Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has been warned by Patrice Evra that missing out on Champions League football would be regarded as a failure. United failed to qualify for Europe's elite competition for successive seasons for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and Evra highlighted the importance of getting back into it, both financially and in terms of prestige.
United counting the cost of not being in Champions League
A record six English teams are participating in this season's Champions League although United are not among them, having lost the Europa League final to Tottenham and finishing in 15th in the Premier League. United missed out on an estimated £100m ($133m) in lost earnings by failing to reach the Champions League while the players also saw their salaries reduced due to not participating in the lucrative competition.
United have a massive advantage on their competitors as they have no European football to distract them while their early exit from the Carabao Cup has given them a week's rest between league matches. They have not made the most of that advantage, having won seven of their 15 matches this season. In the words of Amorim, they should have more points than the 25 they have picked up so far.
Despite their inconsistent results, United are sixth in the Premier League table, just one point behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace in fourth. And there is a strong possibility that finishing fifth in the English top flight will be enough to qualify for the Champions League again.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEvra: United 'losing a lot' by not being in UCL
"Under the previous manager, we won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, but you lose a lot by not being in the Champions League," Evra told GOAL via . "It’s going to be tough. You’ve got Arsenal, City, Chelsea and Aston Villa giving it a real go. If United do not finish in the top four then it'll be a massive disappointment – a failure.
"When I played for United, the goal was winning four trophies per season and now we’re talking about qualifying for the Champions League. Our wages went down by 30 per cent if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, but we never had that issue."
Evra still backing Amorim
Evra, a five-time Premier League and one-time Champions League winner during his nine-year spell at United, is still supportive of Amorim despite the team's unconvincing results. He believes the Portuguese has made personal sacrifices in the team's best interests and he thinks he should remain in charge.
The Frenchman said: "Even in the bad times, I trust him. He's someone right now who will die for the club. That's my feeling with Amorin. This is someone who really puts the club first before himself and compared to some previous managers, I feel like he is different, but he needs maybe more players.
"Watching United, I have to be honest, it's like playing roulette. You never know what you're going to get. One moment you're going to win, the next time you're going to lose. So you can never predict a result when United play. I need more consistency from United. I want to see a more consistent starting 11. This is getting a little bit better and the players maybe understand his philosophy, his system more. I feel Amorim has the full support of the board and that’s really important. It could be a surprise end to the season with a top four finish."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWhat comes next?
United will be hoping to follow up their win over Wolves with another victory when they welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Monday. The Red Devils have fared badly against the Cherries in recent years. They were thrashed 3-0 by Andoni Iraola's side at Old Trafford in December 2024 and 2023, while they have drawn their last two visits to the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth made a strong start to the season but are in the midst of a miserable patch of results, losing four and drawing two of their last six games to sink to 13th in the standings ahead of their trip to Manchester.
Mohammad Isam27-Nov-2025After the Tector brothers – Tim and Harry – powered Ireland to an above-par score, their bowlers ensured a 39-run win over Bangladesh in the first T20I in Chattogram. The hosts have now lost four T20Is in a row while the visitors won their first match of the year.Harry struck five sixes in his unbeaten 45-ball 69, after his younger brother Tim had given Ireland a sound start, with a 19-ball 32. The Tector brothers struck big ones in both ends of the Ireland innings, before their bowlers managed to bowl through the wet conditions due to dew in Chattogram.Fast bowler Mark Adair, playing his first international series since his knee surgery in August this year, sunk Bangladesh in the powerplay. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys took 4 for 13, and took three wickets with the wet ball in his fourth over.Adair forces Bangladesh to crashHumphreys had Tanzid Hasan caught at mid-on in the first over to give Ireland a perfect start with the ball. Adair got a wicket-maiden in his first over back in competitive cricket after five months. He removed Litton Das playing a double-minded cut, easily caught inside the circle for one. Bangladesh sunk to 5 for 3 in the fourth over, when Adair had Parvez Hossain Emon caught at midwicket.Saif Hassan, recently elevated to the vice captaincy in the T20I side, struck the team’s first boundary in the fifth over. He however was clean bowled by Barry McCarthy, who replaced Adair after he bowled a scintillating spell that read 2-1-3-2.Jaker, Hridoy offer brief respiteTowhid Hridoy tried to haul Bangladesh out of a desperate situation, with four wickets down and the required run-rate touching 12 per over. He struck Josh Little for four over mid-off, before hitting Gareth Delany for a square-cut boundary. Both Hridoy and Jaker Ali lofted Delany for a six each in the tenth over, as Bangladesh looked to this middle-order pair to get them out of trouble. Jaker however continued his batting struggle, getting caught at deep third after making 20 off 16 balls.Humphreys skins Bangladesh tailReturning to bowl his last over, Humphreys had quite the mixed bag. He had Tanzim’s wicket with the first ball, caught at long-on. Humphreys bowled three wide deliveries, struggling to keep the wet ball in his grip. He however dried up his hands real good, when he had Rishad Hossain lbw and Nasum Ahmed stumped off consecutive deliveries.After the eighth wicket fell, Ireland dropped several catches mainly due to the wet ball. Hridoy meanwhile reached his fifth half-century, apart from adding 48 runs for the ninth wicket with Shoriful Islam, but it had little consequence on the match.Harry Tector finished unbeaten on 69•BCBTim Tector blazes along the groundWhen Ireland batted first, captain Paul Stirling struck three early fours before it was the Tim Tector show. He clattered Shoriful for four boundaries in the third over, which went for 18 runs. Stirling fell in the fifth over after which Tim was joined by Harry, and the Tector brothers exchanged more boundaries from either ends.Tim’s inside-out shot over the covers brought up Ireland’s fifty in the seventh over, before he struck Tanzim Hasan through point. Rishad removed Tim in the ninth over, when Tanzim took the catch at long-on.Harry Tector goes aerialHarry had already got two boundaries including a straight six, before Tim departed the crease. Harry also went for straight sixes off Rishad before Shoriful removed Lorcan Tucker for 18, in the thirteenth over.Curtis Campher aided Harry with three more fours in his 17-ball 24. Harry hammered Shoriful for his third six, pulled over midwicket, before hitting two more sixes in the last over, both over long-on.
Arsenal are poised to hold talks with a marquee forward about joining Mikel Arteta’s side as the Gunners plan to be active in the January window, according to a new report.
Arsenal squad depth attracts praise after busy summer
Arsenal’s current campaign is increasingly defined by their excellent squad depth, arguably the best in the Premier League.
Despite consistent injuries in key areas, Arteta’s side have shown an ability not just to cope, but to thrive.
The summer’s heavy investment in new faces is already paying dividends, with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table and on an unprecedented 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
Arsenal sealed a 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, tightening their grip on the title race.
The routine win came courtesy of an early header from makeshift number nine Mikel Merino, who scored his 21st goal this calendar year, and a late strike from Bukayo Saka — despite Arteta enforcing an array of personnel changes.
What stands out is how Arsenal have seamlessly filled the gaps when injuries arise.
Arteta noted this week that this is one of the club’s “worst” injury spells in recent memory — and yet, the squad’s backup options have all stepped up to do their jobs.
Key defenders and attackers are still sidelined, and further absences could stretch the squad.
Gabriel Magalhaes is still weeks away from returning, and Arteta is waiting to discover the true extent of Cristhian Mosquera’s injury after he was hauled off against Brentford.
Kai Havertz also won’t be back for weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.
£282k-a-week star expressing wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks
His exit is a real possibility.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025
That being said, Arsenal look better equipped than ever before to handle a long, demanding season — and, crucially, to maintain their push towards a first league title in 22 years.
Arsenal to 'directly contact' Juventus star Kenan Yildiz about joining
Despite their plethora of options right now, a report from Turkish Football now claims that Berta and Arteta are planning for the January window, and one man attracting their serious attention is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.
The Serie A rising star is currently Juve’s top performer, bagging four goals and three assists in the Italian top flight already this season after finishing last campaign as their standout attacker as well (WhoScored).
The 20-year-old is a wanted man in the Premier League, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Chelsea are big fans of Yildiz.
However, a lot of reports centre around Arsenal’s interest.
Corriere dello Sport stated earlier this week that Arsenal have held ‘new’ talks with Yildiz’s entourage, and this is backed up by Turkish Football.
The Gunners have already made their interest known to the player’s agents, but it is now believed that Arsenal will also ‘directly contact’ Yildiz about joining them after speaking to his representatives.
Yildiz’s ability to perform on the wing or almost anywhere across the front line — combined with his recent performances for club and country — make him an attractive target, with Juve still unwilling to meet his contract demands.
The impetus for the approach appears twofold.
On one hand, Yildiz’s contract renewal talks at Juventus have stalled, opening the door for Berta. On the other, Arsenal’s management seems determined to boost attacking depth — even after a major summer recruitment drive — perhaps aiming to add more youthful creativity and unpredictability to their forward line.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also out of contract in under two years, and Yildiz would be a stellar option to replace them.
The Old Lady are poised to demand an eye-watering fee, though, reportedly around £88 million for their prized asset who ex-Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri called a ‘special talent’.
Juve may not find a club willing to shell out that much on Yildiz, but what’s crystal clear is that English sides are taking note of his exploits.
While we’re still in the early stages of the season, so much has changed already. Two teams have already fired their managers. The Baltimore Orioles have the worst run differential in the American League. The Seattle Mariners suddenly have one of baseball’s best offenses. And the Colorado Rockies are on pace for (yes, you read that right).
Entering play Friday, all 30 clubs have played at least 42 games, meaning we’ve officially reached the end of the first quarter of the 2025 campaign. While we’ve still got a ways to go, it felt like the right time to check in on the major awards races and hand out some quarter pole accolades.
Some of the picks were pretty clear cut (you should check out this Aaron Judge guy, he’s pretty good). Others had a long list of deserving candidates that made picking just one at this point of the season a difficult task. And while the pecking order will undoubtedly change as spring turns to summer, it’s worthwhile to see where things stand from an individual perspective now.
So, without further ado, the envelopes, please:
American LeagueMVP: Aaron Judge, RF, New York Yankees
At this point, Judge’s mastery of hitting is well documented. Through the Yankees’ first 43 games, he’s on pace to: clear 50 homers for the third time in four years; reach the 150-mark in runs scored and driven in; and record 256 hits. He’s hitting over .400, has the lowest strikeout rate (21.5%) of his career and is putting up the highest single-season slugging percentage (.782) of the 21st century for anyone not named Barry Bonds. His 252 wRC+ would be the best for a full season in MLB history.
Can Judge keep up this historic pace? History and math tell us it’s unlikely, but the run Judge has been on these past four years give us little reason to doubt that, by season’s end, there will be no debating who baseball’s best hitter is.
Honorable mention: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals; Cal Raleigh, Mariners; Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox
Cy Young Award: Hunter Brown, Houston Astros
Now we get to the competitive races. The American League has seen several established aces get off to hot starts, but Brown has the slightest of edges so far. The 26-year-old has continued his stellar form over the second half of last season into 2025, and looks to be in the midst of a full-blown breakout.
Brown, a former top prospect, had an up-and-down rookie campaign in 2023 that portended brighter days in ‘24. That didn’t happen right away: through his first 10 games in ‘24 (nine starts), Brown was 1–5 with a 7.06 ERA and 24 walks in 44 ⅓ innings, briefly losing his spot in the rotation. From that point on, he was dominant, leading the AL with 2.27 ERA in 21 starts from May 28 through the end of the season.
The righthander has been a workhorse to begin 2025, ranking third in the AL in ERA (1.48) and first in FIP (1.85). He’s putting up a career-best 32% strikeout rate and his lowest walk rate (7.7%), allowing him to pitch deep into games: he’s gone at least six innings in seven of eight starts. The competition here is stiff, but Brown’s ability to log bulk innings, miss bats and prevent hard contact gives him the edge.
Honorable mention: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers; Max Fried, Yankees; Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers; Garrett Crochet, Red Sox; Kris Bubic, Royals
Rookie of the Year: Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics
The A’s took Wilson with the sixth pick in the 2023 draft, then saw him hit .401 in 79 minor league games before making him the team’s starting shortstop. He kept his head above water in a 28-game cup of coffee in ‘24, but has been terrorizing opposing pitchers to begin ‘25.
Wilson doesn’t hit the ball hard and he doesn’t walk much, but he possesses Luis Arraez-like bat-to-ball skills that give him the league’s second-lowest strikeout rate at 5.4% (fittingly, trailing only Arraez). His ability to square the ball up despite lacking high exit velocities suppresses his power potential, but also allows him to have the league’s 10th-highest expected batting average (.319). The shortstop version of prime Luis Arraez at age 23 is a great foundational piece for an A’s team that’s managed to hover above .500 to this point.
Honorable mention: Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox; Kristian Campbell, Red Sox; Trey Sweeney, Tigers; Jasson Dominguez, Yankees; Tomoyuki Sugano, Baltimore Orioles
Báez has revitalized his career in Detroit on a Tigers team that currently leads the American League Central. / Jonathan Hui-Imagn ImagesComeback Player of the Year: Javier Báez, CF, Detroit Tigers
After years wandering the proverbial baseball wilderness, who could have believed that Báez had a stretch like this still in him? Through his first three years with the Tigers (2022 to ‘24), Báez had the second-lowest on-base percentage (.262) and fourth-worst wRC+ (70) of any hitter with at least 1,000 plate appearances. His six-year, $140 million contract was looking like a complete sunk cost, but the 32-year-old has found a renewed rhythm while rediscovering his role for a first-place Detroit squad that’s equipped to be a contender.
Báez has adapted remarkably quickly to playing center field, tying for fifth at the position in defensive runs saved. His .309/.346/.496 slash line isn’t exactly propped up by robust under-the-hood numbers, but anyone focusing on that aspect of his performance to date is missing the point. This is a player who, in his prime, was among the most fun and exciting to watch on a nightly basis. Having Báez back among MLB’s relevant characters on a winning team is good for everybody.
Honorable mention: Liam Hendriks, Red Sox; Tyler Mahle, Rangers
National LeagueMVP: Corbin Carroll, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks
As you can tell by the numerous honorable mentions, this is perhaps the most crowded field of the major awards. Carroll gets the pick now because we have to pick , but that’s not to say he hasn’t earned it.
The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year struggled during the first half of last season, posting a .619 OPS through the end of June. He was still hitting the ball hard, but not lifting it in the air enough to take advantage of his natural power. From Opening Day through June 30, Carroll had a 45.5% ground ball rate, translating to just two homers in 82 games.
Now, Carroll has fully embraced the pulled fly ball approach. He’s hitting the ball in the air 42.5% of the time this season, and pulling fly balls at a 28.1% clip—both career highs. As a result, he has the NL’s third-highest slugging percentage (.612) while ranking second among right fielders in Statcast’s Outs Above Average. Carroll will need to fend off a swarm of players who are more than qualified to contend for the hardware, but he has a leg up on the rest of the crowd for now.
Honorable mention: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres; Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs; Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies; Pete Alonso, New York Mets; Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks, Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Cy Young Award: Zack Wheeler, Phillies
I think it’s a bridge slightly too far to call Wheeler underrated, but it’s hard to believe the veteran ace only has two All-Star appearances to his name. Since joining the Phillies in 2020, he leads all pitchers in fWAR (26.2), has the third-lowest ERA (2.96) among pitchers with at least 100 starts and has logged the second-most innings (887 1/3). He has two Cy Young runner-up finishes in that span, and 2025 is looking like it could be the year he finally secures the honor.
Wheeler leads the NL in innings (58), is third in strikeout rate (33.2%), second in K-BB% (28.3%), fifth in batting average against (.200) and second in WHIP (0.91). There are plenty of other pitchers who have similarly impressive stat lines, but this is a pick that’s partly betting on Wheeler’s consistency and durability giving him a better chance at maintaining this form over the next four months.
Honorable mention: Jesús Luzardo, Phillies; Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants; Michael King, Padres; Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds; Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers; Kodai Senga, Mets; Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Smith-Shawver has added to an already loaded front-end of the rotation in Atlanta. / Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesRookie of the Year: AJ Smith-Shawver, SP, Atlanta Braves
Smith-Shawver got a brief taste of life in the big leagues in 2023 and ‘24 before cracking Atlanta’s Opening Day roster this season. His start to the year was uneven: he struck out 17 hitters over his first three outings but walked eight and twice failed to make it through the fifth inning. Opposing hitters put up a .333/.415/.526 slash line against him, leading to his demotion back to Triple A.
In four starts since getting recalled, Smith-Shawver has looked like a new pitcher. He’s 3–0 and allowed just three earned runs during that stretch, with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 25 frames. He’s pitched into the sixth inning in all four games, and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his May 5 outing against the Reds. Smith-Shawver’s emergence into a reliable starter, along with the presence of Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach and impending return of Spencer Strider, could once again give Atlanta a strong front-end of the rotation—and net the 22-year-old some serious hardware, too.
Honorable mention: Drake Baldwin, Braves; Luisangel Acuña, Mets; Agustîn Ramírez, Miami Marlins; Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers; Ben Casparius, Dodgers; Tim Tawa, Diamondbacks
Comeback Player of the Year: Jesús Luzardo, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Health has always been a concern for Luzardo. He had Tommy John surgery in high school before the Washington Nationals took him in the third round of the 2016 draft, and has spent much of his career on and off the injured list. When he’s been able to stay on the mound, though, there’s been little doubting his ability, and he put everything together for a breakout 2023 campaign for the Marlins in which he posted a 3.58 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 32 starts.
Last season, though, was another in which Luzardo couldn’t stay healthy. A lumbar stress reaction ended his season in mid-June after 12 underwhelming starts in which he put up a 5.00 ERA. Miami dealt him in December to Philadelphia, where he's enjoyed a resurgence and is now pitching better than ever. Luzardo is 4–0 with a 2.00 ERA and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his starts, pitching into the sixth inning in eight of them. Durability will always be a concern, but if he can stay on the mound, he’ll be in contention for a lot more than just Comeback Player of the Year by season’s end.
Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, whose contract with the club expires in 2029. Despite splashing a mind-boggling $595 million on transfers over the summer, including back-to-back British record transfer fees on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, the club's collapse has forced them to enter the market once again.
Liverpool's title defence in danger
It was all smiles in the Liverpool camp just six months ago, when Arne Slot – in his debut campaign at Anfield after leaving Feyenoord – comprehensively guided the Reds to their first Premier League title since the 2019-20 season, and only their second league title in the Premier League era.
As if the league title wasn't enough, Liverpool splashed almost $600m on transfers over the summer. They broke the British transfer record – twice – first by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a move worth $153m, before pulling out all the stops to capture Alexander Isak's signature from Newcastle United under controversial circumstances. The deadline day operation cost the Merseyside giants $165m. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were acquired to succeed one of the most lethal full-back pairings to have ever graced the English top-flight in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid, and the gradually ageing Andy Robertson.
While the adaptation period of almost all summer signings wasn't immediate, Slot's troops conjured a five-game winning streak to begin the defence of their league crown. However, they have since fallen apart like a house of cards. The season began with a Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace, but that only proved to be a minor blip as they won the next seven games across all competitions. But things went downhill. Before Sunday's 2-0 win over West Ham, Liverpool lost nine of their previous 12 games. The highs of finishing the summer with an all-timer transfer window quickly turned into the lowest of the lows, even calling into question whether Slot is good enough to steer the seemingly sinking ship of England's champions.
Amidst all the chaos at Anfield, have been informed by sources that Liverpool are reportedly plotting an ambitious move to sign Real Madrid midfielder Camavinga. Per the report, Slot deems Camavinga to be an absolutely necessary signing to bolster the midfield. While Los Blancos are in no mood to entertain thoughts of a possible Camavinga departure, the club's hierarchy has reportedly held talks over the Frenchman's long-term future at the Bernabeu. Some even believe Camavinga, currently valued at $70m, could free up funds for future transfers if he is cashed in on.
However, the reigning Premier League champions are likely to face stiff competition. Reportedly, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are the other Premier League heavyweights keeping tabs on Camavinga's situation in the Spanish capital. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, too, are believed to be in the mix should a potential transfer race ignite.
Camavinga 'very happy' at Real Madrid
Camavinga has won everything there is to win at club level. Arriving from Rennes in 2021, the 23-year-old established himself as a key player under Carlo Ancelotti, playing a pivotal role in Madrid's Champions League and La Liga double. He was once again instrumental when Madrid replicated the feat in the 2023-24 season.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the versatile midfielder. Persistent injuries have prevented Camavinga from truly taking off at Madrid, leaving many to wonder whether he’ll ever reach the heights he once seemed destined for. That being said, he is contracted to Madrid until June 30, 2029, and the club views him as a key player for both the present and the future, despite his fitness issues.
Head coach Xabi Alonso is also believed to be a huge admirer of Camavinga's qualities. He has featured in 14 games across all competitions, clocking 563 minutes. He hasn't received as many starts, being named in the XI just five times, but he seems to be a player who could become influential under Alonso. "I know him from watching him, from how he interprets the game. He has enormous potential, a lot of qualities, and there’s a place for him within the project. He’s eager, he’s willing," Alonso said in September while describing Camavinga.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportLiverpool face tricky schedule in December
Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League clash will see them welcome newly-promoted Sunderland to Anfield, with Regis Le Bris’ side emerging as one of the season’s surprise packages. The Reds will also take on Brighton and Tottenham in the coming weeks – fixtures that could provide a real test of their mettle as they look to turn their season around in the second half of the campaign.
Rohit Sharma made an unbeaten 121 and Virat Kohli finished 74 not out to win by nine wickets after Harshit Rana’s 4 for 39 bowled Australia out for 236
Andrew McGlashan25-Oct-20251:04
Chopra sees a lot of IPL interest in Cooper Connolly
The majority of the SCG crowd got what they wanted as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, playing what will surely be their final matches in Australia, guided India to a consolation nine-wicket victory which avoided a series whitewash.Rohit, building on the fighting 73 he made in Adelaide, went to his 33rd ODI century from 105 balls, a ninth against Australia, while Kohli responded to his twin ducks to start the series with an unbeaten 74 in front of a packed stadium of 40,587, most of whom cheered their every move.The pair, who have more than 26,000 ODI runs between them, finished with an unbroken stand of 168 from 170 balls as Rohit brought the target in view with a flurry of boundaries before Kohli finished it with a delicate glide to deep third.Related
Sydney soaks up that Rohit-Kohli feeling
Rohit's reminder that he can't be written off easily
'Wanted to start fresh' – Rohit and Kohli roll back the years in Sydney
Shreyas Iyer hurts rib cage during outstanding catch
It was a dominant performance by India after Australia slipped dramatically from 183 for 3, losing 7 for 53 to be bowled out for 236. Matt Renshaw’s maiden ODI half-century had given them a solid platform, and all the top six made at least 23, but none could convert as Harshit Rana claimed a career-best 4 for 39 while India’s trio of spinners all bowled well.Rohit and Shubman Gill gave the chase an ideal platform but, even as the openers did what the team needed, the cheers for Kohli only grew louder. Shortly after Gill had deposited Cooper Connolly for six he edged Josh Hazlewood behind and the stage was set.Kohli made his way out of the dressing room to huge cheers, but those paled compared to a few moments later when he was off the mark first ball with a flick wide of mid-on. Kohli got into the spirit of the moment with a little smile and clenched fist.Virat Kohli celebrates his first run of the series after two ducks•AFP via Getty ImagesFrom there, it was largely the Kohli seen on so many occasions – a straight drive off Mitchell Starc was a standout – although he was a little fortunate to survive an lbw appeal against Nathan Ellis on 36 which was millimeters from being overturned on DRS.One of the highlights of Rohit’s innings was an inside-out lofted drive for six against Adam Zampa and he later added another six off the legspinner with a slog sweep. The century came in understated fashion, a gentle drive to long-off, and a gentle wave of the bat around the ground.Despite the series being wrapped up, Australia resisted resting either Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc. They ended up only bowling 11 between them – Hazlewood was again excellent – but they weren’t brought back when the result was assured, perhaps a nod to what is to come. Ellis, who had been brought in for Xavier Bartlett, endured a difficult night.Mitchell Marsh had opted to set a target when the coin fell his way, making it 18 consecutive tosses India had lost in ODIs. Marsh and Travis Head, who became the fastest Australia men’s batter to 3000 ODI runs by innings, picked up the pace during the opening ten overs with Marsh pulling Prasidh Krishna’s first ball for six in an over that cost 13.Harshit Rana took career-best figures of 4 for 39•AFP via Getty ImagesAustralia were beginning to motor when Head spooned a catch to backward point although the run rate at that stage of more than six over would prove deceptive. Two balls later India could have had a second wicket after a mix-up left Matt Short stranded but Gill missed the stumps.Marsh’s promising innings ended the first ball after drinks, when he gave himself room against Axar Patel and was bowled. A relatively quiet period followed as Short and Renshaw worked into their innings. Short, who made a career-best 74 in Adelaide, had given himself a base when he swept Washington Sundar to square leg where Kohli held a stinging catch to the delight of many in the crowd.Renshaw did not hit a boundary until his 33rd delivery when he pulled Sundar powerfully through the leg side but kept the scoreboard ticking over so effectively that his fifty arrived from 48 balls.Alex Carey struggled for momentum and was on 8 off 23 balls when given a life, Krishna unable to hold a tough chance running in from long-on. He and Renshaw had given Australia a good base for acceleration when the pair fell in the space of four overs.Carey was spectacularly caught by Shreyas Iyer running back from backward point, taking the ball over his shoulder and slamming into the ground which caused him significant pain. During the drinks break which followed he left the field with the physio and during India’s chase was taken to hospital for further assessment.Renshaw, who is in the contention for a place in the Test squad for the Ashes, then fell lbw to Sundar as he advanced down the pitch with the DRS confirming the ball would have taken middle and leg.In Adelaide, Connolly and Mitch Owen put together a stand that turned the game firmly in Australia’s favour but there was no repeat here. Owen, staying leg side of the ball, edged a rising delivery from Rana to slip meaning the bowlers were exposed with more than 12 overs remaining and they were bowled out with 20 deliveries unused. But what the crowd had really come to see came next.
Arne Slot has intimated multiple times this season his belief that Liverpool are conceding a disproportionate number of goals while failing to finish their chances off up top.
To a degree, this is true. Expected Goals Against (xGA) tell of the Anfield side’s struggles at the back, having conceded 20 times in the Premier League this season despite only conceding an xGA total of 15.5.
But that is only one dimension of a many-angled crisis for the Merseysiders, who have been sapped of strength and style and confidence after dispatching their rivals to storm to the Premier League title last season.
Liverpool are also joint-fifth for big chances created this season (35), while Chelsea are first with 39 created. Not exactly a world away, and when you consider that no team have had more possession than Liverpool this term (61.5%), you’d perhaps argue that Slot has all the ingredients to get his squad playing to his tune.
Football works in weird ways, though, and Liverpool have been shambolic. Something needs to give, and while defence and attack both share issues, it is a tough, physical presence in midfield that the Reds are lacking this season.
Liverpool need to sign a holding midfielder
Last season, Slot bounced back from the frustration of being rejected by Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi by converting Ryan Gravenberch into a robust, deep-lying midfielder. It paid dividends, with Liverpool lifting the Premier League title for the second time in five years.
Liverpool are such a far cry from the robust level of last year it almost beggars belief, with Gravenberch lacking the physicality and strength to give the Anfield side what they need to turn things around.
With Alexis Mac Allister also struggling, it could be that a robust new presence in the middle could turn the tide at Anfield, and sources from overseas suggest that that is what sporting director Richard Highes is focusing on right now.
Well, according to reports in Spain, Liverpool have made a staggering British record bid for Real Madrid star Federico Valverde, worth something in the region of €150m (equating to £132m).
Dissent is rife at the Santiago Bernabeu, with suggestions of breakdowns in the relationship between head coach Xabi Alonso and star players such as Vinicius Junior.
Liverpool are looking to capitalise, adding Uruguay international Valverde to their ranks and reinforcing their midfield with a combative presence and a leader of men.
What Valverde would offer Liverpool
Valverde, 27, has been at Real Madrid for the lion’s share of his senior career, having joined the Spaniard from Penarol in his homeland way back in 2015.
A dynamic and multi-functional player, Valverde has chalked up 339 senior appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 32 goals and supplying 35 assists. He was once described as a “monster in the making” with “world-class potential” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and it’s fair to say Valverde has lived up to the hype on that account.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 17% for interceptions and the top 1% for switches (rekindling something of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing range, perhaps).
The data-led platform reveal Arsenal’s Declan Rice to be among his most statistically comparable players, to give a flavour of his style (though Liverpool fans are already well-acquainted with Valverde’s talent).
Moreover, Valverde’s steely defensive qualities could be the perfect way to reinforce Liverpool’s midfield while maintaining a kind of broadness of style that Slot is known to covet from his engine room workers.
Central midfield
282
19 + 27
Right-back
56
2 + 8
Right wing
33
11 + 4
Defensive midfield
15
1 + 0
Attacking midfield
14
1 + 0
Left-back
7
0 + 0
Centre-back
1
0 + 0
Given Valverde’s Real Madrid connection and his steeliness in the centre of the field – he has won 58% of his duels and averaged 1.7 tackles per game in La Liga, as per Sofascore – the South American could even be Liverpool’s next version of Fabinho, who cut his teeth in the Spanish capital before finding his footing in France with Monaco.
Fabinho, Jurgen Klopp’s all-inspiring midfield anchor for so many years, was also more than capable as a right-back, emphasising the athleticism and tactical intelligence that he shares with Valverde.
The Brazilian differed from Gravenberch in that he was more resilient in his play, less technically gifted, but more suited to a natural role in the six berth.
Valverde could be the perfect addition in this regard, still getting forward when the need arises but bringing a more focused defensive skillset from which Slot’s tactics could bloom once again.
You could argue that Liverpool have missed Fabinho’s presence ever since he left for Saudi Arabia in 2023. With the pendulum swinging within English football once again, and low blocks and more direct play back in fashion, Valverde could be a significant upgrade and a worthwhile addition in spite of the exorbitant cost.
Joe Cole waxed lyrical after one glittering Champions League performance, remarking that Valverde “is every bit as good as Jude Bellingham”.
Quite the praise, that. But Liverpool don’t need Bellingham. They need someone even grittier and more grounded. Fabinho-esque. They need Valverde.
Liverpool teenager who's 'like Pogba' could end Mac Allister's Anfield stay
Liverpool must start handing this prodigious academy talent more chances to impress.
Mike Trout is one of the best baseball players to ever play the game. He's a three-time MVP, an 11-time All-Star and a former Defensive Player of the Year award winner. But baseball can be a humbling sport, which Trout learned firsthand on one dreadful play against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
In case you missed it, Trout seemed like he was going to make a play on a lazy fly ball down the right field line when at the last moment disaster struck and the ball landed a few feet behind him. Trout then chased down the ball but Tampa's José Caballero was able to get all the way to the third on what was ruled a triple.
This really should have been called an error, because Trout has to make this play:
Thankfully for Trout, the Angels were able to get out of the inning without giving up a run and wound up winning the game, 4-3.
But that's certainly a play the legendary player would love to have over.
Manchester United’s transfer business has left the supporters with a lot to be desired over the last couple of years, with numerous of their high-profile additions failing to impress at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have spent nearly £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022, with former boss Erik ten Hag spending around £600m of the sum on his own.
Current boss Ruben Amorim has already splashed over £200m since his arrival last November, in an attempt to try and lead the club back to the glory achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson.
No manager has been able to win the Premier League title since the Scotsman retired back in 2013, but the added investment in recent years could help Amorim become the first man to achieve such a feat.
There’s no denying he needs added reinforcements in the months ahead to provide him with the all-round quality that he needs to take the club back to the top of England’s top-flight.
United’s hunt for added reinforcements in January
Over the last couple of weeks, United have been strongly linked with a move for Angelo Stiller, with the German seen as an option to bolster the midfield ranks.
The 24-year-old is also said to be on the shortlist of Real Madrid ahead of the January transfer window, which could present a fierce battle between the sides for his signature.
VfB Stuttgart'sAngeloStillercelebrates scoring their first goal
However, it’s also been reported that he could be available for a fee in the region of £53m, a potential bargain for a youngster who has bags of time to develop further in the years ahead.
He’s not the only Bundesliga star currently in the Red Devils’ sights, with forward Karim Adeyemi another player who the hierarchy are considering a move for in January.
According to Sky Sports, Amorim’s men have reportedly made contact with Borussia Dortmund over a deal for the 24-year-old, who’s scored three goals in 2025/26 to date.
German outlet BILD also claim that Niko Kovac’s men currently value the German international at around the £70m mark, but it’s unclear whether United would pay such a figure during the winter window.
Why United’s £70m target would be another Mbeumo
During their recent summer spending spree in the transfer market, United splashed a mammoth £71m on the signature of forward Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League side Brentford.
Such a price tag generated huge excitement within the fanbase, not to mention his incredible goalscoring ability last season, which saw him end the year on 20 league goals.
The Cameroonian has already made an impressive start to life at Old Trafford, scoring five times in his 11 league appearances – the most of any player in the first-team squad.
The 26-year-old has operated on the right-hand side in behind the striker, often catching the eye with his impressive left-footed efforts – subsequently winning the October Player of the Month award.
He may have cost a pretty penny, but there’s little denying Mbeumo has massively transformed the club’s frontline and made the side a force to be reckoned with once again.
However, they could be about to land another version of the forward with a deal for Adeyemi in the months ahead, with the German possessing numerous similar qualities.
He also operated off the right-hand side and likes to cut inside onto his favoured left-foot, which has also allowed him to hit the ground running in the early stages of 2025/26.
His underlying stats also showcase the talent he possesses, with the 24-year-old able to add further depth and quality into Amorim’s already impressive frontline.
Adeyemi, previously been dubbed “incredible” by former Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle, has completed 2.3 dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga to date, whilst also notching 6.8 touches in the opposition’s box per 90.
Games played
10
Goals & assists
3
Pass accuracy
75%
Successful dribbles
2.3
Touches in opposition box
6.8
Shots taken
2.8
Duels won
5.9
Aerial success rate
60%
Both of the aforementioned tallies showcase his incredible ability to get the ball into dangerous areas, potentially handing Mbeumo the chance to improve further at Old Trafford.
The youngster has also registered 2.8 shots per 90 this campaign, showcasing his ability to add the end product to his mazy runs when taking on the opposition.
Other numbers, such as 5.9 duels won per 90 and a 60% aerial success rate, highlight his all-round nature in the final third, which could make him a hugely exciting addition.
There’s no doubting that it would be a surprise to see another mammoth sum forked out for an attacker after Mbeumo’s move, but the pair could well offer a deadly threat in front of goal.
Should Adeyemi make the move to Old Trafford, he could reach the next step in his career, potentially leading the club to new heights during Amorim’s tenure in charge.
Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "terrible" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing
Manchester United made a huge mistake in spending big money on one first-team member.
Richard Thompson insists 100-ball format will not change before end of current rights cycle
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2025The tight turnaround between England’s international and the Hundred is a “short-term issue” which ECB chairman Richard Thompson has pledged will be solved for the next TV rights cycle.England’s men played one day before the start and two days after the end of the Hundred this year, leaving all-format players short on relevant preparation for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The same scenario will play out in 2026, with the Hundred expected to start two days after an ODI series against India and three days before the first Test against Pakistan.New investors in the Hundred will expect their England players to be available throughout the tournament. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Ollie Pope missed London Spirit’s first game of this season, the day after the fifth Test at The Oval, which their incoming co-owner Nikesh Arora described as “disappointing” while calling for “better planning” by the ECB.Thompson acknowledged that the schedule is too crammed, speaking in his capacity as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society during England’s third ODI against South Africa on Sunday. “There are no easy answers, but the reality is we can’t have our cake and eat it,” Thompson told Sky Sports.”We want England players to play. This is our premium white-ball competition and we want England players to play in it. What we have to do is find a way of ensuring the schedule before and after the tournament [is better]. Take this year: the gap was a day or two days… That can’t be right.Related
McCullum: England must 'find ways to deal with' packed schedule
Bethell: 'I've got to be ready to perform in Ashes'
Jofra Archer: 'There was an ooh or an aah every single over'
Hundred squads face 2026 'reset' in bid for competitive balance
Breetzke stars as South Africa seal series in five-run thriller
“If we’re going to get this level of investment, we’ve got to commit to ensuring our England players are available. We don’t want that to be at the expense of the success of England. We need to find a balance, and ultimately we can look at the schedule and we can try and free up time.”We’ve done this deal in the middle of a rights schedule. Come ’28, when we then cut the next deal for the next four years, we can cut this in a different way. We might have a short-term issue here, but we can overcome that.”Ultimately, if a player feels they’re injured, they’re going to rest themselves. They won’t want to play on an injury. England is still everything here. But we are not prepared to accept that you can’t find a halfway house and work with the owners to ensure that the owner will get what they need, and England will get what it needs.”Thompson also said that the tournament’s format will not change from 100-balls-a-side to T20 during the current broadcast cycle, which runs to the end of the 2028 summer, and denied that the sale of stakes in the eight Hundred franchises equates to selling the month of August to private investors.”I can categorically tell you it’s 100 balls next year,” he said. “I don’t think anything will change in this rights cycle. Sky [the Hundred’s main broadcaster] have bought 100 [balls a side]. Sky are not going to want to change that. It’s up to the owners and the ECB to decide what that might be in the future.”This is not English cricket selling off the family silver. This is English cricket bringing in investors to enable us to have a tournament that could challenge the IPL.”