Both teams are coming in fresh off defeating defending champions RCB on their home ground

Sruthi Ravindranath25-Feb-2025Who’s playingMumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST
What to expect: two in-form teams at the ChinnaswamyFacing the defending champions in their home in front of a full house? It’s been no problem for Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz. Two teams that have beaten RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium come up against each other in what is expected to be a high-octane clash, one that would probably have been considered one-sided in favour of MI before the tournament, but not after Warriorz’s last two games.That said, Warriorz’s batting order doesn’t look solid yet; they have been saved by lower-order hitting in the last two games. Individual performers have given them the two wins – Chinelle Henry and Kranti Goud in the match against Delhi Capitals and Sophie Ecclestone in the Super Over win against RCB. Ecclestone has been one of their key bowlers as well – though she has gone wicketless in the last two games, her economy hovers around 7 and she defended eight runs in the Super Over.MI will be coming into this game feeling refreshed after a four-day break. One of their key problems has been the opening pair, whose highest partnership is 22 this season. Yastika Bhatia has returned scores of 11, 8, 8 in the last three matches. Will they make G Kamalini open in place of Bhatia to add more firepower to the top order?Recent resultsMumbai Indians WWL
UP Warriorz WWLTeam newsWith Vrinda Dinesh not firing at the top of the order, Warriorz could bring in Chamari Athapaththu but that would also mean Tahlia McGrath will have to sit out. Poonam Khemnar could also be given a go in the middle order.UP Warriorz (probable): 1 Kiran Navgire, 2 Vrinda Dinesh/ Chamari Athapaththu, 3 Deepti Sharma (capt), 4 Tahlia McGrath/ Poonam Kemnar, 5 Shweta Sehrawat, 6 Grace Harris, 7 Uma Chetry (wk), 8 Chinelle Henry, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Saima Thakor, 11 Kranti GoudMI are likely to go in with the same line-up, unless they decide to open with Kamalini.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amelia Kerr, 6 S Sajana, 7 G Kamalini, 8 Amanjot Kaur, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Parunika SisodiaPlayers to watch: Amanjot Kaur and Sophie EcclestoneIt was Amanjot Kaur’s day at the Chinnaswamy when MI faced RCB. After finishing with 3 for 22 in three overs with the ball, which included the wickets of Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh, Amanjot scored a crucial 34* in the chase and walked away with the Player-of-the-Match award. Having been sidelined by injuries over the past eight months, she will be among those looking to make an India comeback with impressive performances in the WPL.Sophie Ecclestone proved how valuable she can be in a T20 line-up, also showing she is capable of contributing quick runs from the lower order. She’s previously done it for England and in the Hundred for Manchester Originals as well. Should Warriorz try something whacky and float her up the order?Stats that matter Ecclestone has gone wicketless in her last two matches. Before that, only once in her previous 19 matches in the WPL did she not take at least one wicket. There have been 11 instances of a player scoring 30-plus runs and also taking three-plus wickets in a WPL match. Six of those have been by MI players, including Amanjot Kaur in their previous match. Chinelle Henry has hit 12 sixes in the 44 balls she has faced in WPL 2025 so far. These are already the joint-fourth-highest by anyone in one edition of the WPL.

Manchester United made an approach to sign a “brilliant” player, but they were too late, with bitter rivals Liverpool winning the race for his signature.

Man Utd's summer signings under question after poor start

Despite a 3-2 victory over Burnley last time out offering some respite, Man United have undoubtedly made a poor start to the new campaign, having infamously been knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town at the second-round stage.

As such, there are some justified concerns about some of the Red Devils’ summer acquisitions, not least Benjamin Sesko, who is yet to make his mark, having mainly been utlised as a substitute, and failed to open his goal-scoring account.

However, Sesko believes he will soon find his feet once he adjusts to the Premier League, recently saying: “The level of the matches is certainly much higher, the players and teammates are also at a higher level,”

“After all, English football is at the highest level in the world of football.

“But I am very much looking forward to the coming period, also because I am getting better and faster in every training session, and I am also progressing in my football mentality every day.”

Man Utd now plan to smash transfer record for £100m "powerhouse" in 2026

United are gearing up to make a huge bid for one of their prime targets next year.

ByDominic Lund Sep 3, 2025

The jury is still out on the Slovenian, but it has recently been revealed that Man United could’ve signed a different striker, who has made a flying start to life in the Premier League.

Indeed, according to a report from The Athletic, Man United made a late approach to sign Hugo Ekitike before his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool, but the wheels were already in motion for a move to Anfield.

As such, United’s bitter rivals ultimately came out on top in the race for Ekitike’s signature, and he has since gone on to impress for Arne Slot’s side, although there are signs the Slovenia international could soon be capable of making a similar impact.

How Sesko's goal-scoring record compares to Ekitike's

The Frenchman, who is widely reported to earn £200k-a-week, has scored three goals in his first four games for Liverpool, with Jamie Carragher lauding the 23-year-old for the “brilliant” start he’s made to life in England.

However, Sesko actually had a slightly better goals-per-game record in the Bundesliga during his time with RB Leipzig, averaging 0.42, compared to 0.40 from Liverpool’s summer signing.

Player

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Benjamin Sesko

64

27

7

Hugo Ekitike

47

19

10

Carragher and Roy Keane also agreed that it is “too early to tell” whether Sesko will be a success, given that he is yet to be given a proper run of games, so he should not be judged properly until after the international break.

New Zealand defended with all their might against heavy favourites India. But, in the end, India had just too much quality and depth for them, and ended their second straight ICC tournament unbeaten. They now hold two of the four ICC trophies, having lost in the final of the other two. In the last three ICC tournaments alone, India have won 22 of their 23 completed matches.On a tired pitch, run-scoring followed a similar pattern to earlier games. Having won a crucial toss – India have lost their last 15 ODI tosses – New Zealand raced away to 69 for 1 in the powerplay, but the high-quality spin from India dragged them back. On a pitch offering them the least turn of all matches in Dubai this tournament, the four India spinners bowled 38 overs between them to concede just 144 runs and take five wickets. Again, as New Zealand got pace on ball at the death, Michael Bracewell scored 53 off 40 to give himself and his bowling colleagues a target.Related

• BCCI announces INR 58 crore award for Champions Trophy winners India

• Why Axar Patel at No. 5 has been a good idea for India

• Rohit time is right on time for India – and it's not over yet

• India's spin quartet pulls the strings in dominant display

• Shubman Gill: 'This is the best batting line-up that I have been a part of'

India made a similarly breezy start of 64 for 0 in the powerplay, but New Zealand kept clawing their way back despite a 105-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Lacking the mystery of Varun Chakravarthy or the rare left-arm wristspin art of Kuldeep Yadav, New Zealand capitalised on the increased turn – average of 2 degrees in the first innings, 3.4 in the second – and tested India thoroughly. Their spinners bowled 35 overs for 152 runs and five wickets.Every batter other than Virat Kohli got a start – scores ranged between Rohit’s 76 and Hardik Pandya’s run-a-ball 18 – but none of them completed the job. Their incredible depth, though, prevailed as KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja saw them through with one over to spare and four wickets in hand.It was a final to rescue the tournament that has been short on close contests. India came in with much more ammunition for the conditions than New Zealand, but the toss proved to be a bit of an equaliser. Rachin Ravindra, leading run-getter of the tournament, batted like a dream against the new ball, the best conditions all day long. He scored 37 off 29 in a start that stunned the crowd, helped along by two spilled chances.Under the pump, India went to their likeliest wicket-takers as opposed to the usual formula of bowling Axar Patel with the new ball. Varun beat Will Young with drift on a legbreak, but the natural variation provided the telling blow to trap him lbw. Kuldeep, just five wickets so far, announced himself on the final with two of the biggest wickets: Ravindra to a wrong’un first ball, and Kane Williamson beaten in the air with big dip and offering a return catch.1:31

Kumble: ‘Kuldeep doesn’t look for the surface to help him’

Three wickets had fallen to reduce New Zealand to 75 for 3, and it was now up to Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell to keep wickets in hand for the final push. Mitchell struggled to score fluidly, which meant Latham – a stalwart in the middle overs of ODI cricket – had to take a risk. And when you take a risk against the metronomic Jadeja – 10-0-30-1 – you better not miss because he will get you lbw.For the second time in this tournament, India bowled just spin through the middle overs. It was a slow track but offered minimal turn. It is a testament to the quality and the accuracy of India’s spinners that New Zealand were choked through the period. It took them 21 overs to double their ten-over score of 69. Varun came back to get Glenn Phillips in the 38th over, again pushing back their charge.Bracewell brought back memories of how fluidly Ravindra batted as India went back to pace on ball at the back end. Mitchell, who followed Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill into scoring his slowest fifty, now tried an assault but a slower ball from Mohammed Shami got the better of him. Bracewell, though, hit three fours and two sixes to give New Zealand what only looked like respectability at that time.Even that respectability looked dodgy the way Rohit started the chase. Some sensational hitting off the fast bowlers – including Nathan Smith, the replacement for Matt Henry, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament who injured his shoulder – pushed Santner’s hand. He brought himself on in the ninth over, but the best he and Ravindra could manage was a few relatively quiet overs.2:11

Manjrekar: Rahul looked relaxed during chase

In the first over after the drinks break, Phillips produced his third unbelievable catch of the tournament, leaping high at extra cover and plucking a one-hander to send Gill back. With his first ball, Bracewell trapped Kohli lbw for one. Now the easy runs stopped. Rohit slowed down, looking like he was setting himself up for an old-fashioned Rohit knock. Then, though, after a spell of eight overs for 19 runs and two wickets, he charged at Ravindra, looking to hit his fourth six of the night, missed, and was stumped.Iyer, two half-centuries to his name already, and Axar then repaired the damage with a 61-run partnership from 122 for 3. Iyer was the edgier of the two. Young caught him at the deep midwicket fence but touched the boundary skirting, Jamieson dropped him as he tried two consecutive sixes off Phillips, the sixth dropped catch between the two teams.When Iyer fell in the 39th over, caught off Santner at short fine leg, India needed 67 off 68. The asking rate only hovered around a run a ball – the biggest difference between the balls and runs was four with six overs left. Confident in their depth, India kept taking the odd risk and kept hitting sixes. When pace finally came back on, the calm Rahul took India ahead. Jamieson provided one final stumbling block with Hardik’s wicket off a nasty bouncer in the 48th over, but India still had Jadeja in the bank.

The hosts take on New Zealand in the tournament opener, having lost to them twice in the recent tri-series

Karthik Krishnaswamy18-Feb-20251:35

Urooj: Babar’s form is still a concern

Big picture: Pakistan vs New Zealand (again)We live in a time when the ODI is starved for attention, with the older sibling commanding instant respect for its age and wisdom and the younger one bawling at full lung capacity if you dare to look away while it cartwheels around the room. For all that, the middle child never fails to remind us how captivating it can be whenever a global tournament comes along. The last two ODI World Cups produced so many classics between them, and so many passages of play that showcased the variety of skills that this format can both compress and give breathing room to.Given how little we’ve seen of it over the last year-and-a-half or thereabouts, then, our appetite for the ODI should be at its peak, even if the Champions Trophy remains an awkward fit in the calendar and the interests of the ICC’s member boards. So much has happened since Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted this trophy eight years ago, enough for everyone to forget that it even exists, but here we are now, and here it is once again.We have Pakistan, the defending champions and (co-ish) hosts, to start us off, and they’ll face familiar foes in the tournament-opener. No visiting team has played more ODIs in this country than New Zealand’s 11 since the start of 2019, and they begin this Champions Trophy a mere five days after beating Pakistan in the final of an ODI tri-series. Karachi hosted that match, and will host this one too.Related

Rizwan says Rauf is 'fully fit' for Champions Trophy opener

It says something about the two teams that New Zealand and Pakistan finished fourth and fifth – just inside and just outside the knockouts spots – on the league tables of both the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, and that Pakistan won the head-to-head meetings both times. It speaks of two teams with potentially title-winning strengths as well as title-squandering flaws, and this, perhaps, makes it the ideal contest to kick things off.Form guidePakistan LWLWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
New Zealand WWWLWIn the spotlightHe’s gone 21 innings without an ODI hundred, and while this wouldn’t be abnormal for most batters, Babar Azam isn’t most batters. That sequence only includes two single-digit scores, so it isn’t as if he’s been struggling, but few things will bring as much joy to Pakistan at the start of a global event on home soil as a big score from their until-recently-irreproachable run machine. He’s batting at the top of the order now rather than No. 3, so a score of significance will also ease any doubts Pakistan may have about the structure of their line-up.Rachin Ravindra was struck by the ball on his forehead during the tri-series•AFP/Getty Images

In the recently concluded tri-series, New Zealand’s spinners finished with a combined economy rate of 4.41, which was remarkable considering their Pakistan and South Africa counterparts went at 5.67 and 5.94 respectively. It speaks to the quality of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, who picked up five wickets apiece during the tri-series at near-identical averages and economy rates. They form as enviable a spin combination as any in this tournament: a left-arm fingerspinner and an offspinner, both extremely handy with the bat.Team news: Rauf boost for PakistanHaris Rauf played no part in the recent ODI tri-series after going off the field with a side strain during the opening game against New Zealand. He has been bowling in the nets in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, though, and Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan was confident he would be fit to start the tournament-opener. This should leave Pakistan able to pick a full-strength XI.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed.New Zealand go into the Champions Trophy with two of their original fast-bowling selections – Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears – out of the tournament. There’s also doubt over whether Rachin Ravindra – who hasn’t played a game since being struck on the head by the ball while fielding during the first match of the tri-series – will be fit to start, but the opener has been batting during training sessions in the lead-up to this tournament. New Zealand will take a call on him after their training session on Tuesday, with Will Young likely to open alongside Devon Conway should they decide not to risk Ravindra. Ferguson’s replacement Kyle Jamieson will not arrive in Karachi in time to be available for the first game.New Zealand: 1 Rachin Ravindra/Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Will O’Rourke.Pitch and conditionsKarachi hosted the last two matches of the recent tri-series, and they ended up as extremely dissimilar contests. On February 12, South Africa posted 352, the highest-ever total achieved at the venue, but that record only lasted a few hours as Pakistan hunted it down with an over to spare. Two days later, Will O’Rourke bagged four wickets and the unhittable Santner took 2 for 20 in his ten overs as Pakistan, electing to bat first in the final, were bundled out for 242, a total that New Zealand chased down with five wickets and 28 balls to spare.What sort of surface will the National Stadium serve up on Wednesday, then? Recent history suggests this is a testing venue for fast bowlers in ODIs, as their combined average of 33.67 and economy rate of 6.02 over this decade would attest. Where Lahore has tended to be just as harsh to spinners, however, Karachi has given them a modicum of respite; while their wickets have come at 45.50, they have only gone at 5.11 per over.Going by recent trends, pitches in global tournaments have tended to be good batting surfaces with something for bowlers to work with: the last three ICC ODI events – the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 and 2023 World Cups – finished with overall run rates of 5.54, 5.59 and 5.82 respectively.Wednesday is expected to be a warm day in Karachi with a high of 29 degrees Celsius, and little to no chance of rain.Stats and triviaNew Zealand (2000) and Pakistan (2017) both beat India in the final when they won their respective Champions Trophy titles.These two teams have met three times in the Champions Trophy, in 2000, 2006 and 2009, with New Zealand winning all three times.New Zealand have faced Pakistan 11 times in ODIs since the start of 2023, and the results have been neck-and-neck. While New Zealand have won five and lost six, they’ve won three of the last four meetings.Of the 47 New Zealand batters to score 1000 ODI runs, Daryl Mitchell has the best average (50.42). His strike rate of 97.89 is also hugely impressive, since all five batters above him on that list average below 30.Of the bowlers from the eight teams in this tournament, Shaheen Shah Afridi (21 at 22.04) is the highest wicket-taker in ODIs since the end of the 2023 World Cup.Babar, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf are the only members of Pakistan’s squad who were also part of their victorious 2017 campaign.Quotes”We’re all equal whether someone’s a platinum or an emerging player. The senior players have a bit more pressure on them, and we expect ourselves to perform on the biggest occasions, and this is as big as it gets.”
“Anytime you’ve been in conditions you’re been coming up against is an advantage. We’re lucky we’ve been over here for a couple of weeks and played in Pakistan quite a bit over the last three years”

After Daniel Farke publicly requested attacking arrivals more than once, Leeds United got to work on deadline day and even had a deal agreed to sign an impressive winger at one stage.

Although some will be disappointed that certain deals didn’t get over the line, it was still a busy summer at Elland Road. The 49ers got off to a rapid start, welcoming the likes of Jaka Bijol and then Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff, but soon found it more difficult when attempting to sign the attacking reinforcements that Farke requested.

In the end, the Whites were forced to settle for the 10 signings that they had completed and the £101m that the 49ers splashed out to welcome those additions. But it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Those at Elland Road attempted to solve their attacking problems with Igor Paixao early in the window before he joined Marseille. It was then a familiar story when chasing Facundo Buonanotte, who joined Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Both players would have made a difference to the current frontline and there’s no doubt that all involved at the club will be frustrated to have missed their targets.

Related Leeds launched late bid to sign "standout" star who was desperate to move

Daniel Farke wanted an attacking option.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

None more so, however, than Farke, who said before the season got underway: “We are not naive. We know that even in comparison to our Championship offence you could say that we are not much improved.”

Whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor have changed the German’s stance remains to be seen, but what certainly would have helped is if Leeds managed to get the late target that they were gunning for on deadline day.

Leeds had late deal agreed for Wilson

In one final blow on deadline day, Leeds had a deal agreed to sign Harry Wilson before Fulham pulled the plug, according to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Whites reportedly met their asking price before Fulham changed their stance and, by deadline day, wanted to re-negotiate. Even after Leeds’ improved offer that led to an agreement and subsequent deal sheet, however, the West London club called the transfer off. It was one last act to sum up a summer full of frustration for the 49ers.

It remains to be seen if the deal is revisited in January, but it would certainly be interesting to see him in a Leeds shirt. It wasn’t so long ago that the Welshman was silencing Elland Road with a goal and an assist to help Derby County on their way to play-off victory.

Ultimately, Marco Silva didn’t want to lose his man and a player that he’s been full of praise of in the past. The former Everton boss told reporters last season: “He’s an important player and a very good player for us. Of course the feeling for him against Brentford is fantastic and he’s probably thinking right now, ‘why don’t I play against Brentford every week?’.”

انتقد خافيير تيباس، رئيس رابطة الدوري الإسباني، رئيس نادي ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز، موضحًا أن الأخير عنيد ولا يحب أن يخسر على الإطلاق.

بيريز دخل في خلاف مع تيباس ورابطة الدوري الإسباني، حيث أبدى ريال مدريد اعتراضه على إقامة مباراة نادي برشلونة أمام فياريال في ميامي بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وذلك في أواخر العام الحالي ضمن بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

واعترض ريال مدريد على إقامة هذه المباراة خارج إسبانيا، وذلك حاله حال العديد من الأندية في الدوري الإسباني.

اقرأ أيضًا .. والدة تشيزني تكشف كواليس قراره من الاعتزال إلى حراسة مرمى برشلونة

وأشار تيباس في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة آس، إلى أن بيريز وريال مدريد لا يحبان أي شيء تفعله رابطة الدوري الإسباني.

وقال تيباس: “ريال مدريد لا يعجبه أي شيء تفعله رابطة الدوري الإسباني، لا يمكنهم قول أي شيء عن هذا والمباراة ممكنة لأن الأندية تريدها واللاعبون يريدونها، والجماهير تريدها”.

وأضاف تيباس في حديثه عن ما إذا كان ريال مدريد من الممكن أن يلعب مباراة في الدوري الإسباني خارج إسبانيا: “مع قادتهم الحاليين الأمر مستحيل. إنهم لا يحبوننا ولا يحبون أي شيء نفعله”.

وعن بيريز أوضح تيباس: “لا أخوض معارك مع فلورنتينو بيريز وأنا أقيم ما أفعله. سبق أن قلت إن فلورنتينو لا يخسر أبدًا، فهو عنيد ومجتهد للغاية”.

وأردف: “كان دوري السوبر الأوروبي بمثابة نهاية متوقعة لما حدث من البداية. الآن هناك الكثير من الحديث حول ما إذا كانوا يتحدثون مع الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم بشأن هذه البطولة”.

واختتم تيباس: “يا لها من مصادفة أن تنشر هذه القصة في الوقت الذي يجتمع فيه برشلونة مع رابطة الأندية الأوروبية، إنها محاولة للفوز في معركة خسروها بالفعل”.

Liverpool’s frenetic summer transfer window is coming to a head, with deals for Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi progressing as Monday’s deadline looms.

Having won the Premier League with minimal transfer investment last season, Arne Slot’s side have spent richly across the past few months, reshaping the defensive flanks and remoulding the frontline, with Hugo Ekitike and British-record man Florian Wirtz hinting at an exciting partnership for many years to come.

Maybe Liverpool’s start to the campaign has been laden with inconsistencies and a somewhat out-of-kilter tactical layout, but this was always going to be a potential hazard at the start of Slot’s second term, with so much change and upheaval since the Premier League title was lifted in May.

One area, however, that hasn’t received much attention is the midfield. While Wirtz is something of an attacking midfielder, his attacking quality and style of play effectively see him play in and around the final third with regularity.

Would it be worth the Reds investing in their engine room before the window slams shut on Monday?

Why Liverpool could sign a midfielder

The summer of 2023 was one of significant change at Liverpool, out with the old and in with the new. So it goes. The likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho, stalwarts all, departed and made way for a new wave of midfield talent.

Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo. All four have played big roles in the trophy-laden successes of recent seasons, and all four remain important members of the squad.

Gravenberch, recipient of the 2024/25 Young Player of the Year, was particularly influential in winning the Premier League, filling a void at number six and doing so with aplomb, having been peripheral across his maiden term in England.

However, the Netherlands international showed signs of burnout toward the latter end of the campaign, having started 37 matches in the top flight by Slot. Up until December, the 22-year-old didn’t miss a minute of league or Champions League action.

Endo, industrious and dependable, isn’t a starting player on the biggest occasions, and so Liverpool might want to make a move for a deep-lying rival before the window closes.

Liverpool planning move for Premier League star

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are showing a strong interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the multi-club chase for the England international expected to go down to the wire.

Palace, having sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and potentially Guehi to Liverpool, will play hardball and have listed the 21-year-old at a staggering £100m as they anticipate last-minute offers from interested parties.

Liverpool will find some rather daunting competition in their battle, with Manchester City and Real Madrid both ready to rival the Reds and sign the ball-playing specialist for themselves.

What Adam Wharton would bring to Liverpool

Injuries limited Wharton’s Premier League action last season, but his emergence onto the top-flight scene showcased his potential and then some, maybe operating with a similar quality and scope as Gravenberch in all his brilliance under Slot’s wing last year.

Matches (starts)

16 (15)

37 (37)

Goals

0

0

Assists

3

4

Touches*

49.6

66.5

Pass completion

81%

89%

Big chances created

5

3

Key passes*

1.3

0.9

Dribble success

60%

1.0

Ball recoveries*

5.3

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

4.3

3.5

Duels (won)*

4.9 (54%)

5.0 (57%)

Wharton is silky on the ball, like Gravenberch, but he also boasts a superior range of passing, ranking among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 15% for through balls and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

With this in mind, he could be the perfect signing to unlock the inbound Isak, whose movements, progressiveness and deadly finishing seem a perfect fit for Wharton, playing those surgical passes between the lines with frightening consistency and accuracy.

Isak, 25, was remarked by pundit Ally McCoist last year to be the “best all-round centre-forward” in the English game. He might not have the same ridiculous ball-striking ability as Erling Haaland (who does?), but the Sweden star is undoubtedly a layered and dynamic player, offering so much more than a simple focal point from which teammates can channel their creativity.

His link-up play and intelligence, both in possession and when against the ball, are of the highest class, and there’s little to be said about Isak’s ability to ruffle the feathers of his opponents, slipping this way and that, knowing exactly when to make the right move.

Much has been said of his likeness to Ekitike, but Isak is at his core a deadly finisher, the rest simply embellishments of genuine substance, and while he would help to dynamise Liverpool’s exciting frontline, he would also serve as that perfect outlet for players like Wharton to target.

Wharton would jockey with Gravenberch for a starting berth, but we saw last term the necessity of adding such competition to the ranks, especially if Liverpool hope to wade their way into the deeper fathoms of the campaign’s various offshoots, on top of defending the Premier League title.

Described as a “passing machine” by journalist Henry Winter, Crystal Palace’s rising sensation has so much more to his game. There’s a reason that the biggest clubs across the continents are all keen, after all.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Whether Liverpool’s pursuit proves fruitful remains to be seen, but there’s little question that Wharton has what it takes to raise the level of Slot’s midfield and feed through his skill into Isak’s path too.

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In the other match, Diana Baig set up Pakistan’s win against Ireland

Firdose Moonda09-Apr-2025

Scotland pulled off the first upset of the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers by denying Hayley Matthews, who single-handedly kept West Indies in the game despite leaving the field twice with severe cramps, and beating the side by 11 runs.Matthews became only the fourth player to take four wickets and score a century in an ODI but West Indies’ over-reliance on her cost them. She took four of the first five Scotland wickets and forced herself to return to the crease twice – once off a stretcher to keep batting when West Indies were nine wickets down – but it was not enough. Scotland were the side that rallied around Sarah Bryce’s 55 (off 56 balls) and her 82-run fifth wicket stand with Megan McColl and then their spinners. Offpinners Katherine Fraser and Darcy Carter and legspinner Abtaha Maqsood took six wickets between them to defend 244 and get their first points on the board.Temperatures were close to 40 degrees Celcius with humidity at around 60% and conditions took their toll across both games in Lahore. West Indies used cooling collars made of ice packs during drinks breaks, Scotland took shelter under umbrellas and Ireland’s Gaby Lewis received treatment on field three times for cramps during her 96 minutes of batting against hosts Pakistan.Related

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West Indies chose to bowl first on a green top at the LCCA Ground but Scotland were up to the task. Abbi Aitken-Drummond and Carter put on 48 inside 12 overs, in an innings laced with three boundaries each. Matthews brought herself on in the 12th over and had Aitken-Drummond and Kathryn Bryce caught behind in successive overs and Carter dismissed in her third and suddenly, Scotland were 69 for 3. When Chinelle Henry’s direct hit ran out Ailsa Lister West Indies finally looked like they had another player on the field and could run through Scotland.Sarah Bryce held the innings together but when she edged to slip, Scotland went into freefall. They lost 6 for 62 and were bowled out in 45 overs, as both Aaliyah Alleynne and Karishma Ramharack took two wickets each.The chase started poorly when Qiana Joseph gifted a caught-and-bowled to Carter. Zaida James was in at No.3 in the second over. She batted slowly but carefully and shared a 113-run stand with Matthews, which put West Indies well on track. They were 120 for 2 in the 27th over when James tried to hit Chloe Abel over fine leg but found the fielder at 45 and then chaos ensued.West Indies lost Shemaine Campbell, Stafanie Taylor and Henry in the space of 23 deliveries and of those, Taylor’s run-out was key but the required run-rate still manageable. West Indies needed 53 runs off 72 balls and Matthews was still batting, but only just.When Shabika Gajnabi was caught behind, Mathews was on 95 and hobbling. Cherry-Ann Fraser was out in the next over and it was clear Matthews was forcing herself to keep going but couldn’t. She left the field. Afy Fletcher lasted six balls and was dismissed for duck so Matthews came back on and hit four off the next ball she faced. She was on 99 and running out of partners. She fell to the ground wailing and then was stretchered off the field.Ramharack gave Fraser another caught and bowled to leave West Indies nine down when Matthews rolled herself off the stretcher and returned to bat. She brought a century and kept West Indies in the hunt but Alleynne couldn’t stay with her. She was out lbw in the 47th over, with West Indies 11 runs short. They have a day’s break before playing Ireland on Friday.File photo: Diana Baig picked up four wickets•Getty Images

In the day’s other match, hosts Pakistan had their bowlers, led by senior seamer Diana Baig, to thank for securing them a 38 run win over Ireland. Pakistan trudged through their innings to score 217 and Ireland were bossing the chase on 96 for 1 in side 24 overs. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu took three wickets in four overs to leave Ireland’s middle-order exposed before Baig took care of the tail. She finished with figures of 4 for 35 in her first appearance for the team since their opening match of last year’s T20 World Cup and got Pakistan’s campaign off to a winning start.Ireland will have the same amount of recovery time – physically and emotionally – after believing they had done enough against Pakistan. Jane Maguire removed Gull Feroza early and Sidra Amin found run-scoring tough which meant the dot ball mounted up. Muneeba Ali tried to keep the scoreboard moving but Pakistan were 79 for 1 after 20 overs and going nowhere. Sidra was on 29 off 61 balls. Muneeba fell trying to get things going and was replaced by Aliya Riaz.Aliya showed more initiative and was scoring at a run-a-ball when Amin finally got to 50 off 110 balls and was then dismissed at the end of the 36th over. Pakistan were 153 for 3 after 36 overs and a score over 200 looked some distance away. Natalia Pervaiz came in ahead of captain Fatima Sana but was runmout for 12, by which time Aliya was also dismissed. Pakistan did not have the batters for a last ten-over push and lost 6 wickets for 42 runs from Aliya’s dismissal. They were bowled out with an over to spare for 217.That total didn’t look enough despite Baig’s new-ball breakthrough. She had Sarah Forbes given out lbw in the ninth over but a 69-run second wicket stand between Lewis and Amy Hunter started to take the game away. Ireland were 96 for 1 when Sandhu trapped Lewis on the back pad and dragged Pakistan into the game. Both Hunter and Delany played on, leaving Ireland 119 for 4 and Pakistan had the opportunity to burst through.Sadia Iqbal got rid of Leah Paul before Baig was brought back and removed Christina Coulter Reilly, Louise Little and Arelen Kelley in three overs. Cara Murray’s run-out confirmed Pakistan’s win. They will take on Scotland on Friday.

Aston Villa are now set to make a move for an “amazing” striker, who has been identified as a priority target for the January transfer window.

Villa eyeing striker after Watkins' slow start

Ollie Watkins has been one of the driving forces behind Villa’s resurgence under the helm of Unai Emery, with the striker maintaining a fantastic goal and assist record across the past five Premier League seasons.

Season

PL appearances

Goal contributions

2020-21

37

19

2021-22

35

13

2022-23

37

21

2023-24

37

34

2024-25

38

24

However, it would be fair to say the striker has made a slow start to the new campaign, having failed to register a single goal contribution despite featuring for 90 minutes in each of the Villans’ opening three games.

Of course, it is still very early days, and the 29-year-old still has plenty of time to get back on track, but it now appears as though Emery wants to bring in another striker during the January transfer window.

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa and NSWE are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, with the Europa League side planning to maintain pressure on the Eagles throughout the January window.

With Villa aiming to secure qualification for the Champions League once again, they are keen to bring in more depth in attacking areas, and Mateta has been identified as a priority target, but there is set to be competition for his signature.

Leeds United and Newcastle United have also pinpointed the striker as a priority target, given the level of his performances last season, but any deal may be relatively expensive, given that Palace are set to hold out for a fee of around £40m.

"Amazing" Mateta would provide Emery with great depth

Given that Emery implements a 4-2-3-1 system, it is difficult to see how the 28-year-old would fit into the side, although Emery has been willing to drop Watkins in the past, with the England international hitting out after not starting against Paris Saint-Germain last season.

The striker said: “I was fuming I wasn’t playing. I let him (Emery) know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.

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“It’s something I haven’t experienced before, missing out on the biggest stage. You always want to play, especially in the Champions League.

Given that Mateta is the main man at Palace, scoring 17 goals in all competitions last season, he is also unlikely to be willing to sit on the bench, but the signing of the Frenchman would provide Emery with great depth in attack. He has also loved playing against Villa in the past, scoring six goals in 10 appearances.

Lauded as “amazing in the box” by manager Oliver Glasner, Mateta is a proven Premier League striker in the prime of his career, but Emery would be a real selection dilemma in attack if Villa were to win the race for his signature.

While they might not always be the biggest spenders, Arsenal have made some huge signings over the years.

For example, Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival earlier this summer felt like it could be a needle mover; Declan Rice, a couple of years ago, was, and then, while he didn’t cost as much, Alexis Sanchez was a real coup when he joined.

However, when it comes to headline-grabbing transfers, none can claim the top spot off of Mesut Özil, as his arrival in 2013 is still one of the most memorable moments in the club’s modern history.

So, fans should be delighted that it now looks like Mikel Arteta is about to sign his own Ozil.

Arsenal target their new Özil

So far, it would be fair to say that Arsenal are having a great summer regarding transfers, as so far, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has made six first-team additions.

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Moreover, while the Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi are the most exciting signings thus far, the Italian has made sure to fill in the gaps in the rest of the squad, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera.

However, instead of calling it quits there, the club now look set to make potentially the most exciting signing yet, one that could be seen as Arteta’s Ozil moment.

At least that is according to a recent report from The Standard’s Dom Smith, who has reaffirmed the news that Arsenal are now in pole position to secure Eberechi Eze.

In fact, Smith has revealed that the club-to-club details are “all agreed” and that the Crystal Palace star, who is an Arsenal fan, is now set to have his medical and sign his contract at some point on Friday, despite looking set to join North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday afternoon.

Having previously been in the Gunners academy until he was 13, at which point he was released, this is quite the sequence of events for a player who loves Arsenal.

It looks like the Englishman will cost Arsenal around £60m, and while that is a lot, it’s probably fair value for someone as talented as Eze, especially as he could be Arteta’s Ozil.

Why Eze could be the next Ozil

While fans will be hoping Eze’s Arsenal career ends in a better way than Ozil’s did, there are some significant similarities between them.

The first one relates to their transfers, as, despite being a world-class player at the time, fans had little to no idea that the German was moving to the Emirates until it was announced outside the stadium on Sky Sports News, much to the delight of the delirious fans that had gathered around the reporter to hear the news.

Now, the Crystal Palace star hasn’t officially been announced yet, but there was a similar euphoric reaction from the fans to David Ornstein’s surprise report that the club were after him last night.

That delirium was only intensified by Fabrizio Romano’s ‘here we go’ and the simple fact that Berta and Co look to have successfully hijacked the international star from Spurs.

On top of the nature of the transfer being similar to the former Real Madrid star’s, there is also a similar sense that the 27-year-old has the talent to be just as much of a game-changer for the Gunners.

Appearances

43

Minutes

3303′

Goals

14

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

For example, despite playing for a mid-table side last season, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes.

In other words, the £100k-per-week superstar managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

That’s not all though, as the former QPR gem has also proven he can handle the biggest games and the biggest stages, as he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of Palace’s triumphant FA Cup run last season.

Ultimately, while he isn’t the exact same type of player, the incredible way in which Arsenal secured his signature and the impact he could have on this team mean Eze could be seen as Arteta’s Ozil.

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