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Manchester United are now ready to make a mammoth offer to sign a Serie A star for new boss Ruben Amorim, it has been reported, as the Red Devils look to rebuild under their recently appointed coach.

Amorim draws first Man Utd game

A tough 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town marked Amorim’s first Premier League game in charge of Manchester United, with the Portuguese coach explaining after the game that he expects the rebuild at Old Trafford to be a lengthy process.

“I know it is frustrating for the fans but we are changing so much in this moment with a lot of games,” he revealed. “We are going to suffer for a long period. We will try to win games but this will take time.

“We have to risk it a little bit [now] and in the next year we will be better [otherwise] next year at the same stage we will be here with the same problems.”

Man Utd star who Solskjaer sold for just £1.2m is now on par with Fernandes

The former Manchester United talent has still demonstrated his talents away from Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2024

Part of the problem is that the players in the Manchester United squad do not reflect the playstyle that he is trying to implement; against Ipswich, he opted to use Amad Diallo as a wing-back, with Noussair Mazraoui at centre-back and a midfield pair of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

Further forward, Bruno Fernandes was stationed as one of the no.10’s, but struggled to get into the game too much from his position on the right side of attack, while Marcus Rashford contributed the early goal but little else at the top of the pitch.

The transfer windows ahead will be vital in their progression under Amorim, and now a fresh report has claimed that the Red Devils and INEOS are ready to pay one target big money over five years.

Man Utd ready mammoth contract for forward

That is according to a report in Italy, which points to Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the player in question.

The Georgian forward, who has been dubbed “sensational”, still has almost three years left to run on his contract in Naples, but Napoli are trying to get him to sign a new contract at the club.

But that is now in jeopardy, as the report claims that Manchester United are ready to blow Napoli out of the water with a massive contract offer to Kvaratskhelia.

This offer will amount to a huge “five-year contract at €8m net per season” which could see him take home a mammoth €40m (£33.3m) across his five years at Old Trafford.

That would work out at around £128,000 a week, a sum that would not even make a dent among Manchester United’s highest earners, but would be a massive upgrade on his current £32,000 a week deal in Naples.

Player

Weekly wage

Casemiro

£350,000

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

Marcus Rashford

£300,000

Mason Mount

£250,000

Antony

£200,000

Of course, that is only half the battle, with Manchester United still needing to convince Napoli to part ways with their winger, but it is added that should he enter the final two years of his deal without an agreement over a renewal, the Serie A giants will be open to a sale at around the €100m mark, though they are “open to there being a formula to reach that point rather than it being an outright payment”.

Could Kvaratskhelia be the first major signing of Amorim’s era at Old Trafford?

Kobbie Mainoo is ready to leave Manchester United, according to a new report, as he seeks a move abroad.

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Mainoo aiming for foreign moveSet to reject new contractUnited value him at £70mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Mainoo is minded to reject a new contract and seek an exit from United this summer. The midfielder has yet to agree a new deal with the Red Devils, as he and his representatives are seeking an increase on his £20,000-per-week basic wage. United believe he could still be convinced to extend his terms but he would be open to a move abroad.

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United would want to receive a fee of around £70 million ($90m) for the midfielder, and he has been mentioned as a possible target for Chelsea, although he is not said to be willing to join another Premier League club. No side has yet entered into negotiations with United over a deal.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mainoo has somewhat fallen down the pecking order at United and has made just 15 Premier League starts. Under Ruben Amorim, his progress has been curtailed by an unfortunately timed muscle injury.

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United face Arsenal this weekend before the second leg of their clash with Real Sociedad.

Shakib Al Hasan becomes the fifth bowler to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket

Mohammad Isam24-Jan-2022
How the match played out
Andre Russell was in his element, following up figures of 2 for 27 with an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls, as Minister Group Dhaka beat Fortune Barishal by four wickets in Mirpur. This was Dhaka’s first win in three matches in BPL 2022 and Russell’s first major contribution this season.Chasing 130, Dhaka were in early trouble at 10 for 4 in the third over. Left-arm quick Shafiqul Islam bowled Tamim Iqbal in the first over of their chase before Alzarri Joseph dismissed both Mohammad Naim and Jahurul Islam in the second over. When Shafiqul bowled Mohammad Shahzad in the next over, Dhaka were tottering.Mahmudullah and Shuvagata Hom then steadied things with a 69-run fifth-wicket stand before Russell did what he does best: close out games with his big hits. Shakib Al Hasan, however, gave Barishal a reason to celebrate: he became only the fifth bowler to take 400 T20 wickets.Earlier, Barishal had slipped to 23 for 3 in the powerplay, when they lost Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shykat Ali and Towhid Hridoy. The experienced pair of Shakib (23) and Chris Gayle (36) then added a semblance of respectability to their innings. But neither could convert it into a bigger knock, which left Barishal at 94 for 6 in the 16th over. Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten 26-ball 33 then dragged the side to 129 for 8.All six of Dhaka’s bowlers were among the wickets, with Isuru Udana and Russell taking two each. Meanwhile, Rubel Hossain, Hom and Hasan Murad all bowled economical spells.Big hit
Russell’s big blows – a four and a six clobbered through square-leg off Joseph – gave Dhaka a huge sigh of relief. It ensured Dhaka were in touch with the asking rate before Russell rushed them to victory with a six and a brace of fours off Taijul Islam in the 17th over.Dhaka captain Mahmudullah provided Russell great support at the other end, scoring a run-a-ball 47. He struck three fours and a six before he became Shakib’s 400th victim in T20 cricket.Barishal made a decent fist of their defence, thanks to Shafiqul who bowled with good pace and a bit of movement with the new ball. He was well-supported by Joseph before Russell lined up his West Indies team-mate.Big miss
Tamim missed out for the first time in three matches, getting out for a second-ball duck in this game. Dhaka’s top four managed only single-digit scores of 0,5,4,0. It could be an alarming sign for Naim and Jahurul who are yet to make a sizeable contribution this season.

New boss Julen Lopetegui was given a war chest during his first summer in charge of the Irons, bringing in eight new permanent signings and two loan players, spending around £120.6m.

Jean-Clair Todibo and Carlos Soler both joined on loan from Ligue 1, with Todibo having a buy option in his deal.

Player

Fee (£)

Maximilian Kilman

£39.6m

Crysencio Summerville

£24.4m

Niclas Füllkrug

£27m

Luis Guilherme

£19.2m

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

£14.7m

Guido Rodriguez

£0

Wes Foderingham

£0

Mohamadou Kante

?

Stats taken from Transfermarkt

One of the biggest signings made was German Niclas Füllkrug, joining from Dortmund for around £27m, as the Hammers continue to search for a clinical and reliable number nine.

The latest on Niclas Fullkrug's future at West Ham

West Ham opted for Fullkrug after weeks of searching for their striker target, with Jhon Duran being another name to consistently pop up over the summer.

The German has only made four appearances this season for the Hammers, suffering from an “injury nightmare” in the words of journalist Dom Smith since joining the club. Now, according to club insiders ClaretandHugh, it’s said that the striker simply “hasn’t settled in the UK” yet.

This would leave West Ham with just Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as striker options, the same situation they were in during the summer, which could force their hand in the January transfer window.

Fullkrug’s goal record last season was very strong, scoring 16 goals in 46 appearances, also providing ten assists, which makes it understandable as to why the Hammers wanted the 31-year-old.

However, for the fee paid, many questioned if it was too much for a player his age, and his valuation has already been depleted by half since!

Niclas Fullkrug's falling value at West Ham

The German who was signed for £27m is now only valued at a measly £12.5m according to Transfermarkt, more than half the value he was signed for just three months ago. This suggests the Hammers massively overpaid for the 31-year-old, and could rue their decision.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

West Ham can’t afford to wait things out with Fullkrug, as Antonio and Ings have only scored one goal each this season, with the 34-year-old Antonio making 12 appearances, and the 32-year-old Ings making six appearances.

Goals

0.00

0.13

0.67

xG

0.43

0.26

1.25

Progressive Carries

2.86

2.70

2.50

Progressive Passes

0.00

1.89

0.00

Shots Total

2.00

2.31

3.33

Key Passes

1.43

1.08

1.25

Shot-Creating Actions

1.43

2.43

5.00

Aerial Duels Won

11.4

1.62

6.25

When analysing these metrics, you have to take into account the minutes played by each player, as it massively affects the per 90 stats. Ings, for example, has only played 134 minutes across six outings this season, which explains his high goals per 90, and xG per 90.

Fullkrug, despite playing fewer games than Ings (four) has 139 minutes played, which explains his 11.4 aerial duels won, a stat which is clearly skewed by these per 90 numbers, whilst Antonio has the majority share of the minutes, playing 700 so far.

With this trio, you clearly get a lot of different attributes. Antonio is a hard worker who runs the channels and carries the ball forward for his side, Fullkrug is a target man type who wins aerial battles and links play well and then Ings is more clinical in and around the box, and likes to get his shots off.

However, as the three are all in their 30s, the Hammers clearly lack a youthful option up front who can offer consistent minutes and goal threat, which could force their hand to offload one of these ageing forwards and replace them with a younger striker to take the number nine mantle.

Antonio axed for £30m signing in West Ham's dream XI after January

Here’s what West Ham’s starting XI could look like after a window of spending.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 17, 2024

Designated captain Javeria Khan, senior player Nida Dar unavailable for series opener

Annesha Ghosh07-Nov-2021

Javeria Khan (L) will miss the series opener against West Indies•PCB

Designated captain Javeria Khan, pacer Diana Baig and spin-bowling allrounder Nida Dar has been ruled out of Pakistan’s first ODI against West Indies scheduled for Monday, hindering their preparations ahead of the 2022 ODI World Cup global Qualifier slated to take place in Zimbabwe from November 21.In Javeria’s absence, Sidra Nawaz has been named stand-in captain for the opening ODI of the three-match bilateral series which will be held in its entirety at the National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan head coach David Hemp put Javeria and Baig’s unavailability down to fitness concerns, saying the duo are not “not quite right” yet though they, along with top-order batter Omaima Sohail “came out of isolation a couple of days ago” after a Covid-19 outbreak in their original 18-member squad forced six players into isolation.According to Hemp, all three players trained with the extended squad on Sunday morning. While Sohail was named in the 12-member squad for Monday’s fixture, Javeria and Baig will miss out along with Dar, who exited the bubble a few days ago following her father’s passing.”As you are aware, we have been hampered by a Covid outbreak cumulatively in our camp from October 22,” Hemp said on Sunday during a virtual press conference. “We still have three players that will return to us over the next three to four days. Today (Sunday) we got three players back into the group, so we now have an extended group but we’re still three players short. We are also short of Nida Dar. Our condolences go to Nida and her family. Unfortunately, her father passed away a few days ago.”Fixtures (All matches start at 10am local time)

1st ODI: November 8 at National Stadium

2nd ODI November 11 at National Stadium

3rd ODI: November 14 at National Stadium

Despite the trio’s absence, and the unavailability of Bismah Maroof, who is on maternity leave, Hemp, who was appointed Pakistan’s coach in October 2020, backed the home team to come good against West Indies. This series will be his first home assignment.”We have Sidra Amin, Iram Javed, Ayesha Zafar and Aliya Riaz,” he said. “In the top six, we have players that are capable and performing. This [series] is a great opportunity for them.”

West Indies beat Pakistan 3-2 the last time the two teams squared off in a bilateral ODI series in the Caribbean in July-July. Pakistan won the last two matches of that series. Hemp hopes several members of Pakistan’s batting department will look to build on their performances from the Caribbean tour.”Muneeba, she got herself in most of those innings [in West Indies],” he said. “She was disappointed not to go on and get to 60, 70 or even a hundred. Omaima did manage to get through the 30-run mark and a couple of 60s. There has been some progress there.”Stafanie Taylor missed the previous tour to Pakistan in 2019 due to security concerns•IDI via Getty Images

The series – Pakistan’s first home assignment since November 2019 – also marks the return of captain Stafanie Taylor to the West Indies side. She had missed the T20I series against South Africa in Antigua in August-September after being identified as a primary contact of a Covid-19 case in Jamaica, which required her to serve a period of isolation.Now she returns to tour Pakistan after having opted out of the previous tour to the country February 2019 due to security concerns.”It was really disappointing not being in the last ODI series [against South Africa]. I had to take some personal leave of absence,” she said on the even of the series opener. “But I’m back and it’s really good to be back. In Pakistan it’s my first time being here and it’s been good so far.”It seems obvious that we struggled against South Africa. We had some time to go back and reflect on things that we needed to improve our game,” she said. “We were fortunate enough to have a few weeks’ camp in Antigua to rectify some of those errors. So yeah, hopefully, you know, starting tomorrow (Monday), something new.”We are using these games to get the preparation going for the qualifiers, but not looking too far ahead. We definitely want to take away winnings, of course. So not just this practice, but also for us personally, to get some runs and wickets under our belt, and I think looking at not just the qualifiers but also for [the] World Cup [proper next year]. You never know, probably Pakistan again. So, it’s good preparation for us moving forward.”Women’s cricket is set to return to the National Stadium after 15 years•Getty Images

The series also marks the return of international women’s cricket to the National Stadium nearly 16 years after Pakistan last played at the venue in January 2006. Back then, Karachi hosted the Asia Cup during which the home team, India, and Sri Lanka played at Karachi Gymkhana and National Stadium.Spectators up to 50% capacity will be allowed for each of the three matches, though only those with invites – strictly colleges and schools – can attend the first two games. The ground will be open to the general public for the third fixture.West Indies served a three-day quarantine upon landing in Karachi on November 1 and had their first training session on November 5. After the series, which ends on November 14, both teams will travel to Zimbabwe where they will be among the 10 teams vying to secure one of three places for the World Cup to be played in New Zealand in March-April next year.Pakistan squad for first ODI: Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz (captain and wicketkeeper), Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra AminWest Indies squad for Pakistan tour and World Cup Qualifier: Stafanie Taylor (capt), Anisa Mohammed (vice-capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams; Reserves: Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Karishma Ramharack

Arsenal made it two wins from three in the Champions League this season, securing a 1-0 win over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side never really looked as though they got themselves out of second gear, and struggled to really secure the victory in a convincing manner.

The only goal came after Gabriel Martinelli’s superb effort cannoned off the base of the post onto the back of the helpless Dmytro Riznyk and into the back of the net.

The Gunners registered a total of 13 shots in North London, but were unable to add to their tally, having to settle for a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

As a result, Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in Europe so far this season, still yet to concede a goal after their first three outings, looking in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages.

However, the result could’ve been more convincing had numerous players taken the chances they had been presented with during the meeting.

Leandro Trossard’s stats against Shakhtar

After failing to make a huge impact in the weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth – notably giving the ball away for William Saliba’s sending off – forward Leandro Trossard was handed an opportunity last night to impress from the off.

However, the Belgian endured a night to forget, producing some poor figures during the defeat and looking a shadow of his former self – which saw him bag 17 goals in all competitions last campaign.

The 29-year-old featured for a total of 87 minutes last night, managing just 38 touches in the process, completing only 21 passes and losing possession seven times in an all-round wasteful display.

Despite his lack of impact throughout the encounter, he was handed a chance to get himself on the scoresheet, stepping up to take the penalty during the closing stages.

However, Trossard had his tame effort saved by Riznyk, looking caught in two minds whether to go down the middle or place the ball to the goalkeeper’s left.

It was an all-around disappointing night for the Gunners’ number 19, but he wasn’t alone in producing a below-par performance for Arteta’s side.

The man who was just as poor as Trossard

Despite being named as a substitute at the weekend, striker Gabriel Jesus was recalled to the starting lineup, and was even named as Arteta’s captain for the Champions League clash at the Emirates.

However, the Brazilian wouldn’t feature in his natural centre-forward role, but instead on the right-hand side of Arsenal’s attack, covering for the injured Bukayo Saka.

Whilst the recall could’ve handed Jesus that confidence boost he so desperately needed, he was unable to change his fortunes of late, once again failing to impress.

During his 68-minute display, the 27-year-old only completed one of his attempted crosses and lost possession 12 times as he often looked wasteful when in possession.

Gabriel Jesus’ stats for Arsenal against Shakhtar

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

68

Touches

65

Passes completed

40/46 (87%)

Crosses completed

1/5

Shots taken

2

Big chances missed

1

Possession lost

12x

Fouls committed

2

Stats via Sofascore

Jesus’ wastefulness translated into his chances in front of goal, missing one big chance after firing his one-on-one opportunity straight at the legs of the opposition ‘keeper.

As a result, Football London’s Kaya Kaynak handed the Brazilian a 5/10 match rating, an indication of how poor he was during the European victory.

This Sunday, Arsenal host the in-form Liverpool at the Emirates, desperate to continue their winning record and give them the best chance of competing for the Premier League title this season.

However, Jesus must be nowhere near the starting lineup, with every Gunner praying that Saka will be fit enough to return for the huge clash.

Related Arsenal may explore quick January deal for £40m star after Saka injury

The Englishman caused a scare after withdrawing from international duty.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 22, 2024

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been brutally described as the 'flop of the season' amid a tough campaign for the Red Devils.

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• Man Utd having dismal season
• One Red Devil named flop of campaign
• Critic cites his lack of "leadership"

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Liverpool and Leicester City striker Emile Heskey was asked who his flop of the 2024/25 season has been so far. The ex-England international pulled no punches by digging out United captain Bruno Fernandes, citing his apparent lack of "leadership".

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• WHAT EMILE HESKEY SAID

  He told Instant Casino: "Bruno Fernandes. I've seen the seasons gone by where he's scoring, and he's really been carrying them a little bit. With the captain’s armband as well, you're expecting a little bit more. He can't do it on his own, I get that, but as a captain, I want to see a bit more drive. I want to see a bit more leadership. I don’t think he’s given that. For a captain, one good performance like he produced against Liverpool in however many is not good enough really. The minimum for any player is to run around, tackle, be aggressive. The captain has to do more, he has to lead from the front and set the standards for others to follow. I don’t think he’s necessarily been that. It's been a tough season for them, hasn't it? I don't know even where to put my finger on why it’s all gone so badly. It's not just like one bit, everything's just capitulated. It'll be interesting to see what the future looks like under Ruben Amorim. They had a really good result against Liverpool, and yes, they probably could have won it at the end with the Maguire chance. But all in all, Liverpool squandered a few chances as well."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fernandes has arguably been one of the Premier League's best players since swapping Sporting CP for United in early 2020 but he didn't open his league goalscoring account until November this season. While he has four goals and six assists in the Premier League this term, the 30-year-old has not hit the heights of previous campaigns and he bears some responsibility for the team languishing down in 13th in the table.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Portugal international Fernandes will hope to be at his best when United take on Arsenal in round three of the FA Cup on Sunday.

“I know when to deliver a message that is serious and when we can be a little more relaxed”

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2021Usman Khawaja has been named new captain of Sydney Thunder replacing Callum Ferguson who was released at the end of the last season.Khawaja has played his entire BBL career with Thunder and is the club’s leading run scorer with 1718 at 33.68 including two centuries.”It’s a great privilege to be captain of any team, but for me especially being captain of Sydney Thunder probably means a little more,” Khawaja said.”I grew up in Western Sydney, about ten minutes from where the Thunder play at Sydney Showground Stadium, and even though I now live in Queensland I have never forgotten where I come from.”Related

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Alex Hales reunited with Trevor Bayliss on Sydney Thunder return

Khawaja paid tribute to Ferguson, whose departure from the club was controversial, and added that he would not be looking to bring significant changes to how Thunder go about their game.”Cal was awesome as a bloke and team-mate – he will be missed amongst the group here for sure,” he said. “Me being captain, it’s not about reinventing the wheel. Everyone has their own way of captaining a team but having captained various sides for Queensland and Australia A for a few years I think it’s important to be who you are.”I never change who I am just because I am captain. I am usually a bit of a jokester around the team and that doesn’t change as a captain. I know when to deliver a message that is serious and when we can be a little more relaxed.”Khawaja will likely be reunited with Alex Hales at the top of the order after his return was confirmed yesterday. Thunder still have two further overseas spots to fill ahead of the tournament starting on December 5 with their first game the following day against Brisbane Heat.

On a tough pitch to bat on, the visitors slipped to a 23-run defeat chasing a modest 132 for victory

Sreshth Shah03-Aug-2021Bangladesh recorded their first T20I victory against Australia in five attempts by defending 131 with the help of their frontline spinners who picked six wickets in 12 overs for just 65 runs.Australia had the upper hand at the halfway mark but the dismissal of Alex Carey first ball, followed by two more batters by the third over, meant that they had their backs to the wall early on. After that, though Mitchell Marsh tried to keep Australia in the contest with a patient run-a-ball 45 from No. 3, wickets at regular intervals left them 23 short in the end.Bangladesh used spin right from the first ball. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed shared the new ball with Mahedi Hasan and finished with 4 for 19, his best in T20s. Mahedi and Shakib Al Hasan picked up early wickets too, and kept things tight all through.Shakib also made a crucial contribution in the first half after Australia opted to bowl, scoring 36 off 33, on a surface that was not easy to bat on. Bangladesh’s batters struggled with timing too, as the Australia bowlers varied their pace. And it took a late cameo from Afif Hossain – 23 off 17 – to take them to a decent total.Australia flounder against spin
Mahedi and Shakib both struck with their first balls and Nasum struck with his fourth, leaving Australia reeling on 11 for 3 after 13 balls. Mahedi got one to slide in from around the stumps and beat Carey’s cut to shatter his stumps.Next over, Josh Philippe was stumped trying to drive Nasum through the covers. And Moises Henriques’ sweep off Shakib had the ball go between his legs and hit the stumps.Matthew Wade and Marsh tried to bring Australia back with patient play against the spinners, who were bowling with a lot of control and confidence. Wade explored the square region on both sides to keep the runs ticking, while Marsh preferred the straight region. But a lapse from Wade came soon after as, chasing a wide ball that pitched outside leg and turned away further, he pulled it straight to short fine leg, undoing all the effort of the previous 22 balls. Australia were now 49 for 4 in the tenth over.The two Ashtons – Agar and Turner – tried to stitch partnerships with Marsh but Bangladesh broke through again. Agar was hit-wicket trying to flick Nasum, and Turner sliced a catch to extra cover off Mustafizur Rahman.Marsh looked to change gears in between, and although a few boundaries did come, he perished looking to slog sweep. From 84 for 6, it looked like Australia might struggle to reach three digits but they just about got there, courtesy Mitchell Starc’s 14, before being shot out last ball.Hazlewood leads bowling effort
Barring Mohammad Naim’s two sixes off Starc early on, it was all Australia in the opening stages of the first innings. Hazlewood nearly had Naim chopping onto the stumps, and would soon account for Soumya Sarkar as the left-hand batter backed away to cut but ended up playing on.Shakib and Naim then carefully saw off the powerplay, in which Bangladesh scored only 33. Naim impressed by not giving into temptation by chasing deliveries too wide but was bowled for 30 trying an uncharacteristic reverse sweep off Adam Zampa in the seventh over.Although Shakib and Mahmudullah enjoy playing spin, Zampa and Agar did not give them much room. Bowling stump to stump, and with a little turn on offer, the batters kept getting the occasional boundary but the run rate hovered under six.When a change in gears was imminent after 12 overs with eight wickets in hand, Hazlewood removed both senior batters. First, Mahmudullah sliced a slower ball to mid-off on 20, and then Shakib also chopped on in Hazlewood’s next over as he finished on 3 for 24 in his four, with three overs left in the innings.Afif’s crucial cameo
Afif walked in at No. 6 with Bangladesh’s run rate still under six. With Shakib and Shamim Hossain – who had successfully finished games with his blitzy performances in Zimbabwe – both falling, Afif was the last recognised batter in the death overs.He began by clobbering Hazlewood to the long-on boundary, and then cracking a lofted cover drive off Starc. In between, he pushed his batting partners for doubles, even if it wasn’t him getting on strike, which added a few crucial runs. He would then end by reverse scooping Starc over the keeper in the final over, and although he fell off the last ball, his knock pushed the hosts to over 6.50 an over.

Liverpool supporters' transfer-window discontent went into remission following a stunning 3-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford to maintain Arne Slot's 100% start.

Few could have envisaged such a scoreline in spite of recent history, regardless of the wall-to-wall disparity between the arch-rivals over the past decade. Slot, indeed, designed success through every department on Sunday afternoon, and is yet to drop points or even concede after three Premier League fixtures.

Surely it wasn't supposed to be this way? Farewell, Jurgen Klopp – rival fans cheer, for Liverpool are headed for the scrap. But no, Slot looks every bit the elite-level boss, every inch the fitting leading coach for Anfield's red-golden array of talent.

There is so much still to do; Slot and his Liverpool squad will not get carried away. The Reds will pause for the imminent international break before jumping into the thick of more action in the league, wedged by Champions League and Carabao Cup ties that will put the club's depth to the test.

One man, it will not be surprising, is performing with some level of gusto right now. Mohamed Salah's future is an anxious thing, but the Egyptian dominated the Theatre of Dreams, as is his way.

Mohamed Salah's incredible form

Salah fizzled out toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and with Klopp leaving and the soon-to-be 32-year-old about to enter the final year of his £350k-per-week deal, many thought he had reached the end of his glory days.

How wrong they were. Salah has scored three goals from three matches under Slot, claiming three assists and leaving Manchester United icon Roy Keane in awe of his "world-class performance", having dismantled the Red Devils in their own backyard. Again.

Premier League

14

12

6

FA Cup

2

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Luis Diaz carried a brace into the half-time break, supplied by Salah from the right both times. He's evergreen, and more dangerously for his rivals, he's revitalised. Salah might have lost some of the snap-jerk motion that saw him obliterate Premier League backlines upon arriving back in 2017, an electric-paced superstar with a deadly ball-striking ability, but he's morphed into a first-rate playmaker.

His intelligence is second to none, and there's simply little chance that Salah will not play an instrumental role in Liverpool's campaign, rivalling the younger Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka to take the crown as the division's foremost forward.

United were abject on Sunday, pulled apart by their nemeses blistering counters and struck further by their own internal malfunction. But mistakes are a part of football, and Salah's creative balls for Diaz were pinpoint, his first-time finish after latching onto Dominik Szoboszlai's exquisite pass, placed with the deftness of an artist applying the finishing touch.

It's a measure of Liverpool's brilliance that Salah actually squandered a glorious opportunity to make it four shortly after netting, and while he was the attacking architect, his headline display was enabled by Ryan Gravenberch, who was the real hero on a victorious day.

Why Ryan Gravenberch is Slot's real hero

You can't help but wonder if Martin Zubimendi cast a rueful gaze Liverpool's way on Sunday evening, watching the Premier League outfit maintain their perfect record with some style, while Real Sociedad suffered a goalless draw against Getafe in La Liga, consigned to 12th place and one win from four attempts.

Zubimendi, of course, made his choice and deserves a measure of praise for his loyalty in an ever-more perfidious landscape, but he was perfect for Slot's Liverpool, who fought fiercely to bring him to Merseyside in August, felt they were set to win the battle, but didn't.

Sociedad refused to let up and the Spanish Euro 2024 champion stayed put, leaving sporting director Richard Hughes in dismay, with the 25-year-old profiled as the dream addition. FSG, who never jump the gun, did not find an apt alternative.

Luckily, Liverpool already have one in Gravenberch, who has long carried the properties for a deep-lying midfield role but lacked temperament, holding a boyish immaturity that is starting to dissipate.

Gary Neville said that the Dutchman, 22, "absolutely destroyed" Man United's midfield last weekend, having now performed three matches as Slot's anchorman to a top standard.

There's so much to like, three games into the new era. Gravenberch has averaged 74 touches per Premier League game so far, as per Sofascore, completing 89% of his passes and averaging 2.7 tackles and 5.7 ground duels per game.

What's more, Gravenberch ranks among the top 19% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 16% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, further emphasising the technical skill he possesses, tailored for success in his new position.

His press resistance and smooth forward passing have raised chatter that his boss Slot, a fellow Dutchman, is sculpting him into a world-beater at no. 6.

Indeed, he was so good against Erik ten Hag's men, so dominant in the central battle, that The Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle awarded him a 9/10 match rating, writing: 'Helped Liverpool increasingly dominate midfield, played important role in opener and kept the visitors nabbing possession in key areas. Superb performance.'

Liverpool are only three games into the season. There will come a point when Slot will taste defeat, and Gravenberch will shake his head following a poor performance – these things are certainties, not eventualities.

But the idea of a prosperous new age at Anfield has taken root within the mind of the fanbase, and Gravenberch has showcased his acumen and suitability. Given that Zubimendi's signing fell through, he might just be the most important cog in the system.

As good as Diaz & Salah: Liverpool star is becoming a monster under Slot

The Reds maestro is enjoying a fantastic start to the campaign under the Dutchman.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 1, 2024