed just eight shots at Stamford Bridge – their lowest total in any Premier League fixture this season.

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Leandro Trossard, who’s been in excellent form with 10 goal contributions already this term, looks set to miss the Brentford game with Havertz also suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

Mikel Arteta says Merino has took him by surprise at Arsenal

Bearing this in mind, if Arteta doesn’t start Viktor Gyokeres, then makeshift number nine Mikel Merino could well be handed another chance to impress.

The Spain international has been nothing short of extraordinary in a very unfamiliar role, scoring 20 goals this calendar year for club and country, and Arteta has now had his say on the matter.

When asked by reporters whether he thought Merino could become a striker like this, Arteta admitted the 29-year-old has taken him completely by surprise.

Merino’s equaliser ensured that Arsenal’s unbeaten streak didn’t end in west London on Sunday, and the former Newcastle star has fast become a fan favourite.

2025 has been a real year to remember for the midfielder, who was one of Edu’s final signings before his departure as sporting director late last year.

Arteta can take a lot of the credit for transforming Merino into an attacking powerhouse and having the initiative to experiment with him up front, but the versatile star has seized that opportunity with both hands.

On a flat pitch in Harare, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided a demonstration of what a modern T20 opening stand looks like with their clean swings of the bat and ruthless targeting of the bowlers. Their 159-run partnership lifted Afghanistan to 210 for 3 and, despite a spirited chase led by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, and Ryan Burl, the visitors closed out the game to complete a 3-0 series sweep.Afghanistan’s nine-run win on Sunday without Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai – both rested – completed a superb turnaround on the tour after going down by an innings and 73 runs in the one-off Test last month. They have now won 19 out of the 21 T20Is played between the two sides.

A menacing powerplay

The first over delivered by Wellington Masakadza set the tone for the innings. He conceded 19 to Gurbaz’s bat. First, Gurbaz bent low, rolled the wrists, and paddled one fine for four. The next ball, Gurbaz stepped down the track to launch it straight back over the sightscreen and into the trees. When Masakadza corrected his line, Gurbaz stayed deep and carved him past point for another boundary, before pre-empting a straighter one and paddling again past short fine leg.From there, every bowler faced the same problem. Richard Ngarava’s short ball sat up to be pulled while Brad Evans induced a mis-hit that he himself spilled. There really was no stopping Gurbaz.In the fourth over, Tinotenda Maposa met Ibrahim in full rhythm and four consecutive boundaries followed: a smack through midwicket, a punch past mid-off, a square cut off the back foot, and a fluent drive through cover. By the time the powerplay ended, Afghanistan were 73 for 0, their third-highest total after the first six overs.Ibrahim Zadran struck his third successive T20I fifty on Sunday•Zimbabwe Cricket

The stand swells; Afghanistan post 210

The next phase was about control without risk. Raza turned to himself and bowled with discipline (4-0-20-0). But from the other end, the runs kept coming. Burl, in particular, was taken for 30 runs in the 14th over. Gurbaz started with a paddle over fine leg, followed by a drive drilled straight back past the bowler. When Burl went wide, Gurbaz stepped out and sent it sailing over long-off; the next, he picked up and deposited over cow corner. The fifth ball was sliced through extra-cover, and the last was lifted flat over long-on.At 155 for 0 after 15 overs, Afghanistan had broken the game. Zimbabwe needed something special and it came from Raza himself – sprinting back from extra cover to grab a running, diving catch off Ngarava’s slower ball. Gurbaz, the dismissed man, made 92 off 48 and hit eight fours and five sixes. Ibrahim, whose fifty had arrived in a quieter fashion, was next to go, beaten by Evans’ slower delivery and bowled for 60. Sediqullah Atal finished the job, clearing the ropes three times in an unbeaten, 15-ball 35 to help the visitors post 210 for 3.

Raza, Bennett spark hope

Zimbabwe’s reply started poorly. Dion Myers’ lazy run-out and Brendan Taylor’s chip to mid-on inside the powerplay left them at 19 for 2, but then came the counterattack. Raza and Bennett turned the evening into a contest again.Raza was characteristically dismissive of length. He pulled anything short, carving Fazalhaq Farooqi over square leg and slicing Fareed Ahmad through cover point. Bennett played some audacious shots too — a ramp over fine leg off Fareed and a checked drive past mid-off. Their 85-run stand off 48 balls had Harare clapping again.Sikandar Raza made 51 in 29 balls•Zimbabwe Cricket

Raza’s fifty arrived in 28 balls but his innings ended in a fluke when a sweep shot off Mohammad Nabi rolled off his glove, then his pad and onto the stumps. Bennett carried on for 47 before mistiming to mid-off. At that point, Zimbabwe were 126 for 4 in 12.5 overs.

Fareed, Ahmadzai take Afghanistan home

That could have been the end, but Tashinga Musekiwa and Burl kept the chase alive. Burl’s three sixes rekindled belief, while Musekiwa’s shots through mid-off and midwicket kept Zimbabwe within touching distance. Even after Burl’s exit for 37 off 15 balls, there was hope.With three overs to go, Zimbabwe needed 39, but Fareed’s double strike in the 18th over — bowling Clive Madande and having Evans brilliantly caught by Gurbaz — broke the chase once and for all. Farooqi conceded only 10 in the 19th, leaving Abdollah Ahmadzai with 18 to defend off the final over.Ahmadzai’s first ball was a yorker, his second uprooted Maposa with an inswinger that tailed late, and off the last ball, Ngarava’s flick hung in the air at square leg. Mujeeb Ur Rahman juggled and held on to bowl Zimbabwe out.

U.S. international Christian Pulisic said AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan underlined the team’s determination and showed they can be serious contenders in Serie A this season. He also praised goalkeeper Mike Maignan, calling the France international’s display “one of the best goalkeeper performances” he has seen in his career.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'I can improve even more'

  Pulisic scored the decisive winner for Milan in the second half, while Maignan had six saves in the contest. 

  After the final whistle, Pulisic underlined the personal and collective significance of the derby triumph, saying the victory “means everything” for the group. He admitted that he is not yet back to full match sharpness following a recent injury layoff, but stressed that hard work and resilience had helped him contribute when it mattered. The forward framed the goal as validation of effort and a boost for the dressing room.

  “It means everything, honestly, just the result today,” Pulisic said in his post-match interview with CBS Sports. “It just puts us in a good place, and yeah, I’m really happy to come back after some tough moments in the last month to come back and help the team to win.

  “I mean, honestly, I think I can improve even more,” Pulisic added. “I don’t feel a 100 percent sharp after coming back from an injury and some time out. But it just shows the resilience, and I work really hard and happy a moment like today can come; it means a lot to me.”  

  Pulisic singled out his teammates’ determination in the closing stages, praising Milan’s defensive resolve and team unity. He pointed to the way the side defended the lead in the last half hour as evidence of a strong collective mentality, adding that confidence gained from such wins can carry through the season. The striker also reflected on his own standards, saying there is still room to sharpen his performances despite the decisive contribution.

  “Honestly, just the way this team has suffered even when we’re up goals and you can see in the last 30 minutes the way we defend,” Pulisic explained. “I just think we have a really good team spirit, the team’s will is incredible no matter what happens, we’ve gone down, we’ve come back, we’ve gone up and we’ve defended. I think we’ve just seen the games through and yup, we feel confident going into the games.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Milan's title credentials

  Milan now sit just two points back from Roma on the Serie A summit, and Pulisic stressed the club has higher ambitions. 

  "For us, you know, we're not looking at, you know, right, where we want to be at the top of the table the whole season. It's when it comes down to it, we have to be there, so we take it game by game," he said. "Big performances like this against big teams helped us a lot. Yeah, sends a message to hopefully the rest of the league, but we just have to keep going and finding consistency."

• AFP
  

  'Over and over again, he's saving us'

  Pulisic reserved special praise for Maignan after a world-class performance from AC Milan's goalkeeper. 

  "I mean, one of the best goalkeeper performances I've seen in my career, truly, not just the penalty," he said. "I mean, that was amazing, but in the first half, some big saves, some I mean, just over and over again, he's saving us. So it was a really amazing performance."

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  Next steps for the Rossoneri

  The Rossoneri will face Lazio next in the Serie A on Nov. 29 before facing them again in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia on December 4.

Neymar issued a public apology after conceding a controversial penalty in a game that has kept Santos in a relegation dogfight. The Brazilian superstar was in action on Wednesday evening against Mirassol. An eventful outing saw him open the scoring inside four minutes, before being responsible for presenting Serie A rivals with an opportunity to level the scores.

• Drop zone: Neymar trying to steer Santos towards safety

  While turning from hero to villain in the space of an hour, Neymar was able to help Santos to what could be another priceless point. Their meeting with Mirassol ended 1-1. Stalemate on home soil has put little distance between them and the drop zone, but a one-point advantage continues to be held over Vitoria.

  Santos sit 16th in the table, with collective heads just above water. They have just four fixtures left to take in this season. Neymar will be desperate to see them to safety, as questions continue to be asked of his future.

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• Eventful outing: Neymar scored & conceded a penalty

  The 33-year-old returned to his roots in January, with a second stint at his boyhood club being agreed after seeing his lucrative contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal torn up. Having spent 12 months on the sidelines with ACL damage, injury issues have been difficult to shake in South America.

  Neymar has, however, figured in Santos’ last four fixtures and remains a talismanic presence. He got them off to the perfect start against Mirassol. He also thought that a chance to step up to the spot himself had been earned when Alvaro Barreal was felled inside the area. The referee awarded a spot-kick, but Santos’ Argentine striker was offside.

  Neymar was then involved in more penalty drama on the hour mark. Reinaldo took a tumble under pressure from Neymar, who swung a leg at the ball long after it had gone. The match referee was called to review the incident on a pitchside monitor.

  He determined that Neymar’s challenge was reckless and poorly timed, as he kicked through the legs of Reinaldo. The Mirassol full-back stepped up from 12 yards himself and, despite Gabriel Brazao getting a touch to his effort, was able to bring the scores level.

  Instagram

• What Neymar said in penalty concession apology

  The game finished tied, meaning that the points were shared. Neymar was happy enough with that outcome, but felt the need to apologise for his penalty concession on social media – with more questions being asked of the match officials in Brazilian football.

  He posted on Instagram: “We face one of the best teams in the championship… We gave everything to try for victory and I think we deserved it a lot. Congratulations to the team and the fans who once again made it a beautiful party! We continue together at this final stage, every point, every detail will be important!

  “Note: sorry about the penalty… There are so many different criteria that I don't even know what to say, just accept! THE FIGHT DOESN'T STOP, GO SANTOS !!”

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  No.10 role & Messi reunion: What next for Neymar?

  Carlo Ancelotti will have been among the interested observers of Neymar’s latest outing. The Italian coach, who has continued to overlook Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer when it comes to an international recall, has spoken of wanting to see Neymar deployed as a No.10 by his domestic employers.

  He has said: “I think he needs to play more centrally, not as a winger, because wingers in today's football are players you need to help defensively as well. When you play a little more centrally, the defensive work is much less than when you play as a winger. And I also think that a very talented player, closer to the goal, has more opportunities to score goals. [False 9] could be his ideal position.”

  That was the case for Neymar against Mirassol. Further appearances in that playmaking post will give him the chance to catch the eye. His contract is, however, running down towards free agency at the end of the calendar year.

  Having been linked with other teams in South America, a reunion with former ‘MSN’ Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in MLS with Inter Miami has also been speculated on.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has a grand plan for striker Dominic Solanke once he returns from injury, contrary to other reports.

In the last few days, Spurs’ club-record signing has actually been linked with the January exit door.

The 28-year-old’s last appearance came during a brief cameo in Tottenham’s 2-0 win away to Man City at the very start of the campaign, but he’s been sidelined with a niggling ankle problem ever since.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

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James Maddison

ACL

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Radu Dragusin

Knee

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Ben Davies

Thigh

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Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

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Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

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Wilson Odobert

Abdominal

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Cristian Romero

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Destiny Udogie

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Dominic Solanke

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Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

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via Premier Injuries

Solanke underwent minor surgery to fix the issue, with Frank’s forward still working his way back to full fitness ahead of a tough run of fixtures.

Despite playing just 49 minutes in total under Spurs’ new boss, reports have surprisingly suggested that Frank isn’t particularly impressed by Solanke and could look to sell the England international.

Solanke’s inconsistency and fitness issues have raised some doubts among supporters about his suitability as Tottenham’s long-term first-choice striker, with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović reportedly emerging as a prime alternative as the Serbian’s contract expires at the end of this season.

Links to Vlahovic could raise some questions about Solanke’s future in N17, but according to reporter Dean Jones, the former Bournemouth star shouldn’t be too worried about his place.

Thomas Frank's grand plan for Dominic Solanke at Tottenham

Jones, writing for TEAMtalk, says that Frank is preparing to make Solanke the focal point of his attack once the striker returns from injury, with growing “inside” belief that he can add a fresh and “new” dimension to their attacking play.

Despite Solanke’s challenges, there’s a clear sense among Tottenham’s coaching staff and insiders that he has the qualities to lead the line effectively.

The return of Solanke is eagerly anticipated by Frank, with hopes that he will elevate Tottenham’s attacking threat in crucial matches.

The delay in his comeback may also be put down to Spurs adopting a more cautious approach with the number nine’s overall fitness as they look to avoid any setbacks.

Mathys Tel, bar his goal away to Leeds United, has struggled to replace Solanke overall, while Richarlison endured another night to forget during Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Last season, Solanke proved his worth by scoring 16 goals across all competitions, finishing as Spurs’ second top scorer behind Brennan Johnson. This goal tally underscores his importance to the team’s attack and highlights the threat he poses when fully fit.

Solanke’s presence allows Frank to build the attack around a proven goalscorer, providing a sense of stability to the entire forward line.

The ‘underrated’ forward’s ability to deliver crucial goals will be vital, especially in tight games where a clinical finish can make all the difference.

Jamie O'Hara takes aim at "non league" Tottenham player in defeat to Newcastle

Brendan Doggett put his case forward to be a reserve quick, but has any specialist opener done enough to be in the Test squad?

Andrew McGlashan01-Nov-20253:26

McGlashan: ‘Marnus has done everything asked of him’

Western Australia vs South Australia

At the WACA, there was almost as much interest in what Cameron Green didn’t do – at least in the match itself – than what he did. The full return to bowling was put on ice for another week as he was restricted to working through his loads around the game, including a bowl in the middle after the game was completed.Related

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• Green helps Western Australia to safety, then gets into bowling work

Aside from that, Green spent useful time in the middle on the final day after his first-innings duck – a drive that he absolutely nailed, but straight to the fielder – and appeared disgruntled when given caught behind. Green has often said how he is better the more he bats in a certain format, so it will be worth watching how he starts the Ashes after somewhat disjointed preparation, although there is still a chance for a long innings in round four of the Shield.A significant performance in this game came from Brendan Doggett in his first Shield outing of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury. His 6 for 48 in the first innings could well have locked him into the squad as one of the reserve quicks. He travelled for the World Test Championship final earlier this year and was due to tour the West Indies before injury.”It’s just nice to see him come out and bowl like he did – he bowed quick [and] his body pulled up all right, which is good,” South Australia coach Ryan Harris said. “But timely to get six wickets, especially with that announcement coming up in the next few days. He’s got a bit of pace and it’s going to be a bit of a pace-off in this Ashes – England are bringing some serious pace. So he’ll fit in nicely… and if he gets the opportunity, he’ll be definitely ready for it.”Cameron Bancroft fitted into the issued-a-reminder category with a century in the first innings, but his chance of further Test cricket appears to have gone. That may not be the case for Nathan McSweeney, however, even if his next opportunity has to wait a little while. The South Australia captain put together an excellent century on the third day, and chipped in with handy wickets.Beau Webster got through a good workload with the ball on his return•Getty Images

Victoria vs Tasmania

Beau Webster has been assured of his place in the Test squad by chair of selectors George Bailey (the XI may be another matter) and the most important aspect of his outing against Victoria was the 23 overs he sent down after an ankle injury. However, he would have liked more time in the middle as he made just 11 and 6 in Tasmania’s defeat. But Webster will likely play the opening Test if there are any doubts over the volume of overs Green can send down.Jake Weatherald will be one of those hanging by the phone this week. He missed the opportunity to add further weight to his case for a maiden call-up although his two dismissals were against excellent deliveries. He may bemoan the life of an opener, having to twice come out with short periods to face before the close.Three half-centuries prior to this game, including his decisive 94 against Western Australia, arguably still makes him the most compelling option among the specialist openers, although Campbell Kellaway’s 147 further enhanced his reputation. It’s unlikely he’ll be in the frame yet, but the selectors went for Sam Konstas last season, so the precedent is set for picking a youngster.Fergus O’Neill probably won’t come into contention this home season, but he can’t do much more to push his claims than with four second-innings wickets to secure victory.Steven Smith looked in fine touch•Getty Images

Queensland vs New South Wales

Despite the selection race being tight, it’s unlikely a single innings will make a difference. However, Matt Renshaw missed a chance to build on a start against NSW to back up a strong week with the Australia ODI squad against India. Still, his versatility as a batter could work in his favour especially if the selectors want a player to cover a variety of positions in the squad. Renshaw’s dismissal came after Konstas had shouldered arms against Hayden Kerr to continue his tricky season.Usman Khawaja, who endorsed Renshaw for the opening role, put together an encouraging 87 to tune up for the first Test where the spotlight will be on him as the senior opener. If he starts poorly against England, there is a world where his position comes under scrutiny midway through the series.Marnus Labuschagne is certain of a recall, although where he bats may well not be answered until closer to the first Test. However, the manner of his dismissal at the Gabba may have caught the attention of England’s analysts. He flicked Liam Hatcher firmly off his hip to a well-placed deep leg gully. It was a well-timed shot, and he may be viewed as a little unfortunate, but it’s a manner in which he has fallen before.Steven Smith, who will captain Australia in Perth and perhaps beyond depending on Pat Cummins’ fitness, declared he was already ready for the Ashes before playing a game after arriving back from New York. After taking 20 balls to open his account, he looked in terrific order during a classy century, albeit against a much-weakened Queensland attack.Something that is worth keeping an eye on is the form of Nathan Lyon. He took 2 for 120 in this match, his wickets coming late in Queensland’s innings, leaving him with six at 45.66 so far this season, although conditions have favoured the quicks.

Sabina Park collapse symbolises West Indies’ Test malaise, but what is the way ahead?

Andrew McGlashan15-Jul-2025

AFP/Getty Images

There’s never a good time to be bowled out for 27. Monday at Sabina Park felt like a particularly bad one for West Indies.At 11 for 6, New Zealand’s 70-year record of 26 all out was under threat. When Scott Boland took his hat-trick, there was a realistic chance they would at least have someone to share it with. There won’t be many people across the Tasman shouting Sam Konstas a beer after his misfield.Less than 24 hours later, Cricket West Indies has called an emergency summit with invites to a host of former greats for help. But there will be skepticism about whether it will make any difference.Related

• West Indies 'hedging our bets' as fear over two-tier WTC grows

• Clive Lloyd: 'We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket'

• CWI calls for emergency meeting with legends after 'deeply hurting' loss

• Stats – WI post second-lowest Test total; Starc takes five in 15 balls

As impressive as Mitchell Starc and Boland were, it was a woeful display. They couldn’t even say it happened in the night session. There had been warning signs in the first two Tests when their second innings fell apart rapidly; their last performance of the series was the sum of all fears. Within six balls, there was the sense it could be a horror show.John Campbell can be excused somewhat as he edged a perfect outswinger from Starc. He had shown some gumption in earlier innings. You also need to have some sympathy for debutant Kevlon Anderson padding up to an inswinger and then reviewing, a clear sign of a frazzled mind. Brandon King, who had performed encouragingly, decided a booming drive was the best option despite having seen Starc curving the ball late.King made West Indies’ one half-century of the series – his 75 was also the highest individual score on either side – but no one else, barring Anderson Phillip who played a single match, averaged over 20. Batting was tough, for sure, and Australia weren’t immune from their own problems, but there were numerous techniques exposed. No doubt the game in West Indies needs help, but it also needs to help itself.Since February 2023, when Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul each score hundreds in a 336-run stand against Zimbabwe, West Indies have had two centuries: Kavem Hodge against England and Justin Greaves against Bangladesh. There have been some fallow periods in West Indies’ batting over the last 25 years – they started the 21st century by making totals of 54, 61 and 82 in 2000 – but this might be the lowest point, and not just statistically.This performance also comes at a time when the future structure of Test cricket is at the forefront of debates. Nothing is yet decided, although some plans may be outlined at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore this week, and while it can be easy to be drawn into sweeping statements after events such as Sabina Park, the problems facing West Indies in the format are as acute as any of the Full Members.They have managed a couple of landmark victories in recent times – defeating Australia at the Gabba and Pakistan in Multan – but they look like outliers. The win in Brisbane persuaded administrators to add a third Test to this series, which became the Sabina Park day-nighter.Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph troubled Australia all series with the ball•AFP/Getty ImagesThat they competed with Australia for the first two days of each Test is worthy of note, but that was largely down to the fast bowlers. Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and latterly Alzarri Joseph performed superbly, supported by Greaves’ brisk medium pace, and made life very uncomfortable for the visitors. They are carrying the team but are being asked to perform miracles.It needs to be questioned whether a factor they are taking advantage of – the pitches – has veered too far one way; although, with something of a grimace, Roston Chase said the Jamaica pitch was the best of all three.It’s all well and good playing to your strengths, the bowlers making the most of a ball zipping around, but when your weakness is so weak it makes everything futile. Since the start of 2023, the West Indies, as a venue for Tests, has the lowest collective batting average where more than a single match has been played. West Indies, themselves, average just 18.39 in that period, by far the lowest for a home side.Clearly, the problems in West Indies run deeper than the 22 yards but after the second Test in Grenada, coach Daren Sammy spoke about the surfaces around the Caribbean and how batters even at domestic level are unable to trust their games. Slightly counter to that, Chase said it was hard to judge players properly as each team had a couple of good bowlers.West Indies have away tours of India and New Zealand next where the batters are likely to be severely challenged again. Their other away series in this WTC cycle is in Bangladesh. Back at home they will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan, teams they may believe they can compete with.After the match had raced to its hasty conclusion and the presentations were completed, Starc delayed his return to the Australian celebrations to chat with uncapped West Indies quick Johann Layne who is highly regarded as part of the next generation. Layne appeared to be lapping up all the tips from one of the game’s greats. It can only be hoped that he has a viable Test team to be part of, and a chance to face Australia in the future.