King, Garth dismantle England as Australia extend Ashes lead in low-scoring win

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Australia go 4-0 ahead on the Women’s Ashes points tally after two ODIs in the multi-format series

Alex Malcolm13-Jan-2025

Alana King dismissed Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone off consecutive deliveries•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

In front of a packed Shane Warne stand at the Junction Oval, Alana King produced an Ashes spell for the ages in the mould of her hero to inspire Australia to an extraordinary victory over England, defending 180 in a crazy finish that had to be seen to be believed and handed the hosts a four-point lead after two matches in the multi-format series.Defending a meagre 181, the lowest ever defended in an Ashes ODI, King took 4 for 25 with some magical legspin bowling. She was well supported by Kim Garth who took 3 for 37 while Ash Gardner bowled a frugal spell of 10 overs taking 1 for 23.King was awestruck by the ovation she got from the Shane Warne stand following her extraordinary spell.”I played a lot of cricket here growing up and even started off my professional career at Victoria, so this place will always be pretty special to me,” King said. “Having the Shane Warne stand now, yeah, it was pretty surreal to be quite honest, but more happy to get the win.”As good as Australia’s bowlers were, England’s batters were enormous contributors to their own downfall with a mix of woeful decision-making and execution ensuring Australia could afford to drop four catches, have Annabel Sutherland withdrawn from the attack for two no-balls above waist high in the 48th over, and still win by 21 runs.England’s meltdown was complete after Amy Jones forgot to run off the second free hit in the over, that had to be bowled by Tahlia McGrath, which left No. 11 Lauren Bell exposed at the start of the 49th. She was bowled first ball to leave Jones stranded on 47.England’s stunning collapse outshone Australia’s earlier in the day after the home side lost 8 for 49 to be bowled out for 180 with Alice Capsey taking a career-best 3 for 22 and Sophie Ecclestone claiming 4 for 35.Ellyse Perry made a match-winning 60 but she was one of Capsey’s three victims as Australia slumped from 131 for 2 to be bowled out in 44.3 overs. It was the first time Australia had been bowled out at the Junction Oval in nine completed ODIs there. The 12 wickets taken by spinners across the match is the joint-most in Australia in ODIs. The rarity of Australia’s stunning collapse was highlighted by the fact that their No. 11 Darcie Brown scored her first ODI run, having previously batted just once in 22 matches.While Australia’s collapse was epic and statistically far more impressive, it ended up being second-best to England who are now in a perilous situation in the series. The collapse came in two parts having reached 68 for 2 after Garth removed both openers.Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt looked in control with a calming 41-run stand. But just like Sydney, both butchered promising starts to leave England stuttering. Knight closed the face trying to work Gardner square and popped up a simple return catches off the leading edge.King then weaved her magic, bowling Danni Wyatt-Hodge with a ball that drifted into middle and leg and ripped into the top of off, leaving the batter with a Mike Gatting-esque look on her face.Sciver-Brunt then following Maia Bouchier and Knight’s lead, closing the bat face against the turn to pop an easy leading edge to cover.England steadied briefly, with Jones and Capsey sharing a 36-run stand. But it came off an asphyxiating 75 balls. Capsey was given out lbw but reprieved via an inside edge. Jones was then dropped at backward point, before finally the pressure told as Garth beat Capsey’s inside edge to finally get her out lbw.King’s last over was mayhem. Charlie Dean tried a lap scoop and succeeded only in popping an easy catch to Mooney who moved behind Alyssa Healy from slip. Ecclestone nicked a big spinning legbreak next ball to leave King on a hat-trick and England eight-down.It should have been nine three balls later. Lauren Filer was dropped at a catching mid-on by Garth to deny King five.Jones then farmed the strike and England still had a chance. Filer was dropped a second time with Healy unable to hold a spectacular one-handed effort off Garth.But as with any great collapse, it was not complete without a calamitous run out. Filer obliged after Jones tried to lap-scoop Megan Schutt. Brown made an exceptional diving save at short third. Filer ran all the way down while Jones never moved. Healy relayed a throw from Brown to Schutt before Filer could get close to safety.England were left nine down needing 34 from 42 balls. Bell then managed to survive 15 balls for one run but equation became 28 from 18 before Sutherland’s 48th seemed to give England hope. But in the chaos of Sutherland’s over, Jones forgot how many balls were left and King forgot she had dropped a free-hit in the deep. Jones’ amnesia was more costly.Earlier, Australia’s collapse could have easily cost them the match. They were cruising after being sent in at 131 for 2 with Perry looking imperious having passed 50 for the 38th time in her ODI career, barely offering a false shot in the process.Ecclestone, the No.1 bowler in the world, had made an indifferent start with the ball after oddly being held out of the attack until the 18th over, having not been brought on until the 15th over in the first ODI in Sydney.She struck second ball, trapping Phoebe Litchfield lbw for 29 as the left-hander yorked herself trying to reverse-sweep.Ecclestone then overattacked to Perry and Mooney for three overs before trapping the left-hander lbw. England needed a review to get the initial not out decision overturned.Capsey then scythed through the middle-order with her part-time offspin after replacing Charlie Dean at the pavilion end. She dropped a relatively straightforward caught and bowled chance offered by Sutherland. But it did not cost much as Sutherland failed to keep another drive down, picking out Knight at cover.Ellyse Perry brought up her half-century with back-to-back boundaries•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Perry then got bogged down. She had raced to 51 from 52 balls, striking five fours and two sixes. She never went longer than 14 balls without finding the rope and struck a six and two fours in the space of five balls to bring up the milestone.But having motored to 51, she scored just nine runs from her next 22 balls with Ecclestone and Capsey putting the squeeze on having taken two wickets at the other end.In the 29th over, Capsey delivered four consecutive dots to Perry, never leaving the stumps and nearly trapping her lbw with the fourth ball. She sneaked through with the fifth as Perry jammed her bat against her pad but missed the ball. She was initially given not out but England were successful with another review. Capsey added to her haul when Gardner left a huge gap between bat and pad trying an ambitious drive on the up and lost her off stump.Knight seized the moment and brought Filer back on to the remove the out-of-form Tahlia McGrath with sheer pace. Filer had previously looked like Bambi on ice in her opening two spells, slipping and tumbling to the deck in her delivery stride nearly half a dozen times as she conceded 34 in five overs.Ecclestone returned to clean up the tail alongside Bell who also finished with 2 for 25 including the early wicket of Healy.

'I'll take a screenshot!' – Tom Brady jokes he'll share WhatsApp message with Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney that shows Birmingham are top of Championship & Wrexham are rock bottom

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Tom Brady has joked that he will take a screenshot of the current Championship table that shows Birmingham at the top, while Wrexham, due to alphabetical order, are bottom. The two teams were promoted from League One at the end of the 2024-25 season and have formed a light-hearted rivalry, given their links to the USA via their high-profile owners.

  • Brady jokes about sharing WhatsApp message
  • Birmingham are listed as top of the table
  • NFL legend opened up on 'Hollywood derby'
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Brady, who owns a minority stake in Birmingham, experienced a nightmare start to his association with the English club as they went down from the Championship in the 2023-24 campaign. However, the Blues bounced back in style as they won the League One title last year, while Wrexham finished second. Both teams were then granted a direct entry to the English second-tier. 

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Since the 2024-25 campaign, where Birmingham and Wrexham competed side-by-side, the two teams developed a fun rivalry, which has been named the Hollywood derby, due to the presence of American owners in both clubs. Ahead of a new campaign, where the two teams will renew their rivalry, Brady jokingly claimed that he would take a screenshot of the current league table, which shows Birmingham at the top, while the Welsh side are at the bottom of the pit. 

  • WHAT BRADY SAID

    Speaking on the rivalry, the NFL legend told : "I think it's a fun rivalry for sure. I don't wanna create any distractions for those players on the pitch but for Rob and Tom Wagner and Ryan, we all have a friendly rivalry going here as well offline.

    When asked if they have a WhatsApp group and whether he would share a screenshot of the current league table with the Wrexham bosses, Brady replied: "We do, we have a good chain that constantly goes on. And again I think we're always paying attention to one another. 

    "That could all change pretty quickly. I think our start is August 8th, so things change very quickly in sport. I agree, I'll take a screenshot of that! Make sure they see that!"

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT?

    The Blues will feature in the first match of the 2025-26 Championship campaign against Ipswich Town, while Wrexham are set to face Southampton, a day later. 

It's good to be back at The Oval

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Around 2500 Surrey members had the chance to watch a Vitality Blast match against Hampshire live at The Oval. Here’s how it went

Tawhid Qureshi04-Sep-2020Choice of game
The last-minute u-turn that stopped the pilots having crowds at county matches had left myself and many other Surrey fans in a state of frustrated despondency, unsure if we would be able to watch any competitive live cricket at The Oval in 2020. Thankfully a huge amount of effort behind the scenes by Surrey enabled 2500 fortunate members to watch the T20 Blast fixture between Surrey and Hampshire, the first professional cricket match to host spectators this summer.In a year of the unexpected, few would have predicted Surrey to be winless at the start of September, even taking into account the truncated season. England call-ups and injuries have hit Surrey hard, so a win was vital to keep the season and hopes of reaching the T20 Finals Day alive.The arrangements
On entering the ground, it was apparent that people were at ease with the social distancing measures in place, perhaps since similar measures have been experienced at most public spaces since the lockdown. As The Oval had been part of phase one of the government-endorsed test events with a practice match back in July, the staff inside the ground were cheerfully drilled in managing the social-distancing measures. Clear signage directed me to my seat via a one-way system, and as before alternate rows were used as well as numerous gaps between seats. In an effort to further improve social distancing, some people were asked to wear sensors around their necks, presumably to monitor and understand crowd movement, yet again demonstrating Surrey’s commitment to providing the best and safest spectator experience. We were then forced to wait even longer for the resumption of live cricket, as rain threatened to spoil things. Luckily the skies eventually became clear and a shortened game got underway.Key performers
The tantalising match-up between Pakistan pace sensation Shaheen Afridi and the legendary Hashim Amla was something that I was looking forward to most; a game within a game. It was a contest that took place well into the night, with the full moon visible behind the pavilion. In Afridi’s second over Amla struck two sweetly timed boundaries to demonstrate his enduring class and revive memories of his Test triple-hundred on the same ground. Understandably, given the uniquely arduous tour of England that Afridi has experienced, he wasn’t able to quite live up to his billing. During the 64-run partnership between Will Jacks and Amla, which proved to be the bedrock of the Surrey chase, in many ways it was Jacks who overshadowed his more illustrious partner. He looked assured and eager to take any runs on offer from the start, eventually guiding Surrey home with a dominant unbeaten 45; earlier his solitary over of bowling had produced a surprise wicket, sealing a Player-of-the-Match performance in my eyes.Daniel Moriarty’s quietly impressive season bowling left-arm spin continued; he was the pick of the Surrey bowlers, particularly when bowling in tandem with his shrewd captain, the veteran Gareth Batty. Successive Hampshire batsmen were unable to break the stranglehold placed on them by the slower bowlers, which gave the Surrey batsman a very achievable target of 80 runs in 11 overs.Wow moment
Rory Burns’ excellently judged boundary catch midway through the Hampshire innings drew loud cheers on an otherwise quiet night. Amla also showed how his advancing years haven’t affected his graceful striking of the ball, with several strokes down the ground generating a pleasing thud from the bat. But the shot of the day was from Jacks: a brutal four over cover off Afridi’s bowling. Having done something similar in Afridi’s first over, a change of ends resulted in an even more commanding boundary, the ball bouncing a couple of times before crashing into the advertising boards.Social-distancing measures were in place at The Oval•PA Images via Getty ImagesThe crowd
It was actually refreshing to see a T20 Blast crowd solely focused on the game rather than socialising and drinking. In recent years The Oval has earned itself the somewhat dubious tag of being “London’s biggest beer garden” but there was no beer snake or loutish behaviour on show. It was also unusual for a T20 Blast fixture not to be a sellout, with half of the stands closed and the ground at about 10% capacity. At times there was an eerie silence, and the chat between players in the middle could be heard. The low-key nature of the event meant that the usual accompanying music, boundary-edge flame burners and crowd catch contest – touching the ball itself is now taboo – were all absent. Spectators were left to amuse themselves and did so by finding entertainment in the seemingly banal; during the innings break, every time the rope used to dry the outfield almost deflected into a pile of saw dust, a big cheer and laughter was heard. The happiness and relief of being able to witness live cricket was evident in the genuine warmth of the applause when the players took to the field. When Reece Topley delivered the first ball to Felix Organ, despite there being no possibility of a catch behind the stumps, an excited “ooh” swept around the semi-populated stands, echoing the crowd’s excitement.Marks out of 10
A victorious 9 to match Surrey’s comprehensive nine-wicket win. Only the persistent rain and the curtailed nature of the game denied the perfect return to watching “in the flesh” cricket. I’m firmly hoping that the win will mark a turning point in Surrey’s season, but more importantly Surrey’s trailblazing staging of the game will surely be of benefit to cricket fans around the country and beyond, as empty stadiums gradually welcome back the most important asset of the game: people
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Leave it to KL: How Rahul constructed a classic Test innings

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Impeccable judgment outside the off stump leaves South Africa short of answers

Karthik Krishnaswamy26-Dec-20212:35

Jaffer: No surprise to see Rahul and Agarwal do well

In his ninth and tenth overs on Sunday, Lungi Ngidi delivered two similar balls to two right-hand batters. Both pitched on a good length and nipped in off the seam while also climbing unexpectedly steeply.Both batters responded similarly, pressing onto the front foot to defend. The first ball ricocheted off the inside shoulder of Cheteshwar Pujara’s bat and into his thigh pad before lobbing into the hands of a diving short leg.Related

Joy of defensive game key to KL Rahul's Centurion success

Stats: Cheteshwar Pujara's front-foot defending woes

Rahul hits hundred as India punish wayward South Africa

The second hit KL Rahul’s inside edge high up, deflected into his pad, and landed safely, more or less by his feet. Even if this ball had ballooned, there was no one at short leg to gobble it up.This was a fairly benign first-day pitch by South African standards, but Ngidi had been finding a little bit of uncertain bounce in this little passage of play. He had consumed Pujara with extra bounce one ball after skidding one through slightly low to send back Mayank Agarwal. And yet, there was no short leg for Rahul.There was no short leg because, where Pujara had been facing his first ball, Rahul was batting on 47 off 122.The next three balls demonstrated a key aspect of the method that had allowed Rahul to survive up to this point, and to earn the absence of a short leg. Ngidi delivered them from wide of the crease, angling the ball into the fifth-stump channel and getting it to straighten marginally.Rahul stepped forward to all three balls, aligned to defend towards mid-off or extra-cover should he have felt the need to offer a shot. Having tracked the path of the ball with wide, expressionless eyes, he decided each time that he didn’t need to. He left all three alone, tucking his bat behind his front pad to let the ball pass unimpeded.KL Rahul left 76 of the 202 balls he had faced from South Africa’s seamers on day one•AFP/Getty ImagesBy the time the day’s play drew to a close, Rahul had left 76 of the 202 balls he had faced from South Africa’s seamers, almost always in that minimalist, bat-behind-pad manner, a contrast to the outré flourishes of Steven Smith or Marnus Labuschagne.As you might expect, Rahul’s leave percentage steadily fell over the course of the day’s play, as he grew more used to the conditions and as the slips cordon thinned out – from 45.24 at lunch to 42.48 at tea, and 37.62 at stumps. A classic Test innings.Those percentages, though, don’t say a whole lot all by themselves. Of all the Test series he has featured in away from Asia, Rahul’s highest leave percentages against fast bowling – 44.55 and 37.93, respectively – have come on two of his least successful tours, of South Africa in 2017-18 and Australia in 2018-19.Context, clearly, is important. Bouncier conditions always demand more leaves. And as his innings in Centurion has demonstrated, leave percentages tend to drop when a batter enjoys more success. The converse is true too – friendlier conditions that demand fewer leaves usually bring more runs; Rahul’s lowest-ever leave percentage against pace in a series outside Asia, 19.80, came during his debut series in Australia where he played two Tests on flat pitches and scored a hundred in the second.A high leave percentage, moreover, is often simply an outcome of bowlers not forcing batters to play enough balls. South Africa’s attack at Centurion was certainly guilty of this, particularly in the first session that Rahul and Mayank Agarwal – who was just as resolute outside off stump – negotiated without being separated. Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada were often a touch too wide with the new ball, and the debutant Marco Jansen often strayed too straight and onto the pads in compensation.What stood out in Rahul’s innings, then, wasn’t so much the quantity of his leaves as the quality: his alignment at the crease, his head position, and consequently the time he seemed to have to decide what to do with each ball, and the certainty of those decisions.KL Rahul kisses his helmet to celebrate his hundred•AFP/Getty ImagesThis assurance outside off stump had also been a feature of his displays during India’s tour of England earlier this year, when he made a comeback to the Test team after a two-year hiatus and scored 315 runs at 39.37 including a century at Lord’s, finishing behind only Rohit Sharma among India’s aggregates and averages for the tour.Agarwal, a close friend of Rahul’s who also plays for the same state team, also picked out his judgment outside off stump as the key feature of his recent red-ball successes.”As someone who’s watching him closely, I think he really understands where his off stump is,” Agarwal said. “He’s really getting into the line of the ball and he’s leaving really well, and he’s very disciplined with his gameplans and his mindset. And he’s looking to bat sessions and he’s looking to bat through whenever he gets set.”Before his comeback, Rahul had last played Test cricket on the 2019 tour of the West Indies, where he had shown a palpable uncertainty outside off stump, frequently getting beaten while offering mixed responses to that line of attack, neither playing nor leaving, and getting squared up in the process.In England and at Centurion, he was beautifully side-on, perfectly positioned to defend his off stump should the need arise, and to leave the ball should it end up outside his eyeline. He was also in the perfect position to caress the ball through the covers should the bowler overpitch, as Ngidi did in response to those three successive leaves.The last ball of Ngidi’s over was full again, though not a half-volley, and this time aimed at the stumps. Rahul pulled his front pad smartly out of the way and defended towards mid-on, his balance perfect. In the timeless cycle of Test cricket, a sound response to channel bowling will invariably be met by a shift to straighter lines and the search for lbw. South Africa’s quicks will probably attack Rahul’s stumps more and more as this series progresses, earlier in his innings, and how he responds will be fascinating to watch.For now, though, savour the mastery of Rahul’s judgment outside off stump, the elegance of his strokeplay, and, if you’re an India fan, the position he’s put them in after the first day of a litmus-test tour.

West Brom "finalising" transfer to sign "tremendous" 24 y/o int'l for Mason

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

West Brom are “finalising” a move for a “tremendous” international defender in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim regarding their upcoming business.

Mason eyeing "positive future" at West Brom

Ryan Mason took charge at The Hawthorns earlier this summer, with the former Tottenham midfielder tasked with guiding the Baggies back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

West Bromwich Albion's home stadium, The Hawthorns.

The 34-year-old has certainly spoken well about what he hopes to see West Brom achieve under him, focusing on a “positive future” with plenty of success.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base and I am excited about what we can achieve together. Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can’t wait to get started. I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”

Mason will know that new signings are required in order to aid their Championship promotion push in 2025/26 and have already brought in centre-back Nat Phillips and centre-forward Aune Heggeb. Now, they are closing in on a new international defender.

West Brom "finalising" move for centre-back

According to journalist Ben Jacobs on X, West Brom are now “finalising” a move for CF Montreal and USA centre-back George Campbell.

“George Campbell is finalising a move from Montreal to West Bromwich Albion. American centre-back left out of Montreal’s draw with Orlando yesterday ahead of formalising the transfer.”

Campbell could be an impressive signing by West Brom, even though some supporters may have reservations because he has never played in Europe before, only representing Montreal, Atalanta United and Atlanta United 2 in his club career.

Granted, that is a fair concern to have, but the 24-year-old is now a one-cap USA international who will hope to feature prominently at his home World Cup next summer, and Gonzalo Pineda has heaped praise on his abilities as a player.

"I can see a center back with tremendous potential. He’s a center back that is physically gifted. His aggression when he presses between the lines was fantastic today, so I was pleased with his performance before he scored the goal. He did a couple tackles on the ground, and we gained a couple important balls in transition that helped us to continue the attacking. I am very happy with his performance."smallRelatedWest Brom plot move to sign "fantastic" free agent Mason thinks will be keyHe played in the Champions League last season.Hopefully, Campbell takes to the English game seamlessly, assuming he does join West Brom, coming straight in as an influential starter who can inspire the Baggies back into the Premier League.

Crawley, Carse top performers on day one of England warm-up in Queenstown

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Zak Crawley hit 94 and Brydon Carse took four wickets as England stretched their legs on the first day of action on their tour of New Zealand.After opting to bowl, England dismissed the Prime Minister’s XI shortly after lunch, with Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Carse sharing the wickets. They then raced into the lead, Crawley providing the impetus in an innings that featured 14 fours and two sixes.Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, sat out day one of the two-day game, with Ollie Pope leading the side in his absence.The youthful PM XI, which featured five players aged 23 or under, were soon in trouble against England’s new-ball pair of Woakes and Atkinson, who took two apiece up front to leave the hosts 20 for 4.Snehith Reddy, the 17-year-old New Zealand U19 allrounder, hit 60 from No. 6 but Carse – one of five bowlers used, alongside Matt Potts and Shoaib Bashir – helped England chip out the rest of the order.Crawley launched the reply in typically aggressive fashion, putting on 90 in 15.1 overs alongside Ollie Pope (42) for the second wicket and 50 in seven overs with Joe Root for the third. But Harry Brook and Chris Woakes were the only other batters to reach 20 as the innings ended in a clatter of wickets.England are expected to give most of their 16-man squad game time in the match, which is their only warm-up fixture before the first Test in Christchurch, starting on Thursday.

FSG can keep Salah at Liverpool by hiring “the best young coach in Europe”

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Liverpool are in uncharted waters, with these deep fathoms threatening not only the future of Arne Slot, who won the Premier League a matter of months ago, but that of Mohamed Salah, one of the greatest players in the club’s history, too.

Where is the respite? At the moment, Liverpool can’t catch a break, fumbling a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Leeds United on Saturday after previously drawing against well-worth-their-money Sunderland at Anfield. All told, the Reds have won only two of their past ten league fixtures, losing six.

But Liverpool have sculpted this disaster themselves. They have patented a startling ability to wreak havoc on their own progress, with tactical imbalances sparking crises of confidence, sparking mutiny.

Salah’s flaming interview at Elland Road will go down in the history books, and though FSG have since underlined their faith in Slot’s stewardship, the severity of this crossroads cannot be understated.

The latest on Slot's Liverpool future

Slot is in an unenviable position, with Salah’s outburst proving the latest and most damaging in a long line of mishaps since the summer.

While FSG retain the faith in the 47-year-old, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last year after Jurgen Klopp stepped down, there’s an acceptance that results are needed quickly if something is to be salvaged from this campaign.

The fact of the matter is that Slot’s Liverpool started wobbling well before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he now needs to show that he can sort out the defence and restore balance to the team. He needs to show that quickly.

27

Games

52

23

Wins

26

3

Draws

10

1

Losses

16

2.66

PPG

1.69

73

Goals scored

91

27

Goals conceded

69

Liverpool are in big bother, and though FSG have been steadfast in their backing of the Dutchman, their leniency will only stretch so far, especially when there is such an exciting successor for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to consider.

Liverpool could hire Slot upgrade

Last week, it was reported that FSG have been considering Julian Nagelsmann as a candidate to replace Slot, should the Reds coach be sacked, though they will face a tough task in wrestling him away from the German national team, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming large.

Nagelsmann, 38, is among the world’s finest young coaches, having managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in his homeland.

Would he be willing to park his international ambitions? Probably not. That’s why it’s anticipated he could be lined up ahead of the start of next season, meaning Liverpool would need to find an interim boss if Slot is dismissed before the end of the term.

What Nagelsmann would offer Liverpool

Nagelsmann has been described as the “best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, and though he’s the junior of practically all of the game’s standout managers, he’s hardly inexperienced, with a keen tactical mind that could be the remedy to a Liverpool team who have fallen by the wayside.

Bayern's Julian Nagelsmann

This is a fluid and interchangeable tactician. Nagelsmann employed a counter-pressing system at Leipzig before changing to a more dominant playing style at the Allianz Arena. He recognises the quirks and whims of the players at his disposal, and he crafts a system that caters to his troops.

Journalist Kai Iliev has even named him a “world-class manager” for his ability to fix a range of flaws within Germany’s national set-up. Now they are contenders. Now they believe again.

Liverpool could do with a bit of that, right? The appointment of Nagelsmann might even play into keeping Salah at the club; with the Egyptian King’s relationship under Slot having broken down, something has to give.

Liverpool, of course, will now back Salah over Slot. To do the contrary would result in anarchy. But this latest splinter in an outfit splitting wide open is not the root cause. Slot’s system is in a tailspin, and if he cannot establish form and fluency quickly, he will find that he has exhausted all the credit in the bank, and Edwards and Hughes will be forced into making a tough call.

The German coach’s principal 4-2-3-1 set-up would accommodate new signing Florian Wirtz and allow Salah to arc inwards once more and find passages into the danger area. This season, the 33-year-old has only posted five goals and three assists across all competitions.

Who could have expected this when Liverpool lifted the Premier League title? Salah was not the main man but the author of his long-term outfit’s illustrious success.

It’s not controversial to suggest that many, many Liverpool supporters would be dejected if Salah were to leave this winter, and it would be sure to put more than just a dampener on Slot’s reign at the Anfield helm.

If results do not continue over the coming weeks – with Salah off to AFCON after Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend – FSG will have to face the reality of theirt spiraling situation and make a change.

Could that prompt Salah to stay? Working under Nagelsmann on Merseyside, it just might, though whether the Reds are able to keep the African legend appeased and reach a decision that would see him remain at the club he has served so well over the past nine years remains to be seen.

In any case, this is a staggering, stomach-sinking situation, one that nobody could have foreseen, and Liverpool’s powers that be need to make sure an upswing is found – quickly.

Sell him before Salah & Konate: FSG must bin Liverpool's "major issue"

Liverpool have collapsed this season, and some tough decisions need to be made.

1 ByAngus Sinclair 2 days ago

Thomas Tuchel shares warm embrace with old adversary Pep Guardiola as England boss pays visit to Man City training ground

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

England head coach Thomas Tuchel was spotted at Manchester City's training centre as he shared a warm embrace with old adversary Pep Guardiola and was also seen sharing a chat with City and Three Lions defender John Stones. Tuchel is keeping an eye on the Premier League matches ahead of the September international break, where England will play two of World Cup qualifying matches.

Tuchel visited Man City training groundShared warm embrace with GuardiolaEngland to play two World Cup qualifiers in SeptemberFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tuchel caught up with the England players in the City squad, including John Stones, as he visited the club's training on Sunday. He also shared a warm embrace with Cityzens boss Pep Guardiola.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

England are set to compete in the World Cup qualifiers during the international break next month as they are scheduled to face Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9, respectively. Tuchel attended the Premier League games in its opening weekend and will watch the remaining two gameweeks to monitor the English stars, before picking his best possible squad. 

DID YOU KNOW?

City were off to a flying start in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign as they demolished Wolves 4-0, riding on Erling Haaland's brace, while Tijjani Reijnders scored on his league debut.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Guardiola's men will next face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at home on August 23.

Once £60m striker is "one to keep an eye on" as Celtic consider move

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

As they continue to chase a deal to sign Benjamin Nygren, Celtic could also reportedly pursue a move to sign a Premier League forward who is “one to keep an eye on”.

Celtic expected to sign Nygren

Following the arrival of Kieran Tierney for his second spell in Scotland, Celtic are now reportedly expected to sign Nygren from Nordsjaelland this summer. The talented winger looks likely to arrive fresh off the back of an impressive season in Denmark, in which he scored 16 goals in all competitions. Another arrival that will boost Celtic’s title defence next season, the Bhoys certainly mean business.

In the space of a few weeks, the Bhoys will have signed both Tierney and the impressive Nygren. Whilst those at Celtic Park already know just how talented the former is, they are set for an exciting suprise when Nygren wears the colours of the Scottish champions for the first time.

That said, Tierney is still one to watch under Brendan Rodgers. The returning left-back told the club’s media channels when asked about his Celtic return: “Honestly, I cannot wait and I can’t describe it. It will be emotional, for sure.

“I’ve already thought about it and it will be emotional for me and my family. It’s been a long time, we’ve had ups and downs in the last few years, so coming back here and walking out at Celtic Park will be just incredible.”

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By
Dan Emery

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Seemingly in the mood to welcome fresh faces this summer, Celtic still may not be done after Nygren and Tierney with one reporter now claiming that a Premier League striker is “one to keep an eye on”.

Celtic considering Evan Ferguson swoop

According to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, Evan Ferguson is now “one to keep an eye on” with Celtic considering a move to sign the Brighton & Hove Albion forward. The Irishman spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United but was still unable to rediscover his best form. Now, he could on the move away from The Amex once again.

Bailey told 67HailHail: “What better place for him to get his form back, his confidence back than at Celtic? I’m told that it could happen and I think it makes sense for Brighton, makes sense for the player and makes sense for Celtic.”

Evan Ferguson for Ireland.

At just 20 years old, Ferguson is still a player full of potential even if that hasn’t been on show in the last 12 months. If Celtic can land a cut-price deal then he is someone that will be worth taking a gamble on.

Once dubbed “unique” by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and valued at £60m just last year, Ferguson desperately needs his next move to get his career back on track.

ريان شرقي يتغزل في بيب جوارديولا: مدرب مجنون

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

وصف ريان شرقي صانع ألعاب مانشستر سيتي مدربه بيب جوارديولا بالمجنون، مؤكدا أنه ليس صعبا وصف مدى سعادته بعد انضمامه لصفوف الفريق الإنجليزي خلال الصيف الماضي.

وشارك ريان شرقي أساسياً للمرة الثانية فقط هذا الموسم في فوز فريقه مانشستر سيتي ضد سوانزي سيتي بثلاث أهداف لهدف واحد في كأس كاراباو.

وكان ريان شرقي قد غاب لستة أسابيع بسبب إصابة في الفخد، وقد كان الأمر محبطاً للنجم الفرنسي الذي سجل هدفا في أول مباراة له ضد وولفرهامبتون.

وتغزل ريان شرقي في مدربه بيب جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرتها “مانشستر إيفنينج نيوز” :”إنه رائع جداً ومجنون مثلي، رجلان مجنونان، نتحدث عن كل شيء، إنه أمر لا يصدق”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. مانشستر سيتي يدرس استعادة لاعبه في يناير

وأضاف: “كرة القدم هي كل حياتي، أستمتع بها وأنام عليها وأستحم بها، لدينا فريق كبير ونريد الفوز بجميع المباريات، لا نريد تكرار ما حدث في مباراتنا الأخيرة ضد فيلا”.

وواصل: “أشعر براحة كبيرة لأن الأمر بسيط مع هؤلاء اللاعبين، نتحدث بنفس الأسلوب لذا نستمتع عندما نكون على أرض الملعب”.

وأكمل: “من المهم جداً بالنسبة لي أن يستمتع الجمهور عندما يأتي للملعب، حياتي جيدة لكني لا أعرف إن كان لدى الجمهور الكثير من الأشياء السعيدة في حياتهم لذا أريدهم أن يستمتعوا عندما يأتون لملعبهم حتى يعودوا لمنازلهم بابتسامة”.

وأتم: “أشعر أنني بحالة جيدة جداً، كنت مصاباً لفترة طويلة وسعيد جداً بالعودة، بذلت جهدا كبيرا مع أخصائي العلاج الطبيعي لأعود سريعاً، وسعيد جداً بها واللعب مع زملائي، الأهم هو الفريق وليس أنا، أريد الاستمتاع بجميع المباريات والفوز بها، عندما نخسر المباراة الأخيرة نسعى للفوز بالمباراة القادمة ولذلك نحن سعداء”.