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.

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.

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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Manchester United manager Marc Skinner delivered a surprisingly defiant assessment after his side suffered a heavy derby defeat at the Etihad. He insisted that Manchester City were “not that far ahead” despite a humbling 3-0 scoreline that leaves United’s title hopes hanging by a thread. United were outplayed from the first whistle to the last as they registered zero shots on target and struggled to generate any attacking threat. The shocking performance comes just three days after their historic 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Women’s Champions League at Old Trafford.

City dominate early before cracking United open

City's aggressive pressing and dominance in central areas immediately forced United onto the back foot. Yet, for the opening half-hour, their superiority lacked an end product, with United managing to survive the early storm. But the resistance fractured shortly after the midpoint of the first half. Lauren Hemp’s pinpoint delivery found Khadija Shaw, whose cushioned header across goal allowed Rebecca Knaak to nod home from close range. The match swung decisively before the interval. United believed a foul had been missed in the build-up to City’s second goal, but Amy Fearn again dismissed their protests. Kerstin Casparij’s driven cross picked out Shaw, who stabbed past Mary Earps to double City’s advantage. Any remaining hope was extinguished minutes later when United gifted possession in a dangerous area. Hemp pounced with ruthless efficiency, sweeping a curling finish into the top corner to put City 3-0 ahead and effectively end the contest before half-time.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDefiant Skinner offers surprising verdict

Despite the gulf in the scoreline and the lack of genuine openings, Skinner delivered a surprising verdict afterwards. 

"It's a strange feeling to have lost the game 3-0 and still feel the opponent wasn't that far ahead of you", he said. 

United entered the derby with obvious fatigue after a gruelling week that included their first-ever Champions League match at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, City, who are free from European commitments, benefitted from a less demanding schedule. But Skinner refused to use that as justification.

"We won't use it as an excuse," he said after the game. "We had an advantage on City last year when they were doing the same. It's nothing against City, they did what they had to do today. For us, we've designed the squad, but it needs to be impacted by the winter window, to be clear."

Skinner wants reinforcements

However, the United manager made clear that his squad, which is stretched by injuries and the pressure of a busier calendar, urgently needs reinforcements.

"It needs to support these players that are giving absolutely everything," he said. "It wasn't a lack of commitment, the players gave as much as they could, but in moments we switched off. That can be fatigue. Our standards is that we can't accept that, we have to fix it going into Wolfsburg [in the Champions League on Wednesday].

"We've got to fight. We've got a bit more recovery time. We've had to walk through training this week, it's these factors we're getting used to now being in the Champions League. I'm not moaning about that, we have to take the challenge on. That's why in the winter window we have to supply some support for the players."

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Getty Images SportUnited’s attack under the microscope after toothless derby display

Perhaps the clearest indictment of United’s performance was their lack of threat in the final third. Skinner wants reinforcements in the attacking department, where depth has been stretched to breaking point.

"If I look at the way we attacked today, I felt we were a bit passive, I'm going to make sure we look at that as an area to support the fantastic work our players are already doing," he said.

However, he made it clear that the management remains adamant to improve the women's team and added: "The club care about the women's team, I'll be clear on that. Us identifying the right talent and bringing them in in the right moment is key. We're working hard behind the scenes to do so. I have no doubt the club care. What we need to do is bring the right people in."

The win moves City four points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League. United, meanwhile, remain in third, now seven points adrift of City and three behind Chelsea. For a team hoping to mount a genuine title challenge, the derby defeat represents a reality check. It is a reminder of the work still required to bridge the divide between themselves and England’s elite.

Arne Slot sat and beamed at the reporters in front of him. The mood had shifted considerably from the pre-match press conference only one week before, when Liverpool prepared for the visit of Aston Villa, having lost four Premier League matches in a row.

Now, the Reds have established the foundation of a revival, having beaten off the Villans and then produced a resounding display to sink Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 1-0 win could have been heftier, save for the many saves of Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.

Liverpool looked like themselves, and we haven’t been able to say that all too often this term. Slicker in attack, far more robust and steely in midfield, whilst the defence kept the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe at bay.

Some, such as Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, still feel improvements are needed in defence, and it might be that Liverpool require external reinforcements, having failed in their efforts to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer.

A deal for the England international may yet materialise, but Liverpool have widened their scope.

Liverpool preparing to sign a centre-back

Liverpool have not been at the races defensively this season, shipping far too many goals across the opening months of the campaign. The past few fixtures have indeed rebalanced the equilibrium, but time will tell whether this is a false dawn or a sustained return to form.

Despite summer recruit Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury on his debut, the Reds have the resources at the back to achieve their goals this year. However, Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the term and is being considered by Real Madrid. Virgil van Dijk is here until the end of next season at the least, but the skipper is 34 years old and a replacement will need to be signed.

Guehi was earmarked as the man for the job, but that deal fell through on deadline day after Crystal Palace failed to land a replacement.

Liverpool remain keen, but Guehi, who is a free agent in June, is now being chased by a whole host of top European outfits, and so sporting director Richard Hughes has found an exciting alternative with a wealth of Premier League experience.

And that man is Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, who, according to Italian outlet L’Interista, is emerging as a candidate for the centre-back vacancy on Merseyside. Inter Milan are also keen on striking a deal.

Rumour has it that the 28-year-old is available for a relatively affordable €35m (about £31m) fee, too. FSG will maintain their pursuit of Guehi, sure, but Konsa could be a fantastic alternative, and perhaps even a better fit.

What Ezri Konsa would offer Liverpool

Guehi is a talented Premier League player. He is composed on the ball and adventurous in the right moments. He picks and chooses, and he gets it right.

But he is rivalled in this by Konsa, who has actually been described as “one of the best CBs in the world” by journalist Joe Mulberry. Villa’s Three Lions star is not quite so outgoing with his passing, but he is as sharp as a tack and always aware of his surroundings.

Indeed, Konsa is one of the strongest defenders in the duel out there. By placing him alongside Van Dijk or Konate or whoever, Slot’s side will only improve, sending a tactical throughline into the midfield and then to the attack.

Ezri Konsa’s Duel Success in the Premier League

Season

Apps

Duel Success

25/26

9

60%

24/25

34

69%

23/24

35

76%

22/23

38

72%

21/22

29

64%

20/21

36

68%

19/20

25

57%

Data via Sofascore

Guehi is a commanding challenger himself, but the 6 foot talent hasn’t always been the most convincing aerially. As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old only won 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last year, albeit having improved in this metric across ten fixtures so far this season.

But Konsa is more convincing in this regard, and partnered alongside a more expansive defender beside him, he might even prove the perfect addition to Slot’s backline. The Dutch coach is all about control, after all, and thus Konsa might hold the key to lasting success.

The Englishman is hardly one-dimensional, though. Konsa is so composed and intelligent on the ball, with Aston Villa writer Ryan McKeown hailing him as a “possession-retaining monster” for Unai Emery’s outfit.

In this, he could excel under Slot’s wing, providing a rhythm from defence and into the centre of the park, keeping things simple while ferrying the ball forward consistently.

Moreover, he is accomplished in a four-man backline, whereas Guehi has principally played in a back-three under Oliver Glasner’s wing at Selhurst Park. Guehi is adaptable, for sure, but might it be that Konsa’s playing style would allow him to sail more smoothly into Slot’s project on Merseyside?

Given that he has played a healthy share of football at right-back, Konsa also boasts versatility that could please Slot. Inverted full-backs are becoming more common in football, and the Villa man’s more pragmatic style suits the role he would be designated to perform. No defender in the Premier League boasts a higher pass completion rate this season than Konsa (94.8%).

Liverpool need to sign a central defender in 2026. This much is clear. However, as we have seen this season, an influx of players from overseas has hampered the fluency that was so effectively strung together last year. Konsa has only gone from strength to strength since joining Villa Park from

He has made 208 appearances in the Premier League, and he is at the top of his game. Guehi would be a credit to Liverpool’s squad, but Konsa might be the better fit, a shrewd signing whose skills would raise the level o those Liverpool players around him.

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