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After a summer of arrivals, Manchester United have got off to a surprisingly difficult start in the Premier League this season, just about sealing all three points against Wolverhampton Wanderers, before suffering a 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

In their most recent outing, they didn't exactly look comfortable, either, conceding twice in the first four minutes against Nottingham Forest. Eventually, the Red Devils fought back to win 3-2, but it was far from convincing.

With that said, Erik ten Hag reportedly has unfinished business in the transfer window, and could yet reportedly welcome another fullback.

What's the latest Manchester United transfer news?

On paper, Manchester United's summer additions looked more than suitable. They solved their goalkeeping dilemma by welcoming Andre Onana from Inter Milan, whilst also adding some much-needed energy to their midfield, in the form of Mason Mount, before adding an out-and-out striker with the arrival of Rasmus Holjund.

It looks as if another goalkeeping arrival is also on the cards in Altay Bayindir. Recent reports have claimed that the Fenerbahce shot-stopper has already signed a Red Devils contract and undergone a medical, with Dean Henderson set to join Crystal Palace.

So far this season, United have not looked like a side who have just solved a handful of weaknesses, perhaps leading them straight back to the transfer market. With a matter of days left before the window slams shut, those at Old Trafford must act fast, and that could yet result in exits to accommodate arrivals.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United have been in talks and proposed a swap deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back Nelson Semedo, in a potential move that would see Aaron Wan-Bissaka go the other way.

As per Football Insider, it is believed that the Midlands club still need to sell players to meet financial fair play regulations in the current window. And, with Wan-Bissaka in the final year of his United contract, a deal including Semedo could help all parties involved. Given how complicated the transfer could be, though, you'd think that United will need to act fast if they want to make it happen.

Should Manchester United sign Nelson Semedo?

The transfer window is all about upgrades, and that's exactly what Semedo would be for Manchester United when compared to Wan-Bissaka.

Last season, according to FBref, the Portugal international made more progressive passes, made more take-ons and more clearances per 90 than the current United fullback.

When at his best, Semedo has earned deserved praise in the past, too, including from reporter Tim Spiers, who said, via This is Futbol:

“Semedo, his stats were unbelievable.

"Yeah, a few balls went over his head, but I thought he had a decent game. Semedo’s stats, they sort of cloud a little bit of how the game actually panned out but I thought he did pretty well. And it reflects an improved confidence from him and a better mentality and I think he’s settling in quite well.”

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

It certainly looks like it could be an action-packed end to the summer transfer window for Manchester United, who will be desperate to give Ten Hag a squad capable of challenging on all fronts.

If the Red Devils can welcome Semedo whilst parting ways with Wan-Bissaka, they may see it as a shrewd deal, and it looks like one to keep an eye on.

Manchester City wonderkid Claudio Echeverri will be checked by doctors after complaining of strong chest pains on international duty with Argentina.

Echeverri suffered chest pains against ChileWill now undergo medical checksDue to join Man City in January 2025WHAT HAPPENED?

Echeverri is currently with the Argentina squad and played in a 5-0 win over Chile for the Under-23 side in an Olympic Games qualifier. After the victory, the 18-year-old, who has agreed to join Manchester City from River Plate, revealed he suffered chest pains during the match and confirmed he will speak to the medical team and have the issue checked.

AdvertisementWHAT ECHEVERRI SAID

He told : “I had a very strong pain in my chest, I couldn't breathe well and I was very scared. Just in case, I'm going to talk to the doctors to see what it is because something like this had never happened to me and I felt very scared."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Echeverri received treatment on the pitch for several minutes in the first half of the match and was taken off on a stretcher. However, he did subsequently continue before being replaced in the 64th minute. Argentina's win means the team qualify for the second round with a match to spare as they bid to secure a place at the 2024 Paris Games.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ECHEVERRI?

The issue is clearly a cause for real concern for Echeverri and Argentina, with the youngster set to be checked out before being cleared to return to action. Echeverri is set to spend the rest of the year with River Plate and will then head to Premier League champions City in January 2025.

Big Picture

After losing the ODI series, a journalist asked Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur what the first thought on his mind was. “When is our flight?” replied Arthur instantly. That’s the kind of gallows humour prevailing in New Zealand among the Pakistan camp. Nearly a month-long tour has turned into a miserable campaign, with Pakistan now having lost 13 consecutive completed international matches against New Zealand.This gloomy tour to New Zealand has undone all the hard work Pakistan have done over the last six months. They were blown away in the ODI series, and, with a change of format, the world No. 2 T20I side was dismantled in the opening game. They have a chance to keep the series alive and head into the third and final game with some pride, and something worth playing for. They have already tried every player on the tour barring Ahmed Shehzad – given ample time to adjust to the conditions, to no avail.New Zealand, meanwhile, have continued their ruthless domination and must be overflowing with confidence given their form this season. It’s hard to pick a flaw in this impossibly dynamic side, which has every base covered. They have also nailed the rotation policy so far. Their bench strength has been superb, and coach Mike Hesson’s aims of improving the depth in the New Zealand squad are being quickly realised. Pakistan will attest to that.

Form guide

New Zealand WWWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWWW

In the spotlight

Ish Sodhi is the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, but can’t seem to get a game for New Zealand in any of the longer formats. That may frustrate him, but so would his bowling in the first T20I. The legspinner failed to cash in as Pakistan fell for 105, conceding 25 in four overs and ending up wicketless. There have been calls within New Zealand to give Sodhi more game time across formats. With stellar performances in the next two T20Is, those calls will only grow louder.Former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who had appointed Sarfraz Ahmed captain, has hinted that the management needs to assess if the captain is being overburdened. He has looked particularly miserable on what has come to look like a long, arduous tour. He has tinkered with the combination, batted first and bowled first, and made every possible move to spur Pakistan on to their first win on the tour. But his own performance with the bat as well as the gloves has been uninspiring and, while that remains the case, he’s unlikely to spur the team on successfully. He will be intelligent enough to recognise that.

Team news

Kane Williamson is likely to return after sitting out the first game with a side strain. Trent Boult will come back into the side too, while it is Tim Southee’s turn to have a rest.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Glenn Phillips (wk), 5 Tom Bruce, 6 Ross Taylor, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Ben Wheeler/Seth Rance, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Ish SodhiPakistan played a somewhat surprise XI in the opening game, leaving out two experienced batsmen in Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez. The move didn’t work out and there will be another reshuffle, with Shehzad expected to return.Pakistan (probable): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Aamer Yamin, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Mohammad Nawaz, 10 Hasan Ali/Rumman Raees, 11 Mohammad Amir

Pitch and conditions

Eden Park is a small ground, where even mis-hits can comfortably clear the rope. The pitch may offer assistance to the spin bowlers, but batsmen will fancy their chances after a low-scoring game in Wellington. Rain is not expected to play a part.

Stats and trivia

• Martin Guptill needs 72 runs to become only the second batsman to make 2000 T20I runs
• Pakistan’s last win against New Zealand came at Eden Park, in January 2016, in a T20I. New Zealand have won 13 completed matches in a row against Pakistan since then

Quotes

“Don’t take anything away from the West Indies, I think we played really well against them. Pakistan were obviously whitewashed in the one-dayers, but they were very competitive all the way through.”

“You come here after two three years and it becomes difficult sometimes to adjust early on. But we should admit that we are not playing the way we should be playing.”

Liverpool are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt star Jesper Lindstrom as manager Jurgen Klopp prepares his squad for the 23/24 campaign.

The Anfield side have been bolstering the midfield over the past couple of months, and the impressive signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could now be supplemented by Southampton's Romeo Lavia, who Liverpool have recently lodged a £42m bid for after seeing an initial approach turned down.

With the Reds falling by the wayside last term, failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons, and Klopp will be hoping to make singings capable of spearheading an ascent back to the forefront of domestic and European football.

What's the market value of Jesper Lindstrom?

According to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet (page 43), Liverpool and Premier League rivals Arsenal are already in contact with Frankfurt for the dynamic midfielder, with the German Bundesliga outfit demanding €35-40m (£30m-£34m) for his signature.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Despite a belief that Liverpool will attempt to bolster their backline before the transfer window closes in one month, there are still murmurings of further attention to the Anfield centre after a tidal wave of departures this summer.

How good is Jesper Lindstrom?

Some might feel that Liverpool do not need to wade into the transfer pool and search for more attacking talent, but Lindstrom is first-class and Klopp might view the opportunity to at least discuss a deal as irresistible.

A truly all-encompassing ace, Lindstrom has been deployed in a wealth of roles, finding success each time, and has been praised as "outstanding" by teammate Kevin Trapp after scoring nine goals and supplying four assists this term.

The 23-year-old also boasts the winning mentality that Klopp will covet after going without a trophy last season – barring the Community Shield – with Lindstrom playing an important role in Frankfurt's Europa League triumph in 21/22, beating Rangers on penalties in the final.

The nine-cap Denmark international also ranks among the top 20% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 12% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, which illuminates his application across both sides of the pitch.

While his flexibility will appeal to Klopp, he would most often find a home in the centre of the pitch, perched on the periphery of the final third as he orchestrates play and charges into the attack, and he could thrive with Alexis Mac Allister performing alongside him.

The Argentina star sealed a move to Anfield from high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion this summer for a bargain £35m, after starring for the Seagulls last season, scoring ten goals and supplying two assists from 31 starts in the Premier League, also playing a pivotal role in his nation's momentous victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his "sumptuous" assist in the final – as lauded by Gary Lineker – proved crucial.

Mac Allister recorded an impressive average Sofascore rating of 7.21 in the league, complementing his goals and assists with an 87% pass success rate, 2.5 shots and 1.3 key passes per game, two tackles per outing plus a 67% dribble and 57% duel success rate.

With Mac Allister's vibrant, diverse approach to his play blending with Lindstrom's directness, Liverpool could have a midfield for the ages, and Klopp must now consider his next move and whether a deal is in fact feasible.

Important to focus and not let change in batting positions affect game, says India batsman

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Alur09-Nov-2017

Mayank Agarwal’s classy century against Delhi on Thursday may have made him the star on most days. But for the few hundreds that gathered at the KSCA ground in Alur, Manish Pandey was all the rage. The Karnataka batsman was the sole recipient of applause from a clamouring crowd as he walked out to bat. Later, when a few members of the team cooled down with a light football session at the end of day’s play, Pandey was the centre of all attention again. It didn’t seem to matter that a few other heroes, who have also played for India, were in closer vicinity, jogging around by the boundary.This popularity of Pandey isn’t newfound, but it has certainly surged since he’s become a part of India’s limited-overs squad. Coming from the same batch of India Under-19s as Virat Kohli, Pandey hasn’t had the same opportunities or exposure at the senior level. He’s had to bide his time despite consistent scores in domestic cricket. His rise hasn’t been meteoric, but he’s still a popular player.Now, over two years since his international debut, Pandey is still fighting to nail a permanent spot. Constant changes to his batting position haven’t made the process easy. An average of 43 and strike-rate of 95 suggests there’s ability and potential, but it hasn’t always been enough. There’s been competition in the form of Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul, his good friend and Karnataka team-mate. That is perhaps why every opportunity he gets at any level of competitive cricket is a blessing at this stage of his career.Barely a few hours after turning up for India in a T20 international against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram, Pandey hopped onto a flight to Bangalore and drove to Alur, on the outskirts of the city, to join his Karnataka mates ahead of a crucial Ranji Trophy game. The batsmen who preceded him had set it up nicely. The sunshine had eased out whatever moisture there was on the surface, and Delhi’s bowlers were tiring. Pandey walked in and stroked a half-century, the significance of which was magnified by the presence of MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors. After a punchy 74, Pandey acknowledged it was important to not let the bar drop.”It’s a completely different ball game [playing four-day cricket as compared to the limited-overs formats], you know,” he said. “I had more time to settle down and play my shots as the innings progressed. It’ll be important for me to continue batting like this and have fun.”It was quite easy. The plan was to come at No. 4, but with the jet lag and stuff like that, I came in at No. 5. I have been playing a lot of ODI and T20, which obviously starts in the later part of the day. It was good to come back and play Ranji Trophy cricket for Karnataka. It was amazing to see the boys again. The partnership before definitely helped.”Pandey had a rousing start to his one-day career, with a half-century against Zimbabwe in Harare. Three games later, he blitzed a match-winning century against Australia in Sydney. A middling series against New Zealand cost him his place, and it took nearly a year for him to get a chance again, after a highly successful series with the India A team in South Africa.Pandey announced his return with an unbeaten half-century in a crushing 168-run win over Sri Lanka. Since then, he has floated between Nos. 4 and 6, not remaining in the same position for more than three games in a row. It also hasn’t helped that he returned with two single-digit scores in the three innings that he batted at No. 4. With India still in the hunt for a permanent fix to the No. 4 spot, those were costly lapses.Pandey’s game is well-suited to the position as he has the wherewithal to play the big shots as well as build an innings, like he showed in that Sydney hundred against Australia. However, being denied the luxury of settling into a position has made the bid harder.”I didn’t think about international cricket or the memories from before. I only thought about Karnataka cricket and my batting today,” he said. “I was looking forward to play this game. It is a little difficult to adapt, but I think I have done this for a long time. It’s a part of the game where the team wants you to play No. 4 or 5 or 6, and it’ll be important for me to stay focussed and keep waiting for the call-up.”Pandey last played a first-class match in December last year, when Karnataka conceded the quarterfinal of the previous season’s Ranji Trophy to Tamil Nadu inside two days. Given how heavily involved he has been in limited-overs cricket in that time, the pace at which Pandey struck his runs on Thursday perhaps wasn’t entirely surprising. But he denied any conscious effort in tweaking his game.”You don’t look to score a boundary every ball, but I look to score a single every ball, be a little aggressive. Even if it’s a defence, the intention is to be aggressive. Because of a lot of T20 cricket that is happening, cricket has changed in such a way that batsmen want to score runs and score boundaries. In a way, that’s really good for cricket where it’s looking good from the outside. I think we should just focus on getting runs.”

Amid the talk of who should make up England’s batting line-up for the Ashes, there has been a growing mood behind Alex Hales after his shift down the order

Jon Culley30-Aug-2017In the days when a strong performance in a one-day final at Lord’s could make up the mind of an indecisive England selector, Alex Hales would surely have had his winter itinerary firmly mapped out by now, with Christmas in Australia at the centre.After all, it is hard to imagine anything much stronger than his record-breaking unbeaten 187 as Nottinghamshire beat Surrey to lift the Royal London Cup.Yet things are different now on two counts. The selectors – apparently – are a bit more scientific in the way they go about their business. And the one-day final takes place not in September but July.Whether something special on Finals Day in the NatWest T20 Blast can make any difference, therefore, is open to debate. Nonetheless, Hales will be doing all in his powers at Edgbaston to put himself in the spotlight again and, perhaps, revive a Test career that has been on hold since the Pakistan home series in 2016.”To go on an Ashes tour would be an unbelievable experience and I will try to keep knocking on the door,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché, but all you can do is score runs.”So the ball is in my court now to score as many as I can across all formats before the end of the season and leave the selectors with a tough decision to make.”In fact, even though there will not be September showcase at Lord’s to take into account, they almost certainly will be looking at Hales’s white-ball form for guidance. They have no choice. With a one-day series against West Indies taking up much of the final month of the season, Nottinghamshire’s Championship fixture against Worcestershire next week will be his last opportunity to face a red ball in a season that has generally not afforded him many.”That has been a bit of a frustration,” he said, speaking during Nottinghamshire’s match against Northamptonshire in the Championship this week.”Before this match, I played three four-day games at the beginning of the season, then a random pink-ball game in June and then a game in the middle of the T20 block at the beginning of August.”I have not really had a run of four or five games in a row of red-ball cricket. It’s been sort of stop-start.”In all of those games, what’s more, he batted only once, which means no one has had much of a chance to assess his form since swapping his place at the top of the order for the No.5 slot, in which he hopes the judgment the Test selectors evidently reached after his 11-match run as an opener can be reversed.

I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting

Yet Hales believes 2017 has seen his game rise to another level in every aspect, in every competition. And there is evidence to back it up. Thrown in with all the brilliant moments in one-day cricket, he has a Championship double-hundred against Derbyshire in the early-August round to support the claim.”The highlight of the year has certainly been the Lord’s final,” he said. “To beat a strong Surrey side in that manner when we had our backs against the wall for a lot of the game is probably one of the highlights of my career so far.”I definitely think it was as well as I have ever played, up there if not better than the Pakistan innings at Trent Bridge [when he made England’s highest ODI score of 171 in their world-record total of 444], just because of the occasion it was for the club and how we were up against it against a team that had their tails up.”But I have really enjoyed batting where I have been batting in the Championship side. Across all three formats this year I have felt really on top of my game and felt that I have taken it to that next level.”Working with Peter Moores, he says, has had a lot to do with that, not so much in anything the new Nottinghamshire head coach has done in terms of technical advice but in giving him confidence to play his own game.”He is very good at player management, he understands what players need and what certain players don’t need. He just lets me get on with my stuff.”And he brings this constant positive energy. There is never a day when he is down, never a day when he is frustrated. His general all-round positive energy has been a massive lift for the squad and it is something I have really enjoyed.”It has helped give that squad a chance to mark Moores’ first season in the role with a treble, assuming that the Division Two title is in the bag along with the One-Day Cup.Hales, meanwhile, has found his own way of taking a relaxed view of his Ashes prospects. “The next few months is a win-win situation for me,” he said. “I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting.”It has been an approach that has served him well in the NatWest Blast so far. His strike rate of 206.38 is the best in the country, he has a first domestic T20 century to his name and, against Durham, at Trent Bridge in August, he would have equalled Chris Gayle’s 30-ball world record for the fastest T20 hundred had he not been out attempting to hit a 10th six.Anything similarly explosive at Edgbaston on Saturday would only add to a dilemma the selectors are surely facing already.

Nottingham Forest striker Kelechi Iheanacho is a 'hit-and-miss' player that could have a similar lack of impact to Emmanuel Dennis at the City Ground, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

How has Kelechi Iheanacho fared at Leicester City?

As per The Guardian, Iheanacho joined Leicester City back in 2017 for a reported fee of £25 million and has gone on to be a useful player during his time at the King Power Stadium, producing some moments of brilliance for the Foxes.

Overall, Iheanacho has netted 55 goals and laid on a further 33 assists in 206 appearances across all competitions for Leicester City, as per Transfermarkt.

Contractually, Iheanacho is tied to Leicester City until next year on terms worth £80,000 per week and could leave the club on a free transfer if his future is not resolved, as per Capology.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has revealed that Nottingham Forest are keen on the Nigeria international this summer and have opened talks over a deal to sign him, stating on Twitter: "EXCL: Championship. Nottingham Forest have opened talks to sign Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester. He’s on top of list. Nottingham want to close the deal in the next days."

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has designs on adding four bodies to his squad over the duration of the window, including a goalkeeper, central defender, left winger and a 'goalscoring forward'.

The outlet also claim that several big names may be on the way out of the City Ground to help reduce the Reds' hefty wage bill, with Jonjo Shelvey, Remo Freuler and Dennis being deemed as 'surplus to requirements' by Nottingham Forest boss Cooper.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Daily Express journalist Taylor has indicated that he isn't convinced that Iheanacho would be a good fit to help Nottingham Forest's goal flow in 2023/24, similar to that of Nigeria counterpart Dennis during his time in the East Midlands.

Taylor stated: “I've tried to do some digging into this one. I do expect Iheanacho to leave the club. I don't know whether that is a legitimate transfer link.

“However, I'm not sure about Iheanacho as a player. I think for Forest, he's a bit of an Emmanuel Dennis. He’s hit-and-miss. Forest probably need a bit more consistency.”

What now for Nottingham Forest?

Nottingham Forest manager Cooper will be keen to get new players in as early as possible to ensure his side are in a strong position to retain their Premier League status for a second successive campaign.

The Reds have been linked with a range of names that could potentially come to the City Ground to help their cause. According to FootballTransfers, Nottingham Forest have made an approach to Atletico Madrid as they explore returning for Renan Lodi on a permanent deal.

Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek is another man that has cropped up on Nottingham Forest's radar this summer and the Reds are believed to be 'monitoring' his situation alongside a host of clubs in England and further afield, as per 90min.

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is available for a cut-price fee of £15 million and Nottingham Forest are said to have registered interest in offering him an escape route from Stamford Bridge; however, they face competition from Fulham, AC Milan and Saudi Arabian clubs, cited by The Guardian.

Hamilton Masakadza, who has played only one of Zimbabwe’s five ODIs this year, has been selected to go to the Netherlands and Scotland in June and Sri Lanka later. Opener Chamu Chibhabha, who last played 50-over cricket for his country in November 2016, and who has only made two fifties in 23 innings, found a way back into the squad as well.Zimbabwe play two games against Scotland on June 15 and 17 and three more against Netherlands on June 20, 22 and 24 before moving on to Sri Lanka for five ODIs and a Test match, the exact schedule for which is not yet fixed. Legspinner Graeme Cremer will lead the team. The former captain Elton Chigumbura was not part of the squad.Masakadza’s only ODI in 2017 came against Afghanistan and he fell for 5 off 17 balls. However, the 33-year old made a hundred for Zimbabwe A against Canada in Harare a week ago to possibly persuade the selectors. Similarly, Sikandar Raza played only one game of the Afghanistan series – his only ODI in 2017 – but he too was backed to perform. Chigumbura, though picked for that series, did not play in any of the matches and his previous appearance in international 50-over cricket dated back to October 2016.While the elder Masakadza was picked, his 23-year old brother and left-arm spinner Wellington was left out of the squad that lost at home to Afghanistan 3-2. Accompanying him on the bench were seamer Carl Mumba and allrounder Nathan Waller.These 10 matches present a significant opportunity for the team for they can help build momentum going into the qualifying tournament in April 2018 for the next World Cup. Only the top-eight teams on the ICC rankings gain automatic qualification into the showpiece event. Zimbabwe, down at No. 11, will have to finish among the top two to have a chance at playing the 2019 World Cup.Zimbabwe squad: Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer (capt), Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Christopher Mpofu, Tarisai Musakanda, Richard Ngarava, Donald Tiripano, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

The hosts shocked Pakistan with a record chase in the first ODI and are on the brink of a series win – something they haven’t managed against Pakistan since 1991

The Preview by Danyal Rasool08-Apr-2017Match factsApril 9, 2017
Start time 09:30 local (13:30 GMT)
1:06

‘Need to be even stronger on Sunday’ – Ashley Nurse

Big PictureWest Indies will barely have recovered from the high of a record-breaking win in the first ODI against Pakistan when they go at it again in the second game on Sunday. It had looked every inch the average game you would expect against a depleted West Indies side before lesser-known Jason Mohammed dismantled Pakistan’s fabled fast-bowling attack, sealing a chase of 309 with an over to spare. As a result, they prepare for the second game in the knowledge that they have the opportunity to wrap up a long-awaited series win against a top side.Pakistan’s shock at losing the first ODI was written large across each of their faces, none more so than captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who seemed to run out of ideas and composure in equal measure as Mohammed began his brutal onslaught in the last ten overs. His leadership will be tested right away, as he faces the responsibility of lifting his team after a morale-sapping defeat.There was much scrutiny on the pace of Pakistan’s innings during the middle overs, especially the sluggish way Mohammad Hafeez went about his innings, even though he did make up for it in the closing overs. However, Mickey Arthur also made plain his disappointment at the bowlers not being able to execute their plans at the back end. While there may be plenty of soul-searching for the visitors to do, they don’t have much time to do it.Form guide
West Indies WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLLW
In the spotlightChadwick Walton was chosen ahead of Kraigg Brathwaite because West Indies coach Stuart Law felt he could take better advantage of the first Powerplay. But Walton’s ODI strike rate of 52.17 and average of 4.80 suggest Law’s faith stems from what he may have seen in practice or domestic cricket. While six ODIs isn’t a large sample size, those numbers are desperately disappointing by any standards, especially for an opener. As such, he may already be feeling the pressure to justify his coach’s faith, particularly if he is to make a case for inclusion in the upcoming Tests, a format where his average reads an even more forlorn 3.25 in four innings.Chadwick Walton is yet to deliver on the expectation of quick runs in the Powerplay for West Indies•AFPNo one splits opinion in Pakistan quite like Wahab Riaz, a true specimen of raw Pakistani fast bowling in all his bouncer-bowling, reverse-swinging, toe-crushing glory. But the other side of the left-armer is becoming impossible to ignore too. He has days – too many to be mentioned in the same breath as true fast bowling greats – when he is wildly inaccurate, struggles to keep his foot the right side of the crease or away from the danger zone down the middle of the pitch. With the criticism growing all the time, Wahab’s career may be at a crossroads and the upcoming months, starting with Sunday, could shape the mercurial cricketer’s future.Team newsThe result on Friday papered over what was a largely insipid performance from West Indies with both bat and ball for much of the contest, but the feel-good factor the win generated might tempt them to stick with the same eleven.West Indies XI (possible): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Chadwick Walton (wk), 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Jason Mohammad, 6 Jonathan Carter, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shannon GabrielPakistan have more pressing selection quandaries than the hosts. Hafeez top-scored, but didn’t seem to convince many, even if his contribution with the ball should see him retain his place. Mohammad Amir and Wahab were both poor at the death, and Junaid Khan could get his chance at the expense of one of them.Pakistan XI (possible): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Kamran Akmal, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Junaid KhanPitch and conditionsThe newly-laid surface at the Providence Stadium played much better than its predecessor had established a reputation for. A mockery was made of the wisdom that a low-scoring series was expected, as the ground record for an ODI innings was broken twice in four hours. Going purely off the first game, fans can expect another run-fest. Some cloud cover is expected, but rain is unlikely.Stats and trivia West Indies have not won an ODI series since August 2014, when they beat Bangladesh 3-0 at home. The last time they beat Pakistan in a bilateral ODI series was back in 1991, when Richie Richardson captained them to a 2-0 win against Imran Khan’s Pakistan In his last seven innings in 50-overs cricket, Jason Mohammed has failed to go past fifty only twiceQuotes”The team morale is really good. The boys believe in sticking together and being a family. We have to come back even stronger on Sunday. We can’t rest on the victory. The important thing is to close out the series.”

The U.S. wants to be one of the world's top teams, and they got a close look at what that looks like on Saturday

The opportunity was there for the taking. The U.S. men's national team were up a goal and moving towards halftime, having largely gone toe-to-toe with a giant in Germany. It was a bright start headlined by a stunning Christian Pulisic finish. The USMNT were, deservedly, ahead.

But that's the thing about teams like Germany: all they need is one moment to turn games. It's what happened on Saturday as the U.S. conceded just before the half and, Germany, to their credit, never looked back.

That's what good teams do: they seize chances and don't look back. It's something the USMNT is still learning, and Saturday will be another harsh lesson in just how far there is to go.

For years, the USMNT have been talking about wanting to be an international power, about wanting to be a team that's respected on a bigger stage. Well, they got a close look at a powerhouse on Saturday, and they were given a reality check that showed them that they still have much to learn.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Pratt & Whitney Stadium…

• WINNER: Christian Pulisic

  If Pulisic was brimming with confidence before this match, he'll be feeling even better after it.

  The 25-year-old's goal was a stunner, no doubt. A fantastic run and an even better finish from the USMNT star, who scored a superstar-worthy goal. At the time, the USMNT were going at Germany, and the strike felt like it could be the start of something.

  It wasn't. Germany turned it on from that moment and never really looked back, but that shouldn't diminish the fact that Pulisic, on his own, was pretty damn good in this match.

  For years, the U.S. has waited to see what Pulisic could look like when riding a bit of confidence from the club level. His goal on Saturday gave a glimpse into what that look like, and the U.S. will be hoping that continues for a long, long time.

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  LOSER: Chris Richards

  Chris Richards may very well be the USMNT's centerback of the future, but he was unable to make the most of his opportunity to really solidify his place as the USMNT's centerback of the here and now.

  Richards has been fantastic for the USMNT this year and had earned this chance to prove himself against higher-tier competition. Against Germany, though, he looked like a player struggling to get minutes in the Premier League at the moment.

  Richards was somewhat exposed as he struggled to cope with a different level of attackers, but that's not a knock against him. Germany are, in fact, a very good team, but it was clear that their attackers were too much for the Crystal Palace defender.

  Richards will go back to the drawing board after this one as he still finds himself in a very competitive centerback race. There will be more opportunities for him to lock up a starting spot before the Copa America, but he didn't do anything of the sort on Saturday afternoon.

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  WINNER: Tyler Adams

  It's not often a player's stock rises when he isn't in camp, but this match showed exactly why the USMNT needs Tyler Adams.

  Without that dedicated No.6 in the XI, the USMNT was exposed by Germany, particularly on the first goal. Adams would never have allowed Germany to waltz around on top of the box like that, and he would have been instrumental in organizing the team around him as the game wore on and Germany's pressure continued.

  The USMNT's big issue is that, as things stand, Adams is irreplaceable. They have yet to truly find a Plan B, even if there are a few in this camp that could benefit from a chance to earn a spot as his understudy.

  Playing Gio Reyna as a No. 10 will work in some games, but Germany are too good of a team for that to work against. This match cried out for Adams, and, unfortunately for the USMNT, he wasn't there.

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  LOSER: Sergino Dest and Joe Scally

  It was not a good day for the USMNT fullbacks.

  We'll start with Dest, who had the most highs and lows out of the two in a somewhat typical performance as he started the match inverted at left-back.

  The attacking output was there. The defending? Not so much. Dest was burned by Leroy Sane on the first goal and held Niclas Fullkrug on for the second. For all the good he did getting forward, and there was plenty of good, Dest's defensive issues were once again exposed by a good team.

  "To me, it's not so much about Sergino," Berhalter said. "It's about just not pinning them in well enough and then opening up the field or losing the ball too quickly and now he has to go back. We want him getting forward, we want him being aggressive, but when you lose the ball quickly, there's a lot of distance now to travel backwards."

  Scally, meanwhile, struggled too much on the ball in his big chance at right-back. His passes were nowhere near good enough and he turned the ball way too much, which, ultimately, comes back to kill you against a team like Germany.