England’s experiment with Amy Jones at the top of the order paid dividends as she and opening partner Tammy Beaumont scored centuries in a 108-run victory over West Indies in the first ODI in Derby.It was Jones’ maiden international century after 12 years and more than 200 games across formats for England, helping to set a lofty victory target of 346 after captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who chimed in with a 35-ball fifty, won the toss.Linsey Smith, the left-arm spinner on ODI debut following a career resurgence in 2024 after nearly five years on the outer, claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl West Indies out for 237 with 10 balls to spare despite a 91-run opening partnership between Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph.Jones and Beaumont both scored at better than a run a ball and shared a 222-run stand for the first wicket as England reached 345 for 6.Jones had opened the batting 22 times previously in ODIs, but not since the 2019 Women’s Ashes – and 18 times in T20Is, most recently during the World Cup in Australia five years ago.But perhaps in a sign of what was to come, she had opened with Beaumont in all seven of her innings for The Blaze in this year’s domestic one-day cup competition and scored 80, 52 and 41 in her last three outings there.Jones’s innings was chanceless until, on 92, she drove the ball hard back at bowler Jahzara Claxton who couldn’t hold on despite getting both hands to it. Karishma Ramharack missed a similarly well-struck return catch off Jones in the next over.Jones displayed excellent placement and timing, highlighted by a beautiful cover drive off Zaida James for four followed by two more boundaries off the same bowler, threaded expertly between backward and cover point and plundered over mid-on. She brought up her half-century in 59 balls with a single into the leg side off Matthews.Beaumont was more circumspect in raising her fifty although an assertive six over wide long-on, also off Matthews, put her in touching distance and she met the milestone off 74 balls with a cut single off Afy Fletcher.Beaumont signalled a remarkable shift in tempo when she followed back-to-back fours off Aaliyah Alleyne immediately with another six pulled over deep square leg. Her third maximum came off Claxton through wide long-on and she showed great innovation moments later to uppercut a four through deep third before edging Claxton’s next ball just past wicketkeeper Mandy Mangru for four more.Suddenly Beaumont had moved to 92 off 93 and it became a century race between the openers after they posted a first-wicket stand worth 200 for only the fourth time in England Women’s ODI history.Beaumont reached the landmark first, having faced just 22 balls for her second fifty, as she struck two fours in three balls off Ramharack for her 11th ODI ton.She could have fallen three balls later had Mangru held a faint edge as Beaumont looked to work a Ramharack delivery fine and she capitalised with another six over wide long-on off Matthews.Jones brought up her century with a four through extra cover off Cherry-Ann Fraser, prompting a satisfied smile to spread across new head coach Charlotte Edwards’ face.Linsey Smith took a five-for on ODI debut•ECB via Getty Images

Beaumont’s innings finally ended as she advanced to Fraser, missed the cutter and heard her middle and leg stumps rattled.Emma Lamb came in at No. 3 after forcing her way back into the England squad after a peerless start to the domestic 50-over competition. Replacing Maia Boucher in the squad for this series, her stay at the crease was short-lived on Friday when she attempted a reverse-sweep off Matthews and sent a faint top edge to the keeper via her forearm.Jones launched Fraser down the ground for six, followed by back-to-back fours, but she holed out in Matthews’ next over, ending a brilliant innings.Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply but Alice Capsey – called into the ODI squad as cover for Heather Knight, who is out for the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury – slotted in at No. 6 and shared a 57-run partnership with Sciver-Brunt.Sciver-Brunt made a rapid 52 off 36 balls before she fell lbw to Fletcher and Capsey ended with 24 off 19 before she chipped Alleyne to Matthews at extra cover in the final over.Matthews – player of the T20I series despite her side failing to win a game – and Joseph made a decent start in the face of some scrappy England fielding, although the hosts’ efforts weren’t anywhere near as poor as the last time this duo combined so well at the top of the order against them. On that occasion, during the T20 World Cup, England put down five catches to lose the game and exit the tournament.Em Arlott, joining Smith on ODI debut after making her first appearances for England during the T20s against West Indies, made the crucial breakthrough by drawing an edge from Matthews, who was caught behind by Jones two runs shy of her half-century.Arlott should have had her second in the same over – a wicket maiden in the end – as James flashed at a drive which flew straight to backward point but Dunkley spilled the chance.Arlott then beat James with a late-moving fuller ball but it was Smith who pinned James lbw for a laboured 7 off 29 balls.In the meantime, Joseph raised her second fifty in ODIs, greeting Capsey’s introduction to the attack with consecutive fours either side of the V followed by a single to long-on to bring up the mark off 53 deliveries.But it was Capsey who ended Joseph’s stay on 62. After missing a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Shemaine Campbelle the previous delivery, Capsey sent down a slower ball that dipped and beat Joseph’s attempted slog to rattle the stumps.That sparked a mini-collapse in which West Indies lost three wickets for eight runs in the space of 20 deliveries as Smith bowled Campbelle and Mangru to make it 147 for 5 after they had been 124 for 2.Dunkley twice held on in the deep midwicket region to give Smith her five-wicket haul, taking skied chances off Claxton and Fraser, the latter off the last ball of Smith’s allocation to give her figures of 5 for 36 off 10 overs.Alleyne proved stubborn with 44 of 45 balls but she became the last wicket to fall, skying Lauren Bell down the ground and caught by Kate Cross.

Celtic are no strangers to talented players, and plenty of exciting stars have played their part in helping the club establish itself as Scotland’s dominant force over the years.

In the 21st century, the Bhoys have won 19 Scottish Premiership titles, 12 Scottish Cups, and 12 Scottish League Cups, otherwise known as the Premier Sports Cup for commercial purposes.

Brendan Rodgers is the man responsible for the Hoops’ recent triumphs. However, the likes of Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Ange Postecoglou all take their place in the club’s trophy-laden history, with plenty of special players spearheading the hunt for silverware in Glasgow’s east end.

However, some stars don’t get the credit they deserve, pitted against others, even if their unique ability has drawn comparisons to some of the world’s best.

Paddy McCourt's Celtic ability led to claims he was better than Cristiano Ronaldo

Anyone connected with Celtic will attest to the fact that Paddy McCourt, who spent five seasons at the club before leaving at the end of his contract in 2013, is someone who possessed a unique ability to evade his marker at will.

Nicknamed the ‘Derry Pele’ due to his mesmeric dribbling ability, the winger made 88 appearances during his time at the club, registering ten goals and nine assists.

Despite McCourt attracting interest from Liverpool during the early portion of his Celtic career, it may come as a surprise to hear that the two-time Scottish Premiership winner only made 20 starts over five years at the Parkhead club.

One man who knew all too well about his talents was former Northern Ireland defender Lee McEvilly, who was a teammate of the former Hoops man while at Rochdale.

Speaking to the Football Historian podcast, he admitted his father claimed McCourt had more ability than Cristiano Ronaldo while the Portuguese star was in his pomp at Manchester United.

Paddy McCourt's honest admission regarding his career

McCourt’s time at Celtic was definitely the height of his career, though some may wonder why a player with such natural flair didn’t end up in one of the world’s elite leagues.

Answering that question, the former Northern Ireland international admitted in an interview back in 2022 with Planet Football that the modern game and its growing demand for high-intensity running and raised fitness levels ultimately worked to his detriment.

He explained: “Certainly in the later years, football became a lot more structured, a lot more tactical and a lot more physical in terms of distances covered and high-intensity running. That type of stuff was never my strong point. I was never blessed physically in that sense.”

McCourt, who left Celtic for free in 2013, could glide past defenders like they weren’t there and became a cult hero at Celtic, earning adulation from supporters due to his entertaining style of play.

With the modern game headed in a structural direction where individuality is contained at times, the ‘Derry Pele’ is a shining example to young wingers who are looking to harness their dribbling skills.

ESPNcricinfo understands there is mixed opinion among English players at the PSL, with some considering leaving and others wanting to stay

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2025

The PSL 2025 is set to continue despite mounting tensions between Pakistan and India in the aftermath of missile strikes carried out by the Indian army in the early hours of Wednesday on sites across the border in Pakistan. The Indian government said the operation was its response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir in April, in which 26 civilians were killed. Pakistan, which has denied involvement in the attack, claims the missile strikes caused 26 casualties and that it shot down Indian aircraft in response.In a brief statement that made no mention of overnight events, the PCB confirmed that the league would carry on as scheduled. While Tuesday was a rest day in the tournament, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators are scheduled to play on Wednesday night in Rawalpindi, which will also host the next three games.ESPNcricinfo understands there is mixed opinion among English players at the PSL, with some considering leaving and others wanting to stay. The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has been in regular contact with the 15-person contingent. Security and government advice remains that the situation has not changed in the locations where the PSL is taking place, though it is being monitored closely.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also said it was “closely monitoring the evolving security situation”, but for now has allowed their two players currently at the PSL – Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain – to stay in Pakistan.”The safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players currently playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) remain the Board’s top priority,” a BCB statement said. “BCB President Faruque Ahmed is also personally keeping track of the developments and has spoken directly with PSL CEO Salman Naseer and Rishad to ensure the players’ safety and peace of mind. The BCB appreciates the cooperation extended by the PCB and the Bangladesh High Commission and will continue to assess the situation.”The situation among the rest of the foreign contingent is unclear, though there is some nervousness among a few. One franchise official told ESPNcricinfo its foreign players were content to stay on for the moment, though they also acknowledged that the situation could change swiftly.

Compared to some in the division, Leeds United are yet to be completely ravaged by injuries so far this season. That said, they have suffered from some absences here and there.

Lucas Perri has been out of Daniel Farke’s plans since featuring against Newcastle United through injury, but this setback hasn’t derailed the Whites too much, with Karl Darlow taking over in goal, resulting in a win and a draw being clinched.

Moreover, Jayden Bogle has managed to wriggle free of any injury difficulties – with Farke worrying he might have missed the AFC Bournemouth draw – only for the former Sheffield United man to win seven ground duels versus their Premier League foes.

Leeds are well equipped to deal with injury struggles; therefore, with Daniel James, another injury-prone figure, now taking up room in the Elland Road treatment room.

The latest on Dan James' injury setback

It’s well-known by this point that the Welshman has routinely looked out of his depth in the Premier League, whether that be with Leeds or at other clubs.

Glancing at his numbers in the top-flight, and then comparing them to his Championship statistics, it’s really night and day between the two of them.

Once labelled an “exceptional” talent by ex-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he has struggled to ever look Premier League-ready.

Indeed, in the EFL’s elite division to date, the 27-year-old attacker has a bumper 29 goals and 25 assists next to his name, notably finding his way into the PFA Team of the Season for 2024/25.

On the contrary, in the league above, it’s just 12 goals and 13 assists to shout about, with his sketchy injury record also a major cause for concern for the number seven when it comes to regular minutes this season.

Worries emerged earlier this week that the winger had suffered an ACL injury and while the full extent of his recently obtained ankle injury is yet to be fully revealed, it is alleged that he could only miss up to six weeks of action, having also sat out a total of ten games last campaign during Leeds’ promotion hunt due to a hamstring issue.

Despite the Welshman sliding down the pecking order somewhat, he will still be fondly remembered for his key role last season as promotion was achieved, despite said setbacks.

Yet, it’s clear now, from Leeds’ summer business, that upgrades have been purchased all over the pitch to help the top-flight newcomers adjust to the testing Premier League, with one signing already looking a better talent than James at the elite level.

Chalkboard

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

The "electric" star who is better than James

Both of Leeds’ early wins in the Premier League this season have been picked up courtesy of a whole host of Farke’s new purchases shining bright.

On the opening day, it was Lukas Nmecha – who joined from Wolfsburg this summer – who stole the headlines when converting a late penalty to hand his new employers a 1-0 win over Everton.

Then, it was the turn of Noah Okafor, who would seal a convincing 3-1 victory on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers, after leaving AC Milan behind for England late into the hectic transfer window.

Unlike James, who relocated to Elland Road nervously after a stop-start time at the Red Devils, Okafor has arrived in England with his confidence full to the brim.

Indeed, he caused defences in the Austrian Bundesliga, Serie A, and the Swiss Super League all sorts of bother, before another top-flight adventure opened up for him.

Amazingly, playing for the likes of RB Salzburg, Milan, and Basel, Okafor notched up a blistering 81 goal contributions, which blows James’ own lacklustre numbers in the Premier League – another tough top-flight division in Europe – out of the water.

LW

90

20 + 9

CF

79

26 + 16

RW

40

10 + 7

SS

2

0

LM

1

0

Consequently, Leeds might no longer feel a need to persist with James, even with the knowledge that he can bamboozle defences with his pace and skill on his day, when they have a similar winger who is proven at the very top in their fresh number 19.

It’s safe to say that the Swiss is also bamboozling defences in England, evoking memories of a tricky Raphinha when he once plied his trade at Elland Road. Indeed, to rubber-stamp that comparison, Okafor notably made a ridiculous 12 dribbles in the opening 45 minutes of that game with Wolves, the most by any player in the first half of a Premier League game since Boxing Day 2019, when Wilfried Zaha achieved 13 vs West Ham.

James will, no doubt, be given his moment in the Premier League spotlight again when he wriggles free of his latest injury setback.

But, with faces such as the “electric” Okafor already impressing – as he was once labelled by scout Jacek Kulig – Farke won’t feel he has to show blind loyalty to his old guard going forward.

Leeds had the original Gudmundsson & they let him leave for just £1m

Leeds must regret cashing in on this star who was the original Gabriel Gudmundsson at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Oct 2, 2025

He may have finally left the club, but former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy often came under huge fire during his tenure for his actions off the field in North London.

The 63-year-old spent over two decades in the role, but was constantly called into question for his lack of spending to help improve the first-team squad.

He was undoubtedly part of the reason for the Lilywhites’ failures on the pitch, with the club even going 17 long years without a piece of silverware during his tenure.

Levy often became known for offloading key talents on the books of the club, something which once again led to anger from the supporters – especially given his lack of funding after such departures.

One player in particular was sold without an immediate adequate replacement being signed in the same window, which undoubtedly contributed to his demise in the role.

Levy’s decision to sell Harry Kane from Spurs

No Spurs fan would’ve predicted the success Harry Kane would have had for the first-team in North London, after he made his first Premier League start back in 2012.

The Englishman was an unknown quantity to many despite rising through the youth ranks, but rapidly adhered himself to the supporters with his form in front of goal.

He rapidly became a first-team regular, with his first major taste of success coming in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring 31 times in his 51 outings for the Lilywhites across all competitions.

Such a year would be the fourth-best of his time in North London, with his highest goalscoring year seeing him net a total of 35 goals – subsequently winning the Premier League golden boot that year.

As a result of his tremendous goalscoring record, the 32-year-old remains their highest ever goalscorer, with his total of 280 goals breaking the record set by the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, he was sold in the summer of 2023, subsequently joining German side Bayern Munich for a fee in the region of £82m – the second highest in their history.

Whilst they received a mammoth fee for his signature, no new centre forward was brought into the club until 12 months later, with Dominic Solanke costing a club-record £65m from Bournemouth.

However, the former chairman also made a huge mistake in allowing one other former player to depart the club, with the 63-year-old unable to land the reinforcements after his move away.

Levy’s biggest mistake whilst at Spurs

After such dismal years on the pitch for a prolonged period of time, it was hardly a surprise to see numerous top-level talents moving away for pastures new.

Just like Kane, numerous players caught the eye for the Lilywhites, including Kieran Trippier who has to depart and join Atlético Madrid to fulfil his ambitions of winning trophies.

The right-back racked up over 100 appearances in North London, but failed to win a single trophy – subsequently claiming the LaLiga trophy in his second year in Madrid.

He wasn’t the only player to move to Spain to take his career to the next level, with Gareth Bale making the leap and joining Real Madrid in a £85m deal in the summer of 2013.

His move remains a club-record fee received for a player, but such a deal left a huge hole in the club’s forward line and understandably so given his record in North London.

The Welsh international, who was dubbed “world-class” by John Hartson, scored 73 goals for the club before his big-money transfer, with his final campaign in the Premier League by far and away his best.

He netted 26 times in his 44 appearances for the Lilywhites, further highlighting the task the hierarchy had in trying to replace such a top-level talent.

In an attempt to do just that, Levy decided to fork out around £60m on the signatures of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela, but both ultimately failed to produce the goods in England.

The pair only scored 53 goals combined during their respective seasons at the club, with such a tally miles below the one Bale managed to achieve on his own.

21/22

20

11

2

12/13

33

21

8

11/12

36

10

13

10/11

30

7

2

09/10

23

3

5

08/09

16

0

0

07/08

8

2

1

Given his tally of 15 major trophies in Madrid, the player himself certainly made the right call in leaving the club, but it’s safe to say owner Levy should have tried harder to keep hold of the winger.

After seeing the replacements brought in to the club, there’s no question that Levy made a huge mess of the transfer, with such a decision one of his worst at the club.

Spurs already have dream Son heir who's yet to play in the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur could save themselves millions with a Heung-min Son replacement within their ranks.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians liberou o zagueiro Murillo para viajar para a Inglaterra e acertar com o Nottingham Forest. O atleta, portanto, não foi relacionado para o duelo desta terça-feira (29) contra o Estudiantes, da Argentina, em La Plata, que marcará a volta pela fase de quartas de final da Conmebol Sul-Americana.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthians‘Esquecido’ por Luxemburgo, Cantillo pode não jogar mais pelo CorinthiansCorinthians28/08/2023DicasEstudiantes x Corinthians: odds, estatísticas e informações do jogo de volta das quartas de final da Sul-AmericanaDicas28/08/2023CorinthiansRenato Augusto vira dúvida para jogo contra o Estudiantes e deixa clima tenso no CorinthiansCorinthians28/08/2023

No último domingo (27), o Timão chegou a um acordo com o clube inglês em relação à venda do defensor por 13 milhões de euros (R$ 68,9 milhões, na cotação atual), mais 3 milhões de euros (R$ 15,9 milhões) a serem recebidos em um futuro próximo, caso o jogador cumpra metas. O valor foi pelos 80% dos direitos econômicos que o clube do Parque São Jorge detinha. O jogador e seu estafe permanecem com os 20% restantes.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

O camisa 34 chegou a ser relacionado e ficou no banco de reservas no empate do Timão com o Goiás pelo Brasileirão, que aconteceu no último sábado (26). Na ocasião, as negociações com os ingleses já aconteciam, mas ainda havia detalhes para o fechamento, que ocorreu no dia seguinte.

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Murillo esteve no CT Joaquim Grava na manhã desta segunda-feira (28), mas não participou do último treinamento do elenco profissional antes das quartas de final da Sul-Americana. O jogador da base apenas se despediu de seus companheiros de equipe e também dos responsáveis por sua formação.

O zagueiro chegou ao Corinthians em 2019 para integrar o time sub-17. Antes, ele passou pela base do São Caetano, ECUS Suzano, São Bernardo e União Barbarense. A saída do atleta para o Nottingham Forest teve muito a ver com a vontade do jogador de atuar na Premier League. Antes disso, o Timão já havia recusado investidas da Fiorentina e do Napoli, ambos da Itália, pelo atleta.

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Muhammad Jawadullah’s four-for goes in vain for UAE as Bangladesh take 1-0 lead

Mohammad Isam17-May-2025
Parvez Hossain Emon smashed a 53-ball hundred to lead Bangladesh to 191 for 7 and set up a 27-run win for a 1-0 lead in the two-T20I series against UAE in Sharjah on Saturday. Big hits from Muhammad Waseem, Rahul Chopra and Asif Khan meant that UAE make a good fist of the chase, but clever death bowling from Mustafizur Rahman, who is headed for IPL 2025, gave Bangladesh victory.Parvez’s century was only the second by a Bangladeshi in T20Is after Tamim Iqbal had scored an unbeaten 103 against Oman in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Parvez also set the Bangladesh record for most sixes in a T20I innings, hitting nine, beating Rishad Hossain’s seven against Sri Lanka last year.Related

Waseem and UAE make history after acing 206 chase against Bangladesh

Mustafizur cleared to join DC for remaining IPL 2025 league games

UAE had Muhammad Jawadullah to thank for keeping Bangladesh under 200 as the left-arm quick took four wickets. He became only the second Associate bowler to take a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh. The first was Hong Kong’s Nadeem Ahmed in the T20 World Cup in 2014.UAE’s batters put pressure on Bangladesh’s attack, but a late collapse damaged their cause.Asif can’t take UAE homeAfter Waseem’s fall in the 12th over with UAE at 103, Asif hit some massive sixes, giving Bangladesh a scare during his 21-ball 42. He took a liking to Mahedi Hasan, pasting him for three sixes down the ground in the 13th over. In all, Asif took the spinner for 23 off five balls at a strike rate of 460.Wickets, though, kept falling at the other end. Chopra and Dhruv Parashar fell in successive overs, but Asif continued to go big, hitting Hasan Mahmud for a straight six and four in the 17th over. Sanchit Sharma and Muhammad Zuhaib fell in quick succession as well before Asif was the eighth UAE batter to be dismissed in the penultimate over. That meant game over.Waseem’s fiery startIn a surprising move, Bangladesh had offspinner Mahedi operating with the new ball against the right-handed Waseem, who launched him for six first ball. In that second over of the innings, Mahedi conceded 19 runs.Waseem then tore into Tanzim Hasan, hammering him for a six and two fours in the third over, before UAE lost two wickets in the space of four balls. Waseem then attacked Tanvir Islam with sweeps, taking 14 off another over, and then reached his fifty off just 32 balls in the tenth over.Chopra was also similarly aggressive and had an answer for everything that Mahmud threw at him, including a scooped six. Chopra also struck Mustafizur for a superb boundary. The fall of Waseem and Chopra, though, hurt the chase.Muhammad Waseem set UAE’s chase up with a 39-ball 54•Emirates Cricket BoardParvez brings the sixesParvez offset the early dismissal of his opening partner Tanzid Hasan with a four and a six off Parashar in the third over. His second six, a belt over long-on against Matiullah Khan, went out of the stadium. Parvez also lined up Sanchit, hitting him for three straight sixes in an 18-run over.The left-hand batter reached his fifty in the ninth over, with a straight four against the legspinner Haider Ali, before Parashar removed Towhid Hridoy to break a 58-run third-wicket stand. There was a short break from boundaries after that, but Parvez resumed the big-hitting the 14th over. The only one of his nine sixes that wasn’t hit down the ground came then as Parvez struck Zuhaib over square leg.Jaker Ali also struck Zuhaib for a six but he fell off the next ball, caught at long-on, for 13. Parvez, though, kept swinging at the other end, hitting Zuhaib for his eighth six, breaking the Bangladesh record for most sixes in a T20I innings.He got a life on 84 when he was caught down the ground but the bowler Matiullah had overstepped. Parvez struck his ninth six to move into 96 and went on to bring up his century in the penultimate over of the innings, with a quick single, before falling next ball.Jawadullah impressesThe six-hitting mayhem, however, stopped whenever Jawadullah came into the attack. He conceded just one boundary in his four overs, picking up wickets at every opportunity.Jawadullah removed the Bangladesh captain Litton Das, yorking him with his first delivery. He then removed Mahedi, Bangladesh’s new vice-captain, in the 12th over. Mahedi was late to Jawadullah’s hard length, falling caught behind for two. The dangerous Shamim Hossain was his next victim, given lbw swinging across the line, before Jawadullah signed off with Parvez’s wicket in the last over.Impressively, Jawadullah only gave away six runs in the 20th over of Bangladesh’s innings, but his spell was not enough for UAE to topple Bangladesh.

Liverpool will be reminded of the Premier League's multi-ball rules after multiple breaches of the system during their late loss to Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. The rules on how balls are given to players after going out of play changed in 2022, with ball boys and girls no longer allowed to throw them to players, as they are instead positioned on cones, with stars expected to pick them up themselves.

• Liverpool to be reminded over rules

  Per the , the Premier League are set to speak with Liverpool to remind them of the nature of the multi-ball rules in fixtures played under their banner. In 2022, rules were changed, meaning that players are now expected to pick the ball up themselves, instead of waiting for ball boys or girls to throw it to them. However, after Harry Maguire scored a late goal for United at Anfield to give Ruben Amorim's side a 2-1 lead, which they would not surrender, the ball attendants repeatedly threw them to players in a bid to restart play quickly. 

  The rule also precludes staff from picking up the ball and throwing it to a player, something that Reds manager Arne Slot was guilty of as time ticked down. Liverpool have now lost four games in a row, sparking what could be fairly termed as a crisis on Merseyside.

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• AFP
  

  Precedent exists for punishment

  A precedent was established in August after Aston Villa were found guilty of breaking the regulations, and were fined £125,000. They accepted that last season they had ignored the rules on no fewer five occasions. As well as ball staff throwing the ball to players, they were also alleged to have thrown another ball onto the pitch while the opposition goalkeeper was in possession of the match ball on the pitch. The report makes it clear that Liverpool do not expect a fine after one example of failing to abide by the rules, but they do expect to be reminded of their responsibilities towards them. United, for their part, did not actually make a complaint, although the Red Devils were said to be surprised that it went unchecked during the game. As a result of the ban, Villa were also suspended from using the multi-ball system in three games. 

• Liverpool's dismal form

  The Reds have endured a dismal run under Arne Slot's management and have now gone four games in all competitions without a win. Not just that, they have been beaten by Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and United in the league, and by Galatasaray in the Champions League. The Reds have not endured such a run since 2014 under Brendan Rodgers, and have not lost five games in a row since September of 1953. 

  Slot bemoaned his side's bad luck after the final whistle, while taking a jab at United, telling reporters: "It's always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block, that mainly plays a long ball but it makes it even more difficult if you go 1-0 down after one minute after a player of ours is on the floor.

  "I think if you would have told me before the game, against a low block and against a team that plays so many long balls, that we would have created as many chances as we did – I would not have expected us to lose this game.

  "I think people forget how many chances we had when we were 1-0 down in the first half because when you're 1-0 down it's quite normal that people focus on the ball you play wrong or a moment where you could have played forward and you don't."

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  What comes next for Liverpool?

  Liverpool's next fixture comes against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League as the Reds attempt to wrestle back some control over their fate. Slot will be desperate to avoid a fifth successive defeat. The Reds won their opening European encounter, beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield, before their defeat to Galatasaray. After their continental trip, they face Brentford away from home this weekend. 

Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged the Bundesliga champions to reconsider a reported early contract extension for Harry Kane, labelling the idea "madness" despite the star striker's incredible form. The club legend warned that Kane's age and defensive workload pose a risk, and he fears Bayern could suffer a mid-season collapse.

Hamann slams timing of proposed new contract

Despite the England captain's phenomenal goalscoring form, Hamann believes offering a new deal to the 32-year-old would be a serious misstep, citing concerns over his age and long-term impact.

He strongly advised against the club's apparent plan to extend Kane's contract, which is not due to expire until June 2027. Hamann was unequivocal in his assessment of the situation, questioning the logic of renegotiating with more than a year and a half still remaining on the current agreement.

"That would be madness. He'll be 34 when the contract expires," Hamann said on . "You can't extend a contract that still has 20 months to run. It would be madness." 

The former Liverpool player also cast doubt on Kane's ability to consistently deliver against the very best opposition. "At the European Championship, England won their games when Kane came off," he said. "Whether he scores against the best teams like Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal remains to be seen."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportConcerns raised over Kane's defensive workload

Kane's incredible start to life in Bavaria has been built on more than just goals. His all-round contribution and work rate have been widely praised, particularly his defensive efforts in the crucial 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. However, Hamann sees this as a potential negative, warning that it could detract from the striker's primary role.

"It shouldn't become common practice for Kane to slide tackle 20 meters from his own goal," the 52-year-old warned. "The first thing that could suffer is that he stops scoring goals." This concern comes despite Kane opening the scoring in the 22nd minute of that very match, a result which sent Bayern seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Bayern's perfect start not enough to convince Hamann

While Vincent Kompany's side have enjoyed a flawless start to the season, winning all eleven of their competitive matches, Hamann remains cautious. He pointed to last season's dip in form after a strong start as a reason to temper expectations and warned that the team's high-energy style may not be sustainable with a small squad.

"They're still the team that runs the most in the Bundesliga. That has little to do with efficiency," said Hamann. "We'll see whether they can keep it up with the small squad they have… The awards will be handed out in April and May. They played good football last fall as well, but after that, it became less and less. That's why I'm cautious with superlatives." He even claimed that Bayern were "standing knocked out" during the final 25 minutes against Dortmund.

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Kane the best?

Kane’s career statistics highlight his status as one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. The vast majority of his career was spent at Tottenham, where he became the club's all-time top scorer with 280 goals in 435 appearances, 213 of which came in the Premier League. Since transferring to Bayern Munich in 2023, Kane has maintained a phenomenal strike rate, netting 104 goals in just 107 games. His dominance in Germany includes 74 goals in 70 Bundesliga matches. In the Champions League, he holds a combined 44 goals across 59 appearances for both clubs. For England, Kane is his nation's all-time top scorer, finding the net 76 times in 110 caps.

أكد وليد سليمان نجم الأهلي ومنتخب مصر السابق، ان النادي الأهلي بحاجة صفقة هامة خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية المقبلة. 

وكان الأهلي قد تعادل مع بتروجيت، بهدف لكل فريق ضمن مناسفات الجولة الـ12 من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز. 

طالع.. عاجل ورسميًا | فوز قائمة محمود الخطيب كاملة في انتخابات الأهلي

ويحتل الأهلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز برصيد 22 نقطة، حيث لعب الفريق 11 مباراة، فاز في 6 مباريات وتعادل في 4 مواجهات، وخسر مباراة وحيدة. 

وقال وليد سليمان في تصريحات على قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “عتابي على اللاعبين عندما يكون هناك جهاز فني جديد، فالأداء لابد أن يكون أشرس وأقوى”. 

وأضاف: “طلما هناك مدرب جديد فلابد أن يؤدي كل لاعب أقوى ما عنده ليظهر إمكاناته للمدرب، ولكن لم أر أي حماس لديهم أمام بتروجيت، وشعرت من كل المتواجدين التعالي على الكرة وضمان المشاركة أيًا كان الأداء”.

وتابع: “الأهلي يحتاج إلى التعاقد مع رأس حربة هداف خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية المقبلة، كما نحتاج إلى ظهير أيسر قريب من علي معلول”.