يستأنف ليفربول مشواره في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعد الخروج من منافسات الدور الرابع من كأس رابطة المحترفين الإنجليزية أمام كريستال بالاس.
وكرر كريستال بالاس تفوقه على ليفربول على ملعب أنفيلد بعد الفوز بثلاثية نظيفة، سجلها إسماعيلا سار في الدقيقتين 41 و45 من أحداث الشوط الأول ويرمي بينو في الدقيقة 88.
وكان كريستال بالاس قد خطف لقب الدرع الخيرية في بداية الموسم بعد الفوز على ليفربول بركلات الجزاء الترجيحية.
اقرأ أيضاً.. هاسلبانك: محمد صلاح متذمر ولم يعد النجم الأول في ليفربول
آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول دخل لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: “وودمان، كيركيز، رامزي، روبرتسون، جوميز، موريسون، إندو، نيوني، كييزا، ماك أليستر، ريو نجوموها”. موعد مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا في الدوري الإنجليزي
سيلتقي ليفربول مع أستون فيلا، على ملعب “أنفيلد”، في الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت المقبل 1 نوفمبر، في تمام الساعة العاشرة بتوقيت مصر الحادية عشر بتوقيت السعودية.
Newcastle United headed to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday in Premier League action still bruised from their narrow 2-1 defeat in the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona.
With such a quick turnaround since Thursday’s defeat, too, Eddie Howe had to make five alterations to his starting XI for the trip to the Cherries, with none of these fresh alterations coming in to guide the Toon to a much-needed win, unfortunately.
Instead, the much-changed Magpies would unconvincingly stumble to a 0-0 draw on the road, with Joe Willock, in particular, not banging the door down for more first-team minutes going forward, based on his poor display.
Willock's no-show vs Bournemouth
In truth, it was a flat performance all over the pitch from Howe’s visitors, with only a weak four shots registered all match by the Toon, during the drab stalemate.
Worryingly, Willock showed no sign of being energetic throughout, despite the ex-Arsenal man being handed his first Premier League start of the season, as Howe made all those changes.
The vibrant livewire that once netted eight goals from just 13 league starts during the 2020/21 season is now long gone, with Willock actually managing to register fewer touches of the ball than Nick Pope in between the sticks, as a forgettable 32 touches of the ball were tallied up across his hour or so on the pitch, next to Pope’s 42, per Sofascore.
With just 12 accurate passes notched up from the middle of the park, too, it’s no great shock that the heavily rotated Newcastle that took to the pitch looked so limp in attack when there was a complete lack of creative flair coming from the declining 26-year-old.
Of course, the attackers fielded by Howe also need to take their portion of the blame after firing blanks throughout on the South Coast, as another underperforming member of the concerned manager’s starting XI worries about his first-team minutes moving forward.
The Newcastle flop who should be dropped
It was a tough day at the office for the Newcastle forward players, but Jacob Murphy did manage to show some flashes of his quality here and there.
In all fairness, the long-standing Magpies servant looked somewhat bright for his hour run-out against Andoni Iraola’s stern hosts, with Murphy at least coming away from the bore draw with a shot on target registered, on top of also completing a dribble when trying to catch out the Cherries defence.
It would, however, be one of Murphy’s attacking partners for the day in Nick Woltemade, who would notably struggle throughout, despite plenty of praise coming the ex-Stuttgart centre-forward’s way before the match got underway.
After all, it’s not as if the 6 foot 6 monster has the pressure of attempting to break his Magpies duck weighing down on him, with a debut goal coming his way in the Premier League versus Wolverhampton Wanderers when he graced the St James’ Park turf.
Woltemade’s performance in numbers
Stat
Woltemade
Minutes played
84
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
37
Shots
0
Accurate passes
12/18 (67%)
Possession lost
19x
Total duels won
4/14
Stats by Sofascore
Yet, away from grappling well in one instance when having his shirt pulled by a Bournemouth man for a potential penalty, it was very much a forgettable second outing for Woltemade in the top-flight, as is illustrated in the table above.
It will all centre on the mountain man trying to find some consistency moving forward, with his shooting boots presumably forgetting to be packed for the long journey down to the South Coast, as Woltemade failed to register a single meaningful shot at the home side’s goal.
Even more concerningly, the below-par number 27 also struggled to put his towering frame to good use, with only four of his 14 duels being successfully won, per Sofascore.
Willock, at least, came away from his shoddy showing with six duels won under his belt, with Woltemade also losing possession 19 times, while his midfield teammate gave up the ball just nine times. Despite all these worrying numbers, the German would be handed a 6/10 post-match rating by Newcastle World’s Jordan Cronin, although Cronin did state that his performance “dipped” in the second 45 minutes.
After ringing the changes to try and freshen his side up did not work, it could well be that Howe reverts to what he knows more for Newcastle’s upcoming contest in the league against Arsenal, with Willock at risk of being dropped against his former side, alongside Woltemade potentially sitting the clash out back on home soil.
Newcastle now make early approach to sign £40m+ Real Madrid player on loan
Josh Little, Ireland’s left-arm seamer, is set to follow in the footsteps of his former international team-mate Tim Murtagh, after signing for Middlesex for the 2025 season.Little, 25, is likely to feature primarily in the Vitality Blast, but will be available for other formats, subject to his international and Irish domestic commitments. The final details of his deal remain subject to Cricket Ireland issuing a No Objection Certificate.To date, Little has claimed 139 international wickets across both white-ball formats, including 4 for 45 on debut against England in Dublin in 2019. His best figures of 6 for 36 came in an ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare in December 2023.He brings with him a wealth of experience on the T20 franchise circuit, including a stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, whom he helped reach the final in 2023. He has also featured in the Caribbean Premier League, the SA20, the ILT20, Major League Cricket, and the Lanka Premier League, and the Hundred, with a pair of stints with Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire.”It’s an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to be part of Middlesex, one of the most prestigious cricket clubs in our game,” Little said. “I can’t wait to meet everyone, see some familiar faces, and put in the hard yards both on and off the field.”I’d like to thank Middlesex for putting their trust in me, and I’m thoroughly looking forward to what’s to come. The opportunity to play at Lord’s is hugely exciting and I can’t wait to get going.”Little’s unveiling follows last week’s news that Kane Williamson had signed a joint deal to play for Middlesex and London Spirit in the 2025 season.Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, added: “To secure a player of Josh’s T20 experience and proven ability is huge for us, as he has performed at the highest level of white-ball cricket around the world for the last few years.”He brings something different to our attack. He’s got genuine pace, is a left-armer, which in itself poses problems for batters, has a fierce short ball, and has skills that make him perfect for bowling both at the top and in the death overs of an innings.”We can’t wait to welcome Josh to the Club and look forward to unleashing him on the Blast this summer.
Manchester United are reportedly investigating footage that showed one of their fans being attacked by another during their 2-1 win over Chelsea. Frank Ilett has gone viral for refusing to cut his hair until Ruben Amorim's side win five games in a row – something that led to him being verbally abused at Old Trafford. Now, the club are looking into the matter.
Man Utd fan's challenge goes on
Ilett, who has dubbed himself 'The United Strand', began this challenge in October 2024 (when Amorim joined the club), and now he has a full-on afro at a time when Amorim's team have struggled greatly. He now has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, but one fan took umbrage with his stunt on Sunday.
AdvertisementClub investigate hair assault
On the day of United's win over Chelsea, a supporter was seen grabbing Ilett's hair, while trying to push him over in the Old Trafford concourse. He was verbally abused, and now the states that if the culprit is found, they will face 'strong sanctions'.
Man Utd eyeing winning run
The report adds that United are aware of the video, which has been widely circulated online. Incidentally, the last time United won five games in a row was under Amorim's predecessor, Erik Ten Hag, back in February 2024.
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Getty Images SportRuben Amorim's side a long way off five straight wins
United need to beat Brentford, Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton in their next four Premier League games to make it five wins in a row. Considering they have won just two games this season, that stretch seems unlikely.
Aston Villa’s rise under Unai Emery has been defined by sharp recruitment, shrewd coaching, and an ability to identify players who are ready to step into the limelight away from the shadows of Europe’s biggest clubs.
In Morgan Rogers, Villa found exactly that: a player once on the books at Manchester City, who needed a platform to showcase his ability.
Just 18 months on from swapping the Etihad for Villa Park, Rogers has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s brightest attacking midfielders, demonstrating the value of spotting untapped potential.
That model has become central to Villa’s approach in a summer where financial pressures have forced them to balance ambition with pragmatism.
The club has already lost academy graduate Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United in a bid to meet Profit and Sustainability Regulations.
Aston Villa enter the race for Barcelona talent
As long as Emery’s side seek to compete at the highest level, their transfer strategy must be both precise and opportunistic.
It is within this context that Villa are eyeing their next move.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The profile of the target is clear: highly talented, underused at an elite club, and brimming with the potential to grow into a genuine superstar once given a consistent role.
In other words, another Rogers-style signing.
Reports via Sport Witness revealed that Aston Villa have joined Wolves and Marseille in the battle to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, a player described by “spectacular” Sergio Busquets.
Marc Casado celebrates scoring for Barcelona.
The 21-year-old is valued at €30m (£25m), with Barça facing a difficult dilemma over his future, and the player has already received an offer from Villa to leave Camp Nou behind.
Casado is a La Masia graduate and a Catalonia native, factors that make the political optics of a sale complicated.
The club knows moving him on could cause friction among supporters, yet their long-standing financial problems remain unresolved.
The midfielder currently earns €10,000 a week, and Wolves are reportedly prepared to quadruple that to tempt him into a Premier League move.
Why Casado could be the next Rogers
Villa’s interest comes at a time when Emery’s squad has stumbled slightly at the start of the campaign, collecting just one point from their opening two fixtures.
With a Europa League campaign to navigate and squad depth already tested, adding quality in midfield is a priority.
Casado, who featured 23 times in La Liga last season and played ten Champions League matches, fits the bill as both a ready contributor and a long-term investment.
Wolves have been proactive in making contact, particularly as they look to rebound from a difficult start under Vítor Pereira, losing their first two league games after selling key players Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Yet Villa possess a crucial advantage: the opportunity to offer a proven pathway of development.
Rogers’ success after leaving City is proof of what can be achieved at Villa Park.
Casado’s qualities suggest he could thrive in the same way Rogers has at Villa.
A deep-lying playmaker with the versatility to cover at right-back or centre-back, he brings both defensive solidity and creative incision.
His underlying numbers are striking.
According to FBref, he ranks in the 91st percentile compared to positionally similar players in Europe for assists per 90 (0.20), the 94th percentile for touches (86.03) and passes into the final third (7.49), while completing 90.1% of his passes – evidence of his reliability in possession.
Defensively, he averages over three tackles per game, highlighting his work rate and adaptability.
What makes Casado particularly intriguing is how his career echoes Rogers’ trajectory. Like the English midfielder at City, Casado is blocked by world-class competition at Barcelona.
Both players require a club prepared to give them consistent minutes in a competitive environment without the suffocating expectation that comes with being part of an elite, star-studded squad.
Rogers grasped that opportunity with both hands, making 54 appearances last season across competitions, scoring 12 goals and assisting 14, while playing a key role in Villa’s Champions League run.
Morgan Rogers
His initial £8m transfer fee now looks like one of the bargains of the decade, and his market value has since risen to £50m.
Casado, at £25m, represents a bigger outlay, but one that could prove similarly shrewd if his development mirrors that of Rogers.
There is also the question of timing.
Casado recently left his agent and will be represented by Jorge Mendes from October, a move designed to secure his long-term future.
While he has publicly insisted it is not a step motivated by salary, Mendes’ involvement inevitably increases the likelihood of a move abroad, given his extensive Premier League connections.
For Villa, the chance to repeat the Rogers model is obvious. Casado is young, versatile, technically gifted, and already tested in both La Liga and the Champions League.
He might not yet be a guaranteed starter for Barcelona, but under Emery, he could become an essential cog in a side that thrives on midfield dynamism and tactical flexibility.
Barcelona's Marc Casado against Benfica.
If Casado makes the move, his ceiling is immense.
Busquets’ endorsement underlines his pedigree, while his statistical profile suggests a player capable of dictating play at the highest level.
Like Rogers, the conditions are right for him to flourish away from the glare of his current surroundings.
For Aston Villa, it is about recognising that the next superstar might not be the finished article, but a rough diamond ready to shine.
He's like Duran & Benteke: Aston Villa make £65m star their top target
Aston Villa are eyeing up a new striker who is a mix of Jhon Durán and Christian Benteke.
CA delivered a better-than-expected AU$31.9 million loss for the last financial year ahead of two bumper summers featuring India and England
AAP17-Oct-2024Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird is in no rush to appoint Nick Hockley’s successor, with the outgoing CEO’s March exit still a flexible date.Hockley addressed his last AGM as the sport’s boss on Thursday, as Cricket Australia delivered a better-than-expected AU$31.9 million loss for the financial year.Officials have launched a global search for Hockley’s replacement, after the chief executive announced his impending exit last August.Related
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Players’ union boss and former NRL CEO Todd Greenberg remains the front-runner for the role, while AAP is aware of interest from other CA executives.Hockley had flagged a March exit when he announced his decision to move on, but remains open to staying beyond that if a replacement is not readily available.”The process is under way,” Baird said. “There is not surprisingly a huge amount of interest in the role. We will run through that in a considered way as a board, there is no rush.”We want to make sure we get the right person for the next phase. Nick remains here and has a huge amount to do. We expect to be able to meet the timeline, but we’re very relaxed.”CA’s annual loss came in what was always expected to be a down year for the organisation, with neither England or India touring last summer.The deficit was also greater than in the 2022-23 season, given that year’s finances were propped up by hosting the men’s T20 World Cup.The annual result left the sport’s cash reserves at $25.7 million amid estimations of the Covid pandemic leaving the sport with a $100 million hit.”The expectation is at the end of these two years we will have reserves in excess of $70 million,” Baird said. “It’s obviously a huge uplift relative to where we have been … we’re very bullish about the next two [summers] and it’s reflected in the forecast.”Hockley insisted moves had been made to make CA’s budget more resilient against summers without India or England, through new content, investments, cost-efficiency moves and greater digital assets.Baird also indicated Australia were pushing ahead with plans for a Test fund with the ICC, in a bid to support nations outside of the big three and safeguard the red-ball game.Meanwhile, CA directors Lachlan Henderson, Greg Rowell and Clea Smith were all re-elected at Thursday’s meeting. Fellow director Paul Green announced he would soon step down.
Manchester City are building towards a campaign where they will be vying for the Premier League title, and the Citizens could now be on the verge of securing a key reinforcement to address a priority position.
Manchester City pondering over Ederson's future
Despite the excitement over incomings such as Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri this window, much has been made over Ederson’s uncertain future at Manchester City.
The Brazil goalkeeper has been heavily linked with a move to Galatasaray, and there is an inkling from his side of the table that the opportunity to move elsewhere after a difficult campaign in England would be appealing.
Speaking about his situation, former Manchester City star Nicky Weaver believes Ederson could leave the Etihad Stadium due to the fact that he is in the last year of his contract at the Premier League giants.
He stated: “It’s gathered a bit of pace, especially in recent days. When it gets to this point, it almost looks like it’s going to happen.
“He’s into the last year of his contract now. Most summers he gets linked with a move away but you never think it’s actually going to happen. This summer, I think we could actually see it happening.”
Now, it is important to note that nothing definitive has come to light as of yet. Still, Manchester City’s wish to sign Porto stopper Diogo Costa does indicate Pep Guardiola is in the market for another goalkeeper.
Manchester City’s summer signings so far
Name
Club signed from
Tijjani Reijnders
AC Milan
Rayan Cherki
Lyon
Rayan Ait-Nouri
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Marcus Bettinelli
Chelsea
Sverre Nypan
Rosenborg
With the key question still to be solved between the sticks, the Citizens may have found one part of the answer amid recent developments involving their pursuit of an alternative target.
Romano: Manchester City set to sign Burnley's James Trafford
Taking to social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester City are set to sign James Trafford from Burnley after the Englishman agreed a deal to return to his former club to work under Guardiola.
Newcastle United have missed out on his signature and were informed of his decision, leaving the Citizens to wrap up an agreement for a fee well under his £40 million buyback clause.
Later on, Romano confirmed Manchester City will sign Trafford for £27 million and that he is booked in for a medical early next week, stating: “More on exclusive story on James Trafford joining Manchester City: understand medical tests will take place early next week, main part on Monday. Man City to pay £27m fee to Burnley for the goalkeeper, as revealed.”
Enjoying a fantastic campaign at Turf Moor, the 22-year-old kept 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances as Burnley won promotion to the Premier League, leading Scott Parker to label the young goalkeeper “world-class” due to his immense contribution.
Maintaining a save percentage rate of 84.6% in the Championship, Trafford is now back where it all began and will hope to unseat either Ederson or Stefan Ortega for the number one jersey.
Despite a sunny day, parts of the ground in Greater Noida remained unfit to play on
Ekanth09-Sep-2024The first ever day of Test cricket at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground was abandoned due to a wet outfield. The weather was fair all day, with the sun out, but the drainage facilities could not dry the playing area entirely, leaving New Zealand and Afghanistan to wait at least another day to begin their first ever Test encounter.There has been significant rain over the past few days and the challenge, according to chief curator Amit Sharma, was to keep the outfield fit for play if the wet weather continued. However, on Monday, there was not a single cover on the ground all day and the super-soppers were at work, but wet patches on the outfield and the bowlers’ run-up remained a concern.Multiple inspections took place, with the last one scheduled at 4.30pm local time, but the day was abandoned at 4.05 pm. The toss has been scheduled for 9am tomorrow and the remaining four days will have 98 overs each starting at 9.30am, instead of 10am.Related
Greater Noida under the weather ahead of Test debut
The match is not part of the World Test Championship cycle but gives New Zealand an opportunity to acclimatise to subcontinent conditions, with two Test series against Sri Lanka and India lined up in the next couple of months.Afghanistan have played two one-off Tests in this year so far, both in different countries against different opponents, and are looking for their first win since 2021.
In an attempt to get their summer business underway, Aston Villa have now reportedly joined the race to sign a 19-year-old Ligue 1 sensation who’s available at a cut-price this summer.
How much Aston Villa can spend this summer
With the transfer window now open, Aston Villa would usually be ready to spend in normal circumstances. This time around, however, they must act with caution. At risk of PSR sanctions more so than most Premier League sides, the Villans may need to sell at least one star name this summer if they want to ease their profit and sustainability problems.
That’s not to say Aston Villa can’t spend at all, though. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire recently offered insight into just how much those at Villa Park can splash out as things stand. He told BBC Sport: “Without any outgoings, it appears Villa will be at the bottom end of the £50-100m spending range.”
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Whether the Midlands club decide to increase that figure through player sales remains to be seen. The likes of Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers have already been linked with summer departures, but both sales would undoubtedly weaken Unai Emery’s squad as they go in pursuit of Champions League football once again next season.
How they choose to spend that rumoured £50-100m will also be interesting. To that end, the rumours have also been coming thick and fast. Names such as Fares Chaibi have threatened to steal the headlines, as have the likes of Nicolas Jackson in what would be quite the move from Chelsea. Both may be within the Villans’ price range, albeit a limited one, which instantly makes them two names to keep an eye on.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksoncelebrates scoring their first goal with Chelsea's Romeo Lavia
They’re not the only targets in Villa’s sights, however. Moncho and co. are also reportedly battling to sign a Ligue 1 sensation to add to Emery’s side in the coming months.
Aston Villa join race to sign Atangana
According to Bild in Germany, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have now joined the battle to sign Valentin Atangana alongside West Ham United and Eintracht Frankfurt. The 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed an impressive season in a struggling Stade Reims side who were eventually relegated from Ligue 1.
Whilst that relegation would have disappointed the teenager, it may well provide him with a route to bigger and better things this summer. In a far weaker position in negotiations following relegation, Reims could now sell Atangana for as little as €10m (£8m) this summer.
Dubbed a “fantastic modern holding midfielder” by scout Jacek Kulig, Villa’s interest in Atangana should come as little surprise. His arrival would hardly break the bank or exceed their PSR limit and would undoubtedly offer Emery the chance to work with a future star.
Arsenal’s search for a new striker could still go on long into the summer transfer window, with sporting director Andrea Berta currently weighing up their best possible move.
Arsenal assessing Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals
As per a helpful update from the BBC, amidst some confusion over who Arsenal’s top striker target actually is, the Gunners are actively working to discover the conditions of deals for both Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).
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Both strikers, fresh off the back of career-best campaigns at their current clubs, have serious credentials.
Sesko, standing at a towering 6 foot 5, boasts a fairly modest goal-record of 21 in all competitions from last season. However, the 22-year-old’s potential for growth, not to mention outstanding physical attributes like his speed and power, make him a very intriguing option for Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard is known to be a big fan of his, and Arsenal have tried to sign Sesko on multiple occasions since last summer, so they could still make it third-time-lucky this window.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres has just concluded a sublime Primeira Liga campaign, where he guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years whilst scoring an incredible 54 goals in all competitions.
While Arsenal work to discover which deal would be best suited to the club, both centre-forwards are set to be “extremely expensive”, so it is vital that Arteta and Berta get this decision right.
That being said, there are suggestions that Arsenal do have other alternative targets in that position, so it isn’t exactly a straight two-horse race between Sesko and Gyokeres for the Gunners’ striker spot.
Arsenal internally discussing deal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins – an England international and boyhood Arsenal supporter – was subject to a low-ball bid from north London in the January transfer window.
Arsenal made a £45 million offer for Watkins to test Unai Emery’s resolve, according to The Telegraph, which is nearly half of Villa’s £80 million valuation.
The north Londoners never went back in with a second offer, but a new report from The Athletic suggests that a fresh summer swoop for Watkins isn’t completely off the table, despite work going into Sesko and Gyokeres right now.
It is believed Arsenal are still internally discussing Watkins as a striker target, and while they face a major obstacle in the form of Villa, they may not run into much trouble when it comes to convincing the player himself.
Back in 2020, Watkins admitted that he dreams of a move to Arsenal one day, and now that he’s 29-years-old, time is running out to make that fantasy a reality.
“That’s the dream, to play for Arsenal one day,” Watkins said.
“But, you know, it’s a long shot.”
The former Brentford star helped to fire Villa to a Europa League spot with 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.
His Premier League pedigree and experience at the top-level is something which should be carefully considered by Berta, with the only sticking points being his age and potential price tag.