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Left-arm spinner, who returned to the England fold earlier this year, gave it “one more shot”, and earned a World Cup ticket for the UAE

Valkerie Baynes04-Oct-2024When Linsey Smith received the call to say she would be heading to another World Cup six years after her last appearance at the tournament, the emotion washed over her. After wondering whether, at the age of 29, the opportunity had passed her by, she had her second chance.”I was just over the moon to be honest – a little bit emotional,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo from England’s pre-tournament training camp in Loughborough last month. “Six years ago was when I got the first call, so it’s been a tough road. But I’m just so happy that I get the chance to represent England at a World Cup again.”Smith fell out of England’s reckoning during the summer of 2019. During her five years in the wilderness, self-doubt abounded, along with thoughts of giving up the sport, and financial struggles, as she came to terms with losing her rookie contract with England, and tried to juggle coaching and playing domestic cricket.Related

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“It was pretty tough,” Smith said. “You obviously doubt yourself, and I guess when I was in it, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a certain way and play a certain way, and it just ate me up, really. I felt like I almost didn’t deserve to be in an England shirt with how I was playing. So coming out of it was tough.”You never want to give something away that you’ve wanted to do since you were a kid, really, but I was in a pretty dark place and I wasn’t enjoying my cricket. There were mornings of games where I’d wake up, check the weather and see, ‘Oh, it’s not raining today, damn it, I’ve got to go and force myself to get out on that pitch’, which is awful to say now.”What kept Smith going was her pure love of the game, so that’s where she went.”I sat down and thought, ‘Is this what I want to be doing anymore?’ The kid in me – all I ever wanted to do was play cricket for England – was finding it really tough,” she said. “So I thought I either give it up now or just try and go back to what made me start cricket in the first place, which was playing with my mates, and having fun and being competitive. So I just came out of that thought.”I’ll just try again here, start from fresh, not put too much pressure on myself and see how it goes. I’ve always loved playing cricket, and I was terrible in school. So I couldn’t go and find an office job. So I thought I’ll just give it one more shot and just try and enjoy myself, [and] not take it too serious. And that’s worked for me quite nicely.”So when Smith was called up to England’s squad for their tour of New Zealand at the start of this year, it marked a fresh start.”I feel in such a better place than what I was when I played for England before,” she said. “So I guess that burning desire was always there, but I’d think: ‘Are they going to go for someone who’s 29 now? Who are they going to look at – someone younger?’ So you always dream that it would happen, but you [are] never quite sure if it really will.”My mindset has completely flipped in terms of what it was six years ago to now. It’s just about having fun, being really clear on what my role is, and doing what I do well, [and] not trying to play like someone else or be someone else. Just getting those competitive juices flowing and backing myself that what I’ve done for the last five years is good enough.”During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 domestic competition, Linsey Smith took 13 wickets at 14.76•Getty ImagesSmith joins part of a four-pronged spin attack that also includes fellow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone, legspinner Sarah Glenn, and offspinner Charlie Dean. It’s a formidable trio, but Smith brings something different again. Her strength is her relentlessness in the powerplay, along with a low, skiddy trajectory delivered from her diminutive five-feet-two-inch frame which batters find difficult to get under.”I’m not your traditional spinner that’s going to get dip and turn and nice flight, but that’s not something I’m trying to be,” Smith said. “Just being at peace with what I do and how I bowl. Actually, 29 is really not that old. I feel like I’m in my prime. I feel like I’ve grown a lot mentally more than anything. Being really clear on what my role is and how to take on those challenges of playing for England, I feel in a much better head space to do that.”Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, has been impressed by what he has seen of the new version of his old spinner, who he is backing to thrive in conditions in the UAE, despite initially viewing her as a key option for Bangladesh, where the World Cup was originally going to be staged.In Sharjah, where England play their first match of this World Cup on Saturday against Bangladesh, the pitch has revealed itself to be low and slow with good turn on offer. In the first two matches of the tournament there on Thursday, both low-scoring affairs, Bangladesh beat Scotland, and Pakistan’s spinners defended 116 in a 31-run victory over Sri Lanka.”I think the opportunity has reinvigorated her ambition, and she has really loved it,” Lewis said. “When you get someone in an environment they really love and they think, ‘Okay, I really like this, this is good fun, and I feel valued and I feel important’, then funnily enough, they improve.”So Linsey was a selection back in January, [or] February, definitely, with the World Cup in mind in Bangladesh. Her style in those conditions, I think, can be incredibly effective, and similarly in the UAE, I think she could be a really effective bowling force.”

“We’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up… We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler”England head coach Jon Lewis on Linsey Smith

During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, a T20 domestic competition, Smith took 13 wickets at an average of 14.76, and an economy rate of 4.92, with best figures of 3 for 9. Fitting her into the England attack isn’t necessarily easy, given the quality of their spin stocks, but having been unafraid to play three spinners during the home summer, Lewis sees a place for Smith, particularly in the powerplay.”Linsey has shown in the course of probably quite a long period of time now how effective she is in the powerplay,” he said. “If we look at her numbers in the powerplay in particular, they are outstanding – up there with the best in the world.”So we’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up. We’re more than likely going to play three [spinners] – we’ve shown our hand a little bit over the summer. We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler.”

There are concerns elsewhere too: in taking on quality spin, and in assembling a solid pace attack if Shaheen Afridi isn’t good to go

Shashank Kishore13-Sep-2022The Babar-Rizwan conundrum
We have talked about this before. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have scored over 60% of Pakistan’s runs in all T20Is since the start of last year’s T20 World Cup and have been, over the last two years, a wildly prolific pair. But, like in the semi-final loss at the T20 World Cup last year, the Asia Cup has made it clear there’s merit in trying to break them up.Related

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Asia Cup XI – Power up top, all-round options, fire with the ball

Rizwan top-scored at the Asia Cup, but he struck at just 117.57. There’s a growing chorus over how his approach might not be the most optimal for Pakistan. Where middling targets haven’t been that much of a problem – their World Cup game against India last year being a prime example – bigger targets have magnified their issue with strike rates.In the Asia Cup final, for example, Rizwan played 22 deliveries in the powerplay while striking at 72.72 – in a chase of 170. Iftikhar Ahmed’s 31-ball 32 sucked the air out of that chase as well and by the time Rizwan was dismissed for a 49-ball 55, the pair had left Pakistan with a few too many to get – 61 off 23.Babar, meanwhile, has just one half-century in seven T20I innings this year. That half-century was in a losing cause against Australia, where Pakistan collapsed around his 46-ball 66 and finished with a below-par total that was chased down comfortably. Questions about his striking in the powerplay have lingered for far longer than has been the case with Rizwan.For a pair, their run rate is the second-lowest among all Full Members, behind Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka. In 13 games, they have scored 401 runs at a strike rate of 122.27. On the face of it, it’s not too bad, but it has invariably put a lot of pressure on the middle order.2:59

Is middle-order batting Pakistan’s Achilles’ heel?

Given Pakistan play seven T20Is at home against England and a tri-series with New Zealand and Bangladesh, in New Zealand, in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, they could yet change the opening pair: one of the moves could be to have Fakhar Zaman open the batting, and one of Rizwan or Babar drop down the order.”I think they should [separate Babar and Rizwan],” Mickey Arthur, their former coach, said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out programme during the Asia Cup. “Fakhar hits the ball in different areas, it frustrates the bowlers a little bit. It is the different angles, you’ve got a left-hand and a right-hand. So, spread Babar and Rizwan and you put Fakhar Zaman back at the top.”More power for the middle
As things stand, because teams know the openers occupy the crease for a good length of time and score the bulk of the runs, there isn’t a lot below the top three, even though the middle order has typically scored their runs quickly enough.But there is a larger problem there – against spin.Versus Afghanistan, Pakistan’s move to promote Shadab Khan to No. 5 [with good effect] was largely to shield Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah from Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. In the Super 4s game against India, Ravi Bishnoi kept them quiet in the death overs. And if it wasn’t for Asif’s reprieve – after top-edging a slog off Yuzvendra Chahal – who knows how that game could have turned out? Such luck may not come their way all the time.Khushdil’s record at No. 4 across T20s is impressive, striking at 146 at an average of 27. But the disparity between his domestic T20 record [strike rate 138, average nearly 29] and his international one [strike rate 110, average 20] is vast and over an increasing sample size. He also has struggled against spin.Shan Masood is more comfortable as an anchor, but has reinvented himself in T20 cricket of late•Getty ImagesIn fact, Shadab’s record at No. 4 is stellar enough to wonder why he has never played there for Pakistan. In 19 innings, he’s averaging over 28 at a strike rate of nearly 160 . He was especially impressive for Islamabad United in the last PSL, until an injury disrupted his season.Other options include Haider Ali, who could be elevated from the bench, where he spent the whole of the Asia Cup. However, he hasn’t featured in any T20I since December last year. Having travelled with the national team, he has also missed out on any form of game time in the shortest format since March.Another option gaining traction among observers of Pakistan cricket is Shan Masood, who has been in the form of his life. Though uncapped in T20Is, Masood, the tall left-handed opener, has amassed 1257 runs in the format in 2022, striking at 136.68. He set tongues wagging at the Vitality Blast, where he was the fifth-highest run-scorer with 547 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 139.89 for Derbyshire.However, in the ongoing National T20 Cup, he is batting in the middle order, seemingly in a bid to make the T20 World Cup squad. But, like Rizwan and Babar, Masood is primarily an anchor. This may not work in the middle order, but the plethora of games in the lead-up could give him an opportunity to present a case for making the first XI in Australia.The real outside shots are Sharjeel Khan and Azam Khan, the latter currently playing in the CPL for Barbados Royals in the middle order.Sharjeel hasn’t featured in T20Is for over a year now, while Azam’s selection eligibility – given he has obtained a no-objection certificate from the PCB to play in the CPL rather than in the National T20 Cup – is unclear. On Monday, opening for Sindh, Sharjeel struck an unbeaten 62-ball 107 to help raze down Balochistan’s 158, with three overs to go. But, again, much of his success for Pakistan has been at the top.Pakistan would dearly love to have Shaheen Afridi back, and firing, at the T20 World Cup•ICC via GettyWhat happens if Afridi misses out?
Pakistan don’t have problems with their allrounders, with Shadab and Mohammad Nawaz certainties. But in the pace department, they are anxiously waiting on Shaheen Shah Afridi’s recovery from a knee injury.The nature and extent of that injury has only become clearer over time and Shaheen has now missed the Asia Cup and will likely sit out the seven T20Is against England as he undergoes treatment. If he returns, Pakistan have a gun pace attack with Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, with all his BBL experience, being the top three pacers.If Shaheen misses out, Pakistan will be banking on one of Mohammad Hasnain, like they did at the Asia Cup, or Shahnawaz Dahani, who featured in just one game, against Hong Kong. If Mohammad Wasim doesn’t recover in time, it could mean Hasan Ali remains in the mix, even though he may have not played much cricket recently, leaving the back-up options a tad undercooked.Which is why drawing a balance between results and providing players opportunities against England will become all the more crucial.

The New Zealand batter took a break to have a child, and now returns to the top level to play her 100th T20I

Andrew McGlashan23-Sep-2020For all the players involved, the Australia-New Zealand women’s series which starts in Brisbane on Saturday is important, bringing international sport back to the country for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, but for Amy Satterthwaite there will be added significance as she returns to the game after having her first child with wife and team-mate Lea Tahuhu.Grace Marie was born on January 13 and nine months later Satterthwaite will join what remains a select group of sportswomen to return to the top of their field after starting a family. Providing selection goes in her favour, the opening match of the T20I series will also be Satterthwaite’s 100th T20I.”It’s a pretty special story to think I’ve gone away, had a child and my first possible game back will not only be for New Zealand but also be my 100th T20,” Satterthwaite told ESPNcricinfo. “And for Grace to be able to be around and see that, hopefully it will be a special day.”

Grace has been with us on tour and it’s been awesome, think the team has really enjoyed having her around bringing a lot of smiles to faces

While the decision to start a family when playing elite sport was nothing to do with making statements for Satterthwaite, she admitted becoming more aware of what it can stand for and how it can further show that it is no longer an either/or decision.”More people have pointed it out as we’ve gone along and what it means,” she said. “It certainly wasn’t something we set out to do, but you come to realise just the nature of what we are doing, you are setting a bit of trail as people call it.”I’ve played for a while now and I’ve seen people who were playing for New Zealand or Canterbury and they’ve stopped to have a family then not come back. From our point of view, it would be an awesome result to be able to show that people can have a family and still play.”The Covid-world has brought a new set of challenges, especially as Satterthwaite and Tahuhu are at the start of a long stay in Australia with the WBBL for Melbourne Renegades to follow this series. Originally the plan would have been to have family join them to help look after Grace, but quarantine restrictions has meant that isn’t possible so they organised separate nannies, who will be within the biosecure bubbles, for their stays in Brisbane and then Sydney.Amy Satterthwaite sweeps•Getty Images”It threw a bit of a spanner in the works like it did for most people,” Satterthwaite said. “Grace has been with us on tour and it’s been awesome, think the team has really enjoyed having her around bringing a lot of smiles to faces. It’s been a nice distraction while we’ve been in quarantine.”Satterthwaite, who has lost the New Zealand captaincy to Sophie Devine, will resume the role in the WBBL with last year’s Renegades’ skipper, Jess Duffin, having also given birth in June.Both New Zealand Cricket and the Renegades “have been brilliant,” she added. “It takes a lot of stress and pressure off you to able to know that’s all taken care of and that support is there, you and enjoy training and playing.”Satterthwaite returned to training a few months ago in the depths of the New Zealand winter and while she admitted to occasional thoughts about the reality of the challenges the hunger remained.”You start thinking of the road ahead, the fitness that you’ve got involved, you sort of think ‘will I be up for this?’ but for the most part that fire was still in the belly to come back,” she said. “Definitely there was an element of having this new life, and having Grace there I knew it was going to be pretty tough to be able to leave her to train but the more I got into it the more normal it became, that was probably the hardest part leaving her to go and work.

I’ve played for a while now and I’ve seen people who were playing for New Zealand or Canterbury and they’ve stopped to have a family then not come back. From our point of view, it would be an awesome result to be able to show that people can have a family and still play

“That first hit I had with [New Zealand coach] Bob Carter was certainly an interesting one. That feeling of apprehension about whether you’ll be able to hit the ball, but at the same I had low expectations because I hadn’t played cricket for a while. In a roundabout way I was pretty relaxed and it went quite well. After a long break you have that slight nervousness as to whether or not you will really want to come back and for me to enjoy that session reinforced that I was looking forward to it. So that was a nice feeling.”In the three years before her break, from 2016-2019, Satterthwaite had risen to be the No. 1 batter in ODI cricket and she will return to that format in early October still ranked No. 7. In that period she averaged a phenomenal 61.35 and it included four hundreds in consecutive innings which equalled the world record held by Kumar Sangakkara. On the route back she has delved into the archives of that memorable time.”I have certainly had a look at the footage to remind myself of how I played and what worked. When you haven’t played for a while it’s nice to refresh the memory and hopefully take that into when I do get back onto the park, remember the feelings I was having at the time when it was working well. I think too often as cricketers we look at what isn’t going well and it’s very important to look at strengths and what has been successful.”By contrast, her T20I record is less eye-catching with an average of 21.19 and just one half-century in 89 innings. However, she believes her domestic T20 record where she averaged 28.87 in the WBBL and 31.35 in the now defunct Kia Super League is a truer reflect of where her game sits although she continues to strive to expand her batting.”Over the last few years at domestic level my record has certainly been better there than it has been at international level,” she said. “It’s probably taken longer to work out my game in the T20 format where I’ve been relatively comfortable at 50-overs.”In my career I’ve batted in all sorts of positions in T20 and I know trying to score from the get-go has been something I’ve had to work on over the years. When you have the quality of Sophie [Devine] and Suzie [Bates] ahead of you, you have to learn to play your game and not copy how they play.”There are no guarantees for how the comeback will go for Satterthwaite – “the test will be when you get back out into the middle, competing in matches,” she said – but her return is significant beyond just the runs and wickets.

Leeds United aren’t going to be heading straight back down to the Championship without at least putting in a fight.

The last time the Whites were relegated back down to the EFL’s elite league, they only managed to accumulate a sorry 31 points from 38 matches, with a concerning 78 goals leaked.

Already, with just nine games played this time around, Leeds are occupying 15th spot in the Premier League with a promising 11 points tallied up, with an early Brenden Aaronson effort sealing a third league win of the season against relegation rivals West Ham United on Friday night.

This promising start bodes well for Leeds being able to remain as a Premier League team, with Match of the Day’s Gabby Logan revealing at the weekend that the last ten promoted sides who have got to that 11-point total after ten games have all beaten the drop.

Leeds will just want to remain steady as wins slowly but surely continue to be picked up, with Stuart Dallas previously playing the role of being a calming and reliable presence perfectly when past anxiety crept in at Elland Road.

Why Stuart Dallas is a Leeds icon

While the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, and Raphinha stick out in recent memory as flashy entertainers in West Yorkshire, the Northern Irishman always stood out as being “Mr Reliable” for the Whites, as he was once affectionately labelled by former Premier League great Kevin Phillips.

267 Leeds appearances would come Dallas’ way in total, with the 34-year-old only getting better as time went on in a Whites shirt, even as he navigated the tough step-up to the Premier League.

Eight goals would fall into the adaptable number 15’s lap during his first-ever top-flight campaign, with his ability to line up all across the pitch – which included Dallas even lining up as a defensive midfielder on one occasion – making him a dependable asset right up until an unfortunate injury ended his playing days.

As former Leeds manager David O’Leary put it back in 2021, Dallas epitomised the tag of being an “unsung hero” throughout his long-standing affiliation with the club, with the one-time Championship title winner always putting in a top shift when pulling on Leeds white.

Daniel Farke could well feel he’s unearthed a new Dallas-style revelation in his current ranks, with the ace in question similarly full-blooded with his commitment to the Leeds cause so far this season.

Farke's "unbelievable" new Stuart Dallas

Leeds’ impressive summer recruitment has undoubtedly helped them to keep their heads above the relegation zone during the early stages of the 38-game campaign.

Indeed, Noah Okafor has already been heralded as a key “difference-maker” by Leeds-based content creator Oscar Mario, and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment, as the lightning-quick winger already has two Premier League goals in his back pocket. Alongside the Swiss international, Sean Longstaff has also stood out as a sterling bit of business, having only cost a reasonable £12m to obtain back in July.

Already, Longstaff has been able to endear himself to his new set of supporters by hammering home strikes such as this one he emphatically fired home against AFC Bournemouth in late September, with Dallas still being remembered to this day for being a player that similarly scored some memorable goals, namely that famous breakaway strike that was put away at Manchester City under Marcelo Bielsa when Leeds had been reduced to ten men.

More importantly, though, as Leeds face another battle against the drop, the ex-Newcastle United midfielder has also displayed plenty of bite and fight that’s reminiscent of the now-retired 34-year-old in his Elland Road prime, with a combined eight tackles and duels won last time out against the Hammers.

Games played

9

Goals scored

1

Assists

2

Touches*

46.2

Accurate passes*

27.1

Key passes*

2.0

Big chances created

5

Tackles*

3.0

Ball recoveries*

3.0

Total duels won*

5.0

All-in-all, Longstaff just seems to have that perfect blend of skill and determination that Dallas also possessed in spades, with his eagerness to get stuck in and battle also regularly being coupled with a hunger to create openings and play on the front-foot, as seen in him creating a high five big chances so far this season, which hasn’t been surpassed by anyone else in the division.

He is, of course, still in the infancy of his Elland Road career, but if he keeps going in this same electric manner, he will surely etch his name into the West Yorkshire outfit’s hall-of-fame as another “unbelievable” – as he was once branded by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer – Premier League performer, alongside some revered company.

Better than Rodon: Leeds star who was "anonymous" is now undroppable

This Leeds United star was even better than Joe Rodon against West Ham United.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 26, 2025

That was all far more dramatic than it needed to be for Arsenal.

The Gunners came into this game top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League. They have been the best team in the country.

By contrast, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been one of the worst sides we’ve seen in top-flight history. They had and still have two points to their name.

The match didn’t play out like that, however. Some might say this was the worst performance of the Mikel Arteta era to date.

Arsenal found life difficult and did look as though they were heading towards a 1-0 victory. Rob Edwards’ side stood firm and scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser. Off they went, celebrating like crazy in front of the travelling support.

Yet, the Gunners had other ideas. Bukayo Saka grabbed the bull by the horns, swung in a delicious cross that was headed into the back of his own net by Yerson Mosquera with a matter of minutes left. Arsenal had secured a 2-1 win.

How Arsenal beat Wolves

The north Londoners have swept teams aside with relative ease this term.

Yet, in recent weeks, they have found things trickier. They drew with ten-man Chelsea, lost in the last minute to Aston Villa and then very nearly tripped up against the bottom team in the division on Saturday night.

Arsenal have been accused of looking leggy across that run but the team selected by Arteta this weekend should have had enough.

Chalkboard

No disrespect to Wolves but Arsenal’s B team should have had enough to swat them aside. However, as the old saying goes, there is no easy game in the Premier League.

On this occasion, they had the mighty Saka to thank as he showcased why he is one of the best right wingers in the land.

Truth be told, Saka hasn’t been at his fluent best in 2025. His assist for Mikel Merino’s equaliser at Chelsea was his first league assist for a year.

That said, in recent weeks, he’s started to come alive and he delivered arguably his finest performance of 2025/26 to date.

It was Saka’s inswinging corner that led to the first goal. The ball came in, evaded everyone before it struck the post and came off Sam Johnstone before going in. It went down as an own goal.

Then, as Arsenal desperately craved a winner, Saka came up trumps again. He grabbed proceedings by the scruff of the neck and put his team back in the driver’s seat to win the title.

Saka’s cross was aimed at substitute Gabriel Jesus who got across Arokodare inside the area. Jesus didn’t get a touch but the Wolves defender did.

Arsenal had Saka and a brace of own goals to thank for their win. Plenty in red and white were way below par though.

Arsenal's biggest underperformer against Wolves

On paper, this looked like a very dangerous Arsenal side.

Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres all started as a three-prong attack but while the former dazzled, the latter two struggled significantly.

Gyokeres, in particular, has had a difficult week since returning from injury. The Swede came off the bench a week ago but did very little to inspire the Gunners at Villa Park.

In midweek, the big-money summer arrival struggled again, taken off just after the hour mark having made just four passes. He barely had a sniff of goal.

Sadly, the same could be said of his display against Wolves this weekend. On this occasion, he completed just three passes and had fewer touches (15) than goalkeeper David Raya (30). It was hardly a surprise to see one Arsenal podcaster suggest that it looked like Arsenal are “playing with ten men” when Gyokeres leads the line.

Minutes played

81

Touches

15

Accurate passes

3/6 (50%)

Shots

1

Shots on target

0

Successful dribbles

0/1

Key passes

0

Ground duels won

2/4

Aerial duels won

1/2

While his hold-up play has improved to a degree, the hulking striker simply isn’t doing enough to influence play in the final third. His runs aren’t strong enough and that was evident in the first half.

Saka should have had another assist as the winger flashed in a low cross across the face of the goal. Gyokeres didn’t react quickly enough and couldn’t get on the end of it.

The former Sporting forward only ended up taking one shot, an effort he did well to fashion himself but he ultimately dragged the ball wide.

His performance was summarised brilliantly by Arsenal reporter Charles Watts who handed the attacker a 5/10 match rating, writing that ‘he couldn’t get into the game’ and that ‘Arsenal need more from him’. Sadly, that would appear to be an ongoing theme of his time at the Emirates to date.

For a man who scored 54 goals last season, it’s staggering that he doesn’t look likely to score. Arteta needed a striker who can score with regularity more than anything in the summer but on the evidence we’ve seen thus far, he is not good enough.

When Arsenal face Everton next week, the manager must choose either Merino or Jesus ahead of him instead.

The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Thursday, but it was a tight squeeze for the home side.

The Mets entered the ninth inning up 4–0 and hoped to quickly and cleanly close out the visitors after Kodai Senga limped off the field earlier in the game. That hope dissipated quickly with Washington working Ryne Stanek and getting men on the corners with zero outs. Edwin Diaz came in to put the fire out but wound up loading the bases on four-pitch walk . Manager Carlos Mendoza did not agree with the called ball that resulted in the bases-loaded jam.

He made his opinion quite clear to umpire Chad Whitson, who fired back from behind home plate. The two's heated exchange got loud enough that mics picked up Whitson's hilarious retort as Mendoza continued to rip him for calling a ball: "I'm not a magician!"

It's a funny line and one other umpires should borrow when a manager accuses them of concoting an incorrect call out of thin air. Even if we've definitely seen worse calls from home plate umpires this year.

The Nationals would rally for three runs in the top of the ninth but Diaz earned the save and the Mets won, 4–3.

A statistic has cropped up online in recent weeks regarding Liverpool’s running in the Premier League this season – or lack thereof.

While Liverpool have adopted a cooler approach since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout over a year ago, it is inexcusable that the Reds are being outworked so often this term, emphasising a haggardness that is shaping this frustrating campaign.

Mohamed Salah’s work rate has been questioned this season, accentuated by the 33-year-old’s startling drop-off in front of goal, but he is only one part of a malfunctioning system, and it’s clear that something needs to change.

Slot has the tools to make it an internal fix, but with the January transfer window fast approaching, rumours have emerged concerning Liverpool’s desire to sign a robust new wide forward.

Liverpool's search for a new winger

With Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz both leaving something to be desired down the left channel this season, Liverpool may be interested in signing a more Luis Diaz-esque forward this winter.

This likely wasn’t pre-planned in the FSG offices, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and there’s no question that the Merseysiders are missing the Colombian’s energy and electric presence.

Salah is ageing, and so it’s understandable that he should lack his one-time athleticism. However, that does not alter the problem at hand for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Salah has always been conservative with his energy, though, and Liverpool actually need a profile tuned more toward that of Sadio Mane.

Well, they may have found their man, with Caught Offside revealing that Antoine Semenyo is right at the top of FSG’s shortlist. However, Liverpool will find thick competition in the shape of Manchester United, who are ready to pip their arch-rivals to the Ghanaian’s signature.

Semenyo, 26, would cost at least £65m to prise away from Bournemouth, though it’s felt that a more accurate figure falls toward the £80m ballpark.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

With six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this season, Semenyo has been one of the most in-form players around, his efforts leading content creator Liam Canning to praise his “world-class” technical ability.

Fast and furious and two-footed, this is a maverick of a forward who has sharpened his skills in the Premier League across the past several years and is now ready for a role at a team like Liverpool, with Semenyo actually described as “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now” by Reds analyst Josh Williams.

Indeed, Semenyo is really showing himself to be a superstar, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 9% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics show why he could be such a Mane-esque player for Liverpool, and looking at how he’s doing this term when such statistics are collated against the Senegalese’s final year under Klopp’s wing in the Premier League, you begin to see why Liverpool – and Man United – are so keen.

Premier League – Sadio Mane vs Antoine Semenyo

Stats (* per game)

Mane (21/22)

Semenyo (25/26)

Matches (starts)

34 (32)

11 (11)

Goals

16

6

Assists

2

3

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.1)

2.1 (1.3)

Big chances missed

13

5

Accurate passes

23.6 (77%)

19.8 (77%)

Chances created*

1.3

1.0

Succ. dribbles*

1.4 (61%)

1.9 (46%)

Tackles*

1.0

1.6

Duels won*

4.7

6.5

Data via Sofascore

Liverpool have missed Mane ever since selling him to Bayern Munich in 2022, and with Salah now getting on, Semenyo could provide the injection of energy and positivity that the club so clearly need.

The Anfield side might have won their opening-day clash against the Cherries, but Semenyo set his own tone with a stunning two-goal performance, causing Slot’s backline any number of issues throughout the evening.

Diaz was a fine player for Liverpool, but Mane was a cut above. There is a player profile that Liverpool dearly miss, and if they pull off a deal for Semenyo, they will sign a star with a similar skillset who could restore Liverpool’s equilibrium.

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Former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has picked his favourite manager out of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, having achieved great success playing under both.

A glittering career for Gundogan under great managers

The German is now very much in the autumn of his career, but he has arguably been one of the most successful and influential midfielders of his generation.

Gundogan won five Premier League titles and one Champions League crown with City under Guardiola, during the peak of his powers, but he also tasted Bundesliga title glory alongside Klopp in his younger days at Borussia Dortmund.

Guardiola and Klopp are right up with the best managers of the past 20 years, and among the longest-serving coaches in Premier League history, with the pair huge characters who enjoyed a great rivalry during their respective spells in charge of City and Liverpool.

Everyone will have their favourite out of the two, with some preferring the Spaniard’s tactical genius and others liking Klopp’s more free-flowing style, but what about Gundogan?

Gundogan picks between Guardiola and Klopp

Speaking to The Athletic, Gundogan gave Guardiola the edge over Klopp, due to achieving so much trophy-winning success with him in a City shirt.

This is clearly a tough choice for Gundogan, with the 34-year-old an enormous admirer of two people who have had an incredible impact on him as a player, but it does feel right to go with Guardiola, given their dominance of English football together with City.

As mentioned, Gundogan was a younger player with Klopp at Dortmund, scoring a penalty in the 2013 Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich, but he truly came into own as a player at the Etihad, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet in a squad littered with world-class footballers.

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His title-winning goal at home to Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021/22 season will never be forgotten by City fans, and Liverpool supporters for that matter, and his talent has been worthy of playing under two managerial greats of the game.

West Ham have now reached out to a striker ahead of the January window with injury-prone flop Niclas Füllkrug vying for the London Stadium exit door, according to a new report.

Fullkrug’s time at West Ham has been marked more by injury woes than by impact on the pitch, as persistent fitness problems have severely limited his ability to deliver the goals West Ham hoped for when they signed him.

Arriving with high expectations as a striker capable of adding much-needed firepower, especially after 16 goals in all competitions during his last season at Borussia Dortmund, Fullkrug’s tenure has been marred by repeated setbacks.

The 32-year-old, who cost West Ham chair David Sullivan and co around £27 million to sign in the summer of 2024, missed a combined 28 games for club and country last term through injury.

Niclas Füllkrug’s missed games for West Ham and Germany — 2024/2025

Injury

Missing from

Missing until

Games missed

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

It’s led to critics like Gabriel Agbonlahor and many others questioning West Ham’s strange decision to invest that much money in a 30-plus-year-old forward with a history of physical problems.

Luckily for Nuno Espírito Santo, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that Fullkrug is due to return after the next international break and is actually ahead of schedule in his recovery.

However, the injuries have come far too frequently for West Ham’s liking, with Nuno left to pick up the pieces recently.

The Portuguese went with Lucas Paqueta as a false nine to cover Fullkrug in West Ham’s Premier League defeats against Brentford and Leeds, but Callum Wilson was given the starting spot for their 3-1 win against Newcastle last weekend.

Insiders suggest that Nuno actually doesn’t fancy Wilson at West Ham, but he’s left with little choice to select him as their only natural striker bar inexperienced youngster Callum Marshall.

West Ham’s shortage of striker options has led to credible reports that they’re in the market for another centre-forward in January, as well as a defender and midfielder (Sky Sports).

West Ham sound out Ivan Toney with Niclas Füllkrug 'determined' to leave

Now, according to TEAMtalk, there’s been an update on their pursuit of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney.

Journalist Alan Nixon has previously reported that West Ham have done some work on a deal for Toney ahead of January, with the Hammers still apparently in contention.

The 29-year-old, who’s poised for a tough battle to get into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup, has been largely excluded from the Three Lions set up since his move to Saudi Arabia.

Toney’s only been called up just once in that time, and with USA 2026 looming, he could well be tempted by the prospect of a return to Britain.

Al-Ahli want around £30 million to part ways permanently in the winter, but it is an asking price nobody is willing to pay right now, so the most likely solution is a loan to buy.

Even then, the Irons would have to find a way around his sky-high wages, with Toney earning north of £400,000-per-week in the Gulf.

Nevertheless, TEAMtalk state that West Ham have sounded out Toney about a potential January move, but they’re not alone, with Tottenham and Everton also circling.

All of this comes with Fullkrug described as ‘determined’ to leave the club mid-season, following what’s been a nightmare one-and-a-half year stay thus far. It is added that Nuno personally sees Toney as a “proven goal threat to ignite their season”.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Fullkrug has already informed West Ham of his decision to leave, so the signing of a striker is definitely one to watch in January.

Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw by Monaco in the Champions League last time out, but it was the hosts who had the better chances to win the match.

The French side created five ‘big chances’ in the game, compared to Tottenham’s one, and Guglielmo Vicario prevented a whopping 2.68 xG with eight saves.

Whilst Thomas Frank will be concerned that his goalkeeper needed to make so many saves, the Spurs head coach should be concerned about the lack of potency in the final third.

Tottenham have struggled at the top end of the pitch under the former Brentford boss in the Premier League so far this season, as shown in the table below.

25/26 Premier League

Rank

Big chances created

Big chances missed

1

Crystal Palace – 33

Crystal Palace – 22

2

Man City – 27

Man City – 17

3

Liverpool – 24

Liverpool – 17

4

Chelsea – 23

Leeds – 14

5

Arsenal – 22

Man Utd – 14

6

Man Utd – 22

Arsenal – 13

7

Brighton – 18

Newcastle – 11

8

Leeds – 17

Nottingham Forest – 11

9

Newcastle – 15

Chelsea – 10

10

Everton – 15

Everton – 10

Stats via Sofascore

Spurs do not rank within the top ten Premier League sides for ‘big chances’ created or missed, as they sit 15th in the division for ‘big chances’ created with 13, per Sofascore.

On top of struggling to create chances on a consistent basis, it also remains to be seen whether or not the Lilywhites have a striker who can provide consistent quality in front of goal.

Ranking Tottenham Hotspur's striker options

Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and Dominic Solanke are the main centre-forward options at Frank’s disposal this season, although Solanke is currently making his way back from an ankle injury.

Despite scoring a goal against Leeds United last month, Tel may rank at the bottom of the manager’s options in the number nine position, because he is still a young and inexperienced player.

The France U21 international has scored four goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for the club, per Sofascore, which shows that he still has development to go through before he can offer a consistent threat.

Richarlison is currently the first-choice number nine, in Solanke’s absence, and he has scored eight goals in 37 matches since the start of last season, per Sofascore, including three goals in eight Premier League outings this term.

24/25 Premier League

Dominic Solanke

Appearances

27

Starts

25

xG

10.97

Goals

9

Big chances missed

12

Minutes per goal

245

xA

1.15

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Solanke scored more goals in the Premier League alone last season than Richarlison has managed in all competitions since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

This suggests that the England international is the best striker in the current Spurs squad, but the club are reportedly keen on a player who is even better than him.

Spurs ready to pay up for Serie A striker

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by TuttoJuve, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic.

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The report claims that Fabio Paratici is eyeing up a potential swoop for the Serbia international, but will face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

It adds that all three clubs are willing to pay the fee that Juventus are looking for, which is up to £22m, as they look to move on from Vlahovic in the upcoming January transfer window.

The experienced striker’s contract in Turin is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, which is why the Old Lady are keen to move on from him in January to avoid losing the forward for nothing in the summer.

Why Spurs should sign Dusan Vlahovic

Paratici should push to secure a deal for Vlahovic ahead of both Chelsea and Manchester United because he could arrive in North London as an instant upgrade on Solanke.

The Serbian number nine’s form last season and throughout his career at the top level suggests that he would offer a far more clinical and lethal presence at the top end of the pitch for Spurs.

Vlahovic scored 17 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, including the summer Club World Cup, and hit double figures for goals in the Serie A, per Sofascore.

24/25 season

Vlahovic (Serie A)

Solanke (Premier League)

Starts

21

25

Goals

10

9

Minutes per goal

180

245

Shots on target per game

1.0

1.0

Assists

4

3

Aerial duels won per game

1.3

1.7

Aerial duel success rate

48%

43%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Vlahovic was far more prolific than Solanke at league level, as shown by their respective minutes per goal ratios, whilst he also won a higher percentage of his aerial duels and provided more assists.

These statistics suggest that the Juventus striker, who was described as an “absolute monster” by reporter Carlo Garganese, would provide more quality than the Englishman in the final third.

That is further backed up by their respective career finishing statistics. Per UnderStat, Solanke has scored 38 goals from 52.23 xG in his top-flight career, whilst Vlahovic has 89 goals from 90.73 xG in his time in the Serie A with Fiorentina and Juventus.

This suggests that Vlahovic would provide a level of clinical finishing and goalscoring prowess that Frank does not currently have at his disposal in North London this season.

Therefore, Paratici needs to do all he can to convince the Serbian marksman to turn down potential moves to Manchester United and Chelsea to join the Lilywhites in the upcoming January transfer window, as he would improve the current first-team squad.

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