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Celtic have closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table on a potentially pivotal Sunday.

The Hoops demolished Kilmarnock 4-0 at Parkhead, with Johnny Kenny breaking the deadlock, Kieran Tierney adding a second shortly after half time, before Daizen Maeda and then Arne Engels from the penalty spot added a little gloss to the scoreline late on.

With Hearts held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United over at Tynecastle, the Hoops go into the international break now just seven points adrift of the leaders, also with a game in hand.

For Martin O’Neill, since returning to the Parkhead dugout after two decades away, he has enjoyed back-to-back 4-0 Premiership wins, as well as dumping Rangers out of the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden; the less said about Thursday’s Europa League clash with Midtjylland the better!

In this victory, for however long the 73-year-old remains in caretaker charge, he learned that one Celtic player in particular can be counted on.

Will O'Neill still be at Celtic after the break?

After Sunday’s comfortable victory, O’Neill confirmed “I genuinely don’t know” if he will still be in charge for their next fixture, adding that if the board do appoint a permanent manager during the international break that it’ll “be absolutely fine by me”.

When Celtic do return to action later this month, they’ll travel to St Mirren before facing Feyenoord in Rotterdam in a repeat of the 1970 European Cup Final, but who will be in charge of those matches?

Well, could it be Wilfried Nancy?

He is currently the favourite to land the job, reportedly one of the club’s top targets alongside Kieran McKenna, and a move to Glasgow may have edged a little bit closer this weekend, after Nancy’s Columbus Crew were dumped out the MLS play-offs by rivals FC Cincinnati on Saturday, meaning their season is now over, which could expedite any appointment, if he is indeed who they want.

Irrespective of who is sat in the away dugout in Paisley in a fortnight, they surely can’t help but be impressed by the performance of one Celtic player in particular this weekend.

Celtic star enjoys his finest day of the season vs Kilmarnock

The Celtic medical staff may need to paraphrase Police Chief Brody from Jaws: we’re going to need a bigger treatment room!

The Hoops are already without Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota and Kelechi Ịheanachọ, before Hampden hero Callum Osmand​​​​​​​ suffered a long-term injury in Herning on Thursday, while Marcelo Saracchi was then stretchered off in the first half against Kilmarnock.

This obviously is not ideal, but does of course present opportunities for others and, in the absence of Carter-Vickers, his compatriot Auston Trusty has really impressed.

The American centre-back put in an excellent display against Rangers in last weekend’s semi-final victory, but was possibly even more eye-catching this Sunday, with the statistics supporting this assertion.

Accurate passes

98

1st

Passing accuracy %

96%

3rd

Accurate long balls

9

2nd

Dribbles success %

100%

1st

Defensive actions

9

5th

Clearances

7

3rd

Interceptions

1

6th

Duels won

9

1st

Aerial duels won

6

1st

Touches

117

1st

SofaScore rating

8.4

3rd

As the table documents, the centre-half put in a colossal defensive display on Sunday, ranked first for duels as well as accurate passes and touches.

Meantime, when only Celtic players are considered, nobody accumulated more defensive actions, clearances or interceptions.

Glasgow World documented that he ‘continued his rich vein of form’, while noting that the 27-year-old appears to be the perfect man to fill a rather large Carter-Vickers-shaped void at the back.

The defender, who was named man of the match, was also labelled “composed, dominant and aggressive”, having been “immense​​​​​​​” since Carter-Vickers suffered a long-term achilles injury against Sturm Graz.

As recognition of his form, Trusty has been recalled to the United States squad for their friendlies against Paraguay in Pennsylvania and then Uruguay in Florida next week.

Trusty has not played a single minute for the USMNT since November last year, but could well change that as Mauricio Pochettino continues to experiment ahead of the World Cup.

Back at club level, Celtic will need Trusty to remain fit, available and in form because, frankly, they don’t have any other options and, if a new manager is appointed in the next fortnight, he has really staked a claim to remain a key figure. This was undoubtedly his finest day of the campaign to date.

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The opener exuded confidence ahead of Pakistan’s first game of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi, against Sri Lanka

Danyal Rasool22-Sep-20251:39

Chopra: Clear difference in Pakistan’s intent with the bat

Pakistan may be sitting at the bottom of the Super Four table after another fairly convincing defeat against India, but their best performer on the night felt the game showed what Pakistan were capable of. Sahibzada Farhan, who dominated the first ten overs of the contest and scored a 34-ball half-century, was confident Pakistan were well set up to put themselves on the board against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.”The way we batted today, the boys are very confident,” Farhan said, speaking after the game against India. “The wickets in Abu Dhabi are true and the ball comes onto the bat, and we’ll play to win.”Unlike Sri Lanka, who have played two of their four games in Dubai, Pakistan’s four matches at the Asia Cup have all taken place there. Without a formal training session, they will go into a game which may end up proving an eliminator for the losing side, with Sri Lanka having begun the Super Fours with defeat to Bangladesh. Farhan, though, dismissed the idea that preparation was a concern.Related

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“We’re very well prepared. The boys are confident ahead of the Sri Lanka game because this wasn’t a one-sided game; it was one we took right to the end.”That increased optimism is largely down to Farhan himself. His start, particularly in the way he took down Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay, as well as the aggression against Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in the four overs that followed, took Pakistan to 91 for 1 in ten overs, their highest midway total against India. Despite a post-drinks slowdown which robbed them of momentum, Pakistan posted 171, requiring India to complete the highest successful chase of the tournament for victory.”I worked a lot on my six hitting,” Farhan, who hit three sixes and is Pakistan’s highest run-scorer of the tournament, said. “When I used to score runs before, there were very few boundaries among them. If we’d won this game, it would have been very valuable to me. Performing against India is very highly rated but I just regret we didn’t win the game today.”The mistake we were making in previous matches was losing wickets early on and not utilising the powerplay. This time around our powerplay was brilliant, with 91 in 10 overs. There was a collapse in the middle and we’ll look to rectify that.”When, with a six of Axar, Farhan reached his half-century, he opted to celebrate in a manner that raised eyebrows at the time, with Farhan cocking his bat and miming the firing of a gun. It was just one of the flashpoints in an ill-tempered game between the two sides, though Farhan said there was nothing to read into it.”That celebration was just a spur of the moment. I rarely celebrate when I get to fifty,” he said. “But when I got there I suddenly got the idea of celebrating, and so I did without knowing or caring how people would interpret it. We should play aggressive cricket against any team, not just India, the way we played today.”Farhan hoped Pakistan and India aren’t done with each other yet in the Asia Cup. “We’d love to be able to meet India again in the final.”Their trip to Abu Dhabi is likely to have a huge say in determining how realistic that ambition is.

As the Ranji Trophy hits pause after five rounds, ESPNcricinfo looks at five players who have impressed so far

Shashank Kishore20-Nov-2025

Auqib Nabi (J&K) – Wickets 29 | Average 13.27

A swing bowler with immaculate control, Nabi, 29, has been delivering standout performances in the Ranji Trophy for two seasons now. He’s not a 140kph express quick – around 125-130 kph at best – but he’s someone who can make the new ball talk, like Bhuvneshwar Kumar did.In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Nabi averaged 13.93 for his 44 wickets – more than any seamer in the country, and overall second only to Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey. At the Duleep Trophy in August, he produced a moment that grabbed national attention: four wickets in four balls for North Zone against East Zone.He began the Ranji Trophy with a five-for against Mumbai, but it’s over the last few weeks that he’s truly surged. In the fourth round, Nabi’s five-wicket haul powered J&K’s first-ever win over Delhi. A week later, he took 4 for 39 against Hyderabad, helping J&K secure a first-innings lead that turned into a match-winning one. Then came the spell of the season so far: 7 for 24 against Rajasthan that earned J&K a bonus-point win.With this level of consistency and impact, how much longer before Nabi gets a call-up to the India A squad?Ravichandran Smaran has had a tremendous start to his 2025-26 Ranji season•PTI

R Smaran (Karnataka) – Runs 595 | Average 119.00

Thirteen first-class games into his career, 22-year old Smaran already has three double-centuries – two of them in this Ranji season. A left-hand, top-order batter who first made his name in T20 cricket, he got his opportunity in red-ball cricket only last year when Karnataka moved on from Manish Pandey. Smaran has ensured the transition has been seamless, slotting in with a maturity well beyond his age and experience.Both his double-tons this season have come in matches that Karnataka won comfortably. His unbeaten 220 against Kerala was on a turning surface in Mangalapuram, where he anchored a commanding first-innings total that led to an innings victory.His most recent effort – an unbeaten 227 in Hubli – was in completely different conditions: a green-tinged pitch, Karnataka wobbling at 64 for 3, with Smaran rebuilding the innings alongside Karun Nair before batting through.Smaran combines elegance with power and is confident against spin. His strength off the back foot adds another layer to a well-rounded game. Having made his mark in white-ball cricket last season, he has continued to evolve in red-ball cricket too, ensuring he is nowhere close to falling prey to the second-season syndrome.Prithvi Shaw recorded the third-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history•PTI

Prithvi Shaw (Maharashtra) – Runs 470 runs | Average 67.14

Prithvi Shaw is outside the top ten run-scorers this season, but the impact he’s made and the circumstances of his return is noteworthy. He’s been a typically robust presence at the top, taking pressure off Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has moved to a stable role in the middle order. Shaw, 26, has scored his runs at a strike rate of 92.33 – an indication of his dominance.Having left Mumbai, his start for Maharashtra was inauspicious, with familiar failings resurfacing when he was caught in the slips for a four-ball duck on debut against Kerala. He bounced back to make a barnstorming 75 in the second innings.Shaw’s impact was felt against Chandigarh, when he made 222 off just 156 balls to help Maharashtra race to 359 for 3 in just 52 overs, setting up a target they successfully defended after it looked like the game would end in a draw. Shaw’s innings gave Maharashtra a little over four sessions to bowl Chandigarh out and secure their first outright win.Since then, Shaw has made scores of 71 and 74 against Karnataka and Punjab; the 74 coming in a bonus-point win that put them second in Group B.

Abhinav Tejrana (Goa) – Runs 651 runs |Average 93.00

A stylish left-hand batter, Tejrana, 24, found opportunities hard to come by in Delhi and made the move to Goa ahead of the 2023-24 season. After two strong years in the Under-23 circuit, he finally earned his Ranji debut this season – and announced himself in stunning fashion. On debut, he struck a match-winning double-century against Chandigarh, a knock that justified Goa’s faith in him.He backed it up with a composed half-century against Karnataka, and followed up with his second hundred of the season, this time against Punjab. And in the fifth round that ended on Wednesday, Tejrana compiled a fighting 118 against a high-quality Saurashtra attack – he was one of the few Goa batters to show resistance in an innings defeat.As the season pauses for the white-ball leg, Tejrana is in line to make his List A and T20 debuts for his adopted state.Shams Mulani has been an all-round star for Mumbai•PTI

Shams Mulani (Mumbai) – Wickets 28 wickets l Average 21.10

Mulani, 28, topped the Ranji wicket charts in 2021-22, finished second in 2022-23, and was third last season. This year, he’s once again on course to secure a top-three finish – underlining a level of consistency few spinners in the country have matched.Yet, despite this sustained excellence, he has struggled to become a regular in India A squads, largely because there is an abundance of left-arm spin allrounders. Even so, Mulani belongs in the top bracket of left-arm spinners in the country, alongside Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and R Sai Kishore.This season, he has been central to Mumbai’s surge to the top of Group D, influencing games with both bat and ball. In the season-opener in Srinagar, he hit a vital 41 in the second innings to stretch Mumbai’s lead to 243, before running through J&K with a match-defining 7 for 46 in a tense 35-run win.In the match against Himachal, he scored a composed half-century to help build a commanding first-innings total and set up the follow-on, after which he delivered 5 for 37 to seal Mumbai’s second successive victory.

Kagiso Rabada called the Rawalpindi win “one of the highlights” of his career

Firdose Moonda23-Oct-2025South Africa’s Test squad is leaving Pakistan with shared spoils and the satisfaction that they have turned the corner when it comes to playing in the subcontinent. The Rawalpindi Test win was their third in four matches in Asia, after they beat Bangladesh 2-0 a year ago, a series that has been described by several players as the turning point for their 2023-2025 WTC campaign.Before that series, South Africa had lost 10 out of 11 Tests in the subcontinent over a decade, across tours to India (2015 and 2019), Sri Lanka (2018) and Pakistan (2021). Now that they have ticked off a win against one of those opponents, it has given them the belief they have found a way to do it more regularly.”This victory is definitely one of the highlights in my career,” Kagiso Rabada, whose career-best 71 played a crucial role in the Pindi victory push, said at the post-match press conference. “Winning a Test match outside of Bangladesh in the subcontinent. I think that’s pretty awesome. It definitely gives the guys a lot of confidence. Also, it’s a pretty young team and a young team that wants to go out and do the dirty work.”Related

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Rabada operated almost as the solitary seamer across the two Tests, with Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen delivering 25 overs between them and the spinners doing the bulk of the work, and made his mark with his first Test half-century. His knock of 71 off 61 balls, which was part of a tenth-wicket stand of 98 with Senuran Muthusamy, came against the slow-scoring run of play and deflated Pakistan. It also earned Rabada a new bat, after a pact with David Bedingham.”We have a thing where if I score 30 runs, he’ll give me a bat because we are sponsored by the same batting company,” Rabada said. “He said he thought his money was safe after the way I batted in the first Test. So that was just one way to get one up on him.”Coming off a pair in Lahore, Rabada pulled off a series of powerful shots down the ground including a six off Shaheen Shah Afridi. No other batter played with such chutzpah though Rabada said it was always part of South Africa’s plan in tough conditions.”We wanted to be aggressive in the way that we played, because if you just sit around waiting for a bad ball, you’re probably going to get a good ball that gets you out,” he said. “It was important that the batting unit could establish the shots that they wanted to play to put the opposition under pressure and that they start putting fielders back and then you can start rotating the strike.”Kagiso Rabada bowled without much reward in Rawalpindi•Getty ImagesThat his bowling took a backseat despite excellent spells where he drew Abdullah Shafique’s edge, in particular, several times without success didn’t bother Rabada. “If you’re a fast bowler and nothing’s happening for you, it’s about keeping the game quiet or finding a wicket here and there and applying pressure by slowing the rate down. It’s about running and giving it your all,” he said. “You can still create pressure for the spinners, so they do their job much better. It doesn’t help if we are leaking everywhere and not necessarily bowling correctly. Not many rewards came my way, but I was more than happy to do the job that I did.”Rabada said the spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy was “world-class”. “We came here with brilliant spinners and you saw the way that they performed. That was a really massive tick,” Rabada said. “And the batters as well. Rickleton stepped up. He came into this Test series under pressure. Stubbs came into this Test series under pressure, played a crucial knock. Tony (de Zorzi) came into this series under pressure.”Rickelton had scores of 16 and 6 in the WTC final and only one half-century across 11 white-ball internationals in August and September. Stubbs had only got into double figures once in nine innings before his first-innings 76, and de Zorzi had lost his Test spot to Rickelton and is trying to find his way back. He was the only batter in the series to score a century.South Africa ensured they still have not lost a series since the 2-0 defeat with a makeshift side in New Zealand last February and have won 10 of their last 12 Tests. “You have to be doing a lot of things right to get results like that,” Rabada said. And South Africa will feel that they did.

Despite the doubts, Pakistan’s renovations are on track, albeit the clock is ticking loudly

Danyal Rasool24-Jan-2025The joke in Lahore – or it would be, if it wasn’t so often true – is that everybody seems to be in a hurry, and yet nothing is ever on time. It is perhaps only fitting that, just a few months ago, there was a nagging worry this would also apply to the city’s most iconic sporting colosseum, the Gaddafi Stadium.While the Champions Trophy was awarded to Pakistan three years ago, the upgrades required to Pakistan’s venues – most notably in Lahore – only started in earnest in August. At the time, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that a massive infrastructure project would see the whole structure knocked down and rebuilt almost from scratch, after admitting that none of Pakistan’s stadia were up to international standards and promising to change that.At the same time, the PCB recognised that scepticism in Pakistan concerning whether this could be done on time was high. They have issued a dozen updates since, insisting that the project is on track to finish on time, and that 250 workers labour “day and night” to meet the deadline.Related

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They have more than once quashed speculation that construction delays could see the tournament moved to the UAE. A fortnight ago, the board felt confident enough that work at each venue was on track to announce that a tri-series before the Champions Trophy – originally scheduled for Multan – would take place in Lahore and Karachi, instead.The area around the Gaddafi Stadium was never an oasis of calm but, just two weeks out from the start of that tri-series, it is a hive of frenzied activity. Diggers fill in the dirt in the gap between the front rows in the stands and the boundary fences. Power tools and welding kits lie scattered about, while managers assure there is little concern about the tight deadline they must stick to.Two things become immediately clear; there is indeed much to do, but also that it is being done at breakneck speed. The balcony in front of the players’ pavilion – part of a new hospitality enclosure for players and officials – offers perfect views in line with the pitch, though it has some way to go before it’s ready. There’s a 4x2m rectangular hole sectioned off in the middle, while the staircase they will descend to take to the field is in its embryonic stages.The Imran Khan enclosure at Gaddafi Stadium is being renovated•Danyal RasoolA rectangular mortar structure a quarter full of wet cement nestles in the corner which, when completed, will be used for players’ ice baths. This is the side of the ground where much of the refurbishment is happening; many of the hospitality and corporate enclosures have been rebuilt from scratch.The walk back down the stairs to the ground floor is made slightly nervy by the current absence of safety rails on either side, but here is where the work is most concentrated; hammering, nailing, welding, excavating, beaming, all happening in such fury it is hard not to feel that one’s own presence is a hindrance. It is here, underneath the Imran Khan enclosure, that bricks and cement lie scattered about on the sludgy ground, with the floor tiles yet to be laid.Make your way from underneath those long columns, out of the tunnel and into the open expanse of the stadium itself, and the bigger picture – in more ways than one – hits you. Most of the standing structure has been erected, and more than half the seats are laid out. More are being added as you watch, like an ever-expanding sea of forest green and white. Two new giant replay screens in the ground are also being added; one is complete, with the other more than halfway there.There used to be no view to speak of from the foot of the enclosures because large steel fences had been erected in the past. While they kept spectators physically away from the playing field, they also had the effect of visually locking them out from seeing the actual cricket they happened to be there for.Seats have now been laid in more than half the stands at the Gaddafi Stadium•Danyal RasoolNow, this is where the action will feel closest. The steel cages are gone, and they’re not coming back. Instead, a dry moat will keep the playing area protected from any unwanted fan incursions, without making any compromises to the viewing experience. It is an experience that more people will be able to partake in; the venue capacity has been increased to 35,000. Crucially, much of the increase in capacity has occurred closer to the ground, which would have been impossible in the past when the fences ruled that area out as a seating option.The lost context of the bigger picture at the expense of deadline anxiety is a bit of a shame. The PCB remain confident that, despite the Champions Trophy 2025 bearing down on them, everything is on track. The ICC too say progress is on track. But this grand old theatre was due an upgrade anyway regardless of whether seven teams came here to play some 50-over games this spring or not.The last renovation on this scale occurred in 1996, which also happened to be the last time Pakistan played host to an ICC event. On that occasion, Lahore was the venue for Sri Lanka’s victory over Australia in the World Cup final. It was then that the modern Gaddafi – in all its neo-Mughal grandeur – was built.The result of this upgrade will be a superior matchday experience, long after those three weeks have come and gone. Until now, the notion that a venue has an obligation to provide a spectator anything more than entry upon the production of a ticket had been something of an alien concept. Obliged to raise their standards for an ICC event, a PCB official told ESPNcricinfo they intended to keep those standards just as high in future events, even when the ICC’s hand wasn’t steering them in that direction.Through a warren of mud tracks, tunnels and corridors is where the car park used to be. It is now a makeshift camp office, set up in a repurposed shipping container where the head of infrastructure for the stadium is seated. We were due for a chat, but it seems there may have been a miscommunication. He is busy, and it will have to wait for a later date. After all, he has work to do, and not much time to do it in.

Manchester United have endured a superb upturn in form over the last couple of weeks, with the squad now finally reaping the rewards of the faith shown in the manager.

Ruben Amorim was a man under pressure a couple of months ago, especially after the Red Devils endured yet another dismal start to a Premier League campaign.

The 40-year-old has since led the first-team squad to five games unbeaten in England’s top-flight – a run which is undoubtedly the best during his 12-month spell at Old Trafford.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur showcased their ability to bounce back from losing positions – something which may have been difficult in 2024/25.

There’s little disputing that the club are certainly on the up under Amorim’s guidance, but his side could be further improved during the upcoming January transfer window.

Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been one of the sides touted with a move to land Palmeiras centre forward Vitor Roque after his impressive form in 2025.

The Brazilian youngster has scored 16 times in his 30 league appearances this calendar year, currently sitting as the division’s second top scorer at present.

His form has led to links to the Red Devils, but it would be yet another expensive addition, with the Serie A outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £42m for his signature.

In terms of big-money additions, the Red Devils have also been touted with another move for Elliot Anderson after his incredible rise at Nottingham Forest this campaign.

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, United have already made contact with the Reds over a deal for the central midfielder, who’s also become an England international regular in recent months.

However, the journalist has also confirmed that any deal would set the hierarchy back upwards of £100m-£120m this January – a deal that would break the club record fee paid for Paul Pogba back in 2016.

Why Anderson would finally get Sesko firing

During their £200m spending spree in the summer, the United hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £74m for the signature of Benjamin Sesko from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Given the magnitude of such a fee, real expectations were placed on the Slovenian to provide the goods and lead the line for Amorim’s men in 2025/26.

However, his time at Old Trafford to date has been a huge disappointment, with the 22-year-old only finding the net twice in his first 11 Premier League outings for the Red Devils.

Sesko is currently four games without a goal in England’s top-flight, even being dropped to the substitutes bench and limited to just half an hour in the draw against Spurs.

He will no doubt need time to settle into life in England’s top-flight, but he could be aided in his attempts for success at Old Trafford should the board secure the services of Anderson this winter.

It would no doubt be a mammoth investment if they were to land the 23-year-old, but such a move would provide Sesko with the ammunition he needs to thrive in front of goal.

Anderson, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by Matt Forde, has completed 1.3 take-ons per 90 – ranking him in the top 3% of all midfielders in the division at present.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.8

Passes into final third

8.6

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.6

Duels won

7.7

The aforementioned tally showcases his ability to get the ball into attacking areas, which could provide the forwards ahead of him with the chances they need to impress.

He’s also 8.6 passes into the final third per 90 – with such a tally the highest of any player in the Premier League this season, highlighting his talents with the ball at his feet.

Other figures, such as 8.8 progressive passes and 1.4 key passes per 90, further demonstrate his talents at finding a teammate – with such numbers perfectly falling into the hands of Sesko.

The prospect of Anderson linking up with Bruno Fernandes is truly an exciting one, with the United fans potentially blessed with one of the best duos in the league.

If the youngster can replicate such numbers, there’s no reason why he can’t help Sesko finally kickstart his career in England – even if a deal would cost the hierarchy a club-record fee.

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Mohamed Salah will start on the bench for the third successive Premier League game as Liverpool face Leeds United at Elland Road, and head coach Arne Slot has explained his reasoning behind the decision as the Egyptian takes his place amongst the substitutes once again. The Reds have picked up four points in the two games since Salah was dropped, and Slot will hope that his decision pays off once again against the Whites.

Slot explains decision to keep Salah on bench for Leeds clash

Slot spoke pre-match about his decision to name Salah amongst the substitutes once again, citing the importance of picking players suited to the task at hand against a Leeds side who will be full of confidence following victory over Chelsea in midweek.

Slot told Sky Sports: “It’s never an easy decision because we all know what a great player he is. But it is also up to me to pick the team that I think we need today. That’s why I made the decision”.

Liverpool start the encounter in the bottom half of the table but could rise as high as fifth with victory, with Salah on the bench and available to make an impact if called upon by Slot.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah sacrificed as Slot continues with new attacking formula

The absence of reigning PFA Player of the Year winner Salah from Liverpool’s starting XI in recent weeks has meant that Slot has started with the more defensive-minded Dominik Szoboszlai wide right, as he has done again for the trip to Elland Road.

While Szoboszlai has given the Reds more solidity down their right, the alteration in personnel has also begun to get the best out of Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old put in arguably his best performance in a Liverpool shirt in the victory at West Ham United last weekend, then thought he had scored his first goal for the club against Sunderland at Anfield, only for it to go down as a Nordi Mukiele own goal.

Whether dropping Salah from the line-up is the long-term solution for Slot remains to be seen, but he evidently feels it is the right decision in order for the Reds to turn things around at present, after their well-documented struggles throughout the autumn.

Slot praises Salah's professionalism after dropping to bench

Slot spoke of Salah’s professionalism when the 33-year-old was an unused substitute at the London Stadium last Sunday, telling reporters it was a “fair assumption” that Salah was not happy about the decision but that he “handled himself really well” after he was dropped from the starting XI in the league for what was the first time this season.

Slot added: "That's a normal reaction from a player that's good enough to play for us, and I say that mildly because he has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for the future. He wasn't the only one who wasn't happy that he wasn't starting and that is normal.

"He is so disciplined – he knows what to do to stay fit," Slot said. "No matter if he plays well or if he doesn't play well, if he plays or doesn't play, he will always be that top professional and that's what he was in the last two days.

"With all players around their world, there are also phases in your time at the club that they are human. He's scored so many goals for us and I am sure he will in the future."

"We have to find a way to play without him because he won't be here," Slot said in reference to the Africa Cup of Nations, for which Salah will depart by December 15.

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Getty Images SportSalah and Isak both on bench to face Leeds

Salah was not the only big-name player named amongst the substitutes to face Leeds, as Alexander Isak also had to settle for a place on the bench with Hugo Ekitike starting through the centre. Slot has a wealth of attacking options to call on, and the pair will certainly have their role to play for the Reds in the coming months.

Rob Edwards has the unenviable task of keeping Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this season. It is fair to say he has his work cut out, with the Old Gold on just two points from the first 12 games.

His first game as manager of his former club didn’t go to plan, either. Edwards’ side were defeated 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace, to continue piling on the misery at Molineux.

Already nine points from safety, it seems a long way back for the Old Gold from this point, if they want to stay in the Premier League.

Things could get worse for the Old Gold soon, with one of their key players, Joao Gomes, linked with a move away as soon as January.

The latest on Joao Gomes' future at Wolves

It seems almost inevitable that Gomes will not be a Wolves player by the start of the 2026/27 season. Of course, if they are relegated, he will be snapped up, but a departure could happen as soon as the January transfer window.

Recent reports suggest that Manchester United are in advanced discussions to sign the 24-year-old this winter, as they look to strengthen in midfield. Indeed, the Old Gold could demand a fee of up to £44m if they are to sell their star midfielder this winter.

It would be a big loss, too. The 10-cap Brazil international has played in all 12 Premier League games this season. His ball-winning ability is imperative. Over the past year, he’s won an average of 2.15 tackles per game, placing him in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

Yet, there is a silver lining to a potential sale. Gomes would raise a significant amount of funds for the Old Gold to reinvest in the squad, and although they would have to replace him in midfield, they could look to strengthen the squad to help keep them up.

However Gomes’ situation ends up, there is a member of the Wolves squad who they could perhaps look at selling first.

Wolves' priority sale should not be Gomes

After losing Matheus Cunha, also to the Red Devils, and Rayan Ait-Nouri to their rivals Manchester City in the summer, this season was naturally going to be harder. Yet, it has not been a season where all of their best players have stepped up after those sales.

One of those players is Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian was one of the Old Gold’s best players in 2024/25, bagging 14 Premier League goals in 35 games during his debut campaign.

However, things haven’t been as smooth this season for their number nine. In ten Premier League games this term, he’s only bagged one goal, coming in a 3-2 defeat against Burnley. That strike was a penalty, leaving him without an open play goal.

There has been a scathing assessment of his performances this season, too. Former Premier League scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Strand Larsen, who earns £95k-per-week, has made Wolves a “worse side”” this term because of his lack of goals, which were so important in the previous campaign.

There is a huge decline in his underlying stats from last term, too. In 2024/25, the former Celta Vigo striker averaged 1.2 shots on target and a shot accuracy of 69.39%. Comparatively, he’s averaging 0.6 shots on target and 45.45% shot accuracy this season.

Strand Larsen key PL stats in last 2 seasons

Stat (per 90)

2024/25

2025/26

Shots

1.7

1.3

Shots on target

1.2

0.6

Shot accuracy

69.39%

45.45%

Non-penalty goals

0.5

0

Conversion rate

28.57%

9.09%

Stats from Squawka

Newcastle United were said to be interested in signing Strand Larsen over the summer. A fee in the region of £65m was quoted, and whilst the move did not materialise, it might be a sale Wolves now look to get over the line, be it to the Magpies or another club.

Like with Gomes, that is something they can reinvest in January, as they look to build a squad capable of, somehow, keeping them in the top flight. With Gomes’ importance to Edwards’ side, and the fact that he is in good form, it might make sense to sell Strand Larsen first.

It would be a bold call, but he is not scoring, and with prior interest, that is money that could hugely benefit Wolves in the second half of the season.

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 11, 2025

There was no thrilling finale on the field but Leicestershire could celebrate nonetheless after securing the draw with Gloucestershire that, in the event, ensured their promotion to Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.With two fixtures still to play, the result at the Uptonsteel County Ground combined with the draw between Middlesex and Derbyshire at Lord’s guarantees that Leicestershire will finish in the top two in Division Two and end a 22-year-exile from the top division.Set 316 to win from a minimum 74 overs when Gloucestershire, who felt their outside chance of a promotion required them to win here, declared four overs before lunch on 175 for 3 in their second innings, Leicestershire were 93 for 1 from 30.3 when the afternoon’s third interruption for rain proved heavy enough for the final day’s play to be abandoned at around 4.10pm.It is a first promotion for Leicestershire since the County Championship adopted its current two-division format in 2000. Led for most of the season by Australian international Peter Handscomb – now back home preparing for his domestic season – Leicestershire have been the dominant side in Division Two all season after winning five of their first seven matches and suffering only one defeat.They last played in Division One in 2003 and have since become almost perpetual stragglers, finishing bottom of DivisionTwo on eight occasions. In four of those, the last as recently as 2022, they failed to register a single victory, famously going 37 matches over 933 days without a Championship win between September 2012 and June 2015.Leicestershire, whose next target is to secure the points they need to guarantee they are crowned Division Two champions, went into the final day in the comfortable knowledge that while a victory would seal the deal in terms of confirming promotion, a draw might do it anyway depending on the result at Lord’s, or at worst leave them needing minimal gains from their final two fixtures.Gloucestershire’s need for a win, therefore, put the onus on them to set up a finish, to which end they added 165 in 21 overs before declaring just before lunch, setting the home side 316 to win in a minimum 74 overs.Against a Leicestershire attack that was a man down because of Ben Mike’s ongoing hamstring problems, 21-year-old opener Joe Phillips further enhanced his growing reputation with an unbeaten 69 from 73 balls.Ben Charlesworth cleared the midwicket boundary off Logan van Beek and landed back-to-back sixes off Chris Wright in his 56-ball 61 before a miscue to deep third man ended his charge. Ian Holland limited Ollie Price to just 8 but Miles Hammond plundered another 28 from 26 before top-edging into the off side, Holland veering away in his follow-through to be under the ball when it came down.Gloucestershire asked Leicestershire to face four overs before lunch possibly more in hope than expectation. The wicket of Sol Budinger perhaps came as a bonus, the opener making no attempt to rein in his natural attacking instincts but perishing after just 13 deliveries, tempted by a widish ball from Ajeet Singh Dale despite having collected three boundaries already and picking out the fielder at wide third.The visitors’ cause was not helped by showers after lunch, which eventually washed out 43.3 overs of the scheduled 74.Yet there never seemed enough jeopardy in the fourth-day surface to make 10 wickets a realistic possibility. Rishi Patel finished unbeaten on 42 with acting captain Holland on 27. Gloucestershire’s frustration was cushioned a little by taking 15 points for the draw, but the gap between themselves and second-placed Glamorgan remains at more than 30 points.

All the eggs had been placed in the Bilbao basket, with May’s Europa League final providing Ruben Amorim and Manchester United with the chance to save their season, amid the backdrop of a worst-ever Premier League campaign.

Up against an equally as turbulent Tottenham Hotspur side, the top-flight rivals unsurprisingly – considering their domestic fortunes – played out a dour and drab showpiece in the end, with United limply falling to defeat courtesy of a scrappy Brennan Johnson strike.

That 1-0 loss looked set to be a defining moment for Amorim and the INEOS regime, wth intrigue rife over the potential repercussions of a lack of European football, particularly in a financial sense.

While those fears were somewhat eased following an almost £250m outlay on four new faces over the summer, a grim(sby) start to 2025/26 had looked to seal Amorim’s fate even further, with speculation over his future rife heading into recent international breaks.

Thankfully, the Portuguese has managed to stop the rot with a run of three wins and a draw from his side’s last four outings, teeing up a mouthwatering clash with Thomas Frank’s new-look Spurs outfit on Saturday afternoon.

On a day which could expose or highlight the progress made by the Red Devils since that crushing defeat almost six months ago, questions remain over just how to get the best out of this group of players – not least on the flanks.

Man Utd's wing-back conundrum

Last weekend’s entertaining 2-2 draw away at Nottingham Forest showcased the benefits and flaws of Amorim’s current set-up, with there a sense of risk and reward surrounding the use of Amad at right wing-back.

The diminutive Ivorian was beaten at the backpost by Morgan Gibbs-White as Forest levelled things up after the break, albeit before then lashing home in stunning fashion late on to rescue a point, prior to even going close to snatching a winner at the death.

There is an argument that the 23-year-old’s talents would be better served in a more advanced attacking berth, although the chance to work in tandem with Bryan Mbeumo ahead of him is a fine compromise, with the positives of deploying the left-footer on that flank far exceeding any potential negatives.

The use of Amad in that role has perhaps been a factor in Amorim seeking more balance on the opposite side, hence utilising more of a defensive presence in the form of Diogo Dalot, ahead of January addition, Patrick Dorgu.

While Dalot has had his moments this season, not least when teeing up Mbeumo against Sunderland, he has emerged as something of a justified scapegoat of late, looking distinctly uncomfortable in that left-sided berth.

That was evident at the City Ground, having been caught napping as Nicolo Savona pounced behind him to poke home his first goal for Forest, to complete a quick-fire comeback for the hosts.

That unorthodox position may not be helping matters, although it isn’t as if the Portuguese full-back has exactly flourished in the past, even on his favoured side, having racked up just nine goals and 18 assists in 219 games for the club to date, as per Transfermarkt.

For context, the much-maligned Aaron Wan-Bissaka is only just behind with 13 assists – and two goals – from his 190 outings when playing for United, with the Red Devils sorely lacking a creative, attacking threat from the flanks in recent times.

Of course, Amorim could deploy Dorgu in his place once again, although the Dane’s quality is also up for debate, with the 21-year-old also registering just two assists in 30 games following his switch from Lecce.

With teenage talent Diego Leon still on the periphery, the solution on the left flank may need to be found with an alternative option.

How Man Utd can replace Dalot against Spurs

There is an argument for a resurgent Luke Shaw to be relocated from his left-sided centre-back berth and into a wing-back role, not least with Lisandro Martinez in line to make his return to action in the near future.

Chalkboard

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

Whether the Englishman has the physical capacity to flourish in that position is another matter, however, while it would appear foolish to unsettle the backline right now – at least not until Martinez is fit and firing again.

With that in mind, Saturday’s trip to north London could then be the perfect time for Amorim to find room for Noussair Mazraoui in his side once again, with the Moroccan having endured a frustrating, injury-hit start to 2025/26 thus far.

The 27-year-old did feature in a right-sided centre-back berth off the bench last time out, as United chased a winner, although he does appear to boast the technical quality to be able to thrive further forward, having even been utilised in a number ten role under Erik ten Hag.

A natural right-back by trade, this 3-4-3 system doesn’t appear to suit Mazraoui in truth, although Amorim must surely find room for a player whom he described as “the future” of Manchester United last term.

Indeed, it had proved to be a surprisingly impressive first year in English football following his bargain £13m arrival from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, with content creator Ronaldo Brown even going as far as to describe him as the club’s “best player” last season.

Versatile, almost ever-present in 2024/25 and with the silk to match the steel, the elegant defender truly is a class act, possessing that knack for being to able to weave his way past opponents with ease, while retaining possession no matter where he receives it.

As per FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles made per 90, as well as in the top 6% for pass completion, again highlighting just what an all-rounder he is in the backline.

Of course, the best bet for getting the one-time Ajax man thriving again would be to deploy him on the right flank, yet with there no need to unsettle the Amad and Mbeumo combination, a new role on the left side might be where Mazraoui can slot in.

Something of a Scott McTominay in the sense that he doesn’t necessarily have a clear route into the starting XI in a positional sense, while also being a player who appears too good to leave out, Amorim needs to find a home for United’s number three somehow or another.

He’s too good not to play.

Not Bruno or Mbeumo: Man Utd star is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have already unearthed a new world-class under Ruben Amorim.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 7, 2025