Daniel Drew brought up a maiden century after a nervous wait early in the day

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2022

Will Pucovski made a half-century on his comeback•Getty Images

Marcus Harris warmed up for next month’s tour of Pakistan with a confident half-century for Victoria, but it was South Australia who held the upper hand at the midway point of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.Wickets in the final session saw Victoria throw away a bright start to their innings to be 5 for 151, still 215 runs in arrears of the home side’s 366.Harris and Will Pucovski, who is playing in his first first-class match since his Test debut against India in January 2021, continued their strong record as an opening pair, looking comfortable in putting on 110 on a flat Adelaide Oval pitch.Left out of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart when Usman Khawaja made an irresistible case to be retained after his twin hundreds, Harris didn’t offer any chances on his Shield return until miscuing a pull shot to be caught at deep square-leg for 58 as South Australia’s short-ball approach paid offPucovski’s 123-ball innings, which follows another bout of concussion which kept him out of the first part of the season, came to an end when he was caught behind off David Grant for 54 as he toe-ended a pull although he did not seem thrilled with the decision. Peter Handscomb, Jonathan Merlo and Matt Short soon followed as Victoria lost 4 for 15.Earlier, Daniel Drew posted a maiden century in just his second Shield outing but it was a nervous experience for the rookie. He resumed on 96 only to be tied down for the best part of three quarters of an hour before reaching three figures and ending on 130.Ashes hero Scott Boland was at his frugal best returning 4 for 61 from 28 overs though he was unable to add to his first-day wicket haul after South Australia recommenced on 5 for 280.Twenty-one-year-old fast bowler Mitch Perry overshadowed him by taking three of the five wickets to fall. Drew set about securing quick runs after reaching his hundred before being caught behind off Perry as South Australia lost 4 for 19 at the back end of their innings.

Manchester City’s incoming director of football, Hugo Viana, is ready to move Kyle Walker on, as they are lining up a “great” £33.6 million replacement, according to a new report.

The Blues’ dreadful run of form continued this weekend as they were beaten 2-0 by leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, extending their winless run to seven games in all competitions. It is now four defeats on the bounce in the Premier League, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping that ends on Wednesday evening, as they host Nottingham Forest.

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Posts ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2024 Guardiola reacts to Man City defeat to Liverpool

Even after all that Guardiola has done at Man City, pressure will soon be building on the Spaniard, as there is an expectation that he turns this form around as soon as possible. Not only their defeats but the manner of their performances have surprised many, and that was on show once again on Sunday.

Speaking after the game, Guardiola stated that his side will “reset and start from zero”: “The first 15 to 20 minutes, they were unstoppable. They started so strong. We tried to play with a lot of control and passes, but it was difficult to take it. They deserved the first goal, but we started the first half so well and played well in the second half without too much threat. I know how strong Liverpool are in both boxes.

“I congratulate them, and we will reset and start from zero. It is difficult to believe it. I rely a lot on these players; I know they are doing this in this position. We will see what happens by the end of the season. We can always do the short passes, but we don’t have many alternatives.

“All I can say is thank you to them because I know the commitment that they showed with and without the ball. Maybe I had a feeling inside me that we will build from them. We will restart and try to make a good run. There is a moment where maybe it will click.

“Today Kevin [De Bruyne] played good minutes, Jack [Grealish] played well in that position, and Jeremy [Doku] played good minutes after a month out. Bernardo [Silva] and Rico [Lewis] have a lot of minutes in their legs. Nathan [Ake] was exceptional against maybe one of the great wingers. I congratulate Liverpool; they deserve the victory. We accept the situation right now, and we will build from that.”

Away from the recent results and performances for Man City, they appear to be keeping an eye on several players ahead of January and next summer. Kyle Walker was one of a few who looked past his best at Anfield, and the club’s new director of football is ready to let him leave in the summer.

Viana ready to replace Walker as Man City line up Frimpong

According to TBR Football, Manchester City are ready to let Walker leave, as they are lining up a move for Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. Walker has been at the Etihad since July 2017 and has been a key part of their success under Guardiola, but given he is now 34, incoming director of football Viana is ready to move on from the England defender.

Walker, who has 93 England caps, is under contract at the Etihad until 2026, but City are ready to let him leave, with clubs in the Saudi Pro League previously showing an interest in him.

Man City have been keeping a close eye on Frimpong, who has been described as “great” by writer Ben Mattinson, for a while now, as he came through their academy before joining Celtic in 2019. This report states that City are huge admirers of the Netherlands international, who is expected to leave Leverkusen in 2025.

Jeremie Frimpong’s 2024/25 league stats compared to Kyle Walker

Frimpong

Walker

Apps

12

8

Goals

2

0

Assists

2

0

Progressive passes

17

41

Progressive runs

98

7

Tackles (Won)

10 (9)

10 (5)

Blocks

10

8

Interceptions

5

3

However, the Blues are not the only interested side, as Liverpool and Real Madrid are also keen on signing Frimpong, who is valued at £33.6 million.

MatériaMais Notícias

A invasão da Ucrânia pela Rússia e as sanções econômicas impostas ao país europeu deram início a um êxodo de jogadores, principalmente os sul-americanos. E o Palmeiras não quer ficar atrás nas movimentações de mercado, já que rivais estariam negociando com atletas que buscam ficar longe dos conflitos.

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Dois nomes em específico são acompanhados pela diretoria alviverde, conforme o LANCE! apurou. O principal deles é o do centroavante Yuri Alberto.

Procurado pelo Verdão no fim da temporada passada, o jogador foi vendido pelo Internacional ao Zenit por 25 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 138,6 mi). E vem se destacando no clube russo. Já são quatro gols em cinco jogos. Na última quinta-feira (3), por exemplo, marcou duas vezes e deu duas assistências na goleada por 6 a 0 sobreo Kamaz, em casa, pelas oitavas de final da Copa da Rússia.

Não significa necessariamente que o Palmeiras vá fazer uma proposta por Yuri Alberto. Apenas teria se colocado à disposição dos russos para ter o centroavante por empréstimo caso ele opte por deixar a Rússia durante o conflito. Até porque os valores pagos pelo Zenit são altos demais.

Apesar da guerra, o futebol russo continua acontecendo normalmente. Entretanto, é esperado que haja uma saída da maioria dos 132 estrangeiros que atuam no país somente na primeira divisão.

Em pelo menos dois casos de atletas conhecidos dos brasileiros haverá a rescisão contratual por pedido dos próprios jogadores. Os zagueiros Pablo, ex-Corinthians, e Junior Alonso, ex-Atlético-MG, deixaram respectivamente Lokomotiv Moscou eKrasnodar.

O caso de Alonso é acompanhado de perto pelo Verdão. O jogador já rescindiu contrato e deve chegar ao Brasil nos próximos dias. Outros clubes, como o próprio Galo, também teriam interesse no atleta.

Por meio de sua assessoria, o Palmeiras diz que “está sempre monitorando o mercado de olho em boas oportunidades”, mas descartou que estejam ocorrendo negociações neste momento.

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Captain Pat Cummins resisted declaring late on day two of the second Test with Australia preferring grinding a weary Pakistan into the ground, as they passed 500 in their first innings on a Karachi pitch showing signs of deterioration.Australia reached the close in a commanding position at 505 for 8 with Mitchell Starc 28 not out and Cummins yet to score. Starc and Alex Carey batted almost through the entire final session in an attempt to break the back of Pakistan, who have spent two whole days in the field but in-form openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq were surely relieved not to have faced a tricky period before stumps.Cummins is set to face scrutiny for not sending Pakistan in late on the day although Australia gave a clear indication they want to bat just once in this pivotal match in a belief the pitch will deteriorate further. Australia batted their highest number of overs in an innings in Asia since 1956, but inconsistent bounce and sharp turn was evident later in the day.Carey fell for 93 just before stumps and agonisingly short of his maiden century after batting fluently to energise an otherwise dull final session, where everyone was seemingly waiting for Australia’s declaration but it never came.Australia’s indefatigable innings was dominated by Usman Khawaja’s brilliant 160 off 369 balls as he fell just short of his highest Test score of 174 against New Zealand at the Gabba in 2015. His 11th Test century – and first in the country of his birth – was marked by unwavering concentration, but he could only score 33 runs off 103 balls on day two underlining the changing nature of the pitch.Khawaja’s innings ended midway through the second session when he was bowled by a cracker of a delivery from offspinner Sajid Khan, who produced drift and sharp turn to hit the top of off stump.After a memorable first innings in the city his family hails from, the 35-year-old departed to a standing ovation from a boisterous crowd having become the first Australian Test centurion in Pakistan since Mark Waugh’s 117 in Peshawar in 1998.Alex Carey fell seven short of a maiden Test century•AFP/Getty Images

Eyebrows were raised after tea as Carey and Starc resisted the temptation of throwing the bat to ensure the match went through the motions. That’s been a familiar sensation during this historic series.Australia just kept batting as Carey, who had been somewhat under pressure due to patchy glove work and batting, effectively reverse-swept his way to his second Test half-century of his career.An increasingly confident Carey powered to his highest score in what should be a tonic ahead of an important stint behind the stumps. While he capitalised on Australia’s strong platform, middle-order batters Travis Head and Cameron Green missed out after being dismissed during a lively second session where the match appeared to be moving only for that to prove fool’s gold after a laborious final session.Pakistan toiled amid oppressive conditions in their Karachi fortress. They did attempt a fightback in the second session with spinners Sajid and Nauman Ali conjuring sharp turn on a pitch showing the first signs of encouragement for bowlers seven days into the series, the first between the teams in Pakistan since 1998.Sajid bounced back with variations in pace and flight after notably struggling on day one where he pursued a defensive line of bowling before and after tea. The 28-year-old did a lot of heavy lifting and finished with 2 for 151 from 54 overs.Shaheen Shah Afridi couldn’t rouse the same energy he memorably produced during the tame draw in Rawalpindi apart from a lethal spell of reverse swing in the second session that was repeatedly thwarted by Khawaja’s stout bat.Pakistan’s flagging bowlers were understandably weary by the time they took the third new ball, which only made scoring easier for Carey and Starc who finally started upping the ante.In what felt like an eternity ago, Australia resumed day two at 251 for 3 and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon stole the show in the first hour with a breezy 38 to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers hoping for early inroads. But he fell short of a maiden Test half-century after being comprehensively bowled by Faheem Ashraf in Pakistan’s only success in the morning session.Lyon’s unexpected cameo provided a rare source of entertainment in another hard grind of a day during this slow-moving series.

Everton picked up another point last time out. You know how it goes. It’s a coin with two sides, to be sure. From one standpoint, the Blues have lost just once across eight Premier League fixtures, but from the other, Sean Dyche’s tactics leave plenty to the imagination.

What to do? The Friedkin Group are closing in on a takeover, ending Iranian tycoon Farhad Moshiri’s unsuccessful reign as the top brass at Goodison Park. Should Dyche follow?

It feels like the pragmatic manager is treading close to the precipice, but whether he falls or steadies himself and his side remains to be seen.

In any case, Everton are eager to assess their options and are considering bringing one well-known gaffer to the Blue stretches of Merseyside.

Everton's potential Dyche replacements

According to scout Mick Brown, via Football Insider last month, David Moyes would be keen on taking over from Dyche if Everton decide to sack the 53-year-old in the coming weeks.

01/12/24

Man United

Old Trafford

04/12/243

Wolves

Molineux

07/12/24

Liverpool

Goodison Park

14/12/24

Arsenal

Emirates Stadium

22/12/24

Chelsea

Goodison Park

26/12/24

Man City

Etihad Stadium

29/12/24

Nott’m Forest

Goodison Park

Dyche’s outfit are 16th but a gruelling winter period awaits and trepidation concerning Dyche’s ability to pass through this span is building.

He’s a wanted man though. While managerless Leicester City appear to have distanced themselves from rumours, TEAMtalk revealed last month that Crystal Palace would be interested if Oliver Glasner is relieved of his duties.

Everton need to pounce. It might just re-energise their frontline.

Why Everton should appoint David Moyes

Moyes, of course, knows the streets of Liverpool well. Way back when, he served as Everton’s manager, triumphed as Everton’s manager, leading the Toffees out 518 times across an 11-year period before Manchester United anointed him as Sir Alex Ferguson’s heir.

He left his role as West Ham United manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, mutual consent, after his tactics and managerial rule gave rise to the most illustrious spell in the east Londoners’ modern history, winning the Conference League in 2022 – a feat that Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher praised as “special.”

Now, Moyes is chomping at the bit to get stuck into Premier League action once again and could be the perfect fit to reunite with Everton as they move to a new stadium and begin a new era.

Its’ been 11 years since Moyes, now 61, left Merseyside, and he’s not the same manager anymore. Even so, his tactical disposition and preferred 4-2-3-1 formation would not differ too greatly from Dyche’s but would see tweaks that could maximise the wide players. Mohammed Kudus at West Ham, for example, enjoyed great success under the Scotsman last term.

Therefore, Moyes could prove to be the perfect tactician to take Iliman Ndiaye to another level, with the Senegalese star enjoying a rich season at Goodison Park so far.

Ndiaye has scored three goals across 14 appearances for the Irons this season after Dyche signed Marseille’s talent for a £17m fee in the summer.

Across the Premier League campaign, so far, the data makes an exciting comment on his future success too, for Ndiaye has averaged 2.3 dribbles, 6.1 ball recoveries and 5.7 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, which basically means that he is operating with an all-encompassing approach, determined to make an impact across a range of roles.

This is crucial for Dyche’s system, and you can be sure that Moyes will expect his players, no matter where they perform, positionally, to subscribe to such tactical ideas too.

Further corroboration: he ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for pass completion, the top 4% for successful take-ons and the top 18% for tackles made per 90, as per FBref, speaking of ball-carrying brilliance that aligns with that of Kudus.

West Ham enjoyed some fine individual results from Kudus last season – as the forward provided 20 goals and assists in east London – and now, if Moyes were to take the helm, that could be replicated at Everton, providing an injection of attacking inspiration to take the Merseysiders away from the pit of the Premier League.

Pundit Micah Richard claimed last season, on The Rest Is Football podcast, that Moyes “doesn’t always get the appreciation he deserves” in regard to his football philosophy, with his “wisdom within the game” allowing his sides to exceed expectations.

That kind of nous is needed at Everton, to be sure. The forwards at the club are struggling to finish, and there is only so much coaching that can be put toward this kind of instinctive thing, but creativity is also drying up too, with Everton’s 17 big chances created in the Premier League this term one better than Southampton (16) who suffer the measliest creative record in the division.

Some segments of the support base might wish for a radicalised managerial approach to provide the club with the slick and stylish football that every football fan wants to see their club perform, but wishes must be tempered with realism here.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Dyche’s style does not differ all that greatly from Moyes’, but with the results not coming, a more experienced head with a trophy-winning record might prevail.

Moyes knows the club, and he took the reins at West Ham when things were colourless and concerning, lifting them toward the European light.

Can he repeat that feat?

Everton star was "like Messi" when he signed, then he left as a giant flop

Carlo Ancelotti signed a Messi-esque star but he left as a flop.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 26, 2024

ضرب النادي الأهلي موعدًا ناريًا مع نظيره صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، في إطار منافسات دور نصف النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، للموسم الحالي 2025.

وكان الأهلي التقى مع الهلال السوداني، في منافسات دور ربع النهائي، من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، واستطاع التأهل بمجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب بنتيجة 2-0.

وكان الأهلي فاز في مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت بالقاهرة 1-0، قبل أن يكرر نفس النتيجة في مواجهة الإياب.

طالع.. فيديو | إمام عاشور يسجل هدف الأهلي الأول أمام الهلال السوداني

بينما فريق صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، جاء تأهله إلى دور نصف النهائي، بعد التفوق على الترجي التونسي بهدف دون رد في مباراة الذهاب وتعادل سلبيًا في لقاء العودة. موعد مباراة الأهلي وصن داونز في نصف النهائي من دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وسيلاقي النادي الأهلي، صن داونز، حيث تقام مباراة الذهاب، يوم السبت الموافق 19 أبريل، بينما تقام مباراة الإياب يوم الجمعة 25 أبريل 2025.

ومن المقرر أن خوض النادي الأهلي مباراة الذهاب في جنوب إفريقيا، بينما ستكون مباراة العودة في القاهرة.

Celtic extended their unbeaten run in the Champions League to four matches after a hard-fought 0-0 draw away at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

The Hoops may not have clinched the three points but they avoided defeat and have now only lost one of their six matches in the competition so far, which came at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had 69% of the possession but only mustered up seven shots on goal and failed to create a single ‘big chance’ to find the back of the net.

There were a number of underwhelming performers for the Hoops with their work in possession, with Reo Hatate one of the stars who struggled in Croatia.

Reo Hatate's performance against Dinamo Zagreb

Rodgers opted to go with Paulo Bernardo and Hatate either side of captain Callum McGregor, leaving Luke McCowan and Arne Engels on the bench, and did not get much back in the way of quality on the ball from his starters.

The three of them combined for one chance created in the entire match, which came courtesy of McGregor, and zero ‘big chances’ created at all.

Hatate was particularly wasteful with the ball at his feet. He ended the game with a pass success rate of just 71%, whilst the skipper completed 97% of his and Bernardo completed 87% of his passes, and lost possession a whopping 18 times.

The Japan international did, however, win five of his eight duels and made two tackles and one block, which shows that he fought hard out of possession to preserve a point for his side.

Performance in Numbers

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There was a Celtic star who was even worse than Hatate, though, because they struggled with their work both on and off the ball on Tuesday night.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles against Dinamo Zagreb

Kyogo Furuhashi was selected over Adam Idah from the start, and justifiably so after his excellent goal against Hibernian on Saturday, but failed to make the most of his opportunity.

The Japanese marksman simply struggled to get involved in the game and ended his 72 minutes on the pitch with seven touches of the ball and three passes completed, despite Celtic’s dominance in possession.

Whilst you can point to the lack of creativity from Hatate and the other forwards, Kyogo has to do more to get involved in matches when the team are not functioning at 100% creatively.

Adam Idah had nine touches, completed a dribble, had a shot, and won 100% (2/2) of his duels in just 18 minutes off the bench, which shows that it was not just a team issue for the Japan international.

Minutes

72

Shots

0

Key passes

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Duels won

0/2

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo lost 100% of his duels and did not contribute with a shot or a key pass to help his team at the top end of the pitch.

He was a lightweight out of possession and did not do enough to make a difference on the ball and that is why he was even worse than Hatate, who was dominant defensively but struggled with his use of the ball.

Celtic interested in 19 y/o "talent" with January move now on the cards

The Hoops have been given renewed hope of signing a promising youngster.

ByDominic Lund Dec 10, 2024

GOAL selected the 50 best footballing talents from around the world born on or after January 1, 1998 – but did they go on to fulfil their potential?

Since NXGN's launch in 2016, GOAL has profiled the 50 best footballing wonderkids on the planet on an annual basis. Some of those recognised for their talent as teenagers are now household names, but others have not yet realised their potential.

So, after theNXGN 2025 list was revealed, check out where the stars of 2017 are now:

Every NXGN list

Dembele, Tielemans & 2016's best wonderkids

De Ligt, Kluivert & 2018's best wonderkids

Haaland, Sancho & 2019's best wonderkids

Saka, Rodrygo & 2020's best wonderkids

James, Oberdorf & 2020's best women's wonderkids

Pedri, Ansu Fati & 2021's best wonderkids

Le Tissier, Bennison & 2021's best women's wonderkids

Bellingham, Musiala & 2022's best wonderkids

Dumornay, Fowler & 2022's best women's wonderkids

Gavi, Garnacho & 2023's best wonderkids

Shaw, Thompson & 2023's best women's wonderkids

Yamal, Mainoo & 2024's best wonderkids

Caicedo, Moultrie & 2024's best women's wonderkids

AFP50Diego Lainez (Club America)

2017: Having made his senior debut as a 16-year-old, Lainez was regarded as the best prospect in Mexican football as he bore a passing resemblance to Lionel Messi in his style of play.

2018: Lainez continued to develop, and made his senior international debut for Mexico in September 2018.

2019: In January 2019, Real Betis paid €12m to sign Lainez, making him the second-most expensive Mexican player bought by a European club. His first goal for the club came in dramatic fashion, as he netted a last-minute equaliser against Rennes in the Europa League.

2020: Lainez's first full season in Spain yielded just 18 outings, though he did miss the final three months of the campaign due to an abdominal strain.

2021: The forward again found himself on the fringes at Betis, making 25 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign. He also scored for Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League, though El Tri were beaten by the United States.

2022: After a knee injury meant he missed the first two months of the season, Lainez fell right down the pecking order and made just 13 appearances in all competitions before being loaned to Braga at the end of the campaign.

2023: Braga cut Lainez's loan short in January 2023 after he made just six league appearances in Portugal, and he was sent on a one-year loan to Tigres in his native Mexico a few weeks later. That deal was made permanent in July 2023.

2024: Lainez was a regular contributor for Tigres, though he struggled to provide goals or assists, while he also fell out of favour with the Mexico national team.

2025: The playmaker has made an encouraging start to the 2025 Clausura campaign and should be part of Tigres' squad for the Club World Cup.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport49Takefusa Kubo (FC Tokyo)

2017: Nicknamed 'The Japanese Messi', Kubo was forced to return to his homeland in the aftermath of Barcelona's FIFA-imposed transfer ban having been invited to La Masia as a 10-year-old. In April 2017, he became the youngest goalscorer in J.League history as a 15-year-old.

2018: Kubo was loaned to Yokohama F. Marinos in August 2018, and scored on his debut for his new club.

2019: Having enjoyed the most productive season of his career at senior level in 2019, Kubo made his international debut after being called-up to the Japan squad for the Copa America (they participated as one of the guest teams in Brazil). At club level, many expected him to return to Barcelona, but Real Madrid managed to secure his signature, before sending him on loan to newly-promoted Mallorca for the 2019-20 campaign.

2020: Kubo was one of the young stars of the Spanish season, directly contributing to nine goals as Mallorca fought against relegation. His form persuaded Villarreal to take him on loan for the following season.

2021: The forward failed to force his way into Unai Emery's team, and had his loan spell cut short in January 2021, with Madrid instead sending him on loan to Getafe for the remainder of the season, though he struggled to make much of an impact.

2022: Mallorca's promotion back to La Liga allowed them to make their move and bring Kubo back to the club on loan in 2021-22, and the Japan international's form having improved a little as a result.

2023: Kubo left Real Madrid to join Real Sociedad for an initial €6.5m in the summer of 2022, and he was back to his best in San Sebastian, as he provided 18 direct goal contributions for a team that qualified for the Champions League.

2024: The Japan international continued to impress for La Real in 2023-24, and he was linked with elite clubs around Europe.

2025: Kubo hasn't quite hit the same heights so far this season in San Sebastian, leading to him being left out of the line up on a number of occasions.

Getty Images Sport48Dujon Sterling (Chelsea)

2017: After impressing in the Blues' youth ranks, Sterling made his first-team debut under Antonio Conte in September 2017.

2018: Sterling made one further appearance for the Blues senior side in 2017-18 before joining Coventry City on loan for the following campaign.

2019: The full-back enjoyed a successful spell in League One, playing 40 matches in all competitions, before heading to Wigan Athletic on loan to test himself at Championship level the following season.

2020: Sterling managed just 10 appearances for Wigan because of a hamstring injury, which was then compounded by him picking up a serious illness that kept him on the sidelines for even longer.

2021: After missing 13 months of football, Sterling returned to action for Chelsea's U23s in the second half of the 2020-21 season. He proved his fitness enough to earn a new contract at Stamford Bridge, which he signed before joining Blackpool on loan.

2022: Sterling was largely a starter for the Championship outfit, and impressed enough to earn another loan move, this time to Stoke City.

2023: Sterling managed to lock down a starting berth for the Potters having been in and out of the side during the opening months of the campaign, and though he was subsequently released by Chelsea, he joined Rangers on a free transfer.

2024: After a slow start to life at Ibrox, Sterling forced his way into Philippe Clement's line-up during the second half of the campaign, showcasing his versatility by performing well in midfield.

2025: Injuries have meant Sterling has been out of action for long periods during 2024-25, though he has mostly been a starter when available.

Getty Images Sport47Niklas Dorsch (Bayern Munich)

2017: Likened to Toni Kroos by those in the know at Bayern, Dorsch was being closely monitored by then-coach Carlo Ancelotti.

2018: Dorsch marked his senior Bayern debut with the opening goal against Eintracht Frankfurt, but that proved to be his only appearance for the club, as a failure to agree a new contract saw him join second-division outfit FC Heidenheim in the summer of 2018.

2019: A regular starter for Heidenheim through the 2018-19 season, Dorsch impressed with his maturity despite his lack of experience.

2020: Dorsch helped Heidenheim reach the 2019-20 promotion-relegation play-off match, which they lost to Werder Bremen, before joining Gent at the end of the season in a €3.5m deal.

2021: Having got his first taste of European football with Gent, Dorsch was outstanding for Germany as they won the 2021 U21 European Championship. Those performances earned him a €7m move to Augsburg.

2022: After a slow start to life in the Bundesliga, Dorsch grew into his new environment, and played 30 times as Augsburg fought off the threat of relegation.

2023: A broken foot meant that Dorsch missed the entire first half of the 2022-23 season, but he worked his way back into contention and ended the campaign as a regular starter.

2024: Dorsch began the 2023-24 season in the Augsburg line up, but injuries limited his involvement after the New Year, and he thus begun to fall down the pecking order.

2025: Heidenheim, who are now in the Bundesliga, re-signed Dorsch in August 2024, and he has been a key member of their team for much of the season.

As Arne Slot’s side continue to dominate in both the Champions League and Premier League, Liverpool have reportedly identified a shock target to potentially replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds were far from at their best in midweek but showed the rest of European football the sign of champions by finding a way past a stubborn Girona side nonetheless, courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s penalty. Maintaining their Champions League top spot and advancing into the knockout stage as a result – becoming the first team to do so in the new format – the Reds will now turn their attention towards Fulham in the Premier League this weekend.

Away from the pitch, meanwhile, things are also looking up. Recent reports have indicated that both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are nearing breakthroughs in their respective contract negotiations, which could finally see them put pen to paper on fresh deals to avoid a summer departure.

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Whilst Alexander-Arnold has been offered a new deal, however – as per The Athletic’s David Ornstein – it remains to be seen whether he will be able to turn down the interest of European giants Real Madrid and the Reds are seemingly planning for the worst.

According to Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips, Liverpool have now identified Malo Gusto as a shock target to replace Alexander-Arnold should their academy graduate decide to leave at the end of the season.

Gusto has enjoyed quite the rise at Chelsea to end the Blues’ concerns over finding a replacement for the injury-prone Reece James. It speaks volumes that, even when the Chelsea captain is fit and starting these days, it is not Gusto who steps out of Enzo Maresca’s side.

Perhaps exacting revenge for Fernando Torres all those years ago though, Liverpool could decide to make their move for the impressive defender in 2025.

"Fantastic" Gusto would be the perfect candidate

Whilst it’s incredibly unlikely that Chelsea would even consider showing Gusto the door to complete a move to Anfield at the end of the season, it must be said that he would be a fairly seamless replacement for Alexander-Arnold – and that’s some doing. The right-back has already replaced James and has undoubtedly shown that he is more than talented enough to now replace the Premier League’s best if the offer came his way.

Premier League stats 2024/25 (via FBref)

Malo Gusto

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Progressive Passes

52

58

Assists

1

3

Interceptions

11

9

Ball Recoveries

42

47

Performing close to the level of one of Europe’s best, it’s no surprise that Gusto recently earned the praise of Chelsea boss Maresca, who told reporters as relayed by Fabrizio Romano: “Fantastic player. I’m very happy with Malo. He’s giving us many things. He’s helping the process in the way we want to play a lot. He’s doing very, very well. For the age he has, he is top.”

In what would be one of the most shocking moves in 2025, Liverpool could yet welcome the ultimate Alexander-Arnold replacement when the summer arrives.

After the failure to win promotion last season, there’s undoubtedly added pressure on Daniel Farke to end Leeds United’s two-year absence from the Premier League this campaign.

The 48-year-old has previous experience of being a success in the Championship, winning the title on two separate occasions in charge of former side Norwich City.

Whilst his third-place finish may have been disappointing to many, he’s returned in 2024/25 with a vengeance, producing some phenomenal results with the Whites currently occupying top spot after 17 matches.

The German has instilled a winning mentality at Elland Road as they try and return to the top flight, as seen during his 72 matches at the helm, winning 40 and losing just 16 as he looks to make it a hat-trick of triumphs in England’s second tier.

However, he’s faced adversity along the way, losing three of his best players last season in the form of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray, but he’s managed to replace them with talents who are way too good for the current division.

Farke’s best transfers as Leeds manager

Since his appointment last summer following relegation, Farke has made his mark on the squad, making subtle adaptations to the side but to great effect, as demonstrated by their current league standing.

Despite primarily being a central midfielder, youngster Gray often featured at right-back, leaving a huge hole after his departure, which saw Jayden Bogle arrive from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United.

The 24-year-old joined for a fee in the region of £5m – a bargain given his phenomenal start to life at Elland Road.

Bogle, who is a product of Derby County’s academy, has started 16 of the 17 league outings so far during his time at the club, scoring twice and assisting once despite his defensive role.

He’s been part of a backline that has kept ten clean sheets to date, playing a crucial part at both ends of the pitch in Farke’s hunt for promotion once again.

The £7m deal to sign utility man Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea now looks to be a bargain too, with the Wales international starting every single Championship outing during his maiden campaign in Yorkshire.

Ampadu took the armband for multiple games, operating as part of the backline or even at the base of the midfield, with his performances earning him a spot in the PFA Championship Team of the Season.

Whilst he’s missed a large chunk of the ongoing season after a knee issue, it’s a scary prospect to imagine him starring alongside Ao Tanaka – undoubtedly creating the best double pivot in the division.

However, it’s another one of the signings during the most recent window that has caught the eye, impressing in a variety of matches, leading to comparisons to an elite-level star.

Leeds star is now similar to a £100m player

Winger Largie Ramazani was handed the mammoth task of replacing fan-favourite Summerville after his £25m move to Premier League outfit West Ham United during the off-season.

The Belgian arrived in a £10m deal from Spanish side Almeria after their relegation from LaLiga, already making an immediate impact in England’s second tier after his big-money move.

The 23-year-old has been restricted to just eight appearances after a recent injury lay-off, but he’s still managed to notch three goals and an assist – a goal contribution in every other game he’s appeared in.

His pace and direct dribbling have caught the eye, but he’s also added the final product at the end of his mazy runs, making him a nightmare for any defender who tries to get in the way of his path.

Ramazani’s subsequent form under Farke has led to a comparison by FBref, ranking the youngster as a similar player to England international Jarrod Bowen, who was valued at £100m during the recent window.

Whilst on the face of it, the comparison between the pair may seem a little unreasonable given his short time in England, the Leeds forward has actually bettered the 27-year-old in various key areas – highlighting what an impressive addition he’s already been.

Games played

8

12

Goals & assists

4

6

Goals & assists per 90

0.85

0.51

Progressive carries

4.1

3.9

Progressive passes

4.8

4

Shots on target

1.4

0.9

Goals per shot on target

0.5

0.2

Pass accuracy

75%

70%

He may have registered fewer combined goals and assists compared to Bowen in recent months, but the Whites attacker has averaged a better contribution per 90 record than the big-money talent.

Ramazani has also completed more progressive carries and progressive passes per 90, further demonstrating the threat he carries with the ball at his feet.

It may only be early days into his career in English football, but the former Manchester United academy star has wasted no time in capturing the hearts of the supporters with his displays on the pitch.

Come the end of the campaign, he could have a huge say in whether they will be playing top-flight football once again, potentially taking his game to the next level under Farke’s guidance, which could result in another huge profit for the hierarchy down the line.

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