Big Picture

Is there a point to hyping up an India-Pakistan contest again after the damp squib on Wednesday? After all, the last four games between these sides have turned out to be an eight-wicket win, a 180-run win, a 124-run win and a 76-run win. The build-up to all of those would have been frenzied, only for one-sided affairs to end up making a mockery of the publicity that preceded them.It seems prudent, therefore, to approach this game with a pinch of caution. With the group-stage game between these two sides truly living up to its billing as a dead rubber, there is no reason to presume this one will turn out to be the thriller fans of this iconic rivalry fantasise about each time these two countries do battle.India look like the settled behemoth they usually are in limited-overs cricket, and, with one game, the dark memories of the Champions Trophy final have receded firmly into distant history. Wednesday’s game was the affirmation they needed to be convinced they had finally turned the tables on a rivalry Pakistan have dominated for much of these countries’ histories. The Oval in 2017, they may now feel confident, was truly an aberration, and Dubai last week a regression to the mean. The new status-quo.They are the only unbeaten side this tournament, with the stiffest challenge they faced so far against Hong Kong in a game where they rested several key players. When they fielded full-strength teams, Pakistan and Bangladesh were comfortably outgunned. At the same venue, three days later, there shouldn’t be any reason to presume Pakistan will be a more challenging prospect.Except, if that’s the way they approach the game, they may just be playing into Pakistan’s hands. At their best just when everyone writes them off, this could be the moment for Pakistan to spring a surprise, just as they did two weeks after a group stage drubbing at the Champions Trophy last year. Mickey Arthur and his men will try to airbrush Wednesday’s game out of their mind and continue to reinforce the one at The Oval instead, reminding them what they’re capable of. Pakistan are recovering from a draining contest against Afghanistan, both mentally and physically, that they barely deserved to win. It was a shoddy performance, both in the field and with the bat, and despite all the unpredictability that surrounds this enigmatic team, there is one certainty: if they play like that against India, they will lose, and lose heavily.The biggest point of intrigue surrounds the Pakistan line-up. The one they fielded against Afghanistan was chock-a-block with spinners, both full and part-time, as Pakistan desperately tried to compensate for Shadab Khan’s absence and a botched squad selection that saw far too many pacers and not nearly as many slow bowlers included for the pitches the UAE offers. Against India, they are likely to keep to that strategy, although it is worth noting India play spin – even world-class spin – better than any side in the world. The sight of Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik or Fakhar Zaman turning their arms over is unlikely to leave them quaking in their boots.

Form guide

India WWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLWWWHasan Ali gestures towards Shikhar Dhawan during the chase•Associated Press

In the spotlight

Jasprit Bumrah’s figures of 2 for 23 against Pakistan were stellar enough, but they still didn’t quite do him justice. He took the wickets of lower-order batsman Faheem Ashraf and No. 11 Usman Khan, but had just as important a role to play in the fall of the two openers with the new ball. The wickets – and the Player-of-the-Match award – might have gone to his seam partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but Bumrah helped build the pressure from the other end by refusing to provide any opportunity to either batsmen to free their arms.The maiden he bowled to Fakhar must have played a part in the usually clear-headed Imam charging Bhuvneshwar first ball of the next over, giving up his wicket in the process. The next over Bumrah bowled was another maiden, this time to Babar. And what did Fakhar do first ball of the following over? Play a false shot and give his wicket away. If cricket did assists, Bumrah would have had two. Expect him to do the same on Sunday. This time, he may get wickets of his own, too.Far too often in the past, Pakistan have crumbled with the bat against India, especially if a good start is not to be had. At a time when there is little substance coming from the middle order, Babar Azam’s importance to Pakistan’s cause cannot be overstated. He was the one to rebuild both against India and Afghanistan, and it was his dismissal that swung the game decisively back in India’s favour after he and Malik had begun to put on a partnership; Pakistan slumped from 85 for 2 to 121 for 7 after that. If Pakistan bat first, they don’t just require a solid 40 or 50 from their young talisman. He has a penchant for scoring regular hundreds, and he could hardly bring one up at a more opportune time. If he digs in, we could have the classic previous India-Pakistan matches have fallen well short of.

Team news

India stay in Dubai and fatigue should not be an issue. They have added another spinner in Ravindra Jadeja since the Pakistan game, and are likely to unleash all three on Sunday. It would be surprising if they didn’t field an unchanged side, given a win assures qualification. That would mean they can rotate players for the final game.India (possible): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 MS Dhoni (wk), 5 Dinesh Karthik, 6 Kedhar Jadhav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit BumrahShadab, Pakistan’s only spinner in the same league as any of the three India will field on Sunday, is fit, which makes a huge difference to Pakistan’s chances. He should be a shoo-in, with Mohammad Amir likely to continue to warm the bench. Shaheen Afridi was unfortunate but still impressed against Afghanistan, and may keep his place, in which case Haris Sohail would be the likeliest to make way.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6 Asif Ali, 7 Shadab Khan/Haris Sohail, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Usman Khan

Pitch and conditions

A fresh pitch will be used for this game, with the curator promising greater pace and bounce than has been evident in the tournament so far. That will be welcome news to Pakistan, who draw their bowling strength from their battery of pacers. The heat continues to be the enduring issue, and both sides will be eager to put the other in the field under the blazing sun. Pitches are slow, and swing is in short supply, so expect plenty of overs to be bowled by the spinners.

Stats and trivia

• The game against India on Wednesday was the first time Usman Khan went wicketless in an ODI. He also returned figures of 0 for 58 against Afghanistan the game after, sending his bowling average up from 10.55 two games ago to 15.27.
• Rohit Sharma is 94 runs from becoming the ninth Indian batsman to score 7,000 runs in ODIs. Of active Indian players, only MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are ahead of him.

Lionel Messi was forced to pull out of the latest Argentina squad through injury, but he is back in light training at Inter Miami.

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• Picked up a knock against Nashville
• Being eased back to match fitness
• No risks being taken with all-time great

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is nursing a knock that forced him out of a CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Nashville on March 14. He played no part in Inter Miami’s last MLS fixture, as Luis Suarez bagged a brace in a 3-1 win over D.C. United.

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  Messi had been due to link up with the reigning world champions on the back of that contest, but he withdrew from the Albiceleste squad and remains in Florida. In a boost for his domestic employers, the 36-year-old has been spotted back out on the training field.

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  It is highly unlikely that Messi will play any part in the Herons’ meeting with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, with no risks being taken on his fitness. Any fears regarding a long-term absence are, however, being eased.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo diante da ausência de público nos estádios, o Botafogo tenta atrair novos torcedores para se associarem de forma oficial ao clube. Durante a semana, o Alvinegro lançou um cupom que dá desconto na adesão de novos sócios-torcedores.

A promoção faz alusão à Black Friday, dia conhecido mundialmente pelas promoções em escala. A partir de um cupom de desconto na internet, chamado “BLACKFIRE”, o plano básico de sócio-torcedor sai por R$ 7,45 ao mês. Os interessados podem assinar qualquer plano no site www.botafogo.com.br/soubotafogo.

Atualmente, o Botafogo tem pouco mais de 31 mil associados. O clube de General Severiano busca maneiras de recompensar estas pessoas, já que o Estádio Nilton Santos está sem público pela pandemia do novo coronavírus.

No mês passado, sócios do Alvinegro tiveram desconto de 50% no novo uniforme do clube, produzido pela Kappa.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will continue to strengthen his restored squad in 2024, with sights not set on cementing this newfound position of power at the forefront of the Premier League.

After falling by the wayside last year, Postecoglou's summer appointment has proved to be a masterstroke, and optimism is now awash down the N17, and with eight victories and two draws from the opening ten matches of the league term, Spurs are perched in first place.

It is a startling revival that has shocked the lion's share of the club's rivals, with Tottenham lumbering to an eighth-placed finish last term and enduring a catastrophic defensive collapse – shipping 63 goals; only the relegated trio and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth conceded more.

Micky van de Ven's £43m addition from German side Wolfsburg has been a large part behind the fresh vigour at the back, forming a sturdy partnership with Cristian Romero, with the dynamic duo now charging the team from the back.

Guglielmo Vicario's introduction between the stick has been equally impressive – the Italian ranks among the top 4% of goalkeepers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for save percentage, as per FBref.

More work is needed though, especially considering the current trajectory bespeaks of Spurs' prospects of European football next season, and, as such, Postecoglou must prioritise deepening the ranks.

Tottenham transfer news – Lloyd Kelly

According to 90min, Tottenham are indeed going to focus on fortifying the defensive ranks this winter, with Bournemouth central defender Lloyd Kelly still believed to be of interest.

This comes alongside revelations from transfer goliath Fabrizio Romano that Serie A outfits AC Milan and Juventus have asked for conditions for a transfer this January, with Kelly out of contract on the south coast at the end of the season.

Tottenham, however, will feel that they can entice the player with a role in London at an ambitious and burgeoning side, with Postecoglou's team certainly requiring from new defensive mettle.

Spurs failed with a £20m bid for the 25-year-old late in the summer transfer window, and that perseverance could persuade the player to join the project.

Lloyd Kelly's style of play

A ball-playing defender, Kelly's playing style aligns with the way that Postecoglou wants his team to play, with the Lilywhites ranking third in the Premier League for passes and first for shots taken this term.

Competent both in the centre and as a left-back, Kelly's protean ability would set him up for success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been hailed for his "incredible" qualities by former manager Gary O'Neil.

Indeed, as per FBref, the £30k-per-week titan ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for clearances and the top 13% for aerial wins per 90.

This evidences the 5 foot 10 ace's robustness, mobility and superiority in aerial battles, which are traits that Postecoglou is evidently enamoured with.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Holding onto the ball

Crossing

Concentration

Pass accuracy

Interceptions

Blocking

*Sourced via WhoScored

Frankly, Spurs have done their homework on a player who has impressed at the Vitality Stadium over the past several years; since signing from Bristol City for £13m in 2019, he has completed 123 appearances for the Cherries, scoring twice and registering seven assists.

Whilst Kelly is not the most precise of passers in all instances, but that is not to negate his ball-playing skill, with his inclination to spray long passes up the pitch a testament to his creative spark and willingness to progress the play.

Left-footed and still developing, Tottenham could secure their belated, dream, heir to Jan Vertonghen's position in the squad with Kelly's signing, and the London side must now forge ahead to shrug off rival suitors and secure his signature.

Why Tottenham need Lloyd Kelly

Vertonghen proved to be a first-class defender at Tottenham after joining from Eredivisie giants Ajax in a £10m transfer in 2012, beating Newcastle United to his signature.

The 152-cap Belgium international, now aged 36, forged 313 displays with Spurs, posting 14 goals and seven assists, and while he did not glean silverware during his time on English shores, he is fondly remembered as a lynchpin of the success under Mauricio Pochettino.

Hailed as a "Tottenham legend" by journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke, Vertonghen was one of the Premier League's finest left-sided centre-halfs and married defensive ability with a crisp, natural ball-playing ease.

Across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, Vertonghen has completed 86.5% of his passes and averaged four long balls per game, highlighting his skill in distribution as he was a reliable passer who could regularly switch the play to set off attacks.

His leadership and charisma at the back paid dividends, and while Van de Ven is the left-footed defender that the club have been yearning for, should injury beset him then there are a questionable lack of reliable replacements.

Kelly could emulate this, completing 81% of his passes in the Premier League last term while attempting 2.7 long balls and making 4.3 clearances per match, as per Sofascore.

The fact that the dynamo also won 60% of his contested duels is a further illustration of the rounded game that will bolster a Tottenham team targetting sustained success at the top of the game.

Much like Vertonghen, Kelly offers dynamism and versatility to provide depth for the crucial and touted return to European competition next season.

And with Eric Dier ostensibly headed for the exit in 2024 and defensive teammate Ben Davies, who has not been able to break into the team regularly, not really making his mark, Kelly could provide the upgrade that would allow Postecoglou to issue rotation with greater belief in his squad's ability.

Whether Kelly would cement a starting berth on every occasion remains to be seen, but undoubtedly, Tottenham are a little thin at the moment and Postecoglou will need to expand his squad to ensure his squad can compete across multiple fronts.

August's Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham on penalties underscored this weakness in numbers; while not the most esteemed of tournaments on offer, it presented a golden opportunity to end an interminable trophy drought.

Nonetheless, Spurs are thriving under their Australian boss, and strengthening with signings such as Kelly will only prove to solidify their chances at achieving prominence on the European stage.

كشف إيهاب الكومي، عضو مجلس إدارة الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، حقيقة اعتذار الاتحاد للاعب بيراميدز رمضان صبحي بشأن أزمة المنشطات.

وكانت لجنة مكافحة المنشطات أصدرت قرارًا بوقف رمضان صبحي عن المشاركة مع فريقه لحين انتهاء التحقيق معه بشأن العينة الخاصة به.

وعلم “بطولات” في وقتٍ سابق أن المنظمة المصرية لمكافحة المنشطات قررت رفع الإيقاف عن رمضان صبحي.

طالع أيضاً.. رسميًا – مكافحة المنشطات تُقرر رفع الإيقاف عن رمضان صبحي

ورد إيهاب الكومي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس” هل اتحاد الكرة بصدد إصدار بيان اعتذار لرمضان صبحي؟: اتحاد الكرة ليس طرفا في أزمة رمضان صبحي، عندما يأتي لك أي قرار من لجنة المنشطات أو خلافه يجب أن تمتثل لما جاء إليه من هذه الهيئة، وبناء عليه اتحاد الكرة ليس له علاقة بـ أزمة رمضان صبحي اطلاقًا، نحن معه قلبا وقالبًا لأنه موهبة يجب أن نحافظ عليها”.

وأضاف: “لو أنا أخطأت أو صدر من اتحاد الكرة شيء ضد رمضان صبحي أو كنا طرف في المشكلة كنا سنبادر بالاعتذار، لا نريد الزج باسم اتحاد الكرة المصري”.

وأتم: “اتحاد الكرة ليس طرفا من قريب أو بعيد في أزمة رمضان صبحي، وقتها قلنا أننا ندعمه لأنه موهبة كبيرة ويجب أن نحافظ عليه”.

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 campaign as they came down to the second tier alongside Leicester City and Southampton.

Sam Allardyce was not kept on for the Championship season and the Whites opted to bring in German head coach Daniel Farke to bolster their efforts to bounce back at the first attempt.

The former Norwich City head coach was backed over the summer transfer window as nine new recruits were brought in, either on loan or on a permanent basis.

Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon, Glen Kamara, Karl Darlow, Djed Spence, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Sam Byram, and Jaidon Anthony were all snapped up by the Yorkshire-based outfit.

These signings have played their part in Leeds being third in the table, with only three defeats on the board, after 14 Championship matches.

However, the drop down to the second tier has also provided an opportunity to players who were already at Elland Road to finally hit their stride in a Whites shirt outside of the pressures of Premier League football and battling against relegation.

One player who has thrived at this level so far this season is talented forward Crysencio Summerville, who has caught the eye at Championship level after an underwhelming top-flight campaign.

Summerville's Premier League season in numbers

The Dutch attacker featured in 28 Premier League games for Leeds throughout the 2022/23 campaign, under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Allardyce combined.

12 of those appearances came as a starter but he was not able to contribute at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, with a return of four goals and two assists in total.

His 0.6 key passes per game ranked him ninth within the Leeds squad last season – below the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Adam Forshaw, and Weston McKennie.

However, there were some promising signs from the 5 foot 9 whiz as he ranked within the top 34% of Premier League wingers during the 2022/23 campaign for non-penalty goals (0.25) per 90, which shows that he was scoring at a respectable rate from a wide position.

His performances were not convincing enough, though, to warrant a regular place in the starting XI and, as such, there was not strong enough interest to tempt him or Leeds into a transfer back to the top-flight over the summer.

Instead, he watched on as senior forwards Jack Harrison and Rodrigo moved on, with the former going to Everton on loan, and their respective exits opened the door for him to step into the limelight as a star player for the club.

Why Summerville is like Kaoru Mitoma

Such has been the impressive nature of his performances at Championship level this season, Voetbal International journalist Suleyman Özturk compared him to Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma.

The reporter claimed that Summerville reminds him of the Japan international as they are both "complete" left-wingers, and went as far to say that the Dutch gem may be the best player in the second tier at this moment in time.

Özturk also stated that the league is like a "playground" for the Leeds sensation, who has been able to enjoy himself on the pitch throughout the season so far.

The comparison to Mitoma is an interesting one as, like Summerville, he is a right-footed left winger who has the quality to score and create goals whilst also being an exciting dribbler who can commit defenders and get supporters up off their seats.

In the Premier League, the 26-year-old maestro has produced three goals and three assists in nine starts for the Seagulls during the 2023/24 campaign.

This comes after the Japanese whiz managed seven goals and five assists in 24 top-flight starts during his debut season in English football last term.

Mitoma also ranks within the top 4% of wingers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries (5.79) per 90. This shows that he is one of the top forwards in Europe at progressing the ball up the pitch with his dribbling ability.

The statistics that show why Summerville is like Mitoma

The statistics also show that Summerville is like Farke's own version of the Brighton star at Championship level as he has been in phenomenal form this term.

In 11 league appearances, the 22-year-old phenomenon has contributed with an outstanding six goals and four assists – starting nine of those matches.

He is currently the club's top scorer with those six strikes, with Piroe behind him on five, and only Georgino Rutter (five) has registered more league assists than him.

In fact, the Dutch whiz ranks within the top 3% of wingers in the league for non-penalty goals (0.67) per 90 and the top 1% for shot-creating actions (7.49) per 90.

This shows that the Whites magician has been one of the best forwards within the division in terms of the quality end product that he can produce with regularity to score goals and create chances for his team.

Like Mitoma, Summerville is an exceptional ball carrier who can progress his team up the pitch. This season, the right-footed ace ranks within the top 5% of his Championship positional peers for progressive carries (5.92) per 90.

Statistic

Summerville vs Huddersfield (28/10/2023)

Sofascore rating

10

Goals

Two

Assists

Two

Chances created

Three

Dribbles completed

Two

Summerville's most recent Leeds performance (via Sofascore)

His display against Huddersfield, as shown in the table above, was the perfect demonstration of the full force of his immense power at this level.

Summerville has the quality to tear teams to shreds with his quick feet, exceptional passing, and impressive finishing, and the Terriers fell to his sword last weekend.

The young wizard is thriving at Championship level and has become one of the shining lights of this Leeds team as they look to win promotion back to the Premier League.

His next step is to remain consistent throughout the remainder of the campaign and then the goal should be for him to follow in Mitoma's footsteps to become an excellent top-flight winger who can contribute with goals and assists on a regular basis at that level.

Rivaldo believes that England are the favourites to win Euro 2024 and has warned Brazil of the Three Lions' threat at Wembley.

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England to lock horns in a friendly against the SelecaoGareth Southgate's troops tipped as favourites Rivaldo backs them to win Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

The Three Lions will be up against a struggling Brazil who have been thoroughly unimpressive in the recent past – losing their last three 2026 World Cup qualifiers, including a 1-0 defeat to eternal rivals Argentina. Moreover, the absence of several first-team players like Neymar, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli in addition to Alisson Becker and Ederson has further complicated matters for manager Dorival Junior who will be in charge of his first match on Saturday evening.

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In sharp contrast, England are yet to lose a game since their 2-1 loss to France in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals. They have won six of their eight matches in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and have looked like a formidable force ready to conquer Europe.

WHAT RIVALDO SAID

Speaking to Betfair, Rivado said: "The England team is strong and there are great players throughout the squad, so it will be a tough game for Brazil at Wembley, it will be a great test. England have a great chance of winning the European Championships in Germany this summer."

Comparing England's situation to that of Argentina a few years back, the World Cup winner added: "Many good players have worn the England shirt and yet they still haven't won a major trophy since 1966. In that sense, they are similar to the situation Argentina were in before they won the World Cup in Qatar, they had many great players who deserved it which gave hope to fans and finally, they won the title after many years.

"Under Gareth Southgate, England have given their fans hope, reached the final of Euro 2020, and are now ready to go one better and win a tournament. Everything is in place for them to have a great Euros this summer and a great World Cup in 2026. On Saturday, they will provide a big test for Brazil."

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Southgate is well aware that his troops have the potential to lift their first major silverware after almost six decades years if they play to their strengths. And, the friendlies against Brazil & Belgium will provide him the perfect platform to fine-tune the settings of his squad before heading to Germany in June.

Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed the appointment of their new head coach on Sunday as Philippe Clement has put pen to paper on a deal with the club.

The former AS Monaco boss has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to manage the Scottish giants and, hopefully, bring success back to Ibrox over the coming months and years.

He has replaced English tactician Michael Beale after the former Liverpool coach failed to win a single trophy during his spell with the club.

Clement now has a job on his hands to get the supporters back onside and one way he could work towards doing that is by unleashing some of the younger players within the squad.

How many matches has Leon King played this season?

Leon King is yet to make a single senior appearance for the Rangers first-team during the 2023/24 campaign, and the talented youngster now has an opportunity to break back into the side with the clean slate that the Belgian boss' arrival has provided.

The Gers academy graduate, who ex-Light Blues defender Alan Hutton dubbed a “big Rolls Royce”, has played 31 games for the club to date and has proven that he has the ability to play competitive football for the Light Blues.

However, his only minutes so far this season have come for Scotland's U21 side as he lined up in a holding midfield position against Hungary U21s on Friday.

Sofascore rating

7.1

Interceptions

Three

Tackles

Two

Pass accuracy

78%

Duel success rate

67%

King's performance against Hungary U21s (via Sofascore)

The rarely-seen 19-year-old ace made a combined five tackles and interceptions and no Rangers player (minimum two appearances) has made more than 3.9 tackles and interceptions combined per game in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.

How did King perform last season?

King showcased his reliability in possession along with his defensive strength across 15 league outings for Gio van Bronckhorst and Beale last term.

The 6 foot enforcer completed 88% of his attempted passes and only five Rangers players have recorded a better percentage than that this season, which speaks to how consistent the youngster was on the ball for the Scottish giants.

He also dominated opposition attackers with a ground duel success rate of 67%, which shows that the central defender is able to come out on top in the majority of his physical battles on the deck.

Rangers have conceded five goals in their last three matches in all competitions and bringing in fresh blood could help to improve their backline for the upcoming matches after the international break.

Clement will surely want to have an instant impact on the side and that is why he could secure an early blinder by unleashing the rarely-seen King from the start.

He is an academy product whose inclusion could get supporters at Ibrox excited, as the talented teen is a homegrown star, and his aforementioned statistics suggest that the defensive skills are there for him to improve the side with his dominance and potential to make tackles and interceptions on a regular basis.

Clement, who worked with talented young centre-backs Benoit Badisahile and Axel Disasi with Monaco, must now provide King with an opportunity to prove his worth for the Scottish giants for the first time this season.

Liverpool have kicked off the 2023/24 campaign very nicely and look formidably better than the toiling squad of last season, with Jurgen Klopp's side languishing to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

The new lick of paint has made the midfield shine again, and despite dropping points in both of their last two league outings, Liverpool are very much in contention for the league title – if the early phase is anything to go by.

That being said, there is still ample room for improvement and while last year's withered midfield has been restored with exciting additions such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, the squad is still lacking a specialist No. 6.

Moreover, the rebuild came at the cost of a defensive rebuild, which The Athletic's James Pearce believes will take precedence next summer.

It is also noted that Mohamed Salah will have one year left on his contract next year and it's plain that Saudi Arabian interest will resurface, and the unenviable task of finding an heir is beginning to loom.

Who could replace Salah at Liverpool?

According to the Mirror, Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has been earmarked for transfer by Klopp, who could push ahead with a record deal eclipsing Darwin Nunez's £80m should Liverpool recuperate a lucrative fee for Salah.

Salah has been at Liverpool for over six years after signing from Serie A side Roma in a £34m move, but is out of contract in 2025 and is expected to be fiercely targetted by the Saudi Pro League next year.

The league's director of football Michael Emenalo has recently claimed that the 31-year-old is a "personal favourite" after failing to tempt Liverpool with a staggering £150m offer from Al-Ittihad in August, with the Reds unable to replace the phenom in such short time.

Bayern prised Sane away from Manchester City for £55m three years ago, and while he has been in fine fettle during this period the Bavarian chiefs would likely be tempted by an offer that would see Liverpool surpass the club-record fee paid to sign Nunez one year ago.

For the staunch supporters of Liverpool's devastating former frontline, instances such as the 7-0 rout of Manchester United last season illustrate the potential of the new wave, and while Salah has very much been at the heart of such successes, there are signs there of a strikeforce set to last beyond his stay.

The £350k-per-week machine's record has been beyond the wildest dreams of the Merseyside support when this exciting but somewhat unknown winger arrived from Italy, having previously failed to make his mark with Chelsea.

But he is now one of the greatest forwards in Liverpool's history, and to aptly replace him, a star of Sane's calibre is surely the best course of action to preserve the frontline's vigour.

How many goals has Sane scored in English football?

Sane has been a prominent name on the European scene for multiple years now, having moved to Manchester City for £37m plus add-ons from German Bundesliga outfit Schalke in 2016, with Pep Guardiola waxing over his "special talent."

Aged 20 at the time, Sane would enjoy a prosperous stint in Manchester over four years, completing 135 matches and registering 85 direct contributions, important in winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

His final year was hindered by an ACL injury that ruled him out of 50 matches during the 2019/20 campaign, ironically suffered against Liverpool, which arguably severed some of his raw explosiveness but perhaps created an added emphasis on refining his technical qualities.

How good is Leroy Sane now?

Restored as a focal point this term, the 27-year-old has already posted seven goals from just 11 matches across all competitions, which surpasses Salah's tally of six and underscores his "world-class" credentials – as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

While Sane is riding a scoring streak that Salah would tip his hat to, his game is not reliant on his efficiency in front of goal, and he actually offers a progressive presence on the ball and a creativity that could be tailor-made for the next level in Liverpool's development.

As per FBref, the Germany star ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Leroy Sane: Similar Players as per FBref
Player	#
Ousmane Dembele	1
Rayan Cherki	2
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	3
Vinicius Junior	4
James Maddison	5

As the table illustrates, Sane utilises his dribbling and box-surging ability with far greater regularity; Salah, comparatively, tends to drift into the danger area and wreak chaos with his innate brilliance in front of goal.

Indeed, the Egyptian might be one of the finest goalscorers of his generation, which is evidenced by his exemplary ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for goals scored and the top 8% for assists per 90, but he ranks outside the top 30% for the remainder of Sane's aforementioned listed metrics.

And while Salah is a Premier League "legend" – as has been said by Reds reporter DaveOCKOP – his influence will not last forever and even if the Saudi Pro League's inevitable pursuit proves fruitless once more, he will be 33-years-old upon the culmination of his current Anfield deal.

The truth of it is that Klopp will need a successor whichever way the coin lands and there are few right flankers as in form and thriving as Sane right now.

The ace boasts a proven track record of prolific and illustrious success and has already alighted the Premier League when Guardiola heralded his "incredible quality."

His blooming cutting edge in front of goal must also be most pleasing for a manager of Klopp's ilk, who must now throw the kitchen sink at bringing his countryman back on English soil, ready to dazzle once more.

The most prolific seamer in Tests attributed the Australian’s superiority to his ‘bounce, relentless accuracy, aggression and ability to move the ball.’

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-20183:19

The ingredients behind Anderson’s 564 wickets

James Anderson, who surpassed Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets at The Oval to become the most prolific seamer in Tests, has rated the Australian as a “much better bowler” than himself.”I’ll tell you something about Glenn McGrath – he was a much better bowler than me. This is not false modesty,” Anderson wrote in a column on .Anderson attributed McGrath’s superiority to various factors that he felt made the Australian a complete bowler.”I may have gone past his wicket tally but I honestly believe McGrath’s bounce, relentless accuracy, aggression and ability to move the ball made him superior. He had everything. And it is not a random, top-of-the-head assessment, either. I’ve been studying all of the great fast bowlers since I was about eight years old.”ESPNcricinfo LtdWhile the top two wicket-takers among seamers have tormented batsmen with different skill sets, Anderson drew similarities between his attitude and McGrath’s.”I also loved McGrath’s attitude,” Anderson said. “He had plenty of a snarl on the field – a bit like me, I suppose – and was super-competitive. He hated giving away runs or not taking wickets.”Describing McGrath as a “cracking fellow” with whom he had shared the occasional beer, Anderson said listening to the Australian talk about the way he prepared for games had helped him. One of McGrath’s training methods that Anderson incorporated into his own preparations was bowling with an old ball, in order to equip himself to be able to succeed in unfavourable conditions.”I heard him say once that he practised for when the ball didn’t swing,” Anderson said. “So if it did swing, it was a bonus. That philosophy has been a big part of my development. You so often see bowlers pick out a lovely new ball from the bag at nets and it looks great when it swings in the air and nips off the seam with batsmen playing and missing. What about when the ball is 60 overs old, the sun is blazing down, the pitch is flat and there’s not a hint of movement? So, at practice, I often take an old ball that looks like it’s been chewed by a dog and work on variations and aiming for the top of off stump. That’s the quickest way to improve your skills.”At 36, Anderson is still eager to learn from his contemporaries and among the modern seamers, he felt Dale Steyn was better than him as well.”I’ve spent most of my life watching fast bowlers – initially as a kid on TV and later in the flesh when I started playing top-level cricket. Even now, on a day off, I’ll sit at home with the cricket on TV analysing the quick boys and trying to learn. How are they gripping the ball? What are they thinking? Why did they bowl a bouncer or yorker or slower ball? I don’t think I’ll ever stop being fascinated.”Of the modern era, I’d happily tip my hat towards Dale Steyn. With his express pace, control and swing, he’s better than me, too.”