There might have been a few shaky moments in the first half, but Arsenal’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup went about as well as it could have last night.

Mikel Arteta almost completely changed his entire starting lineup, but instead of collapsing like some other Premier League-chasing sides, the North Londoners came out 2-0 winners.

Moreover, while the changes in the second half helped secure the win, a number of the starters did put in a good shift.

This is especially true of a starter who outperformed Bukayo Saka and showed some shades of Mesut Özil in his game.

Arsenal's standout stars vs Brighton

When looking at some of those who put in a good showing against Brighton, it’s hard to look past Ethan Nwaneri.

Chalkboard

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

Yes, it’s certainly true that he almost tried too hard at times in the first half, but in the second 45, the Hale Ender was a serious threat.

He helped to create chances, kept the ball ticking over, and, most importantly, following a great pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly, placed the ball in the far corner for the opening goal.

His fellow Hale End graduate also had a brilliant game, as, on top of the assist, he once again showed his immense strength and even made several lung-busting runs through the middle of the pitch.

Talking about academy gems, it would be unfair not to praise debutant Andre Harriman-Annous.

The 17-year-old didn’t score a goal, but he provided the pass before the assist for Nwaneri, made several impressive runs, and it was his initial shot that allowed Saka to score his goal in the second half.

The Gunners’ talismanic number seven came on in the 71st minute, and unlike on the weekend, when he was ill, the 24-year-old was a handful and looked to make something happen whenever the ball was at his feet.

The Brighton defence simply didn’t have an answer for the dynamic winger, and if he plays like that on Saturday, it could be a very long game for Burnley’s backline.

With that said, there was another player who made even more of an impression than Saka, someone who showed shades of Ozil in his performance.

The Arsenal star who outshone Saka

While several other Arsenal players impressed against Brighton on Wednesday night, it should come as no surprise that the real talking point, and the gem who shone more than Saka and Co was Max Dowman.

The 15-year-old became the youngest player to ever start a game for the Gunners, but that lack of genuine experience at the top level did little to slow him down.

Nor did it see the Seagulls go easy on him, as time after time the visitors doubled and tripled up on him, and even then, more often than not, he made them look foolish.

The Hale End superstar in the making, whom analyst Rohan Jivan dubbed a “certified worldie of a talent”, was able to beat the Seagulls’ backline both through his incredible close control and eye for a pass.

It’s the fact that he’s already so impressive in both facets that makes it easy to argue that there are, in fact, shades of Ozil to his game, as, like the German, he can – and most certainly will – punish the opposition with his dribbling and passing.

Moreover, while the former Gunners ace was primarily a ten, he was no stranger to playing out on the right-hand side when Arsène Wenger needed him to.

Unsurprisingly, the teenage sensation more than left an impression on the watching press, with the Standard’s Simon Collings awarding him a match rating of 8/10, writing that he was ‘electric all night.’

Minutes

71′

Touches

34

Dribbles (Successful)

8 (5)

Fouls Won

4

Accurate Passes

14/16

Ball Recoveries

3

Ground Duels (Won)

14 (9)

Key Passes

1

The statistics from the night more than justify such praise, as in 71 minutes of action, the youngster completed five of eight dribbles, played a key pass, took 34 touches, won nine of 14 ground duels and completed three ball recoveries.

Ultimately, it’s still absurdly early in Dowman’s career, but he looks to be the real deal, and if he can perform like he did against Brighton again, he could be in for far more starts this season.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 29, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have often been blessed with the likes of Harry Kane providing the goods within the final third – but the current first-team are massively lacking such a presence.

Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani have shared the responsibility at the top end of the pitch in recent weeks, but neither have scored since the middle of September.

Their joint top scorer in the Premier League this season is centre-back Micky van de Ven, which further highlights the lack of quality currently available to Thomas Frank at present.

However, with the January transfer window rapidly approaching, the Dane has the opportunity to land a new talisman to help him in his quest for success in North London.

Numerous players have emerged on their shortlist over the last couple of weeks, with returning Sporting Director Fabio Paratici likely to play a key role in any potential pursuits.

Spurs’ move for a new talisman in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been strongly linked with a move to land Porto star Samu Aghehowa this winter, but such a deal would be a huge investment.

After scoring 11 times in his first 14 outings of 2025/26, it’s safe to say the Spaniard is a man in demand – but any transfer would cost a pretty penny given his current £87m release clause.

However, he’s not alone on their shortlist at present, with Paratici making the most of his Juventus links to try and strike a deal for the signature of Dušan Vlahović.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta, the Lilywhites are firmly in the race to land a cut-price deal for the Serbian, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2026.

It also confirms that Bayern Munich are in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, but Frank’s men could hold the edge given Paratici’s links to the Old Lady.

Such a move would finally hand the Dane the talisman he’s craved, which could allow the frontman to be his next version of a player who thrived under his guidance at Brentford.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Toney

During Frank’s seven years at the helm with Brentford, he was able to rely on striker Ivan Toney for a four-year period, with the striker constantly producing the goods in front of goal.

The Englishman registered 72 goals in his 141 appearances for the Bees, the most of any player during the Dane’s reign across the capital – often being the player to pop up in key moments.

50% of his efforts for Brentford came in England’s top-flight, a tally that was the most in the Bees’ history, but Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have since surpassed such a figure.

Given the lack of options currently at Frank’s disposal in North London, there’s no denying he wishes he could rely on a player of the 29-year-old’s quality.

Such a move could have come to fruition back in the summer of 2024, but the Lilywhites opted for a move for Dominic Solanke, as the former Bees star completed his own move to Saudi Arabia.

A deal for Toney’s signature may prove unlikely, but Frank could land his next version of the Englishman in the coming months, should Paratici complete a deal for Vlahovic.

Both have demonstrated unbelievable goalscoring records over recent seasons, with the Juve star finding the net 62 times in his 152 appearances for the Italian giants.

The 25-year-old’s goalscoring record is one thing, but his current contract issue in Turin could provide the Lilywhites board with a bargain option to solve their centre-forward woes.

His underlying figures from the current campaign also showcase the all-round quality he would add to the side, finally handing the manager the needed presence he’s craved since taking the reins.

Vlahovic, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers” by Luca Toni, has only started three Serie A games in 2025/26, but it hasn’t stopped him from finding the back of the net on two occasions.

Games played

14

Goals scored

6

Shots on target

1.1

Shot on target accuracy

38%

Aerials won

2.5

Goals scored per 90

0.65

Touches in opposition box

6.7

Fouls won

1.4

His tally of 1.1 shots on target per 90 also highlight his accuracy in attacking areas, with his total of 2.5 aerials won per 90 handing Frank the focal point he’s searching for.

The Serbian currently ranks in the 88th percentile of all players in Italy for goals scored per 90, potentially making him the missing piece in the Dane’s Lilywhites attacking puzzle.

It’s currently unclear how much a deal for Vlahovic would cost this summer, but it’s evident that he would be a perfect addition to the club’s impressive frontline.

Should he match the levels produced by Toney under the Dane’s guidance at Brentford, it would be a stellar move and offer the chance for the club to reach new heights in the near future.

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ByDan Emery Oct 28, 2025

Matchday tickets to watch live football appear to be going up with every season, pricing out the regular punters who have supported their teams for years.

The Premier League is known as the richest division in the world due to its globally distributed broadcasting deals, but how much do the 20 clubs charge supporters to watch a match live?

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025

Here is a look at ticket prices for every Premier League side for the 2025/26 campaign, looking at their cheapest and most expensive ticket excluding hospitality.

Matchday ticket prices in the Premier League 2025/26

Club

Cheapest

Highest

Arsenal

£31.80

£145.50

Aston Villa

£46.75

£96.60

Bournemouth

£30

£56

Brentford

£40

£65

Brighton

£34

£78

Burnley

£30

£55

Chelsea

£55

£78

Crystal Palace

£44

£74

Everton

£58

£75

Fulham

£36

£125

Leeds

£35

£59

Liverpool

£39

£61

Manchester City

£30

£60

Manchester United

£37

£97

Newcastle United

£55

£70

Nottingham Forest

£50

£70

Sunderland

£36

£46

Tottenham Hotspur

£38

£109

West Ham

£30

£115

Wolves

£26.50

£71

20 Sunderland Most expensive ticket: £46

Back in the Premier League after eight years away, Sunderland have the least expensive matchday ticket at just £46.

The Black Cats supporters were treated to some brilliant displays straightaway at the Stadium of Light, making this value for money.

19 Burnley Most expensive ticket: £55

Burnley also won promotion in 2025 and are one of the cheapest to watch in the Premier League.

Tickets start at just £30 and reach £55.

18 Bournemouth Most expensive ticket: £56

Bournemouth have been enjoying their finest Premier League football under Andoni Iraola.

At £56 for a ticket, they are the third-cheapest club on this list, however, prices may well go up should they qualify for Europe this term.

17 Leeds Most expensive ticket: £59

Leeds are the most expensive of the three promoted sides from the Championship, with the most expensive Elland Road ticket sitting at £59.

A stadium expansion is planned to increase capacity to over 50,000, and it’ll be interesting to see whether prices rise in Yorkshire as well.

16 Manchester City Most expensive ticket: £60

Manchester City may be going through their roughest spell since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016, but compared to other clubs, their most expensive matchday ticket is a reasonable £60.

At £30 for the cheapest ticket at the Etihad, City fans can also get some decent value for seeing their team perform in the Premier League. Given they won the titles four years in a row, this figure isn’t too steep.

15 Liverpool Most expensive ticket: £61

Considering Liverpool’s success domestically and in Europe, it is admirable that their most expensive matchday ticket is £61, which ranks them relatively low on this list.

The club froze all ticket prices for the 2025/26 season. Not a bad price to watch the defending champions if you can get your hand on a ticket.

14 Brentford Most expensive ticket: £65

Brentford are now an established Premier League side, having secured promotion to the top flight back in 2021.

The Bees have never finished lower than 16th in the table. The most expensive matchday ticket at the club currently is £65, with no increases for the 2025/26 campaign.

13 Newcastle Most expensive ticket: £70

Newcastle United once again secured Champions League football for the second time in three seasons and won their first piece of silverware for 70 years in 2025 under Eddie Howe.

The most expensive Magpies ticket is £70, with the price of the cheapest ticket being £55.

12 Nottingham Forest Most expensive ticket: £70

Nottingham Forest’s most expensive matchday costs £70, which has increased after qualifying for Europe in 2025.

The cheapest option currently stands at £50, and the supporters going to the City Ground have seen three managers in the dugout during 2025/26.

11 Wolves Most expensive ticket: £71

Wolverhampton Wanderers have work to do if they are to avoid dropping into the Championship, with major unrest at Molineux.

Despite their poor season, the most expensive matchday ticket is £71 at Molineux, hardly worth the value considering. The cheapest is £26.50, the lowest in the division.

Being a midfielder at the top level is extremely difficult, with every attribute arguably required to be considered world-class in today’s era. Whether it be shielding the defence, controlling the game or scoring goals, we have seen some iconic midfielders over time.

A number of midfielders have won the Ballon d’Or, most recently Rodri and Luka Modric, and, right now, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are currently seen as the best in world football. But who is the midfield GOAT?

The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

5

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 midfield legends football has ever seen, factoring in their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.

20 Greatest Midfielders of All Time
Rank	Name	Country
1	Diego Maradona	Argentina
2	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands
3	Zinedine Zidane	France
4	Michel Platini	France
5	Andres Iniesta	Spain
6	Zico	Brazil
7	Ruud Gullit	Netherlands
8	Lothar Matthaus	Germany
9	Bobby Charlton	England
10	Steven Gerrard	England
11	Luka Modric	Croatia
12	Paul Scholes	England
13	Andrea Pirlo	Italy
14	Toni Kroos	Germany
15	Xavi	Spain
16	Clarence Seedorf	Netherlands
17	​Kaka	Brazil
18	Socrates	Brazil
19	Patrick Vieira	France
20	Frank Lampard	England

20

Frank Lampard

If a goalscoring midfielder is what you need, then Frank Lampard is certainly one of the best. A Chelsea legend, the Englishman is actually the Blues’ all-time leading scorer, netting 211 times at Stamford Bridge across 13 years.

Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League, deservedly being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

19

Patrick Vieira

Continuing the trend of Premier League icons, Patrick Vieira is best known for his time as Arsenal captain under Arsene Wenger and is also a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The Frenchman only cost the Gunners £3.5m back in 1996 and was worth every penny, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in six successive seasons.

Vieira, a World Cup and Euros winner, could help protect the defence by breaking up play, driving his team forward with his power and popping up with a goal from time to time.

18

Socrates

Recognisable during his playing days for his beard and headband, Socrates was an extremely elegant and intelligent midfielder in his peak, combing power with touch.

A skilful inspiration for the next generation of Brazilian stars, Socrates saw football as an art, and that truly came across during his career, with the 6ft 4 midfielder starring for Corinthians.

17

Kaka

Another Brazilian who would’ve grown up learning all about Socrates was Kaka, and he’d go on to become an icon himself after starring for AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Kaka was quick, skilful, strong and had plenty of end product and is among a small select group of players to win the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

He may not have had the longevity and consistency as some of the others on the list, but at his peak, there was no stopping Kaka.

16

Clarence Seedorf

Still the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, Clarence Seedorf was influential for the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

The Dutchman was an iconic box-to-box midfielder and could ping 60 yard passes, make last ditch tackles and score all in the same game.

Named the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1993 and 1994, Seedorf was also named UEFA’s best midfielder in 2007, showing how goof he was over time.

15

Xavi

A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Xavi would go on to play more than 750 games for the Catalan giants and formed one of the most iconic midfield trios at the Nou Camp alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

A passing genius, Xavi was an unbelievable leader of one of the best teams in history, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

The Spaniard also lifted two European Championships and one World Cup, and the fact he was a regular across his career in dominant sides shows how good he was.

14

Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos has rightly gone down as a Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Germany icon after a glittering 17-year career at the highest level.

Winning six Champions Leagues, six league titles and the World Cup, Kroos was known for his unbelievable passing range and registered more than 100 assists in the Bundesliga and La Liga over his career.

13

Andrea Pirlo

Arguably the coolest midfielder in history, Andrea Pirlo ran games of football with ease and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.

A deep-lying playmaker, the Italian won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup, Pirlo starred for AC Milan and Juventus, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions at the Ballon d’Or.

12

Paul Scholes

Like Kroos and Pirlo, Paul Scholes’ passing range was off the charts during his Man Utd career which saw him win 11 Premier League titles.

Although his England career didn’t match his club honours, Scholes was called a “teacher” by Lionel Messi, the “best” teammate by Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane’s “toughest opponent”, and the praise from the iconic trio goes to show how good he was.

11

Luka Modric

Not many would have predicted Luka Modric to become one of the best midfielders in hostly when he signed for Tottenham in 2008.

However, the Croatian icon starred in the Premier League and was then a Real Madrid regular for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. A six-time Champions League winner, Modric’s passing range and ability to dictate any game sees him stand out from the rest.

MI now have a 17-0 record in the IPL when defending 200 or more

Sampath Bandarupalli01-May-20256 Consecutive wins for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025 after starting with four defeats in the first five matches. It is their joint-longest winning streak in the IPL, alongside the six they won in 2008 and 2017.3 MI’s win, by 100 runs, against Rajasthan Royals (RR) was their third victory in the IPL by 100 or more runs. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have done it more often, with four such wins. MI’s win also took them to the top of the points table for the first time in the IPL since April 17, 2021. For RR, it was their second-biggest defeat by runs behind the 112-run loss against RCB in 2023.217 for 2 MI’s total against RR is the joint-highest in the IPL at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, equalling Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) 217 for 6 against RR in 2023. This is also the highest total for MI against RR in the IPL.2012 The previous instance of MI winning an IPL match in Jaipur, a ten-wicket victory. MI lost all four IPL matches against RR, which they played at this venue between 2013 and 2024.Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma set base with a century stand•Associated Press4 Batters scored 40-plus runs for MI in Jaipur. It is only the fourth instance of four batters scoring 40 or more runs in an IPL innings. Only once before each of the top four scored 40 or more in an IPL innings – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against RR in 2011.11 Consecutive scores of 25-plus for Suryakumar Yadav in IPL 2025. It is the longest streak of 25-plus scores for any batter in the IPL, bettering Robin Uthappa’s run of ten innings in 2014.6024 Runs scored by Rohit Sharma in all T20s for MI. No player has even 4000 T20 runs for the franchise. Rohit is only the second batter to score 6000-plus runs for a team in T20s, after Virat Kohli, who has 8871 runs for RCB.ESPNcricinfo Ltd29 Balls MI took to pick up the first five RR wickets, the fewest they have needed to do so in an IPL innings. Only four times did a team lose their first five wickets in the IPL in fewer than the 29 balls.17-0 MI extend their unbeaten record while defending targets of 200 or more in the IPL. Alongside being the only team to defend all the 200-plus targets they set in the IPL, the 18-0 record of MI in all men’s T20s defending 200-plus targets is the best for any team.281.81 Strike rate of MI batters against the short of good lengths and short lengths against RR pacers on Thursday. They scored 61 runs off 22 such deliveries, with ten fours and two sixes. In return, RR batters scored only 34 off 38 balls on those lengths and lost five wickets.

Sri Lanka are on the brink of elimination in the Asia Cup after sliding to their second successive defeat

Madushka Balasuriya23-Sep-20251:39

What went wrong for Sri Lanka’s batters?

An unbroken stand of 58 off 41 between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz saved Pakistan’s blushes as they stumbled their way through a middling chase to eventually come away with a five-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi.Having been set a target of 134, on a ground where the average winning total batting first was 183, Pakistan collapsed from 43 for 0 in five overs to 57 for 4 in the ninth over. Not long after it was 80 for 5 in the 12th over, but Talat and Nawaz got the job done for Pakistan without any further scares.Related

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Talat finished on 32* off 30, while Nawaz struck 38* off 24, while for Sri Lanka the wickets were spread between Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera.Talat had earlier made his initial impact with the ball, in a double-wicket over, removing both Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka. It had followed a powerplay that saw Shaheen Shah Afridi pick up two wickets in the powerplay – he would end with three in total – as Sri Lanka lost their top three for the addition of 53 in the first six overs.From that point on Pakistan strangled Sri Lanka’s innings, as they only mustered 63 runs across the final ten overs. Kamindu Mendis’ 50 off 44 was the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable innings.The result means that Sri Lanka have lost two games, and are now dependent on Bangladesh beating India to keep their hopes of making the final alive.1:26

Aaron: Pakistan using three pacers up top made the difference

Afridi’s early impactPakistan got the best of the bowling conditions when the won the toss and elected to bowl, but it still needed to be utilised. Both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf found big movement early on, but that did not deter the Sri Lankan batters.Kusal Mendis clipped one in the air to short midwicket first ball, but Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera both found the boundary. Afridi then accounted for Nissanka as well, with the opener edging behind an attempted heave down the ground – one he had executed efficiently just a ball prior.Kusal Perera fell in the final over of the powerplay, miscuing one off Haris Rauf to mid-on. Sri Lanka had 53 runs in the powerplay, but Pakistan kept chipping away.2:09

Chopra: Talat holding one end up was important

Talat sets up the middle-overs squeezeDespite the loss of three wickets, Sri Lanka were still looking to attack – presumably reading that conditions were more than adequate for batting. However the two dismissals as a result of this approach, perhaps bordering on reckless at points, greatly reduced Sri Lanka’s ability to post a competitive total.The first was from Asalanka, who was batting well during his 19-ball 20, but ended up top-edging a short-arm pull to deep square leg. A ball later Dasun Shanaka nicked behind. Both those wickets came in Talat’s first over, and he went onto finish with 2 for 18 in his three overs.Sri Lanka’s scoring slowed to a trickle after that point, as they scored just 34 runs between overs six and 16. During this period Abrar Ahmed trotted through four overs, giving away just eight runs while picking up the wicket of Wanindu Hasaranga.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Talat and Nawaz finish it offSahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman seemingly broke the chase with a 45-run opening stand, but when Theekshana picked up both batters in the final over of the powerplay – the latter courtesy an outstanding one-handed grab at mid-off by Hasaranga – Sri Lanka felt they had a sniff.Two Hasaranga overs later though and Pakistan had lost two more, and suddenly Sri Lanka were well and truly in it.A 23-run stand between Talat and Mohammad Haris briefly brought back some control of proceedings for Pakistan, but when Chameera burst one through Haris to peg back the middle stump, Pakistan still needed 54 more with half their side back in the dugout.Thankfully for them, Talat and Nawaz navigated the chase shrewdly, taking minimal risks to take the game deep. It was only in the death overs that they opened up, with Nawaz looking to take on Hasaranga and then finally Chameera. A trio of sixes off the latter brought the game to a rapid close.

Sean Dyche says he is so pleased for his Nottingham Forest players as he "demands a lot from them" after their thumping 3-0 win over Liverpool. Goals from Murillo, Nicolas Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White breathed more life into Forest's revival and condemned the Reds to a sixth defeat in seven games. And after the match, Dyche cut a proud figure when reflecting on the victory at Anfield.

Nottingham Forest on the up

Earlier this season, things looked bleak for Forest. Popular manager Nuno Espirito Santo had left after an apparent falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis and Ange Postecoglou lasted half a dozen games before being sacked, as Dyche was left to pick up the pieces for a side in the relegation zone. But the outlook for the Tricky Trees looks far rosier now after easing past Liverpool on Saturday, with the City Ground team now in 16th. The result meant that Forest have won away at Liverpool in back-to-back league seasons for the first time since 1962-63/1963-64. They had only won one of their previous 30 league visits to Anfield before 2024-25. Moreover, Forest became only the fourth visiting side to win a Premier League game at Anfield by a margin of three or more goals, after Chelsea in October 2005 (4-1), West Ham in August 2015 (3-0), and Man City in February 2021 (4-1).

AdvertisementAFPDyche sets high standards

Following the victory, Gibbs-White revealed that the former Everton and Burnley boss has Forest running their socks off in preparation for games. And it seemed Dyche struck a similar tone after claiming all three points on Merseyside. 

He told Forest's website: "I’m so pleased for the players, they have taken on a lot since we’ve been here and we’ve demanded a lot from them in many different ways. I’ve said to them after the game that we can only guide them. The commitment to the cause and to the shirt was all on display today, and quality of course which you need. You don’t win by luck here. The will and demand, the team and the organisation is massively important in these games. They’ve shown that in abundance and when we’ve needed the quality, they’ve delivered. You aren’t likely to come here and dominate the ball, so without it you have to be diligent and I thought we were super diligent, from our shape to our organisation. Our defenders were making blocks, Matz was looking confident in goal and we looked full of confidence. I do believe there is quality here and in the moments of truth, can you make that pass or find that finish, and we certainly did today."

Forest star praises Dyche's impact

Since Dyche was sworn in at the end of October, the ex-Watford manager has won three games, drawn two, and lost just once. That has seen them rise from near the bottom of the table to just outside the relegation zone. And Gibbs-White believes Dyche deserves a lot of credit for turning things around at Forest.

He told Premier League Productions: "When Sean Dyche came in, he made it clear the season starts now. He's been putting us to work, but we needed it to compete at the highest level. We've been running, running, running. Any game in the Premier League is difficult. We have to take it game by game."

On the Liverpool victory, the England international admitted that walking away with this triumph is an "incredible" feeling.

He added: "I didn't expect it, but it's happened. I'm out there trying to help the team as much as possible. I thought the boys were brilliant today. Delighted we got the three points, but I hope we're out of the relegation zone. We felt comfortable even though we didn't have the ball. We were defensively secure, and that's credit to the boys and the manager. Delighted to get another goal, but we got a clean sheet and three points at Anfield, which is an incredible thing. They're still a great team with incredible individuals. When you're in a tough patch, we know it's hard to get out of it. We knew we'd have a chance, and it was about us being solid and taking our chance when we got it."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Forest?

Forest will hope they can build on this excellent result when they return to Europa League action on Thursday at home to Swedish side Malmo. They then round off the month against Brighton at City Ground on Sunday, November 30, as the Premier League returns.

Former India great set to become the first capped male Indian player to play in the BBL with Thunder, Hurricanes, Sixers and Strikers all chasing him

Alex Malcolm and Sidharth Monga23-Sep-2025R Ashwin is set to become the first capped male India player to play in the BBL with four clubs vying for his services to play in the latter stages of the upcoming season.It is understood that Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers are the four teams chasing Ashwin’s signature in what is set to be a major coup for the BBL. Thunder and Hurricanes appear to be the frontrunners for the India great with a deal likely to be finalised later this week.No internationally capped India male player has played in the BBL previously, but Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL earlier this year has opened the door for him to play franchise cricket overseas for the first time.Related

• Ashwin enters ILT20 auction with the highest base price for any player

• R Ashwin brings curtain down on 'my time as an IPL cricketer'

• Afridi, Rizwan and Rauf among top picks at BBL overseas drafts

• All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2025-26 season

• CA exploring BBL investment 'unashamedly' to be second behind IPL

Only retired Indian players are allowed by the BCCI to participate in overseas T20 leagues. Earlier this year, Dinesh Karthik played for Paarl Royals in the SA20. In 2023, Ambati Rayudu turned up to play for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, and then in January 2024 with MI Emirates in the ILT20. Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan featured for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20. Two years ago, Suresh Raina was part of Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10.Ashwin has already committed to the first-ever ILT20 auction in the UAE, which will take place next Tuesday. If bought, he will play out the ILT20, which has changed dates for the upcoming season and will now run from December 2 until January 4.The BBL begins on December 14, and the home-and-away part of the season runs until January 18. The finals will be held between January 20 and 25. It means Ashwin will be available for three-four games at the end of the season for one of those teams, plus finals should the team he signs with qualify. ESPNcricinfo understands that his deal will also include the BBL for the 2026-27 season.BBL clubs can only play three overseas players in their XI. Each of the clubs has already locked three players in via the league’s pre-signing rules and the June overseas draft. Clubs can sign an additional four overseas replacement players, meaning they can have up to seven on their list, but only three can play at any one time. Also, if any of the teams release an international player for SA20, Ashwin could fit in as a replacement for him.The league rules state that replacement overseas players have to nominate themselves for the draft, which Ashwin did not as he had not retired from IPL cricket at the time. But there is an exemption for overseas players to be allowed to play in the BBL if their circumstances have changed. Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill was previously signed by Melbourne Renegades in 2022-23 after retiring from international cricket despite missing the inaugural BBL overseas draft. England star Nat Sciver-Brunt was allowed to play for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL after being cleared by the ECB, having initially been ruled out of nominating for the draft due to injury.The club that signs Ashwin will still have to fit his salary inside their overall purse, much of which will already have been allocated for most squads, but there will likely be an additional marketing agreement with Cricket Australia that will not count towards the salary cap for the team that lands him.Teams can also go over the cap by 5% in a particular year with approval from the league’s technical committee, provided that it is offset over a three-year period.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have been handed a transfer boost, with a La Liga star now open to an Old Trafford move.

Man Utd midfield options heading into 2026

It feels as if Amorim’s midfield is the one area that may need the most work in 2026. The Man Utd boss has gone with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes more often than not this season, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte falling out of favour.

Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, whereas Amorim criticised Ugarte in front of his Man Utd teammates following the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Casemiro is also out of contract in 2026, and it has been suggested that there is a real possibility he will leave for free at the end of the season.

This comes despite the fact Amorim wants to keep the Brazilian, however, INEOS are looking to cut the wage bill and could do just that with the £350,000-a-week top earner.

A number of midfielders have been linked with arriving in Manchester, and one name that won’t go away is Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.

There was speculation over a deadline day move in the summer, but the English “machine” remained at the Wanda Metropolitano, where he has made just two La Liga starts in 2025/26 under Diego Simeone.

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.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 13, 2025

It has been suggested that Amorim has already given the green light for Man Utd to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League in 2026, and another promising update has now emerged.

Gallagher open to Man Utd move

According to United in Focus and transfer expert Graeme Bailey, Gallagher “has become increasingly frustrated at Atletico” and appears to be open to the idea of moving to Man Utd to improve his chances of making the England squad.

On around £150,000-a-week in Spain, Gallagher has been compared to some impressive midfielders across Europe in 2025, including former Red Devils man Scott McTominay.

Midfielders similar to Conor Gallagher	Club
Gavi	Barcelona
Sandro Tonali	Newcastle
Scott McTominay	Napoli
Bruno Guimaraes	Newcastle
Boubacar Kamara	Aston Villa

Now, United and INEOS need to decide whether or not to firm up their interest in the Englishman, amid rumours of a £44m January offer being lined up.

Man Utd now leading Barcelona & Liverpool in race to sign "absolute beast"

A stunning century from Tim Seifert helped St Lucia Kings pull off the fifth-highest chase in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history with utter ease as they marched to the top of the table with a six-wicket win over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at Gros Islet.Seifert levelled with Andre Russell for the CPL’s fastest century as his 53-ball 125 not out saw Kings overturn their 205-run in 17.5 overs as Falcons slumped to their second consecutive defeat, despite a 26-ball 61 from Shakib Al Hasan.Seifert started the chase in style, flat-batting the first legal delivery of the innings for a six over long-off. Imad Wasim conceded another six, to Johnson Charles, as Kings made their intent clear in the first over.Charles then welcomed Jayden Seales into the attack with a six before Seifert went 6, 4, 4 against the West Indies quick.There was some reprieve for Falcons when Salman Irshad had Charles gloving behind off an attempted scoop but Seifert showed no signs of slowing down.He swept Shakib for a six over square leg before skying a chance that fell safe between three fielders converging, much to Shakib’s angst.Akeem Auguste hit Irshad for three consecutive fours before Seales took 24 off Shakib, with two sixes and three fours. The 92 runs Kings plundered in the powerplay were the most in the season, and it was the third-best powerplay in CPL history.Tim Seifert plays a shot during his opening blitz•Getty Images

Usama Mir saw Seifert hit him for a four and a six in his first over, right after the powerplay, but hit back in his next over when he beat Auguste in flight to have him stumped.Seifert and Roston Chase kept the scoreboard ticking before Irshad took a blinder at short leg off Odean Smith to cut Chase’s innings short.However, in the next over Seifert hit back-to-back sixes off Mir to move to 99 and completed his century with a single off the next ball.Tim David went 6, 4, 6 off Smith before Seales had him caught at deep midwicket in a wicket maiden amid the chaos.Seifert, who had scooped Irshad in the over before for four, picked up another boundary off Seales’ third over before sealing the win with a mighty six off the final ball.Seifert finished unbeaten on 125, posting the highest score of the season, going past his compatriot Colin Munro, who is the only other centurion this year. This was also the second-highest score ever in the CPL.Openers Amir Jangoo and Jewel Andrew took Falcons to 51 for no loss at the end of the powerplay, but Tabraiz Shamsi’s introduction shifted the momentum briefly. He had Andrew skying one off his first ball before drawing a thick edge from Karima Gore and Roston Chase took a good catch at slip to send the in-form batter back for a first-ball duck.Shakib Al Hasan powered Falcons’ innings•CPL

Shakib prevented the hat-trick by sweeping a loosener fine on the leg side before an edge off a reverse-sweep brought him four more next ball.An 18-ball streak followed without a boundary, but that was ended when Shakib hit back-to-back sixes off Chase to end the tenth over – a slog sweep over midwicket was followed by a wallop down the ground.Shakib hammered David Wiese for 25 runs, with three consecutive fours followed by two back-to-back sixes, the second of which saw him bring up a 20-ball half-century.Jangoo lofted Shamsi over long-off the next over before sweeping him fine on the leg side. Shakib’s shot of the day was when he pummeled Alzarri Joseph inside out for a one-handed six.But an offcutter from Delano Potgieter drew a leading edge from Shakib and one over later, Jangoo miscued a reverse-sweep off Shamsi to David at short third to depart for a 43-ball 56.Smith failed to fire in the death, ambling to 11 off 15, but Fabian Allen provided the punch at the death with a 17-ball 38, taking Falcons past 200.