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While Mumbai’s resilient run to the playoffs got a lot of attention, no one is talking up LSG’s chances in the final four

Vishal Dikshit23-May-20236:33

Will Green’s high-risk game work at Chepauk?

Big picture: Can LSG keep their cleansheet against Mumbai?Of the four teams that made it to the playoffs, Lucknow Super Giants are the least glamorous and talked about. They obviously don’t have the rich history of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, but even Gujarat Titans get a lot more attention than them. LSG’s highest run-scorer – Marcus Stoinis – is the 19th on the run charts this season, and their top bowler – Ravi Bishnoi – is 11th on the list of top wicket-takers. They don’t have a future Indian superstar at the top, an experienced fast bowler, or a magician of a wristspinner.That LSG qualified for the playoffs without their regular captain and star batter KL Rahul speaks volumes of Krunal Pandya’s captaincy. Under his leadership, they won three of their last four completed games; those victories coming at the end of the league to qualify without much stress.The one thing they do have in common with the Titans is a clean sheet against one of the IPL’s most successful teams. Just like Titans had a 3-0 record against CSK before Qualifier 1, LSG have a 3-0 record against Mumbai, their opponents in the Eliminator. They played only once during the league stage this season, and LSG won that home game by five runs.LSG have won by setting and chasing targets in recent games but they have depended on their overseas batters – Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Mayers and Quinton de Kock – for most of their runs. Apart from Rahul, their other Indian batters have scored only two half-centuries this season, compared to ten fifties from overseas.Another area they would want to improve is their bowling in the powerplay. They’ve taken the fewest wickets in that phase, and conceded the most wicketless powerplays during the league stage. They’ve used a variety of bowlers with the new ball, and early wickets will be vital against Mumbai’s power-packed and deep batting line-up.Mumbai had a much rougher ride to the playoffs because of injuries to key players but they have once again benefitted from unearthing Indian talent: Nehal Wadhera has impressed with his striking ability, and Akash Madhwal is becoming their go-to death bowler. They squeaked through to the playoffs in fourth place by beating Sunrisers Hyderabad on the final day of the league, and then Titans did them a favour by knocking out RCB.While Mumbai are the best chasing side this season, LSG are the best defenders of totals. Both will have to factor in the possibility of a slow pitch, and whether or not dew will play a part, when deciding what to do if they win the toss. There are no second chances in Chennai on Wednesday: the winner takes a step closer to the final, the loser gets eliminated.LSG beat Mumbai by five runs in their only league meeting this season•BCCIForm guideMumbai Indians WLWWL (last five completed games, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants WWWLLTeam news: No injury issuesLSG don’t have any known fitness issues. For Mumbai, Tilak Varma seems to be fit because he was on their list of Impact Player subs for their previous game and was padded up, but wasn’t needed to bat.Impact Player strategyLSG will swap an opening batter, like Karan Sharma, with one of their frontline bowlers like Mohsin Khan or Yash Thakur.Lucknow Super Giants (probable XII): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 , 3 Krunal Pandya (capt), 4 Marcus Stoinis, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Ayush Badoni, 7 Prerak Mankad, 8 K Gowtham, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Mohsin Khan, 12 Mumbai will also use a similar strategy and sub out a bowler like Madhwal for Tilak if they bowl first, or vice versa if they bat first.Mumbai Indians (probable XII): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Tim David, 6 , 7 Cameron Green, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Hrithik Shokeen/Kumar Kartikeya, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Jason Behrendorff, 12 Stats that matter: Can Suryakumar shine away from Wankhede? All four of de Kock’s dismissals have come against legspinners this season; Piyush Chawla dismissed him in the previous LSG-MI fixture. De Kock also doesn’t have a great record against Chris Jordan in T20s: 59 runs off 41 balls with four dismissals. Bishnoi has dismissed two of Mumbai’s in-form batters three times each. While Ishan Kishan has scored at run a ball against Bishnoi (21 off 21), Suryakumar has done marginally better (29 off 25) against the legspinner. There is a significant difference between Suryakumar’s home and away performances this season. At the Wankhede, he has scored 367 runs while striking at 201.64, including a century and three half-centuries. But away from home, he has managed just 144 runs in seven innings while averaging 20.57. Mumbai have reached the playoffs for the 10th time in 16 seasons; LSG have made it two in two.Pitch and conditionsThe Eliminator is likely to be played on the same pitch on which CSK beat Mumbai in a low-scoring contest. Chennai will again be warm and humid.

When Ireland walk out at Lord’s on Thursday to play only their seventh men’s Test match, they will do so without their best bowler. Josh Little is yet to make his Test debut but has thrived in one-day and T20 cricket, and would have been among the first names on Ireland’s teamsheet. But, to the frustration of many Ireland supporters, he is not available for selection.Little has spent most of the last two months in India, becoming the first active Ireland player to feature in the IPL. His contract with Gujarat Titans is worth INR 4.4 crore (€500,000 approx.) – around six times the value of his Ireland central contract – and he played in eight of their 14 group games, missing three to play an ODI series against Bangladesh.And while Ireland are determined to put up a good show at Lord’s, they have opted to give Little the week off in order to ensure he arrives at next month’s 50-over World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe – and July’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Scotland – feeling fresh after a long winter playing franchise and international cricket around the world.Related

• Balbirnie: Franchise raids on Ireland players will be 'knock-on effect of good cricket'

• Ireland's call goes unanswered as Lord's prepares to underwhelm

• 'We know England are going to come at us. They're changing the way Test cricket is played'

• Debutant Das hits dashing hundred as Ireland toil in Essex warm-up

• Stirling picked, Little rested for Lord's Test against England

“Josh asked us initially if he could have a period of rest ahead of the World Cup Qualifier,” explained Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland’s performance director. “Our management team and the selectors discussed that issue in detail and were amicably in agreement that actually, that was in the best interests of Josh and the team.”We are incredibly proud to go and play against England and at Lord’s. It’s a special occasion,” Holdsworth said. “However, it’s not a pinnacle event. And where we have to put our energies and ensure we have the best team on the park is in our pinnacle events.”Going to a World Cup Qualifier where only 10 teams [two from the Qualifier] can qualify for that World Cup, that is still the biggest prize in the game as far as we’re concerned, and certainly as far as the world game is concerned.”Cricket Ireland’s decision has caused some disquiet. “I’d say there are people who are not happy with that,” Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, told ESPNcricinfo. “There’ll be a lot of people at Lord’s, and there won’t be a lot of people in Zimbabwe or Scotland [for the Qualifiers].”And Lord’s, for an Irish supporter, is fairytale stuff. People in Ireland, I think, got their love of cricket from listening to Test Match Special and watching cricket on Channel Four – like myself – in the nineties and early 2000s. It was always England Tests – and now we’re the team playing on TMS.”If you’re an Irish cricket fan, you’re like, ‘This is amazing, this is dreamland stuff.’ So naturally you’d be like, ‘Why aren’t we playing our best team when they’re not injured?’ But there’s a bigger picture: we understand that the Qualifiers are where we need to be at our best. There’s probably a few moans and groans about it but I think for us – and for Josh – it’s the best thing.”Little has already missed all three of Ireland’s Tests this year – one in Bangladesh, two in Sri Lanka – in order to fulfil his Titans commitments, but Balbirnie said that he had “no issue” with him missing international fixtures to play in the IPL if it had long-term benefits for Irish cricket.”Naturally, I would love to have him next week. I’m not saying I wouldn’t,” Balbirnie said. “But I have no issue with him playing in the IPL; if anything, I want him to be there. I want him on that stage because it’s good for Irish cricket, it’s good for our players.”In the space of a year, he’s gone from not really on the IPL radar to potentially being in the winning squad. It’s good for the people below him – the young players – because they can strive to be the next Josh Little. The knock-down effect it has is far more important than whether he plays the Test match at Lord’s.”Holdsworth added that, without any red-ball preparation behind him, Little might struggle to manage the physical demands of Test cricket: “The majority of the cricket he has been playing is T20 and bowling four overs is not good enough to prepare any cricketer to play Test cricket, where they could be bowling 20-plus overs a day and maybe for two innings.”We didn’t feel physically he was actually going to be ready for that having had no preparation for that Test match. His preparation was literally going to be coming out of the IPL and arriving a couple of days before the Test match.”Instead, Ireland will go into the Test with a depleted seam attack – with Barry McCarthy and Conor Olphert both unavailable through injury. They are preparing with a three-day, first-class warm-up match at Chelmsford, against an Essex side which features four of their own squad members.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a vitória da última por 3 a 1 sobre o Coritiba, construída na última quinta-feira (20), o Corinthians chegou a 15 jogos sem perder da equipe paranaense.

continua após a publicidade

+ATUAÇÕES: “Ataque de milhões” e Crias do Terrão decidem para o Corinthians contra o Coritiba

O último triunfo do Coxa foi há mais de 10 anos, no dia 4 de setembro de 2011, quando bateu o Timão por 1 a 0, no Couto Pereira, em Curitiba. O confronto foi válido pela 21ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, sendo uma das nove derrotas de um time corintiano que foi campeão daquele torneio.

O gol da última vez que o clube alviverde derrotou o Alvinegro do Parque São Jorge foi anotado pelo lateral Jonas.

No intervalo, são 10 vitórias do Corinthians e cinco empates.

O jejum do Coritiba é ainda maior quando se trata de jogos contra o Timão em São Paulo.

A última vez que o Coxa venceu o Time do Povo jogando como visitante aconteceu no dia 13 de julho de 2003, quando os paranaenses fizeram 1 a 0 no estádio do Morumbi.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos

Na Neo Química Arena, o máximo que os alviverdes conseguiram foi um empate em 2 a 2, pela 32ª rodada do Brasileirão de 2014, naquele que foi o primeiro confronto entre os times no estádio corintiano.

No geral, Corinthians e Coritiba se enfrentaram 59 vezes, com 31 triunfos dos paulistas, 16 dos paranaenses e 12 empates.

West Ham United chiefs are growing concerned over one player’s form behind-the-scenes, which has even prompted manager Graham Potter and co to make summer transfer plans.

West Ham set for extended break after FA Cup defeat

Potter’s side won’t be in action this weekend after Aston Villa knocked them out of the FA Cup third round, meaning the Hammers are currently enjoying a break before their next Premier League clash at home to Brentford next weekend.

West Ham already looking at signing Ferguson alternative in £40m striker

The Republic of Ireland international may not stay beyond 2024/2025.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 6, 2025

It has been an impressive start to life in the dugout for Potter, despite some results going against West Ham, with their overall performances going on a real upward trajectory when compared to Julen Lopetegui’s time in charge.

Brentford (home)

February 15th

Arsenal (away)

February 22nd

Leicester City (home)

February 27th

Newcastle United (home)

March 10th

Everton (away)

March 15th

They were arguably unlucky not to come away from Stamford Bridge with at least a point against Chelsea, and they even took a lead in the first-half courtesy of captain Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham also strengthened in January by recalling midfielder James Ward-Prowse and signing striker Evan Ferguson on a temporary deal from Brighton. This time off will allow Ferguson in particular to settle into his surroundings, with Potter thrilled by both men’s arrivals in east London.

“I’m happy,” said Potter on Ferguson and Ward-Prowse.

“The players that we’ve got out at the moment are significant for us. When we get them back — which we will, hopefully, soon — that makes a difference to us. To get the two characters that we did, Evan and James, I think they will help the team improve training every day.

“I think he’s [Ferguson] had a few weeks off and then played 20 minutes or so at the weekend. We’ve got some time now until the next game, so we’ll help him in training.

“That’s our challenge now: to make sure that he’s fit, that he’s helpful, and that he’s enjoying his football, because he’s a talent.”

West Ham's transfer plan amid worries over Emerson Palmieri

However, it is not all plane sailing at Rush Green right now, with £95,000-per-week left-back Emerson Palmieri attracting internal criticism.

According to former senior Irons scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, West Ham are worried over Emerson’s form, so much so that they’re planning to sign a new left-back in the summer.

“They’ve brought in Wan-Bissaka who has done exceptionally well for them,” he told Football Insider.

“So their priority is on the other side, at left-back. I know they’re not 100% sold on Emerson, there have been concerns about his performances. Because of that, Wan-Bissaka has sometimes been forced to move over and play at left-back.

“They’re looking to bring in a new left-back to solve that problem. In terms of targets, I’m not sure, but I know it’s a position they’ve been looking at since before January, even though their focus was elsewhere in the window.

“I’d expect that to be a position they look to address in the summer.”

حقق فريق بيراميدز فوزًا كبيرًا على سيراميكا كليوباترا، في اللقاء الذي أقيم اليوم الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، بخماسية مقابل هدف.

والتقى بيراميدز، مع نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، على ملعب استاد السويس ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة والأخيرة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وخسر بيراميدز، لقب الدوري المصري، بعد فوز الأهلي على فاركو في نفس التوقيت، حيث بات رصيد الأحمر 58 نقطة وبيراميدز 56 نقطة في المركز الثاني.

وسجل عبد الرحمن مجدي، هدف التقدم لفريق بيراميدز في الدقيقة الخامسة عشر من عمر اللقاء، عن طريق ركلة جزاء نفذها بنجاح.

ثم أحرز أحمد بلحاج هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 22 لصالح سيراميكا كليوباترا قبل أن يضيف مروان حمدي الهدف الثاني لبيراميدز في الدقيقة 25.

طالع.. عاجل | الأهلي بطلًا لـ الدوري المصري للمرة 45 في تاريخه

وجاء الهدف الثالث عن طريق عبد الرحمن مجدي في الدقيقة 61 من عمر المباراة، ليعزز الفارق مع سيراميكا ومسجلًا هدفه الثاني في اللقاء.

وأضاف يوسف إبراهيم أوباما الهدف الرابع لصالح السماوي في الدقيقة 83، قبل أن يحرز فيستون مايلي الهدف الخامس في الدقيقة 85.

وبتلك النتيجة تجمد رصيد سيراميكا كليوباترا عند 37 نقطة في المركز السادس من ترتيب المجموعة، ليفشل في خطف بطاقة التأهل إلى الكونفدرالية، بعد فوز المصري البورسعيدي ووصول رصيده إلى 42 نقطة في المركز الرابع.

Fair to say, in the last decade or so, some ultra-talented players have come through Manchester City’s academy.

As noted by Miguel Delaney of the Independent, Cole Palmer, Roméo Lavia, Morgan Rogers and Liam Delap are all flourishing elsewhere in the Premier League right now, having either been sold or discarded by Man City as youngsters in recent seasons.

Rob Dawson of ESPN adds Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jadon Sancho and Brahim Díaz to this list, while Sam Lee of the Athletic would include James Trafford, Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie, Juan Larios, Pedro Porro, Shea Charles and Tommy Doyle to those who’ve been sold for big fees.

So now, at a time when Man City have, as Jamie Jackson of the Guardian puts it, an “ageing squad”, they’ve sold off their best young talent, so are unable to refresh the team, but could the next generation of youngsters change that fact?

They’ll be looking towards Arsenal for inspiration, that’s for sure…

Ethan Nwaneri's amazing impact at Arsenal

During Sunday’s 5-1 demolition at the hands of Arsenal, Manchester City experienced first-hand the value of keeping your best young talent at the club and putting them in the first team when Ethan Nwaneri spanked home the fifth, really rubbing salt into the wounds.

A year ago, Football Insider reported that Man City actually attempted to sign Nwaneri, but Gooners everywhere are delighted that this did not come to pass.

That’s because the teenager has seven goals to his name this season, becoming the second-highest Arsenal scorer in history for goals scored at the age of 17 or younger, behind only John Radford, whose goals came in 1964/65, one shy of his tally of eight.

Nwaneri has earned rave reviews, with James McNicholas of the Athletic noting during a recent Arsecast Extra how extraordinary and unique it is for a 17-year-old to have a “trademark goal”.

He has also become only the third Premier League player to score seven or more goals before celebrating their 18th birthday, after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, both of whom were strikers, and both had pretty decent careers didn’t they?

Yousef Teclab of Breaking the Lines described Nwaneri as a “prodigious talent”, while Ali Tweedale in Opta’s The Analyst believes Arsenal supporters should be “very excited” about his talent.

So, could Pep Guardiola learn a thing or two from his former assistant when it comes to unleashing top teenage talents?

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Manchester City are brewing their own Ethan Nwaneri

As alluded to earlier, Manchester City have, as Neil Leigh puts it, quite the “conveyor belt” when it comes to academy talent, so could Reigan Heskey be the next cab off the rank?

Born in January 2008, we know, we feel old too, he joined Man City’s academy at the age of eight, and is the son of former Leicester, Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey, who won 62 caps for England, scoring seven goals.

Heskey junior has come in for rave reviews, with scout António Mango on Twitter stating he is “flourishing” and that his talent “can’t be ignored”, while Bix Williams, who writes about Man City’s Academy for Salford Now, states that it’s “only a matter of time before he makes that big jump”.

A winger by trade – like Nwaneri – the 17-year-old has been in phenomenal form this term notably scoring 20 goals in 24 games. So, let’s assess how Heskey and Nwaneri compare at youth level.

UEFA Youth League appearances

7

1

UEFA Youth League goals

3

1

EFL Trophy appearances

1

4

EFL Trophy goals

1

0

Premier League 2 appearances

3

24

Premier League 2 goals

3

11

FA Youth Cup appearances

3

7

FA Youth Cup goals

1

8

Under-18 Premier League appearances

16

16

Under-18 Premier League goals

13

7

As the table shows, Heskey compares favourably to Nwaneri for a lot of statistics, especially his output in this season’s UEFA Youth League, scoring a brace against Feyenoord as the Sky Blues reached the round of 32, set to face Midtjylland next week.

By the time he made his breakthrough at Arsenal, Nwaneri had much more PL2 experience than Heskey currently has, still predominantly plying his trade at U18 level, but it is clear that Man City have a hot prospect on their hands, one that they’ll have to give an opportunity to in the first team, or he’ll simply become just the latest player to leave.

Huge Nunes upgrade: Pep must surely regret selling Man City star for £21m

Man City continue to have issues at right-back; with Walker departing, Matheus Nunes is filling-in there, but they already had one of the world’s best

ByBen Gray Feb 5, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs have been told behind-the-scenes that they’re able to sign a former Man City player in the January transfer window, and he would arguably be quite an improvement on their current options.

Spurs expected to make multiple January signings for Ange

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is currently in the midst of an injury and absentee crisis at N17, and has been for months.

Tottenham make contact over move to sign "outstanding" £10m defender

Ange Postecoglou needs to strengthen his defence, with a number of players out injured.

1 ByDominic Lund Jan 4, 2025

A sickness bug made its way through the Spurs training ground last week as well, resulting in the likes of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin succumbing to illness, with many other first-team players on the treatment table with injury problems.

Arsenal (away)

January 15

Everton (away)

January 19

Leicester City (home)

January 26

Brentford (away)

February 2

Man United (home)

February 16

Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert and Guglielmo Vicario are currently unavailable, with Richarlison and Mikey Moore only just returning to full first-team training.

Postecoglou’s lack of depth has been seriously exposed this season, so much so that Spurs are expected to make multiple January signings in an effort to reinforce the squad in key areas.

Tottenham are among the contenders to sign Randal Kolo Muani from PSG, according to some reports, with the France international out-of-favour under Luis Enrique and free to find a new club before deadline day on February 3.

Meanwhile, Spurs are also in the market for another centre-back, and have been linked with a host of options in the form of RC Lens starlet Abdukodir Khusanov, Leeds United star Pascal Struijk, Feyenoord stalwart David Hancko, PSG’s Milan Skriniar, Getafe’s Omar Alderete, Inter Milan sensation Yann Bisseck, Borussia Mönchengladbach stalwart Ko Itakura and Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen.

The possibility of another midfielder also cannot be ruled out, with former Man City and Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz available to them as an option.

Tottenham informed of potential Douglas Luiz deal for January

The £134,000-per-week Brazilian bagged 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Villa last season, before departing for Juventus in the summer, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenchea heading the other way to Birmingham.

Now, he could head back to the Premier League just months after his Serie A switch, as has been reported by The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey this week.

Juve are prepared to green-light a loan exit, which must include an obligation to buy, and Tottenham have been informed that Luiz is available to sign in January if they wish to pursue a deal for the 26-year-old. This could be a golden opportunity for Spurs to bring in a player of proven English top flight quality.

“He’s playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player,” said Villa sporting director Monchi said about Luiz to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“There are guys who arrive and impose themselves, others who need time. Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond discussion. He will become important for Juve.

“He’s a playmaker and every ball that comes out of his feet has a meaning: last year he played 90% of the games with us. He was decisive.”

تشتعل المنافسة على الحذاء الذهبي هذا الموسم، بقيادة عدد من النجوم، بينهم المصري محمد صلاح، جناح فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي.

ويقترب موسم 2024-2025 من النهاية بالفعل، مع سعي المتنافسين لزيادة رصيدهم التهديفي، في محاولة الظفر بـ الحذاء الذهبي.

وأشعل كيليان مبابي المنافسة، بعدما سجل هاتريك في هزيمة فريقه ريال مدريد أمام برشلونة بكلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني.

يأتي ذلك في الوقت الذي توقف فيه محمد صلاح عن التهديف خلال مباريات ليفربول الأخيرة بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

يتصدر فيكتور جيوكيريس لاعب سبورتينج لشبونة حاليًا القائمة برصيد 57 نقطة، على الرغم من أن الدوري البرتغالي لا يعد من الدوريات الأوروبية الخمس الكبرى وبالتالي يمنح عدد نقاط أقل حتى لو سجل اللاعب أهدافًا أكثر من منافسيه بالدوريات الكبرى.

جيوكيريس سجل 38 هدفًا في الدوري البرتغالي ورصيده 57 نقطة في الصدارة حتى الآن. 

ويأتي محمد صلاح لاعب ليفربول خلفه مباشرة في المركز الثاني برصيد 56 نقطة، وقد سجل 28 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بالفعل هذا الموسم.

وفي المركز الثالث يأتي كيليان مبابي لاعب ريال مدريد الذي انتقل إلى 54 نقطة بعد ثلاثيته في الكلاسيكو.

وفي المركز الرابع يتقاسم روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم برشلونة، الذي جمع 50 نقطة من 25 هدفا سجلها في الدوري الإسباني، وهاري كين مهاجم بايرن الذي جمع 50 نقطة من 25 هدفًا التي سجلها في الدوري الألماني هذا الموسم. تصنيف الحذاء الذهبي الحالي

1- فيكتور جيوكيريس (سبورتنج لشبونة) (البرتغال): 38 هدفا، 57 نقطة.

2- محمد صلاح، ليفربول (إنجلترا): 28 هدفًا، 56 نقطة.

3- كيليان مبابي، ريال مدريد (إسبانيا): 27 هدفا، 54 نقطة.

4- روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، نادي برشلونة (إسبانيا): 25 هدفًا، 50 نقطة

5- هاري كين، بايرن ميونخ (ألمانيا): 25 هدفًا، 50 نقطة.

6- ماتيو ريتيجي، أتالانتا (إيطاليا): 24 هدفًا، 48 نقطة.

7- ألكسندر إيزاك، نيوكاسل (إنجلترا): 23 هدفًا، 46 نقطة.

8- ميكا بيريث، شتورم جراتس (النمسا): 24 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

9- عثمان ديمبيلي باريس سان جيرمان (فرنسا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

10- عمر مرموش، فرانكفورت (ألمانيا)/مانشستر سيتي (إنجلترا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

11- إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي (إنجلترا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

Rumours abound now that the season has shifted into January, with the winter transfer market open for business and clubs perusing their menus as they ascertain whether deals might be viable.

For Liverpool, no news concerning the incoming department. Arne Slot is satisfied with his first-placed squad, and though there’s a clear need for a new left-back, expect movement in that area during the off-season.

Six points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Reds have their sights set on silverware and may launch a winter bid if the right opportunity comes along.

It might just have at that.

Liverpool planning for new forwards

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are plotting a move for Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj-Moussa, with the 22-year-old impressing in the Dutch Eredivisie this term.

Transfer Focus

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Feyenoord, Slot’s old stomping ground, welcomed the Algerian winger at the start of the season after Slot had previously failed to sign him. He’s gone from strength to strength this year, validating the Liverpool coach’s intrigue, and he might even be an excellent backup option for the mighty Mohamed Salah.

Slot has allayed rumours concerning Federico Chiesa’s potential Anfield exit, six months on from his eye-catching £12.5m arrival from Juventus.

In spite of this, Chiesa has only started once for Liverpool this season amid frustrating fitness problems and a player such as Hadj-Moussa could be perfect to maintain the Merseysiders’ exceptional campaign.

Why Liverpool should take a punt on Hadj-Moussa

Feyenoord snapped the clinical left-footer up for a nominal fee and thus would turn a big profit if suitors were to meet their reported £10m asking price – FSG love a bargain and this may be something that entices them.

He’s young and playing with an unfettered avidity that is tempting Liverpool toward lodging an official offer, starting his campaign with Feyenoord on the fringes but growing in stature after showcasing his clinical quality.

Indeed, Hadj-Moussa might have only scored six goals across 19 matches in all competitions this term but each one has been posted in November or later. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even described him as “one of Europe’s most pleasant surprises” this season.

Given that he’s bagged three goals across five Champions League fixtures, there’s clearly a degree of quality that could elevate Liverpool’s system, and it might actually work out best for Hadj-Moussa if Salah were to extend his stay at the club, for he could absorb rich fruits as his understudy for the next couple of years.

As per FBref, the Algeria star ranks among the top 2% of positional peers performing in the Champions League this term for non-penalty goals (1.06) struck and the top 15% for progressive carries (6.00) per 90 minutes, making a convincing remark upon his chances among Liverpool’s talented forwards.

Equally, he also ranks among the top 5% for dribbles (successful take-ons per 90) among those in his position across Europe’s next best 14 leagues, further emphasising that sense of unpredictability.

There’s actually a sort of similarity to Salah that could see him emulate the Egypt sensation, for he would arrive before achieving greatness with a natural-born goalscoring sense.

Hadj-Moussa – who Dutch legend Ruud Gullit lauded as an “unpredictable player” – is blessed with a high-paced and versatile attacking style, and his directness could serve him well as he acts as a focal point, curving in from the right.

Note that he is also composed. He’s confident and assured in his quality. Sofascore record that his three-goal campaign in Europe’s elite competition has yet to be blemished by a single missed big chance, speaking of a clinical edge that is perhaps already ahead of certain members of Slot’s frontline. No names.

It’s hard to articulate how good Salah has been this season, with the 32-year-old posting 21 goals and 17 assists across 27 matches for his club. That doesn’t tell the whole story, but it paints a relevant picture.

Liverpool are undoubtedly over-reliant on their talisman’s potency, but it hasn’t derailed the campaign so far. Liverpool might feel in command in the Premier League, but what about the Champions League’s dangerous business end? What about the FA Cup?

There’s enough going for the Redmen that they will feel capable of wading deep down each stream, but with Chiesa’s unreliability, it may be crucial for an extra part in the mould of Hadj-Moussa. Hark back to Takumi Minamino, back in 2021/22, whose goals in the Carabao Cup proved invaluable in winning the competition while fighting across every other front.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184

6.

Frank Lampard

609

177

7.

Thierry Henry

258

175

7=

Mohamed Salah

282

175

9.

Robbie Fowler

379

163

10.

Jermain Defoe

494

162

Salah is one of the finest goalscorers in Premier League history and to say that this relative unknown in Hadj-Moussa, who is only two months into his first real purple patch, could be his successor is quite a brazen claim.

However, he is endowed with similar properties that could see him operate within similar parameters to Liverpool’s biggest threat and were he to perch under the Egyptian’s umbrella, protected by the lashing scrutiny that would be posted with a big-time role in Slot’s squad, there might just be a chance that he could become a major player.

Hadj-Moussa has been on Slot’s radar before, and Liverpool fans have been treated to some expert tactical qualities in recent months. Let’s trust his judgement, and bring him in to serve under Salah’s wing.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jan 7, 2025

A chaotic week for Tottenham Hotspur continued on Thursday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou’s side slipping to yet another Premier League defeat after going down 1-0 to high-flyers Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

After a thrilling set of results against both Manchester United and Liverpool over the last seven days – the latter of which ended in a 6-3 defeat – the Lilywhites were rather muted at the City Ground, as things simply didn’t click into gear in an attacking sense.

At the other end, the north London side were undone just before the half-hour mark as Morgan Gibbs-White’s threaded pass caught the returning Destiny Udogie napping, with former Manchester United man Anthony Elanga duly prodding home to take the visitors into third in the table.

Having later seen one-time Forest loanee Djed Spence dismissed at the death to add further salt to the wounds, Spurs, meanwhile, now find themselves languishing in the bottom half following that latest defeat, to pile further pressure on that man Postecoglou.

Djed Spence's Forest return

Part of the side Forest side that secured promotion from the Championship under Steve Cooper back in the 2021/22 season, Spence would have been hoping to enjoy a positive return to Nottingham amid his recent renaissance in a Spurs shirt.

Handed his third successive league start by Postecoglou – who opted to drop Pedro Porro to the bench in place of the aforementioned Udogie instead – the 24-year-old was largely solid, in truth, for much of the affair, having provided an outlet in attack after chalking up two key passes in total, while completing 100% of his dribbles.

At the back, the one-time Middlesbrough man also won five of his nine ground duels and enjoyed a respectable 87% pass accuracy rate, even despite squandering the ball on 19 occasions amid his desire to make things happen for his side.

As football.london’s Alasdair Gold noted in his post-match player ratings, the defender’s late dismissal for a second yellow card came following ‘another otherwise solid display’, with it something of a blow that he will now miss the upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Spence then was no real villain despite that stoppage-time red, with the finger needing to be pointed elsewhere among his struggling teammates.

The Spurs star who was "awful" vs Forest

The north Londoners had scored 12 goals across their last three games in all competitions heading into Thursday’s encounter, with few likely to have expected that they would fire a blank this time around.

Performance in Numbers

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That said, injuries have left Postecoglou largely short of options in an attacking sense, with the only senior attacker on the bench having been that of Timo Werner, outside of teenage marksman, Will Lankshear.

With Werner only recently copping flak from his manager following an “unacceptable” first-half performance against Rangers, it is no surprise that the former Celtic boss has kept faith in captain Heung-min Son on the left flank, albeit with questions needing to be asked regarding the South Korean’s limp showings.

Heung-min Son – PL stats (24/25)

Games

15

Goals

5

Mins per goal

230

Assists

6

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

12

Key passes*

2.1

Pass accuracy*

85%

Possession lost*

10.2x

Total duels won*

41%

Stats via Sofascore

As GOAL journalist Mitch Fretton stated, the long-serving winger was “absolutely awful again”, prior to being replaced by Werner in the closing stages, having lost possession ten times from his 52 touches.

In truth, the 32-year-old failed to step up as Spurs sought to get themselves back into the game, with the attack in total manufacturing just a solitary big chance in Nottingham.

It was for that reason that the aforementioned Gold awarded Son a dismal 3/10 match rating for his troubles, while writing that the experienced figure put in ‘a mostly hesitant and ineffective display’.

With seven goals and six assists to his name this season in all competitions, the talismanic forward is certainly no busted flush, yet questions remain for Postecoglou as to just how to get the best out of his misfiring skipper.

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