KKR’s spinners made life difficult in a chase of 128, but the home team prevailed in the end

Sreshth Shah20-Apr-2023Delhi Capitals finally earned their first win of IPL 2023, breaking a five-game losing streak, but it did not come easy. Despite chasing only 128 after their best bowling performance of the season, their batters struggled with Kolkata Knight Riders overloading on spin bowling. If it wasn’t for David Warner’s fourth fifty of the season and Axar Patel staying on till the end, it could very well have been 0-6 for the hosts.Even though their batting brought life late into the contest, it was the Capitals bowlers in the first innings who set up the win. Ishant Sharma – playing his first IPL game since May 2021 – took 2 for 19 in four overs, while Anrich Nortje (2 for 20) made batting difficult with his extra pace. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar ran through the middle order by sharing four wickets, while Mukesh Kumar impressed with his new-ball and yorker skills.They ensured Knight Riders’ batters struggled to put in a cohesive performance yet again. Knight Riders made four changes to their playing XI but except for Jason Roy’s 43, their batting lacked direction. While their spinners dug deep, the target was too low in the end. They have now lost four games out of six, three on the trot.Ishant, Nortje, Mukesh sizzle up topThe three pacers took a wicket each in the powerplay. Litton Das, playing his first IPL game, was the first to go trying to pull Mukesh from outside off, and then Venkatesh Iyer fell from the high of a century to the low of a duck when he was caught at slip off a Nortje snorter that was going across the batter.But the best bowler in the powerplay was Ishant, bowling metronomic lines at a high pace to keep the batters in check. His persistence earned him Nitish Rana’s wicket when he failed to clear mid-on in the sixth over.Ishant Sharma finished with figures of 2 for 19•Associated PressIt was a familiar sight for the Knight Riders with another top-order collapse. When Mandeep Singh and Rinku Singh were out to Axar, trying to take the bowler on, the score looked even worse at 64 for 5.Jason, though, battled on. He wasn’t timing it perfectly despite initially looking fluent, and looked to hold one end up. He saw Sunil Narine holing out next before Andre Russell joined him. They picked up singles for two overs before a 15-run Mitchell Marsh over gave Knight Riders some hope of a strong finish. Ishant, meanwhile, left the field with figures of 4-0-19-2 as Capitals brought in Prithvi Shaw as their Impact Player.Kuldeep triggers lower-order clean-upBut Jason perished for 43 in the 15th over to Kuldeep. After failing to clear square leg, he looked annoyed at himself for falling that way. Kuldeep looked delighted in equal measure, getting a wicket against his former side.Next ball, Kuldeep dented Knight Riders further when he had the incoming Impact Player Anukul Roy lbw. That left Knight Riders at 93 for 8, which soon became 96 for 9 with Nortje dismissing Umesh Yadav.Russell farmed the strike thereafter. He tried to deal only in boundaries but his success rate was low. Mukesh delivered yorker after yorker to frustrate Russell in his penultimate over and Nortje did more of the same. Kuldeep also upped his pace to restrain the big hitter.The final over started with Knight Riders at 108 for 9, but Mukesh struggled to nail his yorkers. Russell smacked him for a hat-trick of sixes to give Capitals 128 to chase.David Warner brought up his fourth half-century in six games•Associated PressWarner stands tall againAs it has been all season, Warner stood at one end while wickets tumbled from the other. Shaw made only 13 while Mitchell Marsh and Phil Salt fell for single digits. That gave Knight Riders a glimmer of hope.But Warner motored along to get his fourth fifty in six games this season, this one his quickest in 33 balls. The small target allowed him to keep playing his shots, and he had hit 11 fours by the time he raised his bat for the half-century.He was especially brutal against Narine, hitting him for four fours in one over, while otherwise being more expressive against the seamers. After Salt was the third man gone, Manish Pandey offered an experienced hand alongside Warner and brought the equation to 35 in 42.Capitals conquer their nervesHowever, the equation soon became 35 off 36 when Varun dismissed Warner for 57 and eked out a maiden. Pandey then tried to hit out, but he became Anukul’s second victim when he failed to clear long-on. The atmosphere turned even more nervy when Rana rattled Aman Khan’s stumps next.But with 15 needed off 18, Capitals remained favourites with four wickets still in the hut. Varun bowled a dream 18th over where Axar just about survived an lbw call and Lalit Yadav escaped a stumping, but the two batters ensured they did not give their wicket away. Rana’s tidy 19th brought the equation to seven off the final over.Rana would have preferred using spin for the 20th over too, but having exhausted all 16 overs of spin available, he turned to the pacer Kulwant Khejroliya. Axar comfortably negated his challenge to finish the game with four balls to spare.

Journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Everton are considering making an offer for a “superb” player during the summer transfer window.

Everton eyeing midfield reinforcements this summer

The Blues continue to be linked with summer signings now that top flight status is secure, with Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard the latest player named as a possible target. The 30-year-old is now a proven Premier League player, so he would bring a wealth of experience in the middle of the park.

Manor Solomon has also been backed to join Everton at the end of the season, following a productive spell on loan at Leeds United in 2024/25. The winger is a Tottenham player currently, but they are willing to sell him permanently in the summer.

Speaking of loanees, a fresh report has stated that the Blues are unlikely to retain Jack Harrison’s services beyond this summer, as his second year in a row at Goodison Park nears its conclusion. He appears likely to return to Leeds instead of joining the Merseysiders for good, perhaps taking Solomon’s place in Yorkshire.

As for important current midfielders, David Moyes is thought to be a driving force behind Abdoulaye Doucoure signing a new deal, seeing him as a key figure moving forward. He is out of contract in June, at which point he will be able to depart on a free transfer.

Everton planning offer for "superb" centre-back

It’s not only in the centre of the park the Toffees want to strengthen however, as according to Nixon on Patreon [via Give Me Sport], Everton are ready to make an offer for Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez ahead of the summer window.

The 20-year-old is valued at £40m by the Belgian side, with Aston Villa the other Premier League club mentioned as suitors in the update.

Ordonez is a young player with a lot of potential, hence his price tag, so it is no surprise Everton view him as an exciting long-term option for the summer.

He's outscoring Beto: Everton may regret selling Finch Farm star for £7.5m

Everton must rue this £7.5m sale of “outstanding” star who’s now outscoring Beto

By
Connor Holden

Mar 3, 2025

While James Tarkowski has enjoyed another strong campaign, he turns 33 years of age later this year, and there are doubts about how long Jarrad Branthwaite will remain at the club.

Ordonez had the misfortune of scoring an own goal against Manchester City in the Champions League in January, but he has shone this season overall, averaging six clearances per game across 10 appearances in the competition. Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “superb”.

While at his most effective as a centre-back, the four-cap Ecuador international can also do a job at full-back, which could appeal to Moyes, strengthening his defensive options and no longer having to rely on ageing figures such as Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman in that position.

Both teams have scored the fewest runs so far, and are rooted at the bottom of the table, separated only by NRR

Abhimanyu Bose28-Apr-20235:11

Tait: Ishant still has something to prove in the IPL

Big PictureDelhi Capitals will host Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, five days after their scrappy encounter in Hyderabad. There is a lot in common between the two teams. Both are struggling at the wrong end of the table at the start of the second half of the league stage, separated only by net run rate. These are two teams that are trying desperately to breathe some life into their misfiring batting lineups.Capitals and Sunrisers have scored the least runs in the league stage this year, and that has been at the heart of their problems.In their last meeting, Capitals scrambled to 144 after Washington Sundar ran through them with a three-wicket over. But despite Mayank Agarwal laying down a solid platform, Sunrisers were suffocated by Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav and their ploy to take the chase deep did not play out.Related

Harry Brook's struggle to prove he belongs in the IPL

Hamstring injury rules Washington Sundar out of IPL 2023

Capitals, after losing their first five games, have won their last two and will be buoyed by Mitchell Marsh finding some rhythm at the top, with an aggressive 15-ball 25 in the last match. But they still need to find a fix for the second opening spot.After a string of low scores, Prithvi Shaw was dropped against Sunrisers, but Phil Salt, his replacement at the top of the order, edged behind off the first ball he faced. But opening is a more natural role for Salt, who was tried in the middle order against Kolkata Knight Riders, and Capitals will hope that given a string of games, he fires at the top.Sunrisers have struggled to find an opening combination as well. They started the season with Mayank and Abhishek Sharma at the top, before sending Harry Brook up to open after he struggled to find his groove in the middle order. Apart from his century against Knight Riders, Brook has failed to fire. And to accommodate Brook at the top, Sunrisers have juggled Mayank and Abhishek up and down the order, and are yet to settle into a solution.Recent resultsDelhi Capitals: WWLLL (Last five matches, most recent first)Sunrisers Hyderabad: LLLWWTeam news – SRH lose Washington Sundar for the seasonAllrounder Washington, who put on his best performance of the season against Capitals, has since been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.Toss and impact player strategyMukesh Kumar bowled an excellent final over to help Delhi Capitals win their last game•Associated Press

Delhi CapitalsDelhi Capitals are likely to stick to the same team that won against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game, with Sarfaraz Khan starting if they bat first and being replaced by Mukesh Yadav and vice versa if they bowl first. If they bowl first, Ishant Sharma could also be the player going off for Sarfaraz.Probable XII: David Warner (capt), Phil Salt (wk), Mitchell Marsh, , Manish Pandey, Aman Khan, Axar Patel, Ripal Patel, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Sunrisers HyderabadWith Washington out injured, Sunrisers may replace him with an out-an-out batter in Abdul Samad or untested allrounder Vivrant Sharma. If they bat first, T Natarajan could be the player to make way for Rahul Tripathi, as he did in the last game.Probable XII: Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, , Aiden Markram (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad/Vivrant Sharma, Marco Jansen, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik, Stats that matter Capitals have won their last four matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but in Delhi, Sunrisers have won four of the last five games between the two teams Capitals (17) and Sunrisers (29) are at the bottom of the list of sixes hit in IPL 2023 David Warner’s strike rate of 71 against Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the lowest among all bowlers he has faced at least 40 deliveries against in T20sThe big question

Manchester United have been told to sell Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho as part of a major reboot amid continued transfer uncertainty.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Man Utd looking at a summer revampGarnacho & Rashford may head towards the exitLouis Saha wants players to "sacrifice" Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Garnacho, once considered untouchable after emerging through United’s youth ranks, is now being viewed as a potential departure to balance the books. A string of off-field controversies has drastically shifted perceptions around his long-term role, as his commitment and discipline have come into question on multiple occasions last season.

He was left out of the starting lineup for December’s Manchester derby due to issues with his attitude, and he caused a stir when he stormed down the tunnel after being substituted in the first half against Ipswich Town in February. Whereas, his more recent remarks following United’s loss in the Europa League final—where he criticised manager Ruben Amorim’s tactics and described the campaign as a “s**t season”—have only deepened doubts.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Meanwhile, Rashford regained some confidence during a loan spell with Aston Villa, where he managed to revive his sinking career. Another loan move, this time to Barcelona, has been floated as a possibility, though nothing formal has emerged. Now, former United striker Louis Saha has weighed in, declaring that both Rashford and Garnacho should be shown the door.

WHAT SAHA SAID

Speaking candidly in an interview with Saha criticised what he sees as a lack of determination and mental resilience in the pair. He said: "I think the problem is that some players just don’t have the level of desire and fight needed to get United back to where they used to be, and I can see Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho being sent on their way. But let’s be clear. It’s easy for me to look at younger players and claim the problem is with their generation, but sometimes it’s just that the communication is broken between a club and a player. Sometimes it becomes a personal problem, where the relationship doesn’t work."

Saha stressed that young players need to adopt a long-term mindset and surround themselves with mentors who guide them toward professionalism.

"At the same time, now isn’t the time for ego or personal problems," he insisted. "If you have the right people around you, they should be advising you not to let it affect you like this, and whatever age you are, maybe they should tell you to shut up for a bit, and get your head together."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

DID YOU KNOW?

Saha warned that modern players often fall into the trap of seeking short-term gains, influenced by agents who prioritize quick deals over sustained development.

"The players will only get better if they sacrifice," he said. "They should understand that if they give their all for a couple of years, then huge opportunities will be given to them, even at United or another big club, but instead they are cynical, they look for the best they can get right now, even if they could get something better through hard work. They think instead they should speak to the media and demand things, the agents are looking for immediate pay-offs.

"It doesn’t work for the players, they’re easily led, and they don’t make the most of their careers. Most of the time the best way is to talk on the pitch. You don't become a big star by getting people talking about what you want, you become a big star by becoming a great player. We need more from them, and they need more from themselves."

Rightly or wrongly, it has become clear what the transfer approach now is at Chelsea under the Todd Boehly regime – youth.

Gone are the days of signing the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, the Blues now appear intent on scouring the globe for the best young talents, with the aim of achieving long-term ambitions while also enjoying short-term success.

Remarkably, the oldest outfield player to have featured for the west London side this season is Tosin Adarabioyo, aged just 27, with it clear that the club are now prioritising potential over experience when it comes to their transfer dealings.

The Stamford Bridge outfit appear to be leading the way when it comes to planning for the future, a fact showcased by the signings of Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the South American duo set to belatedly arrive in England this summer.

It could well become the norm for Blues supporters to have to wait to see marquee acquisitions like the teenage pair in action, with that patience set to also be required following the latest capture of Geovany Quenda.

The latest on Chelsea's move for Quenda

Reports at the tail-end of the January window suggested that Manchester United were looking at signing the Portuguese sensation this summer, with Ruben Amorim keen on reuniting with his compatriot after handing the young winger his debut earlier in the campaign.

Almost out of nowhere, however, it was Boehly and co who secretly pounced to prise the 17-year-old from Sporting CP, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano breaking the story on Thursday night that Quenda is set to sign for the Blues.

As per The Athletic, the Sporting academy graduate has been signed for a fee of around €50m (£42m), although he won’t actually join Enzo Maresca’s ranks until 2026, instead remaining in Lisbon for the entirety of next season.

As per Romano, a key feature in Chelsea’s ability to win the race for his signature was the fact that they view him as an out and out forward, rather than a wing-back – a role he would likely have had to play had he reunited with Amorim at Old Trafford.

All the signs point to Quenda proving worth the wait, with the fleet-footed speedster having already been called up by his county at senior level, while registering ten goal involvements in 44 games for his current side.

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games

26

Goals

1

Big chances missed

4

Assists

4

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

1.9

Pass accuracy*

82%

Successful dribbles*

1.2

Possession lost*

12.6x

That said, neither Quenda – nor the likes of Estevao – will necessarily be able to just stroll into Maresca’s side on the flanks, with a certain Noni Madueke likely to have a thing or two to say about that.

Chelsea have struck gold on their attacking "monster"

It could be argued that one area of the pitch Chelsea don’t desperately need to strengthen is on the flanks, with Maresca already boasting the likes of Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Madueke, while Cole Palmer can also slot in on the right flank when required.

Market Movers

Indeed, while he is currently sidelined with injury, Madueke had largely made that right-hand side his own in the early months of the campaign, with the Englishman registering ten goals and assists in just 23 league games.

Signed from PSV Eindhoven on a £29m deal back in January 2023, the one-time Tottenham Hotspur academy star hasn’t always been the go-to man in attack, although, after a fine start to 2024/25, it had looked like he’d “pretty much nailed that position down”, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy.

Also described as “one of Chelsea’s most dangerous players” by Cundy, it would be fair to say that Chelsea were dealt a blow when Madueke was struck down by injury, having now missed the last three league games.

Set to return after the international break, the 23-year-old had forced his way into the England reckoning in the Autumn due to his standout showings, offering a genuine rival to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka on the right wing.

Much like his fellow left-footer, Saka, the Chelsea man is such a menace due to his ball-carrying prowess, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 3% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries, as well as in the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area, per 90.

A constant threat in the final third, it is no surprise that Madueke – who was dubbed a “mentality monster” by private coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst – has seen his valuation soar of late, with CIES Football Observatory noting that he could now be worth as much as £77m.

That is not only a significant increase on what the Blues paid for him over two years ago, but it is also millions more than the £42m fee dished out on Quenda, a player CIES deem to be worth around £18m.

As such, while excitement will be rife over the eventual arrivals of Estevao and Quenda, the Stamford Bridge side shouldn’t ignore what the likes of Madueke are already producing under Maresca’s watch.

Chelsea already signed a bigger star than Quenda in "world-class talent"

Chelsea have reportedly pounced to sign Sporting CP sensation, Geovany Quenda, ahead of their Premier League rivals

ByRobbie Walls Mar 14, 2025

Leeds United are currently sat at the top of the Championship table during the last international break of the 2024/25 campaign, as they inch closer to promotion back to the Premier League.

The Whites missed out via the play-offs last season, losing to Southampton 1-0 at Wembley in the final, and will hope to go up automatically instead of having to rely on the post-season matches.

Earning promotion to the Premier League is only the first step, though, as Daniel Farke will then have to build a squad that is capable of avoiding instant relegation – something that he did not manage in two attempts with Norwich City.

This is why it is important that the 49ers provide the German head coach with all the ammunition he needs, and we have had a look at the dream Premier League starting XI that the board could build for Farke in the summer transfer window…

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Illan Meslier has been the number one for Leeds in recent seasons but he has not done enough to suggest that the club should rely on him as their number one next season.

The Frenchman has conceded a staggering 34.4 more goals than expected, based on post-shot xG, in his league career at Elland Road, which suggests that he has woefully underperformed as a shot-stopper.

Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been linked with a move to Leeds next season, has conceded 3.0 fewer than expected during his Premier League career as Liverpool’s number two, suggesting that he could come in as a far superior shot-stopper to bolster the team’s hopes of survival.

2 RB – Jayden Bogle

Jayden Bogle, who joined from Sheffield United last summer, has started all 36 of his appearances for Leeds in the Championship this season and could remain the first-choice right-back option next term.

3 CB – Nico Elvedi

Leeds were reportedly interested in a deal to sign Farke’s former Borussia Monchengladbach star Nico Elvedi in the January transfer window, but failed to get a move over the line as the Swiss star wants to play top-flight football.

The Whites could convince him to make the switch to Elland Road in the summer if they secure promotion to the Premier League, and he could compete with Joe Rodon for a starting berth.

Appearances

19

38

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.9

1.5

Clearances per game

5.8

4.5

Ground duel success rate

76%

66%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

57%

Fouls per game

0.4

0.7

As you can see in the table above, Elvedi has outperformed Rodon as an out-and-out defender in a bigger league, suggesting that he could come in to provide a solid presence at the heart of the backline.

4 CB – Pascal Struijk

Dutch defender Pascal Struijk could retain his place as a regular starter on the left side of the defence, both because of his leadership qualities – having captained the team on many occasions – and the fact that he is naturally left-footed and can comfortably play out from the back on that side.

5 LB – Hugo Bueno

TEAMtalk recently reported that Junior Firpo is ‘increasingly likely’ to leave when his contract expires in the summer, which will leave a hole to fill at left-back.

It was reported earlier this month that Leeds have their eye on Feyenoord defender Hugo Bueno, who is on loan from Wolves, as a possible replacement for Firpo.

Bueno has created four ‘big chances’ and registered three assists in 12 Eredivisie starts for Feyenoord this term, and could provide an attacking threat down the left flank for Leeds in the top-flight.

6 CM – Ao Tanaka

Ao Tanaka has been a revelation for Leeds in the middle of the park in the Championship, averaging 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and a pass accuracy of 90%, and could be given a chance to showcase his quality in the Premier League.

7 CM – Ethan Ampadu

Ethan Ampadu, who started all 49 matches including the play-offs in the league last term, is the club captain and Farke could want his skipper in the engine room alongside Tanaka in the 2025/26 campaign – whether that is in the top-flight or the Championship.

8 RW – Jonathan Rowe

The Telegraph reported last summer that Leeds wanted to make a £7m bid for Norwich City forward Jonathan Rowe, but he ultimately joined Marseille on loan with an obligation to make it permanent for £17m this summer.

It was recently reported, however, that he has fallen down the pecking order in France and that Marseille are looking to instantly offload him in the summer, which would open the door for Leeds to return with another attempt to sign him.

Rowe scored 12 goals from just 5.36 xG in the Championship last term, whilst Dan James has scored ten goals from 9.22 xG this season, and he could be a ruthless finisher for the Whites in the top-flight if Farke can get the best out of him.

9 CAM – Wilfried Gnonto

Brenden Aaronson has been the go-to option in the number ten position for Leeds this season but his performances against the top sides suggest that he would struggle badly in the Premier League.

West Brom (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

West Brom (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, he has failed to make an impact against any of the top six sides in his ten appearances against them, whilst Wilfried Gnonto has previously shown quality in the top-flight.

The Italian gem, who came on as the number ten against QPR last weekend, produced two goals and four assists in 14 starts in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

10 LW – Manor Solomon

Manor Solomon is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the winger, who has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in the league this term, permanently.

فرض التعادل الإيجابي كلمته على لقاء منتخبي السعودية وترينداد وتوباجو، بهدف لمثله، بالمباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الكونكاكاف الذهبية.

والتقى منتخب السعودية مع ترينداد وتوباجو، على ملعب أليجنت، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة لدور المجموعات في بطولة كأس الكونكاكاف الذهبية.

وكان منتخب السعودية استهل مشواره في بطولة كأس الكونكاكاف بالفوز على نظيره هايتي بهدف دون رد، بينما سقط في فخ الهزيمة أمام أمريكا بنتيجة 1-0.

طالع أيضاً.. تشكيل العين أمام مانشستر سيتي في كأس العالم للأندية.. موقف رامي ربيعة

ويتواجد منتخب السعودية في المجموعة الرابعة لبطولة كأس الكونكاكاف رفقة كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وهايتي ووترينداد وتوباجو.

وفي تلك الجولة التقى منتخب أمريكا مع هايتي واستطاعت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية الفوز بهدفين دون مقابل، لتحفاظ على صدارة المجموعة. ترتيب مجموعة السعودية في كأس الكونكاكاف

1- أمريكا – 9 نقاط.

2- السعودية – 4 نقاط.

3- ترينداد وتوباجو – نقطتين.

4- هايتي – نقطة.

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب مجموعات كأس الكونكاكاف بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا.

Following reports that Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in on a summer move to Real Madrid, Liverpool have reportedly turned their focus towards signing a replacement who recently kept Mohamed Salah quiet on the biggest stage.

Liverpool eyeing Trent replacement

The Reds are once again learning the harsh way that players very rarely turn down the advances of Real Madrid. What the Spanish giants want, they often get in the transfer market, such is the order of the football food chain.

That won’t take away the frustration of those at Anfield, however. After all, Alexander-Arnold is an academy graduate and the next in line for Liverpool captaincy, let alone arguably the best right-back in European football. Losing such a talent was always going to be a big blow. Losing such a talent for free, however, should be among Liverpool’s worst nightmares.

It’s a predicament that the Reds must deal with this summer and one they’re already reportedly looking to solve. According to GiveMeSport, Liverpool chiefs are now eyeing a move to sign Tino Livramento from Newcastle United this summer.

The right-back, who can also play left-back, recently kept Salah quiet from that side at Wembley as Newcastle defeated Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup final before the international break.

Klopp was brewing a bigger star than Trent but he left Liverpool for £0

Liverpool might wish things had worked out differently for this player

ByJoe Nuttall Mar 27, 2025

As per Fotmob, in a rare afternoon to forget for the Premier League’s leading goalscorer and chief creator, Salah was limited to just one touch in the Newcastle box and created zero chances. Livramento, meanwhile, was not dribbled past once and won all four of his ground duels on an excellent afternoon.

"Reliable" Livramento is a rising star

At just 22 years old, Livramento’s versatility combined with talent makes him one to watch as Liverpool search for their Alexander-Arnold replacement this summer. The Newcastle star proved himself on the big stage right in front of Arne Slot, who should turn towards Tyneside if he wants to solve a pending problem down his right-hand side.

Dubbed a “reliable” one-on-one defender by analyst Ben Mattinson, Livramento could offer Liverpool a strength that has often been a weakness for Alexander-Arnold.

Whilst the Newcastle man would likely struggle to replicate the Anfield graduate’s attacking output, Slot could quickly adjust his system away from relying on his right-back to become the chief creator in his side. And that would quickly see Livramento flourish in a Liverpool shirt.

The Reds still have it all to do, however, and whether they turn towards the Newcastle full-back remains to be seen as the summer approaches.

The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) were “alarmed” by the “truly appalling” fact that England Women have never played a Test match at Lord’s, making the damning assertion that: “The ‘home of cricket’ is still a home principally for men.”In a 317-page report published on Tuesday, the ICEC highlighted the “public function” of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the private members’ club which owns Lord’s and said that recent decisions made by the club’s members have sent “a very public signal about the club’s values”.Specifically, the ICEC recommended to MCC that the annual Eton-Harrow and Oxford-Cambridge fixtures should no longer be staged at Lord’s after 2023, and that they should be replaced by a national Under-15 state school finals’ day for boys and girls, and a national university finals’ day for men’s and women’s teams.”We respect and value many of the traditions of cricket generally, and Lord’s in particular, but not all,” the commission wrote in its report. “Some no longer have a place in contemporary Britain.”Guaranteeing a tiny number of schoolboys the right to play at Lord’s every year when millions of children are denied that right is completely unacceptable. So too is the fact that the schoolboys of two expensive and elite institutions get to play at Lord’s every year when the England Women’s national team have yet to play a Test Match there.”The Oxford and Cambridge match has also had its time and should no longer be played at Lord’s. It sends a similar message of elitism, entrenching the position of certain institutions to which only a small minority of school pupils will gain access.”Related

• Heather Knight unsurprised by ICEC report after experiences of sexism

• ECB issues 'unreserved apology' as ICEC report reveals deep-rooted discrimination within English cricket

• English cricket prepares for release of ICEC report

• Commission recommends 'fundamental overhaul' of women's cricket pay structure

• Ten key recommendations of the ICEC report

England Women have played at Lord’s only once in any format since they won the 2017 World Cup final there six years ago – though are due to return on July 8 for the third T20I of the ongoing Ashes series.England Men, by contrast, have played two Tests and at least one limited-overs international at Lord’s every year since 2000 – except for the pandemic-affected 2020 summer.Richard Thompson, ECB chair, told BBC Radio 4’s programme: “That’s unacceptable, and we’re going to ensure that there will be a Test match by the England Women in 2026 – and that should have happened sooner. So that has been addressed and will be addressed in 2026 when we also host the Women’s T20 World Cup which is a real moment for women’s sport in this country. Clearly, we hope that will be a celebration of cricket.”The commission highlighted the successful attempt by MCC members to challenge the decision of the club’s committee to move the “historic fixtures” away from Lord’s as “an illustration… of the obstacles placed in the way of those seeking to modernise the game”.It added: “MCC may be a private members’ club, in which some members may resent ‘interference’ with their right to make their own decisions, but it is also a club that benefits from substantial amounts of money from the general public through ticket sales for major matches, with all the accompanying publicity and prestige.”Those who argue for the continuation of the Historic Fixtures do not seem to understand the damage they are doing to the reputation of MCC and Lord’s in the public imagination – compounding a view, whether fair or not, that MCC members are out of touch, elitist and unrepresentative of both the wider population and those who play cricket.”As the game strives to become more inclusive, as it clearly must, decisions such as these at ‘the home of cricket’ do more harm than some people appear to realise.”Lord’s was also singled out as the only major venue in the country that does not permit the use of musical instruments, which the commission gave as an example of “ways in which authorities have sought to sanitise the atmosphere at grounds”, saying the ban “had a disproportionate impact on ethnically diverse communities, particularly those from Caribbean communities”.In a statement, the MCC Chief Executive & Secretary, Guy Lavender said: “Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) received the report published by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) earlier today. We recognise that it will make very difficult reading for everyone involved in cricket in this country. This is a vitally important piece of work and all stakeholders in the game must now reflect on the contents of the report.”MCC is named in the report and we will be analysing the findings in detail. We are committed to playing our part in ensuring cricket is the most inclusive sport in this country and that Lord’s is a place where everyone feels welcome.”

Glasgow Rangers decided to part ways with Belgian head coach Philippe Clement last month after less than 18 months in the dugout at Ibrox.

The former AS Monaco and Club Brugge boss won the League Cup early on in his tenure, but his side’s poor form in the 2024/25 campaign led to the board relieving him of his duties.

Rangers were 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership at the time of his exit, had already lost to the Hoops in the League Cup final, and were knocked out of the SFA Cup by second tier outfit Queen’s Park.

The board opted to bring Barry Ferguson in as the interim replacement and he secured a terrific win last time out in the Europa League, beating Fenerbahce 3-1 away from home.

Sky Sports recently reported that Paraag Marathe – president of San Francisco 49ers investment arm, the 49ers Enterprises – and health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, who is executive chairman of ParetoHealth, are two key figures in a US takeover that has been agreed in principle.

The Gers now look set for new ownership this year, and they are reportedly set to play a big role in the appointment of Clement’s long-term replacement, with Rafa Benitez being one of the potential candidates.

Why Rangers should avoid Rafa Benitez

The Daily Record reported earlier this month that the former Real Madrid and Liverpool head coach is a firm target for the 49ers ahead of the summer.

Their reporter Scott Burns was quoted as saying: “I was told that Rafa Benitez was one they were going to talk to. I spoke to a colleague who is very close to Rafa Benitez and his agent and they had said there had been no contact at all.”

This suggests that their interest is at an early stage, as they have not made contact to discuss a potential move to Ibrox, and that is where the 49ers should leave it.

Excluding Super Cups or Charity Shields and second division titles, Benitez has not won a major trophy since he lifted the Italian Cup with Napoli at the end of the 2013/14 campaign.

Rafa Benitez’s last five jobs
Club	Games managed	Points per game
Celta Vigo	33 (July 2023 – March 2024)	1.09
Everton	22 (July 2021 – January 2022)	1.14
DL Pro	38 (July 2019 – January 2021)	1.16
Newcastle United	146 (March 2016 – June 2019)	1.48
Real Madrid	22 (July 2015 – January 2016)	2.24
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Spaniard has not averaged more than 1.5 points per game at a club since his very brief spell with Real Madrid almost a decade ago.

He does not have much in the way of recent experience in managing a team that is expected to challenge for titles and trophies every season, which suggests that the former Newcastle man would not be the right fit for what Rangers should want out of a manager moving forward.

Manager Focus

However, the Scottish giants could appoint a big upgrade on Rafa Benitez by swooping for another one of the 49ers’ reported managerial targets.

Rangers eyeing English manager

According to The Boot Room, the 49ers-backed consortium are interested in a deal to bring English head coach Steven Gerrard back to Ibrox ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that the takeover is expected to be completed by the end of the current season, and that one of their first priorities will be appointing a new manager to lead the team going forward.

It states that Gerrard is one of the potential options to replace Ferguson in the dugout, although it remains to be seen how high up on their shortlist he is.

The 44-year-old tactician left Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January, after 18 months at the club, and that means that he is out of contract and available for the Gers to approach and appoint, without having to negotiate a deal with a team.

Rangers must, now, swoop to bring Gerrard, who left the club back in November 2021 to join Aston Villa, back to the club as he would get Ibrox rocking again.

Why Rangers should appoint Steven Gerrard

The out-of-work manager, who has typically deployed an attacking 4-3-3 formation in his career, would get Ibrox rocking because the fans in Glasgow already know that he has what it takes to get the better of Celtic.

Gerrard won the Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 campaign, showing that he knows what it takes to clinch the league title ahead of the Hoops, and the supporters could get excited by the prospect of him returning to have a second go at doing it.

It was the first time the club had won the top-flight title since 2011, an achievement that was hailed as “magnificent” by Sir Alex Ferguson, and the Gers have not won the division since then either – with Celtic on course for their fourth straight league title.

Rangers, of course, also went unbeaten that season – winning 32 and drawing six of their 38 matches – and Ibrox would be rocking at the prospect of even coming close to repeating that accomplishment, especially when you consider that the team has already lost six times in the league this season.

Gerrard managed 192 matches during his time in Glasgow and averaged an excellent 2.15 points per game, which is more than Benitez has managed in any of his last four jobs since his exit from Real Madrid at the start of 2016.

Given that the Englishman moved on from Ibrox in 2021, this also shows that the former Liverpool midfielder has more recent experience of winning trophies and being in charge of a team that is expected to win week-in-week-out.

That is why Gerrard would be a big upgrade on Benitez, who has averaged 1.48 points per game or less in each job since 2016, because he is used to winning, as well as having the relevant experience at Ibrox.

Rangers already had a bigger talent than Cerny in "electric" loan star

Rangers have had their fair share of loan players to shine at Ibrox over the years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 9, 2025

Therefore, the 49ers-backed consortium must forget about a move for Rafa Benitez and, instead, move to bring Gerrard back for a second spell in the dugout at Ibrox next season, in the hope that he can recapture the magic of his first spell and get the supporters rocking in the stadium once again.