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Nottingham Forest scouting mission ruined as "incredible" target sent off

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

As Evangelos Marinakis commenced the club’s latest scouting mission in Turkey, one Nottingham Forest target was given his marching orders in what was an ill-timed moment to forget.

Nottingham Forest send scouts to Besiktas vs Galatasaray

After defeating Manchester United 1-0 courtesy of Anthony Elanga’s stunning solo effort, Nottingham Forest have every right to be dreaming of Champions League football more than ever in the Premier League. And with that comes the right to turn their attention towards stealing further headlines in the transfer market this summer.

On the transfer front, several big names have already been mentioned – the biggest of which arguably being Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray loanee has enjoyed an excellent spell in Turkey and looks destined for bigger and better things once back at Napoli this summer. With Chris Wood not getting any younger either, Forest could yet make their move.

Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed

Turkish football seems to be where it’s at for those at the City Ground too, having also set their sights on two other targets. According to The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest’s scouting mission focused on Semih Kilicsoy last weekend, only for the young Besiktas star to receive a red card in his side’s 2-1 victory over Galatasaray.

Forest officials were also in attendance to watch Baris Alper Yilmaz, but it’s Kilicsoy who stole the headlines when he received his marching orders in the 96th minute before his teammates handed their rivals their first league defeat of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest now racing to sign £33m defender wanted by Real Madrid

He’s a man in-demand…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 2, 2025

The first red card of the teenager’s career couldn’t have come at a worse time given that scouts from both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa were in attendance, but he will hope to have still done enough to maintain their interest.

"Incredible" Kilicsoy is a rising star

Red card aside, Kilicsoy has been one to watch throughout the current campaign. At just 19 years old, the winger has scored four goals and assisted a further six in all competitions and doesn’t look likely to stop there. A player destined for the top, Nottingham Forest could yet sign another talented winger to add to the likes of Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the coming years.

Earning the praise of football talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, who described his campaign as “incredible”, Kilicsoy has only improved ever since and could earn the move that reflects that improvement this summer.

The Besiktas star is arguably one of the most talented young players that European football has to offer, but that won’t stand in Forest’s way. Closing in on a Champions League place, they could be more ambitious than ever this summer.

How Jagadeesan brought his Tamil Nadu career back to life

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

He struggled in white-ball cricket and was moved from opener to No. 7 in the early rounds of the Ranji Trophy last season. Then he turned it around and went on to average 74.18

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Sep-2024N Jagadeesan was pretty sure he was getting phased out of the Tamil Nadu team last season. He was only 28 and was one of the side’s senior players, with eight years of domestic experience. He had broken records at the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2022-23 season. But he played only two games in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had an average return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy that followed. He was also pushed down to No. 7 from his regular opening position in the first match of the Ranji Trophy. Then, when he got a chance to move up to his preferred opening slot in his hometown Coimbatore, he wanted to make it count. He went on to enjoy his best season, racking up 816 runs in nine games at an average of 74.18, and went on to make the India B side for the ongoing Duleep Trophy.Among the feats he achieved in the Ranji Trophy last season was also facing 400-plus balls in an innings in two consecutive games: he scored 245 not out against Railways and followed it up with 321 against Chandigarh.”I was coming out of a place where I wasn’t considered to be part of the team,” Jagadeesan tells ESPNcricinfo. “In the second game [against Tripura] I didn’t get to bat and the first game [against Gujarat] I didn’t score a lot of runs, I was batting lower down the order too. The moment I went opening, I told myself there’s no way I’m going to let my wicket go.”There was a very much a driving factor after I got settled which kept telling me that ‘you’ve struggled a lot and people have been talking about dropping you, you are not going to be in that situation ever again’. The moment I got settled in, there was another driving factor. I was settled and I was not letting it go. It’s a different high when you know that you actually faced 400 balls because it involves a lot of stamina. My focus levels were really, really high too. I genuinely felt that I didn’t have the patience to play 400 balls. It was the grit.”While Jagadeesan finished the season on a high, TN’s campaign ended on a sour note. After their semi-final loss against Mumbai, Sulakshan Kulkarni, who was the coach of TN at the time, publicly criticised captain R Sai Kishore’s decision to bat first.It was the culmination of a season in which relations between the coach and the players were not smooth and, in that tricky situation, the TN players got a lot closer, Jagadeesan says, praising Sai Kishore’s leadership.During the downtime post the domestic season, Jagadeesan captained the TN Colts team on their UK tour in May for three weeks under coach L Balaji. That aside, he also dabbled in TV commentary during IPL 2024 and the men’s T20 World Cup, which he says was an “eye-opening” experience.”When you’re at the comm box, you have to pay a lot of attention,” he says. “You have to focus on the game and predict…only then you will be able to speak well. I realised even when I’m not playing the game, I knew what the bowlers were going to do by just watching. It was very insightful.”For example, when you’re in the comm box you actually predict what a fast bowler is going to do looking at the field set. You get deeper connections with the bowlers. That helps you while you bat against them as well, because you’ve actually seen what the bowler is going to do. If the thing I predict happens then I can say I’ve learned something out of it. There’s a lot you can learn when you commentate.”Jagadeesan is hoping to harness all of these experiences, and has also set clear goals – which he usually doesn’t do – heading into this domestic season.”The ultimate aim for me is to be part of the Indian cricket team,” he says. “I don’t usually set goals coming into a domestic season, but I think it’s high time I start doing that. In Ranji Trophy where I did not even think I could face 400 balls, I did that. These were the things which I did not even think was possible. Just like how my long-term goal is to play for India, there’s always been a goal for me in my head since childhood which is to cross the 1000-run mark in Ranji Trophy. That’s always been on my checklist.”

'I try and be myself, I can't be him' – meet Tagenarine Chanderpaul

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The opener is in line for a Test debut in Perth next week after a prolific year with the bat

Andrew McGlashan25-Nov-2022So, is Tagenarine going to play the first Test against Australia?
It would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t, having made 119 against a strong Prime Minister’s XI attack in Canberra to continue a prolific year. He had made just 4 in his one outing against NSW/ACT XI last week, after missing the first innings because of illness. But on Thursday, he faced 293 balls before falling to the final delivery of the second day when he top-edged a pull against Joel Paris. The PM’s line-up included Test seamer Michael Neser as well as Mark Steketee, who has been in Australia squads. Todd Murphy, the young offspinner, and left-armer Ashton Agar bowled 41 overs between them, which is likely to be more spin than Chanderpaul will face in Perth, but should put him good stead for the challenge of Nathan Lyon. A vacancy for Kraigg Brathwaite’s partner has come up at the top of the order following the anti-doping ban handed to John Campbell.Related

  • Kraigg Brathwaite wants West Indies 'to bat 100 overs' as fiery Perth surface beckons

  • Australia look to shut out the noise as West Indies face 25 years of history against them

  • Holder urges West Indies quicks to not get 'carried away seeing carry and bounce' in Perth

  • Green gung-ho about IPL 2023 but hectic calendar will make it tough, warns Warner

  • Brathwaite hopes to 'do good things together' with Tagenarine

He’s 26, so not really young for a debutant…
He’s waited a little while for this opportunity, but he effectively lost two years of his career because of Covid and did not play a match from March 2020 until February 2022. Before that gap, he had shown glimpses of his potential with a maiden first-class hundred against Barbados in 2018, and then another against Windward Islands in 2019, which at a marathon 484 deliveries is his longest first-class innings to date in terms of balls faced. From early on, he had shown the ability to bat time, facing more than 150 deliveries in an innings three times in his first two seasons. However, it’s been this year where things have really taken off: in 2022, he has an average of 89.50 including four centuries.He and his dad played together, right?
Indeed they did, 11 times in first-class cricket. The first came in 2013 against Trinidad and Tobago [Tagenarine made 42 in the first innings, Shivnarine 108 in the second], and the last in 2018, which is when Tagenarine made his maiden first-class hundred.What has his route to the Test side been?
He played in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup in the UAE, where he made 293 runs. That team also featured Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King. After that, he bided his time in first-class cricket before the Covid-enforced break. Earlier this year, he was rewarded for his impressive domestic form with a West Indies A call-up to face Bangladesh A where he made an unbeaten 109 in the second four-day match.Does he bat like his dad?
Make your own mind up…

What Shivnarine said
“He’s been knocking at the door since before Covid… two-and-a-half years passed with no cricket behind, then he started to get some cricket back. He started the first-class season without many runs, then he came to Florida and did some work with me. When he got back, he got a couple of hundreds and now he’s got selected to come here. Knowing the attack Australia has – these guys are relentless – if he can come here and do well, it will be a start to his career.”I try to help him sometimes but he’s a little bent in his ways. He’ll seek me out for some help but then there’s a lot of times, like any kid, when you message him but he doesn’t message back. Unless he wants something! I’ll message [while] watching the game whenever he’s playing, I’ve seen what he’s doing, if he’s doing something he’s not supposed to be doing then I’ll message and say ‘this is what I’m seeing’ and he’ll not message back for two months after.”What Tagenarine said
“I try and be myself. I can’t be him, so I can only be myself. Fingers crossed… I’ll try to get some runs if I’m selected.”And here’s a fun fact
Tagenarine has a movie credit to his name. He was plucked to play Larry Gomes in the film about India’s famous World Cup triumph.”Being a part of was a great opportunity that I stumbled upon while playing four-day cricket in St Lucia in 2018,” Tagenarine told last year. “During a practice session a scout came to the ground and asked who wanted to try out for the film. To my surprise a few months later I received a call that I had been chosen to play the part of Larry Gomes.”Lastly, but most importantly, does he mark his guard with a bail?
“Sometimes,” Shivnarine said.

Why have Pakistan done well in England?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Since 1987, their record shows they have been competitive with the very best teams on tours there

Osman Samiuddin04-Aug-2020The English cricket summer has long held a central place in the Pakistani cricket calendar. But you could argue now that it has become a mere subset of the Pakistani cricket summer. Including this year and the next, when Pakistan are scheduled to visit for a limited-overs-only series, they will have toured England six summers in a row.The frequency and familiarity have helped Pakistan’s modern* Test record in England, which stacks up remarkably well, and not just among subcontinental sides. They’ve won three more Tests in that period than India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh combined. Their win-loss ratio is third, behind only Australia and South Africa.*Pakistan’s modern era in England begins in 1987, when they won their first Test series in England. They had already had a few closely contested series by then, including a 1-1 draw on their very first tour, and narrow losses in 1971 and 1982.ESPNcricinfo LtdA better measure than individual matches is series results, and here, Pakistan stand out. Only Australia have won more series in England in that period, and Pakistan have won as many as India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh combined. And though they haven’t won a series since 1996, they have drawn their last two series (in a period where, for instance, India have lost their last three series, and resoundingly).England is less imposing a place than, say Australia or South Africa, for all teams. Still, Pakistan have stood out. Why? What is it about England that brings out their best?Start as you mean to go on
Pakistan’s record in the first Tests of series in England is exemplary, second in win and non-loss percentages only to Australia and South Africa.

Time and game-time in the country before the Tests does help. In 1987, Pakistan played 13 games before drawing the first Test; 11 in 1992 before drawing the first Test; and eight in 1996 before winning the first Test. But in this century, which doesn’t allow for those luxuries, it is a little more complex.Since 2000, Pakistan have drawn a first Test after four games (2006) and lost one after three games (2001). In 2010 they played nine games before the first Test against England, (including two Tests against Australia) and were resoundingly beaten. In 2016 they only played two warm-up matches, but had spent a month together in a tough conditioning camp in Pakistan, and they won the first Test. In 2018 they played four games – including a hard-fought Test win over Ireland – before winning the first Test at Lord’s.What is clear is that those earlier Pakistan sides were simply better than England. This century that balance has changed and so too have first Tests become a little more difficult to predict.It’s all about the pace
From headliners through to support acts Pakistan’s fast bowlers have thrived in England. In stark contrast to their performances in Australia or South Africa, and perhaps because of strong experiences in county cricket, Pakistan’s pacemen have intrinsically known what to do on English surfaces.

The interplay between the average and strike rate is interesting. While the former is, literally, middling in comparison to other teams, the strike rate is second best (excluding Ireland). It can never be reduced to such simple conclusions, but it does tie in to the theory that Pakistani fast bowlers, historically, have been willing to attack for wickets at the cost of runs, and in England that has paid off.Spin it to win it
Instinctively, you’d recall Mushtaq Ahmed in the ’90s, Saqlain Mushtaq in 2001, and Yasir Shah in 2016 and think spin has been vital for Pakistan in England. It has, though not in a straightforward way. Overall Pakistan’s spinners average 40.51 per wicket, with a strike rate of 85.6. For a country with as rich a tradition of spin to only have three spinners average under 40 in England (one of whom – Saqlain – has only played one Test) suggests they have not known how to bowl there.ESPNcricinfo LtdBut as the figures of other teams show, England isn’t an easy place for spinners. Take out the two greatest of all time – Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan – and no visiting team has really thrived with spin.ESPNcricinfo LtdWhat Pakistan have done is consistently selected and played good spinners in England – only Australia, thanks to Warne, have more total spin wickets in this time – in the knowledge that when conditions are right, they’ll do what is expected of them. Like Mushtaq in 1992 and 1996, Saqlain in 2001, or Yasir in 2016.The meat’s in the middle
Pakistan’s openers are a horror story in England. Their average opening partnership since 1987 is 25, the lowest among all top nations other than India. Per player, their openers average lower than all countries other than Zimbabwe and Ireland. They’ve also burned through more opening pairs than any other side (18) and it has become more acute since 2006, when they famously went through four opening pairs in one series.Girish TS/ESPNcricinfo LtdIn that crisis, however, has been opportunity for Pakistan’s middle order. Ultimately it is this engine that is as much responsible for Pakistan’s record in England as the fast bowlers. Pakistan’s middle order averages 38 in England in this time, which compares well to the hosts’ own: 38.82.Girish TS/ESPNcricinfo LtdOnly Australia’s and South Africa’s middle orders average more in the same period. That is testament to the quality of middle-order players Pakistan have brought over the years, as duos (Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik) or triumvirates (Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ijaz Ahmed and Malik, or Inzamam, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan).No surprises that when you look at Pakistan’s best batsmen in England – who have scored 400 runs or more – seven of the top nine are middle-order batsmen, and only Azhar Ali (who has opened and played in the middle) averages under 40.Girish TS/ESPNcricinfo LtdLondonistan
It will have escaped no Pakistan fan’s attention that they are not playing a Test in London on this tour. Eight of Pakistan’s ten Test wins in England since 1987 have been at The Oval or Lord’s (and ten out of 12 overall).Whether that is to do with the conditions, or the part of the summer that they play there – Pakistan have won Tests in May, June, July and August – is not clear. One of their two wins outside the capital did come at Old Trafford (in 2001) though, where they begin the series on Wednesday.With inputs from Rajesh S, Shiva Jayaraman and Gaurav Sundararaman

Rangers Make Classy Move for Nathan Eovaldi After Missing Out On All-Star Team

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Veteran starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is putting up one of the best seasons of his career this year. The Texans Rangers right-hander has started 16 games this season, going 7–3 with a 1.58 ERA and 94 strikeouts. Outside of missing a couple weeks due to injury, he has been stellar, and if he were to continue this pace, the 35-year-old would record easily the best ERA of his lengthy career.

Despite Eovaldi's strong start to the season, he was not named to the MLB All-Star team. Eovaldi has been named an All-Star twice in his career, in 2021 and '23, but did not get the nod this time, partially because he pitched Sunday and was thus not eligible to be selected as a replacement once he didn’t make the initial roster. Instead, pitchers Tarik Skubal, Hunter Brown, Kris Bubic, Garrett Crochet, Jacob deGrom, Max Fried, Yusei Kikuchi, Casey Mize, Drew Rasmussen, Carols Rodón, Joe Ryan, Shane Smith and Bryan Woo were the pitchers who ended up suiting up for the American League this year.

Though Eovaldi was not named an All-Star, the Rangers still gave him the $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract, per Jeff Passan ofESPN. Despite him not getting selected to the team, the Rangers are expressing he has played like an All-Star this season, and clearly feel he is deserving of that bonus.

Eovaldi is now in his third season with the Rangers, and remains a crucial part of the team. He helped Texas win the World Series in 2023, and is a key reason the Rangers have the best ERA as a team in baseball so far this season.

ماذا قال هاني أبو ريدة عن أحداث مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي؟

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

علق هاني أبو ريدة، رئيس اتحاد الكرة، على أحداث مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي، والتي أقيمت في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وحل الأهلي ضيفًا على الجيش الملكي المغربي مساء الجمعة الماضية، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، في لقاء انتهى 1-1.

طالع| كاف يصدر قرارًا هامًا بشأن أحداث مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي

وشهدت المواجهة مشادات قوية بين لاعبي الفريقين، إلى جانب أعمال شغب جماهيري من قبل جماهير الجيش الملكي، أسفرت عن إصابة محمود حسن تريزيجيه، بسبب إلقاء آلة حادة نحو لاعب الأهلي.

وقال هاني أبو ريدة لقناة الكأس عما حدث في مباراة الجيش الملكي والأهلي: “المغاربة زعلانين مما حدث من بعض الفئة التي قامت بالمناوشات وأعتقد لن تحدث مرة أخرى”.

وتابع رئيس اتحاد الكرة: “هذه ليست جموع الجماهير، يوجد فيهم فئة متعصبو بزيادة وهم لا يمثلوا جماهير الكرة المغربية”.

Chelsea launch contact to sign Barrios as Atletico Madrid name monster price

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Chelsea have now made contact with Ateltico Madrid over signing Pablo Barrios, according to reports, and have been told how much it will take to lure the midfielder away from Spain in 2026.

With the January transfer window less than two months away, the Blues have already got an eye on potential reinforcements. It’s a rare day when those in West London aren’t thinking about the transfer window and Todd Boehly could be about to spend big yet again to help Chelsea bridge the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Having already welcomed the likes of Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro in the summer, those at Stamford Bridge are now reportedly interested in signing Ousmane Diomande.

Ousmane Diomande in action for Sporting in the Primeira Liga.

The Sporting CP defender is one of the most promising centre-backs in Europe and certainly fits the criteria of young stars that Chelsea have been recruiting in recent years. But he’s not the only target in their sights.

The Blues have also been linked with a midfield upgrade in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The England international is among the most sought-after talents in the Premier League and will have the biggest decision of his career to make sooner or later. Whether that results in a move to West London remains to be seen.

With Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez at the base of the Blues’ midfield, it would take quite the talent to take a starting spot in the middle of Enzo Maresca’s side, but that may not stand in the way of BlueCo’s spending.

If it’s not Wharton that arrives in 2026, then it could be Atletico Madrid star Barrios, who has entered Chelsea’s radar ahead of the January transfer window.

Chelsea launch contact to sign Pablo Barrios

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea have now made contact over signing Barrios from Atletico Madrid, only to be told that the Spanish club will only be accepting offers in the region of €100m (£88m).

Chelsea have Palmer 2.0 with a "left foot made of gold" & it's not Estevao

The promising talent could be the perfect solution to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer problem.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2025

Whilst money hasn’t been a problem for Chelsea in the past, they should question whether they actually need another midfielder with Caicedo and Fernandez already performing so well together this season.

League stats P90 25/26

Barrios

Caicedo

Fernandez

Minutes

856

945

880

Progressive Passes

7.47

5.71

8.16

Tackles Won

0.95

1.90

0.71

Ball Recoveries

6.11

5.43

3.88

Barrios has certainly impressed enough to force Chelsea to ask themselves the question about his potential arrival, but whether they can lure him away from Atletico Madrid is another question entirely.

Diego Simeone is a big fan of the midfielder and told reporters when the 22-year-old was first breaking through: “He has a fantastic game, and I told him that we’re going to work to shape it. Koke is there now (at the ‘5’) and we are trying to bring out Pablo’s full potential. He has to grow, but he’s doing very well. I’m excited. He’s a kid from the academy, and he can play several roles.”

Forget Delap: 18-year-old star is destined to be Chelsea's future number 9

Better signing than Semenyo: Liverpool enter race for £100m "superstar"

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Premier League is back after a third international break in as many months. Typically, this would be a moment of great excitement for Liverpool, but recent results have laced the build-up to the next phase of action with anxiety.

But Arne Slot’s side are a distance short of emulating last season’s smooth-sailing Premier League champions. Well adrift of first-placed Arsenal after losing five of six top-flight fixtures, there can be no doubting that this is a crisis for the Reds.

But Liverpool have weathered storms before, and it certainly feels like a matter of when, not if, Liverpool will click together after a summer of sweeping change.

Slot has played down chatter of a winter bid for a centre-back. Giovanni Leoni was signed for around £27m this summer, but the former Parma defender is out for the campaign after suffering an ACL injury on his debut. Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day.

Liverpool do appear set to complete some winter business, though, with rumours regarding Antoine Semenyo’s future at Bournemouth gathering speed.

Liverpool planning for winter business

It has been confirmed by the powers that be on the transfer scene that Liverpool are interested in Semenyo, whose £65m release clause with the Cherries becomes active during the January transfer market.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed FSG’s vested interest, but Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are among the suitors too.

This would be a significant deal for the Reds, who failed to seal a direct Luis Diaz replacement this summer, but sporting director Richard Hughes’ eye falls over more than one position, with another Premier League sensation earmarked ahead of 2026.

Indeed, according to a recent report from The Times, Liverpool have entered the race for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, though they face stiff competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Tricky Trees don’t want to part with their prized player, though Evangelos Marinakis concedes that keeping him for the long run will prove difficult. Therefore, he has been listed at £100m.

Why FSG want to sign Elliot Anderson

Liverpool have a robust crop of midfield players, but Anderson’s complete and combative style suggests he might be the missing link in an engine room lacking its typical efficiency.

Forged in Newcastle’s academy, Anderson was sold to Forest in 2024 as Eddie Howe sought to ease his side’s financial worries. It would have been a rueful transfer for the 23-year-old, though he has only gone from strength to strength since the switch, and now he is a fully-fledged England international, regarded as one of the finest midfielders in his homeland.

Instrumental for Forest since the start of last season, Anderson really is the full package, strong in the duel, utterly tireless and a developing playmaker, his range of passing growing by the month.

In fact, Anderson is among the best across a number of statistical metrics this season. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of Premier League midfielders for passes attempted, progressive passes and ball recoveries, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for successful take-ons, and the top 7% for crosses completed per 90. Quite the jack of all trades.

He’s an all-rounder, alright, a real force in the middle of the park. In this, he is an echo of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, and one who is far outstripping the Argentine at the moment – and that’s not up for debate, sadly.

Premier League 25/26 – Anderson vs Mac Allister

Stats (*per game)

Anderson

Mac Allister

Matches (starts)

11 (11)

10 (9)

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

2

Touches*

94.4

45.1

Accurate passes*

62.1 (87%)

30.3 (86%)

Chances created*

1.4

0.9

Dribbles*

1.3

0.0

Ball recoveries*

8.4

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

3.5

1.6

Duels (won)*

7.5 (55%)

2.5 (45%)

Data via Sofascore

The sum of Liverpool’s plight this season is greater than its individual parts, but it is hardly helping that Slot’s trusted midfield lieutenant is flattering to deceive.

While adding Semenyo to the ranks would be a positive move for Slot’s side, you have to wonder whether Liverpool need to complete such a deal. After all, the reason behind opting against a direct Diaz replacement was to ensure Rio Ngumoha has a clear pathway to consistent first-team minutes.

With Cody Gakpo also in the mix, it feels like a deal for Semenyo could run counter to that previously outlined ambition. Of course, Mohamed Salah is not getting any younger, and Semenyo is equally as dangerous on the right as he is coming off the left flank, but Semenyo would struggle to displace the Egyptian legend from the outset, and Salah is contracted to Anfield until the end of next season.

A lot for Hughes and Slot to ponder. With the need for a central defender also intense, Liverpool may struggle to pull off deals for all of these aforementioned players.

They might have to be savvy about it, and while Anderson would be the most expensive of the lot, he would also mark the most impactful addition, described as a “superstar in the making” by journalist Louis Wheeldon, with the potential to become a leading man in the Premier League over the next decade.

Diaz 2.0: Liverpool prepare £88m bid to sign "the best player in the world"

Liverpool have lacked balance and sharpness in the final third this season.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 21, 2025

Revealed: Best XI of players not going to the 2026 World Cup

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

From overhead kicks, last-gasp winners and routine thumpings, the November international break was full of moments of jubilation. But, in between that jubilation, came the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.

For many players, it was their final opportunity to reach football’s biggest stage, only to see it snatched from their grasp once more. Whilst Scotland may still be in party mode and Ireland preparing for the playoffs after Troy Parrott heroics, the likes of Hungary and Nigeria have been left to wonder what might have been.

With the tournament fast approaching, some of the world’s most impressive stars have now had their fates sealed and face the heart-wrenching task of watching on from home as their club teammates do what they can only dream of next summer.

From Victor Osimhen to Dominik Szoboszlai, we’ve taken a look at the best XI of players set to miss out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeeper and defence

GK: Jan Oblak (Slovenia & Atletico Madrid) – Part of Slovenia’s disastrous qualification attempts, Jan Oblak could do nothing but watch on as his side earned just four points from six games in a group with Switzerland, Kosovo and Sweden.

By the end of qualifying, the standings weren’t even close as Kosovo’s 11 points were enough to finish second and leave Slovenia in third to sum things up.

RB: Ola Aina (Nigeria & Nottingham Forest) – If Oblak’s situation was frustrating then Ola Aina’s was on a whole new level over the international break. The right-back could only watch amid his recent injury woes, as Nigeria crashed out of qualifying in a disastrous penalty shoot-out.

The Super Eagles’ manager, Eric Chelle, limited his penalty options by taking off attacking players to hold on for the shoot-out, before suffering the consequences.

CB: Willi Orban (Hungary & RB Leipzig) – As Parrott wheeled away in celebration for Ireland, Willi Orban was one of several Hungary players suffering the heartbreak of late defeat.

They had their World Cup fortunes in their grasp, only for it to be snatched away in the most harsh way possible. Now, the RB Leipzig man, at 33 years old, may never get the chance to feature in the tournament.

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CB: Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia & Nottingham Forest) – It makes Serbia’s struggles all the more confusing, the fact that they also had a defender of Nikola Milenkovic’s calibre at their disposal, but it sums up his season. The Nottingham Forest star has struggled to replicate last season’s form at club level and took that form into the international break.

LB: Milos Kerkez (Hungary & Liverpool) – It’s been a difficult season for Milos Kerkez. The left-back has failed to hit the ground running at Liverpool and recently lost his place back to Andy Robertson. Now, he’s had his World Cup dreams shattered to coincide with his dream move slowly but surely becoming more of a nightmare.

Midfield

CM: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon & Brighton) – Carlos Baleba is undoubtedly destined for big things, but the world stage will have to wait for his presence as Cameroon crashed out of qualifying against DR Congo. At 21 years old, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder will still have more opportunities in his future and those may yet coincide with an impressive move at club level.

CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary & Liverpool) – Szoboszlai was lost for words after Parrott’s late winner. When his side took the lead before half-time, the Hungary captain would have had his sights set on the World Cup.

Just 45 minutes later, however, he saw his dreams torn apart in cruel fashion. A rare standout for Liverpool this season and often dragging Hungary to victory, Szoboszlai has certainly been hard done by.

RM: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon & Man Utd) – Like his international teammate and potential future club teammate, Belaba, Bryan Mbeumo will be missing the 2026 World Cup.

At the peak of his powers and with everything beginning to come together at Old Trafford, there would have been plenty of hope around Cameroon that the winger could drag them through the qualifiers. Ultimately, though, he struggled to land a mark on DR Congo.

LM: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia & PSG) – As talented as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is, Georgia were always likely to be underdogs in World Cup qualifying. They finished third in Group E and won just once in six games, as Spain and Turkey took the top two spots, and they were forced to settle for third ahead of Bulgaria.

Attack

ST: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Galatasaray) – The biggest stage has continuously passed Osimhen by in recent years. Since falling out with Napoli, he’s played much of his club football at Galatasaray, despite endless rumours linking him with some of Europe’s biggest clubs and leagues. Now, he’s set to miss the World Cup and didn’t even get to take a penalty for Nigeria as they crashed out after he was substituted off.

ST: Serhou Guirassy (Guinea & Borussia Dortmund) – Serhou Guirassy is quietly one of the most impressive strikers that European football has to offer. He’s consistently starred in the Bundesliga in recent years, yet won’t get the chance to do the same for Guinea next summer. His side finished fourth in Group G, despite losing just three of their 10 games.

2026 World Cup groups predicted by AI

Anuerin Donald gives Falcons lift-off in successful 201 chase

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Derbyshire get home comfortably to significantly dent Yorkshire’s quarter-final prospects

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Jul-2025A brutal innings from Aneurin Donald drove Derbyshire Falcons to a seven wicket victory over Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast North Group at Chesterfield.Donald reached 50 off 13 balls, the joint fastest in the Blast, and smashed seven sixes and eight fours in 85 from 30 balls as the Falcons cruised to a target of 201 in 17.2 overs with Wayne Madsen unbeaten on 38.It condemned Yorkshire to an eighth consecutive Blast defeat at Queen’s Park and puts a big dent in their chances of reaching the knockouts.Jordan Thompson hit four sixes in an 11 ball unbeaten 37 to take Yorkshire to 200 for 6 which looked competitive until Donald engaged the turbo with 90 coming in the powerplay.By contrast, Yorkshire started sedately before Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan found their range. Malan lifted Alex Thomson over cover for six and then straight drove Zak Chappell into the pavilion.Bairstow lofted Pat Brown out of the ground but the Falcons dismissed both openers in consecutive overs. Malan was bowled coming down the pitch to Mohammad Ghazanfar and Bairstow went trying to run Chappell to third man.After two tight overs, James Wharton pulled Martin Andersson for six but Will Luxton failed to clear long-on in Samit Patel’s second over.Wharton certainly did when he drove the Falcons skipper over the sightscreen and he dispatched Ghazanfar for another maximum in the 15th over. But his next attempt to clear the ropes landed in the hands of long-on to leave Yorkshire 125 for 4 in the 15th.Matty Revis also fell to a good running catch at long-on but Will Sutherland and Thompson took 22 off the 18th over from Chappell. Ross Whiteley pulled off a stunning leaping catch on the cover boundary to dismiss Sutherland but Thompson smashed three sixes off the last over from Chappell which cost 24.Donald launched the chase by taking 20 off Dom Bess and 25 came off the second over from Matt Milnes which included two big sixes from Donald. The onslaught continued with Donald swatting Will O’Rouke for another six and he reached his landmark 50 which also included six fours in the fourth over.Only 10 came off the next two overs but Donald scooped O’Rouke for his fifth six as the Falcons reached 90 without loss at the end of the powerplay.Donald swept Jafer Chohan for six to bring up the 100 in the eighth over and the opening stand with Caleb Jewell was worth 115 before the Australian mistimed a pull at Sutherland.Donald’s remarkable innings ended when he pulled Chohan to deep midwicket but there was no way back for Yorkshire as Madsen and Whiteley easily completed the Falcons third group victory.

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