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Have Liverpool rediscovered how to win football games?

There’s no question that this has been an incredibly difficult start to the season for Arne Slot and his Premier League-winning Liverpool squad, but while the defeats have come in droves in recent months, Saturday’s confident win over Brighton & Hove Albion has rubber-stamped the mini-revival.

The Reds have returned to the top six, with the noise surrounding Mohamed Salah’s recent troubles being silenced for a while, the Egyptian replacing the injured Joe Gomez in the first half and putting in a strong display, whipping in the corner for Hugo Ekitike’s second-half strike.

Ekitike now has four goals from his past two Premier League matches, and he is becoming quite the player for the Merseyside club.

Ekitike's performance vs Brighton

After Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in an initial £69m deal this summer, he found his big move somewhat overshadowed by the Alexander Isak saga that swallowed the transfer discourse.

But it’s the Frenchman, 23, who has better established themselves, with his latest brace taking his tally to ten goals and an assist across 23 appearances in all competitions, and he’s rediscovered his Midas touch in the Premier League.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue against Ekitike taking precedence over Isak, England’s record signing at £125m, the Les Bleus star so much sharper, so much more fluent.

While many of FSG’s summer signings have flattered to deceive over the past several months, Ekitike has established himself as one of the most exciting goalscorers in Europe, well worth the pennies paid.

However, another of Liverpool’s summer recruits shone just as brightly against the Seagulls, and he might have even put in his best performance since making the move in June.

Liverpool prospect just put in his best performance

Liverpool have been in a rut this season, and it’s made it difficult for new signings to acclimatise. Florian Wirtz and Isak being two cases in point.

However, Milos Kerkez has arguably suffered the toughest start of the lot, with the Hungarian left-back so far removed from the fluid and fearsome Bournemouth full-back from last season.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

15 (13)

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.6

49.5

Accurate passes*

28.6 (80%)

26.9 (86%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.7

Dribbles*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.7

2.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.8

Clearances*

2.6

2.8

Duels won*

4.0 (54%)

3.9 (60%)

Errors made

4

2

The 21-year-old, who signed after a £40m deal was agreed, has so much more to give, with his bouncy athleticism not best represented as Slot’s tactical vision has struggled to take shape.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher called him a “nervous wreck” earlier in the season, but Kerkez looked more like the 2024/25 PFA Team of the Year inclusion at the Vitality Stadium, with Liverpool World acknowledging his ‘well-utilised aggression’, flawless save for one moment up against the tricky Yankuba Minteh.

It tells much of Kerkez’s combative performance that he won eight duels, energetic as he provided an outlet down the left flank and completing 89% of his passes and creating one chance.

Having endured such a challenging start to life at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the young and talented Kerkez showed that he has what it takes, and it might even have been his finest showing in a Liverpool shirt.

It’s curious to note that Cody Gakpo was absent on the wing, having earlier this week been ruled out by Slot for the next few weeks. Kerkez’s connection with the inswinging Dutchman has been limited this season, one-dimensional.

Liverpool have taken several confident steps in the right direction, and though there is a long way to go before Slot can say that his system has stabilised and focus can be placed on winning trophies, we are beginning to see the signs that the recruits are worth their price tags, albeit with a few more still to demonstrate sustained improvement.

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New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has been thrown in at the deep end ahead of a clash with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday in his first match.

The Hoops boss has taken over from the vastly-experienced interim Martin O’Neill, who won seven of his eight games in the dugout after coming in to steady the ship after Brendan Rodgers resigned.

Nancy is now tasked with implementing his own ideas and tactics in the coming days, weeks, and months ahead, after his move from Columbus Crew in the MLS.

The formation that Wilfried Nancy could play at Celtic

Many Celtic supporters may already be wondering what formation the new manager will line-up with against Hearts, and for matches in the future, after O’Neill played a 4-2-3-1 and Rodgers played a 4-3-3.

Nancy has only had a couple of days on the training ground, having been announced on Wednesday night, so the game against the Jam Tarts may come too soon for radical changes.

With time on the training pitch, though, the French boss may want to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, which Transfermarkt notes is his favoured system.

Chalkboard

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

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Per FBref, Nancy played a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 in 31 of his 43 games in charge of Columbus Crew this year, and played a back three or a back five in 40 of those matches.

This suggests that the Frenchman may line up with three central defenders for the most part with Celtic, which could make Dane Murray the biggest winner of his appointment at Parkhead.

Why Dane Murray could play a key role for Wilfried Nancy

The Scottish youngster’s last start for Celtic came in Rodgers’ final match against Hearts, as he scored a nightmare own goal in a 3-1 defeat.

It was a poor afternoon for Murray and Celtic, as he struggled at the heart of the defence, and he only played 38 minutes across two substitute appearances in O’Neill’s time in interim charge, as the experienced boss favoured Auston Trusty and Liam Scales as a pairing.

With Cameron Carter-Vickers being a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury, though, there could be a place for the academy graduate to come back into the team as part of a back three or back five, if Nancy decides to stick with his trend of using formations with three centre-backs.

Kieran Tierney could be an option to play as a third centre-back, as he has done for Scotland in the past, but then Celtic would have three left-footed defenders across the back, which is not ideal for playing out under pressure.

Bringing a right-footed centre-back like Murray into the fold could be ideal for Nancy, and he would have more protection than he did in a back four under Rodgers, as there would be two senior defenders alongside him, in Trusty and Scales.

25/26 Premiership

Dane Murray

Appearances

3

Starts

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.0

Clearances

15

Dribbled past

0x

Ground duel success rate

64%

Aerial duel success rate

80%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old colossus has shown some positive signs, despite his own goal against Hearts, in his three league appearances, dominating opposition attackers in physical duels.

Back in August, Rodgers claimed that Murray’s “ceiling is so high” and that he will really grow in the next 12 to 18 months. Whilst it may not happen as he envisaged, as another manager is in the dugout, that could play out with Nancy’s preferred system.

The Scottish prospect has been the only centre-back on the bench in recent games, with Carter-Vickers out, and that suggests that he would be the most logical inclusion for the new manager as part of a back three.

Given that a change in shape from a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 to a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-3 would essentially mean that a new centre-back position emerges, it seems like Murray has the most to gain and could be the biggest winner from this appointment for the Hoops.

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However, it is then down to the academy graduate to take his chance when it comes and prove that he has what it takes to be a regular starter for Celtic, and that his game against Hearts was a blip rather than a sign of things to come.

Leeds United are in a difficult position heading into the weekend as they are in the bottom three and heading to play Manchester City at The Etihad this afternoon.

The Whites have lost their last three matches in the Premier League, losing to Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa, and now face a run of games against City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

On top of the daunting fixture list, Daniel Farke also has several new injury issues to contend with before they kick off against Pep Guardiola’s side today.

The latest Leeds injury news

Anton Stach will not be in the squad because he has been unable to train this week through concussion protocols, after the German midfielder was taken off in the first against Aston Villa last weekend with a head injury.

The £17.4m summer signing from Hoffenheim will resume training on Sunday before coming into contention for the Chelsea match, and Ao Tanaka could start in his place this afternoon.

Reserve defender Sebastiaan Bornauw, who joined from Wolfsburg in the summer, is going to be a late call on whether or not he can make the bench today, per Farke.

Chalkboard

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

Unfortunately, the German head coach also revealed that central midfielder Sean Longstaff suffered a calf injury and is due to be out of action for between four and six weeks, in a major blow for the Whites.

The summer signing from Newcastle has started ten of his 12 Premier League appearances for the club, creating six ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, and Farke will need to find a way to replace him this afternoon and for the weeks to come.

Instead of bringing Ilia Gruev, who is more of a deep-lying number six, into the side, Farke should unleash Brenden Aaronson in a new role to ease the Longstaff injury blow.

The new role that Brenden Aaronson should play in

Earlier this month, Farke said that the USA international “polarises and can be annoying” and then added that he “works his socks off, gives everything, relentless and leaves his heart on the pitch” in defence of the attacking midfielder.

Because of that work rate, it would be interesting to see how he would fare in Longstaff’s position as one of the two number eights ahead of Ethan Ampadu.

Aaronson, of course, was the main number ten for Farke in his 4-2-3-1 system last season before being moved to the right wing in the current 4-3-3 shape, which means that he is used to playing centrally under the German boss.

The 25-year-old star, who has scored one goal in the Premier League this season, has the creative qualities to soften the blow of losing Longstaff, who has created the most ‘big chances’ in the team, albeit as the main set-piece taker.

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson has been one of the most creative players in the team in the top-flight this season, without being one of the most wasteful in possession.

This, along with Farke’s comments on his work rate, suggests that the American midfielder could be the ideal player to fill in for Longstaff in the next few weeks, because the Whites would still have a hard-working and creative player in that role.

On top of that, moving Aaronson away from the right wing position would allow the manager to unleash Dan James on the right, and his pace in behind could be particularly useful in these next three games against superior opposition who will be expected to dominate the ball.

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Therefore, playing the USA international in this new role could be an excellent way to respond to Longstaff’s injury, which is why Farke should consider it this afternoon.

Justin Verlander is headed to The Bay for his 20th season in MLB, having agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. He's yet to make his final decision regarding what jersey number he'll wear, though it seems his usual No. 35 is still on the table despite a franchise great having worn it throughout much of their career.

Verlander told reporters that Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey reached out to the team's former longtime shortstop Brandon Crawford regarding the availability of the No. 35 uniform, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Crawford gave Verlander his blessing to wear the digits, should he so desire, though he's ultimately yet to decide whether he intends to wear the number or not.

Crawford, who retired after the 2024 season, spent 13 of his 14 years in MLB in San Francisco. He was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time World Series champion. He wore the No. 35 throughout his time with the Giants, and also wore it during his one-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Verlander has also worn No. 35 throughout his career with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and Houston Astros. Whether he intends to continue wearing it in San Francisco remains to be seen, though Crawford classily gave the veteran right-hander his blessing to do so.

Louis Smith, a pace bowler from Tasmania, was plucked out of club cricket in a similar manner to Zanden Jeh

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2025

Sri Lanka A allrounder Sonal Dinusha posted an unbeaten century as Australia A bowled out the tourists for 272 on day one of their four-day match in Darwin as the visitors plucked another debutant from nowhere.Louis Smith, a 19-year-old seamer from Tasmania where he plays for the same club as Australia A coach Tim Paine, had been playing in Darwin and acting as a net bowler for the home side. He was called up for a hasty debut having never played a full state game after Jack Nisbet suffered an injury.He removed Vishad Randika to claim a maiden first-class wicket with Josh Philippe taking a superb diving catch in front of first slip.”I was pretty pumped,” Smith told . “He dived straight in front of first slip so it was a bit heart in mouth for a moment, but it was super exciting, I was just so happy when it stuck.”After losing the toss, Sri Lanka A were in trouble at 89 for 5 at Marrara Stadium on Sunday before Dinusha steadied the ship. The 24-year-old left-hander hit 10 fours and a six on his way to 105 not out from 148 balls before he ran out of partners.Dinusha had help from Vishad Randika (27) and Isitha Wijesundara (33), while No. 3 Nuwanidu Fernando (34) also made a start.Louis Smith (left) and Zanden Jeh made their first-class debuts for Australia A•Cricket Australia

Jake Weatherald and Campbell Kellaway are set to open for Australia A when they start their reply on day two.Right-arm quicks Liam Scott and Henry Thornton each took two wickets for Australia A, as did Nathan McSweeney with his offspin.Smith, Mitchell Perry, Zanden Jeh and Kellaway also chipped in with one wicket apiece as the hosts spread the load.Jeh, a 21-year-old form Brisbane who has never played top-level state cricket, took 1 for 59 from 11 overs on his first-class debut, as Australia’s search for another left-arm spinners continues having made his one-day debut last week.”I was a bit nervous, to be honest,” Jeh said. “I felt I started all right. I probably lost my way a little through the middle there, and when you do that against quality batsmen they’ll put you away.”If that’s the case, it is what it is, but I felt like I came back towards the end there and finished up the day not too bad.”Jeh had Pavan Rathnayake caught at midwicket off a low full toss.

MatériaMais Notícias

Há um mês se recuperando da cirurgia no joelho, Dudu demonstrou seu apoio para o Palmeiras antes da decisão contra o Boca Júniors, pela Copa Libertadores. O meia-atacante passou recentemente por um procedimento para a reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior e também correção do menisco, lesionados na partida contra o Vasco, pela 21ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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A partida dessa quinta-feira (5) será válida pela semifinal da Copa Libertadores. O time vem de um empate sem gols, do jogo de ida, e terá que decidir seu futuro na competição no Allianz Parque. Dudu declarou que queria estar presente, mas destacou a confiança no elenco e em seus companheiros de equipe. Afirmando estar na torcida, disse que o Palmeiras mostrou várias vezes que ‘foi capaz’.

– Obviamente, queria estar dentro de campo, lutando ao lado de meus companheiros, mas, infelizmente, não posso. Só que eu confio, demais, nesse grupo. Nosso elenco é muito forte e, por diversas vezes, já provou do que é capaz. Hoje, será uma noite especial e tenho certeza de que o Allianz Parque estará lotado e a nossa torcida nos empurrará do primeiro ao último minuto. Juntos, conseguiremos fazer um bom jogo. Ainda não sei, mas farei um esforço tremendo para ir ao jogo e me juntar à torcida para empurrar o nosso Verdão – disse.

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+ Veja tabela da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

+ Palmeiras x Boca Juniors: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações e horário do jogo pela Libertadores

Neste período de recuperação, Dudu tem apresentado uma boa evolução. Com o corpo respondendo de forma positiva, a tendência é que volte – em breve -, a apoiar os pés no chãos. O atleta afirmou que a palavra-chave é ‘paciência’, mas que ‘sente que está cada vez melhor’.

– Sei que essa é uma recuperação lenta e tenho que ter muita paciência, mas tudo vem dando certo. No começo, é difícil, doloroso e o fato de não poder colocar o pé no chão complica um pouco a rotina. Mesmo assim, sigo direitinho todas as orientações que os médicos do clube têm me passado. Cada dia que passa, sinto que estou melhor e que o meu corpo está respondendo super bem – explicou.

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Um dos maiores ídolos da história do Palmeiras, Dudu soma 443 jogos e 11 títulos pelo clube: Campeonato Brasileiro (2016, 2018 e 2022); Campeonato Paulista (2020, 2022 e 2023); Conmebol Libertadores (2020 e 2021); Copa do Brasil (2015); Recopa Sul-Americana (2022) e Supercopa do Brasil (2023). Com 88 gols marcados e 102 assistências, é o maior artilheiro do Século XXI e principal garçom do atual elenco.

Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Malo Gusto over a lucrative new contract that would see the divisive defender extend his stay at Stamford Bridge. Since he arrived from Lyon in 2023, Gusto has split opinion among supporters with his performances for the Blues. There has been speculation he could leave the club, but Chelsea are now expected to offer a new deal.

• Blues ready to reward Gusto’s rise with big new contract

  According to , the Chelsea hierarchy are moving quickly to secure Gusto's long-term future, with talks already progressing over a contract extension and salary upgrade that will reflect his growing influence in Enzo Maresca's plans. He spent much of his debut season in James’ shadow, often drafted in only when the England international was consigned to the treatment room. With time, he has blossomed to become a dependable presence in defence and in his second full campaign, he is enjoying plenty of game time. The young Frenchman has already made 10 appearances in all competitions this season, which highlights his continued importance to Maresca. Within the squad, Gusto has also found comfort in the club’s French-speaking contingent, including Benoît Badiashile and Wesley Fofana, helping him settle quickly into life in London.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Chelsea move swiftly to lock in their man

  The Blues’ ownership has made it a pattern to extend young stars well before their contracts near expiry. It is a strategy designed to secure the club’s long-term core and ward off external interest. Gusto’s current deal already runs until 2030, but the new agreement could push that even further, possibly by one or two additional years. It mirrors Chelsea’s recent moves with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, both of whom were handed improved deals last year despite having long-term contracts in place. Similarly, Moises Caicedo is also said to be in line for a wage boost. 

  While James remains club captain and an icon at Stamford Bridge, Gusto’s emergence has eased the pressure on the Englishman, allowing Chelsea to rotate effectively without losing quality. The Frenchman’s maturity beyond his years has also impressed Maresca, who is said to be particularly fond of Gusto’s professionalism. However, Gusto is not intimidated by the presence of James and instead shares a healthy relationship with his senior colleague. 

  "Yeah, it’s important to learn from the top players," he told Stadium Astro. "We try to help the team as much as possible. When I’m on the pitch, when he’s on the pitch, when sometimes we’re both on the pitch, we try to help the team, and he’s a top guy. We talk a lot, between each other to give some advice and stuff sometimes. But yeah, I think we are both top players and I think top players have to play and show their best and that’s what we try to do."

• Juventus are lurking, but Chelsea won’t budge

  News of Chelsea’s contract talks couldn’t have come at a better time. Juventus have reportedly been preparing a €50 million (£44m) offer for Gusto, identifying him as a prime transfer target for the summer of 2026. The Serie A giants are actively reshaping their backline and view Gusto as a ready-made solution at right-back. But Chelsea’s latest move looks set to slam the door on any potential pursuit. Sources close to Stamford Bridge suggest the club have no intention of entertaining offers for the France international, who has now become central to Maresca’s plans. Gusto himself is believed to be happy in London and eager to continue his development under the Italian coach.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Chelsea’s new identity involves building a young, fearless core

  Gusto’s renewal would be another piece of Chelsea’s long-term vision. They want to construct a young, hungry, and loyal squad capable of dominating the Premier League for years to come. Alongside Palmer, Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez, Gusto represents the club’s commitment to nurturing players whose full potential is yet to be harnessed. The Blues may have had their share of misfires in the transfer market, but they seem happy with Gusto's trajectory and see him as part of their future. They edged out Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening and will return to action on Saturday in a blockbuster fixture against Tottenham in the Premier League.

Manchester United are now on red alert over a deal for a “sensational” England midfielder, who is starting to grow frustrated at his current club.

Man Utd looking to bolster midfield options

Football FanCast recently took a look at five ways Ruben Amorim could save his job, after a disastrous start to the season, and starting Kobbie Mainoo ahead of Manuel Ugarte in central midfield made its way onto the list.

Amorim has been reluctant to give Mainoo much game time up to this point, with the 20-year-old failing to start a Premier League match this season, and Nicky Butt has suggested the youngster hasn’t been “respected” by his manager.

It remains to be seen whether the 40-year-old is willing to reintroduce the England international to the starting XI, but it is clear the manager wants to bolster his midfield options regardless, with a number of targets being identified in recent weeks.

Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have all made their way onto the shortlist, but it has now been revealed the Red Devils are also in the race for a different English midfielder.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Man United are now on red alert over a potential deal for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who is starting to become frustrated with his situation at the Spanish club.

Gallagher, an England international, has fallen behind the likes of Koke and Pablo Barrios in the pecking order at Atletico, which could negatively impact his chances of being part of the Three Lions’ 2026 World Cup squad.

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The midfielder is aware that a number of clubs could be in for him this winter, including Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, with journalist Graeme Bailey suggesting a January move could be possible.

Bailey said: “I am told the player would dearly like to make it back into the Atletico Madrid side and that is his priority, but clubs are paying real interest to him and he is very much one to keep an eye on for January.”

Gallagher could be "sensational" signing for Man Utd

A deal for the England international may be relatively expensive, with a £45m asking price previously being touted, but he clearly has what it takes to be a success at Old Trafford.

Unlike Ugarte, the former Crystal Palace man is already proven in the Premier League, making 136 appearances in the competition, during which time he amassed 18 goals and 13 assists.

As such, the 25-year-old, who has been dubbed “sensational” by journalist John Cross, is clearly capable of making an impact on the front foot, but he is also a well-rounded player, as underlined by his performance across several key metrics over the past year.

Gallagher arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of signings, but he is a proven Premier League midfielder, who clearly gives it his all, having been lauded for his “insane” work rate by Nathan Dyer.

Rajasthan Royals have a bowling attack that looks vastly different from the one they had last year, but Samson has backed his young players to “prove what they’re made of”

Shashank Kishore22-Mar-2025Heading into IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have a bowling attack that looks vastly different from the one they had last year, with several stalwarts having moved to other franchises. Full-time captain Sanju Samson knows this will be a challenge, but has backed his young players to “prove what they’re made of”.Royals still have Sandeep Sharma, but have lost the likes of R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult. On the batting front, too, there is a big hole, with Jos Buttler having moved to Gujarat Titans after he wasn’t retained – a decision Samson recently admitted was tough to make and, now, deal with.Talking about the new look of the squad ahead of his team’s season-opener, Samson said, “To be honest, that’s the challenge IPL has thrown at me. Last three years, I was surrounded by some of the best cricketers the world has ever seen. Now I’m surrounded by [some of the] younger players in IPL. [We are] looking at it in a positive manner. The youngsters have a lot of fire in them, they want to prove to the world what they’re made of.”Related

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Samson underlined the need to move on quickly and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the squad’s new players. This time, their bowling line-up includes Jofra Archer (set to turn out for RR again after 2020-21) and Maheesh Theekshana, alongside a host of Indian talents like Akash Madhwal, Tushar Deshpande and Kumar Kartikeya.”We have to let go of the past, forget what happened, forget the quality of players we had,” Samson said. “They’re different players, different line-ups. We’ve got to go with a fresh pair of eyes and thinking. You can’t say ‘last year we had them, did this or did that’.”I’m a type of captain who trusts the bowlers. They need to tell me their strength and what they want to bowl. It’s a mixture of my experience and their thinking coming together and them finding the right way to go ahead. After playing a few games, we will understand their strengths and weaknesses.”Samson believes conditions will be unforgiving for the bowlers even though some steps – like allowing one ball change on demand after ten overs of the chase in evening games, to help counter dew – have been taken to help the bowlers.”In the powerplay, bowlers have been targeted like anything, that’s where challenge is,” Samson said. “Bowlers have been coming in with new tricks – change of pace, slower balls, slower bouncers. Now IPL has introduced a rule of players being allowed to apply saliva, that can help bowlers, or the new ball rule because of dew. We’re trying to balance it out, but it still looks like [it will be] a heavy scoring season.”Vaibhav Suryavanshi in action at the Under-19s Asia Cup in the UAE•Associated Press

Vaibhav Suryavanshi a special talent, says SamsonSamson was effusive in his praise for 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player to earn an IPL deal after RR bought him for INR 1.1 crore ahead of this season.”He looks something special,” Samson said. “That’s what our team recognised when he came to the trials. Our scouts following him in the Under-19 matches he was playing, [were impressed with] the amount of shots he was playing. It shows he’s really made for the best level.”To be honest, he’s very lucky, for a 13-year-old or any youngster, to come here to Rajasthan Royals and be [around] Rahul Dravid [head coach] and all the mentors here. They’re really good at taking care of young Indian talent who have come here.”It’s a great responsibility not only for him, but for us to take care of him and guide him, not just these two months but for the ten months he’s away from IPL. He’s in great hands, there’s something special for Indian cricket in the coming years from him.”

أعلن ييس توروب، المدير الفني لفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن التشكيل الرسمي الذي سيخوض به مواجهة الاتحاد السكندري، المقرر إقامتها مساء اليوم الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الحادية عشرة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز لموسم 2025-2026.

ويستضيف استاد القاهرة الدولي اللقاء المرتقب بين الفريقين في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساءً، في مواجهة يسعى خلالها المارد الأحمر إلى تحقيق الفوز ومواصلة ملاحقة فرق الصدارة.

ويدخل الأهلي المباراة وهو في المركز الرابع بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 18 نقطة، جمعها من 9 مباريات، بعد أن حقق 5 انتصارات وتعادل في 3 لقاءات وتلقى خسارة وحيدة.

في المقابل، يسعى الاتحاد السكندري بقيادة مدربه إلى تحسين موقفه في جدول الترتيب، إذ يحتل المركز السابع عشر برصيد 8 نقاط فقط، ويأمل في الخروج بنتيجة إيجابية أمام حامل اللقب لتصحيح مساره في البطولة.

طالع أيضًا | بدلاء الأهلي أمام الاتحاد السكندري في الدوري.. عبدالقادر يجاور ديانج تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام الاتحاد السكندري في الدوري

في حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني، ياسر إبراهيم، ياسين مرعي، أحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط، مروان عطية، محمد علي بن رمضان، أحمد سيد زيزو.

في الهجوم: تريزيجيه، جراديشار، أشرف بن شرقي.