After finishing a gruelling season at No. 3 and 4, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians face off in a knockout

Hemant Brar29-May-20252:58

Moody: GT have a few more concerns than MI

Big picture: Can GT cope without Buttler?Before the start of IPL 2025, Gujarat Titans (GT) seemed to have a hole in their batting line-up. They had an excellent top three and a bunch of finishers but the middle order looked thin. GT, though, finished third in the league stage and will now face Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator in New Chandigarh on Friday. The winner moves on to Qualifier 2, one step closer to the final; the loser is eliminated.GT relied heavily on their top three during their run to the playoffs. In most games, at least one of Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler batted so deep that the middle order was barely required. On the rare occasion when they fell relatively early, Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan proved that the perceived hole in the middle order wasn’t so deep.The interruption to the season, however, interrupted GT’s momentum. They were on course for a top-two finish but lost their last two league games and dropped to No. 3. Now Buttler has left for the England duty and GT’s first match without him is the Eliminator. His replacement Kusal Mendis is a fine batter but he is not in the same league. Moreover, he has never played the IPL and his last innings in a competitive game was more than a month ago.Related

MI's turnaround decoded: death overs tamed, middle overs mastered

GT were perhaps the only franchise to have constructed their squad around their bowling. But with Mohammed Siraj’s form tapering off and Rashid Khan’s never really picking up, their strongest department does not look as strong. In the last three games, they conceded 199, 235 and 230.MI, on the other hand, are a galaxy of stars. But not everyone has been shining as brightly. Suryakumar Yadav is their leading run-getter with 640, but the next best, Ryan Rickelton, is 252 behind. And he is not available for the playoffs. The next on the list is Rohit Sharma with 329.Unlike Mendis for GT, MI’s replacement for Rickelton is an IPL veteran: Jonny Bairstow. Last fortnight, he smashed twin fifties for Yorkshire, albeit in a red-ball game. Will Jacks, who has also left MI for England duty, does not leave behind that big a hole. On current form, their bowling attack also seems stronger than GT’s.GT, though, will draw confidence from having beaten MI in both league games. In fact, MI are yet to beat any of the three other teams in the playoffs. They did have a six-match winning streak in the middle, but after two losses in their last three league games, they no longer appear invincible.3:00

Aaron: Bairstow is one of the replacements of the IPL

Form guideGujarat Titans LLWWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians LWLWWIn the spotlight: Rashid Khan and Jasprit BumrahRashid Khan and Jasprit Bumrah have been T20 cricket’s best spinner and best fast bowler for years now. But they have had contrasting fortunes in IPL 2025. Rashid is having his worst IPL season. In 14 games, he has picked up just nine wickets at an average of 53.66 and an economy of 9.47. The 31 sixes he has been hit for are the joint most for any bowler in an IPL season alongside Siraj in 2022.Bumrah missed the first four matches as he was recovering from a back injury. Despite that, he is joint sixth on the list of highest wicket-takers this season. He has taken 17 at an average of 14.64 and economy of 6.33, both a personal best for him in an IPL season.Jasprit Bumrah is having his best IPL season•Getty ImagesTeam news and likely XIIsMendis replacing Buttler could be the only change for GT.Gujarat Titans (probable): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sherfane Rutherford, 5 M Shahrukh Khan, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 R Sai Kishore, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh KrishnaBairstow coming in for Rickelton is a straight swap. Choosing between Charith Asalanka and Bevon Jacobs for Jacks could be trickier, but Asalanka’s offspin could tilt the decision in his favour.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Charith Asalanka/Bevon Jacobs, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Karn SharmaThe big questionPitch and conditionsNew Chandigarh has not dished out consistent pitches this season. In the four games played there before the playoffs, a team lost after making 201 and a team won after scoring 111. In Qualifier 1, Punjab Kings (PBKS) were all out for 101 on a surface that helped both seamers and spinners, but it will be a fresh pitch for the Eliminator. The weather forecast for Friday is likely to be cloudy, but there is no indication of rain.Key stats In the IPL, Hardik Pandya has dismissed Gill four times in 23 balls while giving away only 19 runs. Mendis has struggled against Mitchell Santner in T20 cricket – four dismissals in 39 balls for just 34 runs. Across all T20s, Suryakumar has taken Rashid for 117 runs in 77 balls without a dismissal. Rashid has dominated his match-up against Hardik, though: 32 runs in 44 balls, two dismissals. Tilak Varma has faced seven balls from Prasidh Krishna in the IPL. He’s been dismissed twice and hasn’t scored a run.

West Ham travel to Everton on Monday, but Graham Potter will not get the chance to use the trip to Goodison Park as a shot at redemption after he and his coaching staff were let go on Saturday.

The managers who West Ham are considering to replace Graham Potter

Nuno Espírito Santo, Slaven Bilic, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick have all been mentioned as managerial candidates for the potential West Ham job recently.

Potter, who had overseen four defeats from five Premier League games at West Ham this season, conceding more goals than any other top-flight side, has seen time run out. Reports had hinted at a stay of execution for the 50-year-old until the Arsenal match, but David Sullivan and the West Ham board have decided to call time on his reign.

It’s been just over nine months since Potter took over from Julen Lopetegui in the dugout, with the former Chelsea and Brighton boss recording one of West Ham’s worst Premier League win percentages in that time — behind only Avram Grant — who relegated the east Londoners in 2011.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

According to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, while Nuno is demanding a long-term contract with reported big wages, the Portuguese is believed to be in pole position for the job. Other top contenders include Bilic, who is already planning his coaching staff in the event he’s appointed (ExWHUemployee), and now, Gary O’Neil.

The latter is a free agent after leaving Wolves last season and has a connection with West Ham already, having made 56 appearances for them as a player. O’Neil does have his credentials too, despite being sacked by his last club.

His work at Molineux and Bournemouth is “highly respected” in Premier League circles, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, given O’Neil worked wonders at times with limited resources and helped to save the Cherries from what looked like a near-certain relegation in 2022/2023.

Gary O'Neil keen to replace Graham Potter as West Ham hold manager talks

Now, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, O’Neil is believed to be keen on joining West Ham as the club hold talks with managerial candidates behind-the-scenes.

O’Rourke highlights that Nuno remains the favourite, but says O’Neil is actually Sullivan and the board’s second choice behind the ex-Nottingham Forest hero.

The 42-year-old may not ‘wow’ supporters as a favoured candidate, though there is reason to believe he could steady the ship, at least on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Gary O'Neil's credentials for the West Ham job

After taking over from Scott Parker at Bournemouth in 2022, O’Neil won 10 of his 34 league games in charge that season, guiding them to a 15th-placed finish.

Parker was shown his P45 following a 9-0 loss to Liverpool, which still stands as the joint-biggest defeat in Premier League history, but O’Neil managed to go unbeaten over his first six games in charge of Bournemouth thereafter.

As a result of his impressive start, the tactician was awarded a one-and-a-half year contract during the World Cup break, and steered the south coast side comfortably clear of relegation.

O’Neil also impressed in his first season at Wolves, guiding them to an FA Cup quarter-final and 14th-placed finish under very challenging circumstances, with the Old Gold selling a host of key players and bringing in few quality options to replace them.

However, O’Neil seriously struggled to build upon that in his second year and was sacked midway through 24/25 after a defeat to Ipswich.

With a drop to the Championship staring West Ham in the face right now, O’Neil could be an adept solution to steady the ship, but only on an interim basis.

Did Mumbai Indians miss a trick by handing the ball to Deepak Chahar, and not Hardik Pandya, for the all-important final over?

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-20253:53

Abhinav Mukund: ‘MI bowlers let the game drift a bit in the middle overs’

When the rain went away and Gujarat Titans (GT) needed 15 to win off six balls, Mumbai Indians (MI) had a few options to throw the ball to. Deepak Chahar had bowled just two. Hardik Pandya had bowled just one. The spinners Karn Sharma and Will Jacks had bowled just three between them. It had to be a quick bowler, so it was between Chahar and Hardik, and MI chose Chahar. Chahar was “our main bowler” at that point, Mahela Jayawardene, the MI head coach, said later by way of explanation, but Katey Martin was sure that “you always want your skipper to step up” in such situations.But MI seemed to have made that decision before the team walked out for that one over after the last rain delay, pushing the Tuesday game into Wednesday, that it would be Chahar. A four and a six were hit, a no-ball was bowled, and GT were home off the last ball in a seesawing contest.”Deepak did that job for us when Booms [Jasprit Bumrah] was not there [for the first few games of the season],” Jayawardene said at the post-match press conference after MI’s streak of wins ended at six. “He was good, our main bowler. It’s easier for you to ask me that question and for me to say, ‘yeah, maybe Hardik’. Had Hardik gone for three sixes, you might have asked me why you didn’t bowl Deepak. I don’t like to go to that.”Related

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Hardik on MI's three no-balls: 'A crime in my eyes'

“Throughout the game, we made some good decisions with the ball when we had to attack. Deepak’s execution – a couple of balls he missed, they hit some good shots, we bowled a no-ball as well on top of that – and we still came down to the last ball.”It was not the decision; it was the execution. That’s where we lost the game. My thinking is we lost the game when we had control of it and that was disappointing.”On the question of why not Hardik, Martin, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, said, “He typically bowls the crucial over. And I understand that he went for a few earlier. But yeah, you always want your skipper to step up.” Hardik’s only over in the game had gone for 18 runs, with three wides and two no-balls.Martin and her co-panellist Abhinav Mukund agreed that MI had taken their foot off the pedal in the middle overs of GT’s chase.”I felt they just let the game drift a little bit in that middle phase,” Abhinav said. “Because they have a set plan – like how Gujarat Titans have a set plan with their top three – when it comes to their bowling, they like using Bumrah to the back end of the powerplay, then maybe one in the middle overs and then maybe one at the death, or maybe even two at the death.2:06

How crucial was Gill’s 43 from 46 balls?

“They were forced to change the plan because of Gujarat Titans. But if you see the number of runs that were leaked in between the Bumrah overs – so Bumrah went three and five, and then you had that sudden surge of 37 in three overs [six to eight]. And then another surge [28 runs in overs 13 and 14] before Bumrah did eventually come back on. So… I know, cheat code and all of that, but you’ve got to manage your other bowlers as well. They got lucky with Ashwani Kumar, 2 for 28 in four.”As it transpired, Bumrah and Trent Boult had to bowl out by the 17th over as MI went in search of wickets, leaving Chahar, a powerplay specialist normally, and Hardik as the main options for the last over after rain decided the chase to a 19-over affair. Ashwani played his part well, coming on as a concussion sub for Corbin Bosch and picking up two wickets and bowling economically.At many levels, it was Bumrah or bust for MI in the phase leading up to the death overs, and he didn’t disappoint. Over No. 15 was 1 for 6. Over No. 17 was 1 for 7. Shubman Gill and Shahrukh Khan gone. Bumrah did swing the game, and the DLS equation, MI’s way there.The Gill wicket was a beauty. And Shahrukh was probably just not up to the task.”That’s the thing with Bumrah, right, he has the extraordinary skill and capability to change his length based on the batter,” Abhinav said. “And he went slightly full, he missed the yorker – which I think he’s not too confident about even now, seven games after injury – and went for four. And then he decided, ‘Let me go back to lengths, let me cramp them because that’s what I did the first two overs of the spell to Shubman and Jos Buttler.’ So he went there again. And that’s the ball he nails time and again.”It wasn’t sensible from Shahrukh to keep going, but I have seen him do it multiple times to try and just boss the game. You don’t boss the best in the world, right?”2:04

‘Bumrah can make the best batters look silly’

Till he got out, Gill was playing an ODI-style innings, going at under a run a ball, but doing just what GT needed to stay ahead of the DLS par score in a game where batting was far from easy – it was swinging around more than halfway into the second innings.”The unbelievable part is that you can look so good and elegant as Gill has throughout the whole IPL, and the ball deviated a lot and nipped back in quite a bit, and he was literally nowhere,” Martin said of Bumrah knocking Gill over with one that nipped back in and zipped off the surface. “It was just all about his [Gill’s] hands trying to get the bat on the ball, there was concrete in his feet.”That’s what Bumrah does; he can make the best batters in the world look silly by just the intelligence in where he bowls, the extra pace, and the fire – he’s just got the fire in the belly for Mumbai to get the side across the line. And I think the back-up over from Trent Boult [the 16th, which took Sherfane Rutherford out] and then another wicket [Ashwani getting Rashid Khan]. Ashwani wasn’t even meant to be playing this game, he’d come in at the halfway mark as a concussion sub, and to be able to pick up a couple of wickets, economical too, I think the way Mumbai Indians bowled just shows they are never out of the game.”They weren’t. Till that last over. Poor decision? Poor execution? We’ll never know what might have happened if Hardik, more used to bowling in the death overs, had bowled instead of Chahar.

With time running out at Ibrox for Russell Martin, Glasgow Rangers are now reportedly targeting a move to hire a former La Liga coach who they previously had contact with.

Managers that could replace Martin at Rangers

He’s had just five games in the Scottish Premiership, but Ibrox has already seen enough of Martin. Boos echoed around Ibrox when he emerged from the dressing room for the second-half last weekend and those boos only increased when Rangers were condemned to their first home defeat against Hearts since 2014.

With the writing on the wall for the former Southampton boss, the focus has instantly turned towards the candidates that could arrive to replace Martin in Scotland.

On that front, one name already mentioned has been Steven Gerrard. The last manager to win the Scottish Premiership with the Gers, having dethroned Celtic in 2020/21, Gerrard certainly knows what it takes to bring success to Rangers. Whether fans are ready to forgive him for moving to Aston Villa midway through the 2021/22 campaign is another question, however.

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Meanwhile, a move for Jose Mourinho can now be ruled out. The former Chelsea boss has moved back to Portugal to become the new Benfica manager. It goes without saying, though, that affording his wages would have been a tough task for Rangers.

So the question as to just who could replace Martin remains unanswered. With Mourinho ruled out and Gerrard perhaps a choice that will split opinion, the Gers could turn their focus towards a former La Liga coach.

Rangers eyeing summer target Davide Ancelotti

As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers are once again eyeing a move for Davide Ancelotti to replace Martin. The former Real Madrid assistant coach has found himself back on the Gers’ radar after hitting a difficult spell at Botafogo, which could yet end in his dismissal. If that does prove to be the case, then he could be available just in time for Rangers to swoop in.

Ancelotti should be someone that the 49ers are already very familiar with. It was reportedly between the Spaniard and Martin for the job in the summer, with contact made with both, before the Gers ultimately made a choice that they’ve come to regret.

That said, hiring Ancelotti would also come with its risks. In his first managerial job, Carlo Ancelotti’s son has ultimately struggled after initially getting off to a solid start. Questions would rightly be asked if Rangers hired a manager who has won two of his last eight games at his current club.

Whether it’s Gerrard, Ancelotti or another option, Rangers’ next potential manager cannot afford to get off to a poor start. Those at Ibrox already sit 10th and in an increasingly concerning position.

Manchester United once had a Zinedine Zidane-esque midfielder, who legendary Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes compared to Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder in January

After missing out on a new central midfielder during the 2025 summer transfer window, Man United have set their sights on signing one in January, and a number of potential targets have already been identified.

Target	Current club	Potential cost
Carlos Baleba	Brighton	£115m
Adam Wharton	Crystal Palace	£50m+
Conor Gallagher	Atletico Madrid	£45m
Elliot Anderson	Nottingham Forest	Unknown

There are clear indications that Ruben Amorim needs to bolster his options in the engine room, with Scholes suggesting Bruno Fernandes isn’t cut out to be a central midfielder, while also singling Casemiro out for criticism.

The 50-year-old said: “Fernandes [and Casemiro], they’re the two he’s [Amorim] going with, and Fernandes for me, he’s someone who fills in as a midfielder, he might get away with it for one, two or three games. He’s not got the discipline to be a central midfield player.”

“Bringing two No.10s (Cunha and Mbeumo) was that really necessary? You think you’ve got Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo can do that.”

Man Utd now eyeing January move for "unbelievable" £47m Baleba alternative

The Red Devils are looking to sign a central midfielder, who could be perfect for Ruben Amorim.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 10, 2025

Having arguably gotten their priorities wrong in the summer, United look poised to make a move for a new central midfielder this winter, and they will be hoping the new signing can eclipse Paul Pogba’s achievements, with the Frenchman leaving on a free back in 2022.

Pogba’s career at United didn’t pan out the way anyone was hoping, but he received extremely high praise not long after returning to Old Trafford, with Gianluigi Buffon saying:

Scholes was also a keen admirer of the central midfielder, saying:

Pogba had the talent to be an all-time great

The 32-year-old’s time at Old Trafford was by no means a complete failure, having won two EFL Cups and the 2016-17 Europa League, but there is no doubt that the midfielder didn’t manage to hit the heights expected of him.

Given how highly the 91-time France international was rated by Scholes and Buffon, he had the ability to become an all-time great for Man United, but things didn’t work out that way, arguably due to his attitude, which Graeme Souness regularly criticised.

Souness said: “Paul Pogba plays for himself, it’s all about how cool he looks, showing us how clever he is. I reckon Pogba’s only in the team to maintain his transfer value until United can sell him, because he doesn’t merit his place for any other reason.”

With Pogba’s doping ban over, the former United man arguably has one last chance to get his career back on track, having now signed for AS Monaco on a two-year deal.

MatériaMais Notícias

O confronto entreFluminense eOlimpia foi precedido por uma confusão no entorno do estádio. Torcedores do Tricolor das Laranjeiras e a polícia do Rio de Janeiro entraram em conflito cerca de uma hora antes da partida válida pelas quartas de final da Copa Libertadores. As informações são do “ge”.

RelacionadasNotíciasAposte R$10 e ganhe mais de R$60 com Germán Cano e o Fluminense na LibertadoresNotícias24/08/2023FluminenseFluminense x Olimpia: Fernando Diniz e Arce se reencontram, mas na beira do gramado da LibertadoresFluminense24/08/2023Futebol LatinoOlimpia vê Fluminense mais ‘difícil’ que o Flamengo; entendaFutebol Latino24/08/2023

O grupo esperava pela chegada do ônibus do clube e reclamou que o isolamento estava maior do que acontecia em outros jogos, fazendo com que os tricolores ficassem distantes do caminho que o veículo iria percorrer. Com isso, os torcedores derrubaram um dos isolamentos e tentaram se aproximar. A polícia reagiu utilizando gás de pimenta e acionando a cavalaria.

Os ânimos se arrefeceram aos poucos e a torcida continuou no entorno, mesmo com a chuva que caiu no Maracanã. O ônibus passou por volta das 20h no portão 2 e foi recepcionado com festa e sinalizadores.

O objetivo dos torcedores que estavam no Portão 2 do Maracanã era receber a delegação do Tricolor das Laranjeiras com um “corredor humano”. Alguns sinalizadores estavam acesos em ruas de acesso.

Na noite da última segunda-feira (21), o Fluminense divulgou nas redes sociais algumas proibições para a torcida seguir inclusive nos arredores do Maracanã. O Código Disciplinar da Conmebol proíbe ações como “ruas de fogo” e objetos como sinalizadores mesmo no entorno de estádios.

Ruben Amorim hit back at critics who claimed that he would be sacked sooner rather than later as the Portuguese manager sent out a fiery message after Manchester United's crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield. This was the first time since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford in November 2024 that United have won back-to-back Premier League matches.

• United slowly regaining form after sloppy start

  United had a forgetful outing in Amorim's debut campaign at Old Trafford last season, as the club finished 15th in the Premier League table and went trophyless after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. The dismal performance prompted Amorim to make major changes in his squad as he primarily focused on strengthening in attack and accordingly brought in three big names for big money: Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

  However, despite the new additions and heavy spending, the Red Devils got off to a nightmare start in the 2025-26 campaign, as they had won just two out of their first six league matches and faced elimination from Carabao Cup after losing against fourth-tier side Grimsby Town in the second round.

  But, United are now slowly regaining form and for the first time in the Amorim, the club registered back-to-back wins in the league. After beating Sunderland 2-0 just before the international break, they defeated rivals and reigning champions Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday, also marking a win at the stadium for the first time in nine years.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Amorim hits out at critics

  At the start of the season, many naysayers had predicted that Amorim won't last at Old Trafford until Christmas due to the club's terrible performances week in and week out. However, after finally winning consecutive legue matches, the Portuguese coach has now hit back at his critics, as he sent out a defiant message.

  Speaking to reporters after the Liverpool game, Amorim said: "It is really important. I don't have many wins in Manchester. It is really important back to back, every detail of this game, the spirit when we suffer a bad moment or control, all the small things was perfect.

  "Let's try to do that next week. It is really important for our fans, they struggle against Grimsby and Brentford and today they saw a different team. I think it is not normal, it is hard to find something like this, so many bad moments and to have the fans always supporting the manager when every one of [the media] is saying he is gone before Christmas."

• Amorim remained confident about keeping his job

  Even during the difficult period at the start of the season, Amorim never stopped believing in his abilities and remained firm on his stance that he is here to stay, despite speculations over his future at Old Trafford.

  After the club's terrible defeat against Brentford last month, the 40-year-old had said: "I am always comfortable with the job. I am not concerned, it is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here. I am never concerned about my job, I am not that kind of guy. I'm always doing my job. If I win, I'm in a different state of mind. That is normal, but I'm always confident because I know what to do. I've always taken a lot of responsibility on your own shoulders.

  "We can play better and we need to play better. It's like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is here. When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum. I cannot tell you more than I say every time I lose the game. Sometimes you see one team that performs really well and you see improvements. And then sometimes you have some games that you don't see that improvement.

  "That gives you the confidence to say that Manchester United is going to get back. So it's always the same conversation. It depends on the next game. So let's try to win the next game and to improve certain things."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Fernandes backed Amorim amid criticism over tactics

  Amorim has often been targeted in the past few months over his style of play, as many pundits believe that the current crop of United players do not fit into his 3-4-2-1 formation, and he has also been accused of being inflexible and stubborn with his ideas.

  However, after the win over Liverpool, club captain Bruno Fernandes came to the manager's defence, telling Sky Sports: "Our shape always gives teams issues. It is a little bit ungrateful to talk about shape when we lose games and in the same way I am grateful to talk about it when we win. We always believe in the system, whether we win or lose, but it's about doing the right things in the right moments. We had moments we had to suffer and we did that in the game and the main thing is to do the same thing and believe what we prepare is what is going to give us the win."

  United next face Brighton at home in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to extend their new-found winning streak to three games.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Paige Scholfield raised a match-winning stand of 112 as Surrey women launched their Vitality Blast campaign with a convincing eight-wicket win over Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Both hit half-centuries, Scholfield top-scoring with an enterprising 63 from 48 balls with 11 fours, while former England star Wyatt-Hodge made 53 not out from 35 deliveries in a sparkling innings that included six fours and a six as the visitors chased down a modest target with 4.3 overs to spare to claim a bonus point.Put into bat, Somerset struggled to build partnerships, lost early wickets and came up short at 131 for 6, Alex Griffiths top-scoring with an unbeaten 37-ball 36 and Bex Odgers contributing 27. Surrey’s spinners made scoring difficult, Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 2 for 21 and Danielle Gregory 1 for 18 from four tight overs.It was a disappointing outcome for Somerset, who were watched by a crowd of more than 2000. Surrey skipper Bryony Smith won the toss, elected to field and watched her bowlers make crucial early inroads during a powerplay in which the home side flattered to deceive.Amelie Munday came out swinging on debut and contributed 12 in an opening stand of 39 in four overs with Odgers before dragging a delivery from Ryana MacDonald-Gay onto her stumps. Alexa Stonehouse struck another blow for Surrey in the next over, having Emma Corney held at backward point, while Corteen-Coleman comprehensively bowled Fran Wilson as Somerset lost three wickets in seven balls, finding themselves in need of a rebuild at 47 for 3 in the sixth.Unperturbed, the no-nonsense Odgers continued to take the aerial route, accruing a quartet of fours in hurrying to 27 from 20 balls, only to then blot her copybook by offering a return catch to Gregory and departing with the score on 54 for 4. Seeking to stabilise the innings, the experienced pair of Sophie Luff and Griffiths were necessarily cautious in advancing the score to 74 for 4 at the halfway stage.Somerset’s fifth-wicket pair had added 34 in 5.3 overs and were looking to launch when Luff, who had scored 22, took on Phoebe Franklin and sliced high to Corteen-Coleman at short third man.Griffiths and Amanda-Jade Wellington attempted a change in tempo, but the latter fell for 11, attempting to reverse sweep Corteen-Coleman and finding point as the hosts slipped to 111 for 6 after 17 in the face of accurate bowing. Scoring at a run-a-ball, Griffiths did her utmost to haul Somerset to a competitive total, providing a flourish at the death in partnership with Chloe Skelton. But the visitors had good reason to feel satisfied with their work in the field.Somerset needed early wickets and Ellie Anderson removed Smith for 4, Surrey’s captain sending a top-edged pull shot to backward point in the second over. But Wyatt-Hodge and Scholfield quickly redressed the balance, finding the gaps with regularity and ruthlessly exploiting the poor ball, advancing the score to 44 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Australia spinner Wellington kept the second wicket pair in check for a time, but there was a certain inevitability about proceedings as the partnership realised 50 from 35 balls. Growing in confidence, Wyatt-Hodge plundered a straight six off Wellington as the boundaries began to flow and Somerset’s fielding became ragged under pressure.Surrey reached halfway on 86 for 1, at which point the required rate was under five an over and the outcome a foregone conclusion. Playing fluently by now, Scholfield was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 37 balls with her ninth four, a straight drive at the expense of Wellington that also brought up the hundred partnership. Wyatt-Hodge brought up her half century from just 33 balls, seeing the job through after Scholfield had been bowed by Olivia Barnes.

قد يكون من الرائع دائماً أن يظهر لاعب سابق مثل واين روني والذي مثل العديد من الأندية على رأسهم مانشستر يونايتد وإيفرتون ومنتخب إنجلترا تقديره للجيل الحالي من لاعبي كرة القدم.

وكان روني صاحب الـ40 عاماً يشكل مصدر إزعاج لجماهير ليفربول خاصة أنه لعب لأندية مانشستر يونايتد وإيفرتون، ومع ذلك فإنه يظهر احتراماً واضحاً لفريق ليفربول في العديد من مقابلاته.

ويعتبر محمد صلاح نجم ليفربول أحد أفضل اللاعبين في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي بعد أن حطم العديد من الأرقام القياسية وحقق لقبي دوري إنجليزي وأصبح لاعباً أسطورياً في ليفربول خلال فترة وجوده في ميرسيسايد.

أقرأ أيضاً.. “ميرور” تستعيد حديث محمد صلاح عن تعامل آرني سلوت مع الانتكاسات

وأشعل النجم المصري الأجواء في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز منذ ظهوره الأول مع ليفربول عام 2017، بعد أن عانى في بداية مسيرته مع تشيلسي.

واختار واين روني تشكيلة تضم خمسة لاعبين كتشكيل الأحلام بالنسبة له من الدوري الإنجليزي، واعتمد بشكل أساسي على المهاجمين الذين أحب مشاهدتهم، واختار كول بالمر وفيل فودين ومحمد صلاح.

وقال روني في حديثه عبر بودكاست نشرته “rousingthekop” :”سأختار فودين لأنه رائع في المساحات الضيقة وربما كول بالمر أيضاً وساكا”.

وأضاف :”لن أختار حارس مرمى ولا مدافعين، سأضع كايسيدو في التشكيل وسيكون المدافع وهو قادر على الهجوم أيضاً، بجانب محمد صلاح”.

Dominic Solanke was again absent from training ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt.

Solanke last played for Spurs on August 23 against Manchester City and, even though he recently returned to training after a troublesome ankle injury disrupted his pre-season, he was conspicuous by his absence on Monday morning in Enfield.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank played down concerns over Solanke’s fitness on Friday ahead of the visit of Wolves, but with the England forward not able to feature in open training before the club fly to Bodo for Tuesday’s Champions League clash, the squad are short of attacking options.

Paris St Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani was also absence as he deals with a dead leg, but Ben Davies did take part in the session after a minor knee issue.

Summer recruit Kota Takai also featured after a plantar fascia problem in recent months and Yves Bissouma was back.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Sep 29, 2025

Bissouma has not played for Tottenham this season after he was dropped from the Super Cup squad for being late on multiple occasions. He then suffered a knee injury in training days later.