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Illan Meslier’s error in Leeds United’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal on Sunday left BBC Sport pundit Stephen Warnock ‘astonished’.

The lowdown

Leeds slipped into the relegation zone as they fell to a 2-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium while positional rivals Everton won away to Leicester City.

It was a disastrous start for the Whites as Eddie Nketiah pounced on a heavy touch from Meslier following a back pass from Luke Ayling and lunged in to score the opener after just five minutes. Nketiah then doubled the home side’s lead on 10 minutes before Ayling saw red inside the opening half-hour.

Diego Llorente halved the deficit midway through the second half, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

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The latest

Warnock rates Meslier’s highly but says that there was no excuse for failing to ‘put his foot through’ the ball in the lead-up to Nketiah’s first goal. The 40-year-old also questioned Jesse Marsch’s insistence on playing out from the back, claiming that it left Leeds vulnerable.

“Illan Meslier is an incredible shot stopper but you can’t defend him there,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live [8 May, 2:12pm], as quoted by MOT Leeds News.

“Put your foot through it, this is the problem when you get these managers or players who want to play out from the back so often.

“I’m just astonished the way Leeds are approaching this game. They keep on trying to play out and they are caught again.”

The verdict

Marsch might argue that this strategy was designed to ensure that Leeds had a foothold in the game. By kicking it long, they may simply have given the ball straight back to Arsenal and invited waves of pressure, whereas they could retain possession if they were more patient.

The problem with that tactic, though, is that there is no room for error, particularly against a Champions League-chasing team like Arsenal, and Meslier’s poor touch was all it took for Arsenal to score.

The Frenchman, who joined Leeds on an initial loan basis in 2019 (he signed permanently a year later) while Marcelo Bielsa was manager at Elland Road, was his team’s Young Player of the Year last season but has actually endured a difficult campaign this time around.

Data from FBRef shows that the £22,000-per-week stopper has conceded seven goals more than he ‘should’ have this term, based on post-shot xG.

Perhaps that’s a small part of the reason why his team has struggled throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

In other news, one Spanish outlet has dropped a further update on Raphinha’s future

Pakistan were given a shock in Lahore and have to figure out what their best combination is

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Oct-2019Big pictureIt was no real surprise that Sri Lanka rode an outstanding fifty from Danushka Gunathilaka to a competitive total in the first match. Were it not for injury and disciplinary issues, the opener would command a place in their first-choice limited-overs XI. He is among the more naturally gifted batsmen in any match.It was also no surprise that Dasun Shanaka helped Sri Lanka maintain their momentum through the later stages of the innings. He is one of the cleanest ball-strikers around.What was surprising was the ease with which Sri Lanka shut Pakistan’s chase down. Even without Lasith Malinga, the fast bowlers had the opposition 22 for 3. Pakistan are the top-ranked T20I side in the world, but this particular top order contained Umar Akmal, who had not contributed to that rise, and Ahmed Shehzad, who had not played a T20I since mid-2018. They made 4 off 9 balls and a first-ball duck respectively. As a result, coach Misbah-ul-Haq, who made these out-of-left-field selections, is facing a little scrutiny after his first T20I in charge.ALSO READ – Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad have my full backing as captain – Sarfaraz AhmedBut one victory does not make Sri Lanka invulnerable. Avishka Fernando appears to have hit some modest form in Pakistan, to follow his breakout World Cup, but the likes of Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga are also far from reliable wristspin options still. The more senior players in the Sri Lanka XI will need to continue to produce excellent innings and spells, so that the younger cricketers can play in their slipstream.Form guidePakistan LLWLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WWLLLIn the spotlightVery quietly, Shadab Khan has been having a disappointing 2019. His legspin has averaged 41.11 across 13 ODI innings this year (though his World Cup average of 35.55 was better). In T20Is, his numbers are even bleaker – his economy rate up at 9.42, and his average at 44, albeit from only four appearances. Sri Lanka is a team he had generally done well against, but several batsmen seemed to enjoy his bowling through the course of this tour, and his 1 for 35 on Saturday was modest without being terrible. In recent years, Sri Lanka haven’t loved playing wristspin. If Shadab can turn his form around, Pakistan will go some way to checking the opposition’s batting.Misbah-ul-Haq oversees Pakistan’s training session•AFPPrior to his debut, no uncapped Sri Lanka player had quite produced as much hype in the capital as Bhanuka Rajapaksa. A star at school level for one of the fanciest Colombo institutions – Royal College – Rajapaksa had been tipped by many to become one of the island’s best. But in senior cricket, his record has been modest, particularly in first-class and List A matches. Despite this, he has now got the chance to showcase his wares at the top level, and in his first T20I, he produced an innings that went some way to justifying the ten-year hype. If he can back Saturday’s 32 off 22 balls up with another good performance, the selectors may keep him on even when the first-choice players return to the fray.Team newsGiven Shehzad’s poor innings in the first match, Fakhar Zaman may come back into the XI.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt.) (wk), 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Mohammad HasnainSri Lanka will probably see no reason to change their XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4 Shehan Jayasuriya, 5 Minod Bhanuka (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt.), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsThe dew that both teams had expected did not turn up in force on Saturday. Expect Lahore to produce a similar surface.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have lost each of their four most-recent T20 series, two of which have been at home, and two away. Their last away series win (outside one-off games) was against Bangladesh in early 2018. Pakistan have never lost a bilateral T20I series to Sri Lanka. Umar Akmal has not made a T20I fifty since February 2016. Shehzad had not made one since September 2017.

Erling Haaland showed off his brand-new £26,000 Breitling watch as he chilled on a luxury yacht with friends.

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Haaland a Breitling ambassadorShows off hugely expensive watchOn holiday as Norway failed to reach Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

Haaland is enjoying his holidays as Norway did not qualify for Euro 2024, and has been spotted on multiple yachts. Having soaked up the sun in Italy, he has again posted an Instagram story showing that he is relaxing on the water once again, this time with a £26,000 ($33,000) Breitling watch. It is a more relaxing way to spend his time than his trip to Marbella, having been caught up in an armed raid.

AdvertisementWHAT HAALAND SAID

Haaland kept it simple with his Instagram captions, as he posted a picture of the watch with a heart-eyes emoji, while Umar Kumani posted a picture of himself, Haaland, and some pals, including Burnley's Sander Berge, on a yacht in Monaco with the caption "The boys". Kumani is the founder of Pretty Little Thing.

@erling.haalandTHE GOSSIP

Breitling will be delighted to see their brand ambassador posting pictures of their timepieces on Instagram, given that he has 38.6 million followers on the social media platform. He is clearly enjoying his time off, having scored a staggering 38 goals in 45 games for City this season.

WHAT NEXT?

Haaland will continue to relax before heading back to Manchester for pre-season training. With his new watch, he's almost certain to be on time.

A Tottenham Hotspur star was left furious, despite his side picking up a 3-0 victory against West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Spurs back on track after comfortable West Ham victory

Spurs suffered their first Premier League defeat of the Thomas Frank era prior to the international break, with AFC Bournemouth emerging as surprise 1-0 winners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but they managed to get back on track against West Ham United last time out.

Frank’s side ran out 3-0 winners at the London Stadium, with Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven getting on the scoresheet, and the manager was left impressed by his side’s display.

Frank said: “It was a very good win. I thought we performed very well in big spells of the game. The first 15, 20 minutes were even-ish but after that, I think we got more and more hold of the game.

“In the second half, we just kept going and we scored good goals from Pape, a well-drilled corner, the second goal maybe even better, a fantastic ball from Romero to Lucas, really good and we just kept going.”

Club "want to sell" £50m forward to Tottenham, Thomas Frank also keen

Spurs could have an opportunity here.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 21, 2025

Ultimately, the north Londoners emerged as comfortable winners, but there was a controversial moment in the game, with captain Cristian Romero seeing his goal disallowed for an alleged foul on Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up.

Jamie O’Hara was left fuming with the decision from referee Jarred Gillett, and the former Tottenham man was not the only one, with £170k-a-week star James Maddison also taking to X to lambast the refereeing performance.

VAR under heavy scrutiny after just four games

We are only four games into the new Premier League campaign, but VAR is already under intense scrutiny, with Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer for the PGMOL, admitting an error was made in disallowing Josh King’s goal for Fulham against Chelsea.

Fortunately for Spurs, they went on to pick up all three points, despite Romero’s goal being disallowed, but the Cottagers weren’t as lucky, with Chelsea ultimately going on to record a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

As such, it is evident that refereeing standards must improve, and the PGMOL are lucky that Spurs went on to win the game with ease regardless, courtesy of a fantastic second-half performance.

The games are now starting to come thick and fast for Frank’s side, with the Lilywhites set to return to Champions League action against Villarreal on Wednesday night.

Xavi Simons has reportedly told Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave the club amid interest from Harry Kane's Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

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Simons has decided to leave PSGGerman clubs ready to snap himCould possibly be a loan deal until 2025WHAT HAPPENED?

During the 2023-24 season, Xavi Simons made a significant impact while on loan at RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder showcased his talent by scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in the Bundesliga. Additionally, he contributed two goals and two assists in the Champions League, further elevating his profile. His performances have drawn the attention of major clubs, positioning him as a sought-after prospect in the transfer market.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Simons plans to leave PSG on a loan deal until June 2025, with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig keen on securing his services. While Bayern view him as a valuable addition to their squad, Leipzig are eager to retain the midfielder following his impressive loan spell. Moreover, Arsenal and Manchester United were also linked with a move for the midfielder. And the competition between these two Bundesliga giants underscores Simons' rising stock in European football.

WHAT SIMONS SAID

After a 0-0 draw against France in the European Championships, Simons addressed his future. He expressed satisfaction with his time at PSG and Leipzig but remained non-committal about his next move. "I was happy in Paris," Simons said, as reported by French journalist JS Grond-Tran. "I was in Leipzig this year, we’ll see after the Euro. I also see that the supporters always wish me the best, and that’s good".

DID YOU KNOW?

Simons' future at PSG has been a topic of speculation. While the club recognises his potential, they face a challenging decision. PSG's new manager, Luis Enrique, is an admirer of Simons but cannot guarantee him regular playing time in the upcoming season. Given this uncertainty, PSG also allegedly consider that a loan move would be a viable option for both parties.

Three days after being skittled for 40 in a Championship defeat to Essex, Kent grab defeat from the jaws of victory

ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2019Kent Spitfires suffered their second batting calamity of the week as they tossed away a winning position to lose their Vitality Blast South Group qualifier to Surrey by one run at shell-shocked Canterbury.Just three days after being skittled for 40 in a County Championship defeat to Essex, Kent grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory to suffer their fourth reverse and their first on home soil in this year’s T20 tournament.Chasing 172 at a tough asking rate of 8.6 an over for their seventh win of the campaign, Kent openers Zak Crawley and Daniel Bell-Drummond smashed 19 off Jordan Clark’s third over.Clark’s misery was compounded when he dropped Bell-Drummond off a skier at cover in the next over from Jade Dernbach as Kent’s openers posted 50 in five overs.Crawley raced to his maiden T20 fifty with two fours and three sixes as the Spitfires pair posted their century stand in 9.5 overs as Kent swept 26 runs ahead of Surrey’s midpoint score.Bell-Drummond reached his 19th career T20 half-century from 32 balls and with seven fours but their stand was finally broken for 115 when Mohammad Tahir had Crawley stumped for 59.With 18 required from 12 balls, Bell-Drummond went for 64 when his sliced drive against Dernbach flew to backward point to heap pressure on Alex Blake and Heino Kuhn.Blake upper-cut his third ball to deep point leaving Sam Billings and Kuhn to score 12 off the last over from Sam Curran, but it was Curran who held his nerve by conceding nine off the bat to give Surrey a surprise fourth Vitality Blast win.After a forceful start, Surrey stumbled mid-innings when Kent took pace off the ball, then plundered quick runs at the death through a barrage of Will Jacks sixes on their way to posting 171 for 7.Aaron Finch, who hit 83 here last July at a strike rate of 218.42 – only for the match to be abandoned to rain – clattered 18 off the second over of the night from Kent T20 debutant Matt Milnes but, with 25 to his name, miscued a Fred Klaassen slower ball back to the bowler.Surrey reached 49 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay, after which Spitfires brought on first-team debutant Marcus O’Riordan, a 21-year-old off-spinner whose excellent opening over cost only five runs.Kent turned to spin at both ends with the introduction of left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum who had Curran caught at cow corner with his second ball.Surrey lost further impetus when Bell-Drummond yorked Mark Stoneman, Qayyum squeezed one between the bat and pad to bowl Ben Foakes and then had Ollie Pope stumped by Ollie Robinson as Surrey raised their 100 in the 15th over.Qayyum finished his four overs with 3 for 22, after which Hardus Viljoen returned to pluck out middle stump via a bottom edge as Clark aimed to cut.Jacks clattered eight sixes late in the piece on his way to 63 off 27 balls before biffing Klaassen’s last ball of the innings into the hands of long off, even so, Surrey’s total appeared a little below par.

Tottenham have been told one key condition to sign a player who’s been identified by manager Thomas Frank as a summer target, according to a new report.

£43m star "clear" he wants to join Tottenham in talks with club chairman

He’s expressed his desire to seal a Spurs switch.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 15, 2025

Spurs are fresh off the back of their first pre-season game against Reading, with new signing Mohammed Kudus enjoying an impressive cameo on Saturday as the Lilywhites ran out 2-0 winners against the League One side.

Goals from Will Lankshear and new arrival Luka Vuskovic secured Frank the perfect start to his new managerial chapter, with the Dane getting a first look at his star-studded squad.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

He could yet see more illustrious names added to it, as Tottenham maintain their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White despite Nottingham Forest’s threat of legal action. Fabrizio Romano confirms that sealing a deal for Gibbs-White is their priority right now, speaking via his YouTube channel, but that doesn’t mean Daniel Levy won’t have other plates spinning in the background.

Yves Bissouma has been regularly linked with a move away from north London before deadline day on September 1, and José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe are believed to be prime contenders for the Mali international (Yağız Sabuncuoğlu).

With Spurs competing in the Champions League next season, Frank will need a ready-made replacement for Bissouma, considering the hot and cold midfielder played 28 games for them in the Premier League alone last term.

According to recent reports, Bayern Munich ace and former Fulham favourite Joao Palhinha is among the targets on Tottenham’s shortlist to potentially step into Bissouma’s shoes for 2025/2026.

The Portugal international finally sealed what was a long-awaited move to Bavaria last summer, signing for around £47 million, but his debut season at the Allianz Arena was marred by injury struggles, suspensions, illness and a subsequent lack of game time under Vincent Kompany.

As a result, reports suggest the 30-year-old could call time on his stay in the Bundesliga already, and Spurs have been told the requirements to seal a deal.

Tottenham told Joao Palhinha condition after opening Bayern Munich talks

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham have held club-to-club discussions with Bayern over Palhinha, and Kompany’s side are adamant that Levy will only be able to sign him on a permanent deal.

Any offers for a loan will not be accepted as Bayern attempt to get Palhinha’s £166,000-per-week wages off the books for good, but Frank has personally identified the player as a target, so there appears to be a real willingness from Spurs to move for him.

Bayern are said to have made it clear that Tottenham will need to table a “big-money” bid for Palhinha if they stand a chance of signing him this summer, but this report doesn’t disclose the exact amount they’d be looking for.

In any case, if Spurs decide to press forward, there is reason to believe he would thrive under Frank.

Palhinha was famed for his tackling and robustness in midfield during his spell at Craven Cottage, indicating why Spurs are so keen, with former teammate Tom Cairney even calling him a “breath of fresh air”.

“If you lose the ball, he smells blood,” Cairney said in a glowing endorsement.

“He’s probably one of the best I’ve ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball. He doesn’t just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle.

“It’s amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he’s been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League.”

Newcastle United have now made Matt Targett their ‘number-one’ option at left-back, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The 26-year-old is currently on loan at St James’ Park from Aston Villa until the end of the 2021/22 season.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has written that Eddie Howe ‘really rates him’ based on what he has seen so far, but at the manager’s ‘behest’, head of recruitment Steve Nickson was drawing up a list of alternative left-back options.

Newcastle were keeping their options open, indicating that they weren’t entirely convinced by Targett, with Jones saying in March that a permanent move was unlikely. By contrast, 97.5% of supporters polled by Waugh indicated that they wanted him to stay long-term.

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The latest

Jones has said that Newcastle’s stance has changed in recent weeks and that they will now look to secure a permanent deal for Targett in the near future. He added that the defender is expected to cost the Magpies around £15m.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “I think he has, in the last few weeks, become the number one target. I think, things have changed. I think there’ll be a deal looking to be made soon to sign him. I think it’s about £15m.”

The verdict

This is a wise decision from Newcastle, if indeed they go through with it. Targett is available for a reasonable fee, perhaps in part because Villa have shelled out up to £25m on another left-back in Lucas Digne.

The 26-year-old has 139 games’ worth of Premier League experience and won’t need an adjustment period at St James’ Park like a new arrival would.

Despite joining midway through the season, Targett ranks second in the Newcastle squad for chances created with 37, behind only Allan Saint-Maximin (46).

Therefore, it’s no wonder that Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher regards the loanee as a ‘huge improvement’ on what’s come before at Newcastle, who would be well advised to pay the £15m which is apparently needed to make Targett a permanent Magpies player.

In other news, Frank McAvennie reacts to this rumoured Newcastle exit

Brighton confirmed Fabian Hurzeler as Roberto De Zerbi's successor after the German worked wonders at St Pauli.

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Brighton get a new head coach Signed Hurzeler from St. Pauli Youngest ever PL manager at 31 WHAT HAPPENED?

The Seagulls made a bold and historic appointment by appointing 31-year-old Hurzeler as their new manager which makes the German the youngest full-time manager in Premier League history. Hurzeler’s rise to prominence came through his exceptional work at FC St Pauli, where he guided the team to the Bundesliga 2 title in the recent season. Under his leadership, St Pauli won 20 of their 34 matches, showcasing a blend of tactical acumen and motivational prowess.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hurzeler's success at the German club made him a standout candidate for the Brighton job, earning him a contract until 2027. tenure with Brighton will commence once he receives his work permit, allowing him to join the squad in time for pre-season preparations in July. The club is eager to integrate him into their system, aiming for a smooth transition and a strong start to the new season.

WHAT BRIGHTON CHAIRMAN SAID

Chairman Tony Bloom said, “Fabian has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play, and I’m confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy. Fabian also has an excellent coaching pedigree and has worked with the German federation at various age group levels. We are really excited to start working with Fabian to prepare for the upcoming season.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Hurzeler's age presents a unique dynamic, as he is younger than several of Brighton’s senior players, including James Milner, 38, Danny Welbeck, 33, and Lewis Dunk, 32. This scenario is unusual in top-flight football, where managers are typically older and more experienced. However, Hurzeler’s modern coaching techniques and fresh perspective are expected to resonate well with the team, potentially bridging the age gap through mutual respect and professional camaraderie.

Barcelona have reportedly opened talks with FC Porto to facilitate the sale of centre-back Mikayil Faye but have one main condition for a deal.

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Barcelona looking to sell Mikayil FayePorto interested in signing for €15m (£13m/$16m)Barca want to include buy-back clauseBarcelona Twitter WHAT HAPPENED?

Over the last season, Faye has impressed a lot during his time with Barca Atletic and even received two call-ups to the senior team. So much so that former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez even pondered upon making the sale of left-footed senior centre-back, Inigo Martinez to make room for Faye as a rotation centre-back. However, with the arrival of Hansi Flick, the chances of Faye making it to the senior squad have dwindled and he may now be moved on for a cash influx.

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As per Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have been approached by Liga NOS side Porto, who are willing to offer around €15 million to acquire Faye's services this summer. However, the report has stated that the Catalan club are looking to add a buy-back clause on the talented 19-year-old sale agreement so that they could potentially re-sign the Senegalese back in the future.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Barca Atletic started their season with a centre-back pairing of Faye and Pau Cubarsi, with the latter having been shifted to the first team, it was reported that Xavi wanted to do the same with the Senegalese in the coming summer. However, that will likely no longer be the case with Flick having taken charge of the senior team.

WHAT NEXT FOR FAYE?

The season is not yet over for Faye and Barca Atletic as they continue on with their promotions playoffs in Primera Federacion as the club looks to make their way back to the second tier of Spanish football for the first time since 2018.