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Everton have improved since David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at the helm, but recent results have underscored the need for new attacking quality.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to leave as a free agent at the end of the season, while Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja’s loan deals all conclude in two months.

However, while The Friedkin Group are going to sign forwards of various shapes and sizes, Moyes is also keen to strengthen his midfield, already focusing on a specific profile.

The target in question has plied under the Scotsman’s leadership for several years, and could prove an astute piece of business.

Everton transfer news

Despite the transfer window not yet open for business, the Toffees have already started putting plans into motion with the likes of Monaco’s striking sensation, Mika Biereth, linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Also on their radar is Liverpool’s Ben Doak, yet on this occasion, it looks as though Moyes is targeting experience.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, as per Football Insider, Moyes is targeting a reunion with West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, having fielded the 30-year-old 207 times during his time at the Irons helm, more than any other player.

Though newly-promoted Leeds United are also chasing a deal for Soucek, who is valued at £10m, it’s understood that Everton have the lead in the race given the Czech international’s relationship with Moyes.

Why Tomas Soucek would be perfect for Everton

Soucek has been at West Ham for half a decade, signing on an initial loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020 before completing a £19m deal that summer.

The 6 foot 3 ace would bring physicality to the Everton midfield and might prove to be the perfect replacement for Amadou Onana, who was sold to Aston Villa for £50m last summer.

Described as a “midfield powerhouse” by journalist Antonio Mango, Onana’s presence has been missed on Merseyside, but Soucek could bring his own take on the role next year, working hard in the duel while making darting runs into the danger area to complement the frontline.

Prem 24/25 – Tomas Soucek vs Amadou Onana
Stats (* per game)	Soucek	Onana
Matches (starts)	31 (26)	22 (17)
Goals	8	3
Assists	1	0
Touches*	37.6	40.2
Pass completion	75%	89%
Key passes*	0.5	0.3
Dribble success	55%	79%
Ball recoveries*	1.7	2.9
Tackles + interceptions*	1.9	3.2
Duels (won)*	5.2 (54%)	4.8 (60%)
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, Onana might be more rounded than Soucek, but the latter man has a killer instinct in the final third, which scant few Toffees players have showcased with regularity this year.

West Ham have only created 50 big chances in the Premier League this season, with just the relegated trio making fewer. This actually shines a positive light on Soucek, whose skill at finding space and striking true has seen him score eight times.

It’s no surprise he’s been called a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, adding intensity and initiative to his fold.

In fact, the £90k-per-week talent ranks among the top 2% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 1% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, further illustrating his combativeness and indeed goalscoring strength.

Everton fans have tasted first-hand the midfielder’s goalscoring ability and must now forge ahead to make a shrewd signing which might just pay dividends, adding an Onana-esque presence at Bramley Moore.

Soucek may not be the fluid ball player that Graham Potter wants at the heart of his West Ham system, but Moyes enforces a different type of brand, one which the veteran midfielder would dovetail right into if Everton make their move in the coming months.

He was worse than Harrison: 5/10 Everton dud proved that TFG need to spend

Everton have lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 28, 2025

Chelsea are not short of options in attack, and Enzo Maresca certainly has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. The Blues’ key man in forward areas is Cole Palmer, who, despite a lean run of form, has managed 14 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season.

The other player to hit double figures for league goals is Nicolas Jackson, who has managed ten, as well as five assists. Noni Madueke has also surpassed ten goal involvements in the top flight, too, with 11 to be specific.

If reports are to be believed, the Blues are looking to add more attacking talents to their squad this summer.

Chelsea targeting another teen superstar

One of the most highly sought-after players in world football right now seems to be 17-year-old attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. The River Plate star has caught the eye during his short career so far, and is now wanted by a multitude of clubs.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast

According to a report from Clarin, via Sport Witness, Chelsea are one of the sides hoping to bring him into the club this summer, continuing their trend of raiding the South American market.

Fellow Premier League side Manchester United are also showing strong interest, and Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also believed to be considering a move.

Mastantuono has a reported release clause of £38m, and a move will likely happen when he turns 18 in the middle of August. River are reportedly looking to renew his contract, which could alter his release clause.

Why Mastantuono would be a good signing

Should the Blues manage to bring Mastantuono to the club, it would be another exciting young talent they have managed to add to their ranks. He has impressed in his short professional career for River, and has also been recognised by Argentina at under-20 level.

In 13 games in 2025 so far for the Argentine giants, he already has four goals and two assists to his name. He has featured for 997 minutes, and is currently averaging a goal involvement every 166 minutes, which is impressive for someone as inexperienced as he is.

The other standout thing to note about Mastantuono is his versatility. The River number 30, who is left-footed, can play as a right winger or a number ten, which is certainly something Maresca could lean upon at times.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson described the youngster as someone in the “Palmer mould”. However, he even goes on to make the claim that he is “he best of the lot”, suggesting Mastantono is someone to really get excited about.

Well, Chelsea fans have two young South American talents they can watch in action before too long. The Blues also signed Estevao Willian almost one year ago from Palmeiras, who will join the club for £29m this summer.

He has seven goals and one assist in all competitions in 2025, having featured in 23 matches for the Brazilian giants. Like Mastantuono, he is a hybrid between a winger and a number ten, able to play both positions.

Well, the pair could become a force to be reckoned with in a Chelsea shirt, over the next few seasons. The stats on FBref show just how good they are, and as a duo, they could become unstoppable.

One of the stats that sticks out is their creative passing numbers. Mastantuono averages 2.59 key passes and 5.47 shot-creating actions each game, with Estevao averaging 2.36 key passes and 4.03 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

Goals and assists

0.49

0.42

Key passes

2.59

2.36

Shot-creating actions

5.47

4.03

Carries into final third

3.33

3.33

Ball recoveries

3.33

4.44

There is no doubt that Mastantuono is an exciting talent. Not only do Europe’s biggest clubs want to sign him, but he is putting up excellent numbers in a River shirt already, and has some impressive underlying stats.

If this is a deal Chelsea manage to do, he could be a fantastic addition, and form a deadly partnership with Estevao at Stamford Bridge.

Big upgrade on Sancho: Chelsea confident of signing £35m "wonderkid"

Chelsea are looking to add to their attack before the Club World Cup

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 30, 2025

India have selection dilemmas in all departments as they look to firm up their side for the ODI World Cup

Shashank Kishore15-Jul-2025With a home ODI World Cup looming in September, India have just six matches left to fine-tune their combinations. The upcoming three-match series in England, beginning Wednesday in Southampton, offers a glimpse into the team’s evolving plans.Captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes the growing competition for spots is a “healthy headache” to have, which she attributes to improved depth and balance. Here are some of the tricky decisions the team management may have to make.Rawal vs Deol?
Pratika Rawal may have racked up 638 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 63.80, including five fifties and a century, but this series holds deeper significance for her with the World Cup looming. The reason? Shafali Verma.Related

• 'One more ball, please' – The quiet rise of N Shree Charani

• India lift their fielding to the next level in bid to 'dominate no matter what'

• Muzumdar: Shafali in contention for ODI World Cup 'without a doubt'

• Harmanpreet embraces 'happy headache' with India's depth on the rise

Shafali’s ability to dismantle attacks in the powerplay makes her an irresistible asset, even if her high-risk approach can come with bouts of inconsistency. Rawal, by contrast, builds her innings, and accelerates as she settles in. She is also a handy spin option, while Shafali is strictly just part-time.As impressive as Rawal’s initiation has been, the runs have mostly come against Ireland, West Indies, Sri Lanka and a depleted South Africa. This, in a way, will be her first big test in international cricket.A good series for Rawal will make it harder for the selectors to displace her from the opening spot alongside Smriti Mandhana, but her style of play and method of run accumulation could also make her a useful proposition at No. 3 if Shafali’s resurgence in the England T20Is convinces the team management to back her to reclaim her opening spot in ODIs, a format she last played in October 2024.The only problem with that reshuffle could be that Harleen Deol, who has transformed her game and has been in excellent form across formats lately, may have to be benched. Since her comeback from injury in December 2024, Deol has hit 230 runs in six innings, including a maiden ODI century. She also played a sparkling knock in the T20I series opener in England.Deol’s form, Rawal’s run glut and Shafali’s X-factor leaves India with a tough choice to make. The next three games could indicate which way the team management will be inclined towards ahead of the Australia series, their final audition before the World Cup opener on September 30 against Sri Lanka.Who partners Amanjot in the seam department?
Pooja Vastrakar hasn’t played since the T20 World Cup last October. She missed the WPL as well, and there has been no official update from the BCCI or selectors, on her rehab or possible return. In her absence, Amanjot Kaur has emerged as a capable replacement, even if not like-for-like.Arundhati Reddy played in all five T20Is against England•SLCWhile Amanjot lacks Vastrakar’s pace and ability to hustle batters, she brings her own strengths to the table: gentle swing, accuracy, and an ability to stem the flow of runs, as seen in the recent T20I series. She picked up six wickets in two matches in the tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa this April.Her batting, too, has come into its own. A prime example was her unbeaten 63 under pressure, rescuing India from 31 for 3 in the second T20I against England in Bristol. This means the tussle for the one remaining seam-bowler’s slot is likely to be between Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare. The selectors will also have an opportunity to look at Titas Sadhu, who will be on the A tour to Australia having recovered from injury. There is no update yet on Renuka Singh.Among the contenders, Reddy looks the frontrunner currently, having featured in three games in the tri-series and each of the five T20Is after being dropped for the home series against Ireland and West Indies earlier in the year. Goud brings with her pace, but is largely untested, while Satghare is a swing bowler.The make-up of the spin attack
Deepti Sharma appears to be a lock-in. So the tussle will be between Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani and Radha Yadav for two spots.Rana announced herself in the WPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after initially going unsold at the auction. Then, after having not been in the scheme of things for nearly a year-and-a-half, she received a lifeline when she was picked for the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka.N Shree Charani was the leading wicket-taker in the T20Is against England•Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesThere, she was named Player of the series for her 15 wickets in five games, including a career-best 5 for 43 in a match-winning spell against South Africa. The T20I series in England was her comeback to the shortest format after over two years.Charani, who was also on that tour in Sri Lanka, has been named Player of the series in the England T20Is for her chart-topping 10 wickets. The team management is impressed by her ability to bowl across phases. She also performed exceedingly well in the tri-series, picking up six wickets in five games at an economy of 5.39, and was the perfect spin twin to Rana.The allure of playing two genuine spinners and Deepti could make it tough for the team management to include Radha Yadav, arguably one of the best fielders in the women’s game today. Her improved left-arm spin and ability to wield the willow lower down the order makes her hard to ignore. But such is the competition that there’s only space for two, unless the toss-up boils down to one between Deepti and Rana.India’s likely ODI combination
1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Amanjot Kaur, 8 Deepti Sharma, 9 Arundhati Reddy, 10 Sneh Rana/Radha Yadav, 11 N Shree Charani

Nine Hong Kong batters finished with single-digit scores, going down by 94 runs in the Asia Cup opener

Alagappan Muthu09-Sep-20251:36

Mukund: Dropped catches a concern for Afghanistan

There was a contest between man and nature to see who was hotter and in the end, try as the elements could, they couldn’t match Azmatullah Omarzai’s fire. Even in 41°C heat, he burned brighter, scoring Afghanistan’s fastest T20I fifty and just kept going from there.Omarzai was responsible for one of two blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run-outs, which, coming on the back of a Hong Kong fielding performance that included three dropped catches, was cricket working a little too hard to highlight the gulf between the two sides. Full Member Afghanistan made 188 for 6. It was 94 too many for their Associate nation opposition.Sediqullah’s three livesSediqullah Atal looked a real good player. Stood nice and tall in his set-up, seemed competent playing shots off both front foot and the back foot, and crucially, he was able to cope with the lack of pace in Abu Dhabi. He is only 24, but already showing signs of what players more experienced than him are known for. The bit between the ears. Atal was 26 off 17 with five fours at the end of the powerplay when the other end had contributed only 14 off 19 balls with one six.Hong Kong slowed Atal down with spin but were never able to capitalise on the pressure they created. Yasim Murtaza gave him two lives – dropping him on 4 off 3 in the first over, then on 46 off 38 off his own bowling and finally had to watch Ehsan Khan put down a clanger just after Atal had raised his third T20I fifty. A man who should’ve been dismissed in the first over batted through the innings to score 73 off 52.Azmatullah the game changerAfghanistan were 119 for 4 after 16 overs. Hong Kong’s spinners – Murtaza in particular – provided a challenge that is rarely seen in modern T20 cricket. He pulled pace off the ball, going as low as 70kph at times to deny scoring opportunities. Kinchit Shah, bowling from the other end, got the wickets. The five overs they bowled between the 10th and the 14th yielded two wickets for just 24 runs.As good as that period was for Hong Kong, it also brought Omarzai to the crease and he was so game aware. The fast bowlers returned in the 17th over and it was go time. The next 18 balls yielded 60 runs. Omarzai went 6, 6, 6 and 4 against Ayush Shukla to bring up his half-century off just 20 deliveries. From the simple, clear-the-front-leg slog to the cheeky ramp past the keeper, the Afghanistan allrounder showed impressive range on a difficult batting pitch.2:26

Mukund impressed by Afghanistan’s on-field trial

Hong Kong punishedHong Kong’s mishaps continued with bat in hand as well. They gave up a wicket for no reason – and one run on the board – when Anshuman Rath was ruled caught behind but replays showed several inches of daylight between bat and ball. Zeeshan Ali, the non-striker, had seemingly persuaded Rath from challenging umpire Virender Sharma’s decision. Then they had to watch as Rashid Khan ran out Nizakat Khan for 0 off 0 balls because he took too long to realise there was no run off a Babar Hayat hit to cover.Two overs – and two dropped catches later, apparently Afghanistan were happy to give themselves a handicap – Azmatullah had Kalhan Challu run-out off his own bowling when the batter strayed out of his crease after pushing the ball down the pitch. The Hong Kong captain had high hopes for Challu at the toss, instead his wicket for 4 off 8 was a cruel reminder of the quality of cricket at this level.Hong Kong went joint-second for most wickets (four) lost by a team in the powerplay in the men’s T20 Asia Cup. Only two of their batters got to double-digits. None of them managed to score at a run a ball. Their focus at 63 for 6 had shifted to playing the overs out and they did that to finish on 94 for 9.

After another difficult evening for Celtic in the Europa League, they’ve now discovered the extent of the injury that Callum Osmand picked up in another frustrating blow.

The Bhoys fell to a 3-1 defeat against Midtjylland and remain with just the one win to their name on the European stage this season – making qualification into the next round a mere fantasy at this stage.

Celtic schedule first interview with 37 y/o manager who dreams of Hoops job

The Bhoys are still on the hunt for their Brendan Rodgers replacement.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 6, 2025

For all the good work that Martin O’Neill has done so far this season, not even the Northern Irishman could turn his side’s fortunes around outside of domestic action and he once again distanced himself from the permanent job.

What the defeat has certainly done is pile the pressure on Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Celtic board to get their next decision right and get it done sooner rather than later.

Ange Postecoglou pulled out of the race for the job in the early stages and that dealt the Bhoys an undeniable blow. Since then, however, other impressive candidates have emerged such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen and Kieran McKenna.

Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that McKenna is open to the job in what could hand Celtic quite the boost. The Ipswich Town boss has struggled to get the best out of his side in the Championship so far this season, but no one will be forgetting the history that he made at Portman Road anytime soon.

Alas, before any manager can arrive, it’s up to O’Neill to get the Hoops back to winning ways and do so without recent Old Firm hero Osmand.

Celtic discover extent of Callum Osmand injury

As revealed by O’Neill at full-time, Osmand suffered a pulled hamstring against Midtjylland and will now be missing for at least a few weeks. It’s a major blow for the 19-year-old, who just took his place in Celtic’s Europa League squad off the back of putting Celtic out of sight with his effort in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

With Celtic’s attack already coming under fire this season, they now have the task of squaring off against Kilmarnock and others without one of their most promising talents.

Celtic frontrunner McKenna now wants Hoops job

Mauricio Pochettino made it loud and clear that the USMNT are about the collective rather than the individuals after Sebastian Berhalter and Alex Freeman stepped up with breakout performances.

TAMPA, Fla. – Mauricio Pochettino's press conference wasn't indicative of a 5-1 win. There was no celebration and, in truth, no joy. It was, in a word, feisty, as the U.S. manager laid down a marker for players, media, and fans. It was, in that sense, a challenge for everyone to recognize that the U.S. Men's National Team is a squad, not a select group of individuals.

Pochettino fought back against the idea of "regulars". Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah, among others, weren't here, for sure, but, on Tuesday, it was the USMNT that beat Uruguay. Regardless of who wears the shirt, who's in the team, or who scores the goals, it's the USMNT. Nothing changes.

"I don't want to be negative, but I hate that: 'no regular players'," Pochettino said. "What this means is that the USA is playing, the national team. We have to stop with that mindset. Every time that we make our decision and pick our starting XI, the U.S. Men's National Team is playing. I think after one year, you need to really know me and that I hate to talk this way. It's disrespectful. I think we need to give credit to all of the guys who were involved today."

That message, quite clearly, resonates. After making nine changes following the win over Paraguay, Pochettino's USMNT came to play. They scored four first-half goals and one in the second to stun an overmatched Uruguay, outplaying them at every turn. It was, in a word, relentless.

Over the last few months, Pochettino hasn't built an XI; he's built a pool. Every player in that pool, quite clearly, believes they have a chance at the World Cup. On Tuesday, that belief helped create the USMNT's best result of the Pochettino era, one that allowed them to close the year on a high.

"This is his first year and a half, and knowing how he built this roster, he's had this team here to be intense and be able to compete," Alex Freeman said after the match. "It feels good for all of us to have that connection. We know that, every game, every part of it is going to be intense. I feel like we're all building connections, and we're going to build right into the next games and then the World Cup.

"Knowing we've had these outcomes lately, we've [gone unbeaten] in five games against top 40 teams, so that shows we're a team that's hard to beat. No matter what competition we go against, we're hard to beat."

That's the big takeaway from Tuesday: the USMNT, as a whole, has become tough to play against and, with the World Cup looming, there's plenty for Pochettino and his staff to be happy about.

"That's the main thing that we've been focused on, is [building] that DNA, and that grit, that hard-working mentality, because that's us, that's us as a country, and that's us as a team," Diego Luna told

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Raymond James Stadium…

• AFP
  

  WINNER: Sebastian Berhalter

  Set pieces, set pieces, set pieces – they're important after all. It helps when you have someone who is apparently very good at them, and Berhalter might actually be just that. 

  In a matter of minutes, Berhalter scored one from a set piece and set one up with a perfectly hit corner. It's the type of danger Berhalter has shown he can bring, but in truth, Berhalter had never shown anything quite like this even at his best in MLS. 

  Up first was the free kick. Positioned on the left-hand side, Berhalter played it short to Sergino Dest, who laid it off right back to him. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder proceeded to smash a shot right into the back of the net, netting his first international goal. The celebrations after were emphatic, but Berhalter wasn't done. Just four minutes later, Berhalter whipped in a corner kick right to a wide-open Freeman, and the Orlando City star did the rest to make it 2-0.

  "We wanted to make a statement," Berhalter said postgame. "We wanted to show what U.S. Soccer is about. We had a chance to go out here and give everything we had and show that we're ready."

  Two goals in four minutes, and for a player fighting for a World Cup spot, this was a hell of a statement. It will surely leave Pochettino pleased. Berhalter has already shown he can bring the fight; now he's shown he can bring some goals, too, against an excellent Uruguay team.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Cristopher Fiermarin

  Uruguay are looking for a goalkeeper. That much was made clear by their call-ups this month. In total, the group had eight caps between them heading into these games. After watching Santiago Mele start the 0-0 draw with Mexico, Fiermarin was given the nod on Tuesday.

  He'll wish he hadn't. The 27-year-old goalkeeper wasn't at fault for all of the USMNT goals, but he surely did little to prevent them as he, like the rest of Uruguay's team, looked slow, lethargic, and, by the end of the first half, a little bit shellshocked.

  There are times in a game like this where a goalkeeper can make one good save just to calm things down. That never happened. As goal after goal sailed past the goalkeeper, Uruguay seemingly got worse, ultimately leading to a dreadful scoreline and even worse performance.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Alex Freeman

  The Orlando City defender broke out in MLS season as a dynamic, goal-threatening attacking fullback. We hadn't gotten a full glimpse of that yet in a USMNT shirt – despite playing in the 2025 Gold Cup. Yet, on Tuesday night, Uruguay had absolutely no idea how to handle the 21-year-old defender.

  Freeman scored his first two USMNT goals on Tuesday, scoring one from a set piece and one from open play. The first came via a header, one perfectly placed thanks to a great ball in from Berhalter. The second, though, was all his. After receiving a pass just past Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte, Freeman then put Barcelona star Ronald Araujo on skates to create the space needed to fire his second into the back of the net.

  "Before the game, you see the players and go 'Wow, he plays in the Prem, he plays in La Liga, they play in the Champions League', and, going into the game, you just try to get that out of your system and not think about it," Freeman said. "You think about you because it's you and him at the end of the day. If I'm able to think like that, I think it gives me confidence in myself. I'm not overthinking it, but I'm just trying to do my best to try and win my duel. At the end of the day, it's just me doing that and trying to play like I'm the best player on the pitch in my mind in every game."

  It was certainly a statement performance from the player who was named the MLS Young Player of the Year Award this season. There will be a lot of big nights for Freeman ahead, but it'll be hard to have one bigger than this one, as the 21-year-old was the star of the show.

  "I am so happy because today he scored twice," Pochettino said,  "but, in a way, I think you need to analyze the way that he plays. He can play like a third center back. He can go forward on the side. How difficult is it for the opponent to stop him from going inside and playing? When he has the ball, the team [can exhale]. He's so strong."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Marcelo Bielsa

  Ahead of the match, Pochettino was asked about his relationship with Bielsa. The two Argentines worked together at Newells, where Pochettino was a player under the legendary manager. He described the now-Uruguay coach as something more than a mentor; he described him as some sort of mythical figure, one that even he defers to when they come face to face.

  "Always, my admiration and my respect are massive," Pochettino said Monday. "I cannot consider him like a friend. I cannot consider him like another normal person. It's a bigger respect. I speak with him like a man that you admire, like one that is your hero. He's the type of person that you wait [to] talk to. You always wait for him to say hello and then you say hello."

  The USMNT showed Bielsa's side no such respect on Tuesday as they battered them thoroughly. And, through it all, Bielsa could only watch, frustrated, from his seat on his cooler.

  Bielsa, of course, is known as "El Loco" for a reason. Behind closed doors, he will be none too pleased with this. There will be ramifications, no doubt, even with the World Cup on the horizon. This was a bad night for him, but more importantly, it was a bad night for Uruguay's players, who will now feel his wrath as a result.

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was praised for his display against Fulham in the Premier League.

Everton 2-0 Fulham

Gueye and Michael Keane supplemented Everton’s misfiring attack in a 2-0 win which extended Fulham’s woes on the road to a fifth successive match.

With the Toffees’ two strikers Beto and Thierno Barry scoring just one Premier League goal between them so far this season, there is an imperative for others to chip in. But in a team boasting the attacking talents of Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, it was their defensive midfielder and centre-back who made the difference.

The two teams had scored just 22 between them in 20 combined Premier League matches so the first goal was important and Gueye’s intervention, in the fourth minute of first-half added time, was even more crucial as an offside flag denied Everton on three occasions in a match they should have won more comfortably.

Gueye stabbed home his second of the campaign after Tim Iroegbunam had completely fluffed his shot in front of goal from a James Tarkowski header which rebounded off the crossbar.

After failing to score at all last season, Gueye is well on his way to beat his best return of four in an Everton shirt from 2023-24. Keane flicked home a Dewsbury-Hall corner with 10 minutes to go to banish any late anxiety. They were contributions gratefully received by boss David Moyes, whose side ended a run of one win in eight matches in all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, Gueye’s performance against the Cottagers was highly praised in the aftermath of the game.

Gueye was "brilliant" against Fulham

After opening the scoring against Fulham, pundit Sue Smith, as per Sky Sports, said of Gueye:

Minutes Played

90

Goals

1

Assists

0

Passes Made (Accuracy)

41/48 (85%)

Recoveries

3

Clearances

3

Interceptions

1

Aerial Duels Won

1/1 (100%)

Times Dribbled Past

0

All stats are from SofaScore

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Everton Extra noted that Gueye was “very, very good” in the first half against Everton, form that continued after the half-time break. Initially alongside Iroegbunam until the 22-year-old was replaced by Merlin Rohl in the 67th minute, Gueye helped Everton limit their visitors as they maintained their impressive start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In six Premier League games at their new home, Everton have lost just once, picking up 11 points from an available 18. Everton will not play now until after the November international break, which they enter with a win that Gueye contributed heavily towards.

New Iwobi could be unleashed for Everton

India’s elder statesmen turned the clock back at the SCG, crossing a number of statistical milestones along the way

Sampath Bandarupalli25-Oct-20252:03

Chopra: Rohit and Kohli keep adding confidence

14,255 Runs by Virat Kohli in ODI cricket. He is now the second-highest run-getter in the format, going past Kumar Sangakkara (14,234). He stands behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 18,426.9 Hundreds for Rohit Sharma in ODIs against Australia, the joint-most by any batter alongside Tendulkar. Only one batter has scored more hundreds against an opposition in ODIs – 10 against Sri Lanka by Kohli, who also has nine against West Indies.Related

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6 ODI hundreds for Rohit in Australia, the most by a visiting player in the country, going past Kohli and Kumar Sangakkara, who have five each. Five of Rohit’s six hundreds in Australia have come against the home team. No other batter has more than three hundreds against Australia in Australia.70 50-plus scores for Kohli in ODI chases, the most by any batter, going one ahead of Tendulkar (69).17 Hundreds for Rohit in ODI chases, the same as Tendulkar, and only behind Kohli’s 28.Rohit now has 50 hundreds across formats in International cricket. Only nine other batters have scored as many so far.Rohit has now scored six ODI hundreds in Australia, the most by a visiting batter•Cricket Australia via Getty Images1 Players older than Rohit, who was 38 years and 178 days old on Saturday, to score an ODI century for India. Tendulkar was 38 years and 327 days old when he scored 114 against Bangladesh in 2012.Rohit is also the second-oldest batter to score an ODI hundred in Australia, after Geoff Boycott, who was 39 years and 51 days old when he scored 105 against Australia, also at the SCG, in 1979.12 150-plus stands between Rohit and Kohli in ODIs, the joint-most by any pair in the format, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.Their century stand in Saturday’s ODI was their 19th overall, the third-most by any pair in the format. Tendulkar and Ganguly are at the top with 26 century stands, while Kumar Sangakkara and Tilakaratne Dilshan are second with 20.1454 Partnership runs between Rohit and Kohli in ODIs against Australia, across 27 innings. Only one pair has more partnership runs against an opponent – 1484 by Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson against Pakistan.2106 Days between the last two century partnerships between Rohit and Kohli in international cricket. The previous one was also in an ODI against Australia, back in January 2020, when they added 137 for the second wicket. In between, the pair had batted 49 times across formats (nine times in Tests, 20 in ODIs and 20 in T20Is) without a century stand.3 Wins for India against Australia across the 20 ODIs they have played at the SCG. Their previous two wins came in 2008 and 2016.

Manchester City are reportedly considering a January move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, as Pep Guardiola's side look to ease the goalscoring burden on Erling Haaland. Semenyo is set to be one of the Premier League's most in-demand players in the winter window and has attracted strong interest from Liverpool, but the Cityzens could trump them to a move in the hope of bringing new life to their title challenge.

• Man City could make Semenyo swoop in January

  As reported by The Times, Man City are 'exploring' a move for Semenyo and could opt to trigger his £65 million ($86m) release clause, which becomes active on January 1 for the early part of the transfer window.

  The 25-year-old has already scored six goals in the league so far this season and laid on three assists, staking his claim to being one of the division’s most dangerous forwards after 13 goals last term. His form has attracted the interest of many of England’s biggest clubs – most notably, struggling Liverpool – as reports of the clause emerged earlier this autumn.

  While City are ‘not yet fully committed’ to making a move according to the report, they are said to recognise the value that the Ghanaian could offer in sharing the goals with Haaland, who has scored 14 of the club’s 27 league goals. Phil Foden became just the second City player to surpass one league goal with his match-winning performance against Leeds United on Saturday.

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  Semenyo could share goalscoring burden as Haaland's team-mates falter

  Semenyo could also help fill a hole in attack when Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush departs for the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana have not qualified for AFCON for the first time in 21 years, so Semenyo himself will not be competing in the tournament.  

  Elsewhere in the City forward line, wingers Savinho and Oscar Bobb have struggled to impact games so far this season, while Jeremy Doku has begun to take his game to new levels but has still scored just once in the league. The Belgian and Semenyo could form a devastating wide pair flanking Haaland if the Cherries man were to arrive at the Etihad.

  Bournemouth’s outstanding early-season form has tailed off in recent weeks, with Andoni Iraola’s side falling away from the top four and towards mid-table. This only makes it more likely that their star man will depart in the winter, with interest likely only to ramp up as we near New Year’s Day. 

• 'In January, we will talk' – Iraola

  Speaking on November 21, Iraola declined to speculate about what will happen regarding the future of Semenyo in January, but appeared to have an air of resignation to the fact that their talisman will be hot property when the window opens.

  "We are in November and Antoine is our player. He will continue being our player," Iraola told reporters.

  "In January, you can ask me about the market. For now, I am not worried about the next market. It is November and I am more worried about the situation of players for tomorrow. In January, we will talk about whatever happens."

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  Foden on City's lack of goalscorers this season

  From a City perspective, the need to share the goals around the team and that fact was reiterated by Foden following Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Leeds.

  “If I look over the pitch, we’ve got loads of goalscorers, but for whatever reason it’s not really kicked off yet — but I think it’s starting to do that now and other players are helping Erling with the goals,” said Foden, who has scored six times in all competitions.

  “It can’t just come from him every game. As you can see today, when he’s fully marked out of the game other players have to step up.”

  He added: “When the opponents get better in the later stages of the season, we can’t afford to play like this because we’re going to lose the league.

  “We have to put things right and get better and just work hard on the training pitch.”

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.