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His steady strike rate has been a constant talking point since last IPL, whether he fails or he scores

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Apr-20213:11

Manjrekar lauds ‘superb’ innings from Rahul

You have to feel for KL Rahul. That man is not just the captain of the Punjab Kings, but has been their best batter since he joined the franchise in 2018, which prompted him to take charge as captain at the start of 2020 IPL.In the last four seasons, including the ongoing IPL, no batter has scored as many runs in the IPL as Rahul, who won the orange cap in the 2020 edition. But it is him who still gets hauled up for not striking the right tempo while opening for them. His steady strike rate has been a constant talking point since last IPL, whether he fails or he scores.Despite the debate Rahul has carried on doing what he does best: shut his ears to the outside noise and continue scoring. He continues playing to the situation. On Friday evening in Ahmedabad, the Kings started to ride the wave confidently with Chris Gayle in the mood to attack his former franchise, the Royals Challengers Bangalore.Related

Harpreet Brar: Meet RCB's wrecker-in-chief who took out Kohli, Maxwell, de Villiers

Harpreet the hero after Rahul's 91* as Punjab Kings move up

Gayle’s strike rate in the first 10 balls in the Kings’ first six matches this season was 86. His highest was 12 runs in the first 10 balls in those matches. On Friday, Gayle stuck at 280, blasting 28 runs in his first 10 balls including five fours in an over against New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson. Rahul helped Gayle build the momentum as the Kings were sailing smooth at 91 for 1 at the halfway stage; 200 was in sights.Just then Gayle got sucked into a short-pitched delivery and faltered. He cursed himself on his way out. He would be seen sitting by the side of the Kings’ dugout, staring coldly in the distance, hurt that he could not impose himself the way he wanted to. In a matter of minutes, he would be joined by Nicholas Pooran, who, too, walked back shaking his head after a three-ball duck, the fourth time he had failed to open his account this IPL. Deepak Hooda and Shahrukh Khan promised a lot but once again were overwhelmed by the situation.Once again Rahul was on his own. The Kings were 132 for 5 with three overs remaining. The last boundary had been hit in the 12th over. That was not Rahul’s concern. He had seen his team nearly sink on many such situations in the past only for him to emerge as the life guard and take them to the shores.He urged his young partner Harpreet Brar, who was playing his first match of the season, to stay put. Brar obeyed his captain’s orders. A partnership blossomed quickly as Brar triggered a late assault with some fluent hits against Harshal Patel, the best bowler so far this tournament, who was then toyed by Rahul as he walked across his stumps to power a 22-run final over.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt was in the third straight match against the Royal Challengers that Rahul walked back undefeated, amassing 284 runs and having batted all 20 overs on these three occasions. Ever since he joined the Kings in 2018, no other batter in the IPL has scored a higher percentage of his team’s runs (scored off the bat) than Rahul’s 29.2%. On that list, Rahul is followed by stalwarts such as AB de Villiers and two-time orange cap winner David Warner. In this period Rahul has played 28.2% of the balls the Kings have faced, including in this season.Last year Rahul faced criticism for being selfish from pundits who urged him to be selfless, keeping in mind the firepower his team possessed in the middle order in the form of Pooran and Glenn Maxwell. While Maxwell couldn’t fire, Pooran was inconsistent. The Punjab side had started the season badly, but bounced back before marginally losing the playoffs race. The one constant, though, was that Rahul kept scoring.This season again Rahul remains Kings’ best batter with 331 runs at an average of 66.20 and strike rate of 136.21. The remaining specialist batters meanwhile have scored 476 runs at an average of 19.83 and a strike rate of 128.64. Nonetheless, Rahul’s strike rate remains a talking point.At the start of this IPL, Wasim Jaffer, the assistant coach of the Kings, said that a new and aggressive Rahul would be seen in action. Twice this season, against the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, when Rahul attempted to attack straightaway and failed, the Kings struggled to get 120 and lost both matches. Rahul might wonder to himself then: damned if I score and damned if I don’t.There is a reason Rahul bats the way he does. You cannot blame for him for not trusting his other batters. Rahul understands if he does not drop the anchor, his team could very easily lose the situation. Agarwal, Gayle and Pooran would need to play according to the situation.Rahul cannot be ploughing a lone furrow for the Kings.

The Blue Jays are headed back to Toronto with a 3-2 lead over the Dodgers in what has been an excellent World Series thus far. Game 5's hero was unexpected, too.

Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage got the starting nod for the pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday night and was spectacular. The 22-year-old righty struck out 12 batters in seven innings to set a new World Series record and gave up only one run. The legendary outing led to a critical Blue Jays win and will go down in the history books no matter what happens next. On top of it all, the young pitcher had a funny and relatable admission after the game that gave fans everywhere a good laugh.

About an hour before his start, Yesavage was captured staring intently at his phone with headphones on during the Fox Sports pregame broadcast. The clip apparently made the rounds on social media as an example of how "locked in" Yesavage was before he dominated the Dodgers.

It turns out he saw that and admitted he was not actually locked in on anything. Instead, he was just scrolling TikTok and Instagram.

"I saw something on Instagram that someone took a video of me on my phone saying I was locked in," Yesavage said, via ESPN. "But I was just doomscrolling on TikTok and Instagram reels. I just keep it as chill as possible. I don't change anything I say to myself, but I'm also just here to go to work. I try not to think about anything."

In today's modern society, the blank stare Yesavage had on his face means he's either completely focused on something or he's just swiping through videos. In this instance, it was the latter.

Boy, did it work out. Yesavage came up huge for his team, an unlikely hero amidst the sea of extremely well-paid stars who dot both rosters in this Fall Classic. His work is probably done this season but he can scroll easy knowing he delivered.

Tottenham Hotspur have been a club known to produce elite talent over recent years, with many of them making the jump into the professional game and having a huge impact in the first-team.

Harry Kane is arguably the biggest example in recent years, as the Englishman rose through the academy setup before cementing his place as the Lilywhites’ starting centre forward.

He racked up a total of 280 goals during his decade in the first team in North London, with such a record still remaining as the best tally of any player in their club’s history.

However, it wasn’t enough to catapult the side to any Premier League glory, with Thomas Frank the latest boss try and achieve such a feat in the near future.

His chances of potential success in the role could well be boosted in the years ahead, especially if one player is able to make a jump similar to Kane during the Dane’s tenure.

Why Williams-Barnett could be the future of Spurs

Spurs fans have been given yet another youngster to be excited about in the past couple of months after the emergence of academy star Luca Williams-Barnett.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder joined the youth setup at U10 level, subsequently spending seven years in the ranks, with the last few months seeing the teenager enjoy a breakthrough.

He’s already made his first-team debut, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster Rovers this campaign, but it’s his numbers in the youth ranks which has caught the eye.

In his 14 appearances across all competitions, Williams-Barnett has already racked up an incredible tally of 22 goal contributions – broken down into 15 goals and seven assists.

The youngster played in the UEFA Youth League clash against Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, with the attacker registering five goals in their 9-1 triumph over the Czech outfit.

After such a showing, Frank named the teenager on the substitutes bench for the first-team for the Champions League clash last night, but he was unable to get onto the pitch.

However, at just 17, there’s no denying the future is bright for the youngster, with Williams-Barnett undoubtedly a player who could be a key asset in North London for many years to come.

The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Williams-Barnett

Despite the academy producing numerous top-level talents in years gone by, the hierarchy have also invested money in the transfer market to try and land players for the future.

Lucas Bergvall joined the Lilywhites last summer for a reported £8m from homeland club Djurgarden, with many expecting the teenager to originally link up with the youth team.

However, the massive injury crisis in North London during 2024/25 handed the Swede the chance to stake his claim, subsequently making 45 appearances across all competitions.

Even after Frank’s appointment, he’s remained as a key member of the squad, as seen by his tally of 19 outings – even netting his first Premier League goal against West Ham United.

Bergvall isn’t the only top young talent who could have a huge impact in the near future, with centre-back Luka Vuskovic another player who could be a first-team regular in the years ahead.

The Croatian joined in a £12m deal from Hajduk Split despite being just 16, with his move to join the Lilywhites only being confirmed during the recent summer window.

The defender, who’s now 18, has already racked up 74 senior appearances despite his tender age, with all of which to date coming away from North London.

Such numbers undoubtedly make him a bigger talent than Williams-Barnett, especially considering he’s already starring in one of Europe’s top-five leagues in 2025/26.

Vuskovic is currently spending the season on loan at Bundesliga side Hamburg, which has resulted in the teenager producing some remarkable figures at both ends of the pitch.

The youngster, who’s been labelled a “freak of nature” by one analyst, has already netted twice this season – including an incredible scorpion kick effort in the recent clash with Werder Bremen.

However, his underlying stats in the defensive third are just as impressive, which highlights why he’s already a bigger talent than Lilywhites star Williams-Barnett.

Vuskovic has been a sensational option in possession this campaign, as seen by his tallies of 86% passes completed and 100% dribbles completed to date.

Games played

11

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

86%

Dribbles completed

100%

Duels won

7.5

Duel success rate

67%

Aerials won

5.3

Aerial success

81%

Recoveries made

4.1

Such numbers could make him the perfect ball-playing option in Frank’s system, whilst also having the potential to improve in the future given his tender age.

However, out of possession, the Croatian star has also dominated, as seen by his tally of 7.5 duels won per 90 and his 81% aerial success rate in Germany’s top-flight.

The club’s £12m investment in his signature two years ago is no doubt already appearing to be a bargain, with Vuskovic undoubtedly their long-term solution at the heart of the defence.

His immediate impact on the professional game is nothing short of phenomenal, with his recent showings for Hamburg already handing the fanbase reasons to be excited for the future.

Fewer touches than Vicario & only 9 passes: Spurs flop must now be dropped

Thomas Frank must now drop one Tottenham Hotspur player after the Slavia Prague victory.

ByEthan Lamb 5 days ago

Daniel Farke looked long gone as Leeds United manager heading into an intimidating run of matches in the Premier League.

Not even the most optimistic Elland Road supporter would have expected the Whites to grab some much-needed points against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

Yet, after this trio of difficult clashes, Leeds are four points better off with a win and a draw secured, which also – most importantly – means they’re two points above the dreaded relegation zone.

Farke will just keep his fingers crossed that this high-energy approach can be replicated versus the likes of Brentford and Crystal Palace to come, away from turning on the style against some of the division’s flashier opponents.

More positive results ahead would give Leeds a huge boost in their bid to avoid relegation, with the January transfer window also providing the Whites with an opportunity to add some standout signings to help them secure their survival.

Where Leeds could strength in January

Even though there has been a dramatic upturn in form, when Farke once looked like a dead man walking, Leeds will still likely be active in the hectic window to come.

Indeed, rumours are already beginning to circulate that the Premier League newcomers have Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl on their radar as transfer season edges ever closer. Moreover, the relegation-threatened outfit has also been linked heavily with a move for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez to bolster their centre-forward options.

Away from all this gossip, though, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also come out to state via his YouTube channel that Farke and Co have even made a concrete approach for an attacking playmaker in the form of Martin Baturina.

Romano stated: “In the last few days, Leeds has been in touch, the teams are starting to move.”

The £21m midfielder, who only signed for Cesc Fabregas’ Como in the summer, is struggling for consistent first-team minutes in Serie A at the moment. Yet, despite his predicament, he isn’t overly keen on a switch to West Yorkshire, according to Romano, with Como allegedly turning down the approach.

Still, transfer stories can change in the blink of an eye, so don’t write this one off completely.

How Baturina can become Farke's next Rutter

If Leeds were eventually successful in their mission to land the captivating 22-year-old, Farke could sign Leeds’ new version of Georginio Rutter, with the 15-time Croatia international capable of being a terrifying assist machine, much like the former number 24 was at Elland Road.

Rutter did manage to hammer home some memorable strikes when still situated at the Whites, with eight goals tallied up. But, it was his unerring ability to create chances for fun that made him really stand out as a fan’s favourite during his short, but sweet, 66-game stint at the club.

TalkSPORT’s Jeff Stelling would herald him as a “class act” at Leeds for the way he managed to make creating chances galore look effortless, with a bumper 18 assists coming his way across that string of matches.

In league action alone across the 2023/24 season, Rutter would muster up a ridiculous 22 big chances created, which led to the silky Frenchman securing himself a deserved £40m move to Brighton and Hove Albion.

While it hasn’t gone Baturina’s way at Como to date, with just one Serie A start handed to him by Fabregas this season leading to zero assists being tallied, it’s clear from his explosive time at Hadjuk Split that he has the same devastating ability to carve team opens that Rutter possesses.

Fabregas has already waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old’s “immense” nature to make things happen in “key moments” when first moving to Italy.

The clip above saw the £21m-rated midfielder calmly tee up his teammate for a golden opportunity in the Champions League back in 2024, with the assists flowing throughout his time at Split, leading to scout Jacek Kulig once hailing him as one of “the biggest talents” in Croatia.

Games played

114

60

Goals scored

17

6

Assists

36

17

Big chances created

38

23

Albeit from a wider pool of matches than the Seagulls star, Baturina would see out his time in his native Croatia with a staggering 38 big chances created from 117 league contests, which trumps Rutter’s own creative prowess.

Analyst Ben Mattinson would weigh in with some praise of his own by stating that the new Como number 20’s passing range was “outstanding” throughout his much-talked-about Split stay, with Farke now hopeful – if a move can be pulled off – that Baturina can enhance Leeds’ attack even more, after the goals have started to come naturally against the likes of Chelsea and Arne Slot’s Reds.

Of course, there will also be a worry in the air that for £21m, Leeds are risking their money on a midfielder who hasn’t ignited into life in Serie A.

Still, the Whites were here before with Rutter when splashing the cash on him in a January window, and while it took time for him to acclimatise, he is now seen as a modern great. Could Baturina soon follow in his esteemed footsteps?

Leeds now make contact over signing "powerful" star who's been likened to Odegaard

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 6, 2025

The final international break of the year came at the worst time possible for West Ham United.

After months of dire football and worse results, Nuno Espírito Santo looked to have finally got a tune out of the East Londoner, beating Newcastle United and Burnley in back-to-back Premier League games.

Fortunately, the break has come to an end and the Hammers finally get the chance to continue their good form with a challenging game away to Bournemouth, albeit without the talismanic Lucas Paqueta, who is suspended.

However, while the loss of the Brazilian is a big one, Nuno can minimise its impact by letting Mateus Fernandes pick up the attacking slack and starting someone with shades of Declan Rice alongside Freddie Potts.

Why Fernandes should start in Paqueta's place

Now, in the last two games, Nuno has opted for a midfield three of Paqueta, Potts and Fernandes, with the Brazilian obviously playing as the more attacking midfielder of the three.

With him out of contention, it makes sense for the responsibility of being more forward-thinking to fall on the Portuguese star’s shoulders, as the Englishman is far better suited to being an all-action box-to-box type.

While this change might worry some fans, it shouldn’t, as while he’s not reached the level of the former Lyon ace just yet, he is more than capable of doing so.

For example, while he’s spent plenty of time in the central midfield role, he spent more time playing as an attacking midfielder during his time at Southampton.

Moreover, during his time in Portugal, respected analyst Ben Mattinson highlighted the fact that he could play “those KDB-type passes” with relative ease.

Furthermore, despite playing for a team that, for some time, looked in danger of breaking Derby County’s most unwanted record last season, the 21-year-old still produced six goal involvements in 36 league games.

Finally, FBref ranked him in the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league last season for attempted and completed long passes as well as the top 14% for passes into the final third, all per 90.

Overall, Fernandes is more than good enough to pick up the creative slack in Paqueta’s absence, and Nuno has someone in the squad who can come in as a partner to Potts to help with the less glamorous side of the game.

The Rice-like midfielder Nuno should start

While Nuno might be tempted to bring someone like Tomáš Souček back into the side for this game, he really shouldn’t, as Bournemouth will make it an intense and frenetic encounter.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Therefore, the manager should turn to someone capable of dealing with that, if not thriving in it, someone like £17m summer signing, Soungoutou Magassa.

The Frenchman is still relatively young and certainly needs to develop some areas of his game, but he has all the ingredients to be a monstrous all-action midfielder.

Described as a “a forward-thinking” talent by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, who is blessed with “pure athleticism” and can “spray passes wide out to the wings,” the 22-year-old would be excellent alongside Potts.

Moreover, his profile, combined with his ability to play centre-back, makes comparisons to a young Rice impossible to ignore.

With that said, if you are still unconvinced, you only need to look at his underlying numbers to see how promising a player he is.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for tackles and blocks, the top 2% for ball recoveries, the top 4% for interceptions, the top 12% for switches, and more, all per 90.

In other words, the “composed” midfielder, as dubbed by Mattinson, is superb when it comes to the defensive side of the game, but is also more than capable of kick-starting an attack from deep.

Ultimately, while it’s not ideal, Nuno should start a midfield three of Fernandes, Potts and Magassa against Bournemouth, as that should be the best way to deal with Paqueta’s absence and pick up three points.

Bigger talent than Potts: West Ham must rue losing England's future 9 for £0

The incredible attacker would have been just the player West Ham United need.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 21, 2025

This is the seventh successive time Pakistan have won a T20I series against West Indies

Danyal Rasool03-Aug-2025

After the drama of the second game came something of a repeat of the first today. Pakistan edged out West Indies by 13 runs to seal a 2-1 series win, a seventh successive such outcome in bilateral T20I series between the two sides. Pakistan proved just a touch too good for their hosts with both bat and ball, inspired by a 138-run opening partnership between Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan and a flurry at the death. They held their nerve with ball in hand, a clutch few overs at the death shutting the door in West Indies’ face, leaving their pursuit of 190 just short once again.Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat again, but this time avoided losing early wickets as they had on Saturday. Ayub and Farhan saw through the first few overs with solidity, if not quite the aggression this new-look Pakistan may have desired, and before long found the innings drawing to a close without having lost a wicket, but also bereft of the explosiveness that would put the game out of West Indies’ reach.They did eventually put up a stiff target, but West Indies sparkled with intent up front, smashing 33 in the first two overs. It gave them a buffer for when Haris Rauf began to drag them back, but in a game where wickets were hard to come by, the hosts looked to be building a platform for the kind of big finish that fetched them victory in the previous game.They looked on course around the 16-over mark, ahead of Pakistan at that stage by about five runs, and needed 49 off the final four. But a fiery 17th over from Rauf and a magnificent one from Sufiyan Muqeem right after – which saw Jason Holder castled for a two-ball duck, ended West Indies realistic aspirations of a series victory. They thrashed and flailed for the final two overs, but they were in Pakistan’s grip, and had sunk too far now.138 for 0Can a 138-run partnership be bad for the team? It’s a question Pakistan have discussed perhaps more than any other side during the Mohammad Rizwan-Babar Azam years, and one, perhaps, they might have revisited with Ayub and Farhan but for the fine margins going their way. The pair found boundaries and sixes with reasonable regularity, but West Indies managed to sneak in large spells of dot balls or singles that kept dragging the run rate back.With four overs to go on the best batting surface of the series, both Ayub and Farhan had half-centuries, but Pakistan’s run rate stood at a modest 8.50. Having scored 23 in their final five yesterday, it would require something special to ensure Pakistan posted a winning total today.Making amendsIt had come to the stage Pakistan probably needed a wicket to fall more than West Indies with the visitors’ power hitters sitting idle. Shamar Joseph removed Farhan bringing Hasan Nawaz out to the middle, who hooked his fourth ball for six to set the death-overs tempo. Another six the following over preceded his dismissal, but the shift in gears was evident. Not a single four was struck through the death overs, but Pakistan found five sixes in the last four overs, including a 20-run final over that ultimately put them above par. Fifty-three runs came in the final four, a number that would arguably have been somewhat smaller had a 138-run partnership not been broken when it was.Chase retired out, WI run out of timeEvery game this series, it has seemed Jason Holder came out to bat a shade too late, but tonight, he could wait no more. With Roston Chase struggling for timing and the rate above 13, West Indies opted to retire him out and sent Holder into the middle with 41 to get in three overs. It was well within range of his abilities, but his fireworks have largely come against Pakistan’s quicks, and there was still a Muqeem over to negotiate.A flipper off his second ball shot through and knocked back Holder’s off peg with such precision it took the Bajan time to work out he had actually been bowled and not fallen victim to some devious sleight of hand by wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris. With Muqeem and Rauf both consistently on their mark, West Indies frankly had no one who looked like getting them close enough anymore.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has slammed his team-mates and demanded the entire squad raises their levels after a woeful performance against Chelsea. Spurs were second-best throughout their defeat by the Blues and were flattered by the 1-0 scoreline. Speaking after the game, the Italian bemoaned the display which suggested there is little harmony in the squad.

• Blues take the spoils in London derby

  Spurs were dominated by Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and deserved to lose by more than just the one goal. The Blues took the lead in the first-half through Joao Pedro and never looked like surrendering their advantage over their London rivals. It marked yet another defeat for Spurs, and another in front of their faithful home support, as they notched up their 42nd loss in the Premier League at their new ground since its opening in 2019 – only six fewer than north London rivals Arsenal have lost at the Emirates, a stadium opened in 2006.

  With just four home victories in the Premier League in all of 2025, Thomas Frank has a lot of work to do to turn around Spurs’ misfortunes. While the Lilywhites tasted their first piece of silverware in decades in the summer when they lifted the Europa League, the club have remained disappointing domestically. After a club record-low 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, the club have become used to disappointment and it may more than just a new managerial appointment to heal the rot at its heart.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Vicario vents frustration

  After a series of consistently poor displays, Vicario is growing frustrated. The Italian has been one of the club’s better players in the last two disappointing seasons and issued a passionate assessment of how the side have been performing.

  Speaking after the defeat to Chelsea, via , Vicario said: "It's tough to accept but this is the reality of today's game. We need to look inside us and we need to do more because when you play for this club, we have to do things at 100 per cent. I know it's tough but we have to do that every single day.

  "When you go inside it's tough to accept because you expect yourself to perform at your best, with a lot of energy but something today didn't go in the right direction.

  "Everyone knows that personally, we have to do a little bit more if we want to achieve good results, make everyone happy and make ourselves happy. Today is a bad day for us, we didn't perform at our best level."

• Frank plays down defenders' snub

  Frank’s task in north London is looking increasingly difficult as the weeks go by. The former Brentford coach had made a decent start to life at Spurs, but a number of flat performances and defeats has turned up the heat under the Dane. The fractious atmosphere at Spurs was made clear after the defeat to the Blues, with a video of Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbing Frank’s approach on their way to the dressing room circulating on social media soon after the full-time whistle.

  The defenders appeared unhappy with their boss and did not hide their feelings towards Frank when they stormed off the pitch. Shocked by their response, Frank was left rooted to the spot as he watched in disbelief as the duo shunned him. The incident played out under a cacophony of boos raining down from the terraces.

  Speaking after the game, Frank was keen to play down the incident. He said: “All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that.

  “I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

  When pressed for his opinion on Van de Ven and Spence, the Dane remained diplomatic and defended his players. “We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can,” he said. “They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”

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• AFP
  

  Danish opposition arrive in London

  Spurs are in action again on Wednesday as they host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Frank will know the opposition well from his time as coach at Brondby in his native Denmark.

The Thomas Frank revolution continues at Tottenham Hotspur. Gone are the days of chaos and confusion under Ange Postecoglou. There is an evident fight and spirit about the Lilywhites in 2025/26.

While the north Londoners were far from their free-flowing best away to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon – nor have they been yet under the Danish coach – once again they found a way to win, having run out deserved 2-1 victors at Elland Road.

In what was a hard-fought contest in Yorkshire, the visitors surged ahead following Mathys Tel’s deflected strike, before Noah Okafor levelled things up just nine minutes later, prodding home at the backpost after Guglielmo Vicario’s initial save.

With the game finely poised, up stepped summer signing Mohammed Kudus to nudge Spurs into the lead with his own deflected effort from range, with the Ghanaian’s 57th minute effort ultimately proving the difference as the away side held on for a fourth Premier League win of the campaign.

Spurs' key performers vs Leeds

In wet and windy conditions, the performance from those in black was hardly perfect, yet there was plenty to be encouraged by all across the park, with the defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven again looking rather imperious – the latter man notably winning all of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Perhaps the most notable place for positivity was in the forward line, however, with Frank unleashing marquee addition Xavi Simons in his preferred number ten berth. The Dutchman didn’t disappoint.

While there was perhaps the odd trick too many, including his attempted rabona pass after the break, the ex-RB Leipzig playmaker showcased glimpses of his sky-high potential, picking out the advancing Pedro Porro late on with a deft dink over the Leeds defence.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the decision to give young Tel the nod in attack over man of the moment Richarlison certainly paid off, with the lively Frenchman netting his fourth goal since initially joining the club on loan back in January.

Equally, there were also signs of life from Wilson Odobert down the left flank, with the former Burnley starlet beginning to find his feet following what’s been a muted first year or so in Lilywhite.

Touches

Ampadu (91)

Pass accuracy

Struijk (95%)

Duels won

Kudus (10)

Successful dribbles

Kudus (6)

Key passes

Longstaff (5)

Possession lost

Porro (26)

Shots on target

Kudus (2)

There may not have been much end product, but a 95% pass accuracy rate highlights the Frenchman’s promising outing.

Rounding off that dynamic quartet was, of course, that man Kudus, with the £55m man continuing his stunning start to life at Spurs with another electric performance off the right flank.

The Spurs star who looked like prime Gareth Bale

Comparisons, particularly at such an early juncture in the season, can appear somewhat over the top, although there truly was something Gareth Bale-esque about Kudus’ performance on Saturday, with the 25-year-old already taking on talismanic status in his new surroundings.

Bale at his best, like in 2012/13 when he plundered 25 goals and assists in the Premier League, was a vision of speed and power, along with an end product to match, with the Welshman regularly wreaking havoc off the left or when cutting in centrally.

With blistering pace and the ability to weave his way past defenders with ease, a prime Bale truly was a sight to behold, with few figures in Lilywhite having ever come close to reaching such lofty heights.

There’s been Harry Kane and Heung-min Son since those times, and now Kudus is the latest to join the party, with the former West Ham United maverick taking his tally to one goal and five assists in just seven Premier League games under Frank’s watch.

Having been booked early on for a late challenge on Gabriel Gudmundsson, the fleet-footed forward subsequently slid in Tel for the game’s opener, before getting in on the act himself just before the hour mark.

Cutting in from the right in trademark Bale fashion, Spurs’ number 20 may have enjoyed a fair bit of luck with his eventual strike, although that goal was just reward for what was an all-round stellar performance in attack.

As noted by Sofascore, he successfully completed all six of his attempted dribbles, having also won ten of his attempted duels, showcasing his ability to impact the game both in and out of possession.

As already stated, this wasn’t Spurs at their most potent, yet once again Saturday’s win highlighted the growing importance of and reliance on Kudus to steal the show for Frank’s side.

Like football.london’s Alasdair Gold put it at full time, when handing the winger a 9/10 match rating, he ‘gave Leeds’ defenders nightmares throughout’.

Long may it continue.

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Marsh returns as skipper while Cummins, Starc and Head are rested with Stoinis and Bartlett omitted

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Jake Fraser-McGurk’s international career has reached an early crossroad after he was left out of Australia’s T20I squad to face West Indies in a five-match series in the Caribbean during July while Mitchell Owen’s star continues to rise after he earned his maiden national call-up.Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett have also been omitted from the 16-man squad while Cameron Green has been included as a specialist batter despite being unable to bowl until later in the year.Matthew Kuhnemann is in line to make his T20I debut as the second specialist spinner in the squad behind Adam Zampa. Cooper Connolly and Glenn Maxwell are also included in a clear sign of Australia’s planning for more spin options ahead the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year. Ashton Agar was not considered due to another calf injury.Related

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Josh Hazlewood is the only one of Australia’s three-format quicks who will not be rested for the series. Despite playing in the IPL final and being part of the World Test Championship final squad then the Test squad for the West Indies, Hazlewood will stay on to play the T20Is while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc rest.Travis Head, who also plays all international formats and the IPL, will also rest for the series. All three could return for the three-match series against South Africa which starts in Darwin on August 10.Bump in the road for Fraser-McGurkFraser-McGurk, 23, was the most notable omission from the squad named for the series against West Indies that starts on July 20 in Jamaica immediately following the three-match Test series.He had played in seven of Australia’s last eight T20Is but had only passed 20 once, when he scored 50 off 31 balls against England last September batting at No. 3. In 19 T20s since then, including three T20Is against Pakistan, he has scored 290 runs at 15.26, striking at 136.15. He has two scores above 26 and one above 38, which was 95 off 46 in the final game of the BBL season. He was dropped by Delhi Capitals during the IPL season after scores of 1, 38, 0, 7, 0, and 9.Fraser-McGurk was seen as the man who would be David Warner’s immediate and permanent replacement in Australia’s T20I side but will now be asked to return to domestic and franchise cricket to work on his craft. ESPNcricinfo understands there is a hope from the CA hierarchy that he is able to play a bit more four-day cricket for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield to help him work on his all-round batting and decision-making to supplement his raw ball-striking ability.Owen, meanwhile, has been rewarded following his stunning BBL season by being named in the squad alongside T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh, who returns to captain the side after missing Australia’s last T20I series against Pakistan in November 2024 for paternity leave and Test preparation.Mitchell Owen made the equal fastest century in BBL history off 39 balls•Getty Images

Owen scored two centuries for Hobart Hurricanes, including in the final to help them clinch their maiden title. His returns have been lean since then during stints in the SA20, PSL and IPL where he has scored just 116 runs in 11 innings with a highest score of 34.Owen’s BBL success for Hurricanes came at the top of the order but there will be a squeeze for positions, especially when Head is next in the squad. Marsh’s form while opening for Lucknow Super Giants may entice the selectors to bed him down alongside Head as the opening pair for the T20 World Cup next year with Josh Inglis looming as the obvious choice to bat at No. 3 given his impressive T20I record and his recent IPL form. Matthew Short also remains a key part of Australia’s top order plans and will return against West Indies having not played any cricket since injuring his quad in the Champions Trophy in late February.Question mark over StoinisOwen could get a chance in a finishing role given the intriguing absence of Stoinis, who has been a bedrock of Australia’s middle-order since the 2021 World Cup triumph and scored 61 not out of 27 balls in Australia’s most recent T20I against Pakistan. He also played an important role in Punjab Kings’ run to the IPL final.Stoinis retired from ODI cricket on the eve on the Champions Trophy but is still available for T20I cricket. However, he does not hold a central contract and has a deal to play in the Hundred in August which overlaps with Australia’s three T20Is against South Africa.The series in the Caribbean marks the beginning of Australia’s 2026 T20 World Cup preparation with the side set to play 16 T20Is in four series against West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand and India before the end of October.Josh Hazlewood will be part of the series while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are rested•ICC via Getty Images

There is a chance Stoinis remains in Australia’s T20I plans for the World Cup given they have limited seam-bowling allrounder stocks and could return for the series against New Zealand and India in October.Marsh is unlikely to bowl much if at all moving forward given his ongoing back issues while Green won’t be able to bowl in a T20 until after the Ashes series assuming his return to bowling from back surgery goes according to plan. Aaron Hardie has been included in Australia’s squad as the next seam-bowling allrounder while Owen could also be given a chance to fill a role with the ball but his experience is well shy of the other three.Bartlett has slipped down the bowling pecking order despite being centrally contracted after also being overlooked for the Champions Trophy in February. Nathan Ellis will lead the seam attack alongside Hazlewood in the absence of Cummins and Starc while Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are also in the squad as they were in the Champions Trophy.Chair of selectors George Bailey reiterated that a number of the omissions could still make their way back into the squad ahead of the World Cup given the number of T20Is on the schedule over the coming months.”We have a busy T20 schedule coming up through this series, followed by three against South Africa and New Zealand and five matches against India at home as we continue to refine and build a squad we think will be the right fit for the World Cup on the subcontinent,” Bailey said. “There are a number of players outside the squad who can still force their way into the mix for those upcoming [series] and through the Big Bash.”The connection, role development and combinations we will have as options are growing nicely as we build towards the World Cup. It’s an exciting time in our T20 space.”Australia T20I squad vs West IndiesMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Leeds United’s form at the start of the 2025/26 campaign has been impressive. Daniel Farke’s side are not in the relegation zone at the start of the season, and the early signs are positive. In fact, ESPN journalist Ryan O’Hanlon said the Whites have “played quite well” at the start of the campaign.

Critically, the Yorkshire-based side have defended well. According to Understat, seven sides have conceded more than their seven goals. On top of that, their expected goals against tally of 6.42 xGA is 10th best in the English top flight.

The Whites will certainly have to be on their A game defensively against Bournemouth on Saturday. They have the unenviable task of keeping Antoine Semenyo quiet.

Why Leeds must stop Semenyo

There is little doubt that stopping Semenyo this weekend at Elland Road will go a long way to helping Leeds reduce Bournemouth’s attacking threat. At the start of the season, the winger was described as “one of the best players in the league” by BBC Sport tactics correspondent Umir Irfan.

That is certainly a fair assessment of the winger, who has shown just how much of a threat he can be to sides. The Ghanaian international already has three goals and two assists, including a brace at Anfield on the opening day of the season.

The Whites have already been on the receiving end of a Semenyo goal, too. Scoring against Leeds is certainly not an unfamiliar feeling for the winger, who bagged against them back in 2022/23 for the Cherries. That is one of two appearances he made against the club, with the other coming for Bristol City in 2018/19.

One of the things Leeds must be most cautious of when coming up against the forward is his deadly ball-carrying skills. The winger averaged 2.2 successful dribbles per 90 minutes this season, to go along with his threat in the final third.

It will certainly be important for Leeds to stop the Cherries attacker on Saturday. Indeed, Farke could adjust his starting lineup to play someone who might be better at coping with the winger.

The Leeds star who can help silence Semenyo

Leeds are looking to maintain what is, so far, a strong defensive record. That is certainly something that will help keep them in the top flight this season. Bournemouth’s attacking threat from the likes of Semenyo will challenge that.

However, Farke may well decide to turn to James Justin to help keep the Ghanaian attacker at bay. The former Leicester City full-back was one of Leeds’ summer signings, joining from the Foxes for a fee of £10m including add-ons.

The England international has not played many minutes for the Whites so far. He’s featured twice in the Premier League, playing just 17 minutes in that time. He is match fit, though, having started Leicester’s first two Championship games this season.

He could certainly be a good candidate to start at Elland Road, in a bid to silence Semenyo. Justin is now a vastly experienced player, having played 101 times in the Premier League for Leicester and Leeds.

Not only will he bring experience to Farke’s side when going up against Semenyo, but he is also a more than competent defender. The full-back has put up some impressive numbers over the past few Premier League seasons with Leicester. For example, in 2019/20, he averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions and won an average of 2 aerial duels.

Justin key defensive stats for Leicester in PL

Season

Tackles & interceptions

Aerial duels won

2019/20

4.2

2

2020/21

4

1.1

2021/22

2.5

1.2

2022/23

2.5

1.7

2024/25

3.2

2.1

Stats from Sofascore

Justin’s task on Saturday afternoon is clear: stop Semenyo. He poses a huge threat to Leeds going forward, with his impact in the final third and direct dribbling ability. Should Farke give Justin the nod, he possesses the talent and experience to help stop the winger.

As Statman Dave said, the defender is a “colossal” figure at the back. Leeds would need to see that in action if he was to start against Semenyo.

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