Former South Africa captain and current SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith believes there will be a “shift in how things work” in the cricket calendar after 2027, when the current men’s FTP (Future Tours Programme) comes to an end and a fresh cycle of ICC media rights will also be up for grabs. Smith also said most of the focus on South African cricket’s planning is the build-up to the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, which they will co-host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia, and only after that tournament will they look to expand SA20, which currently has six teams and is three seasons old.Since its inception, SA20 has been played in January-February and has had calendar clashes with the Big Bash League (BBL) and the ILT20 in the UAE, which started in the same year as SA20 (2023). Even though the PSL has moved to the April-May window now, these three T20 leagues also face a calendar crunch with international cricket, often bilateral series, which creates an availability headache for the boards and international teams.”I’m not saying the other leagues will go away, but there’ll certainly be a tier-one of sort of franchise leagues in different windows, so maybe four to five, probably a club World Cup coming,” Smith said at an SA20 event in Mumbai on Wednesday. “I think bilateral cricket is hard. I think when top nations play each other, it gets a lot of interest. Even with the ICC, they have an event a year, but I think the interesting thing to watch is going to be post-2027 FTP cycle when the new cycle kicks in and all the new rights deals get done.Related

• Graeme Smith: 'Crucial for South Africa to start well' in India

• Graeme Smith: 'Would love to have more Indian players' in SA20

“That’s going to be interesting to watch. I think bilateral cricket, if anything, outside of the top teams playing each other, is lacking a little bit of context at the moment with four games here, two games there. There’s no consistency to these things, but obviously it does come with national pride as well, so I think you’re going to probably see a shift in how things work post 2027.”The ODI World Cup that year will be played in October-November, which gives Cricket South Africa exactly two more years to ramp up preparations to host the global event. Smith said the SA20 expansion plans will begin only after the World Cup.”I think for us it’s also where South African cricket is,” he said. “With the 2027 World Cup now, there’s been big investment into stadium infrastructure, lights, the quality of pitches. So we’ve seen that really being developed over the last six months into the year. I think in all the stadiums now you’ll see new lights in the run-up to the 2027 World Cup. Post-season five [of SA20] is where we will look to grow. That has always been the case.Graeme Smith at an SA20 promotional event•SA20

“I think for us there’s a number of elements when you look to grow. Where do you grow? Do you grow in South Africa? Do you grow in Africa? And then also you want to build up your player base. I think one thing that SA20 has got right is that the six teams have been equally competitive. Probably the amount of South African local players has been at a good standard. And if you introduce a new team then you’ve got to look at another 20 to 26 South African players. And you need to make sure that that quality is there to be able to keep all six, seven, eight teams of a high standard.”The fourth season of SA20 will be the first time the tournament will not start in January, but on December 26, as there is no Boxing Day Test scheduled by Cricket South Africa in the FTP. SA20 will be preceded by five T20Is for South Africa in India and will be followed by another three T20Is against West Indies just before the T20 World Cup kicks off on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, making it a “big period” for South Africa in the coming months.”I think it’s an important few months for the South African team, obviously, with the big tour to India, if they can find a way to be successful here across the three formats. It really does set up SA20 beautifully as a kind of highly competitive tournament, playing in front of big crowds and getting players ready for the T20 World Cup which is going to be amazing to watch in India. So I think it’s a big period for the next three months for South African cricket to really build on the successes that they’ve had throughout the year. We’ve seen the World Test Championship final. We’ve seen our ladies do well. And the next three to four months can really be an amazing time for South African cricket.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Durante a transmissão de Palmeiras x Corinthians, pela Série A do Brasileirão feminino, a comentarista Renata Mendonça, da Globo, não poupou palavras na hora de criticar a diretoria do Palmeiras pela escolha do estádio e má divulgação do jogo.

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– Espero que os dirigentes do Palmeiras que estejam vendo o jogo sintam um pouco do fracasso que eles cometem quando eles têm um derby desse tamanho com 800 pessoas no estádio – disparou a jornalista.

Canal oficial da torcida do Verdão no Lance! Vem ver mais conteúdos aqui⬅️

– Esse jogo é muito grande para estar em um estádio como o Jayme Cintra. Esse jogo é muito grande para ser tão pouco divulgado, para que a torcida possa comparecer. É triste ver como tantos clássicos do Brasileirão feminino acontecem em estádios ruins, gramados péssimos, como é o caso do Jayme Cintra, com pouca torcida. – iniciou a jornalista sobre o jogo do Palmeiras.

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– Eu tenho certeza que tem muito torcedor palmeirense que teria vontade de estar nesse jogo se o Palmeiras fizesse um bom trabalho pra divulgar- e completou.

Nas palavras de Renata, os clubes abdicam do potencial que tem de colocar torcidanos jogos de futebol femino.

Tudo sobre

Leila PereiraPalmeiras

Faisal Shinozada’s century propelled Afghanistan Under-19s to 283 earlier, but the total was not enough

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2025With just 48 more runs to get in 45 balls, eight wickets standing, and two set batters at the crease, Bangladesh Under-19s looked set to beat Afghanistan Under-19s rather comfortably in their 284 chase. Although they scored 28 runs in the next four overs, these came at the cost of four wickets. At that stage, Afghanistan sniffed a comeback win.Earlier in the innings, the Bangladesh openers Zawad Abrar and Rifat Beg had added 151, while captain Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki stitched together a partnership of 66 for the third wicket.Roohullah Arab got the first breakthrough for Afghanistan, when he dismissed Beg for 62 to end the first-wicket stand in the 27th over. Arab also took Abrar’s wicket in the 31st – the batter missed out on a hundred, falling for 96. Although Hakim and Siddiki looked like they were going to make it a one-sided affair, a middle-order collapse threatened to take the win away from Bangladesh. Eventually, though, Rizan Hossan’s speedy 17* ensured Bangladesh scraped through in the 49th over with three wickets remaining.Afghanistan had centurion Faisal Shinozada (103) to thank for putting up a big total. Shinozada put up stands of 66 and 89 for the second and third wicket with Osman Sadat and Uzairullah Niazai, respectively. His knock came in only 94 balls, and included eight fours and four sixes.Despite a strong start, Afghanistan found themselves at 225 for 7 in the 46th over. Azizullah Miakhil (38*) and Abdul Aziz (26*) provided the finishing kick with an unbroken partnership of 58 in only 28 balls to propel Afghanistan to 283. Eventually, their total proved to not be enough.

Lionel Messi finally got his MLS Cup with Inter Miami, but the Herons will face an offseason full of change as they look to defend the trophy

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The lasting image of Inter Miami’s triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps was that of Lionel Messi, facing the fans, arms raised, finally celebrating with a stadium that had waited so long for this. 

Yet that is not the most important. There will, in all likelihood, be more Messi moments of that ilk. He has 48 trophies and counting. For Miami, the most telling picture was that of Jordi Alba, lying on his back, sobbing as the third Miami goal went in. That was a moment of total catharsis for a player who knew that his time was up – and had ended the right way. 

Miami were excellent Saturday evening, and the Messi narrative simply cannot be ignored. He has been in South Florida for almost three years now, and finally claimed his first MLS Cup. Yet this also felt like the changing of the guard. Alba will now retire. Sergio Busquets, too, is hanging up his boots. Luis Suarez did not play, and there is little indication that he will return with his contract up. 

This, then, was the last moment of Messi’s Miami 1.0. And it ended in the storybook way. But now, a restructure – not a rebuild – has to begin in South Beach. 

“I know what it means to [Busquets and Alba] to leave this way,” manager Javier Mascherano said. "Two players have made history at this club, have completely transformed it along with Leo. Today they are part of the great history of this club, which is very short, very small, but that's what they came for, to change the course of this club."

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  'The efficiency of Leo'

  After the match, Mascherano called it “the efficiency of Leo.” He has a point. Zoom out, consider the variables, analyze the game and Miami shouldn’t necessarily have won here. Every conventional stat, the flow of the game, the vibe of the place, the groundswell of momentum that comes from one team steadily beating another pointed towards a Vancouver victory. 

  Even when took an early lead, the Whitecaps had a true foothold. And from the 15th to the 66th minute, they dominated. When Emmanuel Sabbi pinged a shot off both posts and out midway through the second half – with the game knotted at 1-1 – a Vancouver winner felt far more likely than a late Messi burst. 

  But this is the genre of the Argentine you get these days. He was sparsely involved, yet the main man throughout. He pressed off the ball and was clinical when he had it. Messi registered 45 touches in 97 minutes, and, in truth, seven of them really mattered – four to dribble, three to deliver either an assist or a key pass leading to a goal. 

  “He was making a big effort in the last two, three, four games, pressing. It showed us how important it is for him to win,” Mascherano said. 

  It was two mistakes, really, that undid Vancouver. First was Edier Ocampo turning the ball into his own net off a Tadeo Allende cross. Next was a slightly overzealous dribble from Andres Cubas into midfield. Messi pinched it, shimmied, and fed Rodrigo De Paul to make it 2-1. Miami’s late third came because Vancouver simply overcommitted.  Messi refused to lose. It was as simple as that.

  "This is the moment I had been waiting for, and that we, as a team, were waiting for. It’s very beautiful for all of us. They deserved it," Messi said. 

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  'The kind of luck you need'

  Yet this felt key for Mascherano, too. This had been a long season for the Argentine – 78 games across four major competitions. By all indications, the vibes around Miami are, generally, pretty good. He gets along with Messi mostly by “giving him ideas” and getting out of the way. He was quick to point out that Messi was pressing and running off the ball not because he was asked; rather, he just wanted to. 

  Messi holds the cards in Miami. But if they had lost this final, there might have been noise for the manager to go. There are plenty of good coaches out there, and Messi, 39 next summer, has a limited window – even if he did pen a three-year deal. This was the final moment of the first edition of this project. Mascherano probably couldn’t fumble it. 

  The good news, from his point of view? He navigated it wonderfully. Miami, even when they were under pressure, never truly cracked. He admitted that they had perhaps enjoyed a stroke of luck by seeing a shot ping off the post. But otherwise, Mascherano said, this was the performance of champions. 

  "We knew it would be a very difficult game, and they had a shot bounce off two posts, but that is the kind of luck you need to win a championship," he outlined. 

  And after his press conference was interrupted by his players, drenching him in beer, it’s hard to disagree.

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  'I know it’s my last game'

  Alba was a mess at full time. This wonderful springing Spaniard has always had a grit about him, but also a real steel. He is, to be sure, a passionate player, but not an entirely emotional one. 

  On Saturday, he finally broke. The tears started before half time and continued long after. So much of the rhetoric around his and Busquets’ retirement has been that of “focus.” They wanted to go out with a win. Alba insisted as much in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. 

  “It’s different because I know it’s my last game,” he said. “Of course it’s important – it’s a final – but it means even more for the club. No matter what happens, I’m leaving afterward. Hopefully, I can leave with a trophy. Busi is in the same situation as me. I don’t know how I’ll process it because you only feel those emotions in the moment. My last game with Barcelona was very emotional, but this isn’t just changing teams – it’s not playing anymore, and that makes it even bigger.”

  Busquets had his moment, too. He was less emotional. In fairness, Alba probably has a bit of football left. Busquets, in MLS, is well past his best. Parts of the second half of the 2025 season were hard to watch; this great statesman of the game was steadily losing his legs. There were some lovely flashes Saturday evening of the player that once was – a couple of hard challenges on Thomas Muller, the impossible passes and swivels of the hips to find a searching ball. But otherwise, this was the last dregs of a footballer. 

  Suarez is a more curious case. He has not announced anything, even though his contract is up. And such is the intensity of the control around Miami’s public messaging that no one really knows what’s next for him. A few months back, Jorge Mas insisted that he could stick around for as long as he wanted. Right now, it’s unclear if he should. Suarez lost his spot in the XI in the tail end of the playoffs, and Miami were quite irrefutably better for it. He cannot be guaranteed minutes here. Yet, this is also a player who probably should have retired on three separate occasions in his career, only to come back and be productive. It will be interesting to see what he, and Miami, decide. 

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  A winter of change

  The good news for Miami here is that there is flexibility in the way there wasn’t before. Busquets’ contract is off the books. So too is Alba’s. There is an assumption that Rodrigo De Paul – who was excellent in Saturday’s final – will take up a designated player slot alongside Messi. 

  The Herons could also see any number of players depart. There is a word here in which Miami lose two stars in Busquets and Alba and two starters in Allende, Maxi Falcon. If Suarez leaves and Benjamin Cremaschi – on loan at Parma after falling out with Macherano – also bolts, Miami have spots to fill and money to spend. 

  What, exactly, that looks like is hard to determine. There will undoubtedly be the temptation to swing big on a former European superstar. Neymar rumors will not go away. According to Angel Di Maria, Messi would love to unite with the Argentina star in South Beach in the future. 

  A smarter club would realize that it would do better to spend big on an elite central defender or defensive midfielder. Yet, with Miami being led by ambitious owners like Jorge Mas and David Beckham, the club has often focused the majority of its resources on big names as opposed to inteligent signings on the transfer market. 

  Either way, change is coming. Miami have money to spend and a trophy to defend. Normally, champions don’t need to overhaul too much. But here, Miami face an uncertain – and incredibly important – offseason.

  Miami 1.0 ended with a trophy. Miami 2.0 begins with hope, and no shortage of questions.

Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz has been encouraged to reject interest from Barcelona and instead pursue a move to Liverpool, with Colombian icon Camilo Zuniga insisting the Premier League is the ideal environment for the wing-back’s high-energy style. As elite sides circle ahead of his next career step, debate continues to mount over where the in-form Munoz should go next.

Munoz's rise as an in-demand Premier League full-back

Munoz’s rise from an €8 million signing to one of the Premier League’s most dynamic attacking wing-backs has sparked interest across Europe, leaving Crystal Palace braced for potential summer bids. The Colombian defender has excelled under Oliver Glasner, producing consistent end product and thriving in Palace’s wing-back system, which has helped elevate his reputation dramatically over the past 18 months. As Barcelona and Liverpool monitor his situation ahead of 2026, voices within Colombia’s football community have begun offering strong opinions on where the 29-year-old should continue his career.

Reports in Spain have linked Barcelona with a serious push to sign Munoz as part of their rebuild at right-back, where his attacking instincts and direct play have caught the eye of Hansi Flick’s staff. Liverpool are also believed to be tracking him as potential long-term cover following Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure in the summer. These competing interests have created a significant crossroads for Munoz, who has openly spoken about dreaming of representing clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United.

But despite that ambition, Zuniga has argued that leaving the Premier League would be a step backwards stylistically for Munoz. He believes the Colombian's explosive running, relentless energy and verticality make him uniquely suited to English football rather than the slower, possession-heavy style seen in Spain. With Palace having already identified Sacha Boey as a potential replacement, the expectation is that Muñooz could be one of the club’s most sought-after assets in next year’s transfer window.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportZuniga urges Munoz to make Liverpool move

Speaking to Caracol Radio, former Colombia international Zuniga delivered a clear verdict on where Munoz should go next: “Because of Dani’s style of play, I would put him at Liverpool,” he said.

He went on to explain why the Premier League remains the ideal league for the Palace star: “A team with a lot of attacking and box-to-box play would be a great fit for Liverpool because Dani is very active, so he attacks the spaces a lot. So, I would keep him in the Premier League.”

Finally, he argued that Barcelona’s slower, possession-oriented football would not suit Munoz’s natural instincts: “Yes, I would keep him in the Premier League because the slow, methodical style doesn’t suit him. He’s more of an attacker, looking to exploit space. Barcelona gives him a lot of possession, taking the ball there, bringing it back. It’s more of a premium style.”

Munoz's success at Cyrstal Palace invites attention

Munoz has transformed himself into one of Europe’s most productive wing-backs, becoming a central figure in Crystal Palace’s identity under Glasner. His attacking output has reached elite levels for a defender, with notable contributions including six goals and ten assists last season, capped by a Man of the Match performance in the 2025 FA Cup Final. This year, before his knee injury, he had already added three more Premier League goals while leading all defenders in Fantasy Premier League points.

Beyond statistics, his tactical profile makes him highly appealing as Munoz thrives in systems that maximise his stamina, timing of runs and aggressive ball-carrying, which is why Zuniga views Liverpool as a natural fit. His combination of defensive work rate and attacking precision mirrors the requirements of a modern full-back in pressing-heavy teams.

Munoz's long-term future remains complicated by his contract and Crystal Palace’s leverage. He is tied to Selhurst Park until 2028, giving Crystal Palace freedom to demand a substantial transfer fee, and interest from clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea continues to grow. His dream of one day joining a Spanish giant is well known, but the Premier League has shaped his development and allowed him to showcase his strengths in a way few leagues could.

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Getty ImagesMunoz focusing on recovery as move not expected until 2026 summer

Munoz is expected to return from knee surgery within four to six weeks, and Crystal Palace will hope he regains his pre-injury form as they continue pushing for European qualification. His performances upon returning will heavily influence the transfer noise around him, particularly as clubs begin formal planning for their 2026 summer recruitment. Liverpool, Barcelona and others will keep monitoring the situation, but no move is expected before the end of the current campaign.

MLB announced on Sunday that Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave “until further notice" after they were originally placed there from a gambling investigation, ESPN's David Purdum reported.

The league would not provide any further information until the investigation is complete. Ortiz was placed on leave back on July 13, while Clase followed on July 28. Ortiz's leave ended on Sunday, but now it has been extended.

MLB is investigating gambling activity around two Ortiz pitches earlier this year—one on June 15 against the Mariners and one on June 27 against the Cardinals. The latter came in Ortiz's most recent start since he's been on leave, in which he gave up four earned runs and lost 5-0. Clase is tied to the same investigation.

Before being put on leave, Ortiz posted a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings pitched in 2025. Clase, as a closer for Cleveland, posted a 3.23 ERA in 48 games this season with 24 saves.

Mumbai Indians upped their six-hitting on the big night, to knock Gujarat Giants out

Namooh Shah13-Mar-20257-0 – Mumbai Indians’ (MI) record against Gujarat Giants, MI are the only team to remain unbeaten against an opponent in the WPL.213 for 4 – MI registered their highest total in the WPL, going past the 207 for 5 they made against the same opponent in 2023. It is also the third-joint highest total across WPLs.5 – Fifty-plus scores by Natalie Sciver-Brunt in this WPL so far, the most by any batter in one season. Three other batters have four fifty-plus scores in one edition of the WIPL.ESPNcricinfo Ltd122 – Total runs scored by MI during the middle overs (7-16) in the Eliminator – the most by any team in a WPL innings, bettering the 121 runs scored by UP Warriorz against RCB last week.133 – Partnership runs between Hayley Matthews and Sciver-Brunt in the Eliminator – the joint-highest stand for MI, equalling their own record against UPW this season in Bengaluru. It was also the third century partnership between the pair, the joint-most by a pair in the WPL alongside Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning for Delhi Capitals.9 – Sixes hit by MI – the most they have hit in a WPL match. The MI batters hit a six every 13.33 balls on Thursday, nearly three times their ratio of 43.28 during the league stage. They were able to hit only 21 sixes in the league matches, the least by any team, and they hit no more than four sixes in any of those eight matches.4 – Number of boundaries Giants conceded through misfields in the Eliminator. In addition, they also put down four catches and missed a run-out chance.22 – Runs Priya Mishra’s drop of Harmanpreet Kaur in the 17th over cost Giants, as per ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index. Harmanpreet had faced only three balls for two runs at that point, including a run that came from the dropped chance.In the next nine balls, she scored 34 runs with four sixes and two fours. According to the algorithm, the other MI batters would have scored only 13 runs in the nine balls that Harmanpreet faced after the reprieve.Giants dropped Matthews twice – when she was on 5 and 42. Those two catches cost them 9 and 12 runs respectively, as per ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index.

Arsenal made it six wins from six in the Champions League on Monday night as Mikel Arteta’s men secured a 3-0 win over Club Brugge.

The Gunners tasted defeat against Aston Villa only a few days ago, but a much-changed team responded in emphatic fashion, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both on the scoresheet.

Madueke scored a fierce opening goal, running through the heart of the Brugge team before unleashing a devastating effort from outside of the box that crashed in off the bar.

His second, a header from close range, was a lot simpler but there was nothing simple about Martinelli’s strike.

The Brazilian cut inside from the left and bent the ball into the far corner to cap off a phenomenal 3-0 win on the road in Europe.

Understandably, Arteta was delighted with what he saw from his players.

Arteta raves over Arsenal's attacking performance

Martinelli and Madueke have both struggled with injury this term but certainly made their chance count in Belgium on Wednesday night.

Speaking to the press after the game, Areta waxed lyrical over the two wingers, saying: “Madueke and Martinelli were outstanding today, the level of threat and two finishes spectacular. Jesus back after 11 months, to see him perform in the manner he did was really positive.”

Perhaps the biggest positive for the Gunners was Gabriel Jesus’ return to the side. The Brazilian hasn’t been seen in the first team since suffering a horrific ACL injury against Manchester United back in January.

While the striker didn’t score, he managed more touches than the man he replaced, Viktor Gyokeres, despite playing just half an hour.

Arteta was ecstatic to see the forward back in action, saying: “For 11 months, he’s been fighting against another very difficult injury and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance back with us is really impressive and we’re all delighted for him.

“You can see how much we love him! If he continues to perform in that manner, he will bring something else to the team and I am really happy to see that.”

Arteta praises underrated Arsenal star

While the forward line grabbed the headlines in Brugge this week, praise must be handed to the lesser-spotted Christian Norgaard.

The Danish midfielder has barely kicked a ball since signing from Brentford in the summer but more than took his chance on Wednesday, albeit in an unfamiliar role.

Due to injuries to Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera, Norgaard played at centre-back and looked very solid, helping his team keep a clean sheet.

The manager was delighted with his performance, stating: “Christian Norgaard is someone who probably prepares the best out of all of them. He is somebody who makes us better every day. Any position, any condition, his attitude is always immaculate.”

Arsenal star was playing like Saka, now he's being treated like Smith Rowe

The incredible Arsenal talent could end up following Smith Rowe’s trajectory instead of Saka’s.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes 5 days ago

يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لخوض عدة مباريات في شهر ديسمبر الحالي لعام 2025، وذلك في العديد من البطولات، في محاولة لاستعادة توازنهم.

ويحتل ليفربول حاليًا المركز الثامن في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 21 نقطة، في حين يمتلك 9 نقاط ويحتل المركز الثالث عشر في جدول دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري.

اقرأ أيضًا.. شيرر بعد فوز ليفربول على وست هام: محمد صلاح لا يمكنه الشكوى من سلوت

ومر ليفربول بفترة كارثية مؤخرًا حيث خسر في 9 من أصل آخر 12 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات، قبل أن يستعيد توازنه قليلًا عقب فوزه أمس على وست هام بهدفين دون رد في الجولة الثالثة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي.

ولن يتمكن النجم المصري محمد صلاح من المشاركة في كافة مباريات ليفربول ذلك الشهر حيث يستعد لخوض بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا رفقة منتخب مصر، حيث ستكون أولى مبارياتهم يوم 22 ديسمبر الجاري. مواعيد مباريات ليفربول في شهر ديسمبر 2025

ليفربول وسندرلاند، الجولة الرابعة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، الأربعاء 3 ديسمبر 2025، 10:15 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11:15 بتوقيت السعودية.

ليدز يونايتد وليفربول، الجولة الخامسة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، السبت 6 ديسمبر 2025، 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

إنتر ميلان وليفربول، الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، الثلاثاء 9 ديسمبر 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية.

ليفربول وبرايتون، الجولة السادسة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، السبت 13 ديسمبر 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6 بتوقيت السعودية.

توتنهام وليفربول، الجولة السابعة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، السبت 20 ديسمبر 2025، 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

ليفربول وولفرهامبتون، الجولة الثامنة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، السبت 27 يسمبر 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6 بتوقيت السعودية.

Where to begin? That sentence, perhaps, sums up the malaise at Liverpool this season, the catastrophic failure that has tainted not just the form of Arne Slot’s side but the culture and the club-fanbase connection too.

The overwhelming frustration that the supporters have felt since this abject run of results started is clearly shared by the players, with Mohamed Salah’s audacious outburst after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United leading to an overspill that has threatened to engulf the club.

Slot is walking a tightrope, now, but the plain truth is that FSG are right to givew the head coach their overwhelming support. Backing a player, even Salah, over the boss is something the ownership simply cannot do, even with Slot pitted against a peerless hero, even against Salah.

This is a mess of a situation, so far removed from the culture and stability that has left rivals so envious over the past decade, Jurgen Klopp starting the fire.

Salah’s calculated gambit will prove the end for one of Liverpool’s leading parties, to be sure.

Liverpool already looking at big-money Salah replacement

Slot and Salah’s long-term futures at Anfield are now mutually exclusive, with the Egyptian King’s incendiary comments after being benched for three successive games confirming a breakdown in the relationship between the two.

The Premier League champions have been sent in a tailspin, and Salah’s divorce from Slot’s plans stands as a symbol of the staggering collapse.

But, whichever side of the fence you stand on, there’s no denying that Salah is 33 years old and has been well below expectations this season, just five goals and three assists to show for his campaign, 19 matches in.

That’s why Spanish sources suggest plans to sign Desire Doue from Paris Saint-Germain have been ramped up, with FSG ready to launch a British-record €150m (£131m) bid in 2026.

Doue, 20, was crowned the European Golden Boy after his incredible breakout campaign in Paris, now established as one of the most talented wide attackers in the world.

He is not as polished as Salah in his prime, but this would be the perfect signing to replace the £400k-per-week superstar on Merseyside, should push come to shove.

Why Doue would be a Salah upgrade

Doue is quite the talent, unique in his dynamic and versatile wing play. He is a talented technician, but he also wears his qualities with such personality and gusto, splitting defences open with fleet footwork and calculated passing.

He was hailed as a “magician” by talent scout Jacek Kulig after his “incredible performance” against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last year, a fine indication of his ability to showcase his skills on the grandest of stages.

Moreover, the France international is able to balance his output; not shy to shoot, he is a fierce playmaker, and this is why he could prove such a perfect upgrade on the ageing Salah.

Doue has yet to get going in Ligue 1 this season, but Sofascore data presents an average of 5.1 duels and 1.5 tackles in the league last year, underlaying a return of 16 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, and plenty of flashy dribbling besides.

Salah’s deterioration this season has been well documented, but he was in contention for the Ballon d’Or last year, and when looking at how he compares to Doue over the past year, you begin to see why this French up-and-comer is so highly touted.

Doue is a combative player, and the energy and mobility he would add to Liverpool’s right flank would help steer Anfield back into calmer waters, flowing toward the attacking successes and fluency of last year.

It is clear that some measure of change is needed, and while FSG will fight tooth and nail to retain Salah’s services for now, Doue would mark a significant upgrade, nailing down the right-sided wing for many years to come.

Salah is a one-of-a-kind sort of winger, and Liverpool would likely fall by the wayside if signing someone mimicking his style. Doue is his own player, and his creative emphasis would help service the likes of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the centre.

In this way, he would prove an upgrade on a legend whose Liverpool career sadly seems to be winding down.

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