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Arsenal continued their strong run of form in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Greek outfit Olympiacos and picked up their second win of the campaign.

The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners in the end, and while they could have scored plenty more, the visitors put up more of a fight than some would have been expecting.

With that said, almost everyone who featured for the hosts put in a strong showing, including someone who could end up becoming a new Bukayo Saka for Arsenal.

Saka's rise at Arsenal

Saka was handed his Arsenal debut by former manager Unai Emery back in November 2018. He came off the bench in a game away to Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava, and then made his full debut for the club a few months later at home against Qarabağ.

However, while the Hale Ender showed some real promise early on, he didn’t make all that many appearances under the now Aston Villa coach.

In fact, before Arteta was appointed in December 2019, the dynamic winger had made just 16 appearances for the first team, most of which came on the left-hand side, either in left midfield or at left-back.

Fortunately, the 24-year-old began to be moved over to the right more in the following campaign, and by the start of the 2021/22 season, he was well and truly established as the Gunners’ first-choice right-winger.

More than that, though, the youngster would then develop into the team’s most important attacking outlet, a role he still fulfils to this day, as reflected in his incredible numbers.

For example, despite still being only 24 years old, the talismanic winger has made 269 appearances for the North Londoners to date, scoring 72 goals and providing 72 assists.

Unfortunately, with him being so key to the club’s attacking threat, the last couple of years have seen opposition teams double and triple up on him, making it far harder for the incredible talent to create opportunities for Arteta and Co.

Appearances

269

Starts

233

Minutes

20358′

Goals

72

Assists

72

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

141.37

The good news is that Arsenal have added more quality to the side to help mitigate that problem, including someone who could be like a new Saka for the side.

The Arsenal star becoming a new Saka

Arteta and Andrea Berta did well to add a few new attacking talents to this Arsenal squad over the summer, from the direct and tricky Noni Madueke to the versatile and mercurial Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

However, when it comes to the player who has the best chance of embodying some of the things that make Saka such a star for this team, it has to be Viktor Gyokeres.

Now, some of you will rightly point out that the pair play in different positions, and that, as things stand, the former Sporting CP star has not scored as many goals as some would’ve hoped.

Yet, there are still elements in his game that are similar to the Hale Ender’s, most notably his gravitational effect on the game.

That might sound like an odd way to talk about a footballer, but this essentially means that, just as the Englishman has spent the last few years being double and triple-teamed by defenders, the Swedish international is already dragging opposition defenders all over the pitch this season.

He might not be scoring with the regularity that some would like, but the 6 foot 2 “powerhouse”, as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, is already starting to make the right runs, get into the correct positions, and this, combined with the fact that he has a lethal shot on him, means that defenders cannot leave him alone.

This was on full display on Wednesday night, particularly for the first goal, as his charge towards the penalty area saw two defenders converge on him and left space for Gabriel Martinelli to tap the ball into the back of the net after his shot was saved.

Just imagine the gravitational impact he’s going to have on defenders when he’s up to speed and putting away the chances so many know he can.

Ultimately, Gyokeres isn’t on the same level as Saka and has plenty of differences in his game with the Englishman.

However, he is one of the few players capable of striking a similar level of fear into opponents and one of the few attackers who’ll force them to converge on him.

Outclassed by Odegaard: Arteta must drop Arsenal dud who lost the ball 14x

Arsenal secured a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2025

For all the scrutiny on Newcastle United’s inconsistent attack, their defensive organisation has been the team’s saving grace.

Eddie Howe’s side may not have been firing at the other end, but their solidity at the back has provided a foundation to build from.

Heading into their meeting with Arsenal, Newcastle had conceded the lowest expected goals against (xGA) in the Premier League at just 2.5. Compare that with their efforts in offence and the difference is stark.

Burnley

4.5

Aston Villa

5.0

West Ham

5.0

Newcastle United

5.2

Wolves

5.6

That xGA record slipped slightly after the defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side, but they still sit second in that particular metric – underlining the strength of their structure without the ball.

Across their opening fixtures, the Magpies have conceded only five goals, keeping four clean sheets. Only Liverpool and Arsenal have managed to score against them in the league play.

A big part of that early-season resilience has been the work of Tino Livramento, who added balance with his pace and anticipation on the flank.

His injury against Arsenal, which looked serious, could prove damaging to Howe’s plans.

Yet it also highlighted the broader point: Newcastle are in the process of rejuvenating their defensive line.

The partnership of Dan Burn and Fabian Schär has been a reliable one, but with Champions League football and a congested schedule, rotation is no longer optional.

Howe has made it clear that everyone must be ready to slot in seamlessly and that process is beginning to accelerate as one fantastic servant edges towards the twilight of his career.

How Fabian Schär became Newcastle's defensive heartbeat

When Newcastle signed Schär from Deportivo La Coruña in 2018 for just £3m, few predicted he would go on to become one of the club’s most consistent performers of the modern era.

Now into his sixth season, the 33-year-old has amassed 235 appearances, scoring 21 goals and contributing 10 assists – remarkable numbers for a centre-half and a reminder of his set-piece threat.

What sets Schär apart is his technical ability.

Described as a “true legend of the club” by one Newcastle content creator earlier this year, he is most notably comfortable receiving the ball under pressure. The Swiss defender can step out of the backline, carry into midfield, and fire incisive passes through the lines.

Under Howe, that skill has been essential in moving Newcastle away from being a purely reactive side to one that can build attacks from deep.

Chalkboard

He also brings invaluable experience. With 86 international caps for Switzerland before his retirement last year, Schär has featured at World Cups and European Championships, developing into a leader by example rather than volume.

Supporters regard him as one of the best value-for-money signings in the club’s history.

Yet even leaders decline. At 33, Schär has become more vulnerable to injuries, missing recent fixtures due to concussion protocols after a heavy knock against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Subtle lapses – slower reactions to second balls, occasional mistimed challenges – have also crept in.

While his passing remains assured, there is a growing sense that Newcastle must prepare for a future where he is no longer the constant at the heart of their back four.

Newcastle's future leader ready to replace Schar

If Schär represents the present, new signing Malick Thiaw may well be the future.

Signed from AC Milan in the summer for £30m, the Germany international arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most technically capable young centre-backs.

At 24 years old, he already had 85 senior appearances for Milan and experience in the Champions League – proof that he can handle high-pressure environments.

Thiaw’s qualities are exactly what Howe seeks in a modern defender.

He is calm in possession, able to turn away from pressure, and plays progressive passes that cut through midfield lines.

Matches Played

22

Tackles

24

Blocks

14

Interceptions

15

Aerial Duels Won

49

His statistical profile backs this up: with a 93.2% pass completion rate, ranking him in the 95th percentile among his positional peers across Europe, he rarely concedes possession cheaply.

He also averages nearly five progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the 85th percentile – evidence of his willingness to play forward rather than sideways.

His performance against Arsenal offered a glimpse of his potential. Thiaw won four of six aerial duels, cleared the ball eight times, and crucially, was not dribbled past once.

In possession, he completed 20 of his 23 passes, showing the kind of poise that makes him such a natural fit for Howe’s tactical approach.

Defensively, he read danger well, stepping out to intercept once and shepherding Arsenal’s attackers away from goal with his positioning.

Stylistically, Thiaw has drawn comparisons with Ibrahima Konaté and Micky van de Ven – defenders who blend physical dominance with technical assurance.

Newcastle fans already see the potential for Thiaw to form a long-term partnership with Sven Botman, one that could anchor the club’s backline for the next five years.

Of course, the summer arrival still needs to adapt fully to the pace and intensity of the Premier League, but the early signs are encouraging.

With Champions League fixtures demanding rotation, Howe may soon face a decision that seemed unthinkable only a year ago.

Phasing out one of the club’s most reliable veterans in favour of a player who looks ready to lead Newcastle’s defence into a new era.

Newcastle can axe Gordon by unleashing 18-year-old who's "similar to Mbappe"

Anthony Gordon hasn’t been at the races this season for Newcastle United.

ByWill Miller Sep 29, 2025

Pep Guardiola longed to see Jack Grealish return to being the player he was when he helped Manchester City sweep to the treble. He waited and waited, and now has finally got his wish, albeit not in the way he would have hoped. Grealish feels like a brand new player away from City on loan at Everton, even more influential than in 2023, a talisman for his new club rather than just one of many stars.

Grealish will be limited to the role of spectator when Everton visit City on Saturday, but he will be fondly welcomed back by the Etihad Stadium faithful, who loved him for his happy persona and the way he revelled in the club's many triumphs. Grealish reached cult hero status when he became the focal point of the debauched treble celebrations, from blasting out music in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, continuing the party in Ibiza and then taking things to a whole new level during the parade back in Manchester.

For Guardiola, though, Grealish was never quite the same player as in that season, his second after joining in Premier League record, £100 million move from Aston Villa. After curbing his usual sensibilities to suit Guardiola's demands, becoming a ball-hogging tactical chess piece known among team-mates and staff as a 'rest station' as he allowed others to take a breather while he kept possession or drew fouls, City signed Jeremy Doku to compete with Grealish. 

Phil Foden, who had been injured or ill for key chunks of the treble season, was another player who competed with Grealish for a place in City's midfield, and his role in the team subsequently faded amid a number of niggling injuries. At the end of a disappointing 2023-24 campaign for Grealish – but a record-breaking, fourth-successive title for City – Guardiola vowed: "He will be back. He’s struggled this ­season. Jeremy has made an incredi­ble step forward as everyone has seen in the last games, but Jack will be back at the level of last season – I’m pretty sure." 

Guardiola was not correct. Having made 10 Premier League starts the previous season and contributed to four goals, Grealish made only seven starts while scoring once and assisting once in the Premier League. Amid increased competition from Savinho and Omar Marmoush, Grealish was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final despite City chasing the game against Crystal Palace.

Halfway through the season, Guardiola admitted that he had effectively given up on Grealish: "Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that." Grealish, however, is that player once more – he just had to leave City and Guardiola behind to rediscover himself.

Getty Something to prove

When Grealish was looking for a new club in the summer, he had various conversations with David Moyes. The Scot, who has been a Premier League coach for more than two decades, knew exactly how to push Grealish's buttons. Moyes saw a player who had fallen in the estimation of football fans, just as he had done after his nightmarish 10-month spell managing Manchester United immediately after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. 

And just as Moyes emerged from that harrowing time at Old Trafford to win a European trophy with West Ham and oversee an incredible resurgence at Everton, who were in danger of relegation when he returned at the start of 2025, he believed Grealish could turn it around.

"The knowledge that he thinks he’s got a little bit to prove and to stand up," Moyes explained after signing Grealish on loan on the eve of the new season. "I’ve had to do that myself. I’ve had to come back from being knocked down. Sometimes you have to have that resilience to bounce back, to fight back and to show everybody. I just sense Jack is carrying that with him now. I hope it shows through this season because, if it does, then we’ll get a lot of good things from Jack."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFeeling loved

It did not take long for Everton to get the best out of Grealish. In his first start for the club, he inspired them to a 2-0 win over Brighton in their first-ever competitive game at the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium, setting up both goals. In that full debut, Grealish equalled the number of goals he had contributed to in his final season with City.

In his next game at Wolves, Grealish provided two more assists in a 3-2 win. No player created more Premier League goals in August, and Grealish was deservedly named the English top-flight's Player of the Month. Just over a month on, Grealish snatched victory over previously unbeaten Crystal Palace by scoring in added time to seal a 2-1 win. It was his first goal for the Toffees, and it was a scrappy one at that, but it also spoke of his desire as he blocked an attempted clearance from Daniel Munoz in the six-yard box to divert the ball in. Grealish had been urging himself to score a late goal in Everton's previous two games, and it proved to be third time lucky.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "Do you know what’s mad? In the last few games when we’ve been here, we’ve been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute: ‘Come on Jack, imagine if you scored now’. I did it against Villa and West Ham and didn’t score, so today I said the same thing again and scored."

Grealish also dedicated his goal to "all the Evertonians who’ve made me so welcome". He added: "The way they've made me feel since I've come here when I see them, not even at the stadium but just around the place, it's so nice. There's no better feeling in life than to feel loved."

Getty Images SportSymbol of 'iconic' stadium

Moyes could see that Grealish needed more care and attention than he was getting at City under Guardiola. "He probably needs a bit of love and attention," he said after the Palace game. "He is making a big difference. Whether it is his assists, his presence, lots of things. So all credit to him. He is playing the minutes he may not have had in recent years. You know, he's so good. What Jack gives us is something just on the edge, which, hopefully it's on the edge of creativeness and maybe scoring goals.

"It's nothing to do with me, let me tell you – it's all to do with Jack and his own mentality to be better," Moyes added. "There's a wee bit to prove, I'm sure – I think we all have. I think in life, you've always got something you have to strive to do. And I think Jack wants to show that he's a good player. I think he's showing it at the moment."

And while the Everton boss hasn't tried to take credit for Grealish's revival, he is clearly doing something right. Grealish seems to fit at Everton much better than he did at City, precisely because he is the main man, just as he was at boyhood club Villa. Only Iliman Ndiaye can come close to him in the the Everton squad in terms of talent, but in terms of status, Grealish is by far and away the most famous player.  He is the centre of attention for fans and his shirt has proven to be the biggest selling one at the club shop.

Grealish has become a symbol of the club's spectacular new 52,000 capacity stadium which sits on the River Mersey. "It's incredible, it feels iconic," he said of the new arena. And he is its icon.

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Getty 'Warrior in training'

Despite his rock-star status, Grealish does not strut around like he owns the place. His attention to fans looking for photos and autographs has been noted, as indeed it was at City. But his work ethic is also being talked about in a way that it was not necessarily praised in Manchester.

"The thing I’ve noticed is that Jack’s one of the first in and one of the last out every day (at training)," midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall told . "He’s always doing the recovery, ice baths, massages, putting himself in the best possible position to perform. He’s kept himself in the right shape. Everyone knows Jack’s at his best when he’s got a smile on his face, playing confidently. He wants to play every week and show people what he’s about."

Carlos Alcaraz added: "What I have been really impressed about is that he has been a real warrior in training. We want that attitude. We are at a club where we are all in it together. He is a great guy. In the short time he has been here, he has chatted to everyone and tried to get to know everyone."

Australia spinner had been due to play full group stage before calf injury

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2025Northamptonshire have signed Australian legspinner Lloyd Pope as one of their overseas players for the Vitality Blast* after Ashton Agar was ruled out with a calf strain.Agar helped Northants reach the quarter-finals of last year’s Blast, and was due back for the entirety of the group stage. He will be replaced by the uncapped Pope, 25, who was named in the 2024-25 Big Bash League team of the tournament.”I’m so excited to come to Northamptonshire, I can’t wait to meet everyone and to join my new teammates.” Pope said. “I’m really looking forward to hopefully contributing to some wins for the Steelbacks and going deep in the tournament.”There is also uncertainty over the availability of South Africa batter Matthew Breetzke for the start of the Blast, following the interruption of the IPL. Breetzke is contracted to Lucknow Super Giants – although he has not played a game this season – and is understood to be returning to India for the rearranged finish to the competition.Agar said: “I’m extremely disappointed to be missing this year’s Vitality Blast with Northamptonshire. I loved my time there last season, it’s a fantastic club with great people and I’ll be watching and supporting the boys from Perth.” He added.Northants head coach, Darren Lehmann, said: “We’re all very disappointed for Ashton, but we wish him well in his recovery.”*11.45am BST – Story updated with Pope signing

Lionesses starlet Michelle Agyemang has suffered a torn ACL, it has been announced. It's a diagnosis which confirms the worst fears of the teenager after she was stretchered off with a knee injury during England's 3-0 win over Australia on Tuesday night and one that spells the end of her 2025-26 season, which she had started well on loan at Brighton again from Arsenal.

Official: Agyemang's season is over after ACL diagnosis

Many feared an ACL injury would be the outcome when Agyemang went down off the ball during the Lionesses' friendly at Derby County's Pride Park on Tuesday. It's something which is unfortunately extremely prevalent in the women's game, with England team-mates Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly among the many stars in the sport to have had to endure the long road to recovery it entails. In the best cases, it can take around nine months for a player to return from this setback, though the likes of Sam Kerr and Catarina Macario, who both spent closer to two years on the sidelines, can attest to the fact that it is not always that straightforward.

AdvertisementAgyemang's first words after devastating injury news

In a post on Instagram confirming the news, Agyemang wrote: "Disappointed that results show a torn ACL. I am so grateful for all the kind words and the support from everyone. Recovery starts now, I will be back stronger than before. In all things I give thanks to the most high God, this test will surely turn into a testimony."

Statements from England, Arsenal and Brighton added words of support for the 19-year-old. "As a member of the Lionesses family, she has the full support of the FA and everyone associated with our England teams," the Football Association's update said. "Lionesses staff will remain in regular contact with Michelle and her club and be on hand to aid any aspect of her rehabilitation."

Arsenal and Brighton, meanwhile, both wrote that the clubs are "in close contact" as they strive to "determine a treatment and recovery programme for Michelle".

Huge blow to England, Brighton & Agyemang sours teenager's incredible 2025

The news is a serious blow to all parties. Agyemang has emerged as a game-changing talent for England in what has been an incredible six months for the forward. After scoring 41 seconds into her international debut back in April, which only came about after the Lionesses' squad was hit hard by injuries during that camp, she was then included in the squad for the European Championship and would score in both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals on her way to becoming a European champion and being named the Young Player of the Tournament. She looked set to only add to that experience and continue her growth as a talented prospect over the next few months, but will now be sidelined for a significant period instead in what is a horrible way for what had been an excellent year to end.

Agyemang will miss out on those development opportunities at club level, too. Despite some believing her breakthrough at Euro 2025 could be the springboard for a greater role at Arsenal this season, the teenager returned to Brighton on loan for the 2025-26 campaign, a move which guaranteed more game time and, with it, chances to learn. It felt like the right decision for all parties and the early knockings of this season seemed to confirm as much. Now, though, her focus will turn to an entirely different challenge which lays ahead in what is also a real blow for a Brighton side she has been a central figure in.

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Getty Images SportWhat research is being done into ACL injuries in women's football?

This devastating news only reaffirms what a huge problem ACL injuries are in the women's game and how important it is for more research to be done in trying to prevent them from happening as incredibly frequently as they are. FIFA is funding a year-long study at Kingston University London into the issue, which began back in May, while England star Lucy Bronze is one of those who has shown support for 'Project ACL', a collaborative effort between FIFPRO, the PFA, Nike and Leeds Beckett University to accelerate research on the injury. 

"Project ACL is important because we need to start fine-tuning the information that we're putting out," Bronze said of the three-year task. "There is already research, but I think there's just so much talk and a lot of wrong information out there. There isn't a quick fix to eradicate ACL injuries in women's football. We need to finely tune research so that we can identify the key factors."

The sooner that happens, the better it will be for the entirety of the women's game as it watches yet another player, in Agyemang, fall victim to a setback that continues to impact far too many.

Manchester United have now joined the race for a “sensational” Champions League midfielder, with manager Ruben Amorim personally an admirer.

Man Utd eyeing new midfielder amid Mainoo issues

After scoring in the shock 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in 2024, few would’ve predicted Kobbie Mainoo’s Man United career would pan out the way it has, with the midfielder falling down the pecking order considerably.

Former striker Teddy Sheringham has made it clear he doesn’t believe Amorim is a fan of the youngster, saying: “He’s [Mainoo] obviously not Amorim’s type of player. He’s very casual on the ball, but obviously plays the game in his own way. I’m not saying that in a derogatory manner; I’m saying that he has a certain style that Amorim obviously doesn’t appreciate.

The 20-year-old has featured for just 113 minutes in the Premier League this season, and it has now been suggested he could be the next player to leave United and go on to flourish elsewhere.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, the Red Devils are now looking to sign a new young English midfielder, according to a report from BILD (via Sports View), which names Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham as a target.

Amorim is said to be a fan of Bellingham’s robustness and physicality, with Man United now plotting a move for the former Sunderland man, who is a few months younger than Mainoo. There is set to be competition for his signature, with Crystal Palace also named as potential suitors.

The 20-year-old only arrived at Dortmund in the summer, joining in a package widely reported to be worth £31m, but his start to life in Germany has been far from ideal, with his dad causing controversy after entering the dressing room after a draw against St. Pauli in August.

"Sensational" Bellingham would be risky signing for Amorim

Given that Jude Bellingham has already established himself as one of the world’s best midfielders at just 22, the Dortmund youngster is likely to be feeling the pressure, although it is important to remember he is still just 20-years-old.

Fabrizio Romano shares what he's heard from Man Utd on £190k-p/w star's Old Trafford future

The Red Devils hold him in high regard and he would be a big loss…

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 13, 2025

Much like his brother, the starlet has been impressing at senior level since a very young age, with journalist Josh Bunting hailing him for a top display for Sunderland just over two years ago.

That said, Bellingham would be a risky signing for Man United, given that he is yet to establish himself at the top level, making two Champions League appearances, and it may be a better idea to bring in a midfielder who has more experience.

Seattle Orcas pulled off the highest successful chase in MLC after Nicholas Pooran (108* in 60 balls) and Tajinder Singh (95 in 35 balls) had taken MI New York to 237

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2025In a game where 475 runs were scored, it came down to Seattle Orcas needing nine from the last six balls to beat MI New York. And they almost failed to get them, with Kieron Pollard bowling three dots. But, with six needed off the last ball, Shimron Hetmyer got on one knee to a full delivery on off stump and walloped it over square leg. Just like that, Nicholas Pooran’s 60-ball 108 and Tajinder Singh’s 35-ball 95 went in vain.It was Orcas’ first win of the season, under new captain Sikandar Raza and without an official head coach in place. And also the highest successful chase in the two-and-a-half-season-long history of MLC.Chasing 238 isn’t easy in the best of times, and Orcas came into the game having lost all five of their earlier games, to which they reacted by parting ways with head coach Matthew Mott and replacing Heinrich Klaasen (who had stepped down) with Raza as the captain.Seattle Orcas had a new man directing traffic – Sikandar Raza•Sportzpics for MLCWickets fell early, which is normal when Trent Boult has the new ball. In his first over, the second of the innings, Boult sent back Josh Brown. And in his next, Boult got rid of Shayan Jahangir too. but Jahangir and Kyle Mayers had made sure that the runs were coming too. Quite a lot, in fact.If MINY had scored 62 for 2 in their powerplay, Orcas got to 86 for 3, and that was down to Raza, who walked out, faced just nine balls, hit six of them for fours and one of them for six, and was dismissed for 30. Impetus gained, that too from the new captain.The old captain wasn’t bad either. Klaasen scored 26 from 13, and Orcas had their 100 by the eighth over and were 137 for 4 at the halfway stage. It shouldn’t have been tough from there, with just over 100 to get, but wickets fell, and it came down to Hetmyer, who appeared to have hurt his groin not long after walking out.Nicholas Pooran returned to form with a 60-ball 108*•Sportzpics for MLCThat didn’t stop him, though. Orcas were always in touch with the asking rate, and Hetmyer stepped it up in the 16th over, taking Delano Potgieter for 18 runs.MINY hit back via Rushil Ugarkar and Boult, who gave away just three and seven in the next two overs. The equation was now 32 from 12.Hetmyer hit three sixes off Ehsan Adil to bring the game down to nine needed off six. But Jasdeep Singh missed connecting with the first two balls from Pollard, both slowers, and after a couple of singles and a double off the fifth ball, it was all or nothing. And for once this season, Orcas avoided coming up with nothing.Earlier, the start was far from ideal for MI New York after they were asked to bat, Quinton de Kock falling in the first over to Mayers. Monank Patel did partner Pooran for a stand of 56 runs, which took their powerplay score to 62, but it wasn’t one of Monank’s better days, as he got his 20 from 14 balls, Pooran doing most of the scoring.Tajinder Singh and Nicholas Pooran added 158 runs for the third wicket in quick time•Sportzpics for MLCMonank’s slowness was shown up big time by his USA team-mate, Tajinder. In fact, Tajinder showed up Pooran too. Their partnership for the third wicket was worth 158 runs, and it came in 68 balls. Of the 158, Tajinder scored 95. In just 35 balls. How quick was that? He fell trying to pull Gerald Coetzee over deep square leg, but holed out at the ropes. Better connection, and he would have had a 35-ball century. The MLC record is 34 balls, scored by Finn Allen earlier this season.Of course, Pooran was slow only in comparison. He contributed 60 to the partnership off only 33 balls.By the time Tajinder fell, his 95, scored at a strike rate of 271.42 comprising eight fours and eight sixes, Orcas were gasping. The scoreboard read 218 for 3, and three overs were left. And Pooran was still there.But it unravelled for MI New York from there. Over No. 18, from Mayers, went for just four runs, and included the wicket of Pollard for a two-ball duck. No. 19 went for eight – with Pooran bringing up his century – and the last went for just seven. That’s 19 from 18, only one of those balls going for a four. Looking back, MINY will know that’s where it went wrong for them.

Super-agent Jorge Mendes has dismissed the "noise" surrounding the young Spanish talent Lamine Yamal, urging for support for the 18-year-old Barcelona star. His comments come as Yamal himself refutes "lies" about his pubalgia injury after a stunning display in the Champions League, though Hansi Flick confirms the issue is still being actively managed.

Mendes defends Yamal

Mendes has publicly addressed the intense speculation and "noise" surrounding Yamal, following weeks of discussion about the 18-year-old's fitness and conduct. Mendes, who represents five players at Barcelona including Yamal, Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati, broke his silence to defend the teenager from the mounting pressure. The agent's comments arrive in the wake of Yamal's scintillating performance in the Champions League, but also amid a backdrop of ongoing concerns over a persistent pubalgia injury.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMendes addresses 'noise' and ongoing pubalgia concerns

Speaking directly on the recent debate surrounding Yamal, Mendes sought to normalise the situation and called for the player to be supported, not scrutinised.

“I don't understand all the noise surrounding Lamine Yamal. We've all been 18 and young," Mendes told . "As president [Joan] Laporta said, what we have to do is support him and help him as much as possible because he's a great asset to the club."

The Portuguese agent, whose Gestifute agency manages Yamal, acknowledged the unique burden on the young forward, who now wears the number 10 shirt for Barcelona once worn by the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

"Lamine is the player everyone is talking about worldwide; there's a consensus that he's a great player for both the present and the future," Mendes continued. "Having everyone watching you is also a great responsibility and a lot of pressure. He's handling it very well, and we have to continue helping him, and one way to do that is to focus exclusively on his work.”

Mendes also confirmed the reports of a physical issue but insisted it is being handled correctly by the player and the club.

“Lamine knows perfectly well what he has to do both on and off the field, and that's what he's doing: concentrating on working quietly and not talking much," he added. "He has some physical issues that he's addressing with the club to resolve them in the best way possible while he plays, and that's the most important thing, that he recovers well and can contribute as much as possible to the team."

Yamal hits back at 'lies' after Brugge heroics

Mendes's comments about letting the football do the talking were emphatically underlined by Yamal's performance in midweek. The agent noted: "The best thing Lamine does is let his play on the field do the talking; he does it like no one else, as we saw in the Brugge match."

In that chaotic 3-3 Champions League draw against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Yamal was Barcelona's standout performer. He dragged his side back into the game three times, scoring a sensational solo goal and creating the third, which resulted in a Christos Tzolis own goal.

After the match, Yamal himself confronted the recent rumours about his fitness. The forward missed seven games for club and country earlier this season with the pubalgia problem.

"I am good," Yamal told reporters. "I try not to read things. A lot has been said about my injury and that I was sad. It was all lies. I wanted to work hard to get back to this level, which is when I feel the best and have the most fun."

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Flick confirms injury is still being 'managed'

Despite Yamal's declaration and his agent's supportive words, Flick provided a more cautious assessment. The German coach confirmed that the pubalgia, a notoriously difficult groin-related injury, remains a daily concern.

"I am happy that Lamine is back on this level, but how I said also, we don't know what is tomorrow; we don't know what is next Sunday," Flick said in his post-game press conference in Belgium.

"The important thing is that he manages this situation he has now because it's not easy. He has to be focused on what he has to do, how he has to train and also the treatment. If he manages that the right way, hopefully it goes away, but it's not easy to say when with the situation."

Everton are crying out for a striker in the here and now who can put away chances for fun, having been previously been blessed with the blistering goalscoring exploits of Romelu Lukaku.

It hasn’t just been this season in isolation where the Premier League titans have been cursing their options up top, though.

Former Toffee Dominic Calvert-Lewin often spurned chances galore when he was still on the books of the Merseyside outfit, before he was let go of this summer for Leeds United to snap up his hit-and-miss services on a free transfer.

David Moyes and Co must have thought getting rid of their former number 9 – who had been situated in Merseyside for a whopping 273 games – was going to be a re-energising experience.

Yet, Beto has now seemingly been handed over the baton from Calvert-Lewin as a wasteful centre-forward Everton fans can’t get on-board with, with the former Udinese man extremely lucky to still be in Moyes’ first-team plans.

Why Beto must be replaced

Everton fans, weirdly, have very little to complain about their team’s attacking department. That is until you hit the centre-forward spot on the pitch.

Indeed, Jack Grealish looks back to his devastating Aston Villa peak for the Toffees, with five goal contributions already collected this season from nine outings. At the same time, Iliman Ndiaye’s trickery and pace proved to be a real handful for Manchester City to contain last time out.

This sharp ability to unnerve defenders with his directness has even seen analyst Ben Mattinson label the Senegal international as a “creator of chaos”.

One of Ndiaye’s trademark bursts forward nearly gifted the Merseyside outfit a shock 1-0 lead at the Etihad, only for Beto to skew an effort wide after all of the 25-year-old’s hard work went to waste.

This has been the unfortunate tale of the Lisbon-born striker’s season, in truth, with Beto now going without goal since bagging at Molineux back at the tail-end of August.

Games since scoring

6

Starts since scoring

4

Minutes since scoring

354 mins

It’s now been a disastrous 354 minutes since the 6-foot-4 marksman last fired home an effort for Moyes’ men, and with Thierno Barry also failing to spark into life up top as a summer recruit, the Scotsman could now be prepared to think outside of the box in uncovering a clinical striker.

How Everton could fix their striker problem

The Glaswegian hasn’t looked uneasy this season when shoving Tyler Dibling into first-team action.

Amazingly, Dibling is still only 19 years of age, but if feels as if he’s been in and around the pinnacle of English football for a long while, with two goals and one assist next to his name from 37 appearances at the very top.

He is yet to get off the mark for Moyes’ men from his minimal first team chances, but if the ex-West Ham United boss is willing to gamble on the £40m starlet here and there, he could also be prepared to unleash U21 goal machine Braiden Graham into the first team picture shortly, as he tries to desperately find any viable solution to the frustrating Beto situation that’s continuing to unfold.

Graham might well even be Moyes’ next Rooney-style story, with the Northern Irish teenager only 17 years of age.

That is just one year older than Rooney was when first being handed a senior chance for the first time. The rest is, of course, history, on Rooney’s end, with Graham already being dubbed as a “deadly finisher” by his ex-Linfield boss in David Healy, despite still being a wide-eyed youngster.

Everton U21s

17

7 + 3

Linfield

14

2 + 0

Everton U18s

14

8 + 2

He has gone on to be potent for the Merseyside giants at both U21 and U18 level, as well, with 15 strikes now collected from 31 appearances on the youth pitches at Everton.

It’s not just Healy in isolation who has been complimentary, either, with his U21s boss in Paul Tait also going out of his way to laud the Ballygowan-born forward as a “cool” finisher under pressure.

While it could be deemed as a step way too soon for Graham to be chucked into the senior mix, it’s surely a decision worth exploring from Everton’s point of view, with Beto not anywhere near the levels expected of him at the moment.

Everton keeping tabs on "unbelievable" rising star who "fits the profile" for Moyes

He has a big future in the game.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 20, 2025

Worcestershire quarter-final prospects dented after falling well short in chase of 234

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Jul-2025Superb scores in the 80s for third-wicket pair Will Luxton and James Wharton helped Yorkshire maintain their slim quarter-final hopes in the Vitality Blast with a dominant 41-run win over fellow strugglers Worcestershire Rapids at Headingley.Wharton, a T20 centurion against the Rapids here in 2023, top-scored with 88 in Yorkshire’s 233 for 6. He shared 134 inside 12 overs with Luxton, whose 81 represented a career best score. Both faced 47 balls.All seven bowlers used by Worcestershire captain Brett D’Oliveira went at nine or more runs an over before their night got worse. New Zealand overseas fast bowler Will O’Rourke struck twice in two balls twice en route to his his maiden five-wicket haul, 5 for 22, in a 192 all out reply.Yorkshire have now won three of nine North Group games, drawing level on 12 points with Worcestershire. They suffered their sixth defeat in nine, with D’Oliveira’s opening 56 off 33 unrewarded.Jonny Bairstow, opening for the first time in this season’s Blast, miscued the contest’s fourth ball from new-ball seamer Tom Taylor to mid-off, falling for 4. Yorkshire’s other big gun, Dawid Malan, followed for 8 at the start of the fifth over when he pulled Ben Allison’s seam out to deep square-leg with the score on 42.Luxton lofted Australian overseas quick Ben Dwarshuis over cover for the first of two early sixes and Wharton hit the left-armer for four fours to end the powerplay at 67 for 2.Four times in the previous three games at Headingley this season had sides topped 200.Luxton and Wharton ploughed on and brought up their century stand in the 13th over of the innings, Yorkshire 142 for 2. Both had just reached quickfire fifties, and the visitors will rue two Allison drops in the deep with Luxton on 9 and 74.Allison did remove him caught at deep cover shortly after the second drop before Wharton and Jordan Thompson – he hit three sixes in the last over in 22 off 8 – were run out at the death.The Rapids needed to posted their highest ever T20 total to win this game. England Under-19 opener Isaac Mohammed made a breezy start with 17. But when he miscued a slower ball from O’Rourke behind to Bairstow, it was 24 for 1 at the start of the third over.Worcestershire needed everything to go their way to have a chance of overhauling this target. And hardly anything did on a true pitch with a lightning outfield.Kashif Ali clothed O’Rourke’s second ball to mid-off before the big Kiwi took a stunning one-handed catch diving to his left at short third off Matt Milnes. At 37 for 3 in the fourth over, the visitors had a mountain to climb.D’Oliveira and Ethan Brookes at least helped them reach base camp with an 83-run stand, the former hitting a trio of sixes all around the ground. But just when hopes started to increase, with D’Oliveira reaching 50 off 33 balls, Brookes was lbw on the reverse against Jafer Chohan’s legspin – 120 for 4 in the 12th.And when D’Oliveira dragged O’Rourke out to deep midwicket in the next, at 132 for 5, it was game over.Dwarshuis clattered a consolatory 42 not out, but Milnes bowled a wicket maiden in the 17th and O’Rourke had both Matthew Waite and Taylor caught at deep midwicket and cover as Yorkshire’s win was secured.