The touring party includes Jaiswal and Shardul, with Gill and Sai Sudharsan to join ahead of second game
ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2025Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead India A on their upcoming tour of England, where they are set to play two first-class matches against England A. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel will be Abhimanyu’s deputy, with the 18-man squad also including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair.Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, will join the squad ahead of the second match.Apart from Jurel, Ishan Kishan is the other wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. Both were part of the India A side that played two unofficial Tests in Australia in 2024-25, with Kishan playing the first match and Jurel the second.The squad touring England features plenty of fast-bowling options. Aside from Thakur, it includes Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Tushar Deshpande and allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. The spin-bowling options, meanwhile, are left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, and offspinner Tanush Kotian.India A squad for England tour•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe England A series, meanwhile, provides a chance for Nair, 33, to return to the national side. The last of his six Tests came against Australia back in 2017, but he has been on a blazing run of form in domestic cricket. With 863 runs in nine games, Nair was the second-highest run-getter for Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in 2024-25. He also represented Northamptonshire in county cricket in 2023 and 2024, scoring 736 runs in ten games at an average of 56.61. That included four half-centuries and two centuries, including 202* against Glamorgan.The first first-class game against England A begins on May 30 in Canterbury, with the second starting on June 6 in Northampton.After playing England A, the India A side will also face the senior India side in a four-day fixture from June 13.India A squadAbhimanyu Easwaran (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (vice-capt & wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande and Harsh Dubey.
خاض فريق باريس سان جيرمان، بقيادة المدرب لويس إنريكي، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الفرنسي لكرة القدم مساء يوم السبت، ضد خصمه فريق نيس.
واستضاف ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” مباراة فريقي باريس سان جيرمان ونيس في الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الفرنسي، 2025/26، حيث حقق أصحاب الأرض فوزًا بهدف دون رد.
وسيطر التعادل السلبي على مجريات المباراة بين فريقي باريس سان جيرمان ونيس، حيث استبسل الضيوف من أجل منع هجمات حامل اللقب.
ودفع المدرب لويس إنريكي بكل من فابيان رويز، لي كانج إن، جونسالو راموس وعثمان ديمبلي، في فترات متفرقة من الشوط الثاني من أجل تنشيط الفريق.
وتمكن باريس سان جيرمان من تسجيل هدف قاتل في الدقيقة 95 عن طريق جونسالو راموس، ليمنح فريقه 3 نقاط غالية.
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد باريس سان جيرمان إلى 24 نقطة في المركز الأول، بينما تجمد رصيد نيس عند 17 نقطة في المركز الثامن.
ويخوض باريس سان جيرمان مباراة قوية يوم الثلاثاء المقبل ضد بايرن ميونخ في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to renew their rivalry ahead of Sunday's monumental El Clasico clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronald Araujo, expected to start for the Catalans in defence, was lavish in his praise for Vinicius Junior and credited the Brazilian for bringing "the best out of me". The duo's matchup has been one of the themes of Madrid and Barca's encounters over the past few seasons.
Real Madrid will look to get over the horrors of the 2024-25 season
El Clasico is hands down the biggest club rivalry in Spanish football. An argument can also be made for the Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry being the most high-voltage rivalry in world football. The two teams will lock horns for the first time in the 2025-26 season on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Last season, Los Blancos met their eternal rivals four times across all competitions. While their inability to secure major silverware was already a major concern, it can be said that their poor performances against the Catalans that truly compounded their disappointment. Their first meeting, in October 2024 at the Bernabeu, resulted in a heavy 4-0 loss. A similarly humiliating drubbing was handed in the Supercopa de Espana final, with Hansi Flick's men emerging victors after beating Madrid 5-2. The next two games reflected that Madrid put in a more spirited performance, but the gulf in quality was as big as one could possibly imagine in those Copa del Rey final (3-2) and La Liga (4-3) losses.
Things have changed since the end of last season. Madrid appointed Xabi Alonso, who has managed to win 15 games out of the 18 he has been in charge since taking over, 11 of those coming in the 12 games this season. The hosts, buoyed by home support, will be hoping to exact revenge. It's a game that holds great importance for Alonso and his coaching staff. A loss would result in his project taking a few steps back, but a win would go a long way in lifting the spirits and having a positive psychological effect that will linger for the rest of the season.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesAraujo 'loves' rival Vinicius Jr
One of the most important matchups heading into Sunday's Clasico could potentially be the duel involving Barca centre-back Araujo and Madrid winger Vini Jr. Both players have been in and out of the lineup this season, but are expected to land a starting berth in their respective XIs at the weekend.
Speaking to ahead of the clash, Araujo said: "Vinicius is a truly spectacular player. Every game with him is a test. Whenever we played each other, he was very professional. He brings out the best in you. The greats do that. He brings out the best in everyone in those duels. It requires the highest level of skill from you. Only high-level players can unlock the opponent's potential in such duels.
"I love players like Vinicius. Bold, confrontational. He is always active on the field, always thinking about victory. I don't pay attention to what he says off the pitch. What matters is what he does on the pitch."
Vinicius Jr's record against Barcelona in numbers
The 25-year-old made his first appearance against Barcelona during the 2018–19 season, his debut campaign after joining from Brazilian club Flamengo. Since then, he has faced La Blaugrana 21 times – more than any other opponent in his career. In matches featuring Vini, Real Madrid have recorded 10 wins, 10 losses, and one draw against their arch-rivals. His seven goals against Barca rank as the third-highest tally he has scored versus any team, complemented by six assists.
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Getty/GOALMadrid & Barca hampered by injuries
The two giants of Spanish football will head into the game on Sunday with a mounting injury list. Flick will be without the services of Robert Lewandowski (thigh injury), Joan Garcia (torn meniscus followed by knee operation), Gavi (meniscus issue followed by surgery), Dani Olmo (calf injury), and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (lower back surgery). Raphinha, who was initially a doubt for the Clasico but showed signs of recovery, has also been effectively ruled out after missing the team training on Friday.
On the other hand, Real Madrid are sweating over the fitness of centre-back Dean Huijsen, right-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal, and midfielder Dani Ceballos. All four players completed team training sessions on Friday and are likely to be called up by Alonso. However, it remains to be seen if either of them are given a spot in the starting XI. Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba have been sidelined and will not be available for selection.
When it comes to producing top-quality players, it’s hard to think of many Premier League teams with a better track record than Arsenal.
On top of numbers, Hale End has also produced a string of players who look destined for the very top of the game.
However, for every player who does make it to the pinnacle of the sport, there are plenty who fall by the wayside.
Unfortunately, that has been the case for one such talent, who was at one point compared to Phil Foden.
Arsenal's Hale End hotstreak
It would be fair to say that this current run of Hale Enders making it into the Arsenal team truly started with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Granted, the latter was eventually sold, but his impact in the two and a bit years he was fit under Arteta cannot be overstated, and well, when it comes to the former, what else is there to say?
The regular England international has only just turned 24 and has already made 266 appearances for the club, in which he’s scored 71 goals and provided 71 assists.
The next two academy graduates to make an impact at the club were Ethan Nwaneri and Myles-Lewis Skelly.
The former became the youngest player in Premier League history in 2022 and ended last season with an impressive tally of nine goals and two assists in just 37 appearances.
Lewis-Skelly, however, arguably made an even bigger impact, cementing himself as the manager’s first-choice left-back for some time and scoring on his debut for the senior national team.
Finally, the latest uber-talented teen to make their way out of Hale End looks to be Max Dowman, who has impressed every time he’s made it onto the pitch since his debut in pre-season.
However, a few years ago, many would have expected another name on this list, a player who was compared to Foden.
The Hale Ender compared to Foden
So, to be compared to a player as talented as Foden, the Arsenal youngster must have been looked at as a special prospect.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.
While it seems a long time ago now, that is exactly how people perceived Charlie Patino.
For example, in October 2021, Jack Wilshere, who knows a thing or two about being a wonderkid, told the press that the youngster was “going to make a name for himself in the future” and that he was “one who everyone at the training ground is talking about.”
On top of that, scout Brian Stappleton claimed that fellow Arsenal scout Sean O’Connor told him Patino was “the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.”
Then came the comparison to the Man City star, which stemmed from his attacking ability during his time at youth level and was then highlighted in an article by the Times’ Gary Jacob.
All the excitement around the youngster came to a head when he scored on his competitive debut for the club in a Carabao Cup game against Sunderland in October 2021.
However, as we now know, all the hype around him and the comparisons to players like Foden were soon to be proven to be overblown, as two underwhelming loans to Blackpool and Swansea City began to cast doubt over his true potential.
Patino’s Loan record
Team
Blackpool
Swansea
Appearances
37
35
Goals
3
4
Assists
4
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.18
0.22
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, his representatives then told the club that he wanted to leave for more guaranteed game time, but after two middling years in the Championship, there was very little interest in his services.
Eventually, with little other option, the North Londoners agreed to sell the Hale Ender to Segunda División side Deportivo La Coruna for £1m, where he made just eight appearances last season.
However, while he didn’t live up to the expectations placed upon him, there is reason to be hopeful that the youngster can still have a successful career, as so far this season, he has six appearances for the Spanish outfit.
Ultimately, Arsenal have produced exciting talent after exciting talent from Hale End over the last few years, but Patino just wasn’t quite at the level required to become one of those who made it in North London.
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West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo is arguably in dire need of a proven goalscorer to lead his forward line, amid doubts surrounding Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson.
West Ham identify attacking targets for January
Only Nottingham Forest and bottom side Wolves have scored fewer Premier League goals than West Ham so far, with the Hammers alongside Aston Villa and Newcastle as the division’s second-lowest scorers so far.
Following an injury-ridden and all-round lacklustre career at the London Stadium since his move from Borussia Dortmund, despite flashes of occasional brilliance, West Ham brought another injury-prone striker in Callum Wilson to Rush Green on a free transfer to back up the German.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
The former Newcastle favourite, who had a habit of scoring against West Ham, is off the mark for his new club after bagging an injury-time goal in their 3-0 win away to Nottingham Forest just prior to the September international break.
Since Nuno’s arrival, the Portuguese has elected to go with Fullkrug as the club’s starting number nine — perhaps hoping he can eventually inspire a Chris Wood-level resurgence from the 32-year-old, who racked up 16 goals in all competitions in his last season at Dortmund.
However, given both Wilson and Fullkrug’s torrid injury records, it is hardly prudent to rely on either of them ahead of what will be a long 2025/2026 campaign where the Hammers could be fighting relegation.
January represents an opportunity for West Ham to back Nuno with another centre-forward who can ease the burden on Fullkrug and Wilson, with the Irons believed to be interested in Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee as an option heading into the winter window.
Another very intriguing potential target is also beginning to resurface — Real Madrid starlet Endrick.
The 19-year-old is yet to play a single minute for Xabi Alonso this season, having missed the early part of 2025/2026 with thigh problems, and he’s been an unused substitute in all of their last five games.
Endrick, signed from Palmeiras for around £53 million, has reportedly been subject to an approach from West Ham who could look to sign the Brazil international on loan in January.
West Ham chances of signing Endrick alive for January
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Hammers News, Endrick was open to joining the East Londoners on a temporary deal last January, and the possibility of this happening at the turn of the year still cannot be ruled out.
Endrick, who was once widely regarded as one of the brightest attacking talents in world football, made headlines with his electrifying performances at Palmeiras before his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid.
However, despite his evident skill and potential, breaking into Real’s star-studded first team is a daunting challenge for any teenager, especially in a squad packed with established global superstars.
A loan spell at West Ham would offer the striker a perfect platform to gain valuable experience in a competitive environment on the world’s biggest stage playing Premier League football.
For Nuno’s side, securing a prospect of Endrick’s caliber would bolster their attacking options and inject much-needed creativity into their squad at zero cost — making the move an attractive one for both parties.
Aston Villa are now racing Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United for the signature of an “electric” Premier League star, who has made a very impressive start to the campaign.
Villa join race for new forward amid lack of goals
It would be fair to say Unai Emery’s side fell below their usual lofty standards at the beginning of the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be particularly concerning, but they have since managed to get back on track.
Indeed, the Villans have won their last two matches in all competitions, most recently picking up their first league victory of the campaign courtesy of a fantastic second-half display against Fulham, which culminated in a 3-1 win.
Emery will be relieved his side are finally starting to look better in front of goal, but after failing to score in their opening four league matches of the season, the manager may still be worried about his side’s lack of firepower.
As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race for AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, but there could be fierce competition for the Ghanaian’s signature, and it may take a huge fee to get a deal done.
Tottenham, Man United and Manchester City are also named as potential suitors for Semenyo, who was valued at £70m back in the summer transfer window, amid links with Spurs.
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Transfer expert Graeme Bailey also makes it clear that a winter exit is very unlikely to be on the cards, saying: “As it stands, Bournemouth are intent on making progress this summer and that means no sales.
“They have lost the likes of Huijsen, Kerkez and Zabarnyi in recent months and they are insistent Semenyo won’t be following them through the exit doors in January.”
"Electric" Semenyo has made flying start to the season
It is no surprise that Bournemouth are reluctant to sanction a January departure, given just how well the 25-year-old has performed in the early stages of the new season, being dubbed “electric” by broadcaster Kris Temple.
The Cherries are currently sixth in the Premier League table, and the Ghana international has been paramount to their success, receiving Bournemouth’s Player of the Month and Goal of the Month award for August.
That follows on from a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, during which the winger picked up 11 goals and six assists in the Premier League, helping his side surpass expectations and finish ninth.
There is every indication that Semenyo could be a success at Villa Park, but Aston Villa are well-known to be struggling PSR-wise, which means forking out the potential £70m asking price could be an issue.
After claiming three points against previously unbeaten Crystal Palace before the October international break, Everton manager David Moyes spoke of how Jack Grealish has had a significant impact since arriving on loan in August.
The England international, for sure, has been one of the signings of the summer in the Premier League, assisting four goals in August and claiming the division’s first Player of the Month award.
When the Toffees handed the 30-year-old a lifeline and welcomed him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, they did so without inserting a future purchase option into the deal.
It has since become clear that they must chase a permanent package as soon as possible.
Why Everton must sign Jack Grealish
Grealish and Moyes have proved a match made in heaven. The Everton manager recognises the playmaker’s talismanic qualities and has given him the license to stand tall as the outfit’s main man.
Fleet-footed and always dangerous, Grealish has averaged more touches per Premier League match than any other Everton attacker this season (52.4), as per FBref, and L’Equipe journalist Pierre-Etienne Minonzio has observed that the fans “immediately fell in love” with the star.
Grealish’s winner against Palace before the October international break wasn’t the finest within his catalogue, but he’s off the mark all the same, and these early-season displays suggest that he will continue to play a starring role across the campaign as Everton angle for heights unscaled over so many recent campaigns.
The plain truth of it is he’s a special player, one of a kind. Grealish has that irreplicable X-Factor that is either there or not. He might have hit 30, but there is plenty left in the tank for this man, and Moyes must ensure his second tenure on Merseyside is shared with this leading on-field light.
Might that come at the expense of some other first-teamers? Perhaps so. Everton need new recruits over the coming years, but one area where they are somewhat overloaded is attacking midfield.
And, for that reason, Dwight McNeil might be on borrowed time in an Everton shirt.
Dwight McNeil is on borrowed time at Everton
It was unfortunate that McNeil succumbed to a campaign-ruining knee injury in December 2024, thus keeping him on the fringes for Moyes’ return and Everton’s restoration at the start of the Friedkin Group era.
The 25-year-old has completed 106 matches in all competitions since arriving from Burnley in 2022, scoring 15 goals and providing 18 assists.
Dwight McNeil in action for Everton
And he was on fire through the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, a shining light at the end of Sean Dyche’s stint. Four goals and eight assists were what he notched.
Named in the matchday squad for each of Everton’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, McNeil has recovered from injury and was involved in the club’s pre-season preparations, but he’s simply been kept on the sidelines for the lion’s share of the action.
25/26
1
0 (0)
24/25
21
4 (8)
23/24
35
3 (6)
22/23
36
7 (3)
Moyes, it would seem, fancies a different flavour of playmaker, with the industrious Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also plying his trade from the frontal midfield role this season and looking good while doing so.
Statistician Tactically Matt criticised the Englishman after being hooked before the hour mark during Everton’s September defeat to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. “Dwight McNeil has been a difficult watch for a while now.”
Everton's Dwight McNeil in action with Leicester City's WilfredNdidi
He’s got time to turn things around, but if Grealish pens a permanent deal, following previous acquisitions of Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz, it’s not hard to envisage a scenario where the Blues cash in on their creative star.
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After several summers of limited transfer activity, Newcastle United’s latest window was one of ambition and intent.
Six players arrived – Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga – as Eddie Howe sought to add depth to a squad competing on both domestic and European fronts.
For a team balancing the Premier League and the Champions League, rotation is key.
Injuries to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have already underlined the need for options across the pitch, particularly in wide areas.
With fierce competition for places alongside new striker Woltemade, Newcastle’s attacking balance has been under scrutiny.
Before their 4–0 demolition of Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, Newcastle’s expected goals tally was among the lowest in the Premier League.
Their attacking play often lacked cohesion, with promising build-up undone by wastefulness in the final third.
However, recent performances suggest Howe’s side are beginning to find rhythm.
The convincing victory in Europe was followed by a much-improved display against Nottingham Forest, in which Newcastle generated 3.45 expected goals – a sharp contrast to their earlier struggles.
The hope now is that the Magpies can build on these encouraging signs, putting an end to the inconsistency that has plagued their forward line throughout the campaign.
And as fans look for stability, it’s hard not to think back to one of the most unpredictable – yet beloved – figures of Newcastle’s recent past.
Saint-Maximin – the symbol of Newcastle’s inconsistency
Allan Saint-Maximin arrived at St James’ Park in 2019 from Nice for a fee of up to £20m, instantly becoming one of the Premier League’s most entertaining dribblers.
Over four seasons, he made 124 appearances, scoring 13 goals and producing countless moments of brilliance.
The Frenchman’s close control, flair and fearlessness in one-on-one situations made him the heartbeat of Steve Bruce’s Newcastle.
In a side often fighting relegation, Saint-Maximin was their escape valve – famously scoring twice away at Burnley to lift the Magpies six points clear of the drop zone.
He could enthral a crowd with a single run, his trademark headband and unpredictable movement making him impossible to ignore.
But just as he could dazzle, he could frustrate.
Injuries repeatedly halted his momentum – 46 matches missed through various setbacks – while his reluctance to track back limited his use in Howe’s high-intensity system.
As the team evolved into a pressing unit built on discipline and structure, the flamboyant Frenchman began to look like a relic of another era.
In 2023, Saint-Maximin left for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
The fee, undisclosed but rumoured to be significant, sparked questions about Newcastle’s compliance with financial regulations, particularly given the Saudi ownership connection.
Al-Ahli also brought in Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy that same summer, symbolising a broader exodus of Premier League talent to the Gulf.
Saint-Maximin remains adored by the fanbase, but his story is a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough in Howe’s Newcastle.
The team now values consistency, adaptability and tactical reliability as much as individual brilliance – lessons that feel especially relevant as they watch another gifted winger trying to find his rhythm on Tyneside.
Howe's new Saint-Maximin at Newcastle
At 23 years old, Anthony Elanga represents Newcastle’s next big hope on the flanks.
The Swedish international, who came through Manchester United’s academy between 2015 and 2021, joined from Nottingham Forest this summer in a deal worth £55m.
It was a statement signing – one that underlined Howe’s commitment to pace, directness and youth in attack.
Elanga’s raw “frightening” ability – as per journalist Laurie Whitwell – is unquestionable.
During his time at Forest, he registered 11 goals and 21 assists in 82 appearances, including an impressive 11 assists last season.
Anthony Elanga – 2024/25
Matches Played
38
Goals
6
Assists
11
Progressive Carries
102
Progressive Passes
63
Source: FBref
His acceleration, intelligent movement and ability to stretch defences make him a natural fit for Howe’s high-tempo system. Yet, much like Saint-Maximin before him, Elanga’s biggest challenge is consistency.
After a mixed start to life at St James’ Park, he silenced critics with a scintillating display in the 4–0 Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Playing off the right, Elanga tormented defenders throughout, winning a penalty and earning the Man of the Match award.
His work rate matched his flair – he covered 7.8 kilometres, made 13 sprints, and recorded 54 touches with 30 passes (25 accurate), as per Sofascore. He also created one big chance, underlining his growing influence in the final third.
However, just as momentum seemed to build, Elanga’s form dipped again.
Against Nottingham Forest, he struggled to impose himself, cutting a frustrated figure as Newcastle’s attack once more lacked fluency.
It was a performance that reignited questions about whether he can deliver consistently at the elite level – questions that Saint-Maximin faced throughout his stay on Tyneside.
Howe has publicly defended his new signing, emphasising patience and adaptation.
It’s a familiar story for Newcastle fans: a player of immense potential, capable of brilliance one week and anonymity the next.
But if Elanga can channel his explosive talent into reliable performances, he could become the wide player Newcastle have long been searching for.
With the club pushing for another top-four finish and European progress, that balance between chaos and control might just define Newcastle’s season.
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يستعد نجم نادي ليفربول، محمد صلاح، لكتابة تاريخ شخصي جديد له مع الريدز، وذلك قبل مواجهة النادي الإنجليزي يوم غدًا الثلاثاء أمام ريال مدريد في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ليفربول سوف يواجه نظيره ريال مدريد مساء يوم غدًا الثلاثاء على ملعب أنفيلد، وذلك لحساب الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة المجموعات في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويسعى ليفربول إلى تحقيق الانتصار على ريال مدريد من أجل استعادة الثقة، عقب الفترة الصعبة التي عاشها الريدز خلال هذا الموسم والخسارة بشكل متتالي بالفعل.
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وعلى الجانب الآخر يعيش ريال مدريد أفضل فتراته تحت قيادة المدير الفني تشابي ألونسو، وحقق الميرنجي انتصارات عديدة مع مدربه الإسباني ويتصدر ترتيب الدوري الإسباني.
وأشار موقع ليفربول الرسمي، إلى أن محمد صلاح سوف يخوض مباراته الـ200 مع النادي الإنجليزي على ملعب أنفيلد في إنجاز غير مسبوق للدولي المصري، بينما سجل ابن الـ33 عامًا 137 هدفًا مع ليفربول في هذا الملعب.
وأضاف الموقع، أن محمد صلاح يمتلك 48 هدفًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا ويحتاح إلى هدفين فقط، من أجل أن يصبح أول لاعب أفريقي في التاريخ يصل إلى 50 هدفًا في المسابقة الأوروبية.
محمد صلاح تعرض إلى الكثير من الانتقادات خلال هذا الموسم، بعدما انخفض مستواه مع الريدز قبل أن يستعيد عافيته بعض الشئ ويسجل أمام برينتفورد وأستون فيلا خلال الأسبوع الحالي والماضي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
A pair of October friendlies showed that Pochettino's side have a reliable system – and World Cup success could follow
Perhaps the most encouraging part is what happened after Christian Pulisic limped off the Dick's Sporting Goods Park field with a hamstring injury. That really should have been game over. The U.S. men's national team is supposed to lean on its star man, improve every time he touches the ball, and see their chances of winning improve exponentially when he makes things happen.
In short, they can't win without him.
So much for that narrative. Pulisic was removed from last Tuesday's match against Australia in the 31st minute. The U.S. scored in the 33rd. They did so again in the 52nd. Without their main man, Mauricio Pochettino's side quite comfortably saw off an opponent set up to make their life a nightmare.
It is such a soccer cliche to suggest that "these are the kinds of games that they used to lose." But there is a thin veil of truth to that. The U.S. were supposed to lose in that scenario. But they didn't.
Of course, the USMNT are always better with Pulisic. But without him, they turned in the kind of performance that offered that most valuable of commodities in soccer: hope. Part of this is down to the intangibles – vibes, motivation, the apparently crucial "fighting spirit."
But it's also tactical, a change in formation and crucial flexibility around it that might just turn that hope into something even more tangible: winning.
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A pair of good results
It's been a strange year for the USMNT. No one, it seemed, was quite sure what the goals were. Did Pochettino need results? Did he need to establish a culture? Did he have time to do both, with a World Cup on the horizon? Yes, and no. There were tactical ideas, new players brought in, speeches about how he was "not a mannequin."
But there weren't really any convincing scorelines. The U.S. got as far as they should have in the Gold Cup – falling to Mexico in the final – lost the games they should have lost, and won the games they were expected to win. Pochettino is 11-7-2 in 20 matches in charge.
In hiring the former Chelsea and PSG manager, US Soccer intended to bring in a "serial winner." What they got instead was a culture guy who didn't seem to know exactly what culture he wanted.
In that light, then, back-to-back good results is impressive. A 1-1 home draw with Ecuador doesn't make for excellent reading. But the South American side hadn't lost in 11, and had been the surprise of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. This was not a win, but there were positives to be taken.
Australia was better. The USMNT went down a goal, rallied, scored two, should have bagged a couple more, and went home with the most comfortable of 2-1 wins – against a side that had beaten Jesse Marsch's Canada just a few days before.
The dust has settled, and it now seems a pretty impressive October window.
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A shift in formation
It is worth asking, then, how this all happened. If the U.S. were so poor for so long, so averse to getting results, how is it that things are now revolutionary? Why has the optimism returned? Strip away the glaring fact that soccer has a short-term memory, and it really comes down to one big tactical change: a switch in formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3.
This isn't necessarily revolutionary. Pochettino isn't the first manager to play three at the back. He certainly won't be the last. But in context, it is pivotal. When Pochettino arrived, there were a two fundamental assumptions about playing style. The first was that he was a 4-2-3-1 truther. The second was that he believed, unwaveringly, in a high press.
He soon learned, it seemed, that the latter can be translated into defensive weakness. This is not club soccer, where you have days on end on the grass, and plenty of film to watch in the days in between. These are complex systems that have to be learned over time. And Pochettino didn't have any of it to work with.
What he has done, then, is what most international managers do, and revert into the system that fits his squad the best. This seems obvious. Pochettino has a bunch of good players. This is the setup that, in theory, gets the best out of them. Simple? Yes, but not always so easy to pull off.
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An act of compromise
Actually implementing such a change requires a remarkable act of compromise for a manager who likes control. Pochettino's brilliance is partially in his man management, but mostly due to his tactical nous. He has been so good for so long because his basic principles have been readily applied, tweaked, and reinvented for the relevant squad.
This is a guy who took a fundamentally flawed Tottenham, won 86 points in the Premier League, and carried them to a Champions League final. These things don't happen by accident. Relinquishing what he knows, then, is a difficult thing. He deserves plenty of praise for realizing that he had to change.
And he good news is that this still has the look of a Pochettino side. The USMNT don't press high. They don't scramble for the ball. But they still are fiercely vertical when they have it. They take risks in attack, allow for positional fluidity, and admit, by result, that their defensive structure might be a bit suspect when they lose the ball – it's how they conceded the first goal to Ecuador.
And that led to some results.
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Attacking quality
It starts up front. Pochettino's best attacking trait is that he is willing to allow players to express themselves in the final-third. Yes, this is the bit where we have to talk about Pep Guardiola. So much of modern soccer ignores that. Guardiola's idea of "juega de posicion" limits players to specific zones or areas – and prevents them from moving outside of them.
The logic is that if you position a load of good players in specific areas, and allow them to be their best – within that very space – you can piece together a reliable attacking system. That makes sense, and every club practices some version of it.
Pochettino doesn't reject it outright, but his version of the U.S. is far more fluid. Max Arfsten, oddly, is the perfect example. The left wing back is encouraged to attack. But there is not necessarily a consistency in his movements. Sometimes, he overlaps. Sometimes, he cuts inside. Against Australia, he popped up in the middle. These things are not conventional. Some coaches might hate them. But for Pochettino, it's ideal.
It also helps that, outside of Pulisic, the U.S. has a number of quality No. 10s who can recognize the movements of players around them. Malik Tillman played that role admirably against Ecuador, assisted on Folarin Balogun's goal and created six chances. Diego Luna, in a brief cameo, showed much of the same.