All posts by h716a5.icu

These two teams have only played each other three times in the IPL and GT lead the head-to-head record 2-1

Sidharth Monga20-Apr-20254:40

Pujara backs Narine for opener, Finch suggests Rahane

Big picture: Batting worries for KKRKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have played 259 matches in all these years, but only three of them against Gujarat Titans (GT). Only Kochi Tuskers (no longer active) have played them less often. GT have not played any team this infrequently.It is a shame because these two teams make for fascinating contests. They love themselves a match-winning spinner or two, but their batting approaches couldn’t be more different. At their best, KKR are innovative and bold, pushing the realms of possibility. They open with Sunil Narine, and bowl spin at the death more than other teams. GT like to play within themselves, if you will. A majority of their runs are scored by three anchors at the top. They rely on their bowling to win games. They rely on minimising errors.Related

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Boss Buttler and the art of ball hitting bat

IPL 2025, though, has not been the best for the defending champions KKR. They lost Phil Salt and Shreyas Iyer at the auction table, which left their batting light. They are the second-lowest on the scoring rate (9.05 runs per over). It is their bowling, the most economical (8.30) in the tournament, that is keeping them alive. Only just, though, with three wins in four games. GT have been the quickest batting side (10.10), and the third-stingiest (9.01) with the ball. Not a surprise that they are among the best sides with five wins out of seven.If the tournament so far has not done enough to remind KKR of their failures between the two seasons, imagine coming up against Shubman Gill, a former Knight. The nature of the tournament is such that you can’t hold on to all your best players forever, but the batting unit that KKR have built leaves more than a little to be desired. This is not to have a go at him but if Ajinkya Rahane is your best batter – and he is not in the top-15 run-getters – it says a lot about the line-up on the whole.GT will look to keep chipping away at KKR’s batting, which failed to chase down 112 the last time they played a game. GT themselves have the confidence of having won chasing 200-plus in their last match. All signs point to only one favourite in this match, but IPL has its own rhythms.4:39

Finch: Gujarat Titans are the team to beat

Form guideKolkata Knight Riders LWLWL
Gujarat Titans WWWLWIn the spotlight: Andre Russell and Shubman GillAndre Russell has faced just 31 balls, and bowled just 39. Halfway into the league stage, he has a batting strike rate of a tick over 75. His point of entry has been 14.6, 10.3, 19.3, 14.6 and 10.4. There hasn’t been anything particularly inefficient about how KKR have used him: easy wins when he hasn’t been required to bat or when he came out in the 20th over, two collapses, and two perfect points of entry with five overs to spare. Russell will want to make the use of those opportunities, especially with the middle order not doing well.He is not having a bad IPL at all – an average of 36 and a strike rate of 149 – but Shubman Gill is being outshone by the other two of GT’s holy trinity: B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. Gill has scored 215 of the 895 the top three have scored in seven matches. Coming off a run-out in the last match, now against his former team, Gill will want to get back among the runs.Team news and likely XIIsKKR handed Anrich Nortje a debut in the last match because they felt they could attack the Punjab Kings (PBKS) batting with the extra pace. Nortje did a job but they also sacrificed on Moeen Ali’s batting. Conditions will determine which of the two plays, but Moeen’s all-round capabilities make him the favourite after 95 all out.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Moeen Ali/Anrich Nortje, 11 Vaibhav Arora, 12 Varun Chakravarthy2:27

Why aren’t KKR getting the best out of Russell?

GT have a fairly settled line-up with only one player they rotate based on the conditions. It could be Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar or Kulwant Khejroliya. Washington gives them extra batting, but he plays only if the pitch is going to be slow.Gujarat Titans 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Sherfane Rutherford, 5 Shahrukh Khan, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Arshad Khan, 9 Sai Kishore, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh Krishna, 12 Ishant Sharma/Washington Sundar/Kulwant KhejroliyaThe big questionPitch and conditions: The Eden Gardens mysteryIt is going to be hot and humid in Kolkata, where teams winning the toss have elected to chase in all three games this season with mixed results. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) restricted KKR to 174 and won, but the other two games featured successful defences of 200 totals.Stats and trivia GT lead the head-to-head between these two teams 2-1, winning the only match they have played against each other in Kolkata. GT’s top-three batters average 49.72 this IPL, the highest for any team. Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top three have aggregated more runs and have been scoring way quicker than GT: 172.4 compared to 155.92. Rashid Khan has taken just four wickets and is averaging 63.25 this IPL, easily his leanest. His economy rate of 9.73 also makes this his most profligate year.

Premier League fans, particularly those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion, were left disappointed this week when Harry Kane declared that he has no plans to come home as he is enjoying life with Bayern Munich so much. And why would he? He is primed to add another Bundesliga title to his maiden trophy won last year after firing Bayern to an explosive start to the season.

Kane is in the best form of his career, even pipping Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo to goal records these days and being hailed for his selfless work by coach Vincent Kompany. While he initially saw his stint in Germany as a short-term move due to his desire to become the Premier League's all-time top scorer, he is now open to prolonging his stay in the Bundesliga.

English fans will still get plenty of opportunities to see Kane in action though as he remains as committed as ever to his country. Take the fact that he was taken off in Bayern's last game with Eintracht Frankfurt with an ankle injury but still linked up with the England squad as usual. He is a doubt for Thursday's friendly with Wales but he is working hard in the gym to be fit for the trip to Latvia next Tuesday, where he will hope to help the team rubber-stamp their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Kane wanting to stay at Bayern is good news for national team coach Thomas Tuchel, who worked with him for one season at the Bavarian giants. It means he is settled out in Germany and can use his insatiable club form as a springboard to take the Three Lions all the way next summer in the United States and finally cement his status as England's greatest player of all time…

Getty Two goals per game

Kane broke all sorts of goal records in his first season with Bayern but this is proving to be his most prolific yet. He has a ludicrous 18 goals in 10 games in all competitions and in his last six matches he has averaged two goals per match. 

He has only failed to score once for his club this season and in that game against Augsburg he contributed two assists in the 3-2 win. His strike against Frankfurt helped Bayern make it six league wins from six and saw him become the first player in Bundesliga history to score 11 times in the opening six games of a season. 

Two weeks before, Kane became the first player to score 17 consecutive penalties in the Bundesliga when he scored two spot-kicks at Hoffenheim. It is now 18 successive penalties after also burying the ball in the net from the spot against Werder Bremen.

He is not just making Bundesliga history with each week either; he is surpassing modern greats of the game. 

AdvertisementAFP'Best striker of his generation'

Kane recently became the fastest player to score 100 goals for Bayern, doing so in 104 games. He smashed the previous record of Robert Lewandowski, who got to his century of goals in 136 games. And he even pipped Haaland and Ronaldo, who took 105 games to score 100 times for Manchester City and Real Madrid, respectively.

Given the head start he has given himself, it is easy to see Kane eclipsing Lewandowski's record of 41 Bundesliga goals in a single season. At his current rate of 1.8 goals per game, Kane will have overtaken Lewandowski just 22 matches into the season. That date might seem unrealistic, but he should at least get there by the end of the campaign. He is the leading top scorer in Europe's top five leagues despite playing two games fewer than Kylian Mbappe in La Liga and Haaland in the Premier League. 

Given the esteemed company he is keeping in the scoring charts, Tuchel was not exaggerating when he told this week: "He is undoubtedly the best striker of his generation. He has reached a new level and is now scoring two goals per game. 

"He’s in full flow; you can feel the confidence he carries Bayern Munich and the Three Lions with ease on his shoulders. He’s in top form, and I’m glad to have him as captain."

Getty 'Watch his work!'

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has grown tired of lavishing Kane with praise after each goalscoring feat but he is willing to point out the less appreciated aspects of the striker's game.

"I don’t have much to say about the things everyone can see. What I can say is: watch his work off the ball," the Belgian said after Kane scored twice to down Chelsea 3-1 in the Champions League. "Watch him press, help the team, recover the ball. It’s important for him, if he spends that much energy, to get rewarded and get chances to score. We can talk about talent and quality, but I keep highlighting that side because you need a lot of hard work to be where he is."

Kompany repeated the message after Kane plundered a hat-trick at Hoffenheim a few days later. He said: "When a player scores so many goals and then wins his first title, you can't always expect him to help defend, to give his all in every training session. Okay, at this absolute top level, maybe. But not everyone can do that. And the fact that Harry, despite all these goals, still helps so much in defence and inspires the others in every training session, of course, makes my job easier."

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Getty Pushing himself

Kane has embraced that side of the game and, like Kompany alluded to, he claimed that ending his decade-long wait to win a trophy last season has in fact made him even hungrier. "When you win a title maybe it could be easy to go the other way and be like: ‘OK I’ve done what I wanted to achieve,'" Kane told English media this week. 

"But it's given me motivation to do more. My numbers are 11km a game, a lot of high‑speed running. Sometimes when I’m watching the games back, I’m more looking forward to watching tackles or one of my defensive actions than watching my goals back. I don’t know if that means I’m getting a little bit bored of my goals or like the tackling part as well but it’s been enjoyable.

"I was interested in how I would feel after winning a trophy. It could have been easy to be a bit more relaxed. I pushed myself the other way, being even better, eating even cleaner, doing more gym."

Sunderland returned to the Premier League this season with a summer that made the rest of the league sit up and take notice.

Backed by ambitious ownership, the Black Cats spent £141.5m, just short of Nottingham Forest’s record spend for a newly promoted side in 2022.

It was a bold statement that they intend to survive the drop.

Habib Diarra arrived from Strasbourg to add dynamism in midfield, Simon Adingra was snapped up from Brighton, while Chemsidine Talbi and Noah Sadiki joined from Belgium.

Perhaps the most eye-catching additions were Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.

Both players who bring Champions League experience and leadership to a youthful squad. That recruitment drive quickly paid dividends.

A raucous Stadium of Light saw Sunderland sweep aside West Ham 3-0 on the opening day.

Reality bit a week later with a 2-0 defeat away to Burnley, but Régis Le Bris’ side bounced back.

A last-gasp Wilson Isidor strike secured a 2-1 win over Brentford before a disciplined 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace earned another valuable point.

The Black Cats host Aston Villa next, with the fanbase buzzing at the idea that this side might just be capable of more than survival.

For many, the excitement brings back memories of one man: Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian forward who lit up the Stadium of Light during his brief but memorable spell.

Asamoah Gyan – Sunderland’s Premier League icon

When Sunderland signed Gyan from Stade Rennais in 2010 for a then-club record £13m, expectations were high.

The Ghanaian had already proven himself in Ligue 1 with 14 goals and five assists in 53 appearances and had enhanced his reputation on the international stage, scoring freely for the Black Stars.

Gyan wasted no time making his mark, scoring on his debut against Wigan Athletic. His flair made him an instant fan favourite.

Sunderland supporters will never forget his role in the club’s famous 3-0 victory away at Chelsea, nor the dramatic 94th-minute equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby that denied Newcastle a double over their fiercest rivals.

Though his stay was short – 11 goals in 37 appearances before a lucrative move to Al-Ain in the UAE – Gyan’s impact was lasting.

At Sunderland, he remains a symbol of what a talismanic striker can do for the club. Lift the team, energise the fans, and turn matches on their head.

Fourteen years on, supporters may finally have reason to believe they’ve found a modern version of Gyan in their new Dutch centre-forward.

Brian Brobbey can be Sunderland’s modern-day Gyan

When Brian Brobbey swapped Ajax for Sunderland in a deal worth up to £21 million, eyebrows were raised.

Here was a 23-year-old striker and “natural born killer”, as per talent scout Jacek Kulig, with a proven record in the Eredivisie – 56 goals and 24 assists in 163 appearances – opting to take the next step in his career on Wearside.

For Sunderland, it was their 13th signing of a hectic summer but arguably the most significant.

A two-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax, Brobbey also boasts international experience with the Netherlands, having earned eight caps so far.

Like Gyan before him, he arrives with pedigree and hunger, eager to prove himself in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

The timing of his move was crucial. Sunderland had been forced into the market after Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu as cover for Liam Delap.

Brobbey was identified not only as a replacement but as a forward who could spearhead the club’s attack for years to come.

A centre-forward “goal machine”, in the words of Kulig, his numbers speak for themselves.

Matches Played

30

Goals

4

Assists

3

Progressive Carries

18

Progressive Passes

19

Source: FBref

Brobbey ranks in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty expected goals (0.61 per 90), the 94th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.53 per 90), and the 99th percentile for assists (0.50 per 90).

He also offers physical presence, winning aerial duels at an impressive rate and pressing defenders relentlessly.

Stylistically, he has been compared to Nick Woltemade, Marcus Thuram, and Nicolas Jackson, as per FBref – all forwards who blend power with mobility.

Yet for Sunderland fans, the more exciting comparison is with Gyan.

Like the Ghanaian, Brobbey thrives on sharp movement in the box, intelligent link-up play, and an ability to score crucial goals.

If he can replicate even half of Gyan’s impact in red and white, Brobbey could become a cult hero on Wearside.

And unlike Gyan, who departed after just one season, Sunderland will hope their Dutch striker sticks around long enough to build a legacy of his own.

Le Bris could unleash his own Mateta in Sunderland's “one man machine”

Regis Le Bris could unleash Sunderland’s very own Jean-Philippe Mateta for his side’s away test at Crystal Palace.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

A number of iconic strikers have donned Sunderland red and white over the years, getting the Black Cats out of many sticky patches in the Premier League.

Kevin Phillips will always go down as the most memorable, notably winning The Golden Boot on Wearside when he powered home 30 strikes during Sunderland’s 1999/2000 campaign.

While Jermain Defoe would never hit these amazing heights, the lethal Englishman did consistently bail his team out of relegation danger when scoring 34 top-flight goals over three seasons near the bottom of the tough division.

In the here and now, a new hero is forming to potentially rival the exploits of both journeyman attackers.

Wilson Isidor was already firmly in the Stadium of Light’s good books when he fired home 13 strikes last season to steer Sunderland back up to the top-flight after a seven-year absence.

So, Isidor, already bagging some crucial strikes in the infancy of this season, has not harmed his glowing reputation among the hardened Wearside masses whatsoever. Rather, it has significantly strengthened his fan favourite status.

Isidor's start to Premier League life

Often, the jump-up from the Championship to the Premier League can swallow a player whole.

Many Sunderland supporters might have anticipated that the French striker would find the step-up in quality to be a frightening one to navigate. Instead, he has seemingly taken it in his stride.

Three glorious strikes have already been picked up by the ex-Zenit St. Petersburg forward, with those first two efforts only coming about from a combined 39 minutes of action.

The Black Cats’ “one man machine” – as he was glowingly labelled by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley in the second tier – has since become Le Bris’ main starter up top, with that third and final strike falling against Aston Villa handing the ten men on the day a dramatic share of the points.

Isidor will just be glad he hasn’t been branded as a presence who couldn’t handle the intense heat of the Premier League, with Unai Emery’s Villans reportedly contemplating a move for the skilful 6-foot-1 striker, off the back of his late heroics at the tail-end of September.

Unfortunately, not every addition made by Sunderland in recent memory has been able to make their start to top-flight life in England look as seamless, with Jozy Altidore still sticking out to this day as one of the Black Cats’ worst blunders in the attacking department.

Altidore's awful spell at Sunderland in numbers

In the summer of 2013, Sunderland must have thought they’d picked up a stellar bargain when landing Altidore’s signature for a modest £9m.

After all, he was just fresh off an insanely potent season in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar, with a stunning 23 league goals fired home from just 33 games during his swansong campaign in the Netherlands.

Games played

42

Minutes played

2080

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Unfortunately, he never found that same lethal form on English soil, culminating in Altidore’s smart turn and finish against Chelsea – which can be seen above – going down as his only strike for the Wearside outfit from 42 largely forgettable outings.

Labelled as “Dozy Anti-score” by some Sunderland fans, Isidor will just be glad he has never received similar vitriol, with the Frenchman a reliable source of goals and entertainment, thankfully, as opposed to being public enemy number one for being wasteful in front of goal.

Coincidentally, the American’s nightmare at the Stadium of Light came to a halt when an exchange deal for the aforementioned Defoe to move back to England was arranged with Toronto FC. Altidore then turned into a dependable MLS marksman for the Canadian side.

Yet, a modern-day tale similar to Altidore’s could now be playing out in real time.

Sunderland "powerhouse" could be the next Altidore

Thankfully, most of Sunderland’s summer purchases haven’t fallen victim to the Altidore curse of freezing in the big time.

It was to be expected that Granit Xhaka would be an instant hit under Le Bris’ wing in the Premier League, having already proven himself to be a forceful machine with Arsenal in the demanding division.

But, other new faces such as Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete – who once called France and Spain home – have instantly slotted into the Frenchman’s lineup, too, and looked near faultless, with just three league goals given up as a pairing, before a humbling 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Yet, while a lot of the summer business has gone down as success stories from the get-go, striker Brian Brobbey is yet to live up to the “goal machine” tag once handed to him by scout Jacek Kulig, when gifted limited opportunities to impress.

In an eerily similar fashion to Altidore, Brobbey had long been seen as a feared goalscorer in the Eredivisie for previous employers Ajax before embarking on a fresh adventure to English shores, with the homegrown Amsterdam product bagging a lethal 56 strikes from 163 contests.

Therefore, with the 23-year-old also costing a bumper £17.3m to obtain in a stunning deadline day swoop, the world would have been expected of Brobbey on his arrival, with Isidor likely to be displaced by the number nine’s efficient ability to put away chances in an instant.

Games played

3

Games started

0

Minutes*

21

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

5.7

Accurate passes*

1.3 (50%)

Total duels won*

1.3

In reality, Brobbey has struggled for gametime whilst Isidor continues to steal the limelight, much like Altidore was guilty of playing second fiddle to figures such as Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham.

Worryingly, the brand-new number 9 is yet to even register a single shot in the Premier League from his three lacklustre cameos, away from also averaging just 5.7 touches of the ball per substitute appearance.

He has also looked concerningly weak in physical battles despite once being noted as a “powerhouse” by scout Antonio Mango, with just one aerial duel from four attempted won last time out against Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils.

It is far too early in the season to be writing off individuals, but it will be intriguing to see how long Brobbey’s early barren patch of form can run before he is looked down on as a potential expensive flop.

For now, Le Bris will hope he can come good, but it will be bothering some at the Stadium of Light already that the £17.3m signing could go down as a similar Altidore-style misfire.

Seb Larsson 2.0: Le Bris must unleash Sunderland's "sensational" talent

One wizard shines for Sunderland, drawing early comparisons to Seb Larsson

ByWill Miller Oct 4, 2025

Ollie Robinson top-scores in hosts’ 277 but late wickets keep contest on an even keel

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-May-2025Matt Henry took four wickets for Somerset but 20-year-old Mitch Killeen’s late strike helped Durham just shade the first day of the Rothesay County Championship match at the Banks Homes Riverside.Despite Ollie Robinson’s 52 and a half-century stand for the last wicket, the home side were dismissed for 277 in their first innings in a match between teams who possess identical records and are currently separated by a handful of bonus points in the Division One table.Having accounted for three top-order batsmen, Henry returned figures of 4 for 60 but Somerset were 63 for 3 in reply at the close with the wicket of Tom Lammonby falling to Championship debutant Killeen for 24 just seven balls before the close.The day’s cricket began in atrocious fashion for the home side when their captain, Alex Lees, inside-edged Henry’s first ball of the game onto his off stump ands departed for a golden duck.Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay then repaired the home side’s innings with a 65-run stand in 20 overs before McKinney was caught behind by James Rew for 30 when he played outside a ball from Josh Davey that was angled in to him from around the wicket.Gay had already been dropped on 26 at midwicket by Jack Leach off Migael Pretorius when McKinney’s wicket fell but the former Northamptonshire batsman could not capitalise on his escape. Instead he was dismissed for 41 a quarter of an hour before lunch when he top edged a pull off Henry to Tom Abell at long leg.Having seen Lewis Gregory lose the toss, Somerset’s bowlers were probably satisfied with a lunch score of 96 for 3. And they would have been ecstatic a few minutes after the resumption when the palpably dangerous David Bedingham shuffled across his stumps, looked to work the ball to leg and was lbw to his fellow South African, Pretorius, for 17.Robinson responded to that reverse by taking hitting three fine fours in four balls of an over from Craig Overton and all this seemed to set the tone for a session in which quick runs were traded for wickets. Having made 51 runs off 45 deliveries since his lunch and reached his half-century in 61 minutes off 52 balls in all, Robinson was caught by Rew off Henry when he nicked a ball of full length towards first slip, only to see the diving keeper complete a fine catch.Graham Clark then made 15 in 21 minutes before apparently snicking Josh Davey down the leg side to Rew and his departure left Durham on 185 for 6 in the 50th over. Colin Ackermann was bowled by Overton for 30 and five balls later, Raine was leg before to Pretorius for 25. Tea arrived with Durham on 227 for 8, 131 runs having been scored and five wickets taken in the session’s 34 overs.Five balls into the evening session, Killeen’s first innings in Championship cricket ended when he was caught by first slip Lewis Gregory off Henry for a 15-ball nought but Codi Yusuf and Minto then batted as calmly and sensibly as most of the top order to take Durham to their first bonus point of the innings.And not content with adding the 23 runs necessary for that landmark to be reached, the pair put on exactly 50 before Minto, who made 67 as a nightwatch-opener last week, was caught by Lammonby at square leg off Pretorius for 34. Yusuf was unbeaten on 16 and Pretorius finished with 3 for 63.Somerset’s first innings also began poorly when Gregory was bowled by Minto for 5 when his attempt to let the ball go only diverted it into his stumps but Davey and Lammonby added 42 before Davey was caught at slip off Yusuf for 24 and Lammonby was caught behind off Killeen for 18

GOAL looks at the tiers of teams in the 2025 MLS playoffs, asking who might win it all and who is just happy to be here?

It's MLS playoff time. In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia were deserved Supporters' Shield winners. FC Cincinnati did enough to run them close. Inter Miami were bad for a bit, then ended up in third. In the West, there was a little more tension, especially as LAFC turned things around with a smart midseason transfer flurry. 

And now the good news is that there are some tasty playoff matchups. Miami-Nashville should make for good watching, especially if Nashville perform at their best. Minnesota-Seattle will be an intriguing one. And of course, having a Hell is Real derby in the first round is just wonderfully compelling.

But how will it all shake out? In this league, it is simply impossible to know. By winning the Shield, the Union actually made themselves historically less likely to lift MLS Cup. So, with that rampant uncertainty in mind, GOAL ranks MLS playoff tiers.

Getty Images SportTIER: Clear Favorites

Philadelphia Union: Is it lazy to say that the team that won the Supporters' Shield are also the team best positioned to win MLS Cup? Of course. But in this case, it might be true. The Union, crucially, were steady all season. They never really blew anyone away, but they also developed a fantastic habit of rebounding from tough results. What we have here, then, is a battle hardened side, with the necessary belief to match up against anyone. Perhaps the only knock against them is an ACL tear suffered by Quinn Sullivan, as they lose an attacking spark.

San Diego FC: This would be excellent for the narrative. No one had a clue if expansion side San Diego FC would be good or not. Sure, they made some notable signings, and had the backing of the Right to Dream model. But young sporting directors, a rookie head coach, and distinctly not flashy DP signings don't always inspire confidence. Well, they got it right, and topped the Western Conference. Chucky Lozano's recurring fitness issues will always be a slight concern, but Anders Dreyer would walk the MVP race had it not been for the presence of Lionel Messi. There's quality here, and a groundswell of support.

FC Cincinnati: What happens when you take an already elite team and add Evander? As it turns out, good things. Cincinnati have been spellbinding at times, and with Kevin Denkey bagging 15 goals in his first season, can be among the best attacking sides in the league. Defense will be the question. Matt Miazga has returned from a long-term knee issue, but there are still questions to be asked about their rear guard. Roman Celentano has developed between the sticks, though, and can be counted on for a big save or two. 

AdvertisementGettyTIER: Will Lean On Their Stars

Inter Miami: Obvious. If Messi decides to play football, Miami might win it.

Vancouver Whitecaps: Vancouver were excellent to start the season, but experienced some real issues as the campaign wore on. Pedro Vite's departure to Pumas hurt, and they have clear concerns at centerback. Enter former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, who has shown why he is one of the finest players of his generation with countless top performances. He will never truly stand out, but he can secretly pace this team. 

LAFC: Son Heung-Min has been the best player in MLS for the past two months and it's not really a debate. If he and Denis Bouanga work their magic, they will be hard to stop.

GettyTIER: A Really Tough Out

Minnesota United: There are two ways of looking at Minnesota's play style. They are either infuriatingly defensive set piece merchants who lack the verve and quality to take the game to another side, or a wonderfully set up side that is comfortable playing without the ball – and could quite easily engineer a series of 1-0 wins. Either way, they will hard to beat, especially if Kelvin Yeboah is able to find some form following a stretch out with a muscle injury. 

Nashville SC: Nashville's best performance of the season was their US Open Cup semifinal win over Philadelphia. It was a gutsy thing, B.J. Callaghan's side digging in, scrapping for 90 minutes, and getting three goals out of the best pure No. 9 this league has to offer. That is equal parts strength and weakness. If Nashville keep up that intensity and get Sam Surridge on the ball, they will be a true handful. But they do have some defensive frailties, and can be found out by more technical sides when their levels drop. 

Columbus Crew: There's one reason here: Wilfried Nancy. The Crew were supposed to be MLS Cup contenders, and many had them towards the top of the East. But it hasn't quite worked out for them this year. The good news? They have an elite coach at the helm. Count out Nancy at your peril – especially in a trio of derby matches.

NYCFC: The Pigeons are puzzling. They have pieced together some truly excellent performances against Charlotte, Columbus and Cincinnati. But they have also lost to D.C. United and been thumped by Miami. Perhaps the best compliment you can pay them is that you never know which version of the side will show up. If it's the one that has upset some of the East's best, look out. If not, things will be tricky.

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Getty Images SportTIER: Dark Horses

Seattle Sounders: Never, ever, ever, ever count out Brian Schmetzer. That's pretty much it. 

Charlotte FC: They are lacking the consistency needed to go on a run. At their best, they are the side that battered Miami, 3-0. But they can go quiet in attacking areas at times, and will be without Wilfried Zaha for the first of their three-game series with NYCFC, which is an undeniable blow.

West Ham United and manager Nuno Espírito Santo are being handed the chance to solve their Niclas Füllkrug problem, as an agent pushes one of his attacking clients towards the London Stadium.

West Ham dealt Fullkrug injury blow as striker problems worsen

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that Fullkrug has suffered a thigh injury when asked why the striker wasn’t called up to face Luxembourg and Wales.

Kicker have since reported that the 32-year-old faces “several weeks” on the sidelines as a result, dealing a major blow to Nuno, who now has just Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall to call upon over the next few games.

Brentford (home)

October 20

Leeds United (away)

October 24

Newcastle United (home)

November 2

Burnley (home)

November 8

West Ham will now have to rely on the inexperience of Marshall or pray that Wilson maintains his own fitness, with the latter also very prone to injury himself.

Fullkrug’s latest injury heaps pressure on West Ham’s creative players, like Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen, to compensate for the absence of a focal point up front.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund man was forced to sit out 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season as a result of achilles tendon problems and a hamstring injury.

Questions have understandably been asked about the club’s decision to fork out £27 million for an injury-prone striker past his prime, with Nuno and West Ham’s recruitment team now tasked to pick up the pieces.

West Ham’s main objective for the winter window is to sign a striker, according to reports, and this will come as music to the ears of Hammers supporters as their side are tipped to battle against relegation.

January could be vital when it comes to rescuing Nuno from his centre-forward conundrum. Man United striker Josh Zirkzee is already being linked with a move to West Ham, as the East Londoners scramble to assess realistic moves for available number nines mid-season.

There is also the free agent market to consider as an emergency solution, with ex-Watford and Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis apparently emerging as an option.

Agent pushing Emmanuel Dennis towards West Ham

The 27-year-old terminated his Forest deal by mutual consent in August and has been readily available for hire ever since, with The Athletic reporting all the way back in 2022 that West Ham held talks over signing Dennis for ex-boss David Moyes.

Now, as per Hammers News, the Nigerian is being offered out to West Ham again.

It is believed that an agent is actively pushing Dennis towards West Ham, but as things stand, the club aren’t really biting.

Despite a stellar 21/22 at Watford, where he bagged 10 goals and six assists in 33 Premier League appearances, the Nigerian really hasn’t done much since then.

He actually plied his trade at Forest and during Nuno’s tenure, but scored just two league goals in his debut season before being shipped out on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir, Watford and Blackburn Rovers until he was released.

Once called a “beast” by members of the media, Dennis hasn’t made a significant impact for quite some time, and signing the attacker hardly seems like an adept solution to West Ham’s striker crisis, even if it would be at zero cost.

He did enjoy a brief purple during his second spell at Watford, with former interim boss Tom Cleverley hailing Dennis’ “explosive” style after he scored three times in five starts back at Vicarage Road in 2024, but he managed just one goal thereafter.

“I’ve tried to let the outside noise do its thing and make sure my game keeps improving”

Matt Roller22-Jun-20252:23

Pope: ‘I’ve got better at trusting my game more’

Ollie Pope is determined to “kick on” and put “runs after runs after runs” on the board against India, after securing his place as England’s No. 3 with his ninth Test century at Headingley.Pope hit 196 in Hyderabad at the start of the reverse series 18 months ago but tailed off after that, failing to reach 40 in the final four Tests. He believes that a calmer mentality and technical work on his defence have helped him defy his reputation as an anxious starter, but admitted that he had found it impossible to ignore the scrutiny over his position ahead of this series.”I’ve tried not to let it affect me too much,” Pope said. “I’ve just been trying to make sure my game’s in as good a place as possible and when I get in, try to make sure I make the most of it. I’ve tried to let the outside noise do its thing and make sure my game keeps improving, and that I get my headspace in as good a place as possible too.”Related

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Ollie Pope's century buys him the summer at No. 3

Pope came into the series under pressure from Jacob Bethell, who impressed at No. 3 in England’s tour to New Zealand late last year when Pope batted down the order and deputised as wicketkeeper. He said that he believed that series – in which he scored 194 runs in five innings – was the start of his improvement early in his innings.”It’s almost just trying my game a little bit more: not feeling like I’ve got to rush to 30 to then really feel ‘in’,” Pope said. “It’s trying to enjoy the process of building an innings, rather than just, ‘I want to get to 30 to then make a big one’… It’s something I’ve been working hard on, just generally putting my game in a better place and making sure my defence is as good as it can be.”Pope did rush to 30 on the second afternoon, hitting six early boundaries to reach 31 off 25 balls after walking out at 4 for 1, but his fast-scoring was primarily the result of a fast outfield and some attacking bowling. His tempo changed as the field spread: his second fifty contained fewer boundaries than the first, but also took fewer balls as he rotated strike with ease.He has never previously scored more than one hundred in a Test series – in fact, his previous eight centuries had all come against different opponents. But after starting the summer with 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, Pope has scored back-to-back hundreds and is chasing more runs.Pope is a picture of poise as he drives straight•Associated Press”It’s a long series, and there’s a lot to be done in this game still as well,” he said. “It’s definitely [an innings] that I really enjoyed. It was disappointing not to kick on this morning, but I’m really happy with how I went about it and played, and I’m happy with where my game’s at – so hopefully, I can kick on.”The first Test is in the balance after three days, with India’s top order building on a slender first-innings lead on Sunday evening. Pope said that England’s lower-order contributions were “really important”, with cameos from Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse helping them reduce the deficit to only six runs.”[A deficit of] 40 or 50, just from a mindset, might have given them a little bit more confidence, knowing that they’ve got that head-start, but playing the game from an even playing field felt quite important. We got those two wickets; they played nicely. KL Rahul batted really well. It’s important for us to get some early breakthroughs.”It obviously would’ve been nice to get maybe one or two more wickets this evening, but I think the pitch is still playing really well. It’s obviously such a quick-scoring ground, with the lightning [fast] outfield. It’s obviously an important session tomorrow morning, and the game is poised in a pretty nice position.”

There were worrying scenes in Naples after Kevin De Bruyne appeared to suffer a serious hamstring injury while scoring a penalty for Napoli in their Serie A match against Inter. De Bruyne has been impressive since linking up with Antonio Conte in Italy, but was in tears and had to be helped by a number of medical staff as he made his way around the pitch.

Getty Images SportPromising start to life in Serie A

After a decade of success at Manchester City, where he won 19 major trophies, De Bruyne moved to Naples. And he enjoyed a strong start, scoring four goals and laying on two assists in his first 11 appearances across all competitions, helping Napoli to the top of the Serie A table. The 34-year-old's arrival was widely celebrated and he was likened to club legend Diego Maradona.

However, his debut season with Napoli has also seen early drama. He was involved in a spat with manager Antonio Conte after being substituted in a game against AC Milan. And he was also named on the bench for the clash against Genoa. And now he has hobbled off with a worrying-looking injury. 

AdvertisementWatch the clipDe Bruyne left devastated as Napoli go on to win

Immediately after converting the spot-kick, he pulled up clutching his right thigh and was visibly tearful as he was helped off the field by Napoli staff. De Bruyne, who joined Napoli earlier this year, has a history of hamstring problems. 

It was a night of high emotion at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona which saw Napoli overcome Inter Milan 3-1 to reclaim the top spot in Serie A. The pivotal victory came after a tumultuous week for Gli Azzurri, following a humbling 6-2 Champions League defeat by PSV Eindhoven. The match's opening stages were dominated by Inter, with Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu testing Napoli's defence. 

However, the hosts who took the lead from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, with De Bruyne converting after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was judged to have fouled Giovanni Di Lorenzo. The celebration was short-lived following the Belgium international’s injury. Napoli rallied in the second half and in the 54th minute, Scott McTominay extended the lead with a superb half-volley from a long ball. Inter responded quickly, with Calhanoglu converting a penalty of his own just five minutes later following a handball decision by VAR. With the game on a knife-edge, Frank Anguissa sealed the victory for Napoli in the 66th minute, capping off a dynamic run with a powerful finish.

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Conte downplays public spats

Conte recently praised De Bruyne’s evolution as a player, highlighting his growing involvement in the team game. He said: "Kevin is evolving to become more involved in the team. I see him very engaged, also because he enjoys playing. He has raised our level. Kevin is now expressing his potential at a high level, not just in his usual role, but in what he is contributing with us. He is a player who helps us build, also through his personality. We are carving out a role for him, and he seems very involved and happy."

He added: "We have to manage our schedule between Serie A and the Champions League. Against Pisa, I rested Anguissa and Lobotka after several games where Kevin was a key player, I chose to start with a 4-3-3. But he’s fully integrated, we understand each other perfectly. He’s very important for us because, when we play with four midfielders, he adds a lot of quality." 

Mo Salah has taken drastic action on his social media channels the morning after he was sensationally dropped to the bench by Liverpool boss Arne Slot for the crucial Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. Salah’s move has created a stir with suggestions that this is a clear indication the Egypt international wants to leave Anfield and comes after his well below-par start to the season.

Mo problems as season stutters

It’s been a very tricky start to the season for Salah, with a noticeable decline in the quality of his performances, marked by reduced goal-scoring and fewer chances created. His goal involvements are down, with his shooting accuracy and expected goals per 90 minutes both significantly lower compared to his best seasons. He has also shown a worrying drop in his dribbling success rate and fewer touches in the opposition's penalty area, indicating a decrease in his effectiveness. His lacklustre form has prompted Slot to bench him, a rare move for a player who has consistently been one of Liverpool's most reliable performers. This dip in form has contributed to the Premier League champions' inconsistent results, with some pundits and fans suggesting his place in the starting lineup is no longer guaranteed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChampions League drama as Salah strops

Despite Liverpool's comfortable 5-1 victory in Frankfurt, Salah's performance was notably poor after he was introduced in the 74th minute, and the Egypt international continued his  goal drought, making little impact in his brief appearance and he faced an avalanche of criticism for choosing to shoot instead of passing to an unmarked Florian Wirtz. Fans and pundits called the decision "greedy," especially as Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal.
Fans were quick to ask questions of why Salah is being so selfish. @TheKopWatch posted on social media: "That’s so greedy from Salah, Wirtz is right there for his first goal ffs." @CiebacT added: "Salah personally hates Flo, no other explanation." As that debate continued, @_bubblxs said: "Imagine how good we could be if Salah played WITH wirtz instead of against him." And @SanchezKing13 chimed in with: "If I’m Wirtz I’m airing Salah and not passing him the ball for the next 8 games".

And Salah’s frustration was evident post-match when he stormed down the tunnel "in a strop". But Slot's bold decision to drop Salah came after a run of disappointing performances, and was vindicated as the team ended a four-match losing streak without their talisman on the pitch from the start.

Liverpool wiped from social media

And now the morning after the Frankfurt match Salah has taken the decision to remove all mention of Liverpool from his social media channel's biographies, including Instagram and X, replacing the previous Liverpool-related content and pictures of him with his team-mates for generic images of himself and others with his two daughters. 

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Getty Images SportWill Mo make return to starting XI?

Next steps lay firmly with the boss Slot, he could hand a starting place back to Salah away to Brentford this weekend and the storm will blow over. But if he’s left out again the chatter about Salah leaving will only grow louder. The Reds host Crystal Palace in the League Cup on October 29th and there’s the massive Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on the horizon next month, too. 

Ahead of the clash with Frankfurt, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said Salah must understand his starting place is no longer guaranteed. He said: "When Mo Salah isn't being the legendary Mo Salah, he gets treated like one of the other players, which is right. He's 33 years of age and Liverpool will have three games in six days. At the moment, if he isn't at his best, he shouldn't play three games in six days. There are other options there as well. We know Liverpool have spent a lot of money. Liverpool have got a big game at the weekend as well, so great decision, Arne."