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Leeds United had a standout away record to thank for Championship promotion last season, with only three losses picked up all campaign long on the road.

Worryingly, this season, the Whites have already lost four games on their travels in the unnerving environment of the Premier League, despite only being away from Elland Road a slim total of five times.

The well-oiled machine Daniel Farke had at his disposal in the second tier is now nowhere to be found, with Leeds fortunate to only lose 3-0 at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last time out.

Some of Leeds’ summer pick-ups have still impressed, though, as Farke hopes the blistering exploits of Noah Okafor down the wings can be one overwhelming positive that steers the West Yorkshire outfit to safety.

Okafor's impressive Leeds start

There would have been a lot of pressure on Okafor’s shoulders to instantly impress, too, having come in as Leeds’ most expensive capture this summer at the £18m mark.

Thankfully, even if the collective hasn’t always clicked, the Swiss has managed to stand out as a bright, forward-thinking spark on the left wing.

Two goals have already come the forward’s way, with his front-foot approach – which saw him complete a tricky five dribbles versus Brighton – also earning him various plaudits, while other Leeds attackers have receded into their shells, trying to valiantly compete in the daunting division.

Indeed, ex-Leeds defender Aidy White has singled out Okafor for praise for being “so direct” in his style, which – in tow – has gifted the Elland Road side a “massive threat” going forward, according to the Irishman.

Of course, the £18m winger can’t do everything on his own, with his risky style of play sometimes backfiring.

But, he could be crucial in the long run, especially if Leeds need a moment of split-second magic to unlock a tiring defence in a basement battle clash.

Chalkboard

The U21 ranks in West Yorkshire could even be brewing another Okafor-like ace in an exciting 18-year-old sensation.

Leeds' next Noah Okafor

Leeds has a rich recent history when it comes to unearthing some exceptionally talented young gems, with Farke directly responsible for Archie Gray’s crazy ascent to first-team greatness.

While Archie’s brother, Harry, looks like the most exciting prospect in the Thorp Arch academy right now, another teenager by the name of Harvey Vincent will hope he’s the next off the homegrown conveyor belt to make an instant impression in the senior ranks when he’s handed an eventual chance.

He has already been described as an “unpredictable” attacker to keep tabs on – much like Okafor – by Pure Football writer Trent Gaffney and looks like a genuinely exciting young talent.

Lining up in the same set-up as the highly-rated Gray regularly this season, Vincent has still managed to stick out as a talent noted for being able to “tear you apart in seconds” as Gaffney further elaborates, with his late effort (video above) last time out against Brighton U21s securing a 2-2 draw.

In total, now, lining up for both the U18s and U21s, Vincent has 14 goals and eight assists next to his name, with his tricks and flicks thankfully backed up by some impressive output, much like Okafor has managed in the senior Leeds ranks, since moving to England.

LW

15

5 + 1

RW

12

2 + 1

RM

12

5 + 1

CF

2

0

LM

2

0

DM

1

0

Vincent could also be useful to Farke in the near future when studying his adaptability for the cause, with the two-time England U16 international even lining up as a defensive midfielder and a striker on occasion.

Okafor can also be equally as malleable, having lined up across all of the forward positions for former employers AC Milan, from slotting in as a second striker or coming into the side down the alternate right wing.

The electric Leeds number 19 even stated, while still at the San Siro, that he is at “the coach’s disposal” as to where he can line up.

Having recently penned a professional deal to keep him at Leeds until 2027, too, the future certainly looks bright for Vincent in West Yorkshire.

It will now rest on Vincent being able to live up to his potential, with Leeds potentially gaining another Okafor-like menace in the process.

Leeds star was "indispensable" to Farke, now he's as droppable as Aaronson

This Leeds United star who was once dubbed as a necessary cog is now struggling in the Premier League.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 5, 2025

The fast bowler hit his stride in the Perth nets three days from the start of the Ashes

Vithushan Ehantharajah18-Nov-20257:21

Can Ollie Pope reward England’s faith?

Mark Wood’s chances of playing the first Test against Australia took a positive step forward on Tuesday with a 40-minute spell in the nets at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the Ashes begins on Friday.Returning from a hamstring scare during the warm-up match against England Lions last week, Wood, left leg heavily strapped, watched on initially as England returned to training after a couple of days off. However, he was soon into meaningful work with the ball, with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum taking a closer look at their prized asset from the standing umpire’s point-of-view.Related

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“He was absolutely rapid today, I can tell you that firsthand,” said Jamie Smith, who was one of the batters facing Wood. “He’s definitely one to avoid on the list. He’s near enough full tilt so it’s good signs for us.”England are expected to opt for an all-pace attack on a pitch regarded as one of the fastest in the world. They had their first look at the surface, which was watered yesterday, ahead of training.Wood is a key component of their plan, not just as the quickest in the touring party – and, perhaps, the circuit – but also as the only specialist bowler with previous Ashes tour experience. Wood was the standout quick during the 2021-22 series, taking 17 wickets at 26.64, with a number of batters he troubled still part of the current Australia side.Mark Wood steams in at training•Getty Images

Much will depend on how Wood pulls up on Wednesday, and whether he can get through another session later in the day. He has not played competitive cricket since February, spending the last nine months recovering from left knee surgery, having suffered a stress fracture of the right elbow in September 2024.Selecting Wood remains a risk, albeit one that will be cushioned among four other quicks, including Stokes, and with Jofra Archer able to provide further support on the express pace front. It is also a risk England are more than willing to take.The management were not overly worried when Wood left the field against the Lions with a tight hamstring after two four-over spells. The soft outfield at Lilac Hills contributed to that discomfort in what was Wood’s first bowl since England’s penultimate Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, on February 26. And given the investment in Wood, which includes a three-year central contract with this Ashes in mind, there is a sense now is the time to cash in.Josh Tongue, the likely beneficiary if Wood is deemed unfit for selection, reiterated that sentiment: “It feels like if he’s good to go and the management feels he’s good to go, I don’t see why not.”

Manchester United are now advancing in talks to sign AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, with it being revealed that a formal offer is in the works…

With Casemiro’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, and Kobbie Mainoo’s future still in doubt, having already held talks over a January exit, it is little wonder Ruben Amorim is keen to bring in a new central midfielder, and a Premier League player recently joined the shortlist.

With Carlos Baleba Man United’s dream target and an approach recently being made for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, there is no shortage of exciting options to choose from, although it was recently revealed Amorim wants to bring in two midfielders before next season.

Recruiting from the Premier League in the summer has served United well so far this season, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha becoming key players, but a move for a slightly more left-field central midfielder is now gaining traction.

Man Utd advancing in talks to sign Kees Smit

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United are progressing in talks with AZ Alkmaar over a deal for Smit, with an opening bid in the works, and the deal could be finalised when Amorim’s side formalize their ‘definitive’ offer.

The 19-year-old has caught the eye due to his passing and ability in transition, and there is a belief he would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, despite still being relatively inexperienced.

The midfielder is valued at just €25m (£22m), meaning a deal wouldn’t break the bank, and there could be money left over to pursue the likes of Baleba or Anderson, with Alkmaar also willing to sanction a departure.

Lauded as a “duel monster” by scout Ben Mattinson, the teenager has already established himself as a key player for Alkmaar, amassing two goals and four assists in all competitions this season, while his performances last term indicate he could be the future of the Netherlands national side.

There may be some concern over the fact the Dutchman is yet to prove himself outside his home country, but a deal would be relatively inexpensive at just £22m, so it would certainly be a low-risk move.

Smit is extremely comfortable in possession of the ball, placing in the 90th percentile for both successful take-ons and progressive carries per 90 over the past year, and it would be fantastic if Man United were able to beat the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona to his signature.

Carlos Baleba's stance on leaving Brighton to join Man Utd Related How £100m Carlos Baleba now feels about leaving Brighton to join Man Utd

Will the Red Devils get their man?

Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 17, 2025

The international break is something of a blessing and a curse for Arsenal.

On the one hand, it gives the club respite from their current injury crisis, but on the other, they have to wait two weeks to make amends for the draw away to Sunderland.

However, even though they saw their lead cut on Sunday evening, Mikel Arteta’s side are in a great spot in the Premier League.

Moreover, despite injuries, the side is full to bursting with talent, including one player who’s starting to look like another Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The latest on Lewis-Skelly's future at Arsenal

It would be fair to say that, aside from their run in the Champions League, last season was something of a disappointment for Arsenal.

Chalkboard

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

However, there were at least a couple of positives to come from it, such as the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly.

The latter was more of a surprise to most, and yet over the course of the campaign, he became a far more significant part of the side, effectively becoming Arteta’s first-choice left-back.

In fact, by the end of the season, the 19-year-old had made 39 first-team appearances, totalling 2306 minutes, and even made his full debut for England, during which he scored.

However, so far this season has been a totally different story for the youngster, as while he has still made 12 appearances, only four of those have been starts, and overall, he has played just 463 minutes of action.

During the last international break, Thomas Tuchel said that this lack of game time could result in him not picking the Islington-born ace.

Unfortunately, that’s what’s happened this international break.

Appearances

39

12

Starts

26

4

Minutes

2306′

463′

Goals

1

0

Assists

2

3

Unsurprisingly, this has led to reports that other Premier League clubs are now interested in signing the youngster in the winter transfer window.

However, the same reports make it clear that Arteta and Co are keen to keep the Hale Ender at the club, and that they expect him to play more minutes as the season progresses.

With that said, if Arsenal do decide to cash in, they do have another youngster in the side who is showing shades of Lewis-Skelly in his game.

Arsenal's new Lewis-Skelly

Even though Riccardo Calafiori and Pieiro Hincapie are his competition at left-back, the Arsenal player who is showing shades of Lewis-Skelly in his game this season is Cristhian Mosquera.

Now, that might sound like a leap to begin with, but “similarly to Lewis-Skelly,” per analyst Ben Mattinson, the Spaniard has shown an immense level of “physical maturity for his age.”

More than that, though, the 21-year-old has also shown a remarkable mental maturity, which was on full display when he came on and played almost the whole game away to Liverpool, and then started the club’s opening Champions League game against Athletic Bilbao.

While he may have been described as a “monster” by Gunners insider Hand of Arsenal, where most young defenders would need their hand held by a senior teammate or go crashing into ridiculous challenges, the former Valencia gem is thoughtful about when he goes in for a tackle or block.

However, that’s not to say he is adverse to the more physical side of the game, as, just like Lewis-Skelly, he is someone who “loves to battle with physical attackers,” according to Mattinson.

Moreover, while most fans and pundits alike expected the exciting youngster to play a minor role this season, the Valencia-born titan is following in the Hale Ender’s footsteps from last season and playing a far more significant role than most predicted.

For example, he has already made 12 appearances, five of which have been starts, totalling 597 minutes.

Finally, like the Englishman, he is not solely limited to playing a single position, as in addition to playing at centre-back, he can do a job at right-back.

Ultimately, there are some differences between them, but in terms of mentality, raw ability, and attitude, there are plenty of similarities between Mosquera and Lewis-Skelly.

After Dowman: Hale End has given Arsenal a future star who's "like Vieira"

The incredible prospect could be another Max Dowman-style star for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Diz o ditado que ’em time que está ganhando, não se mexe’ e é nessa filosofia que Abel Ferreira deve manter os onze titulares do Palmeiras para a primeira grande final do Paulistão 2024.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasNa busca do 12º título pelo Palmeiras, Weverton repudia ódio nas redes sociais: ‘Sei quem sou!’Palmeiras30/03/2024Campeonato Paulista6 nomes que podem decidir o Paulistão para Santos e PalmeirasCampeonato Paulista30/03/2024PalmeirasCom a chegada de Rômulo, Palmeiras tem sábado agitado pré-final do PaulistaPalmeiras30/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Sem perder há 20 partidas, o Verdão treinou nesta manhã na Academia de Futebol pela primeira vez após a importante vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Novorizontino e já finalizou a sua preparação para encarar o Santos na Vila Belmiro neste domingo (31).

Maior nome do Palmeiras hoje, o garoto Endrick participou de apenas uma parte da atividade no gramado e seguiu um cronograma especial na parte interna do CT. O camisa 9 sentiu um trauma na coxa direita diante do Novorizontino, mas deve ser titular na final do Paulista.

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Gustavo Gómez e Richard Rios treinaram mais uma vez sem restrições e surgem como potenciais dúvidas na cabeça do técnico para estarem entre os 11 titulares na grande decisão.

Ao que tudo indica que Abel deve manter o time do Palmeiras que avançou nas quartas e na semi do Estadual com duas vitórias.

Sendo assim, o provável Palmeiras para encarar o Peixe é: Weverton, Mayke, Marcos Rocha, Luan, Murilo e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Endrick e Flaco López.

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A atividade deste sábado contou com a presença do meia Rômulo, que foi para o campo e treinou pela primeira vez com seus novos companheiros. A expectativa da torcida é de que o destaque do Novorizontino neste Paulista possa estrear com a camisa alviverde já na próxima quarta-feira (3), quando o Palmeiras encara o San Lorenzo, em Buenos Aires, na estreia da Libertadores 2024.

A bola rola para Santos x Palmeiras neste domingo (31), na Vila Belmiro, a partir das 18h (horário de Brasília), e o jogo terá transmissão da Rede Record, Cazé TV, TNT/HBO Max e Paulistão Play.

Tudo sobre

Palmeiras

Are we witnessing history unfold before our very eyes in Scottish football?

No club outside the Old Firm has been crowned champions of Scotland since Aberdeen in 1984/85, with Celtic themselves hoovering up 13 of the last 14 Premiership titles.

However, right now, it is Heart of Midlothian who lead the way, five points clear of faltering Celtic, and the pair meet at Tynecastle on Sunday lunchtime in, potentially, one of the biggest matches played on Scottish soil for a generation.

Brendan Rodgers will take his team to Tynecastle depleted, potentially without five key starters, so should the Celts’ “exceptional” forgotten youngster come into the team and, belatedly, be entrusted to start matches?

Cameron Carter-Vickers injury latest

On Thursday night, any celebrations sparked by Celtic’s come-from-behind Europa League victory over Sturm Graz were very much tempered by a trio of injury concerns.

Right at the end of the game, Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a nasty injury, with Rodgers later revealing that the USA international has sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury which will see him sidelined for potentially up to five months.

This came after both Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Alistair Johnston were forced to withdraw during the first half on Thursday, joining Jota and Daizen Maeda in a star-studded and crowded treatment room.

Thus, none of this quintet will feature at Tynecastle on Sunday, with Maeda the only one in contention to return in time for the League Cup semi-final against Rangers a week later, but Carter-Vickers will be a particularly impactful absentee.

Since joining from Tottenham in the summer of 2021 under Ange Postecoglou, initially on loan but then permanently for £6m, he has been an absolutely integral figure, as the table below documents.

Most Celtic appearances 2021/22-present

Players

Appearances

Callum McGregor

208

Cameron Carter-Vickers

172

Daizen Maeda

171

Greg Taylor

167

Kyōgo Furuhashi

165

Reo Hatate

154

Joe Hart

153

James Forrest

129

Matt O’Riley

124

Alistair Johnston

116

Anthony Ralston

114

Liam Scales

112

Jota

99

Statistics via Transfermarkt

As the table documents, since Carter-Vickers’ arrival in Glasgow, only captain Callum McGregor has made more appearances for the club than the American international, featuring in 172 of 224 fixtures, around 77%, despite various injury problems, including requiring knee surgery two years ago, but that ratio will drastically drop in the coming weeks and months.

His performances have earned high praise, with former long-serving captain Scott Brown believing he is the club’s best centre-back since Virgil van Dijk, labelling him “solid, strong and quick”, praising his reading of the game and leadership qualities.

So, how on earth does Rodgers go about filling this ginormous void in the middle of his back line?

Well, now would be the time for him to trust his forgotten “exceptional” youngster.

Celtic's ready-made Carter-Vickers deputy

Liam Scales has been Carter-Vickers’ centre-back partner throughout this season, with fellow United States international Auston Trusty seemingly next in line to come into defence.

However, as documented by Art de Roché of the Athletic, managers of possession-heavy teams are often hesitant to start two left-footed centre-backs together.

Meanwhile, Trusty’s form last season suggests he may not be the best candidate, as he made five errors that led to shots or goals in the Premiership, per Sofascore, more than any other defender in the squad.

Chalkboard

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

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Thus, should forgotten man Jahmai Simpson-Pusey return from the footballing wilderness and be thrust into the spotlight at Tynecastle?

The 19-year-old, who is right-footed, joined on loan from Manchester City during the summer, but is yet to make his senior debut, an unused substitute for both legs of the Champions League play-off against Kairat, but otherwise not even on the bench for any other fixture.

​​​​​​​

His sole outing in hoops to date came for Celtic B in the KDM Evolution Trophy, starting a 5-3 defeat to East Fife in front of just 616 spectators at Bayview, probably not what he had envisaged when he made the move north of the border.

Simpson-Pusey,​​​​​​​ though, does boast an impressive pedigree, captaining Manchester City to FA Youth Cup success in 2024, featuring regularly for the Sky Blues in the UEFA Youth League and other underage competitions, notably named Premier League 2 player of the season last year, per Transfermarkt.

With the Citizens enduring something of an injury crisis, he made six senior appearances during the most recent campaign too, starting against Brighton in the Premier League, Sporting in the Champions League, and Salford in the FA Cup, thrown in at the deep end.

Thus, he is certainly highly rated by Pep Guardiola, who labelled him “exceptional” following an EFL Cup tie at Tottenham a year ago, while the Scouting App praised his ‘very good passing ability​​​​​​​’ and ‘physical presence’, noting that he thrives in a high line.

These all sound like comparable traits to Carter-Vickers, who is regularly tasked with playing penetrative passes forward, while his usual starting position is on the half-way line, given how much Celtic dominate possession in domestic competitions.

Thus, stylistically, Simpson-Pusey appears to be the ideal deputy, not that Celtic supporters have seen any evidence of this to date.

The teenager was not included in Celtic’s European squad but, following a change in UEFA regulations, if a player is injured long-term, they can be replaced for the remainder of the league phase; clubs can only make this change once a season.

Thus, Simpson-Pusey could yet feature in the Europa League so, before the Hoops travel to Midtjylland next month, he needs to be given an opportunity to prove his worth, starting with Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash in Edinburgh.

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Posts ByDan Emery Oct 25, 2025

The wheels are in danger of coming off for Chelsea this season, if they haven’t already.

Enzo Maresca’s side have looked a shadow of the team that demolished Barcelona over the last week or so.

First, they lost to Leeds United, then drew with Bournemouth, and then, to make matters even worse, they threw away a one-nil lead and lost to Atalanta on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

It’s a run of form that should see the board reflect on who is and isn’t good enough to represent Chelsea, and there is one player who has been even worse than the underwhelming Jamie Gittens and therefore shouldn’t play another minute this season.

Chelsea's poor performers vs Atalanta

Unfortunately for Maresca, although he bears a great deal of responsibility for the loss, more than a handful of Chelsea players were seriously poor against Atalanta on Tuesday night.

Chalkboard

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

Gittens, for example, once again put in a performance that should seriously worry fans as he was utterly ineffective against the 12th-placed Serie A side.

Somehow, the former Borussia Dortmund gem remained on the pitch for the full 94 minutes, despite doing nothing of any note on or off the ball.

For example, he registered a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.26, lost seven of his ten duels, failed to take a single shot on target and played just a single key pass.

To say it was an underwhelming showing from the Englishman would be an understatement, and therefore the 5/10 match rating he received from the Standard’s Dom Smith was more than justified.

The journalist gave Benoit Badiashile the same rating, and it’s hard to disagree.

Sure, the French centre-back made a few good interceptions and tackles in the first half, but he was partly responsible for Charles De Ketelaere’s winner, as he kept backing off from the Belgian before he shot.

It was also a really disappointing night for Enzo Fernández.

The World Cup winner has been crucial for the Blues at times this season, and a source of goals from the middle of the park.

However, against the Bergamo outfit, he was hugely frustrating, as while he did get into dangerous positions on more than one occasion, he either fluffed his lines or made the wrong decision.

Minutes

67′

Expected Goals

0.01

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.42

Assists

0

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Passes (Accurate)

24/33 (73%)

Lost Possession

15

Dribbles

0

Duels (Won)

10 (3)

Now, there is an argument that all three of these players should be dropped for this weekend’s game, but there is another player in the squad, someone who’s been worse than Gittens, who should probably never play for the club again.

The Chelsea flop who cannot play another minute for Maresca

While there are a few Chelsea players who need to be sold in the upcoming transfer window, the first one out the door should be Tosin Adarabioyo.

Now, it should be said that he was far from the worst player on the pitch on Tuesday night, but he still managed to disappoint in the 18 minutes he spent on the pitch.

For example, he lost 100% of his ground duels, committed a foul, lost the ball four times and didn’t even make a tackle, despite the hosts pushing more in the closing minutes.

However, the defeat to Atalanta is not the sole reason the 28-year-old should no longer be getting any minutes for the team, as he has cost the side on multiple occasions this season.

The most recent example of this came in the game against Leeds United.

It was at Elland Road that, under very little pressure, he lost the ball in the Blues’ penalty area, which led directly to the hosts scoring, and content creator Tom Overend calling him “utterly embarrassing.”

Moreover, the statistics from his season overall do not make for pleasant reading.

In the four Champions League appearances he’s made this season, the former Fulham star has averaged just one point per game and conceded eight goals.

Games

9

5

1

Starts

5

3

1

Minutes

557′

239′

90′

Goals

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

Points per Game

1.78

1.00

3.00

Then, in the Premier League, he has averaged just 1.78 points per game across nine appearances, five of which have been starts.

Finally, FBref have ranked him in just the top 38% of centre-backs in the league for tackles won per 90, but the top 13% for tackles attempted, meaning he simply isn’t winning enough of them.

Ultimately, Gittens has been disappointing this season, but he’s still young and could come good.

However, Tosin is an experienced defender who has directly cost Chelsea points and, given he was signed for free, should be sold as soon as possible.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

What the teams in contention need to do to stay alive in the men’s and women’s competitions

Sampath Bandarupalli25-Aug-2025

Men’s tournament

Invincibles, favourites to confirm their place in the final, have a chance at a three-peat due to their superior net run rate. Rockets and Superchargers will now hope Invincibles go down against London Spirit on Monday.It will, however, be difficult for both to go past Invincibles on net run rate (NRR) as the current table-toppers are ahead of Rockets by about 180 runs and further 20-odd runs against Superchargers. Rockets have an edge of about 20 runs on NRR over Superchargers, and playing on a later date will help them determine their equation if Spirit can take down Invincibles.Oval Invincibles are currently on top of the men’s Hundred table•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Women’s tournament

Northern Superchargers – Wins 5, Points 20Superchargers are clear of every team barring Brave by at least four points, and their net run rate is second only to Brave, at 1.027. But that doesn’t guarantee them a place in the Eliminator. If they lose their last match against Manchester Originals, they could go down to fourth, behind Spirit and Originals.But their strong net run rate could give them a chance to stay in the tournament, as they will have to lose by at least 58 runs to fall behind Originals (assuming Originals bat first and score 140). Superchargers will be safe if Spirit do not win big enough against Invincibles.If Spirit win by 40 runs after making 140 while batting first, Superchargers can afford to lose by 70 runs (if Originals scored 140) and stay ahead of them on net run rate.Related

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London Spirit and Manchester Originals – Wins 4, Points 16Spirit and Originals are tied on 16 points and separated by only about three runs on NRR. If both win their respective last matches, the team with the bigger win will end up in Saturday’s Eliminator.Both could end up facing each other on Saturday if they secure heavy wins and topple Superchargers’ strong NRR. And if both lose, Rockets, currently fifth in the table, will qualify.But if Rockets also lose, then the team that loses narrowly between Spirit and Originals will qualify. Spirit have a cushion of three runs on net run rate over Originals now, but Originals have the advantage of playing later and knowing what to do.Trent Rockets – Wins 3, Points 12Rockets face Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday, but to stay in the competition, they will need the results of the two preceding matches to go in their favour: Invincibles defeating Spirit on Monday and Superchargers winning against Originals.If they beat Phoenix on Wednesday, they will finish third, surpassing both Spirit and Originals on net run rate. Rockets are behind Spirit by only around 12 runs and approximately nine runs behind Originals.Even if both Spirit and Originals lose narrowly in their respective matches, their net run rate will fall, that Rockets won’t need to stress about their winning margin.

The election commissioner announced that Mithun got 154 votes, beating Salim Shahed

Mohammad Isam04-Sep-2025Mohammad Mithun has become the new president of Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) after winning the players body’s election, held in Dhaka on Thursday. Election commissioner Iftekhar Rahman announced that Mithun got 154 votes, beating Salim Shahed who was the interim CWAB convenor since May this year. Shahed got 34 votes.”We will try to solve everything through negotiation,” Mithun said shortly after the election results were announced. “If that’s not possible, as I have come here to protect the rights of the cricketers, I have to speak for them. The BCB is our guardian. We can go to our guardian with whatever demands that we have. I hope the BCB sees those demands positively.”CWAB was established in 2004 but it hasn’t had any elections in the 21 years of existence. Naimur Rahman, the former Bangladesh captain and Awami League MP, was the CWAB president for 11 years, alongside general secretary Debabrata Paul. The pair quit their posts earlier this year, before Shahed was made the interim head of an ad-hoc committee.After many years, CWAB saw involvement from the country’s top cricketers. Before Thursday’s elections, the other positions in the executive body were filled uncontested.Former batter Shahriar Hossain is the senior vice-president while Nurul Hasan is the vice president. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shamsur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rumana Ahmed, Khaled Mashud Pilot, Imrul Kayes, Irfan Sukkur, and Akbar Ali are new executive committee members.CWAB is an affiliate of the World Cricketers’ Association (formerly known as FICA). It came under the spotlight when Bangladesh’s top cricketers went on an indefinite strike in 2019, and one of their demands was CWAB’s overhaul at the time. CWAB bosses Naimur and Paul promised elections, but it was never held in the following five years.

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez is one of the hottest names surrounding Major League Baseball's trade deadline on July 31.

Entering Wednesday, his 36 home runs on the year were tied for the National League lead until Shohei Ohtani mashed a homer for the fifth straight game. Still, Suárez is on a heater as one of the best power hitters in baseball. He trails only Cal Raleigh (39) and Ohtani (37) in home runs and leads the MLB in RBIs with 86.

The D-Backs are in a position to pick their favorite package in return from Suárez if they decide to deal him, which certainly isn't a given. At 50-53 and 5 1/2 games back of the final wild-card spot, it may behoove them to deal Suárez, 34, before he becomes a free agent after this season. Although they could acquire talent by dealing first baseman Josh Naylor or starting pitchers Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen, Suárez may just be the darling of this year's trade deadline. The thought of adding his bat for a postseason push could lead to some rival clubs offering shiny future-forward prospects to boost MLB's No. 22 ranked farm system.

Below are some of the best fits for Suárez as we approach the trade deadline.

New York Yankees

Of course the Yankees are in on the hottest bat available at the deadline. MLB insider Jon Heyman has long reported the Yankees have inquired with the D-Backs on the 34-year-old slugger. Suárez was asked about the possibility of a Yankees trade during All-Star weekend, to which he responded "it's a team that wants to win," seeming somewhat enticed about the potential of landing in the Bronx. The Yankees are in need of help at the hot corner down the stretch, seeing six different players play at least one game at third base this year: Oswald Peraza (47), Oswaldo Cabrera (33), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (29), Jorbit Vivas (12), Pablo Reyes (5) and J.C. Escarra (2).

Detroit Tigers

Suárez began his career in Detroit before he was quickly dealt to the Cincinnati Reds. Over a decade later, a return to where it all began may make sense. The Tigers won the race to 60 wins this season and had an incredible first half, but have been stuck in a slump, losing nine of their last 10 games. They need pitching support to help their ace Tarik Skubal, but adding a big bat should be a priority too. Plus, with Skubal only under team control through the end of the 2026 season and a massive contract looming, the Tigers could push their chips in and go for it all this year. If they are willing to give up one of their higher-tier prospects, the D-Backs could bite.

Seattle Mariners

Although they have MLB's home-run leader in Cal Raleigh, the Mariners are looking for an upgrade in the corner infield to strengthen their potential postseason push. Seattle traded Suárez to Arizona just two seasons ago, but a reunion may be in order. Rookie Ben Williamson has served as the primary third baseman for the Mariners this season, mainly supported by Miles Mastrobuoni. Both Williamson and Mastrobuoni have just one home run apiece this year. Suárez's bat brings an upgrade for any roster, but especially Seattle's. We'll see if they offer a package the D-Backs can't refuse, which would unite two of baseball's best home-run hitters on the same roster.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds haven't been rumored as a potential Suárez suitor for long. However, according to a recent report from 's C. Trent Rosecrans, there is mutual interest between the Reds and D-Backs in a deal that would return Suárez to Cincinnati, where he has spent the majority of his MLB career.

He played for the Reds from 2015 to '21 before he was traded to the Seattle Mariners and dealt to Arizona two seasons later. With Suárez slated to become a free agent after this year and Arizona in need of pitching, Rosecrans reported the D-Backs are "at least interested in kicking the tires" on young and promising righthander Chase Petty. The Reds are in striking distance of a wild-card spot and they could push to bring in a familiar face to help down the stretch.