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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been told he has another unhappy player on his hands at Old Trafford as they try to rectify a poor start to the campaign.

Manchester United's form under Erik ten Hag…

Undoubtedly, the Red Devils have been embroiled in a rollercoaster ride so far this term that has included its fair share of issues on and off the field at Old Trafford. Jadon Sancho, Antony and much-maligned loanee Mason Greenwood all hit the headlines away from the field earlier in the season as Ten Hag continues to battle with a current of chaos in the North West.

Manchester United have lost five out of their opening 12 Premier League matches and also sit bottom in Champions League Group A with three defeats from their first four fixtures. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have started to build some stable form in the Premier League and surprisingly find themselves as the most in-form team in the division over their last five games, taking 12 points from a possible 15.

Stability is a feature that has long been missed at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and their rocky status continues to persist behind the scenes at ownership level; however, Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally looks poised to complete a deal to lay claim to 25% of the Red Devils.

Despite not being an exact science, an unstable culture and club environment can lead to players losing confidence and form, something which can also be multiplied by outside criticism from media circles.

In light of this, one Manchester United star has come under fire for his start to proceedings this term from a Premier League legend, who believes that the man in question may not be entirely content at Old Trafford.

Alan Shearer says Marcus Rashford is unhappy at Man Utd

In conversation with Premier League productions, cited via The Mirror, pundit Alan Shearer has indicated that Manchester United star Marcus Rashford may be "unhappy" at Old Trafford amid an inconsistent start to the season for the England international.

Marcus Rashford's statistics 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

15

Goals

1

Assists

3

Newcastle United icon Shearer told the outlet when asked about Rashford's recent form: "I think the simple answer is we don’t know because we’re not within the football club. But what we’re looking at is someone who clearly looks very unhappy. He looks moody, and when that’s the case, you’re never going to perform at your best.

"Whether he feels he’s better than what’s at Old Trafford at this moment in time, I don’t know. Whether he feels let down by recruitment because he went to another level in terms of his goals last year. The club haven’t gone to it this season which maybe he wanted or expected to. You’re not seeing a happy footballer; you’re not seeing a happy person at this moment in time in Marcus Rashford. He looks a different player for England than he does for Manchester United."

Scrutiny over performances is always going to be a key feature of playing for a club with vast expectations such as Manchester United. However, Rashford will be keen to show the English public that criticism surrounding his displays has been overstated. Over the next couple of weeks, he will form part of the Three Lions squad for their EURO 2024 qualifying double-header against Malta and North Macedonia.

The Norwegian was ridiculed by the Spanish media after his Champions League no-show, and there is a strong case for him to be left out at the Etihad

One key cultural difference between the Spanish and the English is that our Iberian friends never beat around the bush. And when it comes to criticism, there is no holding back. After Manchester City's scintillating 3-3 draw at Real Madrid, which was hailed as "the best game in the world" and "a cannonball of a match" by the Spanish media, Erling Haaland was right in the firing line.

Newspaper gave the usually prolific Norwegian hitman a one star rating out of three, describing him as "impotent", particularly in his one-sided battle with the outstanding Antonio Rudiger. "Rudiger eats Haaland" ran one headline after the striker, who is widely expected to sign for Los Blancos one day, failed to score against Madrid for the third consecutive game.

"Erling Haaland has played two games at the Santiago Bernabeu and left both with the same sensation, of not even being the shadow of the striker who causes panic wherever he goes," added the article.

was even more scathing in its criticism of Haaland. "Clumsy and desperate" was how his performance was summarised by one writer, while another opined: "Only the substitutes participated less than Haaland. The cyborg was deactivated against Rudiger."

The newspaper was most brutal when it came to rating the players. So bad was Haaland that he didn't even merit a rating. Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic got one star ratings, but next to Haaland's name was a simple dash. Not applicable.

GettyJust two touches

Haaland could not complain with the brutal write-ups he received. He looked lost for most of the night and had just 20 touches, the fewest of any player who started the game, including the two goalkeepers. He had just one chance, a tame shot comfortably saved by Andriy Lunin.

Rudiger had his number, outmuscling him on every occasion they clashed, while Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga also ensured he couldn't drop deep and support his team-mates to any effect. The only positive contribution Haaland had over the 90 minutes came when he rushed out to the flank to tackle Vinicius Jr and prevent a Madrid breakaway.

This was not just a one-off though. Despite the fact he is the top scorer in the Premier League again after his record-busting debut season, Haaland has flattered to deceive in the biggest matches, across both campaigns.

He contributed little in either leg of the Champions League semi-final against Madrid and went missing in the final against Inter, as he had also done in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, when Ilkay Gundogan was instead City's hero.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesImpossible to ignore

This season, he has scored just one goal in six Premier League matches against top-five opponents and in the top-of-the-table clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool within the last month, which could determine who wins the nail-biting, three-way title race, he was also anonymous.

Haaland can still be utterly deadly on his day, as he demonstrated by smashing five goals past Luton in the FA Cup less than six weeks ago, proving the difference against Everton, and twisting the knife into Manchester United (no longer a top-five opponent) in the derby.

But it should not be forgotten that Luton and United are among the top-three sides when it comes to leaking shots. Many other teams have begun to work out how to stop Haaland, namely playing with a low block to prevent him from running into space behind.

Haaland's all-round play has been a talking point for a long time, but his astonishing goal record of 52 goals in 53 games last season was the perfect riposte. But when the goals dry up, as they have started to within the last month, with Haaland scoring just once in his last five appearances in all competitions, his limited play becomes impossible to ignore.

Getty'Quite useless'

Roy Keane brutally compared Haaland's overall play to that of a League Two striker after the draw against Arsenal, and former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart also savaged the Norwegian after his Madrid no-show.

"Erling Haaland was very bad. If he doesn't score, he's quite useless," the former Madrid midfielder told Dutch broadcaster . "I find him a very average player on the ball".

Haaland is still an asset to City, capable of astonishing goal hauls. But in the toughest games, there is an argument that they would be better off without him.

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(C)Getty ImagesTime for the bench?

City routinely lost the ball against Madrid, and one of the reasons was that they resorted to long balls towards Haaland, which kept getting intercepted. When it did reach Haaland, Rudiger continually shrugged him off and Madrid would regain possession. Haaland lost the ball seven times on Tuesday, and couldn't complete a single dribble.

Having the Norwegian up front on his own, looking to feed off scraps in the area, leaves City with one man fewer in their build-up play. And there is a growing case for Pep Guardiola to drop him for the second leg against Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.

Philippe Clement’s honeymoon period at Glasgow Rangers has been an enjoyable one to say the least.

He has racked up seven matches undefeated while securing progress to the League Cup final along with a realistic chance of progressing in the Europa League.

Considering how poor the Gers had been up until Michael Beale was sacked, it has been some turnaround by the Belgian in order to get a tune out of a squad that looked like they were stagnating.

The former QPR boss failed to inspire the club from the moment the 2023/24 campaign kicked off, as they lost to Kilmarnock in their Premiership opener and things started to spiral downwards from there.

The Gers failed to qualify for the Champions League group stages while also suffering defeat to Celtic at Ibrox at the beginning of September and the writing was on the wall for Beale.

By the start of October, he was gone and Clement has had to pick up the pieces. The 49-year-old has revitalised the club, despite inheriting Beale’s summer signings.

The likes of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers cost £4.5m and £3m respectively, but they have failed to live up to these lavish fees during their brief spells in Glasgow so far.

Clement could certainly turn their fortunes around in the coming months and, although he has endured a poor start, Lammers’ transfer value has actually increased, indicating that the move may benefit the Gers still.

Sam Lammers’ market value at Atalanta

The Dutchman has endured a nomadic career over the previous few years, playing for five different clubs since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

He joined Atalanta at the start of that season and featured 17 times across all competitions, scoring just two goals in the process.

This poor run of form led the forward to spend time out on loan, turning out for Eintracht Frankfurt – winning the Europa League against the Light Blues – Empoli and Sampdoria.

Despite mainly playing as a striker, Lammers scored just four goals during those two seasons spent away from his parent club, hardly encouraging statistics to say the least, especially from a centre-forward.

His highest market value during his spell at the Serie A club, however, was €6.4m (£5.5m) according to Football Transfers, although it was declining before Rangers made their move in the summer.

Beale obviously saw something he liked in the Dutchman, and he moved to the Gers in June, ready for pre-season.

Sam Lammers’ season in numbers

Despite his lacklustre record in front of goal, Beale was clearly delighted to bolster his attacking department with the 26-year-old, saying: “Sam is a player I have been aware of for a number of years. I first knew him as a young player at PSV and have followed his career closely from afar and he excelled in Holland both in the Eredivisie and the under-21 national team.

“Sam will give us great technical and tactical quality, being able to play in a variety of attacking positions as a number 10 or nine.”

2

0

1

0

1

0

0.4

1.3

1.5

1.3

He did score against Newcastle United during Allan McGregor’s testimonial prior to the start of the season, and it looked as though things might work out well for the player.

At the time of writing, Lammers has managed to find the back of the net on just two occasions for the Light Blues, while grabbing a meagre tally of two assists across 23 competitive matches.

Lammers has spent the majority of the campaign operating as a number ten, just behind the main striker, yet it hasn’t done much for his confidence.

With Beale being relieved of his duties and Clement arriving, it looked as though a fresh start could do him the world of good.

Against Dundee at the start of the month in what was the Belgian’s fourth match in charge, it looked as though Lammers’ fortune was about to turn.

The 26-year-old was in stunning form as he scored a screamer from the edge of the box, while also setting up another goal, causing the Dundee defence all sorts of problems.

The two-footed star also created one big chance and made a key pass, along with registering five shots in total throughout the tie.

It was a performance which looked like it could transform his spell in Glasgow and Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie hailed the forward, saying: “What a finish from Sam Lammers – stunning finish from range.

“He’s had a tough time as of late but that was a great moment. Turns his man, moves onto his left and finds the net spectacularly.”

It proved to be a false dawn, however, as he hasn’t scored since, yet his valuation has soared.

Sam Lammers’ market valuation at Rangers

Although he has really failed to get the supporters behind him, minus one or two golden moments, the former PSV Eindhoven gem could well prove to be a decent signing simply due to how much he is now worth.

According to Football Transfers, Lammers is now currently valued at €6.1m (£5.3m) and this appears to be rising on a consistent basis.

It might not appear that way, but the Light Blues look like they have struck gold with the signing of the 6 foot 3 gem and if he does hit the ground running in the next few weeks, his value could rise swiftly.

It could give Clement some leverage if he aims to move him on in the near future, ensuring that the club receive a profit on the £3m they splashed out on him in June.

With a hectic run of fixtures ahead until the winter break – 12 games will be played over the next 38 days – Clement will have to utilise his squad the best he can in order to gain maximum efficiency.

This suggests Lammers will get more than a few chances to show his worth and if he wants to remain at the club for the long term, he has got to be showing more.

What better time to start than with a cup final to win and European progression to be sealed.

Former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof experienced issues with her vision before and after the operation but has recovered to play a part for Pakistan at the Women’s World T20

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2018Bismah Maroof, Pakistan’s former captain, has revealed she had doubts she would ever play cricket again after undergoing surgery for a sinus problem earlier in the year. Maroof experienced issues with her vision before and after the operation, but has recovered to play a part in Pakistan’s Women’s World T20 campaign in the Caribbean.It was after suffering from blurred vision during training in July that Maroof was told she needed an urgent operation. Because the sinus attack was related to her brain, doctors said the problem could be life-threatening; and even after the four-hour operation went to plan, she faced complications.”It was quite challenging,” Maroof told the ICC’s website. “After the surgery, I was on a high dosage of medicines. My eyes got affected, so it took time for me to return to playing.””I was quite depressed. Lying there, at one point I couldn’t imagine that I could get up and play again. But they say that whatever plan is made for you is for the good.”Having been initially told she could not play cricket, Maroof’s condition fortunately improved and she was able to return to the Pakistan set-up during the T20 series against Australia in Kuala Lumpur last month.Although she has been replaced as captain by Javeria Khan, Maroof remains a key part of the set-up. She is her country’s leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, and the second-most capped player in the format – experience that came to the fore in her innings of 53 in Providence on Sunday, helping Pakistan to their highest T20 total against India. She also took the crucial wicket of opener Smriti Mandhana,It was not enough to set up victory, however, and with Pakistan also beaten in their opening match, against Australia, they face a struggle to qualify from Group B. They have an opportunity to notch a first win against Ireland on Tuesday but, it seems, whatever the game throws at her and her team, Maroof will be ready.”It’s important now to prioritise my health. It has been a stressful time,” she said. “I have learnt that you shouldn’t plan too much. All your life plans can be turned upside down. So I will not plan again!”

The spinner picked up 4 for 29 before the two batsmen made short work of the 199 chase

The Report by Mohammad Isam in Sylhet14-Dec-2018Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal chose the scenic route to Bangladesh’s eight-wicket win over West Indies in Sylhet to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1. Soumya’s attacking 80 was complemented by Tamim’s unbeaten 81, which came after Mehidy Hasan dipped his offbreaks to perfection in a career-best bowling performance.It was Bangladesh’s eighth bilateral series win (out of 12) since the 2015 World Cup, with two of those now coming against West Indies this year. Shai Hope’s unbeaten century was West Indies’ only moment of happiness as the visitors lost both Tests and ODI series in Bangladesh, a first for any major side touring the country.Bangladesh first sparked a batting collapse during the middle overs as West Indies lost three wickets for three runs in 22 balls. They slipped from 96 for 2 in the 23rd over to 99 for 5 in the 26th. Hope, who made an unbeaten 108 playing the full 50 overs, had to rely on the lower order to reach his fourth ODI hundred, but it was hardly going to take the control out of Bangladesh’s grip.Tamim then did what an experienced batsman should do in a 199 chase. He batted sensibly, while Liton Das and Soumya blasted the bowlers at the other end. At times, Tamim too drove down the ground and flicked off his pads for fours but he largely focused on collecting singles.Liton’s punches through cover and mid-off fetched him four of his five fours. But his impulsive strokeplay – this time a swipe across the line that was caught at mid-on – cut short his stay at the crease, for a 33-ball 23.Soumya, who had started off with a sublime on-drive off Keemo Paul, was otherwise devastating against spin. He lifted Marlon Samuels, Fabien Allen and Devendra Bishoo for five sixes.Samuels was hit over midwicket and long-off, while the two off Allen were sent high over the midwicket boundary. In the 34th over of the innings, he launched Bishoo over cover for his fifth six, before striking him for two fours to finish off the over. Paul eventually got him for an 81-ball 80, ending the 131-run second-wicket stand.Mushfiqur Rahim struck two fours and an upper-cut six before Tamim’s two fours off Rovman Powell in the 39th over got Bangladesh to the win. But the foundation of this win was laid down when Mohammad Saifuddin sparked the collapse with Samuels driving aimlessly at an offcutter, to be bowled for 19. It ended a promising 39-run third-wicket stand between Samuels and Hope before Mehidy got into the act.Having already removed Chandrapaul Hemraj and Darren Bravo, Mehidy dismissed Shimron Hetmyer for the sixth time in seven innings on this tour, this time lbw for a duck. It ended a poor ODI series for Hetmyer who was sparkling in the Test series. Powell’s wicket was his fourth, caught behind to a delivery that he expected to turn. Powell made just 16 runs in the series, making it a dreadful subcontinent tour on which he scored 77 runs in eight innings at an average 9.62.Shakib Al Hasan then removed Roston Chase and Allen, both caught in the deep. Chase mis-hit one to long-off, while Mohammad Mithun dived forward at deep midwicket to complete Allen’s catch.Hope meanwhile stood firm at the other end, having carried the confidence from his unbeaten 146 in the second game, which led to a hard-fought four-wicket win. He struck four boundaries through the covers, one through midwicket and two down the ground.Hope moved from 94 to his hundred with a straight six off Shakib. All the Bangladesh players shook hands with him at the end of the West Indies innings, while the Sylhet crowd was generous in applaud. But all the cheers for the rest of the day went to the homeboys.

Christian Pulisic is set to lose his mentor, with AC Milan planning to sack Stefano Pioli after their derby defeat to Inter at San Siro.

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Milan beaten 2-1 by InterTrail champions Inter by 17 points in Serie AMilan could finalise Pioli's replacement in the next 72 hoursWHAT HAPPENED?

Inter clinched their 20th Serie A title in style by defeating their city rivals AC Milan 2-1 at San Siro. Simone Inzaghi's side now boasts an unassailable 17-point lead at the top of the Italian league, leaving AC Milan trailing in second place.

As the dust settles on the derby defeat, AC Milan are swiftly moving to address their managerial situation since the board have lost faith in Pioli – as per Fabrizio Romano. According to reports from in Italy, the Rossoneri are on course to appoint a new manager as Pioli is set to be shown the door at the end of the current campaign.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pulisic shares a strong bond with Pioli as the manager has helped revive his career following a disappointing spell with Chelsea that saw him forced out of Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to last month, Pulisic said: "I wanted an opportunity, and Milan really gave it to me. Pioli really kept his promises. It's not just knowing that I would play, but it's also having someone who supported me, talked about it before and that he wanted me badly.

"He gave me the opportunity to play and be myself the best way I know how, and he adjusted me to what works best for the team. I think we found a good balance in that sense. Tactics are definitely an important aspect in Italy, as everyone says. We constantly examine every possible situation in training: how we press, and how we execute set pieces. I feel I've learned a lot."

DID YOU KNOW?

Among the candidates under consideration is former Wolves and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui. However, he might not end up in the hot seat in Milan as the club directors are considering several other names as well.

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It has been reported that Milan are prioritising a candidate who aligns with the club's philosophy and possesses a broader understanding of the team's vision and objectives instead of someone who likes to have control over every sporting aspect. In the short term, Pioli will continue in the dugout in the five remaining matches of the Serie A campaign.

Liverpool's draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon emphasised this season's rekindled cohesion and resilience, with Jurgen Klopp manufacturing a budding title bid in the Premier League after missing out on Champions League football last year.

Saturday's dropped points paved the way for Arsenal to leapfrog both Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's treble winners into pole position, but at this stage, such frivolous details matter not.

Liverpool are third-placed and two points off the top, with the overall squad performance levels above last year's dingy travails, where a malfunctioning engine room required a complete overhaul.

While there is still work to be done, the Reds are in a fantastic place and will now look to sustain this new-look squad's efforts beyond the new year, but to do so, it's paramount that moves are made in January.

The winter transfer market is notoriously difficult to conquer, with clubs demanding exorbitant figures for key personnel as everyone battles within the campaign's din to break free and cement a position of power.

Liverpool transfer news – Lucas Beraldo

While Liverpool will need to work hard to secure the right signature, recent reports suggest that Klopp and co have identified an astute deal just waiting to happen, with São Paulo defender Lucas Beraldo on the radar.

Indeed, according to UOL journalist Rafael Reis, Liverpool are tuned to the 20-year-old's development and are considering a swoop in January.

Reports from earlier in November also reveal that Liverpool sent scouts to observe the prospect in action, with the winter transfer window viewed as the right time to seal the deal for the £20m-rated ace.

Fabrizio Romano has also previously acknowledged Liverpool's interest, though the respected journalist did question whether a move would be good for him at this stage of his career when game time might not come regularly at a stadium such as Anfield.

Lucas Beraldo's style of play

Beraldo has been excellent in the Brasileiro Serie A this season and has now completed 21 matches as the campaign nears its culmination, with his skills very much on show in his homeland.

Indeed, Beraldo has completed 89% of his passes, averaged six ball recoveries and 3.4 clearances per game and succeeded with 58% of his contested duels, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to release a glowing endorsement of his style via Twitter.

Having won the 2023 Copa do Brasil (the Brazilian equivalent of the FA Cup) this term too, he's already developed a hunger for silverware that could serve Klopp's side very well indeed, with the pursuit of prominence very much on.

As per FBref, the talented centre-half ranks among the top 9% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Brasileiro Serie A for pass completion and the top 5% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, highlighting his natural ball-playing ability.

Player

PrgP per 90

Lucas Beraldo

5.57

Virgil van Dijk

4.95

Ibrahima Konate

6.54

Joel Matip

3.29

Joe Gomez

4.64

*Sourced via FBref

His aptitude in distribution is perfect for Liverpool, with the early signs promising for a player making penetrative passes with greater regularity than all of Liverpool's current central defensive options barring Ibrahima Konate.

This is exactly why the Liverpool bosses will be so eager to get their hands on the Brazil starlet, and while Romano might question whether a transfer to Merseyside would be appropriate at this time, there's little question regarding the suitability for Klopp's system.

The player's scope for development and current ability perhaps not leaving him ready for a regular starting berth in Klopp's starting lineup should actually be flipped around and viewed positively, increasing the depth as the team competes across multiple different fronts.

Why Liverpool should sign Beraldo over Inacio

Falling back on that earlier point of the winter transfer market proving difficult to secure top targets, Liverpool may well find that Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio's signature proves unattainable, given the €60m (£52m) release clause that stands in the way of an agreement.

TEAMtalk reported recently that Liverpool are set to revisit their intrigue in the Portuguese star after failing to make progress in the summer, and while the 22-year-old is a fantastic, modern player, Beraldo might be the better option at this stage.

Liverpool could hand Trent new role by signing "breathtaking" £52m-rated target

Jurgen Klopp could strengthen his side in a number of areas with one January signing…

ByRosie Tudball Nov 23, 2023

Portraying the qualities that would make Inacio such a good fit for the Reds, BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan said: "Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor. Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play. Immense recovery speed & coverage of space."

It's certainly accurate praise, with Inacio ranking among the top 5% of centre-backs across divisions similar to the Liga Portugal for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, but he would expect to receive a central role under Klopp's wing and this might not be feasible.

Couple that with the required outlay and it's certainly tempting to put the interest back in the folder and move for Beraldo, who can be moulded to Klopp's own creation while not expecting to oust the likes of Konate straight away.

While Inacio appears to be more established, Beraldo boasts all the skills that are requisite for a prominent position in a squad such as Liverpool's, and given that he would probably be happier integrating into the first team, it could be a move to enhance, not disrupt, the harmony.

Moreover, Inacio is more expensive and this may prove to be a sticking point at the season's midpoint, especially with the summer transfer window likely focussing on the acquisition of a new first-class holding midfielder.

With Virgil van Dijk and Konate still expecting to take the starting spots in the centre of the backline, Beraldo feels like the apt man to sign.

He might be young, but the dynamic Brazilian looks the perfect fit and could blossom into something special over the coming years.

Whereas Australia’s bugbear has been their inability to push past the 300-run barrier twice in a row

The Preview by Shashank Kishore17-Jan-20190:49

Agarkar: Would be great if India pick Chahal

Big PictureShaun Marsh can’t buy a run in Tests these days, but has four centuries in his last eight ODI innings. MS Dhoni couldn’t score a single ODI half-century in 2018, but has begun 2019 with back-to-back ones, also finishing the second ODI with a six in the final over. Twitterverse thinks this is a roll back to 2009, their version of the #10yearschallenge in action: scoring runs then, scoring runs now.The reality is Marsh needs these runs to stave off competition after losing his Test spot, while Dhoni continues to receive firm backing from his captain, even as the clamour for Rishabh Pant’s inclusion in the shorter formats reaches fever pitch. The concerns for both teams, though, are elsewhere.Australia’s is their inability to push past the 300-run barrier twice in a row. In Adelaide, a clutch of middle-order wickets on the face of superb death bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar denied them a final kick. In Sydney, they had a middle-overs lift courtesy Peter Handscomb, but couldn’t capitalise on it. Can Glenn Maxwell be that man?Justin Langer believes he is best suited at No. 7 presently. This puts the onus equally on Marcus Stoinis to do the heavy lifting. This could be tricky at times, if the top order takes its time to consolidate. In the first two games, Australia made 138 for 3 and 141 for 4 at the 30-over mark. This leaves the lower order little breathing space if they are to push towards 330, quite the norm in ODIs these days – most-certainly will be at the World Cup in England.Another headache that is growing with every passing game is Aaron Finch’s form and his shortcomings against the incoming delivery. His return to form will give the middle order some breathing space.ALSO READ: Finch just ‘needs a few breaks’ to turn form around – LangerIt’s not all hunky-dory for India. They need to find an ideal sixth bowler, and have Vijay Shankar, the seam-bowling allrounder, and Kedar Jadhav’s round-armish offspin to choose from. Desperation forced Virat Kohli to turn to Ambati Rayudu, who was reported for an illegal action in Sydney. In Adelaide, he had to bowl out the expensive Mohammed Siraj for a lack of options.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia LWLWL
India WLWWLIn the spotlightOne of Yuzvendra Chahal’s hallmark was his wicket-taking ability, but they’ve dried up in recent times. He has featured just once in India’s last 10 limited-overs matches, when Kuldeep Yadav was rested. In his last 11 ODIs since June 2018, Chahal has managed just 13 wickets at an average of 37.84. MCG’s big boundaries could tempt the team management into bringing him back. That said, from once being touted one half of India’s new wristspinners’ combine, he finds himself on the crossroads.Adam Zampa hasn’t been a limited-overs regular, but he’s spent time in various franchise-based T20 competitions while away. He was Essex’s top T20 wicket-taker in the 2018 season, claiming 12 scalps at an average of 20.75. At the BBL this season, he’s been in steady wicket-taking form, conceding a highest of 32 in his four-overs quota across five games, while going wicketless in only one outing. Friday presents him a big chance to stake a claim as the first-choice tweaker.Aaron Finch’s lean form continued when he fell to Bhuvneshwar Kumar•Getty ImagesTeam newsJason Behrendorff has pulled up with a sore back and will rest, while Nathan Lyon has been left out after going wicketless in the first two ODIs. Billy Stanlake and legspinner Adam Zampa will slot into the XI. Kane Richardson will join the squad as fast bowling cover.Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 Alex Carey (wk), 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Jhye Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Billy StanlakeKedar Jadhav or Vijay Shankar could come into the fray at No. 6, with MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik moving up a spot. If India do bring in an allrounder to shore up their sixth-bowler quota, Ambati Rayudu is likely to miss out.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 MS Dhoni (wk) 5 Dinesh Karthik, 6 Kedar Jadhav/Vijay Shankar, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Mohammed ShamiPitch and conditionsIt’s a drop-in surface, as is the norm. That means there will be true bounce and some zip for the fast bowlers. Spinners will come into the picture owing to large boundaries. Weather-wise, it promises to be nowhere near as hot as Adelaide, where it touched 41 degrees. A high of 27 and a low of 16 degrees should make it that much more comfortable to run the extra twos and threes.Stats and trivia Aaron Finch has had a woeful home season across formats. In 15 innings, he’s managed just one half-century, and made 228 runs at an average of 15.20. Eight of these have been single-digit scores, with two ducks. India have lost each of their last three ODIs at the MCG against Australia. Overall, India have lost nine of their 14 ODIs at this venue against the hosts. Their last win was in the CB series in 2008, when they won by five wickets, chasing 160. Kuldeep Yadav’s strike rate drops to a wicket every 65 balls in final games of bilateral ODI series, a far cry from his career strike rate of roughly 26 balls per wicket. This is an indication that batsmen tend to work him out as a series nears completion.Quotes”It’s been a while since we’ve won a series either home or away. Coming up against a really powerful line-up, there’s been some real positives, particularly with the bat in these two games. There’s been a lot of improvement over the last eight to 10 months to be really proud of in these two games.”
Aaron Finch, Australia’s captain“It’s not a worry. They’re young blokes. They just came in and, of course, we back them. That’s how they are going to learn. When they play against a good side, if they go for runs, that’s when they lift up themselves because they think more about the game and strategies and that’s how they will be become more mature players.”

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League table as they secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp's side were not at their best for much of the clash in London but were able to come away with all three points thanks to Harvey Elliott's stoppage-time goal.

They rode their luck in the first half as VAR had to intervene to overrule a penalty that was awarded to the hosts when Virgil van Dijk brought down Odsonne Edouard, due to a foul by Will Hughes in the build-up.

However, they were not as lucky the second time around as Jarell Quansah kicked through the back of Jean-Philippe Mateta, which caused VAR to send the referee to the monitor in order to award a penalty – which was stuck away by the French forward.

Goals from Mo Salah and Elliott completed the comeback but Klopp will surely be frustrated by the sloppy defensive errors at the back during the match, particularly after Joel Matip suffered a long-term injury blow this month.

The central defender is poised to miss a significant period of time and the German head coach could dip into the transfer market in January to find a replacement.

Latest Liverpool news – Joel Matip and Maxence Lacroix

Matip was substituted with 20 minutes to go of Liverpool's eventual 4-3 win over Fulham earlier this month and it has since been confirmed that the centre-back has ruptured his ACL.

This means that the Cameroon international is due to be out of action for the remainder of the season, which would also mean that he has played his last match for the club unless they decide to offer him a contract extension.

Klopp has suggested that Liverpool should provide him with a new deal in order to facilitate the rest of his recovery and ensure that the defender is not left in the lurch.

In the meantime, The Mirror have reported that the Reds have Wolfsburg central defender Maxence Lacroix on their radar ahead of the January window.

They have an eye on the French battler and the report stated that the club have been looking at long-term options in that position prior to Matip's injury.

The outlet has claimed that it would cost the Merseyside-based team a fee of at least £25m to secure the 23-year-old talent's signature ahead of the second half of the season.

It has also been reported that Liverpool are interested in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi but they face competition from Arsenal and the Eagles are prepared to demand a 'huge fee' for his services.

The Mirror added that Lacroix is a more likely immediate fix for the Reds as they look at who they could bring in next month to make up for the loss of Matip for the rest of the season.

Wolfsburg's star defender could be a dream replacement for the former Schalke man, who has been a reliable performer at the back this season.

Joel Matip's season in numbers

The 32-year-old enforcer has been an important player for Klopp so far this term as he has started nine Premier League matches and featured in ten.

Matip has showcased his quality in and out of possession with his dominant defensive play and ability to progress the ball forward to help his team in attack.

The veteran battler has made 2.1 tackles and interceptions and 5.8 ball recoveries – 1.1 more than van Dijk – per match in the top-flight to go along with a duel success rate of 61%.

This shows that the Reds star, who has not made a single error that has led to a goal or shot for the other team, has been able to get the better of opposition forwards far more often than not thanks to his impressive positioning and strength.

Matip has also made 3.92 progressive passes and 0.92 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League this season, which ranks him within the top 48% of his positional peers.

Liverpool could solve Matip injury by unleashing "phenomenal" 6 ft 5 titan

Liverpool must now navigate through the winter period without the Cameroonian veteran’s services.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2023

The towering defender, who has completed 88% of his attempted passes in the top-flight, has the ability and willingness to progress the ball through passes and dribbles in order to push his team up the pitch.

This places less of an emphasis on the midfielders needing to drop deep to collect the ball from the centre-backs, which then allows them to work their magic in more dangerous areas of the pitch.

Lacroix could now come in to provide similar qualities at the back if Liverpool are able to snap him up for £25m at the start of next year.

The statistics that show why Lacroix could replace Matip

The Wolfsburg colossus has been in impressive form for the German side and could offer Klopp another centre-back who can make an impact in and out of possession.

He produced solid defensive displays throughout the 2022/23 campaign for his club and has followed that up with superb performances this term.

Appearances

24

Pass accuracy

87%

Clearances

84

Ground duel success rate

56%

Aerial duel success rate

60%

Lacroix has made three tackles and interceptions combined and 5.2 ball recoveries per match across 13 Bundesliga appearances during the 2023/24 campaign so far.

The 23-year-old ace has also won 61% of his ground duels during that period as opposition players have found it difficult to get the better of him on the deck.

Transfermarkt's Tobias Kröger once described the French tank as an "elite" defensive talent but he also has quality in possession to go along with his defending.

Lacroix ranks within the top 15% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes (4.39) per 90 over the last 365 days, as well as being within the top 20% for successful take-ons (0.41) per 90.

These statistics show that the 6 foot 3 whiz, who has completed 87% of his attempted passes in the Bundesliga this season, has the ability to progress his team through the thirds with his passing.

Therefore, Lacroix, who is nine years younger than the injured Liverpool star, could be a dream replacement for Matip as he has the defensive and in-possession qualities to slot straight into his position in the squad.

Mikel Arteta achieved a feat that Arsene Wenger couldn't as Arsenal beat Tottenham in consecutive away fixtures for the first time in 36 years.

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Arteta achieves north London derby featWon his 100th Premier League as Arsenal bossGunners edged out their rivals 3-2WHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners took a convincing three-goal lead within the first 40 minutes of the North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium courtesy of an own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and a goal each from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. The hosts nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback through Cristian Romeo and Son Heung-min's strikes but Mikel Arteta's side eventually emerged triumphant.

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With the win over Ange Postecoglou's side on Sunday, Arsenal have beaten their rivals in consecutive away Premier League fixtures for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Arsene Wenger failed to achieve the feat across his entire 22-year reign as Gunners boss, with George Graham the last man to manage it back in 1988. In their previous 17 meetings at Spurs' home, the Gunners managed to win only twice.

DID YOU KNOW?

It was also Arteta's 100th victory in the Premier League since taking charge of the north London side and he managed to achieve the milestone in just 169 games. Wenger took 179 matches to register a century of wins in the league.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arteta's men will be next seen in action on Saturday as they host Bournemouth in a crucial Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium.