Category Uncategorized

And how many women have fifties from No. 10 in a World Cup match?

Steven Lynch14-Oct-2025Who’s scored the most runs at the women’s World Cup over the years? Is it Mithali Raj? asked Anjuli Desai from India

That’s a decent guess, as Mithali Raj is currently second on this list with 1321 runs in all editions of the women’s one-day World Cup. But she’s some way behind the leader, New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley, who made 1501 runs in 45 World Cup matches between 1982 and 2000.The leading current player is another New Zealander, Suzie Bates, who started this year’s competition with 1179 runs. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 117 against Sri Lanka in Colombo last weekend – a record fifth World Cup century, passing the four of Bates and England’s Jan Brittin – put her in sight of four figures with 974 runs.How many women have scored a half-century from No. 10 in a World Cup match, as Alana King did against Pakistan? asked Melanie Crozier from Australia

Alana King’s staunch 51 not out against Pakistan in Colombo last week, which helped Beth Mooney rescue Australia from 115 for 8 and take them to a match-winning 221 for 9, was not only the highest by an No. 10 in the women’s World Cup – previously 42 not out by Yulandi van der Merwe for South Africa against India in Christchurch in 2000 – but also the highest in any women’s white-ball international (Kim Garth also made 42 not out for Australia vs South Africa in North Sydney in 2024).There have been three bigger scores from No. 10 in women’s Tests, the highest being Shelley Nitschke’s unbeaten 81 for Australia against England in Hove in 2005.I noticed that Ricky Ponting scored more than 1000 Test runs at four different grounds. Has anyone else done this? asked Michael Chesterton from Australia

Ricky Ponting scored 1743 Test runs in Adelaide, 1480 in Sydney, 1338 in Melbourne and 1335 in Brisbane. The only other man to reach 1000 on four different grounds is Jacques Kallis, with 2181 in Cape Town, 1267 in Centurion, 1266 in Durban and 1148 in Johannesburg.Seven men made more than 1000 Test runs on three different grounds: Hashim Amla, Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Javed Miandad, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Steve Waugh. Sangakkara’s long-time Sri Lanka team-mate Mahela Jayawardene only did it at two grounds, but made it count with 2921 at the Sinhalese Sport Club in Colombo (his home club) and 2382 in Galle. Those are the two highest aggregates at any single venue: Jayawardene is the only player to make 2000 Test runs on two different Test grounds.Rather surprisingly perhaps, the England opener Jack Hobbs didn’t make 1000 Test runs on any home ground, but he did amass 1178 in Melbourne: he’s still the only man to pass 1000 at an away venue.Jacques Kallis has over 1000 runs at each of four grounds in South Africa, including 2181 at Newlands, Cape Town•Getty ImagesHarry Brook has a healthy Test average of 57 after 30 matches. Where does he rank among batters after their 30th Test? asked Vinod Nair from India

England’s new vice-captain Harry Brook goes into the Ashes with a batting average of 57.55 after 30 Tests. It turns out there are 40 men who averaged 50 or more after 30 matches, and Brook lies 18th among those, not far behind Jack Hobbs (57.77), Viv Richards (58.21) and Steve Smith (58.52).Way out at the top, as regular readers will probably already have guessed, is Don Bradman, who averaged 92.30 after 30 Tests. Next comes England’s Denis Compton with 64.10, just ahead of another Australian, Michael Hussey (64.05). Six other men averaged over 60 after 30 Tests: Javed Miandad (62.38), Herbert Sutcliffe (62.33), Everton Weekes (61.21), Neil Harvey (60.92), Marnus Labuschagne (60.82) and Adam Gilchrist (60.38).I noticed that David Warner scored exactly 100 in a T20 international on his 33rd birthday. Has anyone else made a birthday ton in a T20? asked Kyle Morton from Australia

Australia’s David Warner hit 100 not out against Sri Lanka in Adelaideon October 27, 2019, his 33rd birthday. He was the second (and last to date) to score a T20 international century on his birthday, after Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad, who hit 118 not out against Zimbabwe in Sharjah on January 10, 2016, his 29th birthday.Seven men have scored a birthday century in a one-day international: Vinod Kambli, Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar of India, Tom Latham and Ross Taylor of New Zealand (against Pakistan in Pallekele during the 2011 World Cup), Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka (on his 39th birthday in 2008, against Bangladesh in Karachi) and Mitchell Marsh of Australia.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Who got what they wanted? Who missed out? A look at how the franchises fared at a historic IPL auction

Shashank Kishore and Hemant Brar19-Dec-202315:25

Who had the best and worst IPL auction?

Kolkata Knight Riders

Squad strength: 23 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 crore), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (INR 2 crore), Sherfane Rutherford (INR 1.5 crore), Gus Atkinson (INR 1 crore), KS Bharat (INR 50 lakh), Chetan Sakariya (INR 50 lakh), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (INR 20 lakh), Ramandeep Singh (INR 20 lakh), Manish Pandey (INR 50 lakh), Sakib Hussain (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Knight Riders needed fast bowlers and they acquired Mitchell Starc for an all-time high of INR 24.75 crore. Towards the end, they also snapped up Gus Atkinson. In Mujeeb Ur Rahman and KS Bharat, they got a back-up spinner and a back-up wicketkeeper.
The misses: They rely a lot on Gurbaz coming good. Atkinson may not fit into the first-choice XI, and their Indian seamers lack experience. They also seem to be lacking the batting depth; Ramandeep Singh scored 127 runs at a strike rate of 222.80 in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but is unproven at this IPL.
Full squad

• Openers: Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi
• Middle order: Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, KS Bharat (wk), Manish Pandey, Sherfane Rutherford
• Allrounders: Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh
• Fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Gus Atkinson, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Sakib Hussain
• Spinners: Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Travis Head (INR 6.8 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (INR 1.5 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 20.5 crore), Jaydev Unadkat (INR 1.6 crore), Akash Singh (INR 20 lakh), Jhathavedh Subramanyan (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Sunrisers out-bid four other teams to get Pat Cummins for a whopping INR 20.5, while Wanindu Hasaranga, at his base price, was a steal. Travis Head was another big buy and can replace either Mayank Agarwal or Abhishek Sharma, depending on their form, at the top.
The misses: It will be nit-picking but perhaps they could have looked for a back-up for Abdul Samad.
Full squad

• Openers: Travis Head, Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh
• Middle order: Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips (wk), Abdul Samad, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Upendra Yadav (wk)
• Allrounders: Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Sanvir Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed
• Fast bowlers: Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh
• Spinners: Wanindu Hasaranga, Mayank Markande, Jhathavedh Subramanyan

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Chennai Super Kings

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Rachin Ravindra (INR 1.8 crore), Shardul Thakur (INR 4 crore), Daryl Mitchell (INR 14 crore), Sameer Rizvi (INR 8.4 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (INR 2 crore)
The wins: Most bases covered. Ambati Rayudu’s replacement in Sameer Rizvi. Two gun allrounders in Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell for the price (well, almost) of the released Ben Stokes. Shardul Thakur as the bowling allrounder and Mustafizur Rahman as a back-up for the injury-prone Matheesha Pathirana.
The misses: They missed buying Gerald Coetzee, who also plays for their SA20 side Johannesburg Super Kings (they went upto INR 3.2 crore) and Alzarri Joseph (their last bid: INR 2.8 crore).
Full squad

• Openers: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rachin Ravindra
• Middle order: Sameer Rizvi, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Shaik Rasheed, Aravelly Avanish
• Allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal
• Fast bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mustafizur Rahman
• Spinners: Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mumbai Indians

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)

Players bought: Gerald Coetzee (INR 5 crore), Nuwan Thushara (INR 4.8 crore), Dilshan Madushanka (INR 4.6 crore), Mohammad Nabi (INR 1.5 crore), Shreyas Gopal (INR 20 lakh), Naman Dhir (INR 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (INR 20 lakh), Shivalik Sharma (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Mumbai have always liked their overseas fast bowlers, and it was no different this time. They got Gerald Coetzee, who can also bat lower down the order, and the Sri Lankan duo Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Thushara. They also picked up Shreyas Gopal as a back-up to Piyush Chawla.
The misses: In hindsight, they could have bid for Wanindu Hasaranga as they may end up playing only three overseas players in their XI.
Full squad

• Openers: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk)
• Middle order: Hardik Pandya (capt), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod (wk)
• Allrounders: Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Shivalik Sharma, Anshul Kamboj, Naman Dhir
• Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff, Arjun Tendulkar, Akash Madhwal, Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara
• Spinners: Piyush Chawla, Kumar Kartikeya, Shreyas Gopal

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rajasthan Royals

Squad strength: 22 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Rovman Powell (INR 7.4 crore), Shubham Dubey (INR 5.8 crore), , Nandre Burger (INR 50 lakh), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (INR 40 lakh), Abid Mushtaq (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Rovman Powell, who leads Barbados Royals in the CPL, will add muscle to the middle order. Nandre Burger and Tom Kohler-Cadmore at their base prices are excellent back-ups for Trent Boult and Jos Buttler, respectively.
The misses: They spent more than 90% of their purse on the first two buys (Powell and Shubham Dubey), With the remaining, INR 1.30 crore, they couldn’t buy the allrounder they were missing. Maybe they can coax a few overs out of Powell. Also, they already have Riyan Parag, who had an excellent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (279 runs and 11 wickets in 10 matches). Their squad size of 22 is the smallest among the ten teams.
Full squad

• Openers: Jos Buttler (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (wk)
• Middle order: Sanju Samson (capt, wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Donovan Ferreira, Kunal Singh Rathore (wk), Shubham Dubey
• Allrounders: Riyan Parag
• Fast bowlers: Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult, Nandre Burger
• Spinners: R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Abid Mushtaq

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Delhi Capitals

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Kumar Kushagra (INR 7.2 crore), Jhye Richardson (INR 5 crore), Harry Brook (INR 4 crore), Sumit Kumar (INR 1 crore), Shai Hope (INR 75 lakh), Tristan Stubbs (INR 50 lakh), Ricky Bhui (INR 20 lakh), Rasikh Salam (INR 20 lakh), Swastik Chikara (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Wicketkeeping back-ups in Tristan Stubbs and Kumar Kushagra for Rishabh Pant. A bargain buy in Harry Brook to strengthen their batting.
The misses: Brittle lower middle order. They also lack a back-up Indian opener to Prithvi Shaw, who has battled form and fitness issues.
Full squad

• Openers: David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Shai Hope
• Middle order: Rishabh Pant (wk), Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Yash Dhull, Abishek Porel (wk)
• Allrounders: Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Sumit Kumar
• Fast bowlers: Lungi Ngidi, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Anrich Nortje, Rasikh Salam, Jhye Richardson
• Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Praveen Dubey, Vicky Ostwal

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Punjab Kings

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Harshal Patel (INR 11.75 crore), Rilee Rossouw (INR 8 crore), Chris Woakes (INR 4.2 crore), Ashutosh Sharma (INR 20 lakh), Vishwanath Singh (INR 20 lakh), Shashank Singh (INR 20 lakh), Tanay Thyagarajan (INR 20 lakh), Prince Choudhary (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Chris Woakes and Harshal Patel add value as bowlers who can also bat. Rilee Rossouw is a back-up for Liam Livingstone.
The misses: They could have bought back Shahrukh Khan – they lack an Indian middle-order batter. Towards the end, it got a bit chaotic. They first bought Shashank Singh, then realised they didn’t want him, and tried to unsuccessfully un-buy him. It might not have hurt them but it was a bit embarrassing.
Full squad

• Openers: Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
• Middle order: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Bhatia, Ashutosh Sharma, Shashank Singh
• Allrounders: Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shivam Singh, Chris Woakes, Harshal Patel, Vishwanath Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan
• Fast bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, Vidwath Kaverappa,
• Spinners: Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Prince Choudhary

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Gujarat Titans

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Spencer Johnson (INR 10 crore), Shahrukh Khan (INR 7.4 crore), Umesh Yadav (INR 5.8 crore), Robin Minz (INR 3.6 crore), Sushant Mishra (INR 2.2 crore), Kartik Tyagi (INR 60 lakh), Azmatullah Omarzai (INR 50 lakh), Manav Suthar (INR 20 lakh),
The wins: Pace reinforcement for Mohammed Shami in Umesh Yadav. The addition of Shahrukh Khan to an already strong finishers’ group.
The misses: Absence of a seasoned Indian wicketkeeping back-up to Wriddhiman Saha, which may result in them struggling to get Kane Williamson into their XI. Went up to INR 24.50 crore for Starc but couldn’t get him
Full squad

• Openers: Shubman Gill (capt), Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
• Middle order: Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Sai Sudharsan, Matthew Wade (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Robin Minz (wk)
• Allrounders: Rahul Tewatia, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Azmatullah Omarzai
• Fast bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Umesh Yadav, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Josh Little, Spencer Johnson
• Spinners: Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Manav Suthar

Getty Images

Lucknow Super Giants

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Shivam Mavi (INR 6.4 crore), M Siddharth (INR 2.4 crore), David Willey (INR 2 crore), Ashton Turner (INR 1 crore), Arshin Kulkarni (INR 20 lakh), Arshad Khan (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Pre-auction trade for Devdutt Padikkal. Got spin back-up in M Siddharth.
The losses: Lack of experienced Indian middle-order batters, which may prompt KL Rahul to bat at No. 4 instead of opening the innings
Full squad

• Openers: KL Rahul (capt, wk), Quinton de Kock (wk), Kyle Mayers, Devdutt Padikkal
• Middle order: Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Ashton Turner
• Allrounders: K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Prerak Mankad, Arshin Kulkarni, David Willey
• Fast bowlers: Mohsin Khan, Mark Wood, Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mayank Yadav, Yudhvir Singh, Shivam Mavi, Arshad Khan
• Spinners: Ravi Bishnoi, Amit Mishra, M Siddharth

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Squad strength: 25 (overseas 8)
Players bought: Alzarri Joseph (INR 11.5 crore), Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore), Lockie Ferguson (INR 2 crore), Tom Curran (INR 1.5 crore), Swapnil Singh (INR 20 lakh), Saurav Chauhan (INR 20 lakh)
The wins: Lockie Ferguson’s buy in the accelerated round.
The losses: Lack of an experienced wristspinner to replace Wanindu Hasaranga and a specialist death bowler.
Full squad

• Openers: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Will Jacks
• Middle order: Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk)
• Allrounders: Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Manoj Bhandage, Tom Curran, Swapnil Singh
• Fast bowlers: Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Rajan Kumar, Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal
• Spinners: Karn Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Himanshu Sharma, Saurav Chauhan

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Steven Smith completes 3000 Ashes runs in 54 innings, becomes quickest to the milestone behind Don Bradman

Sampath Bandarupalli08-Jan-202210 – Test centuries for Khawaja, all since the start of 2015. He is one of ten players to score ten or more Test centuries in this period, that too after missing 30 of the 66 Test matches Australia have played in this period.Khawaja missed 14 Tests in succession before the ongoing Sydney Test, the most consecutive Tests missed by a player before scoring twin centuries in a Test. The previous record was nine Tests for Steven Smith (in 2019), when was serving a ban, followed by Rohit Sharma (three in 2019) and Andy Flower (two in 2001).2 – Batters before Khawaja to score centuries in both innings of a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Doug Walters scored 242 and 103 against West Indies in 1969 at this venue, while Ricky Ponting scored two centuries against South Africa in 2006, which was also his 100th Test match.ESPNcricinfo Ltd9 – Khawaja is one of only nine batters to score hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test. The last to achieve the feat was Smith, in 2019, when scored twin 140-plus scores in Birmingham.9 – Players to score centuries in both innings of a Test match while batting at No. 5 or lower before Khawaja in Sydney. Only two others have done it in the Ashes: Denis Compton in Adelaide in 1947, and Steve Waugh in Manchester in 1997.Related

Khawaja raises the roof amid groundswell of support

Seventy balls of England struggle

How can Australian selectors leave Usman Khawaja out of fifth Test?

1 – Number of players older than Khawaja (35y, 18d at the start of this Test) to score two centuries for Australia in a Test match. Donald Bradman was 39 years and 127 days old at the beginning of the 1948 Test against India in Melbourne, when he scored 132 and 127*. Khawaja is also the oldest of the nine players to score centuries in both innings of an Ashes Test.179 – Khawaja’s partnership with Cameron Green, the second-highest fifth-wicket stand in the Ashes after the fall of the first four wickets for less than 100 runs. Matthew Elliott and Ponting added 268 after Australia were four wickets down for 50 runs at Headingley in 1997. The 179 runs scored by the Khawaja-Green pair is also the highest for any wicket in the current series.54 – Innings needed for Smith to complete 3000 runs in the Ashes, the second-quickest in terms of innings. Bradman was the fastest to the milestone, needing only 38 innings. Smith is also one of the eight players with 3000-plus Test runs against a single opponent, and the fifth to achieve it against England.

Chris Sale has been named an All-Star for the second straight year. This is quite the accomplishment for the 36-year old who hadn't been an All-Star since 2018 and missed the entirety of the 2020 season after having Tommy John surgery.

Sale isn't quite where he was last year when he won his first Cy Young, but it's still an impressive showing considering where he was just a few short years ago. Even more importantly, it's a chance for Sale to prove to his youngest kids that he's pretty good. Sale explained what his kids thought of him as a baseball player using a joke he stole from Jake Peavey.

"I remember Jake Peavy telling me one time and I felt like this a few years when I was going through it I remember him telling me when he had three sons at the time he's like my oldest son knew I was a bad—. My middle son knows I played baseball. My youngest son thinks I stink. I stole that joke from him a few years ago. It's cool to let the boys in the house know dad's still got it a little bit."

Peavy retired when he was 35, four years after his last All-Star appearance. By the time Sale retires, hopefully all his kids know he was a bad—.

Liverpool were unable to return to winning ways once again in the Premier League last night, that’s despite a late equaliser at Anfield against high-flying Sunderland.

Arne Slot’s men looked to be staring down the barrel of yet another home defeat, but Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort late on secured a needed point to help stop the rot.

It could have been a lot worse for the Reds last night had they not found a leveller, with Chemsdine Talbi putting Regis Le Bris’ side ahead with just under 20 minutes remaining.

However, the picture still looks incredibly bleak for the Dutchman and his side, as the Dutchman’s side currently occupy eighth place and sit 11 points off leaders Arsenal.

During the draw, it was yet another evening to forget for one player, with his selection by the manager once again coming under huge criticism after failing to deliver.

The stats behind Ibrahima Konate’s display against Sunderland

After a mistake against PSV in the Champions League last week, Slot has continued to operate with Ibrahima Konate at the heart of the backline for Liverpool.

The Frenchman has previously been one of the club’s leading talents in their recent success, but the 2025/26 campaign has been one to forget to date.

His showing against the Black Cats was yet another to forget for the 26-year-old, with his underlying figures showcasing his struggles on Merseyside once again.

Konate nearly misjudged a header, which led to the visitors going ahead before their eventual game, no doubt contributing to his measly tally of 57% aerials won.

He also won just 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst making just one interception – resulting in the club once again being unable to keep a clean sheet in England’s top-flight.

The defender desperately needs replacing over the coming months, with the same potentially being said about another player who failed to deliver on Wednesday night.

The Liverpool star who needs to be dropped after Sunderland

The draw against Sunderland last night now extends Liverpool’s run to just one win in their last five outings, highlighting the issues Slot currently has to deal with.

He definitely needs to find a solution to the recent issues, with the club facing a real possibility of missing out on all forms of European football if such a trend continues.

Whether that be a formation change or a personnel change in certain areas of the pitch, the Dutchman has a real task on his hands – potentially finding himself out of a job should he fail to do so.

Alongside Konate, numerous players have failed to deliver in the Premier League, with Cody Gakpo also massively underperforming against the newly-promoted outfit.

The winger has been a consistent starter for the Reds so far this season, as seen by his tally of 12 starts in the first 14 league outings of the ongoing campaign.

However, last night was one of his worst to date, so much so Slot decided to substitute the 26-year-old at the break and replace him with fan-favourite Mohamed Salah.

He was very predictable in the first half of the clash at Anfield, often cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, something which full-back Trai Hume read on the vast majority of occasions.

Gakpo’s underlying stats against the Black Cats further demonstrate his lack of quality, which led to hefty criticism being directed his way at the final whistle.

During his 45-minute showing, the attacker only managed to complete a total of seven passes, with none of which being into the final third – showcasing his lack of creativity at Anfield.

Cody Gakpo – stats against Sunderland

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

45

Touches

26

Passes completed

7

Passes into final third

0

Dribbles completed

0

Crosses completed

1

Shots taken

1

Duels won

1/5

Stats via FotMob

He also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst managing to register just one successful cross – reaffirming his struggles on Merseyside.

Gakpo’s lack of impact was topped off by his tally of just one shot, which was blocked, resulting in John O’Sullivan saying he was sick of the winger’s “1/10 performances”.

With players on the bench such as Federico Chiesa and Hugo Ekitiké, it’s vital that Slot drops the winger ahead of their next outing at the weekend in an attempt to end the recent barren run.

There’s no understating the struggles at Anfield at present, but the manager desperately needs to get a grip of the situation if any credibility is to come out of the ongoing campaign.

Related Fabinho 2.0: Liverpool in pole position to sign £35m midfield "machine"

Liverpool look set to be making a move for one star during the upcoming January transfer window.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

It is not often that a manager has an opportunity to win a trophy in one of their first few matches in charge of a club, but that is the prospect facing Wilfried Nancy at Celtic this afternoon.

The French boss can win his first trophy as the new Hoops manager by overseeing a win over St Mirren at Hampden Park in the League Cup final this afternoon.

After defeats to Hearts and Roma in his first two matches in the dugout since his move from Columbus Crew, Nancy needs a response from his players to secure the trophy and get the fans on board with his project.

To do this, the Celtic boss must be ruthless with his team selection after a couple of disappointing performances, which is why Benjamin Nygren should be dropped from the team.

Why Celtic must drop Benjamin Nygren

The Sweden international was one of three players to be substituted at half-time in the defeat to Roma in the Europa League on Thursday night, which suggests that Nancy was far from pleased with what he was doing on the pitch.

Chalkboard

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

Nygren has been subbed off after 65 and 45 minutes in the first two games under the French boss, playing in one of the two attacking midfield positions behind the striker, after failing to make much of an impact in either match.

Minutes

65

45

Shots

1

0

Shots on target

0

0

Key passes

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Pass accuracy

84%

84%

Tackles

1

0

Interceptions

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed attacker offered incredibly little at the top end of the pitch, despite playing in a second striker or attacking midfield role, with no shots on target or chances created against Hearts or Roma.

Nancy can finally drop the Swedish midfielder, after two poor performances in the last two games, by bringing Kelechi Iheanacho, who is starting to look like Aaron Mooy 2.0, into the team.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho must start against St Mirren

The Nigeria international did not arrive at Parkhead to a lot of fanfare because of the circumstances around the signing. Celtic had just missed out on signing any strikers during the summer transfer window, despite allowing Adam Idah to leave, and swooped to sign him on a free transfer instead.

Despite it appearing to be an underwhelming signing on paper, as he had been released by Sevilla, Iheanacho has proven himself to be a classy operator for Celtic when available, with three goals and one assist in nine appearances, per Sofascore.

When Mooy joined on a free transfer in 2022, the Daily Record stated that many expected him to be a squad player, and others questioned the logic in giving him a two-year deal, as the 31-year-old had spent the previous two years in China.

The Australian star, as the Daily Record put it, defied expectations to become a key performer for Ange Postecoglou in the middle of the park, with seven goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, before he retired.

Iheanacho, who Brendan Rodgers claimed is in his “peak years”, looks to be on his way to defying expectations in a similar way, and he can take another step on that journey by starting ahead of Nygren against St Mirren today.

The former Leicester star has shown flashes of quality for the Hoops, like the goal in the clip above, and brings great experience to the side, as a player who has played in LaLiga, in the Premier League, and in the Champions League.

With Nygren’s poor performances in recent weeks, bringing Iheanacho in to offer quality and composure in such a high-pressure game could make a lot of sense for Nancy.

Playing the Nigerian striker up front would also allow Daizen Maeda, who won four out of 13 duels in the last two games, to focus more on making runs and scoring goals than competing with defenders that he cannot outmuscle as the lone number nine.

Therefore, Nancy must ditch Nygren to unleash the “outstanding” striker – as hailed by Aiden McGeady – in the centre-forward position, with Maeda dropping back as one of the number tens alongside Arne Engels.

Worse than Engels: Nancy must drop Celtic flop who looks awful in new role

Wilfried Nancy must drop this Celtic flop who was even worse than Arne Engels in the 3-0 defeat to Roma.

ByDan Emery 3 days ago

Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper found our the gender of his fourth child while he was in the middle of a game against the San Francisco Giants. Fellow Phillie Trea Turner handed Harper a custom bat that's color aligned with the gender of the newest Harper.

Turner passed along a bright blue twig and the Harpers found out they were having a boy. Kayla Harper, Bryce's wife, was in the crowd and learned the gender of her new child as her husband walked to the plate. And on Monday, Kayla posted her reaction to the surprise on her Instagram account, along with some new details on how it all went down.

"We wanted to be surprised and find out together, so we recruited Trea for some help," Kayla wrote on her Instagram account. "The doctor texted him the news and he was given two bats—one pink, one blue. Right before Bryce’s first at-bat, Trea gave him the bat that matched the baby’s gender. We’re so excited to add another boy to the family to even us out."

The Harpers currently have one son, Krew, and two daughters, Brooklyn and Kamryn. Now, there’s another boy on the way. What a special way to find out—all thanks to a thoughtfully executed plan from a great teammate in Turner.

Jeremy Doku’s sensational display in Manchester City’s dominant win over Liverpool has sparked huge praise, with former striker Paul Dickov claiming he “can’t think of a better winger in Europe right now”. The Belgian tormented Liverpool’s defence all afternoon, further cementing his status as one of Pep Guardiola’s most dangerous attacking weapons this season.

• Doku dazzles in Man City's win over Liverpool

  Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool showcased one of Doku’s finest performances in a City shirt, as the winger repeatedly dismantled the visitors’ backline. His pace, directness and relentless dribbling caused constant problems, with Liverpool struggling to contain him even when doubling up defensively. Doku’s influence was a key factor in City controlling the game, stretching Liverpool’s shape, and creating repeated openings down the left flank.

  His contribution was not limited to individual moments, as his intelligent positioning allowed City to dominate possession in wide areas. Whenever City broke forward, Doku was the first outlet, carrying the ball at speed and forcing Liverpool’s defenders to retreat continually, and scored a brilliant long-range goal. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dickov claims Doku is the best winger in Europe right now

  Former City striker Dickov was full of admiration for Doku, insisting that no winger in Europe matches his current level. He explained that Doku’s performance against Liverpool was just the latest chapter of a consistently exceptional season, telling Best Betting Bonuses: “I would say he's probably the best in Europe at the minute. Not just of his performance against Liverpool, which was top drawer, but I said before the game, that despite Erling Haaland’s goals, Doku has consistently been City’s best player and biggest threat.” His comments underline how dramatically Doku’s reputation has risen in a short period of time.

  Dickov highlighted the winger’s technical evolution, pointing to the huge improvement in his all-round game. He recalled the criticism from last season, noting: “People were forgetting last season. They were questioning his end product a little bit. And maybe he was doing all these dribbles and was playing at a mile-a-minute. Maybe his crossing and finishing suffered, but he’s worked so hard at his game. He’s only 23 years old. He’s a young boy, and he’s just impossible to defend against when he gets you one on one."

  He also praised the Belgian’s ability to thrive even under heavy pressure from two or more defenders. Dickov added: “Even yesterday when Liverpool were trying to double up on him and go two on one, he was still beating both defenders as if they weren't there. The problem he has now is that the standard that he played at yesterday, people are going to expect that every single week from him, which is going to be difficult to do. But at the minute, off the top of my head, I can't think of a better winger in Europe, never mind in the Premier League.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Doku silencing critics after disappointing 2024/25 season

  Doku’s 2025-26 season marks a clear turning point, transforming him from an exciting but inconsistent talent into one of the most complete wingers in England. His statistics demonstrate a tangible leap in quality, with the Belgian already recording three goals and four assists across all competitions by mid-November.

  The evolution in his numbers is supported by a dramatic improvement in his chance-creation metrics. His Expected Assists (xA) per 90 minutes have surged to 0.43, placing him in the 98th percentile among Premier League wingers. While his goals and assists alone may not tell the full story, his 0.57 goal contributions per 90 reflect a winger who is not only creating higher-quality chances but doing so with consistency.

  This progress represents a complete response to critics who argued he lacked an end product earlier in his City career. Previously seen as a “chaos creator,” Doku now marries his dribbling prowess with refined decision-making, making him a perfect fit for Guardiola’s structured attacking system. His ability to drag defenders out of shape has also enhanced City’s collective fluidity, helping unlock spaces for teammates.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Doku critical to Man City's chances this season

  Doku’s challenge now is to sustain this level of performance as Manchester City push deeper into the season on multiple fronts. With expectations rising following his standout display against Liverpool, he will face increased defensive attention as opponents look to isolate and restrict him in future matches. Keeping his form consistent will be crucial if City are to maintain their pursuit of the Premier League title and progress further in the Champions League.

  There will also be tactical questions for Guardiola to manage, particularly with the return to fitness of City’s other attacking options. Doku’s place in the starting XI looks secure for now, but competition for wide roles at City is notoriously intense, meaning continued high-level output will be essential.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to Anfield with Real Madrid and paid a touching tribute to his late former team-mate Diogo Jota, laying flowers and leaving an emotional handwritten message at the Liverpool memorial. The heartfelt gesture came as the English defender revisited his old home ahead of Los Blancos' Champions League clash with the Reds on Tuesday night.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Alexander-Arnold pays tribute to Jota on Anfield return

  Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold made an emotional return to Anfield to honour his former teammate Jota. The English full-back, who joined Los Blancos in the summer, placed a floral wreath, a handwritten message, and a red PlayStation 4 controller, a nod to Jota’s love of gaming, at the memorial dedicated to the Portuguese forward and his brother Andre.

  Alexander-Arnold’s handwritten message read: “My mate Diogo, you are so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre's memory will always live on. I smile every time I think about you and will always remember the great times we shared. Miss you, mate, every day. Forever 20. YNWA. Love Trent and family.”

  The 26-year-old was joined by Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Dean Huijsen, and club legend Emilio Butragueno, who all laid flowers in remembrance of the Anfield favourite. Their gesture was warmly received by Liverpool supporters across social media.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Jota's tragic death and the subsequent tributes

  The tribute comes just months after the tragic death of Jota and his brother Andre, who were killed in a car accident in northern Spain on July 3. The crash occurred when their vehicle veered off the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, ending the lives of two much-loved figures in Portuguese football. The loss sent shockwaves through the sport, particularly at Liverpool, where Jota had become an integral part of proceedings.

   In the days following Jota’s passing, Alexander-Arnold had released an emotional message on social media, which read: "It's so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone. Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.

  "When it's less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great team-mate and a true friend. Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo."

  Liverpool responded to the tragedy by retiring Jota’s No.20 shirt, ensuring his contribution to the club’s modern era would never be forgotten. Nicknamed the “Silent Assassin”, Jota earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most efficient forwards, known for his composure, work rate, and knack for scoring decisive goals. During his five years at Anfield, he made over 140 appearances, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, two League Cups, and a Community Shield.

• Alexander-Arnold's first return to Liverpool after Jota's death

  Alexander-Arnold’s return to Liverpool carried an added emotional weight as he visited the stadium for the first time since his transfer to Real Madrid. The right-back departed Anfield in July in an £8.4 million move after more than a decade with his boyhood club. 

  The memorial stop took place less than 24 hours before Real Madrid’s Champions League group-stage match against Liverpool. Accompanied by Alonso, another figure who straddles the history of both clubs, Alexander-Arnold was visibly emotional as he stood before the shrine, pausing in silence before placing his tribute.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Alexander-Arnold back at Anfield for Champions League clash

  Real Madrid will face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night in what promises to be a charged Champions League encounter, both emotionally and competitively. For Alexander-Arnold, the match was supposed to mark his return in front of the Kop after having left the Reds; however, the right-back is unlikely to start the game as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that has seen him miss close to seven weeks so far. Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold will at least have the chance to sit in the away dugout at Anfield for the first time in his career.

كشف حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب، عن موعد الإعلان عن قائمة الفريق، مُشيرًا إلى أنه سيتأثر بعد انضمام بعض لاعبيه للمنتخب الأول بقيادة حسام حسن.

وقال حلمي طولان في تصريحات عبر قناة “mbc masr 2”: “سيتم الإعلان عن قائمة المنتخب المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب بإذن الله اليوم الأحد، حيث نعقد اجتماعًا مع الجهاز الفني في اتحاد الكرة لحسم البدائل، خصوصًا بعد انضمام بعض العناصر إلى المنتخب الأول الذي يستعد لبطولة أمم إفريقيا”.

وأوضح المدير الفني أن بعض الأسماء التي كانت ضمن حساباته تم انضمامها إلى المنتخب الأول بقيادة حسام حسن، وهو ما تطلّب مراجعة القائمة واختيار بدلاء مناسبين قبل اعتمادها رسميًا.

طالع أيضًا | تطورات أزمة حلمي طولان مع رابطة الأندية بسبب المنتخب الثاني.. “الحل شبه مستحيل”

وعن تأثر الفريق بغياب أحمد الشناوي وبعض اللاعبين الآخرين بعد استدعائهم للمنتخب الأول، قال طولان: “بالتأكيد سنتأثر، ولكني سعيد بانضمام أي لاعب من فريقي للمنتخب الأول، فهذا شرف له ولنا”.

واختتم: “في نفس الوقت، الغيابات تجعلني أبحث عن عناصر جديدة لتعويض النقص، وهو ما يفتح الباب أمام وجوه جديدة لإثبات نفسها في البطولة العربية”.