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Liverpool are now stepping up their pursuit of a £84m striker, with FSG considering the addition of a marquee signing this summer.

Reds eyeing striker with Nunez heading for exit

It appears as though Darwin Nunez’s time at Anfield could be coming to an end this summer, having fallen down the pecking order, often being utilised as a substitute rather than being a regular starter in the Premier League.

Nunez is now attracting widespread interest from across the continent, with bids in the region of £50m being made by Serie A side Napoli and Bundesliga team RB Leipzig, which means the Reds could recoup a large portion of the £85m they paid for the Uruguayan.

While the 25-year-old has played a sporadic role for Arne Slot’s side this season, the manager will need to bring in a replacement this summer, should he decide to cash-in, and FSG are now weighing up the addition of a marquee signing.

Better signing than Frimpong: Liverpool ready bid for "world-class" talent

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes to Arne Slot’s squad this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 14, 2025

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport which states Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, with scouts set to watch the striker in action for the German side this weekend.

A summer deal for Eiktike will not be cheap, with Frankfurt setting an asking price of £84m, which FSG have reservations about paying, so a delegation of scouts will watch the Frenchman against SC Freiburg to assess whether he is worthy of such a hefty price tag.

Should the Reds be impressed by what they see, they could enter negotiations over a deal for the forward over the coming weeks, with the player himself willing to consider a move to the right club.

"Phenomenal" Ekitike could be Nunez upgrade

The move to Paris Saint-Germain early in the 22-year-old’s career may not have worked out, but he has certainly managed to prove his worth to Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season, picking up 22 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Football scout Ben Mattinson has been particularly impressed by the Frankfurt star’s performances, taking to X to lavish him with praise earlier this season.

There are also clear signs the Reims-born forward could be an upgrade on Nunez, having outperformed the Uruguay international across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.

Statistic per 90

Hugo Ekitike

Darwin Nunez

Non-penalty goals

0.51

0.35

Assists

0.27

0.17

Successful take-ons

1.95

0.69

That said, Liverpool are right to have concerns about forking out £84m, given that Ekitike is yet to prove himself over a sustained period of time, and they should look to get a deal done for a lower price if possible.

Chelsea have now joined the race for a “top” goalkeeper, who has been recommended by club legend Didier Drogba, according to a report.

Maresca's goalkeeper problem at Chelsea

Goalkeeper has been a problem position for Enzo Maresca this season, with the manager rotating between Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, who have both made errors leading to goals in the Premier League.

Sanchez has made four costly mistakes, which have made the Spaniard the subject of some heavy criticism, and it now appears as though Maresca could look to bring in a replacement in the summer transfer window.

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is one of the most recent players to join the shortlist, with the Frenchman potentially set to be available for just £34m, given that his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.

Related Chelsea now want £30m Milan star with "incredible speed" ahead of Man City

The Blues have set their sights on a defender, but there could be fierce competition for his signature…

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 13, 2025

The Blues have made contact over a deal for Maignan, indicating the AC Milan shot-stopper is a serious target for Maresca, but an alternative option has now entered the frame, according to a report from Football Insider.

The player in question is Angers goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, with Chelsea now joining the race for the Ivory Coast international, who has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe with his performances in Ligue 1.

Fofana has no shortage of suitors, with Newcastle United, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers also interested in a deal, having sent scouts to watch him in action, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.

Maresca’s side are set to conduct a scouting mission of their own this weekend, having been recommended to sign the 24-year-old by club legend Drogba, who has been impressed by his form for Angers and the Ivory Coast.

Fofana impressing in Ligue 1

Previous reports have revealed the Angers shot-stopper could be available for a fee of just £15m, which could be a bargain, given the level of his displays in Ligue 1.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has lauded the Ivorian as a “top” goalkeeper, while also detailing that he claims crosses well and has a good range of passing, with the latter quality perhaps particularly important if he were to play in a Maresca system.

Maresca has made it clear he wants his goalkeeper to take risks with his passing, which has led to mistakes from Sanchez this season, so the fact that Fofana is a solid passer of the ball is of key significance.

Chelsea may not choose to pursue a new goalkeeper this summer, given that Djordje Petrovic has been impressing on loan at Strasbourg, but if Maresca decides a new option is needed between the sticks, the Angers goalkeeper could be a quality signing.

The middle-order batter has levelled up after having expanded his range of shots

Deivarayan Muthu01-Feb-2024Ricky Bhui played two Under-19 World Cups for India in 2014 and 2016, but his career didn’t quite take off from there. Eight years later, he is rising once again by scoring big runs for Andhra across formats in domestic cricket. He has also taken over as Andhra’s captain from Hanuma Vihari this season and will later be in action for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.Overall, Bhui averages 45.36 after 67 first-class games since 2013. The number shoots up to 55.89 if you consider the period from January 2021.So, what has changed for Bhui? “It’s the mindset,” Bhui tells ESPNcricinfo ahead of Andhra’s fifth-round Ranji Trophy fixture against Bihar in Patna. “Because as a domestic batter, you should keep getting runs. You should not be satisfied with just one hundred or a big score.Related

• Ranji round-up: Dube rescues Mumbai; Karnataka stumble on 16-wicket day; Sai Kishore drives TN

• Vihari steps down as Andhra captain for rest of Ranji season

• Ranji round four: Himmat the hero for Delhi

“There are a lot of people scoring runs around the country every now and then. So, to be noticed you need to keep scoring. So, I told myself not to be satisfied with how much ever I score and keep scoring across formats. Every day is a new day and every innings is a fresh innings. I had to change my mindset and get into that mindset and that helped me in every match.”Bhui is currently the third-highest run-getter in the Elite group in the ongoing Ranji season, with 492 runs in six innings at an average of 82, including three centuries. His entry points during those three innings read: 119 for 3 against Bengal, 168 for 2 against Assam, 41 for 3 against Chhattisgarh. He believes that he has the game and temperament to tackle any situation in the middle order.”As a middle-order batter you will have to face different situations,” Bhui says. “Sometimes it will be 20 for 2 or 200 or 2, and sometimes you will have to play along with the bowlers to score big runs. So, you will have to be ready for those challenges as a middle-order batter. An opener has a different set of challenges – playing on damp wickets and facing the hard, new ball and facing fresh spells.”Being a middle-order batter, you will have to take the team through [to the finish line] as well. So, that’s the biggest challenge of facing different situations. And I’ve played in the middle order since my childhood, so I’m used to it.”Bhui particularly relishes the 175 against Bengal because it came after he had suffered a blow to his head while keeping wickets. After recovering from it, he returned to help Andhra pass Bengal’s 409 for the first-innings advantage.”The hundred against Bengal gave me a lot of confidence because they were the runners-up last year and they had a really good bowling attack – Akash Deep, Ishan Porel,” Bhui says. “They scored 409 runs in the first innings and on the first day, I got a hit on the head while wicketkeeping and I had dizziness the whole day, so I took a break and then came back to play a long innings, which gave me a lot of confidence going into the season.”

“We [Andhra] are well-prepared this time and want to go till the end and win. Last time also we went to the quarter-final; we haven’t been on the big stage that often but in the last two-three years, we are reaching there.”Ricky Bhui

Bhui occasionally keeps wickets when the first-choice KS Bharat isn’t available and the second skill, he says, has benefitted him in white-ball cricket as well. He could potentially be an Indian back-up to both Rishabh Pant and Kumar Kushagra at Capitals in IPL 2024.”I’ve been keeping on and off for the last four-five years. When KS is available, he is the keeper,” Bhui says. “When he isn’t available, I keep because it allows us to play an extra batsman or an extra bowler, depending on the situation. I thought adding a second skill will help me in white-ball cricket as well. Nowadays, you see KL Rahul also keeping and many guys who have adapted to it. In white-ball cricket, you need to have two skills to help the team and I’m ready to keep.”Bhui has also added more shots to his repertoire, which were on display during the 20-overs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he rattled off 234 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of nearly 185. He then attended a number of IPL trials, including one at Capitals, who eventually snapped him up for his base price of INR 20 lakh at the auction last month.Ricky Bhui has worked on manoeuvring the ball•The India Today Group via Getty Images”I feel coming back into the IPL has given me the extra opportunity to showcase my skills to come back into the limelight,” Bhui says. “I’ve improved my white-ball game and added a few innovative strokes. I’ve been batting down the order, which has helped my strike rate too. As a player, I needed this boost, and I attended six-seven trials. The trial at Delhi went very well, and I was fortunate to be picked by them. I also played an Under-19 World Cup with Rishabh and am looking forward to performing for Delhi Capitals.”Bhui is a fine player of spin, having had stints at the Nelson club in the Chennai league, where you often get pitches that turn sharply from the first session. “In Chennai, the wicket is either a rank turner or a good one for batting,” he says. “I bettered my game against spin there and built the patience that is needed to grind and play long innings in red-ball cricket. They also don’t give easy runs in Chennai; so I picked up these things from the Chennai league and added it to my game.”Bhui took over as Andhra’s full-time captain after that Bengal game and has marshalled the team to two wins in three matches since. Often a mid-season change at the top can disrupt the team, but the transition at Andhra has been smooth.”Basically, Vihari wanted to focus more on his batting,” Bhui says. “More or less it’s the same team – it’s the same group of boys who are playing together in the last four-five seasons. So, it didn’t affect us much within the team and Vihari got into batting form, which was more required, and it has helped the team. I don’t see captaincy as a stressful job because I know these boys have played together a lot, so there isn’t much to tell. It’s about having a good team atmosphere and I know they will do their job.”Andhra are currently second, below Mumbai, on the Group B points table and an outright win against Bihar will further strengthen their chances of qualifying for the knockouts. Andhra had also made the knockouts last season, where they gained the first-innings advantage against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final in Indore but collapsed for 93 in the second to eventually lose the game. Bhui hopes Andhra can go ever deeper into the knockouts this season.”We have a goal to win because Andhra is a state where we don’t have a trophy yet,” Bhui says. “We are well-prepared this time and want to go till the end and win. Last time also we went to the quarter-final; we haven’t been on the big stage that often but in the last two-three years, we are reaching there. Now, we want to take one step or a couple of steps further.”

Players from Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, predictably, dominate our XI

Umar Farooq and Danyal Rasool28-Feb-2022Fakhar Zaman (588 runs, AVG 45.23, SR 152.72, seven fifties, one hundred)
A remarkable, impactful season. In the early stages, the length of time Fakhar spent at the crease was directly proportional to the Lahore Qalandars’ result. There was a sense of over-reliance on him but he just kept producing. He made eight 50-plus scores, and his 60 off 37 balls against the Multan Sultans and his 106 against the Karachi Kings set the tone for the Qalandars to go big. His purple patch began a discussion about whether he can break up Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam’s opening partnership for Pakistan.Is there a more consistent T20 batter than Mohammad Rizwan?•PSLMohammad Rizwan (546 runs, AVG 68.25, SR 126.68, seven fifties)
Mr Consistent. There is hardly a day that goes by now without Rizwan scoring runs. He is busy with the bat, impeccable behind the stumps and has enhanced his credentials as captain, with the Sultans winning 10 out of 12 games this season. This was the second successive season in which he passed the 500-run mark, and as captain has led the side to back to back finals. His 82 off 43 against Peshawar Zalmi and 76 off 56 against the Kings might have won him the Player of the Match award, but equally valuable was how he held his nerve in a lower-scoring game against Islamabad United to score an unbeaten 51 off 42 and save the day after the Sultans were 18 for 3. He earned the PCB’s awards for player of the season and top wicketkeeper, and won the Spirit of Cricket Award for the Sultans.Shadab Khan made an outstanding impact for Islamabad United with bat and ball•PSLShadab Khan (268 runs, AVG 33.50, SR 162.42; 19 wickets, AVG 10.89, ER 6.46, one fifer)
The complete package as a cricketer this season. The United allrounder had had a couple of inconsistent years with a recurring groin injury, but this was a blockbuster season. Though it came in a losing cause, his 91 off 42 balls against the Sultans, while chasing 218, showed grit and intent. His sparkling 52 off 32 and four-wicket haul against the Qalandars also went in vain but his contribution left an echo of his brilliance. He recaptured the bowling fizz of his earlier years, and was the season’s second-highest wicket-taker despite missing games with a groin injury.Rilee Rossouw and Tim David formed a formidable middle-order pairing for Sultans•Pakistan Super LeagueRilee Rossouw (275 runs, AVG 39.28, SR 167.68, three fifties)
No. 4 is a difficult position in T20s, but Rossouw is adept at it. He was elevated to No. 3 against the Quetta Gladiators when the Sultans openers had added 119, and it allowed him to blast a 26-ball 71 to help the side to post the highest total of the tournament. He scored three fifties in all, and each of them provided serious impetus.ESPNcricinfo’s PSL team of the tournament•ESPNcricinfo LtdTim David (278 runs, AVG 29.71, SR 194.40, two fifties)
David was surprisingly lifted from the Diamond category to the Platinum category this season and he made the most of it. He was unknown in franchise cricket until last year when he was identified by the Qalandars in a replacement draft for the second leg of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi. He was pivotal in Sultans head coach Andy Flower’s planning for the middle order and paid back all the faith placed in him by scoring valuable runs at a blistering rate. He usually occupied the No. 5 slot, which gives batters little time to get their eye in; how well he did can be summed up by the fact that he scored at a 140-plus strike rate seven times in the eight innings in which he faced at least 10 balls. Both his fifties – 71 against United and an unbeaten 51 against Zalmi – came at strike rates of well over 200.Khushdil Shah celebrates a wicket•Pakistan Super LeagueKhushdil Shah (153 runs, AVG 25.50, SR 182.14, 16 wickets, AVG 13.93, ER 6.89)
Scored important runs, bagged crucial wickets, and reinvented himself. He batted at No. 5 or lower in eight of his 10 innings and only got to face 74 balls in those opportunities, but he made full use of them, scoring 141 runs at a strike rate of 190.54. His season strengthened his Pakistan prospects, having had a largely stop-start international career until now. He will be hard to ignore now, having shown his worth as a three-dimensional player. With the bat he often provided vital late momentum, particularly during his 21 off 9 in a tense chase against Kings and his 21 off 7 against Zalmi.Rashid Khan ended up with the lowest economy rate of all bowlers in the PSL this season•PSLRashid Khan (13 wickets, AVG 17.30, ER 6.25)
After lighting up the league last year, Rashid Khan was no less effective this time around for the Qalandars, and continued to get better as the tournament went on. With the lowest economy rate of all bowlers in the PSL, Rashid served both as a container and a lethal wicket-taker through the middle and late overs. His 4 for 17 against the Kings might have been the standout performance, but in truth, there was gold sprinkled throughout his season; in five of his nine games, Rashid conceded a run a ball or less. Such was his contribution to the Qalandars that they sensationally offered to fly him in just for the final after he had left for international duty. It didn’t happen, but Rashid was a big reason why they were in the final in the first place.Fans saw Imran Tahir’s trademark celebration 16 times this season•PCBImran Tahir (16 wickets, AVG 18.62, ER 6.47)
Almost 20 years Rashid’s senior, Tahir’s dazzling season bags him the second specialist legspinner’s slot on the XI. Another bowler who combined economy with potency, Tahir set the tone in the tournament’s opening game, taking 3 for 16 in a Player-of-the-Match performance. It was one of three games where he took three wickets. He was also the architect of a rout of United in a late playoff game, taking 2 for 8 in four overs. He would only concede more than 30 runs twice in 12 innings, and it was perhaps no surprise the Qalandars decided caution was the way to go against him; in both the qualifier and the final, he went wicketless, but conceded just 22 and 29 respectively.Shaheen Shah Afridi: lethal with the new ball, lethal at the death•PSLShaheen Shah Afridi (20 wickets, AVG 19.70, ER 7.57)
The prince of Pakistan cricket and captain of the Qalandars, Afridi’s star continues to soar. After finishing third in the wickets charts last season, he stands atop on his own this time, the only man with 20 to his name in the PSL this season. He finished with an impressive economy rate too, for someone who traditionally bowls through the most difficult overs, and was the spearhead for his side’s success, with captaincy appearing to strengthen rather than burden him. He would save his best for last with 3 for 30 in the final, and while it remains very much a footnote, there was also a delightful knock with the bat, an unbeaten 20-ball 39 that dragged his side into the tournament’s only Super Over.Naseem Shah bagged his maiden T20 five-for against the Karachi Kings•PSLNaseem Shah (14 wickets, AVG 21.85, ER 8.01)
The only fast bowler with a five-for the season – a fearsome 5 for 20 against the Kings. Having lost his place in the Pakistan side and picked up a few injuries, the happenings at the Gladiators gave Naseem a chance to properly lead the line for his side. With Mohammad Hasnain ruled out, the 19-year-old Naseem stepped into his shoes admirably, with the fierce bouncer always keeping batters on their heels. It might not have gone the Gladiators’ way this time, but in Naseem, they have one of the characters who should be central to their rebuilding.Zaman Khan (18 wickets, AVG 21.50, ER 8.26)
Just four maidens were bowled in this PSL, and Zaman was responsible for two of them. The 20-year-old was a part of all 13 games for the Qalandars, roaring back after a rough first two games to take 3 for 32 and win the Player-of-the-Match award against Zalmi. He would produce such performances throughout the season, including a 4 for 16 against the Kings and two crucial middle-order wickets in the final against the Sultans, where his strike to remove Rossouw turned the game the Qalandars’ way. He ended with 18 wickets, behind only Shaheen and Shadab.12th man – Shan Masood (478 runs, AVG 39.83, SR 138.15)

Before the Boston Red Sox stunningly traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, there were at least three other teams that inquired with the Red Sox about Devers, including the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays, per Sean McAdam of MassLive.

The Red Sox were not actively shopping Devers before trading him, and though the slugger previously considered requesting a trade, he did not end up doing so. Still, there was clear tension between Devers and Boston after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman in February to take his starting spot at third base.

This only escalated when the team asked Devers to fill in for Triston Casas at first base in May, which he refused. With all that unfolding since spring training and the Red Sox feeling Devers wasn't living up to the responsibilities that come with his massive deal, the door was open for teams to reach out and inquire about the star hitter.

Outside of the Giants, the Braves, Padres, and Blue Jays were among the teams that reached out with interest in Devers. Though they inquired, none of the three were as motivated as the Giants were to get the deal done, which is why Devers was sent to San Francisco, per McAdam.

The trade is instead just the latest statement from new Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who is working to bring San Francisco back to the prominence he saw during his own likely Hall of Fame career in the Bay Area. With the acquisition of Devers, the Giants are taking another step toward contending in the NL West.

Former MLB infielder Jean Segura announced his retirement on Wednesday, putting an official end to his esteemed 12-year career.

Segura hasn't played in MLB since 2023, when he was with the Miami Marlins. Prior to his one-year stint in Miami, Segura had spent four seasons with both the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, and played two seasons for the Seattle Mariners. He also spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels throughout his career in the bigs.

Segura's agency, CAA Sports, made an announcement on its Instagram page, congratulating the 35-year-old on his career and highlighting some of his biggest accomplishments in MLB.

Segura made two All-Star teams in his MLB career, one in 2013 with the Brewers and the other in 2018 with the Mariners. He led the National League with 203 hits in 2016 with the Diamondbacks, a season in which he boasted a career-high 6.6 WAR.

Despite playing 12 seasons in the league, Segura made the postseason just one time. His lone postseason experience came in 2022 with the Phillies, who were defeated by the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Segura ends his career with a .281 batting average, an OPS of .729, 110 home runs, 513 RBIs, 211 stolen bases and a WAR of 26.3.

Marcelo Bielsa's recent press conference following Uruguay's thumping defeat by the USA was as intense as his management style and has caused a huge backlash with claims it has damaged team morale. Known for his eccentric nature, Bielsa went on a lengthy tirade, criticising players, officials, and even the media for perceived biases.

• Heavy defeat poses major questions

  United States thrashed Bielsa's Uruguay 5-1 in Florida earlier this week, a result that has put the veteran coach under intense pressure. The defeat was Uruguay's worst since 2004 and the first time they conceded five goals against the Americans. Uruguay without key players like Federico Valverde and the suspended Darwin Nunez, fielded a strong side but comprehensively outplayed by Mauricio Pochettino's team. Goals from Sebastian Berhalter, a brace from Alex Freeman, and Diego Luna gave the US a 4-1 lead at half-time and Tanner Tessmann added a fifth in the second half after Rodrigo Bentancur had been shown a straight red card. 

  Bielsa shouldered full responsibility for the "disastrous performance," describing himself as "ashamed". He dismissed suggestions of a mentality problem, instead pointing to a tactical failure to match the U.S.'s intensity and organization. The result prompted a wave of criticism in the Uruguayan press, with outlets labeling the loss an "historic humiliation". 

  Despite the fallout, Bielsa remains defiant, insisting he has the conviction to lead the team to the World Cup.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bielsa: 'For me, it’s karma'

  Bielsa said: "I’m a generator of tension. When I arrive, the environment becomes tense. That’s why I appear infrequently. I’m toxic. To associate yourself with me makes you worse off. Do you understand me? There are toxic types who only see the errors that they are correcting, who are demanding, who are never satisfied with anything. He talks only about the work he is doing. When he goes out to eat, he reads the newspaper because he doesn’t want to integrate with those around him, so that he doesn’t have to talk about things that distract him from all that. Don’t think I enjoy it. For me, it’s karma."

• He's called "El Loco" for a reason

  Bielsa is known for his meticulous yet unconventional methods, and has crafted a volatile managerial career defined as much by his innovative tactics as his contentious actions. His most high-profile incident was the "Spygate" scandal in 2019 while managing Leeds United. A staff member was caught observing a Derby County training session, a practice Bielsa stunningly admitted he performed against all rivals. He defended the action as merely accessing publicly available information, personally paying the club's £200,000 fine in a display of eccentric integrity that polarised the football world. 

  Bielsa is also notorious for his abrupt departures and perceived man-management flaws. In 2016, he infamously resigned as manager of Lazio after just 48 hours, citing the club's failure to meet contractual promises. His intense, demanding style has drawn criticism from players; most recently, Uruguayan star Luis Suarez lamented a lack of communication and respect. Critics frequently point to his rigid tactical philosophy as a weakness, most notably during Argentina's 2002 World Cup campaign where a talented squad exited early, a testament to his stubborn adherence to a system regardless of the cost. These persistent controversies form a core part of his legacy and also why his nickname is "El Loco".

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  World Cup draw awaits

  Uruguay have already qualified for next year's World Cup, securing one of the automatic spots from the South American (CONMEBOL) region. They are in Pot 2 for the official draw, which is scheduled to take place on December 5th, in Washington. The two-time World Cup champions will avoid Pot 1 giants like Argentina and Brazil in the group stage but could face a challenging draw elsewhere.

خرج لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد مصابًا من مباراة البرازيل وتونس التي تجمعهما الآن وديًا، ضمن استعدادات كأس العالم 2026.

ويستضيف ملعب “بيار موروا” في فرنسا مباراة منتخبي البرازيل وتونس، في ختام مبارياتهما الودية في فترة التوقف الأخيرة للعام الحالي.

وحتى الآن التعادل الإيجابي يسيطر على المباراة بين نسور قرطاج ونظيره منتخب البرازيل بنتيجة 1/1.

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وشهدت المباراة إضاعة منتخب البرازيل لركة جزاء عن طريق اللاعب لوكاس باكيتا، إذ وضعها أعلى العارضة خارج المرمى بشكل سئ للغاية.

وعانى فريق أنشيلوتي من إصابة جديدة بعدما تمت إصابة مدافع آرسنال جابريال، حيث سقط إيدير ميليتاو، مدافع ريال مدريد في الدقيقة 60 على أرض الملعب ولم يستطع الاستمرار في المباراة.

الإصابة تبدو صعبة لمدافع ريال مدريد صاحب الـ 28 عامًا إذ لا يحتمل الفريق الملكي أي غيابات في خط الدفاع بعد إصابة الإسباني دين هويسن.

وكان منتخب البرازيل قد خاض مباراة ودية يوم السبت الماضي ضد السنغال على ملعب “الإمارات”، حيث حقق فوزًا بهدفين دون رد، في حين أن تونس فاز على الصعيد الودي على الأردن بثلاثة أهداف لهدفين يوم الجمعة.

It was his second six-wicket haul in successive Championship games

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Somerset 250 (Lammonby 89, Drissell 5-59) and 89 for 5 (Banton 33*, Parkinson 4-39) beat Durham 145 (Raine 42, Overton 6-23) and 190 (Gay 42, Leach 6-63, Vaughan 4-85) by five wicketsJack Leach returned figures of 6 for 63 as Somerset wrapped up a five-wicket Rothesay County Championship Division One win over Durham inside two days at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.From an overnight 5 for 2 in their second innings, trailing by 100 runs, the visitors were bowled out for 190, left-arm spinner Leach claiming his second six-for in successive Championship games and off-spinner Archie Vaughan taking 4 for 85. Emilio Gay top-scored with 42, while Ben Raine contributed 36.That left Somerset needing just 86 to win, a target they achieved in 19.2 overs, not without alarm, at just before 4pm, Tom Banton ending unbeaten on 33 and Callum Parkinson taking 4 for 39. They took 20 points from the game to Durham’s three.Despite the turning pitch, Somerset elected to start the day with seam at both ends, skipper Lewis Gregory operating from the River End in tandem with Craig Overton.Gay and Neil Wagner were rarely troubled and had added 26 to the overnight score by the time Vaughan was introduced from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End.His first over went for 16, Gay striking fou fours and clearly intent on carrying the game to Somerset’s slow bowlers. Leach’s first over from the other end saw Wagner hit a six over long-off to bring up a half-century stand from just 57 balls.Gay struck a straight six off Vaughan and followed up next ball with a swept four as Durham’s total reached 76, just 29 runs behind, before Somerset made a much-needed breakthrough.Wagner had played well, facing 49 balls, before attempting to sweep a full delivery from Vaughan and falling lbw. It signalled a collapse as Gay quickly followed, caught by Overton, diving forward at short mid-wicket off Leach.Colin Ackermann bagged a pair when playing Leach in the air to mid-off where Banton took a similar catch to Overton’s, throwing himself forward. It was 92 for 6 when David Bedingham fell lbw to a Leach delivery that straightened from around the wicket.Durham were still 13 runs from avoiding an innings defeat. Ollie Robinson and Graham Clark ensured that indignity was avoided with a partnership of 40 before Robinson aimed a big drive at Vaughan and was bowled for 28.Vaughan almost struck again with his next delivery, Raine driving it back and the bowler just failing to hold a low catch diving full length to his right. The lunch score was 152 for 7, 147 runs having been scored in the session off 40 overs.Clark was unbeaten on 24 and Durham led by 47. Leach had figures of 4 for 50 from 17 overs and that became a five-for with 14 runs added when Clark’s 89-ball innings of 32 ended with an edged forward defensive shot to wicketkeeper James Rew.Leach struck again when George Drissell was caught and bowled off a leading edge. That left Raine with little option but to go on the attack and he cleared the ropes twice in a Vaughan over.Vaughan claimed revenge in his next over as Raine holed out to long-off and, with 46 overs remaining, a two-day finish was guaranteed. Not surprisingly, Durham gave the new ball to left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson, whose second delivery was deposited over midwicket for six by Tom Kohler-Cadmore.Drissell was greeted by a Josh Davey boundary to wide long-on as Somerset went for a quick kill. That plan suffered a setback when Davey fell leg-before to Parkinson, aiming to sweep, with the total on 13.It was 16 for 2 when Kohler-Cadmore edged Parkinson to second slip. Rew, on a pair, reverse swept his first ball for four and, on five, narrowly escaped a catch to second slip off Drissell.Tom Lammonby eased any tension with two fours off Drissell full-tosses, but was then bowled through the gate by Parkinson for 22 with Somerset halfway to their target. Rew quickly followed, caught at short mid-wicket to give Parkinson a fourth wicket.Tom Abell was bowled by Drissell on the back foot with 24 needed. But Banton used the sweep and reverse-sweep to good effect to see Somerset home.

Mohamed Salah has been left out of Liverpool's starting line-up to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Arne Slot has taken action following the Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United last Sunday. Hugo Ekitike has replaced the Egyptian winger in the Reds' XI after starting on the bench against the Red Devils.

Salah dropped amid poor form

Salah has finally been dropped from the Liverpool team after a series of poor performances in the 2025-26 campaign. Since the start of the new season, the Egyptian goal-machine has scored only three goals across all competitions and provided as many assists. The loss against United at Anfield after nine years last Sunday was the final straw for Slot, who took the tough call of starting Salah on the bench in the crucial Champions League fixture against Frankfurt.

Ekitike returned to the line-up, replacing Salah in the attack, while another underperforming star Florian Wirtz also made it into the team. Defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson have also been drafted into the 11 in Germany

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCarragher wanted Salah to be dropped after United defeat

After going seven games in the English top flight without registering a non-penalty goal – his longest barren run in that department since joining Liverpool in 2017 – Reds legend Jamie Carragher had urged Slot to drop Salah from his starting line-up.

Following the loss at Anfield at the weekend, Carragher said on : “I think we're at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn't be a guaranteed starter every week. I do think this is a real conundrum for the manager going forward."

The former defender then said on the : "I don't think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it's like 'first name on the team sheet'. Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don't think Salah should start both of those games. He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today.

"But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don't think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he's in. Would he be OK with that? Probably not. But when you get to a certain age you have to understand that, especially when you're not playing well, where's your argument? It's different if you're banging in the goals and your manager makes a tactical decision and you're frustrated. I don't think Mo Salah's in any position to complain if he was left out of one of the next two away games."

Slot isn't bothered about slump in form

After winning their first seven matches across all competitions, the reigning English champions have experienced a sudden slump in form as they have now lost four successive matches, including three in the Premier League. However, despite the poor run, Slot isn't too worried, as he insisted to "It should not matter if we win or lose a game of football for the next one. The aim is if you play for Liverpool if you wear this shirt, the aim is to win every single game. So if we win seven in a row, how we started this season, then we want to win the next three. And we didn’t, now we’ve lost the last four, so now of course we want to see Liverpool winning again. But like I said, that is not different than when you’ve lost four in a row or won four in a row."

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Getty ImagesWirtz under the scanner

After failing to make the Reds' starting line-up in their last two Premier League outings against Chelsea and United, Wirtz has finally made a comeback. The German midfielder has made a slow start to his journey in the Premier League, having just one assist across all competitions. The former Bayer Leverkusen star will be eager to start delivering for the English champions, starting with the Champions League fixture against an opposition from the Bundesliga.