Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was certainly backed by the board with new recruits to improve the squad during the summer transfer window.

The Premier League giants swooped to add Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko to their attacking ranks to completely transform their front three.

Mbeumo has produced one goal and one assist in seven appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, whilst Cunha is still looking for his first goal contribution for the club.

Meanwhile, Sesko has scored two goals in his last two appearances in the top-flight and has scored two goals in four starts in the division since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.

The Slovenia international will be hoping to kick on from here and prove that he can be a consistent and lethal goalscorer for the Red Devils for many more years to come.

If he can do that, Sesko could be considered to be Amorim’s new Viktor Gyokeres, as the Arsenal striker was such an integral part of the manager’s success with Sporting.

Why Gyokeres was so important to Amorim at Sporting

Amorim won the Liga Portugal title in the 2023/24 campaign after signing the Swedish striker from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, after finishing fourth and second in the two previous seasons.

Gyokeres was so important to the Portuguese manager in that 2023/24 season because his immense performances at the top end of the pitch led Sporting to glory, winning the league title for the first time in three years.

The towering centre-forward was an absolute monster for Sporting. He scored and created goals at an exceptional rate as their number nine after his move from the second tier in England.

Shots on target

58

Top 1%

xG

22.71

Top 1%

xG on target

28.33

Top 1%

Goals

29

Top 1%

xA

6.08

Top 1%

Assists

10

Top 1%

Chances created

54

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, Gyokeres was the best striker in the division. He ranked at the top of the pile in pretty much every key metric as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics show that the right-footed forward was incredibly consistent for Amorim, given his output, which is why he was such an important player for the manager.

The Manchester United coach has not had a consistent attacker in that vein at Old Trafford, though, as no player managed more than eight goals in the Premier League last season, per WhoScored.

Whilst Amorim will be hoping that Sesko can be his next Gyokeres, there is a central defender who is becoming the manager’s next version of the striker.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Netherlands international Matthijs de Ligt may not be a lethal centre-forward who is going to score 30 or 40 goals in a season for the Red Devils, but his consistent performances at the back could make him the linchpin of Amorim’s team moving forward.

Why Matthijs de Ligt could be Ruben Amorim's new Viktor Gyokeres

The best teams in the world are built around top-quality players who deliver consistently impressive performances over the course of a season.

Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. Erling Haaland at Manchester City. Vitinha at PSG. Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid. Gyokeres during his time at Sporting. The list could go on.

The best teams all have several players who deliver consistently every week, which is what Amorim had with Gyokeres in Portugal, and De Ligt may be starting to show that he can belong in that category of player.

The Netherlands international is a no-nonsense central defender who joined the club from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but it has taken him a bit of time to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League.

Not every player hits the ground running at a new club. Some players need time to adapt to their environment, and it appears as though de Ligt has finally found his feet in England.

Appearances

29

7

Sofascore rating

6.91

7.04

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.1

3.2

Clearances per game

3.1

5.1

Ground duels won per game

1.5

2.6

Aerial duels won per game

2.0

3.6

Ground duel success rate

61%

69%

As you can see in the table above, the former Ajax and Juventus star has stepped up at the start of this season after a fairly average first year in the Premier League with the Red Devils.

His improved ground duel success rate, in particular, suggests that he has adapted to the intensity and physicality of the division, as he is anticipating situations and reacting to danger quicker, which means that the centre-back is winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck.

Former United star and England international centre-back Rio Ferdinand has noticed the improvement in De Ligt this season, praising the defender last month: “Matthijs de Ligt has been magnificent this season, solid in all departments.

“I think he’s put himself in place to be the first name on the sheet if we go by [Leny] Yoro being a sub at the weekend. De Ligt now looks like the number one choice defender in the team form the manager’s point of view.”

De Ligt has started all seven of his appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which backs up Ferdinand’s claim that the Dutchman is the first-choice defender for Amorim at this moment in time.

The 26-year-old star, who still has time left to improve even more, has improved throughout his time at Old Trafford, as evidenced by his aforementioned statistics, and he now looks like a consistent performer who can be relied upon by Amorim.

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That is why De Ligt is on his way to becoming the manager’s new Gyokeres, because he could fall into that bracket of players who deliver consistent performances in successful teams, if he can keep up his current level of performance in the Premier League.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has thrown his support behind his new signing Milos Kerkez after the Hungarian left-back's difficult start to life at the Premier League champions. Kerkez joined the club with high expectations, having excelled at Bournemouth last campaign, and was seen as the natural heir to the ageing Andy Robertson, but things have not quite clicked yet.

• Kerkez struggling under the pressure

  Kerkez was supposed to slot perfectly into the attacking system adopted by Liverpool following Slot’s appointment as the Reds’ boss at the start of last season. The 21-year-old was a menace up and down the left-flank for the Cherries and was one of the most sought-after full-backs in the world in the summer.

  Liverpool won the chase to bring him to Anfield where, following the drop off in form of Robertson in recent years, he should have made the position his own. However, the pressure of playing for the Reds appears to be taking its toll on the youngster.

  Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison was scathing in his assessment of Kerkez’s performance in Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United last weekend. Speaking on Match of the Day, he said: “It was probably one of the only Liverpool games that I've watched and thought Van Dijk looked rattled, especially in the first half. It's because he is having to cover Milos Kerkez, who I think right now has to come out of the team. He is struggling and does not look like he can carry that Liverpool shirt at the moment.”

  Despite Morrison’s criticism of Kerkez and the defender’s lack of form, Slot insisted he is happy with his new signing and is likely to keep selecting him in his starting line-up.

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  Slot keeps calm over Kerkez

  Questioned on Kerkez’s position in the team and whether Robertson could seize the starting berth, Slot was diplomatic. “I don’t think that’s a place for me to say this here, because then I have to say something about Robbo as well,” he said in his press conference ahead of Liverpool's meeting with Brentford. “The reason why we brought him in, that I can tell you, is that he is bringing a lot of energy to the game, keeps going up and down.”

  Slot added that Kerkez is doing “very well in defending the one-v-one situations against his wingers”. He described the full-back as “defensively solid” and explained that he also brings “a lot of energy making the overlaps”.

• Liverpool's big signings fall flat

  Kerkez is not the only new signing providing headaches for Slot. Florian Wirtz is the standout disappointment of the major summer transfer moves, not just at Liverpool, but the whole Premier League. The German has been unable to show the magic he once dazzled the Bundesliga with and, given his mammoth transfer fee, will need to turn his performances around pretty quickly.

  Alexander Isak has also failed to hit the ground running in a Liverpool shirt. saga of the summer transfer window saw the Swede move to Anfield following a public falling out with Newcastle, and the striker was meant to fire Liverpool to yet another comfortable Premier League crown.

  Yet, the performances of Hugo Ekitike up front have made it difficult to fit in the two forwards, both preferring to play down the middle of the frontline. The Frenchman has been electric since joining the club, but has been sidelined in favour of Isak even when form suggested he should not have been.

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  Liverpool in a rut?

  Liverpool ended their four-game winless run with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Reds had lost to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea and Manchester United previously and will hope that their win over the German side can also put an end to three defeats on the bounce in the Premier League. They take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday night and will be coming up against a familiar face in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who they sold to the Bees in the summer. 

يترقب عشاق الكرة المصرية والعربية ضربة بداية منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا في بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين 2025، حين يلتقي مساء اليوم الثلاثاء منتخب هايتي في مستهل مشواره بالمجموعة الخامسة من البطولة المقامة على أرض دولة قطر.

وتُقام بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا في قطر خلال الفترة من 3 إلى 27 نوفمبر 2025، في نسخة جديدة تحمل طابعًا خاصًا من حيث جودة التنظيم والبنية التحتية المميزة للملاعب، التي سبق أن استضافت نهائيات كأس العالم للكبار عام 2022.

ويدخل الفراعنة الصغار اللقاء بطموح كبير لتحقيق الفوز الأول الذي يمنحه دفعة معنوية قوية قبل المواجهتين المقبلتين أمام فنزويلا وإنجلترا، خصوصًا أن حصد النقاط الثلاث في الجولة الافتتاحية يُعد خطوة أساسية نحو التأهل إلى الدور التالي.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الخامسة بجانب منتخبات إنجلترا وفنزويلا وهايتي، وتُعد هذه المجموعة متوازنة إلى حد كبير، حيث تمتلك المنتخبات الأربعة فرصًا متقاربة للتأهل، ما يجعل كل مباراة حاسمة في تحديد هوية المتأهلين.

طالع أيضًا | موعد مباراة مصر وهايتي اليوم في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا القناة الناقلة لمباراة مصر وهايتي اليوم في كأس العالم للناشئين

ومن المقرر أن تُذاع مباراة مصر ضد هايتي عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس” المفتوحة، وقناة “الكاس 3”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo chega à final da Copa do Brasil com uma dúvida na zaga: Arboleda ou Diego Costa, quem iniciará jogando a partida deste domingo (17), no estádio do Maracanã? 

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Titular, o defensor equatoriano viveu uma maratona nos últimos dias para se recuperar de uma fibrose na coxa esquerda, problema sofrido na última terça-feira (12), quando ele representava a seleção do Equador no duelo contra o Uruguai pelas eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2026. 

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Tricolor com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Como não foi constatado grau avançado na lesão, a previsão inicial do departamento médico são-paulino era de recuperação até o jogo de volta da final, no dia 24 de setembro. Porém, Arboleda teve boa evolução durante o tratamento realizado nos últimos dias e treinou com bola durante parte da atividade deste sábado (16), antes da viagem ao Rio de Janeiro. Por conta disso, o atleta viajou à capital carioca e tem chances de jogar contra o Fla.

Ainda não se sabe quanto tempo o equatoriano poderá estar em campo. Se for menos do que 45 minutos, Diego Costa deverá ser titular em um momento de reviravolta do jogador que já chegou até mesmo ser capitão da equipe do Morumbi, mas perdeu espaço após falhas em finais. A principal delas na Sul-Americana do ano passado, quando o Tricolor foi derrotado pelo Independiente del Valle (EQU), em Córdoba, na Argentina.

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Além do vacilo no primeiro gol dos Rayados, Diego ficou para trás no São Paulo por conta da evolução de Beraldo e uma cirurgia que fez no fim da última temporada, que fez com que ele entrasse em campo somente em abril. 

A única indefinição são-paulina para o confronto deste fim de semana é em um setor fundamental, já que não sofrer gols será de extrema importância, pois garantirá, no mínimo, um empate no jogo de ida da final, com a volta sendo disputada no estádio do Morumbi, casa do Tricolor. 

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Em 36 partidas disputadas sob o comando de Dorival Júnior (ou a comissão do treinador), o São Paulo não foi vazado em 16. São 29 gols sofridos no período, uma média de 0,80 por jogo.

England expecting Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer to come into contention through series

Matt Roller19-Jun-20253:16

Does England’s inexperienced bowling even the scales?

Brydon Carse will play his first home Test match against India at Headingley and will do so in an unfamiliar role. England spent more than a decade with James Anderson and Stuart Broad as their new-ball bankers but this week opening the bowling alongside Chris Woakes will be Carse, taking on a job he has not done regularly since 2019.Carse was England’s standout bowler across their winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, showcasing his pace, bounce, ability to nip the ball in off the seam, and physical robustness to take 27 wickets at 19.85 in his first five Tests. But he only once took the new ball, and that was effectively by default, as one of two fast bowlers in the second Multan Test.England gave him the chance to open the bowling in their recent ODI series win over West Indies, when he took an early wicket in all three matches, and were sufficiently impressed to give him another opportunity this week. He may return to first change when Gus Atkinson returns to fitness, but his performance at Headingley could have long-term implications.Related

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Ben Stokes insisted on Thursday that his players are solely focused on the India series, rather than the away Ashes that follows. But with Woakes’ struggles overseas well established, Carse will have the opportunity to turn himself into a viable opening bowler for England in Australia this winter – potentially sharing the new ball with Atkinson, with Mark Wood at first change.Stokes said that England’s decision to hand Carse the new ball will also help them get the best out of Josh Tongue who, like Carse, has spent most of his first-class career as a change bowler. Tongue had a quiet match for England Lions against India A in Northampton this month, but will win his fourth cap in Leeds after missing the whole of last summer through injuries.”I know it’s a different format and different colour ball, but Brydon looked very threatening with the Kookaburra in the white-ball series leading up to this,” Stokes said. “The skills Tonguey has, I think it suits him better in the role he’s got in this team, being first change. But Brydon looks all the part of a new-ball bowler.”Carse has practised with new balls in training this week to prepare for the role, and believes versatility is one of his strengths. “I’d like to think I can be quite adaptable,” he said. “Over the winter, we saw slightly different conditions and different roles used… Being adaptable and being flexible around my role in the team is something that I know is probably going to happen.”Brydon Carse is set to play his first home Test•Getty Images

He is fully fit after a serious toe injury ruled him out of the IPL and last month’s Test against Zimbabwe, and revealed – half-joking – last month that he had considered an amputation. “It was true, what I said. I’ve had a lot of friends giving me a lot of stick asking if I still have my toe,” Carse said on Tuesday. “It was a little tricky period over the winter.”It was an even trickier period for him last summer. This time last year, Carse had just started serving a three-month ban from all cricket for gambling offences; he did not place bets on any matches that he was involved in, but placed more than 300 on other cricket matches between 2017 and 2019, which violates the ECB’s anti-corruption regulations.The ban ended up working in his favour when he made his Test debut in Pakistan: rather than arriving in Multan at the end of a long season, he was physically fresh after working hard on his fitness while suspended, and was able to endure the challenge of back-to-back Tests on pitches which offered no lateral movement for fast bowlers.He should get more assistance in Leeds this week on a surface that had a healthy grass covering on Thursday afternoon. Carse has played seven Hundred games at Headingley for Northern Superchargers and an ODI for England last year, but believes his first home Test will provide a “different feeling” to anything he has experienced before.”I’m so excited,” he said. “To be at home and to be in familiar surroundings gives me a lot of confidence. It’s a good chance to see where our side is at the moment, with a couple of younger players and slightly less experience. It’s a great opportunity to stamp down our authority throughout the series.”England’s seam-bowling resources are depleted in Leeds, but they hope to bolster them as the series wears on. Atkinson, who has a hamstring strain, has trained at Headingley this week and could be in contention for the second Test in Birmingham, while Jofra Archer is set to make his comeback to first-class cricket this week for Sussex in the County Championship.Stokes revealed on Thursday that Archer had been texting him about the prospect of making his return against Zimbabwe. “I was like, ‘Let’s just hold it there, all right,'” Stokes said. “It’s great that he’s in a position now where we’re looking to build his overs and his loads back up to hopefully be considered at some point for the series, which would be great.”

England name 14-man squad for first Test at Headingley, with Woakes and Bethell among inclusions

Matt Roller05-Jun-2025Jamie Overton has been handed a surprise recall to England’s squad for the first Test against India after his Surrey team-mate Gus Atkinson was ruled out with a hamstring strain. Jacob Bethell’s return to the squad creates a top-order selection headache, while Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse are both back after missing England’s win over Zimbabwe with niggles.Overton won his only cap at Headingley, the venue for the first Test on June 20, against New Zealand in 2022, in which he made a matchturning 97 and took a wicket in each innings. He broke his little finger last week during an ODI against West Indies, and has only played three County Championship matches since the start of last season due to injury and the IPL. However, he has jumped ahead of Matthew Potts as seam-bowling cover.”We’ve spoken many times about our varied attack, and making sure that we’ve still got some pace in the attack,” Luke Wright, England’s selector, said. “Jamie showed in white-ball cricket that he’s got a huge amount of pace and bounce, and he’s a real threat.”He’s obviously had a taste of Test cricket before, and did well, getting some runs, which was great. He’s going back to a ground he did well at Leeds, and for us, it’s making sure that we’ve got the options. If one of those quicker bowlers were to go down, then we’ve got someone who could replace him, and Jamie is a great one to have available.”England were initially confident that Atkinson would recover from injury in time for the first Test but he was deemed unavailable for selection, leaving their seam options depleted. Mark Wood and Olly Stone are both out of the series with knee injuries, while Jofra Archer will not be match-fit until the second Test at the earliest after a thumb issue. Wright confirmed that Archer is expected to play a Championship match for Sussex against Durham in a fortnight’s time to prepare himself for a possible recall.ESPNcricinfo LtdBethell, meanwhile, missed the Zimbabwe Test while at the IPL and his return leaves England with a dilemma. His impressive debut series in New Zealand, in which he scored three half-centuries at No. 3, left Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope’s spots under pressure, but both men scored hundreds against Zimbabwe and may hold onto their places for the time being.”He’s very close,” Wright said of Bethell’s potential return to the starting XI. “It’s a great option to have, isn’t it? It’s lovely to have him back, what a talent we all see in him. When Baz and Stokesy took on these roles, we were really struggling as a batting group to get runs on the board, and we’re getting to a point now where we’re getting real depth into that squad, which is fantastic.”Sam Cook is retained after making his debut against Zimbabwe but appears likely to start the series as back-up, with Woakes back in contention after an ankle issue. Josh Tongue, who missed the 2024 season through injury, is also named in the squad, and will play for England Lions against India A at Northampton this week – alongside Woakes – to prepare for the first Test.Related

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Potts is arguably the unluckiest absentee, having been named in squads for all formats this summer, including the Zimbabwe Test in which Cook was selected ahead of him. His haul of 36 wickets at 29.44 in 10 Tests to date includes a key role in the first Bazball summer of 2022. However, he has been pushed down the pecking order ever since.”It’s really tough on Pottsy,” Wright said. “It was probably between him and Cookie for that other spare bowler, if we were to lose Woakesy, and we just felt that maybe Cookie has got the edge with that new ball. But we know what Potts is all about. It’s not easy for him, but it’s great to have him as a squad bowler in the pack, if any injuries happen. But on this occasion, he’s just missed out.”England’s squad has changed significantly since their 4-1 series defeat in India 18 months ago: James Anderson retired shortly after that tour, while Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson have also been discarded. India have also undergone a transition, with R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma all retiring and Shubman Gill taking on the captaincy for the first time.The series starts at Headingley before moving onto Edgbaston, Lord’s and Emirates Old Trafford, and will finish at the Kia Oval. India, who have not won a Test series in England since 2007, have sent several members of their squad ahead to play for India A against the Lions, and the rest of their touring party will arrive in the UK on Friday.England squad for first Test vs India: Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, heaped praise on his opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley after their crucial final-day stand of 188, as history repeated itself with a spectacular 371-run chase in the first Test against India at Headingley.Three years after the two teams’ last meeting in England ended with Stokes’ men hunting down a record 378 to square the series at Edgbaston, this latest epic was sealed in the first over of the match’s final hour. Jamie Smith’s slog-swept six over wide long-on capped an unbroken 71-stand for the sixth wicket with Joe Root, who finished unbeaten on 53, after India had threatened a fightback with England at 302 for 5.The bulk of England’s work, however, had been done across the first two sessions, and Duckett was named Player of the Match for his scores of 62 in the first innings and a brilliant 149 from 170 balls in the second, an effort that spanned the first 55 overs of their chase.Related

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“It was unbelievable,” Stokes said at the post-match presentations. “Unless you’re involved in it, [it’s hard to know] the pressure of the fourth innings, going out there. Opening the batting is hard enough, especially in England. So that partnership that Zak and Ben got us off to was just incredible.”Those two complement each other so well. Obviously, Ducky got the big score that contributed towards us winning this game. But I thought the way that Zak was able to stay composed, and stay in the moment, and sense that Ducky was getting off to the flyer [was crucial].”Despite England’s recent reputation for aggression from the get-go, the pair took a more measured approach to this latest chase. Faced with the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah in gloomy morning conditions, they set themselves to build a platform through the morning session, and it was only when the change bowlers, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, entered the attack that Duckett accelerated through to a 66-ball half-century.”In that period, it was really important that me and Zak got through without losing any wickets,” Duckett said at the presentations. “It was pretty clear to us this morning. If we batted for the whole day [at the tempo that] we normally do, we’d probably get the total, so we didn’t overthink anything. Certainly we had to get through Jasprit’s first spell and that new ball, and from there on, we were just playing our natural games.”He’s a world-class bowler,” Duckett added, after England had denied Bumrah any wickets in the second innings, despite his brilliant five-for in the first.3:26

Harmison: Not sure India believed they could get Duckett out

“In that first innings, he was superb, so to limit his damage was massive for us. Our individuals are all going to go about it differently, but I thought we did play him very well today.”Despite the flourish with which they finished the Test, Duckett acknowledged that England “had been completely behind the eight-ball” at certain periods of the game, thanks to Bumrah’s brilliance as well as a total of five individual Indian centuries, including one in each innings for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.However, Stokes was especially pleased with the spirit in adversity that his team showed, and singled out Josh Tongue’s key helpings of “rabbit-pie” in each innings, with his seven wickets helping to restrict India to 7 for 41 in the first innings, and 7 for 73 in the second.”There’s been a lot of skill that’s contributed towards us winning this Test match,” Stokes said, “but also the attitude that the team has showed towards this game.”We’ve been in the field for long periods of time twice throughout this game, but I thought every session we turned up with the attitude that we could blow this game open at any point. We always knew that we were only a couple wickets away from running through the pack, and Josh Tongue’s spells in both innings were massively game-changing.”2:38

Is Stokes’ bowling workload a worry?

England’s five-wicket victory was their sixth in a row at Headingley, dating back to 2018, and on each occasion they had bowled first.On this occasion, Stokes’ decision at the toss had looked like back-firing, with former England captain Michael Vaughan saying he was “staggered” at India being given first use after they finished the opening day on 359 for 3. Stokes, however, insisted that at no point had he second-guessed his call.”You don’t know what’s going to happen before a ball is bowled, you’ve got to go with what you think is going to give you the best chance of winning the game,” he said. “The wicket here on day one looked like there was a bit of grass on top of it. There was a bit of moisture underneath it.”We backed ourselves to win that toss and bowl first, and try and strike a couple of early poles. But the opposition is allowed to play well. This is international-level cricket, where the quality of players on either side are very good. We bowled pretty well on that first session. But India played incredible.”

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have expected a victory against Bodo Glimt last night, but it wasn’t to be, as they walked away with a 2-2 draw in Norway.

Such a result could have been a lot worse for Thomas Frank, with the Lilywhites trailing by two goals heading into the final 24 minutes of the European contest.

An own goal and a Micky van de Ven effort saved the side from a shock defeat, with numerous players failing to impress in their second Champions League outing of 2025/26.

Numerous players fell way below the levels expected of the Premier League side, with Richarlison, the club’s centre forward for the clash, only registering a total of 10 touches in 90 minutes.

There’s no denying that one former player would have been perfect for their clash last night, with the Lilywhites massively lacking his presence within the final third.

Why Harry Kane would’ve got Spurs out of trouble on Tuesday

Harry Kane is a player who remains close to the hearts of the Spurs fanbase, given his time in North London, where he netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell at the club.

Such a tally is the highest in the club’s history, but they’ve been without his services over the last couple of years after he joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

In 2025/26, with the Club World Cup included, the 32-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal, scoring 20 times and registering four assists – subsequently having the creative nous to produce the goods at key moments.

He’s registered 12 goal contributions in his last five matches across all competitions, further highlighting his ability to cause carnage within the attacking department.

To highlight his creative ability, he’s registered three more combined goals and assists than the Lilywhites first-team have managed in the same time period – with Frank certainly wishing he was able to call upon the Englishman.

However, a reunion could prove to be on the cards in the near future, with rumours linking the talisman with a sensational return to his boyhood club in the not-too-distant future.

Despite his impressive form away from the club, the Dane does have the ability to rely upon one player who showcased his talents massively against Bodo Glimt last night.

The Spurs player who’s emulating Kane under Frank

There’s no denying that the showing of Spurs in Norway yesterday was way below the expectations of the fanbase, with the front line coming under fire for their lack of impact.

As previously mentioned, Richarlison failed to produce any meaningful contributions, after only completing two passes all game and missing one big chance in the process.

Brennan Johnson was another player who struggled to make the desired impact, subsequently failing to complete a single dribble or cross during his hour-long display.

The Welshman has come under fire from the fanbase once again, not for the first time, after previously having to delete his social media accounts following abuse from supporters online.

However, it wasn’t all bad for Frank’s side in Norway, with right-back Pedro Porro managing to impress during the draw – undoubtedly being one of the shining lights in the disappointing showing.

The Spaniard managed to register an assist for Van de Ven’s effort, now holding an impressive record that highlights the creativity he possesses despite his defensive role.

He’s now registered 18 assists since the start of 2023/24, a number which is the highest of any Premier League defender across all competitions in the same time period.

It’s that ability to create goal-scoring opportunities at will that has seen him emulate Kane. Truth be told, the Lilywhites have missed not just the English striker’s goalscoring exploits but also his assist-making.

Indeed, the centre-forward registered 63 assists during his time in north London, with a whopping 17 of those coming in one campaign (2021/22). So good was Kane at playmaking that former teammate Matt Doherty once said: “That period under Antonio [Conte], he had a better passing range than [Kevin] De Bruyne at the time.”

Safe to say, Porro’s creativity is pretty damn good too, and he’s helping to void the creative void left behind by Kane.

However, despite the full-back’s tangible success, his underlying numbers were just as impressive on Tuesday evening, including his ability to register 78 touches during the contest.

Porro also completed 40 passes last night, 13 of which were into the opposition’s third – further showcasing the creative ability he possesses in his locker.

Numbers such as three chances created and 100% dribbles completed also add to his talents in possession, but he still managed to produce impressive figures without the ball, too.

Minutes played

90

Touches

78

Passes completed

40

Passes into final third

13

Chances created

3

Tackles made

2

Recoveries made

2

Dribbles made

100%

The 26-year-old made two tackles during the draw, whilst also making two recoveries and one interception – arguably being the perfect all-round fullback for Frank’s system.

Questions may be asked about his display, but there’s no taking away from his ability to create chances and get the side out of trouble when they’re void of ideas in attacking areas.

Should he continue his impressive assist record, there’s no reason as to why he can’t be a crucial member of Frank’s squad in the Dane’s hunt for success during his tenure in North London.

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3 ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Newcastle United needed that. Though form in the Premier League continues to frustrate Eddie Howe and those of a Toon persuasion, there’s no denying his side on their return to the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho’s Benfica were defeated 3-0 at St. James’ Park on Tuesday evening, making it two wins on the bounce in Europe’s elite competition after that opening-day defeat at the hands of Barcelona.

This was the kind of display the Magpies need to harness and carry back over to their domestic efforts, struggling for consistency in the Premier League right now.

But if anything, it’s nights like these that remind the fanbase that this is a special group of players.

Newcastle's best performers vs Benfica

Howe was understandably chuffed with Newcastle’s winning display, now in good standing to continue the push and ascend to the next phase of the Champions League.

At the double was Harvey Barnes, whose clinical edge bore dividends on the evening. And how about that assist from Nick Pope, who continues to show why he deserves to be the number one between the sticks.

He didn’t score, but Nick Woltemade continues to dazzle. The “phenom”, as he was called by reporter Andy Sixsmith, was the connective tissue in attack, with the correspondent saying “his link-up play is mesmerising”.

Isak didn’t hit his stride in the European theatre for Newcastle; his triumph was found on the domestic stage. Alan Shearer remains the modern great in the Champions League for Newcastle, with seven goals from 14 matches for the Tynesiders.

Now, Howe has found his new version of the legendary goalscorer, and no, it’s not Woltemade.

Howe has found Newcastle's new Shearer

Shearer was brilliant at Newcastle, scoring 206 goals and supplying 58 assists across 405 matches.

Woltemade has the talent to rival the Premier League icon down the line, but it’s Anthony Gordon who was the star of the show against Benfica, and he’s proving he could emulate the one-time England international.

Indeed, the 24-year-old is now only two goals behind Shearer as Newcastle’s leading scorer in the Champions League proper, and he has four goals from three games this term alone.

Electric on the ball and ravenous for it back when against the opposition’s play, Gordon has ebbed and flowed this season, but he’s starting to find form at a crucial time, and must now transport it back to the domestic scene.

Shearer’s legacy is a peerless one, but Gordon, signed from Everton for £45m nearly three years ago, is becoming the face of his high-flying project, and his chase for Shearer’s European record is one piece of that evidence.

But Gordon’s actually gone one better in black and white: his goal against the Eagles means he is the first Newcastle player in history to net in three successive Champions League matches for the club.

It was a fantastic performance, a demonstration of Gordon’s elite talent and tenacity. The Chronicle Live gave the Three Lions star a flawless 10/10 match rating, praising his lightning speed and prolificness down the left wing, while Geordie content creators, Mouth of the Tyne, remarked that he was back to his “unplayable best.”

Minutes played

85′

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches

60

Shots (on target)

4 (1)

Accurate passes

25/35 (71%)

Chances created

1

Crosses

1/4

Dribbles

1/3

Recoveries

8

Tackles won

2/3

Duels won

7/14

Talk about an all-encompassing performance. Gordon might not be an out-and-out striker, but he’s fighting hard to step up and succeed as Newcastle’s attacking talisman.

Alexander Isak may not play for the club anymore, but Newcastle have found a worthy successor in Woltemade, and Gordon is ready to raise his role too.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 21, 2025

Mikel Arteta has urged calm and perspective after Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was dropped from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad. The 19-year-old left-back has struggled for regular minutes this season, and while his omission has sparked debate among fans, Arteta insists the setback could “happen for the right reason” as he backed the teenager to bounce back stronger.

Lewis-Skelly omitted from latest England squad

Lewis-Skelly was one of several players omitted from Tuchel’s latest England squad for the November internationals against Serbia and Albania. The 19-year-old, who featured in the October clashes, was left out as Tuchel prioritised players receiving consistent game time at club level. Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly and Tottenham’s Djed Spence were instead called up, with the England boss emphasising that competition and performance dictated his selection.

Lewis-Skelly’s exclusion follows a season in which he has struggled to cement a first-team place. Despite impressing in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid last month, the teenager has only played 92 minutes of Premier League football this term, primarily featuring in cup competitions. With Riccardo Calafiori reclaiming the left-back role after recovering from injury, Lewis-Skelly has found himself pushed down the pecking order at the Emirates.  

Tuchel had previously warned that a lack of minutes could jeopardise Lewis-Skelly’s England place, and his latest squad confirms he has acted on that stance. As it stands, Lewis-Skelly will have to reclaim his starting spot at club level if he is to return to the national team setup before next year’s World Cup.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportArteta sends a positive message to Lewis-Skelly

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Sunderland, Arteta expressed empathy for Lewis-Skelly but encouraged the player to see his omission as part of a larger journey. "Yes for sure, we are here to support and to help each other and give a good perspective of the situation," Arteta said when asked if the teenager needed reassurance." 

The Arsenal boss continued to praise the maturity and achievements of the 19-year-old despite his recent setback. "When you look at his age, what he's already done, he's just remarkable. So don't look at the one [bad] moment what is happening for you because maybe it happens for the right reason and today you cannot see it."

Getty ImagesTuchel explains Lewis-Skelly snubbing from November squad

Tuchel’s decision to omit Lewis-Skelly was not based on form alone but on consistency and competition within the England setup. The England manager explained that the Arsenal defender, along with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Morgan Gibbs-White, had been “out-performed” by players earning regular starts for their clubs. “Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes,” Tuchel said, noting that Nico O’Reilly’s sustained run at Manchester City had pushed him ahead in the selection order. 

For Lewis-Skelly, the message is clear: minutes on the pitch matter as much as talent. His total of 470 minutes across all competitions this season lags behind rivals Spence and O’Reilly, who have featured far more prominently for their respective clubs. Nevertheless, within Arsenal, there remains full belief in the teenager’s long-term potential. Lewis-Skelly is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the Hale End academy in recent years.

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Getty Images SportLewis-Skelly may still have a way into England World Cup plans

Lewis-Skelly’s immediate focus will be on reclaiming a more prominent role within Arteta’s matchday plans. With Arsenal navigating a busy run of fixtures across domestic and European competitions, opportunities are likely to arise, particularly if Arteta continues to rotate his squad. A strong performance in upcoming fixtures could strengthen his case for both Arsenal minutes and a potential recall to the England setup in March.  

As for Tuchel, the door remains open. England’s manager has repeatedly stated that his selections are fluid, dependent on form and fitness, not past reputation. With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, Lewis-Skelly’s challenge is clear.