Lionel Messi finally got to play in front of Indian fans after his India tour took a chaotic turn in Kolkata. The fans at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium were left fuming with the Argentina legend's brief 20-minute appearance as they ripped up seats and hurled objects onto the pitch. Messi, however, finally got to play in front of his fans in India during his second stop in Hyderabad.
On Saturday evening it felt like an irremovable force was sent down from upon high to plague Liverpool's chances of moving top of the Premier League.
Such an eventuality would have capped off nicely this rejuvenation of Jurgen Klopp's, who has remoulded his midfield and once again crafted a Reds side that looks capable of challenging for elite honours.
However, when you're forced to play with nine men and then be subjected to one of the most mind-boggling VAR calls you will ever see, you are unlikely to win games of football.
Curtis Jones' aggressive challenge early doors saw red and then Diogo Jota was also sent for an early bath after twice fouling Destiny Udogie in the space of a few minutes.
However, the real injustice was at the hands of the officials. Luis Diaz raced through in the first half before firing home a lovely finish from inside the penalty area.
Everyone could see it was onside, yet in remarkable circumstances, it was chalked off. The PGMOL, for what felt like the 1000th time in the last year were forced to apologise for a major human error. The circumstances surrounding why it was given are incomprehensible.
To make matters worse, they will now be without two of their forward's services. Jota, of course, will be suspended, but Cody Gakpo was also forced off with an injury immediately after finding the net with a powerful close-range drive. According to his manager, he is now in a brace and limping.
Who could replace Gakpo and Jota?
The obvious replacement in the number 9 role will likely be that of Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan has started just twice in the Premier League this term but will likely now get his chance to do his thing.
An effervescent character in the forward line, the 24-year-old has already found the net three times this season and is simply bursting at the thought of being given an extended run in the side. Fortunately, that could well be forthcoming.
However, another player who could get a rare opportunity is that of Ben Doak.
The teenager has regularly been seen in the first-team picture this term, earning a start in the Europa League against LASK.
How good is Ben Doak?
That centre-forward berth is unlikely to be his, but a vacancy could well open up on the wings. Moving Salah would be foolish but Diaz's place isn't certain and with games coming up thick and fast, rotation will be needed. Without Gakpo and Jota, that is tricky.
Doak already has plenty of senior football under his belt. He made his first-team debut for Celtic at 16 before moving to Anfield and is now gaining semi-regular opportunities in Jurgen Klopp's first team.
Now 17, he has appeared as a substitute once in the Premier League this term but wasn't even in the matchday squad for the trip to Spurs. Damning indeed, but his chance is surely now just around the corner.
A "special" talent, as dubbed by Klopp, he is yet to earn a start in the league for Liverpool, but his radiant qualities prove he deserves a go.
A wonderful ball-carrier, Virgil van Dijk perhaps sums up his qualities best: "He’s very exciting, very direct, one-on-one. I call him a Tasmanian Devil with the way he is buzzing around, he’s just so quick. If his decision-making gets better – and he has all the time in the world for that – then he could definitely be one for the future."
One for the future? Yes. But one for the here and now? Blows to both the availabilities of Jota and Gakpo means we could well be about to find out.
A tight finish is in store at Cheltenham so like the revellers in the marquees circling the ground the scoreboard needs to be on its best behaviour
Paul Edwards at Cheltenham18-Jul-2018
Jofra Archer was in the wickets for Sussex•Getty Images
ScorecardThis day began with the completion of a domestic collapse fit to rank with that of Overend, Gurney and Company in 1866, six years before the Cheltenham Festival began. It ended with Gloucestershire batting again and seeking to atone for their previous frailty by making 276 to win. They have so far scored 30 of those runs but have lost their openers, both of whom were caught behind by Ben Brown off Jofra Archer. Thus, after three fluctuating sessions we are set for a climax to savour. Watching county cricket this summer has seemed an idyll without interruption; it has been good fortune without tariff.Yet if Wednesday’s cricket began and ended with Archer cruising in and scenting flesh, the heart of our cricket featured a gloriously disciplined innings of 98 by Harry Finch, who came to the middle when Phil Salt was bowled for 9 by Ryan Higgins in the sixth over of Sussex’s second innings and did not depart until his side’s lead was nearly 200. Finch’s dismissal, caught behind off Craig Miles, came one ball after his 16th four, a faultless cover-drive, had taken him to within a single good hit of his second century of the season. His departure was surprising because his defence had hitherto been so compact and his attacking shots had been played without the showy flourish which so often suggests vulnerability. To borrow a term used by Mike Brearley in his book Finch’s batting was “centred” in the fashion of batsmen in decent nick and his fatal flirt with a ball just outside off stump was one of his few errors.For most of the day the other Sussex batsmen played their innings around Finch’s 205-minute vigil. Luke Wright’s gloriously savage 48 included nine fours and a six but ended two balls after lunch when he drove David Payne low to Ryan Higgins at mid-off. David Wiese put on 39 for the sixth wicket with Finch and was seventh out for 40 when his attempted drive off Higgins skied the ball towards Prothero’s chapel, only for Miles to hare some forty yards from mid-on and take a quite brilliant catch. Chris Jordan made a pleasant 30 before edging Miles to Roderick.In contrast to Gloucestershire, who had lost the last seven wickets in their first innings for 11 runs in 8.5 overs, Sussex built modest partnerships. This was easier, perhaps, because Ben Brown leads a team with a clear top six in its order and four other batsmen each of whom could go in at No 7. If the home side mirror their careful approach, Dent’s men may yet achieve a very fine victory.The odds, though, are against it. A target of 276 is substantial on a pitch offering inconsistency of bounce. David Payne’s four wickets on Wednesday were a just reward and included his 200th first-class victim but Archer, Jordan and Ollie Robinson will reckon they can more than match his contribution, albeit that Gloucestershire’s batsmen are under no pressure to score quickly.And it was also a day on which the packed tents and marquees – over 20 of them at this year’s festival – could take in Cheltenham’s many glories. Indeed, the College Ground is the sort of venue where visitors struggling to shake off the past suddenly find they have no wish to do so.There are Sussex connections, too. Just to the left of the pavilion a fine Lombardy poplar commemorates the achievement of the KS Duleepsinhji who took 7 for 35 in 1921 against a Marlborough team whose eleven players boasted 27 initials. Duleep nearly steered Sussex to the County Championship in 1932 only for his health to break down in mid-August. He never played for the county again.And perhaps spectators in Wednesday’s cheery chaos of canvas, clinking glasses and jazz bands needed a sense of history and a tranquil approach to life as they watched George Drissell and Matt Taylor, two nightwatchmen if you please, defy the Sussex seamers in the final 25 balls of the day.At least they could be grateful the scoreboard worked. On the first day of this game the damn thing had packed in and essential details had to be announced over the public address. This managed to be very irritating while also not mattering much at all. This is Cheltenham, after all. That wretched board will need to work properly on the final day, though.
The NLCS kicked off Sunday night in Los Angeles with the Dodgers rolling over the Mets, 9-0, in a game that was pretty much over after the fourth inning. The Dodgers have now gone 33 straight innings without giving up a run, which ties a postseason record set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
While the Dodgers' pitching staff has been lights out, they did get some help from the Mets on Sunday night, specifically from Jesse Winker, who made a mind-boggling decision on the basepaths.
With the Mets trailing 6-0 in the fifth inning with nobody out, Jose Iglesias hit a single to center field. Winker got a good jump off of first base and it appeared he'd easily got to third base when he suddenly stopped halfway there and ended up getting thrown out at third.
Check this out:
Not great.
MLB fans blasted him:
Game 2 is Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.
Manchester United extended their winless run in the Premier League to five matches after their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
The Red Devils did move up to 14th in the table with their point, though their position in the league is rather irrelevant at this point in the campaign, after a late equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund.
Ruben Amorim’s side held 62% of the ball and created 2.52 xG worth of chances, to Bournemouth’s 0.53 xG, but failed to make the most of their opportunities at the top end of the pitch.
This shows that there were positives for the Portuguese coach to take away from the match, as his team were dominant and created enough chances to win, but he needs to find a way to improve the effectiveness of his players at both ends of the park.
That could be by coaching them on the training pitch ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, or it could be by improving the squad in the summer transfer window.
One player who may not have furthered his chances of earning a move to Old Trafford, however, is Dean Huijsen after a lacklustre performance on Sunday.
The 20-year-old central defender is a reported transfer target for the Red Devils ahead of the summer transfer window, with a release clause of £55m, but did not show his best self against Amorim’s team.
As aforementioned, Manchester United created 2.52 xG worth of chances against Huijsen and his defensive teammates, which suggests that they found it relatively easy to break down the Bournemouth backline to create high-quality opportunities.
|
Vs Man Utd |
Dean Huijsen |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Clearances |
8 |
|
Blocks |
2 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
0 |
|
Ground duels won |
0/2 |
|
Aerial duels won |
2/2 |
|
Pass accuracy |
71% |
|
Long passes completed |
1/11 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the Spanish defender was dominant aerially and positioned himself well to make clearances, but left a bit to be desired with the timing and strength of his challenges on the ground.
Huijsen was also wasteful with the ball at his feet, completing 9% of his attempted long passes, and United may not have been impressed by his lack of quality in possession.
It would be a bit of a gamble for the Red Devils to sign the Bournemouth star because he is still very young, at the age of 20, and had only played 14 top-flight matches prior to the start of this season.
United may opt to go for a centre-back with a bit more experience, who can make an instant impact, and they are reportedly looking at a 24-year-old defender who could be an even better signing than Huijsen.
According to InterLive, Manchester United are interested in a potential swoop to sign Inter central defender Yann Bisseck in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Premier League giants are keen on both Bisseck and Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries from the Italian side, as Amorim looks to improve the strength of his defensive options ahead of next season.
It states that Inter, whilst they are not actively looking to cash in on either player, are open to offers for their stars and would consider any big-money bids that come in for them.
InterLive reports that Manchester United are preparing a bid to sign Bisseck for a fee of £51m, as they plot a swoop to sign the German central defender in the coming weeks.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, the outlet does not reveal whether or not that amount of money would be enough to tempt the reigning Serie A champions to part ways with the 24-year-old colossus.
Hopefully, United can push ahead to wrap up a deal for the Inter titan in the summer transfer window because he could be an even better signing than Huijsen to bolster Amorim’s defence.
The Red Devils should attempt to sign Bisseck ahead of the Bournemouth star because he has the potential to offer even more to the team at the heart of the defence.
He would come in with more experience than the Cherries defender because this is his fourth season of regular first-team football, compared to Huijsen’s second.
The 24-year-old titan, who was dubbed a “monster” by a performance consultant on X, has played 61 times for Inter in all competitions since the start of last season, which means that he already has plenty of experience playing for a huge European club, even winning a major league title last term.
As you can see in the chart above, Bisseck has offered more to Inter than Huijsen has to Bournemouth with his use of the ball, with more progressive carries and passes, along with a great pass success rate, per 90 at league level this term.
The German colossus, who can progress play consistently to build attacks for his side from a centre-back position, also has some strong defensive attributes that could make him even better than the Spaniard at Old Trafford.
|
24/25 season |
Huijsen (Premier League) |
Bisseck (Serie A) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
28 |
23 |
|
Goals |
2 |
2 |
|
Dribbled past per game |
0.4x |
0.1x |
|
Duel success rate |
56% |
63% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
60% |
74% |
|
Fouls committed per game |
1.0 |
0.5 |
|
Pass accuracy |
84% |
92% |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, Bisseck is far more dominant in his duels, particularly in the air, and this means that he could deal with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kai Havertz more effectively in the big games.
These statistics show that the Inter star has the qualities, in and out of possession, to be an excellent addition to Amorim’s squad because he can combine progressive actions on the ball with defensive strength and reliability, rarely being dribbled past or beaten in duels by opposition players.
Amorim must surely drop 4/10 Man Utd dud who lost the ball every 4 touches
Manchester United managed to salvage a point away at AFC Bournemouth courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund.
By
Kelan Sarson
Apr 27, 2025
Therefore, the Red Devils must push to get a deal done for the £51m-rated star ahead of a move for Huijsen, as he could offer more to the team in the here and now.
Leeds United are beginning to make moves in the transfer market and are now said to be readying a swoop for one man who has emerged as a January target.
Leeds United January rumours…
Having a squad filled with good depth is important for any side who aspires to gain promotion from the Championship and Leeds will feel no different in that respect as they search for quality reinforcements over the course of this month.
Daniel Farke has already publicly heralded the news that recruitment expert Nick Hammond will be staying on until the summer of 2024 at Elland Road, as he stated late last year:
"He is brilliant. He is key to our success in the recent months by gaining more and more stability for this club. I have great support with Angus and Nick and Gretar in different roles."
Leeds United hold talks over Hellas Verona left-back Josh Doig
He could be set for a change of scenery this month…
BySean Markus Clifford Jan 1, 2024
Spezia goalkeeper Bartomej Dragowski is a target for the Whites in a move that could potentially re-unite the Poland international with his former teammate Ethan Ampadu. The report states that Hull City are also keen on the 26-year-old and indicated that both clubs could soon make contact with the Serie A side to discuss a deal for Dragowski.
Villarreal striker Ben Brereton Diaz is also believed to be on Leeds United's radar according to journalist Ben Jacobs; however, he may be pursued in the summer rather than this month should the Whites gain promotion.
Now, another man who could join Farke's men has emerged and formal talks have now been pencilled in concerning his potential arrival, with the 49ers Enterprises now into their first winter window in charge
Leeds United plan Nathaniel Adjei talks…
According to LUFCFANZONE, Leeds United have scheduled formal discussions over a proposed swoop for Hammarby defender Nathaniel Adjei, who is also attracting interest from Ipswich Town and Millwall, as the outlet explained on social media platform X:
Personal terms and a £4m fee not being a problem is an encouraging development as the Whites look to recruit in the central defensive department, especially when factoring in backline injury concerns involving the likes of Pascal Struijk, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas. Adjei is capable of filling in at right-back, which could offer some wider added depth.
Labelled a "monster" in the media on X, Adjei made 26 appearances across all competitions in 2023, registering one goal in the process (Adjei statistics – Transfermarkt).
Nathaniel Adjei statistics in 2023 (Sofascore)
Tackles won per game
1.0
Clearances per game
2.7
Accurate passes per game
40.8 (88%)
Touches
59.2
Average match rating
6.84/10
It remains to be seen whether Adjei will end up at Elland Road, though Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises certainly look to be pulling out all the stops to land their man.
Aston Villa’s recent Premier League win over Fulham was their eighth of the current season, and they are just three points from table toppers Manchester City.
It's fair to say Unai Emery has got Villa firing and there is no reason why they can’t challenge for a trophy this term, especially with the form of some of his players.
Douglas Luiz has been outstanding at the heart of the midfield, even chipping in with six goals and his form could be crucial to Villa achieving success this season.
New signing Moussa Diaby has also settled in at the club well, yet it is arguably Ollie Watkins who has been Emery’s key man.
Ollie Watkin’s season in numbers
The Englishman struggled under Steven Gerrard at the start of last season, yet when the Spaniard arrived, he ended up scoring 15 league goals, and he has carried that form into the current campaign.
Across 19 matches in all competitions, Watkins has managed to find the back of the net 11 times, while he has also shown his selfless side, grabbing five assists too.
The in-form striker not only ranks first in the squad for goals and assists (11), but he also tops the pile with regard to shots on target per game (1.3) and third for key passes per game (1.7), demonstrating how effective he has been this term.
Emery will be hoping he remains fit and healthy for the entirety of the season as much of Villa’s success will come down to him.
If something happens to the former Brentford frontman, however, the Midlands side do have a youngster who is thriving at youth level, and he’s even outscored Watkins – Rory Wilson.
Rory Wilson’s youth statistics
The highly-rated teen joined from Scottish side Rangers in July 2022 following a season where he scored a staggering 49 goals and Gerrard worked with him during his spell north of the border.
Scotland U16 coach James Grady dubbed Wilson as the player who always wants to be “the top goal scorer” and this ambition could stand him in good stead regarding a potential career in the Premier League.
His maiden season in England saw the Scot score 15 goals in just 20 matches, and he is looking on course to smash through that figure this term.
He has featured in just nine U18 Premier League matches so far, yet has plundered 15 goals in the process and this scintillating form will surely be attracting the attention of Emery.
Of course, making the step up from U18 level to the bright lights of the top flight is a mammoth jump in ability, yet the 17-year-old already looks at ease and if he continues to score on a regular basis, could the former Arsenal boss perhaps offer him a few cameo appearances in the coming months?
Much will depend on Villa’s fortunes in the weeks ahead, yet the feel-good factor at the club could allow Emery to blood several young talents with the prospect of giving them a run in the first team.
If he wants goals, Wilson is the man to call upon, there’s no doubt about that.
Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are reportedly plotting a discounted January sale for one player who Ange Postecoglou is a big fan of.
What's the latest Spurs transfer news?
Spurs have begun this new Premier League season in very fine fashion under Postecoglou; winning four of their opening six top flight matches while remaining unbeaten. In that time, only Brighton, Man City and Newcastle have scored more than the Lilywhites; highlighting a new-look, attack-minded style courtesy of their popular new manager.
Tottenham most recently held their own against north London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, matching them toe-to-toe for possession and attacking play in a 2-2 draw last Sunday. Captain Son Heung-min's brace helped them fight back from a goal-down on two occasions, and you could argue they were desperately unlucky with the goals they did concede.
Levy's off-field decisions, like the hiring of Postecoglou and Tottenham's seven major signings over the summer, have been completely justified so far with an array of impressive results. However, you could argue there's still room to strengthen, as the club may well be just one or two injuries away from a serious lack of depth.
James Maddison's scare this week has definitely drawn attention to this, while the north Londoners are also lacking astute defensive cover if one of Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven where to be sidelined. It is believed Spurs are aiming to rectify this, though. Indeed, the likes of Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Juventus star Gleison Bremer have both been linked with moves to Tottenham in the past month.
Meanwhile, there are some suggestions that Spurs could move to replace Harry Kane outright with a new centre-forward, as Brentford star Ivan Toney attracts their interest.
Who could leave Tottenham?
Levy and new Chief Football Officer Scott Munn will need to balance the books, though, with midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic and Giovani Lo Celso all recently tipped to leave in the winter window. The latter star is a favourite of Postecoglou's, however, with the Australian heaping praise on his midfielder in pre-season.
"I’m really happy with Gio," said the Tottenham boss. "He’s been really good in training. You can see he’s a quality player and I think the way we play suits him. I’ve enjoyed working with him and I think he’s enjoying himself in terms of the football we want to play."
Despite this, there have been reports of a possible exit for Lo Celso in January, with Italian news site TUTTOmercatoWEB and their reporter Raimondo De Magistric sharing a further update. According to his information, the Argentine's spell at Tottenham "now seems to be at the end of the credits", meaning he looks set to leave soon.
It's added that he could leave in January, and while Spurs were demanding around £22 million for his sale in the summer, this figure will decrease when the window reopens to around £13 million – as Levy seemingly plots a discounted sale. Lo Celso's contract expires in 2025, given the club just a hanful of future windows to earn good money from a proposed transfer.
The report and journalist go on to claim Real Betis, Sevilla and even Barcelona showed an interest in taking him on loan last window, but that sort of deal is apparently a no-go from Tottenham.
The Sri Lanka captain had been suspended from the third and final Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-20181:40
Arnold: Chandimal’s was a genuine mistake
Dinesh Chandimal has appealed against ICC match referee Javagal Srinath’s decision to find him guilty of ball-tampering during the second Test against West Indies in St Lucia. Chandimal was suspended from the third and final Test of the series.*Later on Thursday, the ICC appointed chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff QC, as the judicial commissioner to hear Chandimal’s appeal. The ICC release said, the “hearing will take place on June 22, and, legal counsel for both parties and Chandimal will join via telephone or videoconference.” It gives Chandimal a chance of participating in the third Test that begins on June 23 in Bridgetown, if the punishment is overturned.Chandimal had been charged by the ICC after video evidence indicated that he applied saliva to the ball shortly after putting what the ICC suggested was a sweet into his mouth. He pleaded not guilty, before attending the hearing where Srinath handed Chandimal the maximum punishment available under the code – two suspension points and a fine of 100% of his match fee.Chandimal’s appeal is likely to hinge on what he put in his mouth. One of the probable contentions is that Chandimal had a number of things in his pocket during the day, including cough lozenges (which you cannot apply to the ball) but also almonds, and he does not remember which of those things he put into his mouth in this particular clip.This, the Sri Lankan team feels, is different from the ICC’s framing of Chandimal’s defence. Upon suspending Chandimal for a Test, Srinath had said in the ICC release: “Dinesh admitted to putting something in his mouth but couldn’t remember what it was, which I found unconvincing as a defence and the fact remains it was an artificial substance.”Chandimal’s defence is likely to contend that there was no way the ICC could possibly know that it was a substance capable of altering the condition of the ball, because the video evidence does not make it clear what the substance was.The argument, essentially, is that the ICC does not have sufficient evidence to find Chandimal guilty of tampering. This has been one of Sri Lanka’s assertions from the beginning.*1600hrs The story was updated after the ICC appointed a judicial commissioner for Chandimal’s appeal
da apostaganha： Fulham are interested in making a move for an established Premier League player currently at one of the biggest clubs in the country, according to a new update.
Will Fulham make signings in January?
da betsul： The Cottagers impressed in the league last season after being promoted from the Championship, and they ended up finishing 10th in the table, which few predicted at the beginning of the campaign.
Marco Silva continues to do an excellent job as manager, and his team are sitting comfortably in midtable after six matches played in 2023/24 to date, winning, drawing and losing twice apiece. Next up is Monday's visit of Chelsea in a fiery London derby, as Fulham look to heap further misery on the Blues.
While Silva has assembled an impressive squad at Craven Cottage, there is also a clear need to make new signings in the January transfer window, or next summer at the very least, in order to keep progressing. A fresh update suggests that one individual is being looked at closely as an option.
Which Premier League player could Fulham sign?
According to Sky Sports News, Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is high on Fulham's list of priority signings at the moment:
"Sky Sports News has been told Bayern will continue to monitor Palhinha's performances for Fulham throughout the Autumn and are expected to bid again once the window reopens on January 1. With more than three months remaining before then, Fulham have more time to line up his replacement and Manchester United's Scott McTominay is understood to remain high on their list.
"McTominay was thought to be reluctant to leave Old Trafford right up until the final moments of the summer window, when Sofyan Amrabat arrived on an initial loan from Fiorentina, but he may be more open to switching clubs in 2024.
"Tottenham's Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg was another top target for Fulham at the end of the window but another player who was not keen to move to Craven Cottage in the summer, believing there are bigger clubs out there for him if he is to leave Spurs in the not too distant future."
McTominay could be exactly what Fulham are looking for in January, should Joao Palhinha complete a move to Bayern Munich, possessing similar attributes to the current Cottagers favourite.
The Scot has found regular football increasingly hard to come by under Erik ten Hag at United, with the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes preferred to him in the middle of the park, and he could jump at the opportunity to be a regular elsewhere and kick on at a key point in his career.
McTominay is out of contract at Old Trafford in the summer of 2025, meaning United could be keen to cash in on him before his value starts diminishing, and his box-to-box energy would add a lot to the team.
While arguably known for his industry and all-round work ethic more than anything, the 26-year-old has also found his goalscoring boots in a Scotland shirt recently, scoring twice in a famous 2-0 win over Spain this year, and being hailed as "top class" by compatriot Ally McCoist.