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Liverpool were unable to return to winning ways once again in the Premier League last night, that’s despite a late equaliser at Anfield against high-flying Sunderland.

Arne Slot’s men looked to be staring down the barrel of yet another home defeat, but Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort late on secured a needed point to help stop the rot.

It could have been a lot worse for the Reds last night had they not found a leveller, with Chemsdine Talbi putting Regis Le Bris’ side ahead with just under 20 minutes remaining.

However, the picture still looks incredibly bleak for the Dutchman and his side, as the Dutchman’s side currently occupy eighth place and sit 11 points off leaders Arsenal.

During the draw, it was yet another evening to forget for one player, with his selection by the manager once again coming under huge criticism after failing to deliver.

The stats behind Ibrahima Konate’s display against Sunderland

After a mistake against PSV in the Champions League last week, Slot has continued to operate with Ibrahima Konate at the heart of the backline for Liverpool.

The Frenchman has previously been one of the club’s leading talents in their recent success, but the 2025/26 campaign has been one to forget to date.

His showing against the Black Cats was yet another to forget for the 26-year-old, with his underlying figures showcasing his struggles on Merseyside once again.

Konate nearly misjudged a header, which led to the visitors going ahead before their eventual game, no doubt contributing to his measly tally of 57% aerials won.

He also won just 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst making just one interception – resulting in the club once again being unable to keep a clean sheet in England’s top-flight.

The defender desperately needs replacing over the coming months, with the same potentially being said about another player who failed to deliver on Wednesday night.

The Liverpool star who needs to be dropped after Sunderland

The draw against Sunderland last night now extends Liverpool’s run to just one win in their last five outings, highlighting the issues Slot currently has to deal with.

He definitely needs to find a solution to the recent issues, with the club facing a real possibility of missing out on all forms of European football if such a trend continues.

Whether that be a formation change or a personnel change in certain areas of the pitch, the Dutchman has a real task on his hands – potentially finding himself out of a job should he fail to do so.

Alongside Konate, numerous players have failed to deliver in the Premier League, with Cody Gakpo also massively underperforming against the newly-promoted outfit.

The winger has been a consistent starter for the Reds so far this season, as seen by his tally of 12 starts in the first 14 league outings of the ongoing campaign.

However, last night was one of his worst to date, so much so Slot decided to substitute the 26-year-old at the break and replace him with fan-favourite Mohamed Salah.

He was very predictable in the first half of the clash at Anfield, often cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, something which full-back Trai Hume read on the vast majority of occasions.

Gakpo’s underlying stats against the Black Cats further demonstrate his lack of quality, which led to hefty criticism being directed his way at the final whistle.

During his 45-minute showing, the attacker only managed to complete a total of seven passes, with none of which being into the final third – showcasing his lack of creativity at Anfield.

Minutes played

45

Touches

26

Passes completed

7

Passes into final third

0

Dribbles completed

0

Crosses completed

1

Shots taken

1

Duels won

1/5

He also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst managing to register just one successful cross – reaffirming his struggles on Merseyside.

Gakpo’s lack of impact was topped off by his tally of just one shot, which was blocked, resulting in John O’Sullivan saying he was sick of the winger’s “1/10 performances”.

With players on the bench such as Federico Chiesa and Hugo Ekitiké, it’s vital that Slot drops the winger ahead of their next outing at the weekend in an attempt to end the recent barren run.

There’s no understating the struggles at Anfield at present, but the manager desperately needs to get a grip of the situation if any credibility is to come out of the ongoing campaign.

Fabinho 2.0: Liverpool in pole position to sign £35m midfield "machine"

Liverpool look set to be making a move for one star during the upcoming January transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Arne Slot is determined to put things right at Liverpool. Because it’s all gone very wrong this season, the champions 12th in the Premier League standings after losing five of their past six matches.

There is more than enough time for the Dutch coach to turn things around, but improvements are needed quickly if Slot is to repel rising noises regarding the security of his position in the hot seat.

The curious case of Alexander Isak. Liverpool’s record-breaking striker has flattered to deceive since joining from Newcastle United for £125m this summer, and getting him up to speed is paramount if the Reds are to fire on all cylinders going forward.

And with Mohamed Salah struggling and the Anfield side altogether imbalanced up front, FSG appear to be turning toward the transfer market once again.

Liverpool lining up new forward

Salah, 33, is waning. Then again, Liverpool have malfunctioned this season and the Egyptian superstar will surely rekindle his form after a lifetime of genius on Merseyside.

But, regardless, Liverpool need to draw up a succession plan, and they appear to have done exactly that after earmarking a former Premier League sensation to take his berth on the right wing.

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool view Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise as a “future dream target” to replace Salah, who extended his stay on Merseyside until the end of the 2026/27 season in April.

Olise would cost a pretty penny, though, having been priced by Die Roten at a staggering €140m (about £122m).

Still, FSG have shown they will do business for such a fee in recent times.

Why Michael Olise would be perfect for Alexander Isak

Olise was immense throughout his debut season in Germany last season, steering Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title and earning acclaim for his dynamic attacking displays.

The 23-year-old has gone up a gear this term, posting nine goals and ten assists from 18 matches in all competitions, and TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves said that he “could be as good as anyone” after one Champions League performance.

Whether Olise winds up at Liverpool remains to be seen, but his remarkable physical traits and natural playmaking qualities make him a tailor-made winger to accommodate Isak and Hugo Ekitike at number nine.

One thing’s for sure: he would provide a huge upgrade on this current version of Salah, whose wastefulness in front of goal is being matched by an inability to influence as he usually does across other areas.

Goals scored

0.63

0.34

Assists

0.63

0.17

Shots taken

4.62

2.43

Shot-creating actions

6.82

3.27

Touches (att pen)

7.55

6.21

Pass completion (%)

81.6

68.1

Progressive passes

6.40

4.19

Progressive carries

5.45

3.94

Successful take-ons

2.31

0.92

Ball recoveries

4.72

2.77

Tackles + interceptions

1.36

0.34

Isak is one of the best strikers in the world, but he needs service. The Sweden international darts upfield and finds space in between the lines. Olise could help activate this area of his skillset at Liverpool, averaging over six progressive passes per Bundesliga game this term.

Olise is also less focused on goalscoring side of the game. That’s not to say he’s not capable of show-stopping strikes, as has been seen numerous times in the Premier League, but serve as evidence that he could be the perfect counterweight in Liverpool’s attacking system to give rise to Isak’s striking ability.

Such an athletic and hungry wide forward with a proven pedigree in the Premier League could prove the key to success at Liverpool, whose forwards are toiling and surely need some fresh inspiration to lift them back into the ascendancy.

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ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

Over the years, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side have not been short of superstars. Whether they are homegrown players, like Phil Foden, or brought in from other clubs, both in the Premier League and abroad, the Spaniard has certainly coached some big names.

Foden is certainly one of the players who could fit into that category, and fellow England international Raheem Sterling became one of the best players in the league under Guardiola. Of course, you have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri who joined from clubs across Europe, and helped bring success to East Manchester.

One of the latest players who falls into this category is certainly Erling Haaland.

Erling Haaland's current market value

The start that Haaland has made to the 2025/26 campaign has been astronomical. There has only been one game in the top flight in which he has not scored. He has completely dominated the Premier League this season.

Let’s look at that from a numerical point of view. The Norwegian forward has played nine games for City across all competitions, and already has 12 goals.

He’s found the back of the net nine times in seven Premier League appearances, with the other three coming in two Champions League games.

The City number nine has carried his imperious form over to the international arena, too. He’s scored nine goals for Norway this season, including back-to-back hat-tricks and five goals in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

Guardiola says Haaland’s form is “better than ever” this season, and it is easy to see why. His unstoppable run is also reflected in his current market value, with CIES Football Observatory deeming him to be worth as much as £208m.

However, the 25-year-old is not the only player in the Citizens squad who looks like a £100m talent in the making, reinforcing the fact that Guardiola’s side is still filled with superstars.

Man City star is looking like a £100m player

Haaland is, without doubt, City’s most important player this season. He’s scored nine of their 15 Premier League goals so far, so they would certainly be a lot lower in the table without him leading the line.

At the other end of the pitch, summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma has made some extremely important contributions.

The Italian goalkeeper joined from Paris Saint-Germain at the back end of the window and has been crucial for Guardiola.

The shot-stopper, who lifted the Champions League with the Parisian side last season, has slotted seamlessly into his new club. Having played six games across all competitions, he’s kept three clean sheets and conceded just four goals.

Saves such as this one from Bryan Mbeumo’s effort show why he will be so important for City. Making his debut in a Manchester derby, the Italian was able to tip wide the Manchester United winger’s strike, which seemed destined for the bottom left corner.

His singing has been a big coup for City. Donnarumma’s consistency for PSG was clear to see with some of his numbers.

He regularly had a save rate in the 70s, with his highest coming in 2023/24, where it stood at 79.1%. In a City shirt, it’s currently at 66.7%.

2021/22 (PSG)

2.9

75.3%

2022/23 (PSG)

3.3

75.2%

2023/24 (PSG)

3.5

79.1%

2024/25 (PSG)

2.3

70.2%

2025/26 (Man City)

1.3

66.7%

One City page over on X, City Chief, said the Citizens have “got a £100m goalkeeper for £25m,” and it certainly feels that way based on Donnarumma’s start to the season.

He has been imperious between the posts for his new side, with his size, reflexes and the way he commands his box making it hard to score past him.

Football scout Antonio Mango once said the former AC Milan star was a “generational” talent. Well, all the evidence this season certainly makes it clear why that is the case. Just like Haaland, Donnarumma has been key to Guardiola in the early parts of the season.

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ByKelan Sarson Oct 16, 2025

Already thinking about further reinforcements in 2026, Newcastle United are now reportedly racing to sign a £55m star in an attempt to build a new midfield partnership.

Sandro Tonali extends Newcastle stay

It’s been a good week for Newcastle since they suffered defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Not only have they bounced back in style on the pitch, defeating Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 3-0, they’ve also got to work off the pitch to ease any fears about Sandro Tonali’s future.

After holding secret talks with the Italian, the Magpies have extended his contract until 2029 in a deal that also includes the option to extend for an additional year. As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Tonali agreed a deal in secret during his ban for illegal betting in an attempt to protect Newcastle financially during his absence.

Repaying the good faith that Newcastle showed in him during his ban, Tonali’s contract will now run until 2029. It comes as a huge relief for St James’ Park, with concerns beginning to grow that they could face an Alexander Isak repeat before the news of the Italian’s new deal emerged.

Now, all focus will be on putting that new contract to use on the pitch. The 25-year-old is one of the most important players under Eddie Howe and the Magpies will need him at the top of his game as they look to end their frustrating start in the Premier League.

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What’s more, now that his contract has been signed and sealed, those in Tyneside have reportedly turned their attention towards handing the former AC Milan man an impressive midfield partner.

Newcastle now racing to sign Elliot Anderson

As reported by iNews, Newcastle are now racing to re-sign Elliot Anderson in an attempt to build on their secret Tonali deal and build an impressive midfield partnership in discreet fashion.

Anderson’s return to the club won’t come cheap, however. After selling the England international to Nottingham Forest in 2024 for around £30m, the Tricky Trees have now reportedly set his price-tag at £55m.

The midfielder’s return is certainly something that Howe would get behind. The Newcastle boss still regrets having to sell Anderson amid PSR troubles and recently took the time to praise his rise to form at the City Ground.

At 22 years old, Anderson’s career could still feature plenty of twists and turns, including a return to Tyneside to from a fresh midfield partnership with Tonali.

عاد مستقبل نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، إلى دائرة الضوء مرة أخرى رغم أنه وقع على عقد جديد مع بطل الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، في شهر أبريل الماضي.

ووقع محمد صلاح عقدًا مع ليفربول لمدة عامين، أي حتى يونيو 2027، ورغم ذلك، فإن التكهنات حول مستقبله عادت من جديد مؤخرًا.

وتحدث المستشار المالي السابق لنادي مانشستر سيتي، ستيفان بورسون، عن مستقبل النجم المصري محمد صلاح مع ليفربول، وإمكانية رحيله نهاية الموسم الحالي إلى الدوري السعودي.

وليس سرًا وجود اهتمام كبير من جانب الدوري السعودي لاستقطاب محمد صلاح، وذكرت تقارير صحفية مؤخرًا إمكانية تلقي صاحب الـ33 عامًا عرضًا ضخمًا من أحد الأندية، دون الكشف عن هويتها، مقابل 150 مليون جنيه إسترليني سنويًا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ذا أثلتيك: حدث نادر.. محمد صلاح “المتوتر” فشل في إخضاع لاعب مانشستر سيتي أمامه

وقال ستيفان بورسون، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “فوتبول إنسايدر” الإنجليزية: “أشك في أن المبلغ يصل إلى 150 مليون جنيه إسترليني، لكنه قد يكون مبلغًا ضخمًا”.

وأضاف:”أعني، كلاعب ربما يُعد الأشهر في الشرق الأوسط، قد تعتقد أنه سيكون الصفقة الأهم للسعودية، لذا يمكنك توقع حدوث ذلك بالتأكيد، لا أفهم سبب حاجتهم لدفع 150 مليون جنيه إسترليني له، يبدو لي أنه يمكن إتمام الصفقة بقيمة أقل بكثير”.

وواصل: “يبدو لي أنه إذا لم يقدم محمد صلاح موسمًا جيدًا، فسيكون ليفربول على استعداد لتركه يرحل مقابل مبلغ أقل بكثير من أجل توفير راتبه إن لم يكن لأي سبب آخر، وهو يرغب في الرحيل لذلك يمكن إتمام الصفقة”.

واستكمل: “لأكون صريحًا، يمكن إتمام تلك الصفقة في الصيف حتى لو استعاد محمد صلاح مستواه، لأنني أعتقد أنه عندما ترى ما يبدو عليه الأمر عندما لا يقدم أداءً جيدًا، قد يكون ذلك هو الدافع الذي يجعل ليفربول يفكر في مسألة رحيله في الصيف وسيقوم بذلك، يمكنني رؤية ذلك يحدث”.

Upon his £30m transfer back in the summer of 2004, no Manchester United supporter could have imagined the huge impact Wayne Rooney would have on the club.

The Englishman spent 13 years at Old Trafford, subsequently appearing in 559 outings in the process – currently sitting on the list for the club’s all-time appearance makers.

Such a time frame allowed the forward to reach phenomenal levels with the Red Devils, racking up a total of 253 goals at an average of one strike every 2.2 matches.

Rooney’s subsequent tally has made him their record goalscorer, with such a record still standing to this day and putting him ahead of the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton.

His phenomenal tallies catapulted Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to five Premier League titles during his stint in the North West, helping make the club one of the most successful in English history.

Fast-forward to the present day, current boss Ruben Amorim has found his own version of the fan-favourite, but it’s not in the form of one player who many would expect.

Benjamin Sesko’s start to life at United

After scoring just 44 times in England’s top-flight last season, it was crucial United invested in landing a new talisman – with Benjamin Sesko the man chosen by the hierarchy to lead the line.

The Slovenian cost a reported £74m including add-ons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, but it’s safe to say his start in England has been a slow burner and taken time to explode into life.

He failed to score in any of his first six outings for the Red Devils, but the 22-year-old has managed to produce the goods in each of the last couple of outings.

Sesko has scored in each of his last two Premier League outings for Amorim’s side, with his latest strike helping them claim a needed victory against newly-promoted Sunderland at the Theatre of Dreams.

It may be early days into his career in England, but he’s already shown glimpses of quality that could make him a fan-favourite for many years to come – potentially even catapulting them to new levels of success.

However, he’s not the player who could emulate Rooney at Old Trafford, with one other first-team member closer to being similar to the Englishman in the future.

Man United's new Rooney

In their attempts to land top-level talents, United have spent over £800m on new signings in the last four years to try and catapult themselves back up the Premier League table.

Most of such funds have been wasted on players that, unfortunately, aren’t at the level required for success, as seen by the club’s 15th-placed standing last campaign.

Amorim was unable to extract the most out of the squad, which undoubtedly led to Sesko’s addition during the summer to prevent such a scenario from happening once again in the future.

However, he has already featured alongside Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese international a player who massively starred despite the struggles on the pitch in 2024/25.

The 31-year-old scored 19 times and registered 18 assists across all competitions, with such a tally being by far and away the highest of any player in the first-team squad.

Such numbers make him similar to Rooney in terms of being the Red Devils’ main talisman, but it’s another aspect of his game which has seen him emulate the Englishman.

After the hierarchy’s £200m spending spree in the summer, it saw three attacking-minded players enter the club, which has seen Bruno have to shift roles as a result.

Fernandes, who’s been labelled “world-class” by United writer Liam Canning, has since been forced to operate in a deeper midfield role, something which Rooney did during the latter stages of his career at Old Trafford.

Whilst such a decision saw the Englishman net fewer goals in his final years, his passing ability made him a phenomenal option in that area – with Bruno emulating such levels, as seen by his tally of 82% of passes completed in 2025/26.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

82%

Shots taken

2.3

Chances created

2.7

Dribble success

57%

Tackles won

2.1

Recoveries made

6.2

The Portuguese international may have to suffer in terms of his goalscoring tallies, but his ability to dictate the play could be a huge asset for Amorim’s side in the years ahead.

His passing ability could be crucial for Sesko if the Slovenian is to be a success at Old Trafford, with huge pressure being placed on the youngster to provide the goods in the Premier League.

However, neither player will likely reach the cult hero status of Rooney at the Theatre of Dreams, with the manager undoubtedly wishing he could call upon such a player in the present day.

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ByBen Gray Oct 7, 2025

It has not been easy for Everton to find a suitable replacement for Anthony Gordon. The former Toffees star was once the jewel in the crown on the Blue side of Merseyside, but after forcing through a move to Newcastle United in January 2023 for £45m, he burnt the bridges he’d built.

However, Gordon’s time at Goodison Park was a fruitful one, where he showed great promise before his move to the North East. He scored seven times and assisted eight in 78 appearances for his boyhood club, after properly breaking into the first team in 2019/20.

It took the Toffees a while to find a marquee replacement on the left wing, but in Jack Grealish, they may have landed on the perfect player.

Grealish’s stunning start at Everton

After falling out of favour at Manchester City in the last 12 months or so, it was time for Grealish to depart the club for pastures anew. His start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium has been simply exceptional.

The England international has only made four appearances in that famous Blue shirt, but you can already see the sort of impact he will have on the club. He’s assisted four goals already, with two each in Premier League games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Grealish played a huge part in the first competitive goal at the Toffees’ new stadium, when he set up Iliman Ndiaye to score against the Seagulls. It was a smart piece of skill from the new Everton number 18, who managed to create space for himself and whip in a pinpoint cross.

The reaction to Grealish’s start as an Everton player has been nothing but positive. Manager David Moyes said the forward is “he’s better than I thought he was”, highlighting the real impact Grealish has made already.

It is fair to say that the England international is finally proving to be the perfect replacement for Gordon after over two years. Yet, the Toffees may have sold someone long before, who is playing like both forwards.

Alex Iwobi is now shining away from Everton

So, with Gordon now plying his trade up in the North East, and Grealish enjoying his new lease of life on Merseyside, it seems like that issue is in the past. Yet, Toffees fans may look back on a player who could have slotted into their attack and wish they’d kept him.

Described as a “world-class” operator with the ball at his feet by Statman Dave, Alex Iwobi, once of Everton, is now thriving in West London for Fulham. The versatile attacker has shone under Marco Silva, just as he once did in that famous Blue shirt.

In total, the Nigerian international played 140 times for Everton, operating on both wings and as a number ten. He contributed to nine goals and 17 assists, with his final campaign on Merseyside yielding ten Premier League goal involvements.

Since his £22m move to Craven Cottage in 2023, the versatile attacker has played 81 times for the club. In that time, he’s bagged 15 goals and assisted nine, and produced an impressive 15 goals and assists last season.

The former Arsenal academy star was putting up similar numbers to Grealish and Gordon in 2024/25, while operating in that left channel, with the latter duo noted to be statistically similar players to him in the Premier League, as per FBref.

For example, Iwobi averaged 6.44 progressive passes each game. In comparison, Grealish averaged 6.5 progressive passes and Gordon far less, with just 3.63 per 90 minutes. There are several other standout numbers, too.

Last term’s efforts were certainly impressive from Iwobi, who has seemingly gone from strength to strength after his move back to London. It seems like, with those stats, the former Arsenal academy star could have been a key player under Moyes.

Although life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is good for the moment, perhaps Toffees fans wish they had never lost a talent like Iwobi, who could have been a vital part of the side.

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Despite numerous key names being absent, New Zealand have dominated the series against a side trying to refine their approach

Danyal Rasool24-Mar-2025Big picture: New Zealand’s depth shines throughThis is a dead rubber in a dead series. It is the fifth T20I with the home side 3-1 up a fortnight after a Champions Trophy campaign that was draining for New Zealand and demoralising for Pakistan. New Zealand have rested key players while others are unavailable due to the IPL, while Pakistan have rung the changes in the hopes of a fresh start that will snap the game out of its current rut. If there was little on this series, there is even less on this particular game.This is the third time a New Zealand-Pakistan series clashes with the IPL in three years, and once more, New Zealand’s strength in depth has lived up to the test. Barring Pakistan’s white-hot brilliance in their Auckland chase, the hosts have found themselves in more or less complete control throughout. Where Pakistan’s powerplay bowling has been expensive, New Zealand have been productive, striking early and several times through the fielding restrictions to stifle Pakistan’s ability to take risks on high-scoring surfaces.Related

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Kelly, Abbas get maiden NZ call-ups; Williamson unavailable for Pakistan ODIs

If Pakistan hoped this series would be akin to England’s ODI series against New Zealand in the wake of their humiliating exit at the 2015 World Cup, events have not shown themselves to be quite as conveniently linear.However, there is a sense of excitement at what appears a tonal shift in philosophy to T20 cricket, with Pakistan – at least for now – encouraging all-out attack. That will present problems and frustrations as has been evident for in this series, but that Eden Park onslaught – coupled with irregular flashes of quality through this tour – has suggested there may be diamonds to be had amidst all the roughness.This game, and this series, will hold little value in the short-term. Both sides will move on to a seemingly equally context-free ODI series over the following week, before Pakistan’s players shift to the PSL while the IPL dominates this slice of the calendar.But with the T20I World Cup a year away, New Zealand, venerated for their far-sightedness, will view this series as the moment when the first building blocks for an attempt at yet another ICC trophy are made. Pakistan, on the other hand, may look back upon it as the time they lifted themselves up off rock bottom.However, history suggests they have not earned the trust for observers to begin viewing it that way just yet; it may just as easily be a footnote in yet another attempted overhaul. Given the seemingly impulsive nature of decision-making in Pakistan cricket, perhaps the final match may well carry a certain value if it can convince the PCB to stay the course.Form guideNew Zealand: WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan: LWLLLJacob Duffy has taken the chance to establish his T20I credentials•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Jacob Duffy and Mohammad HarisHe might not be the star of New Zealand’s bowling line-up but Jacob Duffy has taken a shine to Pakistan. He has more T20I wickets against this opposition than all others combined and at the best strike rate. Duffy was brought into the Champions Trophy squad last month and while he did not play a game, he has not appeared rusty, playing in all four matches. He is the leading wicket-taker, the most economical bowler, and boasts the lowest average across the series. He was instrumental in demolishing Pakistan’s top order in Mount Maunganui as New Zealand coasted to a series victory. He is well placed to finish the series as its standout performer and push his T20I credentials even when New Zealand do not have players away at the IPL.Mohammad Haris’ whirlwind 41 may have set Pakistan on their way at Eden Park, but across these four games, he – and Pakistan – expected bigger contributions. Early dismissals for a batter taking such high risk are hardly rare, but at this point, Haris looks some way off the player who lit up the 2022 World Cup partway with his assault on South Africa in Sydney. That cameo appeared to personify Haris, but since the end of the World Cup, they have dried up almost completely. That score in the third T20I remains the only time in nine innings he has crossed 15 since that World Cup in Australia, and the fluid nature of Pakistan’s selection philosophy means another failure in the final game can hardly bode well for him.Team news: Pakistan could rotateNew Zealand have named the same squad for the fifth T20I, and with the fourth producing a near-perfect performance, an unchanged eleven would be unsurprising.New Zealand (probable): 1 Tim Seifert, 2 Finn Allen, 3 Mark Chapman, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Jimmy Neesham, 6 Mitch Hay (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell (capt), 8 Zakary Foulkes, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Will O’RourkeShahid Afridi called for Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan to be rested with the series lost. Right arm fast bowler Mohammad Ali awaits may get more game time if that comes to pass, while Usman Khan, yet to get a game this series, is a potential beneficiary of rotation.Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Haris (wk), 2 Hassan Nawaz, 3 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 4 Irfan Khan/Usman Khan, 5 Shadab Khan, 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shaheen Afridi/Mohammad Ali, 9 Haris Rauf, 10 Abbas Afridi, 11 Abrar AhmedPitch and conditions: Weather set fairConditions in Wellington are expected to be near-perfect for cricket, with dry and slightly cool weather in the evening. The most recent T20I here saw the second and third-highest scores at this venue, when New Zealand posted 215 last year, only for Australia to chase it down off the final delivery.Stats and trivia Jimmy Neesham requires another 45 runs to reach 1000 in T20I cricket New Zealand and Pakistan have more prolific wickettakers in T20I cricket than any other side. Each have three with more than 100 T20I scalps, something no other side can manage. All three of Pakistan’s – Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi are in Pakistan’s current squad Pakistan have an abysmal recent record in T20I cricket since the start of 2024. Excluding games against Ireland, USA, Canada and Zimbabwe, they have won four of 22 T20Is in this period

Celtic are thought to be in pole position to complete the signing of an international attacker, with the individual in question a new target for the Scottish Premiership giants.

Sutton makes demand to Celtic manager Rodgers

The Hoops are back in action this weekend, during what has been a tough period for the club, with doubts surrounding the future of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Writing for The Daily Record, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has demanded that Rodgers make a decision about his next step either way, with it acting as a distraction currently.

“I think Rodgers will simply now have to come out and tell everyone if he’s going to be staying or going. If he’s going at the end of the season, so be it. We saw it at Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp and it’s happened elsewhere. There needs to be some clarity – for everyone.

“It could be that he’s not made his mind up yet, or even that the club wants to go down a different route, which is another matter altogether. You look at the muck being thrown around with claims about Rodgers trying to engineer an exit, which wasn’t mentioned in the statement.

“Are they going to stumble on with a manager who doesn’t want to be there and a club that feels the same? How is that going to work?”

Rodgers made it clear that he wasn’t happy with Celtic’s business in the summer transfer window, but a new update suggests they are in a strong position to possibly make a new signing in 2026.

Celtic in pole position to sign international forward

According to reports from abroad [via The Celtic Way], Celtic are leading the race to sign winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, who could join on a free transfer in the January window, with the winger a new target for them.

The 22-year-old Kazakhstan international is out of contract at the end of December 2025 and the Hoops are thought to be at the front of the queue to snap him up, having sent scouts to watch him in action.

Not a huge amount will be known about Kenzhebek, considering he is currently plying his trade at homeland club Yelimay Semey, but the fact that he is an international winger immediately outlines his pedigree.

In fact, he has registered six goal contributions in only seven appearances for his current club, with four goals and two assists coming his way, and he can play on either side.

Celtic are in need of some attacking inspiration, given the lack of reinforcements that came their way this summer, and Kenzhebek could ultimately be a shrewd and cheap option midway through the season.

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For Rodgers, that would be a welcome shot in the arm, during a period in which all is not well at Parkhead, but that is assuming the Northern Irishman is still in charge of Hoops by the time the January window arrives.

Gary Neville has ranked Manchester City's new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma above Arsenal's David Raya and compared the Italian with former Manchester stars Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar. Neville labelled the former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper an "absolute animal" after watching him shine in City's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

• Donnarumma ranked above Raya and Alisson

  Former United defender turned pundit Gary Neville spoke highly of Donnarumma as he praised the towering Italian for his dominance inside the penalty box. He also claimed he would rather have the City goalkeeper over Raya and Liverpool's Alisson, while comparing the 26-year-old to fellow Red Devils legends Schmeichel and Van der Sar. 

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  'I love a massive goalkeeper'

  Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville said: "He’s just big. When he comes for it, it makes oncoming attackers think about it, because they know they’re going to get a right bash in the head if he comes and hits you. For me, I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper. He’s the type of goalkeeper I’ve always enjoyed. I like Alisson at Liverpool. I like Raya. But I wouldn’t pick Raya over Donnarumma, or Alisson, because I love a massive goalkeeper. A Peter Schmeichel, an Edwin van der Sar… It makes a massive difference when your goalkeeper is towering above everyone else.

  "But also when they’re very good at what they do. And he’s very good at what he does. He makes saves, he dominates his box, he’s positive in his actions. He will make some mistakes along the way and that’s fine -but I think he does the right things. He’d had a big impact already at City."

• Donnarumma off to a flying start in England

  After completing his move to City from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, Donnarumma appeared for Pep Guardiola's side in the Manchester derby, where he dazzled on his debut. He denied Bryan Mbeumo from scoring by pulling off a brilliant save as City ran out 3-0 winners against United. He kept another clean sheet against Napoli in the Champions League before finally conceding a goal in City's Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday, albeit after another impressive all-round display.

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  When will Donnarumma play next for City?

  Donnarumma could start on the bench against Huddersfield in City's Carabao Cup third round tie on Wednesday after appearing in three successive games in the space of a week, with James Trafford set to be drafted in. The Italian will likely start again when City get back to Premier League duty against Burnley on September 27.