Tag Futebol

Wayne Rooney has slammed Liverpool's 'leaders' after the Reds fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. Goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White condemned the Premier League champions to a sixth league defeat of the season as their title defence lies in tatters following another subpar showing.

• AFP
  

  Liverpool enduring a difficult campaign

  Liverpool were already eight points off league leaders Arsenal heading into the weekend's action and they needed a victory over Sean Dyche's Forest side in order to kickstart a comeback in the title race. However, they could be 11 points behind the Gunners should Mikel Arteta's men claim all the spoils in the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

  The Reds have now lost as many games as newly-promoted Leeds ahead of their meeting with Aston Villa today and the Merseyside outfit are struggling to match last season's expectations that saw them secure a first Premier League title since 2020. The tragic passing of Diogo Jota combined with player upheaval has contributed to a poor opening few months of the campaign.

  And former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney tore into the Reds on Match of the Day on Saturday night, with the ex-England hero pointing fingers at the club's 'leaders' in the dressing room as a reason behind the poor form.

Advertisement

• The leaders need to pick the players up, says Rooney

  In the post-Liverpool vs Forest segment on Match of the Day, Rooney said: "Liverpool are a very good team and they're going through a very difficult moment. They've been going through a tough time all season really. Even at the beginning of the season, they won games, but they were struggling with performance. Throughout the season, it's those leaders in that dressing room that have to pick the players up."

  Rooney added that unless the club can sort themselves out in the coming weeks, then they'll be the latest Big Six side to drop down the Premier League table, continuing: "We've seen it over the last few years with Manchester United and we've seen it last year with Tottenham, they can slip down the table."

  United endured their worst ever Premier League finish under Ruben Amorim last season, as they finished 15th. Combined with a Europa League final loss to Tottenham, the Red Devils are going through a campaign without any European football of note.

  Spurs, meanwhile, ended their lengthy wait for silverware as they beat United 1-0 in Bilbao in May, but the league form suffered as the north London side prioritised the Europa League, which meant they finish 17th on 38 points.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Liverpool boss Slot laments 'another big disappointment'

  Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted after the loss to Forest that the result itself was "another big disappointment" with the Reds now on a run of six defeats in their last seven league outings.

  "Another big disappointment," Slot started after Saturday's defeat. "We started off quite well for the first half an hour. We conceded the 1-0, and we weren’t able to play the way we did in the first half hour.

  "If things go well or things go bad, it’s my responsibility. We weren’t able to create enough. I tried to adjust a few things, but it didn’t work out. We were unable to score a goal. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reds not up to 'battles, challenges, the fight' states Van Dijk

  Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also claimed that the club are not up to the "battles, challenges, the fight" as the Dutchman discussed the performance with Premier League Productions.

  "We concede too many easy goals," Van Dijk started. "They scored obviously from a set piece again. You can ask if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted, so we’re 1-0 down. We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.

  "There was nervousness after we conceded, but not before. We tried to rush things and that’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. We cleared the ones before and in the end, we’re in a very difficult moment. We don’t get out of it by just speaking about it. It will take a lot of hard work.

  "It’s a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going."

  The Reds skipper continued "We concede too many easy goals. They scored obviously from a set piece again. You can ask if he was in front of Alisson, but it counted, so we’re 1-0 down. We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed. It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.

  "There was nervousness after we conceded, but not before. We tried to rush things and that’s human when you’re in a difficult moment. We cleared the ones before and in the end, we’re in a very difficult moment. We don’t get out of it by just speaking about it. It will take a lot of hard work.

  "It’s a problem. Everyone in the team has to take responsibility as well. Football is a team and everyone has to take responsibility. We have to digest this and take it on the chin. We need to work harder. We have to keep going.

  "I can’t decide what the supporters are doing if they leave early. I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us. They will be there with us when we come out of this because we will come out of this."

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac are yet to oversee a repeat of their Wrexham success in another venture with South American club La Equidad, with that team – which also includes Eva Longoria among its backers – ending the 2025 Colombian top-flight campaign in last place. There is only one way up from the bottom, with a major rebrand set to be delivered in 2026.

• Relocation project: Why La Equidad are being moved

  A standing at the foot of the division was confirmed on Wednesday when taking in a final outing of what has been a disastrous season. La Equidad did win that contest, against Deportivo Pereira, 4-0 but were unable to become upwardly mobile.

  They will be hoping positive steps in the right direction are taken next season, but will no longer be operating in their current guise. The team will compete under a new name, while donning different colours, in 2026 as Reynolds and Longoria begin to make their mark.

  Colombian reporter Felipe Sierra said at the time of relocation proposals first being aired: “Not only is the name change being evaluated, but also the change of city. It is one of the alternatives, although the name is almost a fact. Next week the document has to be signed to make the transfer official.”

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Bright future: Big plans for Colombian outfit

  Fans were encouraged to attend the final fixture in 2025 as La Equidad took to the field one last time. The club posted on social media: “Let’s experience together the close of a story that defined Colombian football.”

  Club president Nicolas Maya delivered an end-of-season message as he outlined the team’s vision for what they hope will be a brighter future. He apologised for the shocking 2025 campaign, with La Equidad ending the year with a record of three wins against 12 defeats and a goal difference of -15.

  Maya said: “We know that the sporting results this season were not what we expected nor what our fans deserve. We made risky decisions, betting on young talent and building a model with projection, but not everything went as we wanted. Even so, we are convinced it was a necessary step to start building something lasting and sustainable.”

  He hinted at the mooted rebranding being announced shortly, saying of the planned changes that are about to be implemented: “Many of them will be known soon.” La Equidad are preparing to move out of their Bogota base.

• Who forms part of the La Equidad ownership group?

  The team was taken over by a U.S. consortium in January 2025. Said group is fronted by real estate investor Al Tylis and Club Necaxa executive Sam Porter but also includes Reynolds, Mac, Longoria, MLB superstar Justin Verlander and his model wife Kate Upton.

  They are said to have purchased a 99 per cent stake in La Equidad at a valuation of over $30 million (£23m) – as reported by .

  It remains to be seen what the new ownership team have in store, with it possible that inspiration will be taken from other ventures at Wrexham and Necaxa. Reynolds, Mac and Longoria have made a point of combining their sporting interests with their love of storytelling, with documentary series being delivered in Wales and Mexico.

  Those productions are intended to cover resurgences on and off the field, with ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ opening up a window to the world for a club that has risen out of the National League in British football and to within touching distance of the Premier League.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  Another documentary after success at Wrexham & Necaxa?

  A docuseries all about Necaxa – who boast ex-Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil among their investors – was released on FX and Hulu in August 2025. With Reynolds, Mac and Longoria among the executive producers, that show intends to showcase how celebrity owners will “reignite the soul of one of Mexico’s most storied football clubs”.

  A similar project could be lined up for La Equidad, as they enter a bold new era, with famous faces behind the scenes hoping to oversee a renaissance there that delivers more drama for a worldwide audience that can be drawn in through global streaming services.

Newcastle United have now held internal talks over signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson, amid concerns over Joelinton, who has suffered a dip in form.

Widespread reports have suggested Joelinton’s chances of going to the World Cup with Brazil have taken a hit, given that he has struggled so far this season, most recently putting in a poor performance in the 3-1 defeat against West Ham United.

Indeed, the Magpies’ poor start to the Premier League season continued at the London Stadium, and the 29-year-old recorded a SofaScore match rating of just 6.1, having failed to record a shot on target throughout the entire match.

It is not the first time the Brazilian has struggled this season either, being described as “tough to watch” as a result of his performance in the 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

Eddie Howe clearly needs to make changes of some description to turn his side’s fortunes around, considering they are now 13th in the Premier League table, and it has now been revealed that a move for a new midfielder is being considered…

Newcastle hold internal talks over deal for Ederson

According to a report from The i, Newcastle have had doubts about Joelinton since the summer, with some key figures suggesting they need to bring in a new midfielder to replace the former Hoffenheim man, given his issues with injuries.

Atalanta midfielder Ederson is one of the players who has been discussed internally in recruitment meetings as a potential replacement for the Brazil international, having originally emerged as a transfer target nearly two years ago.

It may be a little hasty to give up on Joelinton, given that he has impressed at times this season, being singled out for a solid display in the 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at the beginning of October.

However, competition for places is healthy, and the Atalanta star could have what it takes to succeed at St. James’ Park, having been described as “world-class” by one former professional.

That said, there are some indications the 26-year-old would not be much of an upgrade on his compatriot, given that the Newcastle midfielder has outperformed him across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Ederson

Joelinton

Assists

0.0

0.12

Tackles

1.71

1.82

Interceptions

1.06

1.08

Aerials won

1.51

2.51

As such, Joelinton may be a more well-rounded midfielder than the Campo Grande-born maestro, and Howe is clearly an admirer, previously saying: “Joelinton is like gold dust because wherever you put him, you know he’s going to do a good job.”

That said, if the central midfielder’s performances don’t improve before January, it could be worth bringing in a new midfielder, and Ederson isn’t the only option on the shortlist…

Newcastle readying bid for Eduardo Camavinga Related Newcastle ready £60m+ bid to sign Camavinga with Real Madrid's position clear

The Magpies are preparing to step things up…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 4, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Cássio não vai permanecer no Corinthians. O goleiro tomou a decisão de deixar o clube onde atua desde 2012. Com contrato até o fim desta temporada, o camisa 12 agora trabalha em busca da rescisão do seu vínculo com o Timão, que vai até o fim do ano.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

O atleta possui uma proposta do Cruzeiro para atuar nas próximas três temporadas e a ideia é entrar em um consenso com a diretoria corintiana para ser liberado na janela do meio do ano. O departamento de futebol da equipe alvinegra, no entanto, não pretende liberar o profissional sem receber alguma quantia em troca.

Cássio e a atual administração do Corinthians, que é liderada pelo presidente Augusto Melo, nunca se entenderam. Inclusive, esse foi um dos motivos principais para que o goleiro optasse por encerrar a sua história no time do Parque São Jorge. Primeiro, ele se sentiu exposto como líder do elenco, já que no início da temporada muitos erros de planejamento da direção respingaram no campo. Depois, ele não gostou da condução nas conversas pela renovação do contrato. Já que os corintianos, inicialmente, ofereceram um salário menor do que o jogador recebe hoje e com somente um ano a mais de vínculo.

continua após a publicidade

Mesmo com os ruídos na relação, o ídolo do Timão entende que a sua imagem e serviços prestados dão a ele o direito de pedir para antecipar a liberação, principalmente por não haver mais clima para ele vestir a camisa alvinegra. Cássio entende que se não houver a rescisão amigável no meio do ano, a alternativa será o afastamento das atividades até o encerramento do vínculo, em dezembro, o que não ficaria bom para a gestão, que já precisa conviver com inúmeros problemas nos bastidores.

➡️ As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!

Nos últimos dias, o então diretor de futebol Rubens Gomes, o Rubão, foi desligado do cargo por Augusto Melo. Antes, os dois eram aliados. A partir de então, ambos têm trocado farpas e acusações públicas, fazendo do ambiente político corintiano cada vez mais tenso.

continua após a publicidade

Tudo sobre

Cássio Roberto RamosCorinthiansCruzeiroFutebol Nacional

Liverpool suffered yet another defeat, their eighth in 11 games across all competitions, as the troubles continue to mount at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side were thrashed 3-0 at the hands of Nottingham Forest, who have now won away to the Reds in two consecutive seasons.

It was a dire performance once again from the Merseysiders, who looked short of any sort of creative ideas and weak at the back. The first goal came from a corner again, with Murillo peeling away into space and picking up a loose ball, which he fired past the returning Alisson to put Forest 1-0 up.

The East Midlands outfit thought they had a second, but Igor Jesus saw his goal disallowed for a contentious handball. Their second came seconds into the second half, with right-back Nicolo Savona ghosting into the penalty box and hammering home from ten yards or so.

Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White capped off a wonderful day out for his side in the 78th minute. After brilliant play from Omari Hutchinson, he saw his shot saved by Alisson. However, the Brazilian could only palm it into the path of Gibbs-White, who clinically finished to seal the win.

It was another poor showing from the Reds, with Alexander Isak struggling once again.

Alexander Isak’s stats vs. Forest

The start of Isak’s Liverpool career has been very stop-start. He’s missed six games in total, for various reasons, and hasn’t played in the Premier League since the 19th of October.

His return to top-flight action against Forest was disappointing.

The Sweden international, who is still searching for his first Premier League goal in Red, was hooked by Slot after just 68 minutes, with his side still searching for two goals to bring them back into the game.

Indeed, his numbers reflect just how poor a performance it was from Isak. He managed just 15 touches, losing possession seven times, and only had one shot, which accumulated an expected goals tally of 0.13xG.

Touches

15

Number of times ball lost

7

Passes completed

6

Duels won

0/7

Shots

1

Expected goals

0.13xG

One person who was critical of the Liverpool number nine was Goal journalist Stephen Darwin. He gave the Swede a 2/10 for his performance at Anfield, pointing out that he ‘wasn’t even close to breaking his duck’ when it comes to Premier League goals.

However, the blame cannot solely lie with the striker, who didn’t necessarily get the service he needed.

Two players who struggled to get the ball to Isak

One of the key things that Darwin stressed in his review of Isak’s performance was the fact that he ‘hardly had a kick’ of the ball. Of course, 15 touches makes for poor reading, but you still have to provide the ball for your centre-forward.

Two of the players who struggled with exactly that were wingers Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Generally speaking, it was not the worst performance, with Salah creating three chances and Gakpo one, although they were sloppy in possession, losing the ball a combined 53 times.

However, it was their service to the Reds centre-forward which was inadequate at best. According to Stats Zone, the Liverpool number ten passes to Isak just three times, and Dutch international Gakpo twice.

That is certainly not the level of service he needs to help him start finding his best form in front of goal. Perhaps it is due to the clash of profiles. Both Salah and Gakpo are inside forwards who like to cut inside, entering similar areas to those Isak operates in.

Alternatively, the problem could simply be a lack of time spent on the pitch with their new teammate. Isak has missed such a large portion of the season that it simply might take some time for the trio to gel.

Regardless, it is a problem Slot must fix quickly. The Reds’ form is a huge concern, as they slip further down the Premier League table. The Dutchman must get his big-money striker and first-choice wingers firing, as they look to rectify this poor form.

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

Liverpool are weighing up a 2026 bid for one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 21, 2025

Liverpool continue to pursue a move for Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton, with talks now reportedly taking place over a move to Anfield.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising young players in the country, bringing so much maturity in the middle of the park for Palace.

The £100m-rated Wharton also started for England in their 2-0 win away to Albania on Sunday, which could be the first start of many for the Three Lions in the coming years, having been hailed by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.

“He’s an incredible player to play with. Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”

Liverpool have been linked with signing Wharton for months now, but he stayed put in the summer, and now an encouraging fresh update has dropped.

Liverpool in talks to sign Adam Wharton

According to a new update from DaveOCKop, Liverpool are “holding initial talks” over the signing of Wharton in 2026, as they ramp up their interest in him.

It is stated that this is a move that is “likely for the summer of 2026 rather than in the January window”, with Palace understandably keen on keeping hold of one of their most prized assets until at least the end of this season.

Wharton stands out as an exceptional option for Liverpool, with the youngster already such an impressive performer for Palace, playing with maturity beyond his years.

He is an unruffled presence with the ability to not only dictate games at his own pace from his deep-lying midfield role, but also put out fires, showing good positional sense and making importantly-timed tackles.

Granted, Wharton wouldn’t arrive at Liverpool on the cheap, especially as he is a young English player, but he could be worth every penny over time, becoming a fulcrum of the Reds’ midfield after already beating them twice this season in the Community Shield and Premier League.

New Trent: Liverpool star is "one of the most underrated players in England"

Slot could find a shrewd solution to Liverpool’s problems in this talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

With some doubts persisting over Alexis Mac Allister’s long-term future at Anfield, the England star could be a great choice to come in alongside Ryan Gravenberch, although it would still be far better to sign him and also keep hold of the Argentine World Cup winner.

Liverpool willing to sell first-team star to fund Adam Wharton move

Ashwin finishes his Test career with the joint-most number of Player-of-the-Series awards in Tests

Omkar Mankame18-Dec-2024#1
West Indies in India, 2011-12
After taking 13 wickets in India’s victories in the first two Tests, R Ashwin showcased his all-round brilliance at the Wankhede Stadium with a century and a nine-wicket match haul. With India needing two runs to win and two wickets in hand, Ashwin managed a single before being run out on the final delivery of the series, leading to the rare instance of a match being drawn with the scores level.Related

R Ashwin: the great problem-solver who played cricket for cricket's sake

Only murmurs in the building: Gabba shrouded in mystery before Ashwin bombshell

'My last day' – Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket

'A GOAT retires' – The cricket world reacts to R Ashwin's retirement

#2
New Zealand in India, 2012
New Zealand’s batting lineup, featuring Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum, had no answer to Ashwin’s spin. He finished the Hyderabad Test with 12 for 85, his first ten-wicket haul in Tests, and followed it up with another six wickets in Bengaluru as India won 2-0.#3
Australia in India, 2012-13
After a poor home series against England, Ashwin finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series against Australia, with 29 wickets at 20.10, starring in India’s first 4-0 series series win in Tests. In the opening Test in Chennai, his hometown, he set the tone with a match haul of 12 for 198. Ashwin took two more five-wicket hauls in the remainder of the series and often bowled with the new ball, something that would become a staple at home for the rest of his career.Promoted to No. 6, Ashwin scored two centuries on the 2016 tour of the West Indies•Associated Press#4
India in Sri Lanka, 2015
Ashwin’s first series award away came in a tough series in which India had to turn over a 0-1 deficit. He became the first Indian spinner to take 20 or more wickets in an away series containing three or fewer Tests. In the first Test, he claimed his maiden 10-wicket haul outside India, and his seven wickets in the second Test secured India’s 278-run victory. He dismissed Kumar Sangakkara four times in four innings in what was the batter’s final Test series.#5
South Africa in India, 2015-16
In India’s sixth Test series win since his debut, Ashwin picked up his fifth Player-of-the-Series award, going level with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. His haul of 31 wickets in the series remains the second-highest by an Indian bowler in seven or fewer innings, after Harbhajan Singh’s 32 wickets against Australia in 2000-01. On raging turners, Ashwin tormented South Africa’s batters, dismissing Dean Elgar four times and AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis twice each as India won 3-0.#6
India in West Indies, 2016
Promoted to No. 6 in the first three Tests for India to play five specialist bowlers, Ashwin scored centuries in Antigua and St Lucia. With the ball, he took 7 for 83 in the second innings in Antigua and backed it up with 5 for 52 in the first innings in Jamaica. Having won Player-of-the-Match awards in both India’s victories in the four-match series, Ashwin was the obvious choice for Player of the series.#7
New Zealand in India, 2016-17
A series haul of 27 wickets, including a career-best match haul of 13 for 140 in the third Test in Indore, propelled Ashwin back to the top of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers. His series haul is the second-highest by any Indian bowler in a three-Test series, again behind Harbhajan Singh’s 32 wickets. Ashwin had opened the series with a 10-wicket haul in Kanpur and continued to hold it over New Zealand’s batters as India won 3-0.Ashwin took 32 wickets against England in 2021, but his favourite moment of the series was his hundred at Chepauk•BCCI#8
England in India, 2020-21

In another stellar series with both ball and bat, Ashwin scored a century at Chepauk, his first Test ton in almost five years, and finished with 32 wickets from four Test matches. He went past 400 wickets in the series, becoming the fastest to get there in terms of balls bowled (21,242). He also made headlines during the series by speaking against criticism of spin-friendly pitches, saying it was no different from pitches that assisted seam on the first day.#9
New Zealand in India, 2021-22
Continuing his dominance over New Zealand at home, Ashwin provided crucial lower-order contributions in the first Test in Kanpur while taking six wickets. He took 4 for 8 and 4 for 34 in Mumbai to seal India’s 1-0 win.#10
Australia in India, 2022-23
After being outbowled by Ravindra Jadeja and Nathan Lyon in the 2017 home Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ashwin topped the wicket charts six years later and shared the Player-of-the-Series award with Jadeja, who took 22 wickets. After taking eight wickets in Kanpur, Ashwin bowled a memorable over on day one in Delhi, dismissing both Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith with outstanding deliveries. He showed he was in top form by even managing a five-for on a flat Ahmedabad track in the fourth Test. India’s 2-1 series win was their fourth straight over Australia.#11
Bangladesh in India, 2024
With India in trouble at 144 for 6 on day one in Chennai, Ashwin scored a fluent century, his first in three years and his second on his home ground. He went on to take 6 for 88 in the second innings, making it the fourth time in his career he had scored a hundred and taken a five-for in the same Test. He added five more wickets to his series tally in Kanpur as India romped to a 2-0 win.

The Blue Jays host the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, with a shot at taking down the reigning champions and winning their first title since 1993.

While this year’s Blue Jays have had their fair share of “team of destiny” moments already in the postseason, the challenge of the Dodgers is simply on a different level. Los Angeles sports a lineup that can go bat-for-bat with Toronto, and a pitching staff the likes of which the Jays have not yet faced in the postseason.

Taking the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1 is two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who so far this postseason has pitched 21 innings and given up just six hits and two runs while striking out 28. Will the Blue Jays be able to break through against Snell? Or will the lefty continue his dominant run with another great start on the road?

Below we take a look at how some of Toronto’s best bats match up against Snell.

All stats come with the help of StatHead.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the midst of one of the greatest postseason runs we have ever seen from a hitter, and looking worth every dollar of the $500 million contract extension he signed back in April. Vladdy is slashing an absolutely absurd .442/.510/.930 so far this postseason, with six home runs, 11 runs scored and 12 RBIs. He has struck out just three times.

The Blue Jays will need Guerrero to keep up his hot streak if they are going to take the title, but the slugger will have his work cut out for him against Snell on Friday night. Guerrero is just 2-for-9 in his career against Snell, with three walks and no strikeouts. He has not produced a hit against Snell since the 2020 season.

Obviously we are working with small sample sizes here, and it’s possible that Guerrero’s current hot streak is more indicative than any stats on previous plate appearances vs. Snell could be, but it’s worth noting that Toronto’s best hitter will be facing his toughest competition yet on the mound.

George Springer

He replaced Edward Moore for Western Province in South Africa’s first-class competition

Firdose Moonda04-Oct-2025Western Province opening batter Joshua van Heerden has become the first like-for-like injury replacement under a new trial for substitutes in cricket. Van Heerden replaced Edward Moore in a provincial four-day game against Lions at Newlands in the second round of the CSA’s first-class competition. Moore suffered a tear to his left adductor (inner thigh muscle) while fielding on the second day.The trial, which is also being conducted in Australia’s Sheffield Shield and India’s Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, is part of an ICC initiative seeking a solution for teams that lose players to serious injury during a match.Like Australia, South Africa will consider both internal and external injuries (India are only looking at external injuries for now) and have a strict protocol for determining when a player can be replaced. If the injury is internal, such as a muscle tear, which was the case with Moore, the player is required to go for an Ultrasound and/or an MRI scan. The report is then sent to CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Hashendra Ramjee and CSA’s cricket operations manager Obakeng Sepeng who study the results and determine if the injury is serious enough to allow for replacement. They then contact the match referee to confirm the decision. If the injury is external, such as a visible dislocation or broken bone, the match referee can make the decision on a substitute in consultation with Dr Ramjee and Sepeng.Related

• BCCI introduces 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule

• CA to trial injury subs with tactical twist in Sheffield Shield

The injured player can only be replaced provided he has been ruled out of the match in its entirety. He will then be required to satisfy a “stand-down period of seven days”, as stated in CSA’s updated playing conditions before returning to play. In Australia’s case, substitutions are only allowed until stumps on the second day and the injured player is mandated a 12-day non-playing period. Like Australia and India, South Africa are only trialling the system in multi-day cricket for now.The differences in protocol stem from the ways in which different countries want to trial the system. They will all report back to the ICC, which could then come up with regulations for like-for-like substitutions in the international game. Currently, substitutions in international cricket are only allowed for concussion.

Tottenham Hotspur’s preferred price to sign AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been revealed, with manager Thomas Frank a big fan.

Despite both Mathys Tel and Richarlison getting on the scoresheet against Manchester United in Tottenham’s final match before the international break, journalist Henry Winter has made it clear he believes Frank needs to sign a new centre-forward.

Richarlison is Spurs’ top scorer in the Premier League this term, having netted four goals, but the Brazilian has been inconsistent throughout his time in north London, as pointed out by Ben Foster, who questioned his work ethic earlier this season.

Foster said: “He’s a very, very good player. He’s a Brazilian international, for God’s sake. He’s a world-class player, right? But I just think sometimes he goes, ‘Right, I’ve probably done enough for a little while now. Now I’ll settle down.”

With Jamie O’Hara also singling Tel out for criticism earlier in the campaign, Frank may be keen to bring in a more consistent goalscorer in the near future, and the north Londoners are very much in the race for a Premier League star.

Tottenham's preferred price to sign Bournemouth star Semenyo

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are one of four Premier League clubs willing to pay €60m (£53m) for Bournemouth star Semenyo, in light of the impressive start the forward has made to the season.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are also willing to spend big to get a deal for the Ghanaian over the line, but the Cherries should be in a strong position to demand a big fee, considering he is contracted until 2030.

Spurs have requested updates on the 25-year-old’s performances, deciding to target him because they are keen to bring in an elite-level forward who is capable of playing both out wide and through the middle.

Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie might have something to say about his teammate leaving, given that the Scot recently made it clear just how highly he rates the former Bristol City man, describing him as “scary good.”

The 32-time Ghana international has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars this season, having already amassed nine goal contributions, and he is currently sitting pretty right near the top of the goalscoring charts in joint-third place.

2025-26 Premier League top scorers

Number of goals

Erling Haaland

14

Igor Thiago

8

Danny Welbeck

6

Jean-Philippe Mateta

6

Antoine Semenyo

6

Frank is also a big fan of the winger, who is capable of operating on both flanks, saying last season: “Semenyo can play wherever he wants to play. He’s a fantastic player. I think he’s been the best individual player for Bournemouth this season.”

Amid doubts over a number of Tottenham’s attacking players, Semenyo could be the ideal addition to Frank’s squad, and a £53m fee seems reasonable, given the level of his performances this season.

Barcelona's stance on selling Ferran Torres as Tottenham make £57m bid Barcelona chiefs debating selling Ferran Torres as Tottenham make £57m bid

Spurs have submitted an official offer for a new forward, having struggled in front of goal at times this season.

ByDominic Lund Nov 16, 2025