Sharjah remains a throwback to the 1990s – indeed, not much has changed at the ground – when some of the most memorable ODIs were played at the venue
Shashank Kishore11-Oct-2024Fifty-four all out.If you grew up watching Indian cricket in the late 1980s and early ’90s, you don’t need much more than just that number to feel the agony. A team with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly in their pomp, was humbled by Chaminda Vaas & Co after their chief tormentor from the time, Sanath Jayasuriya, had sent them on a leather hunt in shirt-soaking humidity.That afternoon, Jayasuriya had threatened to raze down Saeed Anwar’s once seemingly unsurmountable 194, another number from that era no Indian fan needs any reminding of, except when you were battling for one-upmanship in a game of cricket trump cards. Jayasuriya fell five short, stumped only because he had nothing left to give, needing IV fluids to recoup after batting for 161 balls.Related
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It was a jolt for Indian fans of that era, who had grown up with Desert Storm, a spectacle livened by Tony Greig’s booming voice that brought to life “dancing in the aisles”. Or for those who watched Tendulkar’s riposte to Henry Olonga 26 winters ago.Who knew it would be among the last few chapters of India in Sharjah for over two decades – blame match fixing.That long wait for “India” to return to Sharjah will have spanned 23 years, 11 months and 14 days when Harmanpreet Kaur’s team sets foot inside the storied venue to play Australia in a women’s T20 World Cup fixture on Sunday with everything to play for. It’s possible the venue’s glittering, though not unstained, history will not evoke any sense of nostalgia within the current group – Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia and Shreyanka Patil weren’t even born when India last played here.For that alone, Sunday promises to be quite an occasion – when the baton will be passed, figuratively of course, from the Sachin era to the Shafali era, with an entire generation in between – MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli… – missing out on the allure of the Friday afternoon magic in Sharjah, where India didn’t just have to counter reverse swing but also a vociferous crowd.Between then and now, we have had the IPL – in 2014, 2020 and 2021 – and the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 (the precursor to the Women’s Premier League) – making pitstops in Sharjah, while the showstoppers have been reserved for Dubai. And, in this period, while India’s standing in the game, both as a team and financially, has grown several folds, Sharjah continues to remain a throwback to the good old 1990s.The only brush Indian women have had with Sharjah was during the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge•BCCIFlakes of rust come off steel pillars that hold the top tier of the main pavilion block that has remained untouched. The structure of VIP enclosures that used to house the who’s who of Bollywood – and many others, some savoury, some not – have remained the same, except for old chairs being replaced with cushy leather seats. The long-stemmed ceiling fans continue to be the biggest source of relief, even though those in the media centre have been given the added luxury of coolers. The steel gates that separated the players’ area from the hospitality and media boxes are still present even if it takes little effort to jump over them.It’s not just the inner surroundings that have retained the old-world charm. The (call to prayer) from the mosque nearby echoes around the open ground, bringing work, around the factories and warehouses in the vicinity, to a standstill five times a day. The shop – immune to the concept of digital payments – remains a source of relief to the massive gig-worker population that lives and works in the industrial area.If some of them are lucky enough to afford the time to watch some cricket, they will realise how close they are to the action, looking straight down from the low-built stands, especially from the main block. The hooting and chanting remain, along with the added flavour of Sri Lanka’s papare band that has fans, even the cricketers at times, crooning to ballets and blockbusters of the past.Mazhar Khan, whose association with the venue as general manager spans over four decades now, continues to overlook all the decking up. “Fourteen thousand tickets, all sold,” he says as he continues to receive messages requesting for the prized pieces of paper. “So much has changed in Indian cricket, and world cricket. But it’s impossible to cater to everyone’s demand for tickets.”The more things change, the more they remain the same. Like Sharjah.
Format falling between Test and T20 priorities as defence of title looms in 2023
Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Jul-2022″Sometimes you learn more from losing games,” Moeen Ali said. After a ten-wicket defeat with 188 balls to spare in the first ODI against India, that’s a lot of homework for England to get started on.Tuesday’s evisceration at The Kia Oval was as chastening a defeat as this team has had over the last seven years. The lead actors from the 2019 World Cup win were all on deck, all but skipper Jos Buttler coming and going in an opening capitulation of 26 for five inside eight overs. With that came a reminder that the machine does not move itself.It’s worth saying England could have still ended up in that heap were Eoin Morgan still at the helm. The presence of a new leadership pair in situ, with Buttler flanked by new white-ball coach Matthew Mott, will always get fingers twitching over laptop keys when such a shellacking comes around so early in their collective tenure. But the changes to date have largely been minimal, bordering on aesthetic.Moeen, who was touted as a potential replacement for Morgan, likened Mott to Trevor Bayliss, who oversaw the seismic shift back in 2015. “He [Mott] is very relaxed and he’s good. It doesn’t look like it has affected him in any way.” Beyond the scribbles in his notepad, Mott looked as Bayliss often did during the odd collapse under his tenure: unflustered, literally and figuratively unmoved.It’s also worth noting this was England’s first defeat in nine. The problem, however, is carried in those eight victories.The run began with two easy wins over Sri Lanka at the start of last summer, then three against Pakistan before three more against the Netherlands just last month. Those last two series wins were pulled off with what were ultimately “select” XIs: the former through a Covid outbreak, the latter due to a packed schedule.”It will take a few defeats, which is fine,” Moeen said, of getting England back up to the usual standards, amid the reintroduction of the heavy-hitters who have largely been preoccupied with Test and T20 commitments.”In the past we have won a lot of games, got to a World Cup and lost those crucial games. We have lost a few games at the moment but that is good for us going forward, and closer to a World Cup we will start winning. We want to win now but you don’t want to win all games. Sometimes you learn more from losing games.”Of course, that penultimate statement is a flat-out lie, albeit the kind that makes defeat a little easier to swallow. And yet there is a sound logic that coasting would be counter-productive for an England side who need to remember, along with some fundamentals, what made them such a force in this format.Making heads or tails of English 50-over cricket is one of the more futile endeavours at the moment. The national team have only played 22 ODIs since the end of the 2019 World Cup and even the domestic iteration has broadly been rendered meaningless, which might explain why there is an underlying apathy-based confusion over where this team are at. Therefore, any conclusions drawn from this Jasprit Bumrah-inspired shellacking are loose and will probably be rendered meaningless after Thursday.Related
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But there was a quiet sense at The Oval that the muscle memory of England’s four-year body of work from 2015 might not be as reliable as first hoped. Given how many different ways England’s ideal starting XI are pulled across formats, perhaps that’s no surprise. However, it was interesting that Moeen was thinking out loud when asked to give his assessment on how Tuesday felt like an anomaly. A hallmark of the 50-over World Champions was a knack of making passable scores even after false starts. They only managed 110 this time around.”It is difficult,” he reflected. “We have played a lot more shots and sometimes it was a case of ‘do we keep going?’ But here we were 20 [26] for five and that has not happened a lot. Normally when we haven’t played well, we have been 70 for five and you can counter. But the ball was newer, they were bowling well. We knew we had to counter but it was difficult.”Moeen went on to explain adjustment to different formats isn’t specifically the issue, rather the relentless flow of matches. ” Even if they were all T20s it would have been difficult and the travelling in between. It would be difficult for most teams.”It does put the onus strongly on the next month to re-attune to the longer white-ball code. There are five games over the next 11 days, then nothing until three ODIs in March 2023 against Bangladesh. Naturally, T20 steals the focus ahead of the World Cup in Australia this October.The insistence from Moeen that things will be “fine” by the time England defend their title in 15 months time was characteristically chill of the man. And though it is too early to panic, it’s not too early to worry.
TORONTO — He was one of the first ones dressed and out of the clubhouse. Outfitted in a loose-fitting pinstriped grey suit with a cream-colored silk T-shirt, Shohei Ohtani flung a soft black bag over his shoulder and wore a black baseball cap backward to complete the Paris runway look that fairly screamed . His jacket billowed behind him appropriately like a cape. He was out the door of the Dodgers’ clubhouse on Halloween night to prepare for yet another date with history, of which he has more already than David McCullough.
How much more effort can the Dodgers ask of him? How much more greatness can we demand from him? How much more history can one man write?
If there are boundaries to the wonder of Ohtani, we have not discovered them. But the greatest test of those limits likely will come in Game 7 of the 121st World Series Sunday night against the Blue Jays.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts wasn’t ready to announce specifics about his Game 7 pitching plan, but Ohtani, he said, “is certainly going to be a part” of it. Because the only way to assure Ohtani’s bat remains in the lineup is to use him as a starting pitcher, not a reliever, he could very well be Roberts’s Game 7 starting pitcher.
On three days of rest. After throwing 93 pitches in Game 4 just 17 hours after reaching base nine times and fighting through body cramps in an 18-inning marathon. After 65 innings pitched coming off a second elbow surgery while throwing more 100 mph pitches than every pitcher with at least 15 starts except Hunter Greene and Tarik Skubal. After taking 801 plate appearances, fifth most ever. After hitting 63 home runs and stealing 20 bases, the first 60-20 player in an extended season. After scoring 158 runs. Against 41-year-old Max Scherzer, who will be the oldest of the 90 pitchers to ever start a World Series Game 7 and who will have started more double-elimination games (six) than any pitcher in history.
If that doesn’t get your blood pumping, get thee to a cardiologist
“I mean, it doesn’t make sense,” said Dodgers lefthander Justin Wrobleski, who provided one of three scoreless but scary innings of relief by the Los Angeles bullpen to save a 3–1 win for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and set the stage for the greatest Game 7 matchup since Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling went at it in 2001. (Yes, even better than Scherzer vs. Zack Greinke in 2019).
Wrobleski is a guy who survived Tommy John surgery, a broken nose, getting cut from the first of three college teams, a season wiped out by COVID-19 and 28 days without pitching entering the World Series only to get meaningful outs with his team facing elimination. What doesn’t make sense even to a pitching survivor like himself, he said, is that a pitcher could be taking the ball for Game 7 after playing for 6 ½ hours Monday, throwing into the seventh inning Tuesday, going 0-for-4 Wednesday and scoring the winning run Friday after the Blue Jays didn’t have their ace, Kevin Gausman, dare pitch to him.
“Nothing makes sense with that guy,” Wrobleski said. “He's a … I'm not sure if he’s a robot or an alien or, or which one he is, but we will find out eventually. But no, it's crazy! He’s a special, special player. Special, special dude. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes the ball tomorrow.
“I wouldn’t be surprised about whatever he does any time, whatever it is.”
After six innings of that Game 4 start, on a hot night after the most exhausting night of baserunning the World Series has ever seen, Ohtani, who almost never gets lengthy breaks the way most pitchers do because he must prepare for his next at-bat, was approached by pitching coach Mark Prior.
“Got one more inning?” Prior asked.
“I’ve got three,” Ohtani said with dead seriousness.
Says Roberts, when asked about his concerns handing the ball to Ohtani, “Zero. I mean, not zero, but it’s just watching him. He’s like, ‘Whenever I pitch, if I just pitch and I’m feeling good, I can keep going.’” I run a hypothetical past Roberts.“You know Shohei better than anyone,” I say to him.
“I do. I do.”
“If he’s got the ball in his hands, Game 7, to start …”
“He’s going to go.”
“…the confidence level is 100 percent?”
“One hundred percent. I’m going to watch the game and I’m not going to … there's no pitch counts. Just watching how it looks.”
The Dodgers planned for this eventuality. The rest of the world just assumed Tyler Glasnow was starting Game 7. But Roberts texted Glasnow after Game 4.
“You’re not going to pitch tomorrow [Game 5] but be ready for Game 6.”
The Game 7 starter normally would be in the dugout for Game 6. Glasnow watched Game 6 with his spikes on from the bullpen, where he would be needed to play a huge part in one of the wilder endings to a World Series game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is on the verge of winning back-to-back championships. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
The Dodgers made three third-inning runs stand up, barely. With two outs and a runner on second base in the third, Toronto manager John Schneider ordered Gausman to intentionally walk Ohtani, even though Ohtani was 0-for-8 with four strikeouts since his exhausting Game 3. Will Smith followed with an RBI double.
Gausman pitched too carefully to Freddie Freeman and walked him, perhaps knowing the ice-cold Mookie Betts (3-for-24) was up next. The Blue Jays throughout the series had blown away Betts with fastballs in the zone, a pitch diet he normally devours. He hit .339 on the season against in-zone heaters with an average launch angle of 17°. But in the World Series, Betts kept dipping underneath those pitches, getting his head and torso too far in front of his feet and falling across the plate on his follow-through after a boatload of pop-ups and routine flyballs. He was hitting .100 against Toronto’s in-zone fastballs with an absurdly high 41° launch angle.
With the count 1-and-1, Gausman threw a high fastball. Betts swung under it.
The next pitch was another high fastball. Betts swung under that one, too, fouling it back.
Now, Gausman had an almost unhittable splitter in Game 6. It is his favorite pitch to put hitters away. But the Blue Jays saw no reason not to keep pumping fastballs in the zone at Betts.
Gausman threw a third straight heater. Betts this time kept his swing plane flatter and drove the ball on a line through the left side for a two-strike, two-out, two-run dagger of a single. Launch angle: 6°.
“They were just reading the game,” said Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc. “In that spot they probably felt like they had done enough damage throughout the game with the split, and they thought they could get one by him.
“It was just a really good swing. He’s incredibly talented and he is in a good spot. He can do just about anything up there.”
The Dodgers in the ninth would need Glasnow and two high IQ baseball plays from Kiké Hernández to make the runs stand. With one on against Roki Sasaki, Addison Barger smashed a long fly ball to center. Improbably, the ball lodged between the ground and the padding of the wall. As center fielder Justin Dean raced after it, he turned and looked over his left shoulder. He saw and heard Hernández, the hustling left fielder, throwing his arms up and declaring “Dead ball!” Dean took his cue and immediately did likewise, thus rendering the play immediately dead, stopping the runners at second and third.
Roberts summoned Glasnow. Incredibly, the game was over three pitches later. Ernie Clement popped out on the first pitch. With Andrés Giménez batting, coach Dino Ebel, who positions the Dodgers outfielders, got the attention of Hernández and rubbed his hands up and down his chest, the signal to play shallow. The Dodgers all series have played Giménez shallow to the opposite field.
Two pitches later, Giménez drove a pitch to left field that initially looked like a run-scoring single. But Hernández’s shallow positioning made it easy for him to get there on the catch. An overeager Barger drifted too far, thinking the ball would not be caught and was doubled up on a quick throw from Hernández.
It was a historically bad mistake. Barger needed to check the outfielders’ depth before the pitch and understand that even if that ball should have bounced in front of Hernández, he would not have scored. Eagerness and youth cost him. George Springer, one of the greatest sluggers in World Series history, would have been the next batter.
Having thrown only three pitches—though very high-leverage at that—Glasnow could well come back to start Game 7. But this is where the Ohtani Rules, which MLB designed specifically to accommodate his two-way uniqueness, hamstring Roberts and his pitching plans.
If Ohtani starts on the mound and DHs, per usual, he can remain in the game as the DH once removed from pitching. But if he starts as DH and enters the game as a relief pitcher, the Dodgers would lose the DH once Ohtani is removed as a pitcher.
There’s one more complication to using Ohtani in relief. According to Michael Hill, vice president of on-field operations for MLB: Upon the first mound visit to Ohtani as a reliever he must be moved to another position, such as outfield, to keep him in the game, in which case the new pitcher would take the batting spot of the fielder Ohtani replaced.
The Dodgers do not want to be without Ohtani’s bat in any circumstance. The only way to assure that is the case and to use him as a pitcher is to start him on the mound.
It’s been nine years since anyone started World Series Game 7 on three days of rest. That start did not go well for Corey Kluber of Cleveland against the Cubs (six innings, four runs, no strikeouts). The last pitcher to start and win on short rest was Chris Carpenter of St. Louis back in 2011, light years ago when it comes to how the workload for pitchers has changed.
Starting pitchers on three days of rest in the postseason since 2020 are 4–12. Ohtani has started once on three days of rest in MLB: April 21, 2023. But that was coming off a rain-shortened start of just two innings and 30 pitches. He last made a relief appearance in 2023 in the World Baseball Classic final, famously striking out then Angels teammate Mike Trout.
Ohtani is the single greatest engine to the growth of the game over the past few years. He, along with Yamamoto and Sasaki, and the Blue Jays, who are Canada’s team, have made this the most truly series ever.
Why not have the series and the season come down to one game: Ohtani, on short rest, against Scherzer, the 41-year-old legend. The best player in history in his prime against the most prolific ultimate game pitcher in his twilight.
Before Roberts huddled with his staff, the front office and eventually Ohtani himself, to nail down when Ohtani will pitch in Game 7, he said, “Right now, there’s no wrong answer.”
He is right about that assumption. It’s amazing when you stop and think about it. After taking 801 at-bats and playing in 174 games, 17 of them as a two-way player with a twice-repaired elbow, Ohtani is likely to be pitching the final game of the season on short rest after a start, something no Dodger has done this year. There is no wrong answer—not when the answer is Ohtani.
The Philadelphia Phillies were enjoying a 6-0 lead over the Chicago White Sox in the sixth inning on Tuesday night when announcers Tom McCarthy and John Kruk took a bit of a detour. McCarthy offered an on-air birthday shoutout to his former high school basketball teammate, who apparently was a force on the offensive glass.
"He was a heck of a basketball player," McCarthy said. "Played at Rider and Monmouth. It's all because I missed a lot of shots and he cleaned them up."
"I don't want to say anything, but there's someone here in Chicago that does that a lot," Kruk chimed in.
This was an obvious reference to Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, who routinely has her game diminished by accusations that she has inflated rebound figures because she cleans up a lot of her misses. McCarthy predicted that they'd be getting some tweets about this particular exchange.
The Pirates enjoyed a successful season on the mound this year—but they are reportedly following that season with a surprising move.
Pittsburgh is dismissing pitching coach Oscar Marin, according to a Tuesday afternoon report from Jon Heyman of the . Marin, 42, had served in that position since 2020.
The reported move comes after the Pirates pitched to an ERA of 3.76—the seventh-best in baseball and the team's lowest in a decade, since it won 98 games in 2015. Pittsburgh also allowed fewer than four runs per game for the first time since '15.
Marin is also the only pitching coach Pirates star Paul Skenes has known since his promotion to the major leagues in 2024. In two years, Skenes is 21-13 with an ERA of 1.96 and 386 strikeouts in 320 2/3 innings.
Pittsburgh, which has weathered a reputation as one of North American professional sports' most poorly run teams for decades, has had four winning seasons in the last 30 years and none since 2018.
Diego Simeone has fuelled speculation about his long-term future after openly admitting he can “imagine coaching Inter one day." The Atletico Madrid boss, now in his 14th season, made the confession ahead of a crucial Champions League meeting with the Nerazzurri – a moment that has reignited old ties and sparked fresh questions about what comes after his successful era in Spain.
Simeone stirs future talk before high-stakes Inter clash
The build-up to Atletico's Champions League showdown with Inter was already intense but Simeone turned it into global headline material. Speaking on the eve of the match at the Metropolitano, the Argentine coach revisited his emotional bond with the Nerazzurri, where he spent two seasons as a player between 1997 and 1999.
His comments arrive during a turbulent European campaign for Atletico, marked by strong wins against Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Saint-Gilloise but also damaging defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal. With qualification still uncertain, the club’s margin for error is slim, making the Nerazzurri's visit a defining moment in their season.
And yet, instead of cooling the atmosphere, Simeone chose to heat it up, hinting at what could be his next chapter. That set the stage for his most eye-catching admission of the night.
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Simeone admits he imagines coaching Inter
Before addressing tactical matters, Simeone was asked directly about rumours linking him to Inter. The 55-year-old didn’t hide behind diplomacy and gave one of the clearest answers of his managerial career.
Introducing his remarks with calm assurance, Simeone acknowledged both his past at the club and his long-term ambition. “It doesn’t depend on just me, but in my coaching career I can imagine myself managing Inter one day. I think it will happen one day,” he said.
The statement echoed a sentiment he has carried privately for years, but rarely expressed aloud. In Madrid, it landed like a bombshell; in Milan, it was heard like a promise.
Praise for Inter and deeper implications for Atletico
The Argentine didn’t stop at expressing affection he went on to shower praise on Inter’s current squad and project. He highlighted how strongly the San Siro side have developed, stressing their consistency, structure and attacking clarity. “They play very well, they have personality and they have a clear idea of how to attack. The squad is incredible. Against Milan they were proactive. They didn't finish, but they could have won. They deserved it. We have to take the game to a place where we know we can beat them.”
He then underlined their recent pedigree in Europe, placing them at the top of the continent’s contenders, adding: “In the Champions League, the numbers speak for themselves. They've played two finals. They're one of the favorites to win and demonstrate their strength, as they have done so far.”
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Long contract at Atletico, but a future with Inter remains open
On paper, there is no immediate drama. Simeone is tied to Atletico until 2027, and Inter are thriving under their current manager. No short-term change is expected. But sentiment matters and Simeone has now publicly outlined what could be his next step after closing his long chapter with the Rojiblancos.
The Spanish side have spent big on transfers in recent years and those above Simeone believe it is time to deliver trophies, having failed to do so since 2021, with the club's president saying in the summer that they are aiming to win the Champions League. Failure to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to another domestic title, at least, could see pressure build on the Argentine as the season wears on.
For the time being, though, he remains the undisputed leader of Atletico’s most successful era. He has coached the club for nearly 15 consecutive years, delivering league titles, Champions League finals, and a modern identity built on emotional intensity and structure. Yet after this press conference, one thing feels clearer than ever: whenever the Inter bench becomes available, Simeone already sees himself there.
حسم التعادل الإيجابي نتيجة مباراة فريقي طلائع الجيش وإنبي، في الجولة الرابعة عشر من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وواجه فريق طلائع الجيش نظيره فريق إنبي، في تمام الساعة الثامنة من مساء اليوم، على ملعب جهاز الرياضة العسكري.
طالع.. صالح جمعة يفجر مفاجأة بشأن صفقة الأهلي الجديدة.. ويوضح موقفه من اللعب في الدوري المصري
وتعادل طلائع الجيش مع إنبي، بهدف لكل فريق، حيث تقدم إنبي بالهدف الأول عن طريق أحمد العجوز في الدقيقة 33، بينما عادل الطلائع النتيجة في الدقيقة 83 عن طريق حسام السويسي.
وبهذه النتيجة رفع فريق إنبي رصيده إلى 19 نقطة، في المركز السابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، بينما رفع فريق طلائع الجيش رصيده إلى 11 نقطة في المركز السابع عشر.
وفي نفس التوقيت، حسم التعادل السلبي نتيجة مباراة البنك الأهلي ومودرن سبورت، ضمن مباريات نفس الجولة.
بهذه النتيجة رفع فريق البنك الأهلي رصيده إلى 17 نقطة، في المركز الثامن في جدول ترتيب الدوري الممتاز، بينما فريق مودرن سبورت فرفع رصيده إلى 17 نقطة في المركز العاشر.
Looking to spend big once again, Liverpool are reportedly going head-to-head with Paris Saint-Germain to sign an £80m talent who’s been compared to the French club’s own young superstar Desire Doue.
Liverpool international round-up
For a set of players that entered the international break off the back of three straight defeats in all competitions, Liverpool’s stars have enjoyed an impressive couple of weeks away with their nations.
Just last night, Dominik Szoboszlai found himself in the right place at the perfect time to tap home a last-gasp equaliser for Hungary against Portugal. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister also found the back of the net for Argentina, and Cody Gakpo has also been in free-scoring form for the Netherlands.
In fact, almost every Liverpool star has enjoyed at least one moment to savour for their nations during the break. Virgil van Dijk found the back of the net, Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a penalty for Georgia and Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Those moments should act as the perfect antidote to Liverpool’s recent form as they prepare to welcome rivals Manchester United to Anfield this weekend. It’s a game that the Reds must win as they look to regain some composure in the early days of their Premier League title defence.
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The international break may have also allowed Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to plan ahead. They already smashed Liverpool’s transfer record twice in the summer to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but are now going head-to-head with PSG to sign an £80m star.
Liverpool racing PSG to sign Rogers
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now racing PSG to sign Morgan Rogers, who Aston Villa value at as much as £80m ahead of next summer.
Whilst the England international still has five years left on his current deal, those at Villa Park still have plenty of PSR concerns to think about and may not have any choice but to accept a big-money offer if it arrives.
For a player of Rogers’ talent, that £80m fee could prove to be worth every penny for Liverpool, who have lacked a missing piece to their title-defending puzzle so far this season.
Compared to PSG star Doue for his unpredictability, dribbling and directness, Rogers has every chance of reaching the same level as the Frenchman with a move to Anfield.
Whether Unai Emery is keen to let his star man go is another question, however. Described as “excellent” by England boss Thomas Tuchel, Rogers is vital to any ambitions that those in the Midlands have already set their sights on.
Spinner completes memorable match after first-innings hundred as visitors continue upturn in form
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Tom Hartley helped bowl Lancashire to victory with 11 wickets in the match•Getty Images
Lancashire 557 (Green1 60, Hartley 130, Hurst 106) and 110 for 1 (Jennings 57*) beat Gloucestershire 381 (Charlesworth 160, Phillips 64, Hartley 6-116) and 285 (Charlesworth 71, Phillips 56, Hartley 5-99) by nine wicketsMan-of-the-match Tom Hartley produced another career-best performance to propel Lancashire to a hard-earned nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham and keep alive their hopes of winning promotion back to Division One of the Rothesay County Championship.Having previously staged his highest score of 130 and taken 6 for 116 to put his team in control, the England slow left-armer claimed 5 for 99 on the final day of an entertaining match at the famous old College Ground as the red rose county made it two wins out of three in the red-ball format under the new leadership team of interim head coach Steve Croft and captain James Anderson.Made to follow on, Gloucestershire were dismissed for 285 in 98 overs in their second innings, Hartley finishing with match figures of 11 for 215 after Ben Charlesworth and Joe Phillips had scored 71 and 56 respectively for the home side. Chris Green weighed in with 2 for 62 as spin accounted for seven wickets on a surface offering some assistance.Set 110 to win in 26 overs, Lancashire chased down their target for the loss of Luke Wells with five overs to spare, courtesy of an authoritative unbroken second wicket partnership of 103 between Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon. Confronted by four spinners as Gloucestershire dispensed with seam, Jennings top-scored with a brisk 57 not out from 67 balls, while the equally forthright Bohannon faced 50 deliveries in raising an undefeated 45 as the visitors eased to victory in the final hour.Lancashire took 22 points to move into fourth place in Division Two, in the process leapfrogging Gloucestershire, who settled for five points after sustaining their third defeat of the season.Gloucestershire resumed their second innings on 98 without loss, still 78 in arrears and potentially vulnerable to a repeat of the collapse that undermined their first innings. It was incumbent upon openers Cameron Bancroft and Charlesworth to build upon their good start on a pitch that was offering some assistance to spin, but which was not expected to break up.If Gloucestershire’s minimum requirement was to bat two sessions, Lancashire were reading from an altogether different script, Anderson claiming the prized scalp of Bancroft in the opening over, the Australian edging to midwicket without adding to his overnight score of 35.Having seen off Anderson, Charlesworth was no doubt disappointed to then succumb to George Balderson in his first over from the Chapel Lawn End. Attempting a back-foot flick, Gloucestershire’s first-innings centurion found Marcus Harris at short midwicket and departed for 71 with the score 129 for 2. Guilty of poor shot selection, Ollie Price then pursued a wide delivery from Hartley that bounced off a length and edged to Luke Wells at slip, at which point Gloucestershire were 134 for 3, still 42 in arrears, having lost three wickets in the first hour.They came close to losing another in the next over, Miles Hammond standing his ground and being afforded the benefit of the doubt when Jennings claimed a catch at short square leg off the bowling of Hartley. The reprieve proved temporary, Green pinning Hammond lbw for 22 in the final over before lunch, which was taken with the score 168 for 4. Representing Gloucestershire’s best chance of saving the game, Phillips remained unbeaten on 35.He was joined by James Bracey and these two wiped out the remaining arrears early on in the afternoon session, Phillips going to a hard-earned 50 from 91 balls with his eighth four. But Lancashire continued to take wickets, Jack Blatherwick angling a short delivery into the body of Bracey, who was unable to get his bat out of the way and edged behind. His departure was a blow for Gloucestershire, who were in effect 21 for 5 with 57 overs left in the day.An even bigger blow befell the home side when Phillips’ vigil came to an end soon afterwards, the Cornishman held by the safe hands of Jennings at short leg off the bowling of the ubiquitous Hartley. Phillips had faced 110 balls, accrued eight fours and defied the red rose bowlers for three hours. Hartley then extracted additional spin to remove Graeme van Buuren, who stretched forward and was caught behind for 8 to leave the home side between a rock and a hard place at 210 for 7.Todd Murphy led a Gloucestershire counterattack, going for his shots, pushing the field back and sharing in a useful stand of 41 in eight overs with Zaman Akhter, who scored a breezy 20 before offering a return catch to Green as the home side slipped to 251 for 8. Ajeet Singh Dale survived a searching examination at the hands of Anderson and the new ball, he and Murphy digging in to reach tea on 268 for 8. Gloucestershire had a slender lead of 92 with a minimum 35 overs remaining.Lancashire’s go-to man, Hartley returned to bowl Murphy for a 56-ball 33 and complete the first 10-wicket match haul of his career as an enthralling contest entered its final session. He then accounted for last man Marchant de Lange, held at short square leg as Gloucestershire’s resistance with the bat finally came to an end in the early-evening sunshine.
Marcus Rashford has vowed to “keep fighting” after Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in his first-ever El Clasico appearance. Despite registering an assist in the heated Santiago Bernabeu showdown, the Manchester United loanee ended up on the losing side as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham struck to extend Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Rashford issues resilient statement after Clasico loss
Rashford experienced his first taste of El Clasico drama as Barcelona fell 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Goals from Mbappe and Bellingham proved decisive, with the Englishman’s team-mate Fermin Lopez briefly restoring parity after Rashford’s clever assist. Despite flashes of creativity, Rashford’s performance drew mixed reviews, as Barcelona’s depleted side struggled to match Madrid’s attacking precision.
Reflecting on the defeat, Rashford took to Instagram with a message of resilience, writing: “Clearly, not the result that we wanted yesterday. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and we will keep fighting!” The post underlined the 26-year-old’s determination to stay positive after a tough introduction to Spain’s fiercest rivalry.
The defeat means Barca have now lost two of their last three La Liga matches, a run that has raised questions about their consistency under Hansi Flick. Rashford’s first Clasico ended in frustration, but his intent to keep fighting suggests a player motivated to turn things around in the coming weeks.
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Real Madrid lay down statement as title favourites
Real Madrid’s victory not only snapped a four-game losing streak against Barcelona but also extended their advantage in La Liga title's race. Xabi Alonso’s side now sit five points clear at the summit with 27 points from 10 matches, reaffirming their title credentials after a humbling 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier in the season. The Santiago Bernabeu was electric once again as Mbappe and Bellingham delivered decisive moments that defined the evening.
For Barcelona, the result was a blow in more ways than one. Pedri’s late red card compounded an already difficult night, while injuries to Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo left Hansi Flick’s team severely weakened.
Yet amid the disappointment, there were glimpses of hope, none more so than Rashford’s involvement in the equaliser and his continued work rate despite limited service. The English forward showed flashes of his pace and movement, offering signs that he could evolve into a key attacking presence for the Catalan giants.
Rashford’s performance receives mixed reviews
The defeat to Real Madrid followed a hectic week for Rashford, who had been instrumental in Barcelona’s midweek Champions League victory over Olympiacos, scoring twice to seal a crucial win. His recent form suggests he is beginning to find rhythm and confidence after an inconsistent start to life in La Liga. Rashford’s willingness to shoulder responsibility in big games has not gone unnoticed, even as scrutiny around his performances intensifies.
Spanish media offered contrasting assessments of his Clasico debut. Mundo Deportivo praised his assist but called his overall display “baffling,” suggesting he failed to fully utilise his physical strength or decision-making when space opened up. The publication noted that he looked “more comfortable as a winger than as a No. 9,” highlighting the positional dilemma Flick will have to resolve going forward.
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What comes next?
Barcelona will aim to regroup quickly as they return to domestic action next weekend against Elche, with a home fixture offering a chance to bounce back. The club’s medical staff are working to accelerate the returns of key players like Lewandowski and Raphinha, while Flick will be back on the sidelines following his suspension.
For Rashford, the next few weeks represent an opportunity to build momentum and further integrate into Barcelona’s system. His assist against Madrid and goals in Europe point to a player growing in influence and confidence, and the club will hope he can become a reliable attacking outlet for now and the future, if the Catalan side decide to sign him permanently next summer.