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Afghanistan were all systems go in their opener against Hong Kong, and could go clear at the top with another win on Tuesday

Mohammad Isam15-Sep-20252:26

Abhinav Mukund impressed by Afghanistan’s on-field trial

Big picture: Afghanistan’s chance to make it two in two

After the net run-rate-boosting win over Hong Kong on the first day of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan have the chance to go clear at the top of Group B on Tuesday. Bangladesh are up next, fresh from the hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka. Afghanistan are the more confident of the two sides, which gives them the advantage before the start of the game.Azmatullah Omarzai’s record-breaking half-century from No. 6 led them in their 94-run win against Hong Kong. He added 82 runs for the fifth wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who ended unbeaten on 73. Afghanistan’s bowling was true to their reputation, hardly allowing the hapless Hong Kong batters a whiff.Related

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• Afghanistan get their win but Trott wants improvement

Rashid Khan must have also been pleased with AM Ghazanfar and Noor Ahmad now taking more responsibility. Mohammad Nabi didn’t bowl against Hong Kong, but is likely to be back in the attack against Bangladesh, who have to take on an irrepressible spin attack, a particularly hard task given their own frailties and the conditions in the Emirates.Their batting was under pressure against Sri Lanka right from the start as they played out two wicket-maidens to begin with. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy couldn’t revive the innings, leaving the job to Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain. They have often done this well in the past, but couldn’t on the day.Bangladesh’s catching was below par. The bowlers also collapsed in the face of sensible and aggressive batting. Dropping Taskin Ahmed in favour of Shoriful Islam might have destabilised a side that looks up to Taskin for inspiration.They have to get their act together against Afghanistan, a side headed in the direction opposite to where Bangladesh are going. Bangladesh must lift themselves, otherwise their Asia Cup campaign could well be over before even taking off.1:14

Maharoof: Bangladesh have been lacking in major tournaments

Form guide

Afghanistan WLWWW
Bangladesh LWWLW

In the spotlight: Azmatullah Omarzai and Shamim Hossain

Azmatullah Omarzai is emerging as Afghanistan’s top pace-bowling-allrounder, who can bowl in pressure situations and bat effectively in the top six. His half-century against Hong Kong was Afghanistan’s fastest in the format. Omarzai struck five sixes and two fours in his 21-ball 53. He is more than useful with the ball too, often helping Afghanistan break partnerships. He would, however, like to improve his T20I batting record against Bangladesh, having scored just 88 runs in six outings so far.Shamim Hossain dug Bangladesh out of a hole against Sri Lanka, but his unbeaten 42 – and Jaker Ali’s unbeaten 41 – couldn’t quite get them to a winning position. Shamim and Jaker added 86 for the sixth wicket, both doing the sort of fire-fighting job they are asked to do often. The good part about Shamim’s innings was that he took the attack to the Sri Lanka bowlers at the end of the innings, something that should give him confidence against Afghanistan.Taskin Ahmed should return to the Bangladesh XI•AFP/Getty Images

Team news

Afghanistan are likely to stick to the same XI that played against Hong Kong in the tournament opener.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Sediqullah Atal, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Mohammad Nabi, 5 Gulbadin Naib, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 AM Ghazanfar, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiSaif Hassan and Nurul Hasan are top-order batting options Bangladesh could look at, while Taskin is likely to return into the playing XI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shamim Hossain, 6 Jaker Ali, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Tanzim Hasan, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Abu Dhabi has rewarded batters with intent in the Asia Cup so far, but the bowlers too have found help from the pitches. The forecast is for high temperatures.

Stats and trivia

• The two maiden overs Bangladesh played out at the start of their innings against Sri Lanka was only the second such instance in a men’s T20I match between two Full-Member teams. Zimbabwe did it against West Indies in 2010.
• Omarzai struck the fastest T20I fifty for Afghanistan in their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong. His 20-ball half-century beat Nabi’s 21-ball effort against Ireland in 2017.

Manchester United have now reportedly held internal talks about signing a Premier League midfielder who will be cheaper than Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Man Utd prioritising Anderson move

Anderson has quickly become the most sought-after midfield talent in the Premier League. The Nottingham Forest star has forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s best England side and put himself on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester City and those at Old Trafford.

In terms of the physical profile that thrives in the Premier League these days, he ticks several important boxes. They are, as things stand, boxes that Man United’s current options struggle to meet, which makes it no surprise that the Red Devils have reportedly identified Anderson as their top transfer priority.

A deal to sign Anderson will not come cheap, however. Some reports have claimed that he will cost clubs as much as £100m to sign in the summer. Whether United have the spending power to match the likes of City as a result is the question that those around Old Trafford will now be asking themselves.

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It’s clear that Ruben Amorim is seeking reinforcements too, having laughed off suggestions that Kobbie Mainoo could solve some of Man United’s problems. The United boss said when asked about the midfielder: “I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch.”

As the Premier League’s top clubs chase Anderson and Forest set their price, however, United may have no choice but to turn towards Mainoo or cheaper alternatives in the market like Joao Gomes.

Man Utd hold internal talks about Joao Gomes

According to the Daily Mail, Man United have now held internal talks about signing Gomes to fix their midfield problems in 2026. The Wolverhampton Wanderers man will be cheaper than Anderson at a reported £44m and it will be interesting to see if the price drops if the Midlands club drop down to the Championship this season.

Minutes

1,099

1,260

Progressive Passes

64

119

Tackles Won

22

22

Ball Recoveries

73

115

Gomes may be a fair bit cheaper than Anderson, but the quality drop off is there for all to see. The Brazilian has by no means endured a poor season on a personal front even as Wolves have struggled. Alas, Anderson has blown him away in comparison both on and off the ball.

Dubbed a “super talent” by former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, it’s not a major surprise that Gomes has found himself on United’s radar. He ticks the box for Premier League experience for a bargain price tag, but he is ultimately not on the same level as the likes of Adam Wharton and Anderson.

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Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri believes Mason Greenwood shouldn't be "judged" on his past rape allegations. The Marseille forward had charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault dropped in February 2023, at which time he was still on the books at Manchester United.

Greenwood's past 'mistakes'

Nearly six months after charges against the forward were dropped, Greenwood admitted to "making mistakes" as Man Utd confirmed he would not be reintegrated into the squad following their own internal investigation into his conduct away from the pitch. 

He said in August 2023, shortly before joining Getafe on a season-long loan: "I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst. I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges. However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post. I am learning to understand my responsibilities to set a good example as a professional footballer, and I'm focused on the big responsibility of being a father, as well as a good partner. Today's decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me. The best decision for us all, is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club. I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United. I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown. I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch."

AdvertisementAFPGreenwood defended by Nasri

United sold Greenwood to Marseille outright in the summer of 2024, and he has since become a key player for the club, while also welcoming two children with his partner, Harriet Robson. The topic of the ex-United man has sprung up again in light of Marseille hosting Newcastle United, a game the French side won 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Before that, former Marseille star Nasri gave his thoughts on the public perception of Greenwood, who was forced to rebuild his career abroad after the lengthy legal case.

He said on Canal+: "If she (Harriet Robson) has forgiven him… who are we to judge? That's the point… If your wife has forgiven you, we can forgive you. If she hadn't forgiven him and he had been found guilty and had received that sentence in England, she would have said it was normal."

'What happens to him saddens me'

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has also come to the aid of the 24-year-old. The Italian called the forward a "good person", who paid a "heavy price" for what happened.

"I never delve into the players' private lives. But what I can say is that he's a good person. He paid a heavy price for what happened. He arrived in the right environment and behaved well. He has a very reserved personality. It saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England," said the former Brighton head coach. 

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AFPWhat comes next for Greenwood?

After a prolific season at Marseille last term, Greenwood is continuing to impress this season for the French giants. He has scored 11 goals and added four assists in 17 appearances and will hope to add to that when Marseille, who are second in Ligue 1, host Toulouse on Saturday. The ex-Red Devils man was linked with some top European clubs earlier this year, and while a big-money move may happen one day, for now, he will be focusing on delivering for De Zerbi's side – who are just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

All Arsenal supporters prayed for this international break was no injuries, but those prayers certainly have not been answered.

On Saturday, at their own home Emirates Stadium no less, Gabriel hobbled off around an hour into Brazil’s 2-0 friendly victory over Senegal in North London.

Reports suggest he has suffered an adductor injury, the severity of which is not yet known, but any absence would be a massive blow.

To make matters worse, Riccardo Calafiori has returned home early from the Italy camp, sitting out the Azzurri’s Thursday night victory over Moldova in Chișinău.

Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso stated “he tried to be available, but he can’t force it now”, which has to be worrying for Mikel Arteta, considering the 23-year-old’s injury history.

Both players have started all 11 Premier League fixtures to date, so to be without both considering the Gunners’ next three fixtures, Tottenham (H), Bayern Munich (H) and then Chelsea (A), could be a massive issue.

Nevertheless, Arteta boasts an ideal deputy already.

The numbers behind Arsenal's defensive solidity

Prior to last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland, Arsenal had kept eight successive clean sheets, equaling a club record set in 1903.

The statistics back up how dominant a defence Arteta’s side has been this season to date.

Arsenal defensive statistics 25/26
Stats	Arsenal	PL rank
Goals conceded	5	1st
Clean sheets	7	1st
xG against	6	1st
xGoal difference	+12.8	1st
Goalkeeper saves	16	1st
Shots faced	81	1st
Shots on target faced	21	1st
Corners conceded	34	1st
Stats via FBref & SofaScore

As the table documents, Arsenal rank first for every defensive metric out there in the Premier League this season.

Their tally of seven clean sheets has been achieved while facing only 21 shots on target, with some jokingly suggesting that David Raya could request to start working from home, even if the Spaniard has pulled off some extraordinary saves in fairness to him.

However, both Gabriel and Calafiori have been such key contributors to this solidity, supporters may be concerned as to how Arteta’s team will fare in their absence, but do they have a ready-made quality player waiting to step in?

How Arsenal can solve their defensive injury blows

After last season was completely derailed by injuries, Arsenal recruited heavily in the summer to avoid a similar eventuality and a sense of déjà vu.

In terms of defenders, Cristhian Mosquera arrived from Valencia for £13m, and the Spaniard has been excellent every time he has featured, with Sid Lowe of the Guardian noting that everyone in North London agrees that he is an absolute ‘bargain’.

By contrast, the summer signing that went under the radar the most was the arrival of Piero Hincapié on deadline day, joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen but with a £45m obligation to buy, a not insignificant outlay, so after a few weeks watching from the wings, is their Gabriel and Saliba hybrid about to be thrust into the spotlight?

Upon his arrival, Arteta noted that the 23-year-old possesses a “real physical presence”, praising his “versatility and tactical flexibility”, thereby bolstering the team’s “defensive options”, which is certainly pertinent now.

Meanwhile, U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as “an absolute beast”, and his agent has gone further than that, calling him “a warrior” and “a leader.” It’s easy to see why he’s drawn comparisons to the club’s two main centre-halves.

Chalkboard

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

During his four seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, Hincapié made 166 appearances for die Werkself, a key figure in Xabi Alonso’s side that won both the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal unbeaten in 2023/24, delivering the club’s first-ever Meisterschale.

He has also been part of a rock-solid defence at international level, starting 14 of Ecuador’s 18 World Cup qualifiers as Sebastián Beccacece’s team conceded only five goals throughout the entire campaign, equalling the South American record.

As outlined by Phil Costa of Arseblog, Hincapié’s greatest strength is his ability to play both as a reliable centre-back but also as an attacking left-wing-back, excelling in both roles under Alonso, labelling him ‘aggressive’ and ‘unashamedly South American’, highlighting his ‘strong recovery pace’.

Well, considering that both Calafiori and Gabriel are now major doubts for Sunday’s North London derby, Hincapié is likely to start, either as a left-back or left-sided centre-back.

The alternative options are Myles Lewis-Skelly and the aforementioned Mosquera, but Arteta is unlikely to bring in such a young duo together, while he has proven that he favours a left-footed left-centre-back, Pablo Marí and Jakub Kiwior among many examples, suggesting the Ecuadorian will get the nod in the middle alongside William Saliba.

During Arsenal’s recent victory over Slavia Prague, the 1,000 or so Gooners who had made the trip to the Czech capital spent much of the afternoon and evening singing Hincapié’s new song.

One line includes the lyrics “the Arsenal get excited when they see you play”, which is just as well, given that he is set for a prominent role in crucial upcoming fixtures.

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Nov 13, 2025

In a major change, Shreyas Iyer, who skipped the second four-day match between India A and Australia A as part of his break from red-ball cricket, will now lead the India A 50-over side for the three matches against the same opponents between September 30 and October 5 in Kanpur. Earlier, on September 14, the BCCI had announced that Rajat Patidar would lead India A in the first one-day game, and Tilak Varma in the subsequent games.While no vice-captain has been chosen for the first match, Tilak, who is currently in the UAE as part of India’s Asia Cup squad, will be Iyer’s deputy for the second and third games.Meanwhile, Patidar, having recently led Central Zone to the domestic season-opening Duleep Trophy title, has been removed from the India A one-day squad and will instead lead the Rest of India squad against Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in the Irani Cup, to be played in Nagpur from October 1.Related

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• BCCI okays Shreyas Iyer's request for six-month break from red-ball cricket

Along with Tilak, other Asia Cup squad members Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will join the India A squad for the second and third matches. Leaving the squad after the first match will be Priyansh Arya and Simarjeet Singh, as was announced earlier.

India A squad for 1st one-day match

Shreyas Iyer (capt), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abishek Porel (wk), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet Singh

India A squad for 2nd and 3rd one-day matches

Shreyas Iyer (capt), Tilak Varma (vice-capt), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (wk), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep SinghRajat Patidar will hope to add the Irani Cup to the Duleep Trophy•PTI

Gaikwad, Kishan add muscle to Rest of India squad

For the Irani Cup match, the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yash Dhull, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Akash Deep and Khaleel Ahmed, among others, will join forces with Patidar to try and get past Vidarbha at their home base in Nagpur.Of the Rest of India players, Abhimanyu, Kotian, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel and Suthar have been part of the action in the four-dayers against Australia A in Lucknow.Returning from an elbow injury, which kept him out since the first leg of matches in IPL 2025, Gaikwad scored 184 in the first innings of West Zone’s Duleep Trophy game against Central Zone in early September, signalling his good form. Dhull is another batter who comes into the Rest of India squad in good form, having scored 133 in a Duleep Trophy game last month.The match will also mark the competitive comeback of Akash Deep, who was rested for the Duleep Trophy after his exertions in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England, where he played three of the five Tests and starred with a ten-wicket haul in the second Test at Edgbaston. He joins forces with Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Khaleel, with the spin department headlined by Saransh Jain, the Player of the Series at the Duleep Trophy, Kotian and Suthar.

Rest of India squad for Irani Cup match vs Vidarbha

Rajat Patidar (capt), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Aryan Juyal (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Yash Dhull, Shaikh Rasheed, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Saransh Jain

Vidarbha squad for Irani Cup

Akshay Wadkar (capt, wk), Yash Rathod (vice-capt), Atharva Taide, Aman Mokhade, Danish Malewar, Harsh Dubey, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Akshay Karnewar, Yash Kadam, Shivam Deshmukh (wk), Praful Hinge, Dhruv Shorey

This marked just the second time that a New Zealand batter has occupied the top spot, following Glenn Turner’s reign in 1979.

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2025

Daryl Mitchell made his seventh ODI century this week•Getty Images

Daryl Mitchell has dethroned Rohit Sharma to become the new No. 1 batter in the ICC ODI rankings. This marked just the second time that a New Zealand batter has occupied the top spot, following Glenn Turner’s reign in 1979.A number of contemporary greats like Martin Crowe, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have spent time in the top-five of the ODI batting rankings but have never been No. 1. Mitchell made the move up after scoring his seventh ODI century, against West Indies on Sunday. He injured himself during that innings though and was ruled out for the rest of the three-match series.Temba Bavuma also enjoyed a significant rise, breaking into the top five of the Test batting rankings for the first time. The South Africa captain scored the only half-century in extreme conditions in Kolkata and helped his team end a 15-year period without a Test win in India. Shubman Gill, currently injured, is just outside the top 10 with 737 rating points. Joe Root, preparing to play the Ashes on Friday, leads the Test batting pack followed by England team-mate Harry Brook.Marco Jansen, also a key contributor to the events at Eden Gardens, waits just outside the top 10 among the Test bowlers rankings and has broken into the top five in the allrounders rankings. Jasprit Bumrah remains at No. 1 after picking up six wickets in the match, followed by Matt Henry and Noman Ali.Pakistan’s 3-0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka resulted in upward movement for their legspinner Abrar Ahmed, who has moved up 11 spots to No. 9 on the bowlers’ list. Rashid Khan remains at the head of the pack followed by Jofra Archer and Keshav Maharaj.Jacob Duffy was the highest wicket-taker in the five T20Is that New Zealand played against West Indies in November and it reflects in his rise to No. 2 on the bowling rankings. Varun Chakravarthy is ahead of him and Rashid is just behind.Three Indians – Gill (No. 4), Virat Kohli (No. 5) and Shreyas Iyer (No. 8) – alongside Rohit (No. 2) make up the top 10 in the ODI batting rankings. Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran is at No. 3.

Another week, another dollar for Liverpool. Up next is an Anfield clash against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and Arne Slot knows he has to win this one.

That should go without saying, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Liverpool have lost eight of their past 11 matches across all competitions, and two of their past three at Anfield.

A big response is needed, and curiously, it feels like there’s a good chance that will be delivered against the Dutch side. Whether it will be sustained is another matter, though, and Slot needs to find and instil a formula that can be carried back over to the Premier League, with West Ham United waiting in London on Sunday.

The Reds have to overcome their current malaise, and maybe they need to start Alexander Isak once again.

Why Isak should start vs PSV

Hugo Ekitike is waiting in the wings, and having been Liverpool’s most efficient forward this season, may well be disheartened by being benched once again here, especially after his side and Isak produced a staggeringly bad performance at the weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Alexander Isak vs Nott’m Forest
Match Stats	#
Minutes played	68′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches	14
Shots (on target)	1 (0)
Accurate passes	5/7 (71%)
Possession lost	7x
Chances created	1
Dribbles	0/1
Tackles won	0/0
Duels won	0/7
Data via Sofascore

The Sweden striker, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on transfer deadline day this summer, has not yet scored in the Premier League, his only goal coming against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The 26-year-old is one of the best strikers in the world and a proven behemoth in England. But it’s not worked out thus far, and Slot has to find some answers – quickly.

Liverpool cannot allow this rut to devolve into something more permanent. Already, chatter concerning the boss’s future is rising, and he needs to prove he can rewire his team to overcome their many problems.

The free-scoring success of Isak will be essential in righting the wrongs of recent months.

If Isak is to be handed another chance to develop his fitness levels under the European lights on Wednesday, Slot should also consider handing another rarely-seen star a role from the opening.

Slot must unleash Liverpool's Semenyo-esque talent

While Cody Gakpo has played many minutes off the left wing this season, there is a sense that Liverpool need a contrasting profile. Someone like Luis Diaz.

But, with Diaz sold to Bayern Munich, rumours are rising regarding Liverpool’s interest in Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle for Bournemouth this season.

Semenyo, 25, has notched six goals and three assists from 11 Premier League matches this season, and he has been hailed as a “world-class” forward by his teammate Justin Kluivert.

He’s available in January, his £65m release clause then becoming active, but whether Liverpool should strike a deal for the Ghanaian when they have a talent like Rio Ngumoha in their ranks remains to be seen.

Ngumoha, 17, announced himself and then some earlier this season when scoring a last-gasp winner away at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since proved reluctant to hand him minutes on the biggest stage.

Given that Liverpool opted against paying out for a direct Diaz heir to keep a pathway open for the England U19 star, whose five Premier League cameos this term combine for a total of 42 minutes of action, this is questionable.

Now, while Liverpool need to win against PSV, Ngumoha could be handed a significant show of faith by starting in the Champions League, with his pace and potency and willingness to be direct potentially perfect for Isak. Just look at the connection the Swede forged with Anthony Gordon over the past few years on Tyneside.

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Kevin Fernandes, Ngumoha was given 12 minutes off the bench at the weekend, and while he was unable to turn the tide against the Tricky Trees, he certainly offered more than Gakpo, with Sofascore recording that he completed all three attempted dribbles and won three duels.

This could be a move that not only bears dividends for Isak and Ngumoha, but also rekindle the belief in Slot’s vision. Liverpool fans are passionate, and the rise of a homegrown hero could project the kind of shining light Slot needs to prove he has what it takes to lead this club forward in the long run.

After all, Ngumoha has already demonstrated this season his capacity to succeed in the Premier League, and that winner at St. James’ Park established him as one of the competition’s youngest goalscorers of all time.

Youngest Scorers in Premier League History
#	Player	Age
1	James Vaughan	16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days
2	James Milner	16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days
3	Wayne Rooney	16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days
4	Rio Ngumoha	16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days
5	Cesc Fabregas	17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

He might be a raw and unpolished prospect, but Ngumoha is the real deal, and while we are not advocating for him to start every single match, it might be worthwhile to enforce a degree of rotation here ahead of Sunday’s must-win Premier League match at West Ham.

It would also help stabilise Isak, providing a presence to dart forward and stretch lines, playing into the record striker’s fast-running and line-breaking style of play.

The rumours concerning Liverpool’s interest in Semenyo are only going to intensify as the winter transfer window draws nearer.

But Liverpool already have a prodigious talent whose talent left FSG and Hughes opting against sourcing a direct Diaz replacement. Now it is time to unleash him.

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Marc Skinner's side shipped three first-half goals to effectively put the game to bed as the Red Devils toiled in the Manchester derby and saw their rivals pull seven points clear of them in the WSL table. It'll surely take something spectacular for United to get themselves back in contention now, even after only nine games, as they struggled to contain the likes of Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema and Bunny Shaw and were comfortably beaten 3-0.

City would break the deadlock after an even start when Shaw rose above Elisabeth Terland and nodded across the box for Rebecca Knaak to head home what was her third goal in a Manchester derby to give the hosts the lead.

United, who failed to muster a single shot on target over the entire 90 minutes, tried to get going, with Ella Toone and Jess Park showing flashes of their quality in and around the box, but City's defence were having none of it, and Andree Jeglertz's side would double their lead on 43 minutes. Shaw, who looked a class above all game, would be involved again, this time scoring herself as she raced in front of a sleeping Dominique Janssen and slotted home for 2-0, bagging her sixth WSL goal of the season in the process.

And the game was effectively over just before the half-time whistle blew, when Hemp, afforded far too much time and space to pick her spot, arrowed a ferocious drive past a helpless Safia Middleton-Patel to end the afternoon as a contest.

GOAL rates Manchester United's players from the Etihad Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Safia Middleton-Patel (6/10):

  Powerless to stop any of the goals and saved well from Shaw in the second half to prevent a fourth.

  Jayde Riviere (5/10):

  She found life tough against a resurgent Hemp and failed to stop the cross on more than one occasion.

  Dominique Janssen (4/10):

  Should've been more switched on to the danger posed by Shaw for City's second goal and struggled to contain the Jamaican goalscoring sensation all afternoon.

  Maya Le Tissier (5/10):

  Her and Janssen will be having nightmares about Shaw tonight. Couldn't really blame her for any of the goals but will be angry that United shipped three having been so consistent at the back this season.

  Anna Sandberg (5/10):

  Struggled to deal with Kerstin Casparij's marauding runs from right-back and should've got out to the Netherlands international far quicker to try to prevent the cross that led to Shaw's goal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Julia Zigiotti Olme (4/10):

  Had a bit of a nightmare. Lost the midfield battle and allowed Hemp all sorts of time and space to get her shot away for City's third goal.

  Hinata Miyazawa (5/10):

  Not her day. Loose with her passing and couldn't stop City dominating the midfield area.

  Ella Toone (6/10):

  No hat-trick at the Etihad this time. A really frustrating afternoon for Toone, who looked bright in possession but failed to put her stamp on the derby.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Jess Park (5/10):

  Linked up well with Toone at times but was well marshalled by her former City team-mates. Struck the post with United's best chance of the game when she should've really hit the target.

  Elisabeth Terland (3/10):

  Given the nod in attack but hardly had a touch and was dominated in the air by Shaw for City's opener. Hauled off at half-time for Malard.

  Leah Galton (5/10):

  Still working her way back to full fitness and the rustiness showed, with her end product particularly poor. Hooked midway through the second half.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Melvine Malard (6/10):

  On at half-time and looked far more of a threat than the ineffective Terland but ultimately the game was already over.

  Fridolina Rolfo (5/10):

  Bright on midway through the second half but it was game over by this point and she had little impact.

  Hannah Blundell (5/10):

  Brought on as United legs began to tire but couldn't help spark any sort of recovery.

  Rachel Williams (5/10):

  Introduced for Park but it was 3-0 and there was no way back.

  Simi Awujo (N/A):

  On for the final few minutes.

  Marc Skinner (4/10):

  Made the decision to switch things up after the midweek win over PSG and it backfired. Dropping Malard for Terland was the biggest call and it didn't go his way, with United now needing a minor miracle to get back in the WSL title picture.

Leeds United currently find themselves in the relegation zone in the Premier League ahead of games against Chelsea and Liverpool at Elland Road this week.

The Whites have lost their last four matches in the top-flight and there is now speculation over the short-term future of their head coach, Daniel Farke.

The Guardian claims that senior figures at Thorp Arch expect the German manager to be sacked by the 49ers if he oversees losses to Chelsea and Liverpool in the next five days or so, after the 3-2 loss to Manchester City on Saturday.

It is hard not to feel a bit sorry for the former Norwich coach, though, because several of his stars from the 100-point Championship promotion campaign have failed to make the step up required to perform in the Premier League.

Leeds players who have failed to make the step up to the Premier League

Joel Piroe is perhaps the most obvious example of a player who has failed to make the step up from the Whites’ exceptional season in the second tier.

The Dutchman was the top scorer in the Championship last term, with 19 goals, yet has found himself as the third-choice striker behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, and has yet to score in seven outings this season, per Sofascore.

Ao Tanaka, meanwhile, was willing to candidly admit that his level is “not good enough” at the moment, as he has lost 58% of his duels in midfield across ten appearances in the top-flight, per Sofascore.

After 12 goals and nine assists in the 2024/25 campaign, Daniel James has failed to produce a single goal or assist for the Whites this term, per Sofascore, which shows that the Welsh winger has also struggled to deal with the step up.

Another one of last season’s stars who has failed to step up to the top-flight is right-back Jayden Bogle, who was exceptional in the Championship last term.

Why Jayden Bogle has been a liability for Leeds this season

The £45k-per-week star was described as a “massive signing” by pundit Micah Richards earlier this year, and it was hard to argue with that assessment after his form in his first year at Elland Road.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Bogle scored six goals and created 11 ‘big chances’ in the Championship for Leeds, whilst also proving himself to be a solid defender at that level by winning 55% of his ground duels and 52% of his aerial duels, per Sofascore.

However, the step up to the Premier League is a significant one, and Bogle has been unable to make it, which has made him the club’s biggest defensive liability since Rasmus Kristensen in the 2022/23 campaign when they were last relegated from the division.

The Danish flop was a liability for the Whites that season because he offered little to the team from a creative perspective in possession, whilst being far too easy for opposition players to get the better of defensively.

Premier League	Kristensen – 22/23	Bogle – 25/26
Appearances	26	13
Sofascore rating	6.70	6.36
Key passes per game	0.3	0.3
Assists	1	0
Dribbled past	34x	13x
Ground duel success rate	54%	48%
Aerial duel success rate	56%	44%
Error led to goal	0	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bogle has lost an even higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air than Kristensen did in the Premier League that season, whilst creating the same number of chances per game on average.

These statistics both illustrate how underwhelming the English full-back has been, as he has failed to transfer his Championship form over to the top-flight, and how he has been even worse than Kristensen was in a relegation campaign for the Whites.

Bogle’s Premier League struggles should not come as a massive surprise, though, because Leeds signed him off the back of playing in 34 of Sheffield United’s 38 top-flight games when they conceded a record 104 goals in 38 games, and he lost 53% of his ground duels in that time, per Sofascore.

Whilst it is still not even the halfway point in the campaign and there is time left for him to turn his season around, Bogle’s current form is on par with what he has shown in the past at this level, which was not good enough defensively then and does not look good enough now because of how easy it has been for opposition players to beat him in duels.

Dan James' dream replacement hasn't played for Leeds since October 2024

Leeds star James has struggled for his best form this season

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 1, 2025

Hopefully, the former Derby star can find a way to get back to his best at right-back to bring the exciting and dynamic play that he brought to the team to make him a “massive signing” in the Championship.

Shreyas Iyer believes that going back to a more upright stance has helped him counter extra bounce. He has used this “new” stance – adapted from one he used in the past – in domestic cricket, against Australia A, and now, in the ODI series in Australia. While India scratched around on a seaming pitch in the second ODI in Adelaide, Iyer negotiated the tough spells, scoring 61 off 77.Iyer’s game against short-pitched bowling at high pace has always been a talking point. Not part of India’s Test or T20I sides, Iyer spent the time off working on his game to counter extra bounce. “Since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance [for conditions] where the bounce is a little bit more than expected,” he said.”And based on that, I worked with my coach and we developed this new technique, and it was kind of suiting me pretty well. And the way I grew up playing, it was very much that I predominantly had an upright stance, and I just was like, ‘Let’s go back to my old technique and see how it, you know, [holds] up.'”So, yeah, I backed myself and then, from there on, I started [trying the technique] in the domestic [games]… Till now, I’ve been continuing with the same stance.”Related

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Iyer grew up batting with this upright stance, but perhaps the back injuries he has battled made him make changes. “Even in Mumbai, when we play on red-soil wickets – where the bounce is a little bit extra than expected – I think it helps with the upright stance,” Iyer said.”And yeah, you’ve got to keep chopping and changing every now and then, because you don’t play on the same wickets [all the time]. Whatever the wicket demands, you’ve got to change your stance accordingly, and I think I’ve changed so many stances [that] I’m able to adapt anywhere at the moment.”Iyer last played for India during their undefeated Champions Trophy campaign in the UAE in March. Since then, he has played the IPL, two first-class matches, and then captained India A in the three one-day matches against Australia A. At some point during this break, he reached the conclusion that his body, at the moment, is not supporting his first-class cricket, prompting him to request the BCCI for a six-month break from red-ball cricket.”When I played red-ball cricket after the IPL, I realised that if I field for long spells on the ground, my intensity starts to go down. And the intensity that you need to maintain in international cricket, I wasn’t able to match up to it. In ODIs, you know you will get rest after one day and be able to recover. Not in Tests. That is why I made that call, and conveyed that message.”