Continuing their manager search, Rangers have now reportedly made contact with a former Chelsea manager in the hope of filling their vacant role in the Ibrox dugout.
Why Gerrard rejected Rangers
Steven Gerrard’s return was one that many were ready to welcome with open arms. All was about to be forgiven for his decision to leave for Aston Villa in 2021, before he rejected the 49ers in an unexpected twist. The Liverpool legend was left unconvinced by the new owners and, in the end, believed that it was the wrong time for him to make a return.
Many have had their say on Gerrard’s rejection, including Rangers legend Ally McCoist. The former Ibrox star believes that the 49ers failed to sell the job to the 45-year-old at the interview stage.
It’s taken the 49ers and sporting director Kevin Thelwell back to the drawing board, but as the return of domestic football from the international break edges closer, they’re yet to solve their managerial problem.
Names such as Danny Rohl and former Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky have both been mentioned as reported candidates, yet it remains to be seen which direction the Gers head towards.
Rohl arguably stands out as the exciting candidate. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss is just 36 years old and is primed to become one of the brightest young managers around.
Alas, at this stage of the 49ers’ project, it’s difficult to see a world in which a young manager can arrive and instantly make their mark. Instead, they may be better off turning towards a former Premier League manager.
Rangers make contact with Graham Potter
As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers have now made contact with Graham Potter about taking the vacant job at Ibrox. The 50-year-old was recently sacked by West Ham United following a spell to forget at the London Stadium and desperately needs his next role to go right to get his career back on track.
With that said, reports have suggested that Potter is unlikely to take the Rangers job. A move to Ibrox represents quite the risk for a manager who can’t afford to get things wrong for the third time in a row.
For any doubters, including those at Rangers, it’s worth remembering just how highly rated Potter was at both Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion. He transformed the Seagulls, setting up the foundations for Roberto De Zerbi and now Fabian Hurzeler to build on.
Ibrox should love him: Rangers hold talks to hire "insanely talented boss"
Rangers have held talks with a manager who could get Ibrox rocking once again.
ByDan Emery Oct 14, 2025
Brighton chief Tony Bloom knew exactly what he was getting too, having praised Potter from the very off. He told reporters: “Once we’d made a decision to get a new manager in, quite quickly Graham became the outstanding candidate.
“He’s an excellent coach who did a superb job at Swansea in difficult circumstances. Sometimes not making a decision or going for a more obvious choice is a bigger gamble. I have no doubt that Graham is the right choice for this club at this particular time.”
The offspinner picked up a five-for as England lost seven wickets for 28 runs and conceded a 292-run advantage to India
S Sudarshanan15-Dec-2023It was not a wicket ball but everybody gathered around short leg. It was the fifth over of England’s innings and Jemimah Rodrigues, under the lid, had intercepted a flick off Tammy Beaumont.India were in high spirits having posted 428 in their first women’s Test innings at home in nine years and then had seen the back of opener Sophia Dunkley early. The close-in fielders cheering the bowler after each delivery was clearly audible at the sparsely-filled DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. So much so, that watching from the stands, the celebration after that Rodrigues effort made you wonder if a wicket fell.England play Tests often than India do. It is their 100th outing in the format as opposed to India’s 39th. And so, despite India’s spirited efforts on the field, the tourists chugged along to 108 for 3 after 25 overs. One of the wickets was the result of a rush of blood, when Beaumont tried to take on Pooja Vastrakar’s arm and was run-out.Related
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Stats – India Women score 410 in one day
India walked out to the field with a clear strategy – to have a seamer and a spinner operate in tandem – which is why Renuka Singh, on debut, shared the new ball with offspinner Sneh Rana, who extracted enough bounce from the surface. Soon after, it was the pairing of Vastrakar and Rajeshwari Gayadwad that was called in.With England scoring at close to four and a half runs an over – India had scored at over four per over through their innings – Deepti Sharma was brought on for the 26th. She had only managed to add seven runs to her overnight score of 60, when India folded inside 36 minutes in the first session.Deepti was on the board with her second ball – getting Danni Wyatt caught at short leg via the inside edge. For the next hour or so, it would be a routine – batters walking in and out of the dressing room with a dismissal against spin to their names.”When I was standing at slip, I was trying to see what the bowler could do and what we could add on to get wickets,” Deepti said after stumps. “I ended up doing that when I came on to bowl.”I was waiting for my chance to bowl and when I did, I enjoyed myself. The wicket was helping the spinners a fair bit today. So I think it was a positive sign for us to extract more from the surface and the turn we were getting.”Sciver-Brunt, crossing fifty for the fifth time in Tests, and Amy Jones used the sweep and other on-side shots which seemed like a solution briefly. But once Jones fell in strange circumstances – her pull deflected off Smriti Mandhana’s helmet at short leg to Shafali Verma at leg slip – the writing was on the wall. Two balls later, Sophie Ecclestone was done in by the low bounce and was bowled.The fatigue of being in the Navi Mumbai heat for over 100 overs was starting to creep in.Rana then struck a telling blow, getting a length ball well outside off to turn back in sharply and beat Sciver-Brunt’s attempted cut. The proverbial wall had fallen – 59 off 70 balls with ten fours and a control percentage of 75.”We handled pressure well, especially when Beaumont and Sciver-Brunt began to stabilise,” Deepti said. “We took it over by over and did well to maintain control. During the lunch break, we noticed patches on the wicket and my idea was to bowl into those patches which would give us some assistance.”Charlie Dean, Kate Cross and Lauren Filer didn’t last long – with the last wicket giving Deepti her first five-wicket haul in Tests. It took only 5.3 overs, the least for a five-for in women’s Tests. In ten overs since Deepti was brought on, England capitulated to 28 for 7 and conceded a massive 292-run advantage to India.On a surface starting to show its true colours – and with India not enforcing the follow-on – the spinners left England with a monumental task in the fourth innings.
Rafael Devers's discontentment with the Boston Red Sox front office began in the spring, when the club asked him to move from third base to designated hitter in the wake of signing Alex Bregman. Devers acquiesced, and things seemed to be in a better place until May. The club again asked him to take up a new position, first base, following the season-ending injury to Triston Casas.
And as it turns out, the Red Sox' second ask of Devers wasn't the only thing that apparently upset the star slugger before his surprising trade to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell, who has spent most of his time at second base, apparently volunteered to play first base following the injury to Casas, a move that upset Devers, sources told Joon Lee of Yahoo! Sports.
According to Lee, Devers took Campbell's offer not as a team-first move by a young player, but as a "slight to his own stature."
In a series of public comments in which he was openly critical of the Red Sox front office, Devers in May had this to say about Boston's Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
"I just feel like it's not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position," Devers said at the time. "It was the GM that I spoke with. I'm not sure what he has with me. He played ball and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn't easy."
Some veteran Red Sox players reportedly took exception to the way that Devers handled the situation publicly. Clearly, a disconnect between Devers and the front office played a role in the surprising trade. But it seems that there was also a disconnect between Devers and the Red Sox players.
A shocking stat has suggested that Chelsea have no chance of beating Arsenal in the Premier League title showdown. The Blues arrive at the Emirates on Sunday with an opportunity to cut Arsenal’s lead at the Premier League summit, but history and numbers paint a grim picture for Enzo Maresca’s resurgent side, who have only beaten their rivals once in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in the last seven years.
A high-stakes London derby framed by bleak statistics
The Blues have climbed into second place after stitching together three consecutive league wins, yet they remain six points behind a near-faultless Arsenal team who have dropped points only twice all season. Mikel Arteta’s side have recorded 14 victories and two draws in their last 16 matches, a run of form that would intimidate anyone, let alone a Chelsea team seeking only their second win over Arsenal in seven years at Stamford Bridge. However, one headline stat is damning as Chelsea have won just one of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Arsenal. For a fixture that once swung like a pendulum, the balance has tipped dramatically in one direction and refuses to budge back.
AdvertisementAFPThe derby dominance that should terrify Chelsea
Arsenal’s record in London derbies under Arteta has reached staggering levels. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, they have lost only three derbies in the league, and just one away from home, at Fulham nearly two years ago. They have swept all four derby fixtures this season, including last weekend’s dismantling of Tottenham. This will be the fifth time Arsenal have faced Chelsea while sitting top of the table. The Gunners won the previous four in 2003, 2004, 2007 and most recently in the 5-0 demolition at Stamford Bridge in April 2024. Hence, the trend is unmistakable. Chelsea once made the Bridge a nightmare for Arsenal, beating them six times in seven visits between 2013 and 2018. But Marcos Alonso’s winner in 2018 marks the last time the Blues claimed three points at home against their London rivals. Since then, Arsenal have built a remarkable unbeaten run of six league games at Stamford Bridge, three wins and three draws. For a side looking to mount a title challenge, Chelsea must shatter a curse that has hardened over nearly a decade.
Arteta praises Chelsea, but refuses to declare them contenders
Arteta suffered his first defeat as Arsenal manager against Chelsea in December 2019, just days into the job. Since then, he has turned the London rivalry on its head. He has won seven of the last 11 meetings, boasting a 58.3 per cent win rate that stands behind only Pep Guardiola and Kenny Dalglish among managers who have faced Chelsea at least ten times.
Asked whether Chelsea deserve to be considered genuine title rivals, Arteta chose diplomacy over provocation.
The Spanish manager said: "I think we are all there, and they are there because they fully deserve what they have done in the last few years. I think the squad that they assembled, the numbers that they have, the quality that they have, the number of coaches they have it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there."
When asked if he still views Chelsea as the league's best attacking force, he replied: "They were [the best last season], the sample now this season is early, so it's difficult to say. But it is one of the teams that I enjoy the most watching and they have a lot of fluidity, they have a lot of threat, they have a lot of individual talent, they are very clear what they want to do and that's why they are very tough."
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(C)Getty ImagesArsenal’s star men carry a psychological edge
Chelsea supporters may cling to hope that Martin Odegaard, the man who has tormented them more than any other, misses out through injury on Sunday. The Norwegian has seven goal contributions in eight league matches against Chelsea and, remarkably, has never lost a Premier League game to them. Gabriel Magalhães shares that unbeaten streak, and only Patrick Vieira, who faced Chelsea ten times without defeat, boasts a longer run in the division. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard remains another Arsenal weapon sharpened specifically for this fixture. The Belgian has scored four Premier League goals against Chelsea, and another on Sunday would make him only the fifth Belgian to reach 50 goals in the competition.
India captain says “If we want to win the match, then never mind the combination”
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-20254:23
Suryakumar: ‘I am in a good space, runs will come eventually’
India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav agreed that selecting a squad of 15 can sometimes gets challenging, with multiple options in the race for one slot, but said that the players understand the team’s needs and have their focus on one simple goal: to help India win matches.”It’s a good headache to have so many options, [whether] fast bowlers, [or] spinners,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Australia in Canberra. “From the top to No. 7, everyone is flexible; anyone can bat anywhere. It is a little difficult during squad selection, but in this team, the atmosphere is such that everyone knows that the goal is to win.”If we want to win the match, then never mind the combination. So, even if someone has done well in the last two matches, but he is not fitting in the combination for the next game – for example, if we want to play an extra spinner or play an allrounder instead of a fast bowler – the player understands. We have reached that situation.”Related
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Suryakumar jokingly suggested that he maintains “a good friendship with everyone”, making it easier to tell them when they are not playing. But he has asked all 15 members of the squad to be ready at all times.”See, only 11 people can play, 15 cannot play, but according to me, anyone can get an opportunity at any time,” he said. “In the Asia Cup, Rinku Singh did not get the opportunity till the final, but he got a chance at such a time, when he needed 3-4 runs to win [the match] and he hit the boundary. I keep telling everyone to keep preparing and you never know when your opportunity can come. It can come in an important game; anything can happen.”Suryakumar was also glad to have Jasprit Bumrah back in the India squad after the fast bowler was rested for the ODI series and expected him to be the “guy who will take charge” against Australia, particularly in the powerplay.”As you saw in the Asia Cup, he took the responsibility of bowling two overs minimum in the powerplay,” Suryakumar said, “It is good that he is raising his hand. It is going to be a good challenge against the Aussie team in the powerplay.”The way he has played his cricket for the last so many years, he has kept himself right on the top, and he knows how to prepare for a good series. He knows how to come and play cricket here. I think he has visited this country the most of all the guys. So all of them have spoken to him. He is very open and very helpful in that, but yeah definitely when he takes the ground, starting from tomorrow, it will be a good thing. Good to have him in the squad, when we play in Australia.”Jasprit Bumrah will make a return to the India squad•Getty ImagesIndia haven’t had recent success in Australia. They lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in December-January and then went down in the ODI series 2-1 earlier this month. But Suryakumar doesn’t feel the recent losses will have any bearing on the T20I series, particularly considering India’s form, having lost just two of their last 15 T20Is.”According to me, it’s a different format,” he said. “The team is the same, but the format is almost different: Test, one-day and T20. And [as for] the brand of T20, we will continue playing the brand of cricket that we have been playing. There is no need to change anything and according to me, there are always challenging conditions, when you go to Australia, England, South Africa, [or] New Zealand. There is challenging cricket in all these countries, but at the same time, how you adapt to it and how you think about how to play shots, how to make runs.”I think it is non-negotiable at this level, you do your preparation and come. I feel it’s a good thing, good challenge to have going forward and we are playing five T20s, so I think it will be more fun.”Suryakumar Yadav has not scored a half-century in his last 14 innings•AFP/Getty ImagesSuryakumar’s own form has been under scrutiny. He had a lukewarm Asia Cup 2025, managing just 72 runs in seven innings at an average of 18.00. The 35-year-old, however, isn’t fussed about his form as long as India keep winning.”I feel I have been working really hard,” he said. “I have had good few sessions back home, good two to three sessions here, so I am in a good space. I think that is really important… runs, it will come eventually but I think working hard towards the team goal, it’s more important what team wants from you in different situations. I take one game at a time and if it starts then I think it will be a good thing.”The one area where India have struggled in recent times has been their fielding. They were guilty of dropping many chances in the Asia Cup, and while Suryakumar reckons that fielding lapses are a part of the game, he wants the team to give the fielding department special attention.”See, catches do get dropped,” he said. “As a fielder, when you attempt a catch, sometimes you spill it. A batter gets dismissed, a bowler at times doesn’t get wickets. This is a part of the game. But, according to me, what you do after that is important. It was an optional session today, but everyone came to work on their fielding.”That means the team is working towards something really special. This is a department which I have told them we have to work really hard if we want to be the best fielding unit in the world. You have seen teams taking good catches, saving runs… they win matches through their fielding.”Sometimes the batting and bowling go awry, but you can also win matches through fielding. We are working hard. But there is no guarantee that if you take 25 catches today, then you won’t drop one tomorrow. You can drop, it’s part of the game but how much you want the ball to come to you, how much intent and opportunity you create, that is important for me. If someone drops a catch, it’s not a problem. There is disappointment, but at the same time, if you put in the effort, then there’s no problem.”
Liverpool have had "positive contacts" with a manager ahead of a potential move to Anfield this summer – has Jurgen Klopp's successor been found?
Liverpool manager latest
Klopp's farewell tour is threatening to go out in style between now and the end of the season, with one trophy already secured, following Sunday's EFL Cup final triumph over Chelsea. Liverpool still have a chance of winning all four competitions they are competing in, and it would be just like their legendary manager to enjoy a stunning end to his tenure.
The German is going to be bordering on irreplaceable when he does leave, with his brilliance as a manager and quality as a person something that is going to be so hard to replicate. The Reds are clearly working hard on nailing the 56-year-old's replacement, however, and Xabi Alonso is the name that many supporters want, both due to him guiding Bayer Leverkusen to within touching distance of the Bundesliga title, but also because he was much-loved as a player at Anfield between 2004 and 2009.
He is far from the only target, however, with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim another exciting young coach impressing in Portugal, and Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann also considered an option, ahead of his exit from his current job after Euro 2024.
Big Xabi Alonso to Liverpool update
According to journalist Santi Aouna on X, Liverpool have had "positive contacts" with Alonso over replacing Klopp, with the Reds firm favourites to snap up the Spaniard, who is "excited" about the possibility of a return to Merseyside.
This feels like another significant step in the right direction when it comes to Liverpool's pursuit of Alonso, who certainly feels like the overriding favourite to become Klopp's successor this summer.
It appears as though he is FSG's first choice, and the decision now looks like it is up to him, in terms of whether he joins the Reds or Bayern Munich, who he also represented as a player. There is also the option of him staying at Leverkusen for another year, but that would arguably be a surprise, given the calibre of the two clubs who want him.
Granted, Alonso's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation is different to the 4-3-3 system that Klopp invariably goes with, but the job he is doing at Leverkusen is incredible, and Liverpool's players should feel confident and excited about the prospect of working with him.
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An announcement is expected next month.
ByHenry Jackson Feb 26, 2024
At this point, it could be a surprise if the 42-year-old didn't become the Reds' next boss, and while replacing Klopp is going to be one of the hardest jobs for any manager in many years, Alonso does feel like the most logical and eye-catching choice.
Sunderland will go into tomorrow night's fixture with Leicester City desperate to pick up a victory against the Foxes, with the Black Cats in a dire situation currently in the Championship.
Ditching Michael Beale as Sunderland boss hasn't really fixed any of the issues on Wearside to the dismay of the Stadium of Light masses, as Mike Dodds finds himself winless from his opening two games back as interim boss in the hot seat.
Sunderland have since sunk to tenth in the second-tier rankings under Dodds as a result, with any forthcoming win, no matter the scoreline, sufficing as long as more points are back on the board for the faltering Black Cats.
Table-topping Leicester won't be a walk in the park obviously, but with three defeats from their last four, Sunderland could look to capitalise on Enzo Maresca's men wobbling.
With that in mind, here is what Dodds' predicted lineup could look like as a result, with two possible changes from the 1-0 Norwich City defeat last match…
1 GK – Anthony Patterson
Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Anthony Patterson is more than secure with his starting spot in between the sticks at Sunderland, having played every minute of action in the Championship this season.
Picking up eight clean sheets along the way, Patterson will want to shut out Leicester on the way to a big win tomorrow night.
2 RB – Trai Hume
Trai Hume
Trai Hume is also one of the first names on the teamsheet at the moment, regularly picked in defence by Mowbray and Beale before Dodds was thrust into the spotlight once more as a short-term boss.
Dodds has stuck by Hume as his starting right-back for good reason, with the Northern Irish star winning two duels as a lively presence against the Canaries last match even as his team fell to another defeat.
3 CB – Daniel Ballard
Dom Ballard
The first change to the eleven that lost narrowly to Norwich 1-0 last game could see Daniel Ballard return to the XI, the former Arsenal youngster out of Sunderland's last two games owing to a two-match suspension for accumulating ten yellow cards.
Jenson Seelt has competently filled in as a result of Ballard's absence – the Dutchman making four tackles in total at Carrow Road – but the 24-year-old centre-back should come back into the side regardless to add more steel to a leaky defence.
Described as "stunning" by football journalist Josh Bunting towards the start of the season, Ballard will be raring to go if selected tonight.
4 CB – Luke O'Nien
Luke O'Nien will partner Ballard at the heart of defence in this potential XI, the former Wycombe Wanderers man strong for large portions of this campaign so far battling bravely from centre-back.
The Sunderland captain won all but one of his duels in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich, alongside coming away from the loss with a respectable 89% passing accuracy playing out from the back.
With Ballard back by his side, O'Nien could well keep Maresca's men at bay to help his side pick up their first win since overcoming Plymouth Argyle 3-1 in mid-February.
5 LB – Leo Hjelde
leo-hjelde-leeds-united-championship
January recruit Leo Hjelde has allowed Sunderland to rest easy about who should be picked at left-back, with Niall Huggins and Dennis Cirkin still stricken by injury.
Hjelde shone in the 1-0 loss to the Canaries to further justify being the starting left-back, winning 100% of his aerial duels when asserting himself into the tight contest alongside notching up one key pass for his troubles when venturing forward at Carrow Road.
6 CDM – Dan Neil
Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
Dodds could well look to switch up the formation for his side's home tussle with Leicester tomorrow, reverting back to a 4-1-4-1 look potentially with Dan Neil well suited to take up the holding midfield role subsequently.
Neil was poor last time out at the Stadium of Light – with zero successful dribbles from the centre of the park against Swansea City – and so will look to put in a far more polished display when the Foxes come to town.
7 RM – Callum Styles
Callum Styles' versatility should see him start again versus Leicester, another of Sunderland's January buys given the nod to play again alongside former Leeds man Hjelde.
Able to play centrally and at full-back if required alongside filling in down the wing, Styles will stick it out down the right-hand side in this potential XI.
Successful with 100% of his dribble attempts against Norwich, the adaptable Hungary international also proved to be useful when tracking back with two clearances and a blocked shot next to his name from a positive 74 minutes in Norfolk.
8 CM – Jobe Bellingham
Starting as a striker at Carrow Road, Jobe Bellingham will feel far more at home playing in midfield again versus Leicester if the formation is tweaked tomorrow night.
Bellingham failed to muster up a single shot on Angus Gunn's goal last match when played up top, with Dodds now hoping that his teenage hotshot excels in a more familiar role against the Foxes.
9 CM – Pierre Ekwah
Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah.
Pierre Ekwah will remain in a midfield spot to partner Bellingham against Leicester, with the former West Ham United youth player doing enough against Norwich to stay in Dodd's starting eleven plans.
Only misplacing four of his 59 passes at Carrow Road, Ekwah will just hope he remembers to pack his shooting boots against the Foxes after firing three off-target efforts at Gunn's goal last match.
10 LM – Romaine Mundle
Romaine Mundle has shown flashes of his quality since joining from Standard Liege in the January transfer window, with Dodds wanting the new Sunderland 14 to somehow fill the hole left behind by Jack Clarke being injured to unlock Leicester.
Winning five ground duels against David Wagner's hosts last game, on top of testing Gunn with two shots, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur youth product will hope to play a key role in his new employers picking up a much-needed win tomorrow.
Last summer, Wolves were able to snap up Matthew Whittingham, one of the stars of Manchester City's under-18s' title triumph. Whittingham had scored seven times and set-up 11 more in 2022/23, so may have been regarded as a significant academy coup at Molineux.
The deal for the Englishman, who can play in a variety of midfield roles and even popped up at left-back, is part of a broader recruitment plan for Gary O'Neil's side. Harry Hooman, head of UK recruitment at their academy, said at the time:
"We’re always on top of the ‘bigger’ club’s players and monitoring the ones who are possibly looking to come out for a better pathway at some point."
Latest Wolves transfer news: £60m Neto claim, exciting replacement eyed
What’s going on at Wolves now the window is finished? Catch the latest news and rumours here…
ByBrogan Clasper Feb 11, 2024
Wolves are now continuing that policy in their free-transfer pursuit of Arsenal's Amario Cozier-Dubbery, who's out of contract at the end of the season. It recently emerged that the Midlands outfit are interested in the 18-year-old as the Gunners try to reach an agreement over an extension, with Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Anderlecht all watching closely too.
Wolves ready to strike for Cozier-Duberry "bargain"
Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs said Wolves "in particular" are ready to pounce on any stumbling blocks in talks at the Emirates. He believes that Cozier-Duberry could be a bargain, and says Arsenal are aware that his suitors inside and outside the Premier League are circling.
Wolves transfer target Amario Cozier-Duberry in action for Arsenal.
He said: “Wolves in particular are very much across this and hoping that they might be able to, should things not go Arsenal's way, get a transfer over the line in June. It's also fair to say that Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund, amongst others, are also facing the same situation. That's normal because when a player is available on a free transfer in June, there's always that ability to get a bargain deal and try to pre-agree something on a free transfer. Arsenal know this.”
Cozier-Duberry could be the missing piece at Wolves
Cozier-Duberry is enjoying an excellent season for Arsenal's under-21s, scoring or assisting eight goals in nine Premier League 2 appearances and netting a couple more in his four UEFA Youth League outings. He's also shone at the international level by hitting the target twice for England's under-19s in friendlies against Switzerland and Romania.
Mikel Arteta has taken notice of his form and named him on the bench for the EFL Cup trip to Brentford in late September as well as the Champions League match against Sevilla in early November, but he's yet to make a full debut for the title-chasers.
1
Owen Hesketh
AM
10
5
2
Justin Hubner
CB
10
4
3
Owen Farmer
CF
11
3
4
Nathan Fraser
CF
6
3
5
Tawanda Chirewa
AM
4
2
As you can see in the table above, there aren't any specialist wide players putting up especially eye-catching numbers in Wolves' under-21 current crop, so Cozier-Duberry may be regarded as a missing piece in O'Neil's next generation.
For India, Ishant might miss out, while it could be a toss up between Ashwin and Jadeja
The Preview by Sidharth Monga28-Feb-2020Big pictureIn Wellington, India came face to face with how subtle New Zealand’s home advantage is. Theirs is not the kind of dominance that comes from knowing no other place can produce two spinners of the quality you have. Or batsmen who demoralise opponents before their big untiring fast bowlers bash out every assistance from their pitches.New Zealand do things differently. They take down attacks that look better than theirs on paper. Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner might be a somewhat incomplete trio in other conditions, but in New Zealand, they kill you with a thousand paper cuts. Their knowledge of conditions – when it will swing and how to swing it, when to attack and when to bowl dry – and exploitation of winds and angles is second to none. Teams such as India do themselves no favour by playing just two Tests in New Zealand in five years, giving themselves no shot at familiarity.After the near three-day defeat in Wellington, India go to Christchurch looking for two quick fixes: how to swing the ball for longer periods, like New Zealand did, and how to bat with more freedom against New Zealand. The first one is slightly tricky because of the nature of the bowlers involved in the contest. Southee and Boult are out-and-out swing bowlers, and thus have the ideal wrist positions and seam at the point of release for swing on most occasions.Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are more seam bowlers; Shami in particular bowls with a beautiful upright seam. The one man who tries to swing it, Ishant Sharma, is all but ruled out as the ankle injury seems to have recurred.Twenty-seven overs, 40 runs, one wicket. That is Colin de Grandhomme’s returns from Wellington. That is what Virat Kohli doesn’t want a repeat of. Good as New Zealand’s bowlers are, they aren’t always threatening the wickets like, say, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja do at home. Or that’s what the thinking within the India camp is. How much of a risk it is to try to be more proactive, and what the rewards might be, will be seen in Christchurch.Form guide New Zealand WLLLD India LWWWW In the spotlightThe coin toss. Just consider how much the chances of a side losing the match reduce the moment it wins the toss. The last time New Zealand lost a home Test despite winning the toss was way back in 2009. The last time Kohli lost a match after winning the toss was… never. The credit belongs to both the sides for playing excellent cricket after winning the toss, but the one losing the toss will be fighting massive odds.Neil Wagner is now a dad, and is back to test batsmen with his own grammar of Test-match bowling. There were times when New Zealand missed him in Wellington, in the second innings especially, but will Wagner feel the pressure of having to bowl the kind of ball Kyle Jamieson did to Cheteshwar Pujara to take his maiden Test wicket? Not if both of them are playing.India would love for the Christchurch Test to contain a cathartic Virat Kohli innings•Getty ImagesVirat Kohli has gone 20 international innings without a century. While it is never smart to pool together formats when judging how a player has been doing, a small worry for India will be that he felt the need to play too many shots at the start of both his innings. This is not how he batted in Australia, which was when he seemed at most peace with his game and his captaincy.Team newsWagner will definitely be back, but whom does he replace? If the pitch calls for a spinner, the sensational debutant from last week, Jamieson, will have to sit out. However, if New Zealand feel there might not be much for a spinner to do, both could play. Only once in five Tests at Hagley Oval have New Zealand gone in without a specialist spinner, losing that Test to Australia. After having missed India’s second innings with a shoulder injury, Tom Blundell is fine to open again in Christchurch.New Zealand 1 Tom Latham, 2 Tom Blundell, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Kyle Jamieson/Ajaz Patel, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent BoultIshant Sharma seemed cooked when he batted in India’s second innings after bowling a big spell despite jetlag. It seemed India would push him in the series decider, but the recurrence of pain in the right ankle makes Umesh Yadav a likely starter.India are no longer the side that made spot judgments and impatient changes based on runs scored. Prithvi Shaw is fit after he missed one net session with foot swelling so he will be backed in the second Test. The only question might be whether India want to strengthen their lower-order batting with Ravindra Jadeja ahead of R Ashwin. India coach Ravi Shastri’s assessment of Ashwin might make Jadeja a slight favourite. “He is a world-class bowler,” Shastri said of Ashwin. “There is absolutely no doubt about it, but we have to make sure we pick the right side for the right conditions, and see what a player can bring to the table. I think he has bowled well over the years. If anything, he will be disappointed with the way he has batted. He’ll want to improve on his batting in time to come.”India 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt.), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Hanuma Vihari, 7 Rishabh Pant (wk), 8 R Ashwin/ Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Ishant Sharma/ Umesh Yadav, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThe Hagley Oval pitch looks green with approximately 12mm grass, which is less in length than what the Basin in Wellington had. It is expected to be quicker than Wellington, and perhaps flatten out more, maybe after day two. There should not be more than the odd interruption from the weather.Stats and trivia Only Broad-Anderson and Wasim-Waqar are more prolific new-ball combines than Southee-Boult, who have taken 426 wickets at 26.51 in innings that they have shared the new ball. They have left behind Walsh-Ambrose, McGrath-Gillespie and Donald-Pollock. Since Hagley Oval’s debut, Christchurch, Hamilton and Wellington have been New Zealand’s three main Test venues. Christchurch has been the least batting-friendly with an average of 32. At the other two venues, batsmen have been scoring more than 35 per wicket. New Zealand have lost only two home Tests when both Southee and Boult have played, both in 2015-16 to Australia. That is close to the Ashwin-Jadeja domination in India; they have lost just one Test when playing alongside each other, again to Australia.Quotes”They are the No. 1 side for a reason, and that is because they can adapt to any conditions. We are definitely expecting them to adapt pretty quickly, and be positive coming into this Test match. Their record speaks for themselves.” Trent Boult expects India to hit back hard“We are here not to give any excuses, we were outplayed in the first Test, but I always believe that when you are on a run like we were, a shake-up like that is good. Because it opens your mindset. When you haven’t tasted defeat, you can have a closed mindset. Here you have seen what has happened, which is good, there is opportunities to learn. You know what strategies New Zealand are going to employ, you know what to expect, and you have your plans how you are going to counter them.” India coach Ravi Shastri believes the Wellington loss was not necessarily a bad thing
For the first time in 2023/24, Liverpool saw the door close on a route toward silverware on Sunday afternoon, having succumbed to late pressure against Manchester United in the FA Cup.
The Reds had scored twice late in the opening half to turn the game on its head, with Scott McTominay opening the scoring after ten minutes, but wastefulness and complacency after the break ruined dominance that deserved a goal, and Jurgen Klopp is now competing across two fronts in the final phase of his Liverpool tenure.
Amad Diallo scores for Manchester United
Of course, Liverpool have already won the Carabao Cup this season, are behind first-placed Premier League side Arsenal only on goal difference and are the favourites to win the Europa League, having drawn Atalanta from Serie A in the quarter-finals.
But defeat in the FA Cup stings, with the manner of the loss sure to rankle the Merseysiders. Substitute Antony, widely criticised for his performances since joining Manchester United from Ajax for £86m in 2022, pivoted with grace and poise in the late stage of normal time to send a precise shot past Caoimhin Kelleher, outstretched but outfoxed.
And while Harvey Elliott's fine run of form continued as he regained the lead with a thumping deflected effort in extra time, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo netted late on to send the Theatre of Dreams into a frenzy.
Why Liverpool lost vs Man Utd
Setbacks are part and parcel and it was wishful thinking to expect Liverpool to fire on all cylinders for the remainder of the campaign, but Klopp's side deserve all the plaudits for battling through a spate of injuries over the past several months to win silverware and have a platform for further success.
Ibrahima Konate, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip made up a bloated injury list that should have precluded the stunning recent results that have kept the club afloat.
Now, with the dreaded international break arriving, Liverpool are blessed with an opportune moment to recalibrate and nurture some sidelined stars closer back to fitness.
Moreover, the fatigue and wear-and-tear of the gruelling campaign – 2024 really has been relentless – can pause, take the much-needed breather, and Liverpool can return to action with a new lick of paint and an overlay of polish to tackle the business end.
All this said Liverpool were guilty of some inexcusable errors and while they found their rhythm during a blistering second-half period, it was not sustained and Manchester United were given in-roads all too often.
But it was Antony's goal that proved damning. It was the extra 30 minutes of play that proved detrimental for Klopp's side. Sapped and soft after a thick-and-fast run of fixtures, the Anfield side lacked the right substitution in the closing stage.
It's a shame Bajcetic is not quite ready to return from the injuries that have limited him to just two appearances this term; the precocious Spaniard would have made all the difference for Liverpool.
Why Stefan Bajcetic is so highly rated
Liverpool secured Bajcetic's services from Celta Vigo for just £224,000 back in December 2020, when he was 16 years old, with Alex Otero, youth coordinator at Celta Vigo, gushing to The Athletic about his prodigious qualities.
He said: “He has amazing physical characteristics. He is extremely quick, makes good recoveries, has a great spring, is really impressive in the air and carries the ball cleanly out of defence.”
Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
After spending a few years growing into his skin within Liverpool's burgeoning youth system, Bajcetic was called to the senior set-up in 2022 and made his professional debut during Liverpool's 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth in the Premier League.
A few months later, with the Redmen struggling for form, his youthful traits were demanded and he caught the eye amid toiling peers, completing 11 appearances in the top flight before cruelly seeing his campaign ended by an abductor injury.
Liverpool reporter Leanne Prescott is among those to have marvelled at the teenage talent's emergence, with the writer saying: "Staggering that Liverpool look most in control this season when 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic is playing."
1.
Michael Owen
Wimbledon
17y 143d
2.
Raheem Sterling
Reading
17y 317d
3.
Stefan Bajcetic
Aston Villa
18y 65d
4.
Robbie Fowler
Oldham Athletic
18y 190d
5.
Jamie Carragher
Aston Villa
18y 356d
He scored on just his second feature in the Premier League to ice a much-needed victory over Aston Villa, going on to impress with his seamless style on the ball and intelligence across the many facets of the midfield game.
Klopp declared Bajcetic an "exceptional" young player after he burst onto the scene and he clearly has the tools to fashion success on the Anfield pitch for many years to come, if his age-belying feats from last year are anything to go by.
Nimble and adroit, tenacious in his defensive duties and endowed with energy and athleticism that acts as a natural vitaliser for his teammates, Bajcetic is the real deal and he could have offered the spark needed to secure success against Manchester United.
Imagine if Stefan Bajcetic played vs Man Utd
It's not that Liverpool were… poor against the Red Devils, rather, the team that took control failed to keep a hold of the reins after flagging as the match dragged on.
As discussed, this is only natural after such an unrelenting few months of football but Bajcetic's introduction to the engine room would have been enough to secure a spot in the semi-finals – against Coventry City, with the draw pitting Erik ten Hag's side against Championship opposition.
The 19-year-old has been confirmed to have returned to training this month but is still a little distance away from gracing the field, with Klopp hopeful that he will join first-team training after the imminent international break.
Had he returned just that little bit earlier, he might have made all the difference; despite playing just 11 minutes against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign, Bajcetic won all three duels, made two tackles and an interception and created a key pass.
In his other display, against LASK in the Europa League group stage, Bajcetic played from the outset and completed 84% of his passes, won three of his six ground duels, created two key passes, succeeded with his one attempted dribble and seven of his nine sprayed long passes.
He is such a robust player and would have injected the life and electricity Liverpool needed to cross the finish line. He did it last season, he will do it again.
Bajcetic's return cannot come soon enough for Klopp's side.