MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras derrotou o Ituano por 2 a 0, na Arena Barueri, pela sexta rodada do Paulistão. Os gols da partida foram marcado por Flaco López, que respondeu às críticas da torcida balançando as redes, e Rony.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Com isso, o Verdão afasta o mal-estar criado após a derrota na decisão da Supercopa do Brasil, contra o São Paulo. A equipe treinada por Abel Ferreira soma quatro vitórias e um empate no Estadual.

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

O Palmeiras foi superior ao Ituano na primeira etapa, mas desperdiçou algumas chances de gol. O atacante Flaco López, um dos que perdeu oportunidades, acabou desencantando e abriu o placar, de cabeça, após belo cruzamento de Zé Rafael. No segundo tempo, o Verdão controlou o jogo e suportou a ligeira melhora do Galo de Itu para segurar a vitória. Ainda na reta final, Rony recebeu de Marcos Rocha sozinho, arrancou e ampliou.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

O próximo jogo do Palmeiras é diante do Santo André, fora de casa. A partida acontecerá na segunda-feira (12), às 19h.

✅ PALMEIRAS 2 X 0 ITUANO
Campeonato Paulista – Primeira fase – Sexta rodada

Data e horário: quinta-feira, 8 de fevereiro de 2024, às 21h (de Brasília)
Local: Arena Barueri, em Barueri-SP
Árbitro: Vinicius Gonçalves Dias Araujo
Assistentes: Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse e Gustavo Rodrigues de Oliveira
VAR: Marcio Henrique de Gois
Cartões amarelos: Léo Oliveira e José Aldo (Ituano)
Cartões vermelhos: –

Gol: Flaco López e Rony (Palmeiras)

⚽ ESCALAÇÕES

PALMEIRAS
Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Luan, Murilo e Piquerez (Caio Paulista); Aníbal Moreno, Richard Ríos (Fabinho) e Zé Rafael (Gabriel Menino); Raphael Veiga (Jhon Jhon) e Flaco López (Rony). Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

continua após a publicidade

ITUANO
Jefferson Paulino; Léo Oliveira, João Vialle, Vitão e Marlon (Miqueias); José Aldo (Kaique Clemente), Yann Rolim (Marcel), Thonny Anderson e Eduardo Person (Jonathan Silva); Matheus Maia (Pablo Diogo) e Matheus Cadorini. Técnico: Marcinho Freitas.

Tudo sobre

PalmeirasPaulistãoPaulistão 2024

Liverpool had defeated Real Madrid 1-0. It wasn’t spectacular. It was gritty and to their credit, Arne Slot’s side were by far the best team on the field.

Not bad for a team supposedly in a mini-crisis. Coming into this game, the Reds had won just two of their last eight games in all competitions.

So, are they back? Quite possibly. One man who was indeed back at Anfield was Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Merseysider, Liverpool’s great son, was welcomed home to his city of birth to a chorus of boos. His exit still stings, of course it does, and the fanbase will have achieved a sense of great comfort from seeing him suffer defeat on Tuesday evening.

Being interviewed on Prime Video post-game, skipper Virgil van Dijk was asked by Theo Walcott if he had spoken to Trent or had any desire to meet with him. The colossal Dutchman had an emphatic one-word response: “No.” Each to their own, eh, Virgil?

Trent's Anfield return in numbers

It wasn’t a great surprise to see Alexander-Arnold named among the subs for Tuesday’s encounter.

Trent is a fine right-back but hasn’t set the world alight after moving to Madrid over the summer. The defender was initially set to move on a free transfer but as Real aimed to push a move through before the Club World Cup, Liverpool ended up getting £10m for him.

Money well spent? Arguably not. The 27-year-old has battled with a hamstring injury in the embryonic stages of his Madrid career, playing just 14 minutes in this season’s Champions League and starting only twice in LaLiga.

It’s not the start Trent will have wanted and the last thing he probably needed was a return to Liverpool.

Fede Valverde started ahead of him at right-back on the night but with nine minutes remaining the Reds academy graduate finally got his chance to play at Anfield again.

While some did applaud, for the most part, he was met with a series of boos. Who can blame them?

As Xabi Alonso’s men tried desperately to score an equaliser, their efforts were ultimately in vain as Trent failed to inspire the European giants to a point.

After coming on, Alexander-Arnold managed just ten touches of the ball and was only able to complete six of his eight passes. His only cross was inaccurate and he didn’t manage a key pass.

Minutes played

9

Touches

10

Accurate passes

6/8 (75%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Dribbles

0

Possession lost

3x

Shots

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

1

He had limited minutes, of course, but it was far from the heroic involvement we were used to seeing from the England international during his days in red.

As it happens, he was completely outshone by fellow right-back Conor Bradley. In the words of content creator, George Scaife, the Northern Irishman’s display was “the best performance by a Liverpool player this season” having locked down one of the best wingers in the world in the form of Vinicius Junior.

Yet, it’s not Bradley who is more closely evoking memories of Trent this term.

Liverpool's summer signing is suffering from the Alexander-Arnold treatment

In the bigger picture, Alexander-Arnold’s time in England must be celebrated. He is one of the most iconic right-backs the Premier League has ever seen.

He scored 23 goals and racked up a rather mind-boggling tally of 92 assists from defence. There have been very few like him in the modern era.

Trent was very much one of the pioneers of the modern full-back. Creative, attacking and possessing the ability to invert into midfield, he offered a great deal to both Jurgen Klopp and Slot. Except, he was always a little bit suspect defensively.

While Bradley dealt with Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr with ease on Tuesday, on the contrary, Liverpool’s great Liverpudlian has struggled in games like these before.

Remember the quarter-final in 2021? It was Trent’s mistake that led to Marco Asensio scoring. The final in 2022? On that occasion, the full-back allowed Vini to ghost behind him and find the net.

While some of his defending was pretty inexcusable during his time at Liverpool, the threat he carried in the final third and from set-pieces always rescued him. He was a special player.

Yet, 2024/25 was a tough one as he geared up for his move to Madrid. Trent did feature in 49 matches across all competitions but he only completed 13 full 90 minutes in his 33 league outings.

Slot regularly withdrew him early from games and once it got towards the end of his time in England, he didn’t get much of a look in.

During Liverpool’s last six fixtures in the Premier League, he featured for a combined 220 minutes of the 540 that were played.

While the defender had suffered from a late-season ankle injury, his defending also hadn’t improved. After Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United back in January, Roy Keane was brutal with his criticism: “There’s talk about him going to Real Madrid, the way he’s defending he’s going to Tranmere Rovers after this. He’s got to do better.”

Well, in 2025/26, it would appear as though summer arrival Milos Kerkez is also suffering from a bout of Trent-itis.

Last season he was hailed as “one of the best left-backs in world football” by Troy Deeney and few would have disputed that claim.

The Hungarian was a rampaging threat on the left-hand side of the Bournemouth side, ending the campaign with two goals and six assists.

Like Trent, he’s got a wicked delivery in him. He’s a great creator of chances. Yet, also like Trent, he’s suspect defensively and has been found out since his big £40m move in the summer.

Not one to mince his words, Gary Neville was particularly scathing of the full-back in October, saying: “The left back hasn’t settled in. He plays like a 10-year-old; he is all over the place.” Harsh but you’d certainly expect better of a player who cost as much as he did.

As such, Kerkez has been in and out of the team much like Trent was last season. Like Alexander-Arnold, Slot cannot trust him, particularly in the big games. Indeed, against Man United, Jamie Redknapp described the defender as a “nervous wreck”, constantly hassled by Bryan Mbeumo.

Consequently, the former Cherries full-back has completed 90 minutes on just five of his nine league starts and now finds himself out of the team. Andy Robertson has started the last two games and Liverpool have won both. That is surely no coincidence.

Kerkez will no doubt come good in a Reds shirt. He was electric for Andoni Iraola’s side last campaign but he is going to have to eradicate his haphazard defending if he is to make it at Anfield.

If he doesn’t, then he can expect further Trent-like treatment in the months to come. An unreliable figure who’s excellent in attack but suspect at the back.

Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg has now travelled to the UK to hold talks with Swansea City about taking their vacant managerial role, with the Championship side advancing their move during the international break.

Since making the decision to sack Alan Sheehan, Swansea have been linked with moves for a number of names with Hellberg at the very top of their list. Alongside the 37-year-old, former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been linked with the job, whilst Russell Martin is reportedly open to making an unexpected return.

The former Swansea manager has endured a couple of years to forget in the dugout, having been sacked by Southampton in the Premier League and then by Rangers as one of their most unsuccessful managers of all time. Now, he desperately needs his next move to go well.

The Swans could also do with getting things right after sacking Sheehan. They currently sit 18th and seven points above the dropzone. Get things wrong and they face the risk of falling into a relegation battle this season.

With Middlesbrough and Norwich City also on the hunt for new managers, Swansea must also act fast if they are to secure their top managerial target. The last thing they want to do is miss their stop on the managerial merry-go-round in the Championship.

In an ideal world, those in Wales will have their top candidate through the door by the end of the international break and in time to face Bristol City on November 22. Whether that candidate will be Carrick, Martin or Hellberg is the big question.

Swansea advance Hellberg move

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Hellberg has now travelled to hold talks with Swansea and is now in London as the Wales-based side look to advance their move for the Hammarby boss.

All signs are pointing towards the 37-year-old becoming the next Swansea manager as things stand, although things could still change. And if it is to be the Swede, then those in Wales will be welcoming yet another young manager.

Hellberg has only ever managed two clubs, with his time in Hammarby particularly standing out as a success. It’s there that he has maintained a points per game record of 1.89 across 73 games in charge to take his side into the top two of the Allsvenskan.

The Championship is another challenge entirely, but it’s not the first time that Swansea have thought outside the box when it comes to hiring a manager. They, of course, hired a young Graham Potter in 2018 after he left Swedish club Ostersunds FK.

Manager who called Swansea City fans "fantastic" now open to replacing Sheehan

Who is going to be the new Celtic manager? Well, who knows!

Martin O’Neill remains in caretaker charge for now, having been parachuted in following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, winning three of four matches in charge to date, that Europa League hammering at the hands of Midtjylland the only blot on his copybook.

With no obvious front-runner for the job, and given that we’re in the middle of the season, could a left-field appointment be required?

Well, this was the case back in the summer of 2021 when, after seeing their Premiership streak of nine in a row come to an end, Ange Postecoglou was appointed completely out of nowhere, having only ever worked in his native Australia and Japan beforehand.

Despite this, and the widespread ridicule when he arrived in Glasgow, Postecoglou would go on to win five trophies across his two seasons in charge, thereby remaining, possibly, the most popular Celtic manager of modern times.

So, could another lesser-known name become the next Postecoglou, emphasising that he is the outstanding candidate for the vacancy, as opposed to the other front-runners?

Kieran McKenna to Celtic latest

Ever since Rodgers resigned, Kieran McKenna has been one of the names most frequently mentioned in terms of becoming the new Celtic manager.

As reported by Ewan Murray of the Guardian, he is a ‘leading candidate’ with the Ipswich Town boss boasting ‘longtime admirers’ on the Celtic board, while Sky Sports add that he is one of the names near the top of the club’s shortlist.

However, any approach would not be straightforward.

The 39-year-old is under contract in Suffolk until 2028 and Ipswich would surely demand a sizable compensation fee if they’re going to allow their most prized asset to depart.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

McKenna, in his first-ever head coach role, worked miracles at Portman Road, guiding the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, going from EFL League One to the Premier League in double quick time, the first time Ipswich had competed in England’s top-tier since 2002.

However, his team did really struggle to compete at the top level, winning just four Premier League matches all season, relegated with a whimper.

Right now, Ipswich are seventh in the EFL Championship, hammering Swansea 4-1 on Saturday, thereby sat just outside the play-off positions,

Before moving to Suffolk, McKenna worked as an assistant manager to José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Manchester United, so has some experience at an elite level, but many supporters remain unconvinced, so should the Celtic hierarchy target a more left-field coach who could be their new Postecoglou?

Celtic should appoint the new Postecoglou

According to a report by TEAMtalk on Wednesday evening, Wilfried Nancy, a man supporters may be very unfamiliar with, has been ‘officially invited’ for talks with the Hoops over the Parkhead vacancy.

It’s further reported that the Celtic board are ‘very keen’ to interview Nancy and could complete a deal by January should compensation be agreed, with the season in America, where he manages Columbus Crew, set to end this month.

So, who is he? Well, the Frenchman was named 2024 MLS coach of the year, but that does not begin to tell his story.

His first head coach role was with CF Montréal, staying in Québec for two seasons, before spending the last three years at Columbus Crew, enjoyed huge success in charge of both, as the table below documents.

2021

18th

Canadian Champ

2022

3rd

2023

3rd

MLS Cup

2024

2nd

Leagues Cup

2025

7th

First and foremost, if you’re not dialled into MLS, we’re guessing you’re probably not, it’s really difficult to properly put into words how impressive an achievement it is to finish 3rd in the overall standings, and second in the Eastern Conference, with Club de Foot Montréal.

Owner Joey Saputo essentially does not care about the team, meaning Montréal have one of the lowest budgets in Major League Soccer, finishing 28th, out of 30, this year, showing that Nancy can seriously elevate an underperforming side.

In Canada, Nancy succeeded Thierry Henry, after he resigned, and the Arsenal legend spoke glowingly about his former assistant during CBS’ Champions League coverage.

Nevertheless, Nancy’s true success has come since moving to Columbus Crew, winning MLS Cup at the end of his first year and then Leagues Cup last season, also leading the Black and Gold to the club’s first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup Final, ousting two Mexican heavyweights along the way, before defeat to Pachuca.

The Crew’s 2025 season is now over, dumped out of the MLS play-offs by local rivals FC Cincinnati at the weekend, which may make him available, so could he soon swap Ohio for Glasgow?

Well, he has certainly earned rave reviews, with Joe Lowery praising his “patient possession” style of play which he believes is “so much fun to watch”, while Tom Bogert describes the Crew as “attractive” to watch and “courageous” on the ball.

Meantime, former USA striker Herculez Gomez notes that Nancy is “immensely respected”, adding that his style of play is “so pleasing to the eye”, boasting a clear philosophy featuring both possession and high pressing, comparing him to Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.

Well, another high-profile manager that sounds reminiscent of is, well, Postecoglou and his now infamous, certainly in Premier League circles, Ange-ball.

As already mentioned, Postecoglou was a lesser-known name in British and European football prior to his arrival in Glasgow but, as he likes to remind everyone, he wins everywhere he goes, joining with a J League, multiple A-League titles and an AFC Asia Cup to his name, among other honours.

Well, the same can be said of Nancy, who created something of a dynasty in MLS, something that is so tough to do in a league that is so parity-focused.

Thus, just like Postecoglou, Nancy has the personality, the playing style and the will to win to succeed at Celtic, seemingly making him the ideal candidate to come in and lead the Hoops to a fifth successive Premiership title.

Upgrade on Nancy: Celtic considering move for "unbeatable" 4-2-3-1 manager

Celtic are considering a move for this 4-2-3-1 manager who would be an upgrade on Wilfried Nancy.

2 ByDan Emery Nov 12, 2025

After the success of Harry Amass on loan, Sheffield Wednesday have now reportedly set their sights on signing Gabriele Biancheri and Victor Musa from Manchester United in January.

The Owls are slowly but surely solving the problems left behind by Dejphon Chansiri and now have plenty of reason to be optimistic after clearing debts owed on deals for Yan Valery and Ike Ugbo.

According to The Star’s Alex Miller, with those debts cleared, Sheffield Wednesday’s FIFA transfer restriction has been lifted and they’ll be in a position to sign players at long last in January. What’s more, those at Hillsborough are still waiting for a verdict from the EFL on lifting their ban on signing free agents in what would be a major boost.

Whilst Championship safety remains a mere fantasy after their 12-point deduction, Sheffield Wednesday at least have the chance to drag their rivals down with them after the international break, given that Sheffield United sit as low as 22nd as things stand.

Victory over their rivals in the Steel City derby would take the Owls within two points of reaching the positives again and manager Henrik Pedersen, who is already looking forward to the game – telling reporters: “Oh I am looking forward.

“You can see from the players, from the fans, the energy is good. We are together with a lot of hope for the future and when we see the boys at Southampton, they don’t work hard enough for the three goals, but away at Southampton there were so many good things.”

Off the pitch, meanwhile, the manager will have the chance to welcome some much-needed reinforcements in January, which could start with two more Man United gems.

Sheffield Wednesday targeting Musa and Biancheri

According to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, Sheffield Wednesday are now targeting Victor Musa and Gabriele Biancheri at Man United following the success of Amass’ loan deal this season. The left-back has started all 11 of Sheffield Wednesday’s Championship games and even scored his first goal for the club against Southampton last time out.

Now turning back to Old Trafford, the Owls could land two more impressive talents. Both 19-year-old strikers, Biancheri has scored four goals in seven Premier League 2 games so far this season and has enjoyed a better season than Musa, who is yet to score.

As a result of his recent rise, it’s Biancheri who has earned the most praise with Canada boss Jesse Marsch telling reporters after inviting the forward to join the country’s training camp in June: “He’s a dynamic player. He’s very good around the goal. You can see he’s an intelligent player.

“He’s a version of Jonathan David. He’s not exactly the same player but he’s a striker that can play up on the backline and is also good at coming underneath and connecting plays and being part of the build-up phase.”

Sheffield Wednesday takeover latest

Lalit Rajbanshi, who missed the Top End T20 series in Australia, is also back in the side

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2025

Nepal have recalled allrounder Mohammad Aadil Alam and middle-order batter Sundeep Jora for the historic three-match T20I series against West Indies in the UAE later this month. This will be Nepal’s first bilateral series against a Full Member.Alam last played for Nepal in August 2022, and Jora in June 2024. Rohit Paudel will lead the squad, which was announced last week; Dipendra Singh Airee will be his deputy. The bowling attack will revolve around legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi, who missed the Top End T20 series in Australia last month, is also back in the side.”We are confident and positive,” Paudel said. “The last two years of exposure playing against Test nations has also brought good experience, and the team is balanced with the presence of Jora and Aadil Alam.”Related

Five uncapped players in Akeal Hosein-led WI squad

In April 2024, West Indies A had toured Nepal for a five-match T20 series, which they won 3-2. For the upcoming series, West Indies have included five uncapped players in their squad, and will be led by Akeal Hosein.The series starts on September 27, with all three games to be played in Sharjah. After that, Nepal will head to Oman for the Asia and East-Asia Pacific Qualifier for the 2026 T20 World Cup.Nepal squad for West Indies T20IsRohit Paudel (capt), Dipendra Singh Airee (vice-capt), Aasif Sheikh (wk), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Mohammad Adil Alam, Aarif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulsan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, Shahab Alam

Former Al-Nassr forward Anderson Talisca has branded Cristiano Ronaldo "the best in history" while opening up on his experience of sharing a dressing room with the Portuguese legend. Talisca and Ronaldo played together at Al-Nassr for two years before the Brazilian attacker left for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce in January.

Talisca and Ronaldo's partnership at Al-Nassr

Talisca started his career in his homeland at Bahia before moving to Portugal, where he spent four years with Benfica. In between, he had played in Turkey briefly on loan at Besiktas. In 2018, he joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande. After three years in China, Talisca moved to Saudi Arabia and signed for Al-Nassr.

He quickly became a talisman for Al-Nassr, but had to give up the spotlight when Ronaldo arrived on a free transfer in January 2023. Al-Nassr also brought in Sadio Mane in the subsequent summer transfer window. Talisca formed one third of a stellar attacking trio at Al-Nassr alongside Ronaldo and Mane and won the Arab Club Championship in 2023.

Talisca decided to head back to Turkey at the start of the year to work under Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, but looks back on his time playing with Ronaldo fondly.

AdvertisementAFPRonaldo branded 'best in history'

Speaking to , Talisca said of his relationship with Ronaldo: "It was an incredible two years. When he arrived, I had already been there for two years. I spent four years at the club, an incredible story. Playing with him was surreal, it was a dream for me. For me, he is the best in history.

"We trained together and did incredible things. Working with him, for me, as an athlete and as a human being, was about maximising the athlete's potential, being more professional, caring more about himself. It was incredible."

Ronaldo facing suspension

Ronaldo is currently taking a break from club duties at Al-Nassr, but did not enjoy a happy return to the Portugal national team. He was sent off during Portugal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last Thursday for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea. FIFA rules state a three-match suspension be used as punishment in the event of a straight red card. Ronaldo thusly sat out Portugal's final qualifying encounter against Armenia, which they won 9-0 to book a place at the World Cup. Ronaldo is also in danger of sitting out Portugal's first two games at the tournament, but the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a formal plea to FIFA, hoping to bring the suspension down to a single game – according to . 

Their argument primarily hinges on three pillars. The first centres on the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, which the federation describes as "hostile".  They argue that it was influenced by Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s provocative comments on the eve of the match. Ahead of the game, he suggested Ronaldo had "controlled the referee" during Portugal’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture last month.

Secondly, the FPF are planning to highlight the physical grappling between O’Shea and Ronaldo leading up to the red card, arguing the striker reacted instinctively after being physically provoked repeatedly inside the box. Finally, they will present Ronaldo’s impeccable disciplinary record at international level. The legendary forward had gone 225 matches without a single red card, which the FPF thinks is compelling evidence that Thursday’s incident was an isolated one and had no malicious intent. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyRonaldo's purple patch for Al-Nassr

After failing to win a major trophy in the first two and a half years at the club, Ronaldo is determined to get his hands on some silverware this term. Accordingly, the club have signed star players like Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman to bolster the attack and provide Ronaldo with more service. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star has himself got off to a flying start as he has scored 10 goals in 11 matches across all competitions.

He will be back in action for Al-Nassr this Sunday as they take on Al-Khaleej in an important Saudi Pro League clash.

England opted not to risk Jofra Archer given the conditions once the game was shortened

Vithushan Ehantharajah10-Sep-2025Harry Brook will not read too much into “a bit of a shambles of a night” in Cardiff as England lost a truncated first T20I against South Africa.Just 12.5 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens as persistent showers delayed the start by more than two hours. Play eventually began at 8:50pm for a nine-over match. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Brook watched on as a powerful South Africa batting card smashed 97 for 5 from 7.5 overs before rain curtailed their innings. That downpour subsequently gave England an adjusted chase of 69 in five overs, of which they fell 15 short.Related

England 304 for 2; Salt 141* sets up crushing 146-run victory

Luke Wood grasps latest chance on wet night in Cardiff

Past, present and future of English spin unite

South Africa beat England and the rain to leave Cardiff 1-0 up

England opted to remove Jofra Archer from their XI announced on Tuesday on safety grounds, after ruling conditions were too risky for their prized fast bowler. Luke Wood was the late replacement, earning his eighth T20I cap, and was the pick of the home attack with 2 for 22.”It was a bit of a shambles really, wasn’t it?” said Brook, whose 0 from four deliveries was his first duck in T20Is. “You can’t take much from that. There was so much going on. They got nine overs, we got five overs. You can’t take much from it.”It was a long, long day. I don’t think we need to make any excuses up. We probably didn’t execute as well as we should have done with bat and ball. It’s bloody hard when you only bat for five overs.”Brook stopped short of saying the match should not have gone ahead: “That’s not for me to decide, that’s for the umpires or the match referee. We just try to do what we can on the field.”However, the decision to park Archer was an admission of the risk involved, particularly given the amount of time and money invested to get the 30-year-old back playing all international formats this summer ahead of the winter’s Ashes. Brook even cited Adam Hose’s horrific ankle injury sustained during The Hundred as a worse-case scenario had Archer played.”It would have been stupid to play him with the amount of cricket we’ve got coming up,” said Brook. “If he’d have gone out in the boundary and done what Adam Hose did in The Hundred and broken his leg or whatever, that would have been a shambles.”As soon as we knew that the game was shortened, we didn’t think it was quite necessary for Jof to play. Obviously, the outfield was sodden and he’s got a lot of cricket to play in the next few months with a big series coming up. So, yeah, we, we decided to not play him.”

Napoli have entered the winter transfer market with urgency after injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Zambo Anguissa forced Antonio Conte to rethink his midfield structure. Feyenoord captain Quinten Timber has emerged as a prime target, with his contract running down and multiple clubs circling. But Napoli now face fierce competition from Arsenal, where his twin brother Jurrien Timber already plays.

• Why Napoli are eyeing a winter move for Timber

  According to CalcioNapoli24, Napoli’s interest in Timber comes at a moment of necessity and opportunity. The injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa have left glaring gaps in Antonio Conte’s midfield which he has centred around power, transitions and constant vertical threat. Conte’s teams are at their best when the midfield can win duels, initiate forward bursts, and maintain tactical discipline, and Timber fits that profile with remarkable precision.

  Timber’s blend of physicality, technical comfort and relentless work rate is exactly what Napoli currently lack. His ability to tackle high up the pitch, break lines with confident passing, and contribute directly to goals makes him a rare multi-phase midfielder. In Feyenoord’s title-winning seasons, he excelled in both defensive recoveries and attacking progression, ranking among the best in Europe in attacking. Conte sees him as the ideal player to restore balance in a midfield disrupted by injuries, capable of playing as a box-to-box engine, an aggressive ball-winner or even a third man arriving late in transitions.

  Most importantly, his contract expiry in 2026 gives Napoli a strategic advantage. Feyenoord cannot afford to lose their captain for free next summer, making January the most realistic window for a deal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Quinten Timber's rise to prominence

  Timber’s rise has been steady, substantial and built on consistent excellence. Since signing for Feyenoord in July 2022 for a club-record €8.5 million, he has transformed into one of the Eredivisie’s standout midfielders. His breakout came in the 2022–23 season, where he became central to Feyenoord’s first league title in six years. He scored his first goal soon after arrival, and by the following campaign, his contributions soared with him directly involved in 16 goals in 2023–24.

  His maturity was rewarded in 2024 when he was appointed club captain. Even after a knee injury in 2025, his pre-injury form kept him firmly on the radar of Europe’s elite. His defensive numbers place him among the top percentile for tackles and interceptions, while his passing security and ball progression have made him indispensable for Feyenoord’s build-up.

  This explains why clubs across Europe, including Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, Manchester United and now Napoli and Arsenal, are pushing to secure him.

• Arsenal's interest in Timber and why Napoli needs to act decisively

  Arsenal’s interest in Timber adds a compelling twist to the transfer chase. Mikel Arteta has been tracking him closely, attracted to his intelligence in possession and comfort playing multiple midfield roles. What strengthens Arsenal’s position is the presence of his twin brother, Jurrien, who has already integrated seamlessly into Arteta’s system. The prospect of reuniting at a club known for developing young talent is naturally an emotional and attractive factor for Quinten, and Arsenal are well aware of the pull this creates.

  But Arsenal’s midfield is stacked with competition with Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimeni and Mikel Merino all competing for central spots. Timber may be used primarily as a rotation option in Arteta’s possession system, gradually adjusting to the speed and physicality of the Premier League. Yet the pathway to consistent starts would be slow and heavily dependent on adaptation.

  This is where Napoli hold an advantage. Serie A’s tactical environment suits Timber’s development, and Conte is prepared to make him an immediate starter due to the injury crisis and the demands of the system. Napoli can offer guaranteed minutes, a defined role, and the chance to play Champions League football while becoming a central pillar in a title-chasing side. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  An important winter market for Napoli

  The January window will be pivotal for Napoli as they attempt to reinforce their squad and sustain their Serie A title defence. Timber is a priority, but Conte’s plans extend well beyond midfield. Injuries to key figures have exposed depth issues, particularly in defence, where the absence of Alessandro Buongiorno has forced tactical reshuffles, and at right-back, where Napoli are pushing hard for Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez. A new centre-back and full-back remain essential to stabilise the back line.

  With 22 points from their first 11 league matches this season, Napoli stand 4th and two points behind the top spot. But to stay competitive, Conte’s January decisions will shape the club’s trajectory for the rest of the campaign.

In search of an attacking spark, Everton have now reportedly joined Newcastle United in the race to sign young Brazilian star Allan Elias from Palmeiras in 2026.

The Toffees have endured an inconsistent season so far, but entered the international break off the back of a routine 2-0 victory over Fulham. For the most part, David Moyes’ side have shown potential, albeit without blowing teams away.

It must be said, however, that their weakness has been clear since the beginning of the campaign. Everton just can’t get their strikers going on the goal front. After making Thierno Barry one of their most expensive signings, those in Merseyside would have at least expected a goal or two by now. So far, though, he’s yet to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Beto is also struggling. The towering forward showed glimpses of promise last season – especially under Moyes – but has so far scored just two goals in 13 games in all competitions.

The Friedkin Group are seemingly running out of patience with their strikers, too. Recent reports have claimed that Everton are interested in adding to their attack in the January transfer window, with Joshua Zirkzee and Daizen Maeda both linked.

The latter would be a particularly impressive signing, given that he scored 33 goals for Celtic at his best last season. Now apparrently keen to leave the Scottish club, Everton could reportedly land a deal for just £15m.

Related Everton officials scout Ireland star who shocked Cristiano Ronaldo

He could solve their striker problem.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 14, 2025

Alas, the Japan international isn’t the only attacking spark on the Toffees’ shortlist, and they could also make some improvements to those providing the service for Beto and Barry. Fresh headlines in Brazil have suggested that those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium now want a South American gem.

Everton join race to sign Allan Elias

According to reports in Brazil, via Sport Witness, Everton have now joined the race to sign Allan ahead of Newcastle. The 21-year-old has impressed for Palmeiras, assisting eight goals in the current campaign, and could yet ignite Moyes’ frontline.

For many, Allan will be an unknown talent, but it’s worth noting the impressive performances that he enjoyed from the bench at last summer’s Club World Cup. Squaring off against the likes of Chelsea and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, the young Brazilian more than held his own.

The 21-year-old has also earned plenty of praise during his time at Palmeiras, with manager Abel Ferreira telling reporters: “It’s difficult to leave names like Veiga, Mauricio and Murilo out, but Allan comes in and gives a great dynamic. A machine.”

Claims that Palmeiras have inserted a release clause worth as much as €100m (£88m) in Allan’s contract shows just how highly they rate him and that could provide a problem for Everton.

As much as Friedkin were willing to spend big last summer, they mainly spent on proven European talent rather than gambling on the unknown. At this stage, it seems unlikely that the Toffees would spend £88m on Allan.

"Brilliant" Everton target asks to leave Celtic as Friedkin enter £15m race