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Had Liverpool failed to recover a semblance of top form heading into 2026, Arne Slot would only have a tenuous grasp on his position in the dugout.

But the Reds are now seven games undefeated, intent on putting the wretched results across the first half of this campaign behind them.

There’s no question that Liverpool are still wanting in regard to performance levels, though, with a lack of fluency and sparkle in the middle of the park leading to some nerve-wracking finishes in recent weeks.

Much has been made of Liverpool’s interest in centre-back Marc Guehi and wide forward Antoine Semenyo, but landing a midfielder in 2026 could prove every bit as important.

Liverpool could sign a midfielder in January

The 2025 January transfer window was a busy one for the Premier League, and it’s bound to be more of the same next month.

With Semenyo ostensibly headed for Manchester City and Guehi available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, this might be the right time to add a dimension to the engine room.

And according to reports from December, Liverpool have shown an interest in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler this month, and could now be buoyed by some interesting new information.

Indeed, Spanish sources have now revealed that Rodrygo’s return to form and the abiding presence of Jude Bellingham could see the Turkish talent, 20, sold next year.

Guler is a versatile and gifted player, capable out wide and, more recently, in the centre.

Los Blancos are warming to the prospect of his departure, but told Manchester City back in October that they would have to stump up around £130m. Liverpool will not pay such a sum.

How Guler would improve Liverpool's midfield

Guler’s career has been spent across a range of positions. This is not uncommon for a young star with many technical gifts, but it’s curious to note that he has drifted into a midfield berth under Xabi Alonso, hitherto recognised as a crafty right winger.

Arda Guler’s Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals + Assists

Attacking midfield

73

15 + 14

Right wing

62

15 + 19

Central midfield

22

4 + 6

Centre-forward

4

4 + 3

Left wing

4

0 + 1

Data via Transfermarkt

Real Madrid are bobbing up and down this year, and while Guler’s future may lie elsewhere, he has still given a fine account of himself, actually called the “best CM/AM prospect in world football right now” by journalist Neal Gardner.

Across all competitions this season, Turkey’s new superstar has scored three goals and provided seven assists. He has started 15 times in La Liga, completing 91% of his passes, creating 2.2 chances per game and winning 55% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Guler has already tussled against Mac Allister, and though he’s come out on the losing side at Anfield, the Turkish talent might just have the quality to replace Liverpool’s Argentine star.

It is sad to write these words. Mac Allister is a tremendous player, instrumental in all the success of recent years at Liverpool. But there’s no denying his decline this season, lacking his trademark energy and sharpness and completeness.

Given Dominik Szoboszlai’s emphatic form, Liverpool’s potential bid for an elite midfielder would have to come at someone’s expense, and Mac Allister might just be that person, so far removed from his title-winning level of last year.

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One Reds-focused content creator has even gone as far as to say that the 27-year-old “looks like Fabinho in his final year”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.

Real Madrid have overpackaged their attacking ranks, and Guler may get lost in the river of players who are all competing to nail down a starting berth at the world’s pre-eminent superpower.

It bears testament to Guler’s quality that he is only 20 and has played much football for Florentino Perez’s outfit. At Liverpool, he would find the love and adoration needed to realise his potential, though there’s a good chance any deal for him would come at Mac Allister’s expense.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Adam Gilchrist didn’t set the stage afire, but was warmly applauded by an appreciative Adelaide crowd© Getty Images

Centuries from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke pushed the game towards astalemate, but the story of the fourth day was Adam Gilchrist, and mostlikely the final innings of an exceptional career. He didn’t make much ofa dent on the scoreboard, but those that witnessed a little cameo willnever forget the glimpses of greatness. Amid the outpouring of emotion,Australia gathered a valuable 37-run lead and then picked up the wicket ofIrfan Pathan, leg before to Mitchell Johnson, before India had wiped offthe arrears.Virender Sehwag was dropped by Clarke off Brett Lee, and survived two vociferousleg-before appeals as well before ending the day with a six and four offAndrew Symonds. India’s lead was a mere eight, and they faced the samestick-or-twist conundrum that was England’s undoing in the last AdelaideTest.All of that was peripheral though in the face of a hero’s last stand.Walking out to bat after Clarke’s innings of 118 had ended with a stunningcatch from VVS Laxman at second slip, Gilchrist received a standingovation from a crowd of 19,407. He was also clapped to the middle by theIndians, but the generosity ended there. Ishant Sharma was in the middleof a superb spell, and there was a sense of relief when Gilchrist struckone sweetly past him to get off the mark.A straight smack for four that nearly decapitated Billy Bowden was athrowback to the halcyon years, and there was a deft cut or two before hedrove Pathan straight to Sehwag at cover. As disappointmentstarted to seep through the stands, Ishant ran all the way from third manto shake his hand, and the rest of the Indians gathered in a group toapplaud him off.In the midst of all the sentiment, two superb hundreds were almostforgotten. Ponting had got to his before lunch, but after experiencingback spasms, he soon had Michael Hussey come out as a runner. The runs -there had been 103 in the morning – just kept coming though, with Clarkeeager to get to his own hundred. He got there with a single to cover offSehwag, and though it hadn’t been the usual ebullient and stroke-filledknock, it was vital in virtually eliminating any possibility of anAustralian defeat.Ponting got as far as 140 before an attempt to guide Sehwag past pointresulted in an inside edge on to the stumps. The partnership was worth 210by then, and India’s hopes of a series-equalling win were evaporating inthe afternoon heat.That didn’t stop Ishant from tormenting Symonds with some sensationalswing bowling. Two edges flew down to third man, and the ball whizzed pastthe outside edge on other occasions. Had he not got the wicket of Clarke,it would truly have been rough justice. After tea, he got Symonds too,chopping one on right after Australia had taken the lead.Pathan then picked up his 100th Test wicket by having Lee caught behind,before Harbhajan Singh and Sehwag wrapped up the innings. Anil Kumble,perhaps nursing a sore shoulder, bowled just nine overs in the day, and itwas noticeable that Sehwag was the more potent of the two offspinners onview.The morning session had been all about Australia grinding the bowlingdown. On a pitch that showed no great signs of deterioration, the new ballfailed to do the trick and the spinners got little purchase either.Ponting and Clarke went about run-making in steady rather than spectacularfashion, and India’s best chance of ending the partnership came a quarterof an hour before lunch, when Clarke moved away to cut Sehwag.The edge was travelling fast, but all Rahul Dravid could do was palm theball away from him at first slip. Clarke was on 84 at the time. Pontinghad enjoyed his slice of luck early in the morning, when a miscued hookoff Ishant just eluded Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s leap on the leg side. Ishantwasn’t as accurate or threatening in the morning as he was on Saturday,and with Pathan also unable to break through, Kumble turned to Harbhajan.Heroics with the bat aside, Ponting’s tormentor has had a poor game, andthe batsmen easily picked up singles and twos with pushes and drives intothe gaps. It took Clarke all of 126 balls to bring up his half-century,and he celebrated by clipping Ishant through midwicket.After all the criticism of the past few weeks and sly jibes about beingHarbhajan’s bunny, it was perhaps fitting that Ponting should get to a34th century off his bowling. After taking 114 balls for the first 50, thesecond had spanned just 69 deliveries.Kumble brought himself on soon after, but India’s fortunes didn’t changeon a baking hot morning. While Clarke slog-swept both spinners for four,Ponting did damage with the pull, effortlessly piercing the field whenKumble dragged it short.After the euphoria of the first two days, it was India’s turn to feel thepain and appear lost for answers. A soft ball didn’t help, but neither didtwo premier Australian batsmen determined not to cede an inch. The thirdcouldn’t make the same impact, but it was his 21-minute stint that manyfolk might talk about years from now when the I-was-there stories aredusted off.

Brad Hodge has been keeping busy as he waits for another opportunity © Getty Images

Andrew Symonds is prepared to employ his medium-pace to help Australia cover the loss of Shane Watson against England on Sunday. Symonds, who has delivered only offspin since returning from arm surgery, hopes to be back to full bowling fitness in time for the match as the team runs through its options after losing an allrounder.Mitchell Johnson is a chance of coming in but if Symonds is able to increase his pace it opens the way for Brad Hodge to return. “I’m not far off,” Symonds said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “With Shane being injured, I think it is just a bit of cushioning for Ricky Ponting if he needs to have someone else to go to for medium-pace in a Powerplay or something, or just wants to change it up a bit.”Watson is due to have a review on his injured left calf and James Hopes, the Queensland allrounder, has been placed on standby in Australia. While Hopes waits for a phone call, Hodge is desperate for a recall after scoring a century against The Netherlands before being squeezed out by Symonds.Hodge has been staying in shape by undergoing a draining exercise program. “It’s pretty much the only way to keep yourself sane when you are running the drinks most of the time,” Hodge said in The Australian. “I just think it’s an important part of training.”You have got to keep yourself mentally ready and quite strong. I am just trying to keep myself as busy and as fit as I possibly can.” If Australia decide to pick Johnson and attack England with four fast bowlers then Hodge will spend more time on the sidelines.”It’s a couple of nervous days ahead,” Hodge said. “I guess the good thing is I have played well over the last two months. The confidence is definitely there. It’s just a matter of seeing which way the side fits best, and hopefully I’ll get a game.”

Richards: ‘I always felt Freddie had really underachieved but now he’s superb in every game’ © Getty Images

Viv Richards, the former West Indies captain, has said that England have taken a step backward after wresting the Ashes from Australia last year.”It’s all well and good winning a series at home against the best in the world as they did in the Ashes. But you only become great when the odds are really stacked against you and you come out on top,” Richards told BBC Sport. “As it stands, England have gone backwards quite a bit since the summer.”England lost the Test series 2-0 in Pakistan in December 2005, and go into the final Test against India in Mumbai, trailing 1-0. Richards said that to be a great team England had to win in both Pakistan and India.”I remember India and Pakistan were really hard places to tour – the hardest in the game in fact,” said Richards. “It’s not just that their teams are so hard to beat; the conditions are tough and generally most of the team are ill. When you overcome that – what I like to call beating a bad dog in his backyard – only then do you become real world beaters.”England have to win at Mumbai to draw the series and Richards said that with someone like Andrew Flintoff, whom he compared with Ian Botham, at the helm the tourists can pull it off.”I’ve been watching Freddie on the TV and he sounds really pumped up. It’s a really tough ask to win but I wouldn’t put anything past him,” Richards said. “He’s a really magnificent player and, at times, it’s like a mirror of Ian Botham. I always felt Freddie had really underachieved but now he’s superb in every game. He’s the aggressive player England have missed for so many years.”When he and Kevin Pietersen are at their best at the crease, it kind of reminds me of West Indies when we were at our peak.”

Sandeep Patil’s sterling work with Kenya and India A makes him a good outside bet © Getty Images

Mohinder Amarnath and Sandeep Patil, two of the heroes of India’s World Cup-winning side in 1983, are among those shortlisted to succeed John Wright as India’s coach. Greg Chappell and Tom Moody, who both wore the Australian cap with distinction, are the two other candidates in the running after a six-member committee formed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India held deliberations on the issue in Kolkata on Sunday.After the meeting, a BCCI media release said that depending on their availability for the job, the candidates would be called for an interview. Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the president, and SK Nair, the secretary, represented the board on the committee, which also comprised Jagmohan Dalmiya, former ICC chief. The other half of the panel comprised Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, who represented India in over 200 Test matches between them.Patil inspired a Kenyan charge to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2003, and had also enjoyed success in charge of the India A team. Amarnath’s coaching resume includes a stint in Bangladesh.

Sussex have signed Jason Voros, a 26-year-old seam bowler, on a one-year contract. Although Vroos is Australian, he has Hungarian parents and so is eligible to play as a non-overseas player from May 1 when Hungary joins the European Union.”It’s a fantastic opportunity for me,” he said. “To be joining the County Champions is awesome. If you’re going to play County cricket then you might as well join the best and I’m looking forward to the challenge. My signing with Sussex shows that all club cricketers can aim at the top.”Voros was born in Canberra and has played one-day cricket for Australian Capital Territories. Last season he played for Sussex’s 2nd XI, taking 14 wickets in four appearances.

A Sanjay Bangar double-century has effectively scuttled Tamil Nadu’s chances of making it to the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy. The India all-rounder moved on from 78 not out to 211 not out as Railways reached 419 for nine in reply to Tamil Nadu’s modest 276 at stumps on day three.Bangar’s 610-minute vigil, which began along with the Railways reply, has seen him hit 19 fours and three sixes during the course of a 479-ball knock. Bangar’s 157-run eighth wicket stand with Murali Kartik was what turned the match in Railways’ favour. Railways were 237 for 7 when the two got together and needed another 39 runs to overhaul the Tamil Nadu first innings score. Kartik during the course of his patient 58 provided Bangar the ideal company to ensure that the Railway men did just that before shooting ahead.With two days left, Railways now are sitting pretty with a massive 143-run lead. Tamil Nadu have the near-impossible task of wiping out the first-innings deficit before setting a target and bowling out the Railway men for a paltry score in their second essay.

Opener Satyajit Sudhir Parab hit exactly 100 as good work by most ofthe top order batsmen helped Baroda to score 343 for six at stumps onthe third day of their West Zone Ranji Trophy league match againstGujarat at the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. This gavethem a first innings lead of 45 runs.Parab and Connor Williams (57) put on 162 runs off 48.5 overs to giveBaroda a sound foundation. Connors batted patiently and compiled hisruns off 148 balls with four hits to the ropes. Parab, who haddominated the partnership was second out at 182. The 26-year-old righthander faced exactly 100 balls and hit 12 fours. M Jadhav (31) andJacob Martin (78) consolidated by adding 58 runs for the third wicketoff 28.2 overs. Then after a slight slump (Baroda were 253 for five),Martin and Nayan Mongia (39 not out) performed the rescue act byadding 83 runs off 20 overs for the sixth wicket. Martin was outshortly before close. He faced 197 balls and hit seven fours and asix.

INEOS’ ‘mission 21’ has laid out the aim for Manchester United to claim their 21st league title by 2028, a point that would mark a 15-year gap from their previous Premier League crown under Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is a crying shame that such a barren run has coincided with the arrival of one of the club’s modern greats, Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese’s Old Trafford career likely to come and go without securing a true top honour.

Out of contract in 2027, the 31-year-old may well miss the boat if INEOS’ plan does pan out, with the midfielder having spoken openly about his frustrations at having not claimed major silverware, even while winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in recent seasons.

Now something of a statesmanlike figure at the club, the United skipper hasn’t been afraid to air his grievances of late, suggesting that the Old Trafford hierarchy were keen to move him on over the summer.

Fear is creeping in that 2026 could be the year that the ex-Sporting CP man does finally drift off to pastures new, with it already looking like the new year could bring with it another major overhaul in Manchester.

The Man Utd players INEOS could sell in 2026

Fernandes has already suggested that he won’t discuss his future until after next summer’s World Cup, although with the playmaker set to have just a year to run on his deal at that stage, it would be no surprise if there is to be a shaking off the hands and an emotional farewell prior to next season.

There is a world in which the £300k-per-week star’s three other senior midfield colleagues could also be moved on, with Casemiro’s own contract expiring in June, while Manuel Ugarte has been touted for a move next month after sliding down the pecking order.

Even such uncertainty hasn’t aided Kobbie Mainoo’s standing either, with the Englishman – who could depart on loan in January – also in line for a possible exit, should the two parties fail to agree fresh terms on a deal that also expires in 2027.

Away from the midfield unit, Joshua Zirkzee – who has scored just four Premier League goals to date – has been tipped for his own exit in the New Year, with fellow striker Rasmus Hojlund likely to see his Napoli loan switch made permanent.

Speaking of loans, Marcus Rashford remains in line to stay put at Barcelona, considering the Catalan side boasts a £26m buy option, while INEOS are believed to be prepared to allow Aston Villa loanee Jadon Sancho to walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

The lack of a buy option in Andre Onana’s own temporary move to Trabzonspor ensures that United will have to find a permanent home for the Cameroonian, with it looking incredibly unlikely that the ex-Inter Milan man will feature again back at his parent club.

The 29-year-old ‘keeper joined amid what has proved to be a dismal 2023 window, although at least one of those summer signings is at least beginning to flourish.

Man Utd's former flop could be Bruno's in-house replacement

As stated, at a time when United needed to kick on under Erik ten Hag, following a second-place finish and League Cup win in 2022/23, the prior regime proceeded to splash the cash on Onana, Hojlund and Mason Mount.

Two of those players, albeit now temporarily, are no longer even at United, while Mount might well have joined them if things had worked out differently, with reports over the summer suggesting that INEOS were ready to accept bids for him.

The Englishman, signed from Chelsea on a deal that could reach £60m, was also included among a list of players who were ‘readily available’, with the Champions League winner having endured a miserable, injury-hit first two seasons at the club.

According to reports, CEO Omar Berrada wishes to implement a two-season policy with new signings, giving them just two years to impress or risk being moved on.

That plan would perhaps hint at why Mount’s future was in doubt, after making just 46 appearances for the club in 2023/24 and 2024/25, although Ruben Amorim is surely thankful that no such move occurred, with the midfielder now looking like a key cog in the Portuguese’s set-up.

Evidently, this has already been Mount’s best season at Old Trafford by far, having netted in wins over Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Wolves, with United losing just one game that he has started in 2025/26 – the opening day loss to Arsenal.

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The need to carefully manage his minutes has been a factor in a lack of real consistent game time, although the 26-year-old has now started three of the last four games, while looking particularly impressive away at Molineux.

Mount stats vs Wolves

Stat

Record

Minutes

85

Touches

46

Goals

1

Pass accuracy

90%

Dribbles

0/2

Fouls won

3

Long balls

2/2

Passes in opposition half

20/21

Stats via Sofascore

Operating in Fernandes’ former role as part of the front three, Mount is an infectious pressing machine, while his recent glut of goals has highlighted that he does also boast a similar end product in front of goal when at his best.

Indeed, back in 2021/22 at Stamford Bridge, the Cobham graduate reached double figures for both goals and assists in the league, while starting in both the 2021 Champions League final and the European Championship showpiece later that summer.

Of course, having not registered an assist this season, his creative quality hasn’t quite reached its prior level, although he does rank in the top 11% for attacking-midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

That knack for picking out a pass and spraying balls to either flank could spark tenative hopes of Mount even attempting to fill Fernandes’ void in a deeper role, should the skipper depart, with his stunner at Palace ensuring he could also take on the Portuguese’s set-piece mantle later down the line.

A player now in that Fernandes camp of looking like a nailed-on starter if fit, considering United’s record when he does feature from the start, INEOS must be thankful that they didn’t decide to cash in over the summer.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls

	Remarkable rise: Misbah-ul-Haq was made vice-captain just six months after being picked from near-obscurity for the ICC World Twenty20 © AFP

Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed Pakistan’s vice-captain, capping a remarkable six-month rise from near-obscurity to one of the country’s senior players. As a result, Misbah has also moved into the top category of Pakistan’s new central contracts, announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today.This time last year Misbah wasn’t even on the fringes of the national squad, but a surprise call-up for the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa began a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. Heroic performances in the tournament and a fantastic Test series in India subsequently cemented his middle-order spot.”The board’s governing committee decided to appoint Misbah as vice-captain after a very detailed discussion,” Nasim Ashraf, chairman PCB, said at a press conference. “He is both a junior and senior player. He has a great relationship with the captain and is very much part of the team’s think-tank.”Misbah’s appointment will last till December 2008, an attempt to stabilize a post that saw three different candidates in six months last year. It might also be seen as a snub to Younis Khan, who was vice-captain – and stand-in leader – during Pakistan’s tour to India. Younis subsequently announced his willingness to lead Pakistan, having turned it down earlier last year and been a reluctant leader in India.The news is not so good for a couple of other senior players, most notably Shoaib Akhtar, with whom the board has apparently run out of patience. He has been demoted from the top category to a retainership, especially created for players who have suffered from fitness, form and disciplinary problems, but who have represented Pakistan over the last couple of years.There had been speculation in the days leading up to the announcement that Shoaib would miss out, a result of the manager’s report of the India tour, in which both his attitude and fitness were criticised. As such, his demotion to a retainership means he is now in the same boat as players such as Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal and Yasir HameedBut Ashraf denied that Shoaib – or any other senior player – had been targeted. “We have a format by which we judge every player, in which things like fitness and discipline are very important. We didn’t discuss individuals but a system. Obviously our aim is that every player moves to category A, which means that they are all performing well.”Shahid Afridi and Danish Kaneria also find themselves pushed down after indifferent performances over the last six months, which formed the basis of the new year-long contracts. Abdur Rehman and Sohail Tanvir have been rewarded with their first contracts, as the PCB cut down the number of contracted players from 20 to 15.The board insists they have applied a formula which takes into account a number of weighted factors, including performance over the last six months, fitness, discipline and seniority. The retention of Mohammad Asif in the top category on this basis will undoubtedly raise questions: injuries have meant he has played only one ODI and two Tests since the last contracts were announced in July 2007.As well as the three basic categories, another has been created to recognise the achievements of players who have impressed in domestic cricket or are emerging prospects on the fringes of national selection. Category A players will receive a Rs 250,000 (US$4016) monthly retainer, category B players Rs 175,000 (US$2811), category C players Rs 100,000 (US$1606) and category D players Rs 75,000 (US$1204). Retainerships are also of Rs 75,000 a month.Category A: Shoaib Malik (capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Asif, Misbah-ul-HaqCategory B: Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi, Sohail TanvirCategory C: Abdur Rehman, Yasir Arafat, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Danish Kaneria, Fawad AlamCategory D (emerging players): Sarfraz Ahmed, Nasir Jamshed, Afaq Raheem, Khurram Manzoor, Naumanullah, Sohail Khan, Zulfiqar Jan, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Khan, Samiullah Khan