Chris Sutton took aim at one Leeds United star after spotting an “odd” moment in the Whites’ dramatic 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Leeds lose late on at Man City
It was very nearly an unforgettable afternoon for Leeds, who came from behind to level things up at 2-2 in the second-half, courtesy of Lukas Nmecha’s reactions to rebound from his own penalty.
As so many have experienced at the Etihad over the years, however, it simply wasn’t to be for Daniel Farke’s men. The Citizens’ simply had too much quality and, for a split second, Phil Foden had too much time. The England international fired home his second goal of the day in the 91st minute to break Leeds’ hearts.
Upon reflection, Farke will be wishing that he started with Dominic Calvert-Lewin rather than setting up to frustrate Man City. It took just 59 seconds for Foden to give the hosts the lead, before Josko Gvardiol’s goal looked to be the beginning of a thrashing.
Farke soon changed things at the break, though, and Calvert-Lewin’s effort from the bench set the tone for Nmecha to then go and convert the rebound of his own spotkick.
The Yorkshire side certainly deserved at least a point, but simply felt the harsh reality of the Premier League in its full extent instead. From here, they must pick themselves up and go again against Chelsea at Elland Road.
Things won’t be getting any easier for a Leeds side who could be three points adrift of safety if other results go against them this weekend.
Chris Sutton, covering the game for BBC Sport, was particularly critical of Pascal Struijk in the first-half after spotting an “odd” moment from the Leeds defender.
Sutton slams "odd" Pascal Struijk moment
Taking aim, Sutton slammed Struijk for how he was “content” with entering the break at 2-0 down, wasting time at the end of the first-half. The defender’s aim was damage control and, to his credit, it worked in his favour as Leeds soon came from behind.
The moment, which sparked Sutton’s frustration, may well have helped Leeds stay in the game. It was an absolute onslaught from Man City in the first period and Farke desperately needed to get his side back into the game without letting the hosts out of sight. And the £50,000-a-week defender was well aware of that.
The visitors can take a lot of positives, despite their defeat. It’s very rare that sides come to the Etihad, find themselves 2-0 down and don’t find themselves on the end of a battering. Leeds, however, showed plenty of fight.
Leeds eyeing move for 4-3-3 Farke successor who has admirers at Elland Road
Danny Rohl’s start to life in charge of Glasgow Rangers on the European stage has not gone to plan so far, as he has lost both of his Europa League games without his side scoring a goal.
The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach, though, has inherited a team that struggled badly under Russell Martin, and will not have any of his own signings until the January transfer window.
Rohl took over from Martin after the Scottish manager only won five of his 17 games and one of his Scottish Premiership outings in the dugout for the Ibrox giants.
The German tactician has had an instant impact on the side in the Premiership. Rangers have won all three of their league games since his arrival at the club, and kept back-to-back clean sheets away from home.
A 3-0 win at Dens Park on Sunday means that the Light Blues can head into the final international break on a high, after goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore, and Djeidi Gassama.
However, there are still some individuals within the squad who have been unable to step up. Bojan Miovski, for example, was hooked off at half-time against Dundee.
Why Rangers should be worried about Bojan Miovski
The Light Blus should be concerned by the Macedonia international’s dismal start to life at Ibrox, because he has yet to show any signs of replicating his form with Aberdeen.
Miovski was signed from Girona during the summer transfer window to bolster Martin’s options at the top end of the pitch, possibly because of his proven track record in Scottish football.
The left-footed forward’s return of 32 goals in 78 games in the Premiership for the Dons suggested that he was a safe and sensible signing to add goals to the Gers attack, but it has not played out that way.
Miovski has scored one goal in eight appearances in the top-flight for Rangers, against Falkirk, from an xG of 1.84, per FotMob, which suggests that he has underperformed as a finisher.
The Rangers centre-forward was given the nod to lead the line against Dundee at Dens Park, after coming off the bench against Roma last week, but he was unable to prove to Rohl that he deserves more starts on the other side of the international break.
Vs Dundee
Bojan Miovski
Minutes
45
Touches
14
Dribbles completed
0/0
Shots
0
Key passes
1
Big chances created
0
Duels won
2/8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Miovski failed to register a single shot on goal in 45 minutes of action before being taken off at half-time. Whilst you could point to a lack of creativity behind him, his struggles in duels meant that he was unable to fashion chances for himself.
The Scottish giants, therefore, should be worried about the former Aberdeen marksman, because he has been at the club for several months now and is no closer to showing the kind of quality that earned him a good reputation in the Premiership in the past.
Miovski, though, was not the only Rangers player who failed to deliver an impressive performance in spite of the 3-0 victory against Dundee last time out.
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Rohl must ruthlessly drop central midfielder Mohamed Diomande from the starting line-up when the Gers return to action on the other side of the international break, as he was just as bad as Miovski at Dens Park.
Why Rangers should drop Mohamed Diomande
The Ivorian midfielder was taken off by the German head coach at half-time, just as Miovski was, and was replaced by Scotland international Connor Barron.
Per Sofascore, Diomande lost 75% (3/4) of his duels in the opening 45 minutes of the game at Dens Park, which shows that he was too much of a lightweight in the middle of the park. That may have been why Rohl decided to take him off for Barron, who won 100% (2/2) of his duels in the second half.
The Rangers midfielder also failed to take any shots on goal, did not create any chances for his teammates, and did not attempt a single dribble, per Sofascore, which shows that he offered very little in midfield and was just as bad as Miovski, who was as ineffective in and out of possession.
Diomande, who was sent off against Genk in the Europa League in September, has endured a frustrating 2025/26 campaign after catching the eye with his impressive performances last term.
The left-footed star scored four goals and provided seven assists in 36 outings in the Premiership last season, but his form in and out of possession has dropped off a cliff this year.
Mohamed Diomande (Premiership)
24/25
25/26
Appearances
36
8
Sofascore rating
7.19
6.45
Goals
4
0
Key passes per game
1.2
0.5
Assists
7
0
Duels won per game
4.4
2.9
Ground duel success rate
57%
46%
Aerial duel success rate
48%
25%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, his defensive and offensive numbers are down across the board in the Premiership for the Gers, which shows that he has been unable to carry last season’s success over to the current one.
His underwhelming performance against Dundee on Sunday was simply the latest in a long line of disappointing performances from the central midfielder for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, as he has struggled in and out of possession throughout the season.
Given that Barron came on and showed great energy and desire to win 100% of his duels off the bench in the second half, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Diomande from the starting XI for the clash with Livingston at Ibrox on the other side of the international break.
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ByTom Cunningham Nov 7, 2025
Miovski and Diomande both failed to offer enough quality on the pitch in the first half against Dundee, hence why they were hauled off at the break, and they should both lose their place in the starting line-up as a result of that.
Wayne Rooney has sought to bring an end to his supposed feud with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. The Manchester United legend has found himself caught up in a war of words with the Netherlands international, with the pair coming face-to-face during an awkward television exchange after Van Dijk helped Liverpool to a Champions League win over Real Madrid.
Van Dijk's reaction to 'lazy criticism' from Rooney
Ahead of that game, with the Reds having endured a testing run in the 2025-26 campaign, Rooney suggested that Van Dijk is among those to have allowed lofty standards to slip in a Premier League title defence. He is not the only prominent figure at Anfield to fall into that category.
The commanding centre-half is, however, club captain on Merseyside and is expected to lead by example – calling in-house meetings if required in a bid to get to the bottom of why a run of six defeats in seven was allowed to happen.
Van Dijk responded to comments from ex-England captain Rooney by saying: "I didn't hear him last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism."
AdvertisementAFPLiverpool captain sent out for post-match press duty
Rooney doubled down on his claims, only to then be confronted by Van Dijk after the Dutchman was sent out for post-match press duty with after Liverpool battled to a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in European competition. He said when picking up a microphone next to Rooney, with team gatherings at Anfield being addressed: "It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row that it helped pretty well but in a world of chaos you have to try and stay calm and take perspective of things. In that meeting the time was October, so much football to be played, so many twists and turns that can happen and I think at times the noise was a lot (said with a small smile on his face). I think it is very important to put things in perspective, keep your head down and work and get out the situation because the quality we have, that is not the issue. It is about keep working and keep going."
Rooney responds to awkward exchange with Van Dijk
Rooney looked slightly uncomfortable when being faced with Van Dijk, but told his podcast for : "I thought he was good that night, and I had loads of people say, 'Oh, when he came up to you,' I think fair play to him for coming out. We didn’t know he was coming out. It was meant to be [Dominik] Szoboszlai, I think, to come to the table. But I think fair play to him, he came out and he put his point across.
"Listen, Virgil van Dijk over the last five, four years has been one of, if not, the best centre-backs in the world, and his performances have dipped over the last few weeks.
"I’ve had my opinion on that; he has his own, which you have to respect. But when you’re the Premier League champions, teams are coming for you, and when you don’t win one game, people ask questions. So, when you don’t win four games in a row, of course, there are questions of the captain. I think I said it a few weeks ago on here, what he should be and he will be doing is getting the players together.
"I think he said that he got the players together and took them for a meal or something, trying to bring that chemistry back, and that’s what I was saying he should be doing as a captain, and he’s done that. It certainly seemed to help in the Madrid game. He’s a fantastic player, but he hasn’t started the season great. You want to see good players playing well, and he performed well [against Real Madrid]. So, for him, I’m sure for Liverpool, he hopes that continues."
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AFPLiverpool fixtures: Man City clash next up for the Reds
Rooney added after being asked when it became apparent that Van Dijk would be joining him for an on-air discussion: "When he was there, and I think it's great. No disrespect to Szoboszlai, but I'd rather speak to Van Dijk."
He went on to say: "I think the issue is, when you don't play well and you're not winning games, as Premier League champions, everyone's going to have an opinion. And, of course, when you're not playing well or you're not winning games that opinion, they're going to look at why and give their thoughts why. Liverpool can use this in two different ways: they can let it affect them or they can use it to spur them on.
"You look at Man United over the last few years, the criticism that they've had. I played the game, I was captain of England, captain of Man United. I got criticised for for all kinds. That's part of being a top player. You have to deal with that. You have to accept it at times. Listen, I was unfair with my comments, I'd be the first to hold my hands up. Same way I did with Man United when I had a rant about them and then they won games, and I come back on that. If I was unfair, I'd be fair to hold my hands up."
Rooney maintains that his comments were fair, with it the role of a pundit to offer opinions that may not be universally well received, and he will be an interested observer on Sunday when Van Dijk and Liverpool head to the Etihad Stadium for a heavyweight showdown with old adversaries Manchester City.
Erling Haaland became the fastest player ever to score 100 Premier League goals as he struck the opening goal in Manchester City's epic 5-4 win at Fulham on Tuesday. The Norwegian hitman reached a century of goals in 111 games, smashing Alan Shearer's previous record of 100 strikes in 124 matches.
Haaland brings up PL century versus Fulham
Haaland went into the match failing to score in successive games for the first time this season following blanks at Newcastle and against Leeds, having also not struck as a substitute in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen. But, after hitting the post with a clear opening early in the game, he ended his mini-drought by finding the net in the 17th minute at Craven Cottage to write yet another page in the Premier League history books.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportHaaland the 35th player to score 100 PL goals
Haaland lashed in a cut-back from Jeremy Doku with his favoured left foot to break the deadlock against Fulham, scoring for the seventh time in seven games against the Cottagers. He is only the 35th player to reach 100 Premier League goals. And given that he is only 25 and has a contract with City until 2034, he is well placed to join Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Alan Shearer as the only players to have scored 200 or more Premier League goals.
'Nice to join 100 club'
It was an unforgettable night for Haaland and City, and not just because of the 100th goal. City marched into a 5-1 lead early in the second half thanks to two goals from Phil Foden, one from Tijjani Reijnders and an own goal by Sander Berge but then conceded three times to set up an enthralling finish. They eventually clung on to take all three points.
"It's huge and I'm really proud. It's a massive thing, the 100 club is a nice thing to be in and I'm happy," Haaland told . "I knew about it, that's what I tried to do. I try to help the team scoring goals, that's my job. Every game is a different game, you can't think of the game that's been, you need to focus on what's ahead.
"The reality is we lost against Newcastle and Leverkusen but now we have two in a row and we have to keep going. I think if you're sitting at home now you enjoyed that game. It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we're happy but it's not the best win."
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GettyShearer believes Haaland will break all-time PL record
Haaland wrote Premier League history by scoring 36 goals in his very first season with City, beating Alan Shearer and Andy Cole's tally of 34 strikes in a single campaign which had stood for 28 years.
And the former Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers striker, who celebrated when second-top scorer Kane left for Bayern Munich in 2023 as it meant his record was safe, is resigned to the fact that the Norwegian will eventually usurp him as the league's record marksman.
"Yes, Haaland is the perfect centre-forward. His record is phenomenal, appetite to score is fantastic. I love it," Shearer, who scored 260 Premier League goals, told "He’s quick, strong, agile, he reacts quicker than most around the six-yard box which is impressive and his ability to put the ball in the back of the net is magnificent.
"Haaland could definitely break my Premier League goal record. There’s no doubt that if he does another seven or eight years, maybe even less then he’ll have a brilliant chance of breaking it. But there’s so many ifs and different things that could happen to that."
Asked about toppling Shearer's all-time record, Haaland said: "I know about it but I don't think too much about it."
The 21-year-old left-arm spinner has made a steady start but he’s aiming for a big performance in the upcoming domestic season
Ashish Pant28-Aug-2025Day one of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy. A green top underfoot. Cloudy skies overhead. Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar in the starting XI.When East Zone captain Riyan Parag won the toss and bowled first against North Zone, he would have expected his pace spearheads to cause early damage. Instead, it was a little known left-arm spinner from Jharkhand, Manishi, who cut through the top order to give his team the upper hand at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru.By the time Manishi came on to bowl the 15th over, the North Zone openers Ankit Kumar and Shubham Khajuria, had put on 49 runs in 84 balls. But that solid start was about to unravel.Related
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Manishi’s first ball was loopy and full from around the wicket. Ankit tried to sweep but did not account for the drift into him and was lbw. A few overs later, Khajuria went back to a skiddy length ball, played all around it and was lbw too. And after a 67-run stand between Yash Dhull and Ayush Badoni, Manishi came back and dismissed Dhull minutes before lunch, beating him in the flight to pick up a third lbw.From 49 for 0, North Zone slipped to 133 for 3, and a 21-year-old left-arm spinner had played the lead role when that never was the plan.”Initially, our thinking was that it is a green wicket, so I was asked to be more of a supportive bowler, you know, when the fast bowler needs rest, I can come and bowl four to five overs,” Manishi told ESPNcricinfo after play on day one. “But when I got the wicket on the very first ball, I could attack a little more.”I noticed that my quicker deliveries were coming on to the bat nicely. I was just trying to vary my pace so that the batter’s footwork does not remain the same. Yash Dhull hit me for a couple of sixes as well, but ensured I did not deviate from my lengths, and I got my wickets.”Manishi is playing only his ninth first-class game. He comes from a middle-class family and grew up in Jamshedpur, in Jharkhand, where he attended various coaching academies and was initially a batter. Watching videos of Daniel Vettori, Rangana Herath and Ravindra Jadeja, however, got him interested in the art of left-arm spin. His action is classical, in the mould of Herath, whom he greatly admires. Manishi eases through his delivery stride and relies on drift and variation in pace, rather than mystery.Manishi picked up three wickets on the first day•PTI It was this drift that earned Manishi his first big moment, when Jharkhand was playing Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, in November 2024. A bat-pad catch at forward short leg. The wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara in his fifth first-class game.”It’s an interesting story,” Manishi said. “I saw two of Pujara’s previous matches and noticed he was out jabbing to short leg each time. The wicket [in Ranchi] was similar to this here [in Bengaluru]. As soon as Pujara walked out, I asked Sharandeep Singh [my Jharkhand team-mate] to be ready at short leg.”The first ball I bowled to Pujara was a bat-pad that went over Sharandeep’s head. Pujara then hit me through the covers. But then I went slightly wide on the angle and got the inside-edge with the catch landing in short leg’s hands.”Manishi was 20 when he made his first-class debut, but with senior pro Shahbaz Nadeem and Anukul Roy in the Jharkhand side, it took him close to two years to play his second game. He had also come close to making it to the 2020 Under-19 World Cup but failed to make the cut.After Nadeem retired, Manishi got his chance and was Jharkhand’s second highest wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy – 22 wickets in 11 innings at an average of 27.22. It earned him a place in the East Zone team for the Duleep Trophy, but he’s set higher standards for himself.Cheteshwar Pujara with Manishi during a Ranji Trophy game in November 2024•ESPNcricinfo”If you want to play just Ranji Trophy, then it’s a good season, but if you want to play for India, then it’s just an okay season,” he said. “You see Harsh Dubey, he got 70 [69] wickets in the last season. He got into the limelight because of that, got an IPL contract, played for India A, got into the scene.”My next target is a solid Ranji season where I can get close to 40-50 wickets. That is what will add to my portfolio. My other aim is also to contribute with the bat. I scored a few runs last season, but I want to improve on that this time, score 250 runs in the season.”Manishi finished his first day in the Duleep Trophy with figures of 3 for 90 in 19 overs, as North Zone ended on 308 for 6. He’s not going to chase a maiden five-for in first-class cricket though.”I will just try and be accurate and if someone misses, I have the chance to get two or three wickets. And if seven or eight wickets are down, I might even get a chance to bowl at Arshdeep [Singh] or Harshit Rana. Let’s see.”
Bumrah and Hardik went full-tilt at the nets, while Suryakumar eased himself back into post-surgery rhythm
Shashank Kishore05-Sep-202513:47
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“Stiff legs,” Shubman Gill teased, as Jasprit Bumrah darted around the ICC Academy Oval in Dubai – sprinting, diving and cutting off angles, much to the delight of fielding coach T Dilip. Bumrah jokingly waved Gill away as he continued his drills.Watching and clapping from afar was Sanju Samson, meditatively cross-legged after 30 minutes of batting in shirt-soaking humidity. It was well past 7pm, but the temperature was still hovering around 38 degrees Celsius.Samson was one of many India batters who had multiple stints at the nets. And much to the curiosity of those gathered, his stints came alongside those of Jitesh Sharma, with whom he will likely compete for a spot during India’s playing XI in the Asia Cup 2025. Jitesh, for what it’s worth, also got through a proper keeping workout – catches, drills, footwork – while Samson watched on.Related
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Perhaps Jitesh was making up for lost time. His most recent bout of competitive cricket was in June, at the Vidarbha Pro T20, soon after a memorable IPL-winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Maybe Samson was saving his legs after playing four games back-to-back only last week at the Kerala Cricket League. Either way, Friday’s vibe was more first day of school than selection day.Long before they got to the nets, the team got through warm-up stretches, shuttle runs, high knees and soft throws, with trainer Adrian Le Roux often reminding them: “75% intensity!” (though Bumrah seemed to ignore that memo when he steamed in, full throttle, to Gill in the nets a little later).File photo: Jasprit Bumrah steamed in full throttle to Shubman Gill in the nets•Getty ImagesAfter the fitness drills, all the batters (and Varun Chakravarthy) spent extensive time – upwards of 30 minutes – alternating between nets. A ball after being smashed through the covers off a half-volley, Bumrah bowled the perfect nip-backer to beat Gill. The cat-and-mouse game between the two was just getting started.Gill batted alongside Suryakumar Yadav, who was searching for his rhythm following a spell away recuperating from sports hernia surgery, and Jitesh. Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma had come out before them, armed with several bats, each seemingly meatier than the other, and went hammer and tongs.Alongside Bumrah, there was Hardik Pandya, – hair coloured blonde – who bowled 20 minutes non-stop at high pace. Also noticeable from afar was the attention India gave to Shivam Dube and Abhishek, the bowlers.While Abhishek bowled a mixture of traditional left-arm spin, wrist spin and his backspinner, bowling coach Morne Morkel kept a close eye on Dube’s action and delivery stride.
Indian team arrives for their first training session at the ICC Academy. pic.twitter.com/ZRsEOsvZ8Q
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) September 5, 2025
Except for Bumrah and Hardik, both of whom went full-tilt, India rotated the other fast bowlers. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were coming off a Duleep Trophy fixture in Bengaluru last week, and spent more time doing fitness and mobility drills than bowling.Away from the nets, it was a gruelling workout even for those behind the scenes. The local liaison manager had already made multiple trips ferrying water, fruits, and ice-bath supplies. Each time, he had to take a long detour because Hong Kong and Oman were playing on the main ground.Unlike during the Champions Trophy, when a few hundred fans were believed to have crammed themselves into a small area meant for 40 to watch the team train, barricades were up again, but this time there were barely a handful around when the Indians trained from 5pm to shortly before 9pm. All that prep for nothing.And just like that, the first day was done. Not too intense, not too revealing, but enough to shake off the rust, and build some momentum before next week’s opening fixture against UAE.
Liverpool splashed the big bucks and then some over the summer, hopeful of retaining their Premier League title in style.
However, the majority of the whopping £415m spent now looks as if it has gone down the drain, with both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remaining goalless, despite costing a combined £225m to bring to Anfield.
Arne Slot thankfully has the January transfer window coming into view now to try and turn around his side’s lacklustre campaign, with Liverpool all the way down in eighth position at the moment, as Manchester United are even ahead of the Reds on goal difference.
Liverpool planning to spend big again
You would think that the Merseyside giants might be more cautious in the transfer department after such a wild summer spending spree.
However, reports suggest that the underwhelming reigning champions could go all out to try and win Michael Olise from Bayern Munich for an astronomical £177m fee.
Moreover, one of the best players in the top-flight this term in the shape of Antoine Semenyo is reportedly also on their radar as they try to upgrade on an attack that looks short on confidence, even with Mohamed Salah starting week in, week out.
On top of flashy recruits being rumoured to join the Anfield ranks in attack, an update from Liverpool-based writer DaveOCKOP has also revealed that the Reds are holding initial talks with Crystal Palace over midfield star Adam Wharton.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It is stated that the move is more likely for the summer of 2026 than the upcoming January window, but never say never when it comes to Liverpool’s ambition in this department, with it also being revealed back in September that the English international’s preference – if he were to leave the Eagles behind – was a switch to Slot and Co.
Having just made his first start for the Three Lions during this international break, the sky really does appear to be the limit for Wharton currently, with a mammoth £100m price tag also above his head.
How Wharton can become Slot's own Gerrard
As Slot looks to reshape his midfield in 2026, he could find a new beating heart at the centre of his team in the form of Wharton, much like a certain Steven Gerrard was back in the day.
By the close of his distinguished career at the very top, Gerrard was showered with some immense praise, with Gabriel Agbonlahor notably once describing him as the best midfielder in Premier League history, even ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.
Indeed, away from bagging a stunning 186 goals and picking up 155 assists for his boyhood club, the well-rounded servant also closed out his long-standing career on Merseyside with a Champions League title.
As Liverpool’s website affectionately put it when Gerrard hung up his boots, the Englishman was a revered “gladiator” for his boyhood side.
Of course, it would be crazy to expect Wharton to be as impactful from minute one of his own Anfield journey, but in time, he could be Gerrard 2.0, displaying a similar level of composure and ball manipulation from midfield.
Games played
16
20
9
Goals scored
0
0
0
Assists
3
2
0
Touches*
49.6
45.7
43.9
Accurate passes*
28.5 (81%)
26.7 (79%)
25.2 (78%)
Key passes*
1.3
1.3
1.6
Big chances created
5
5
5
Tackles*
3.0
1.7
1.3
Ball recoveries*
4.8
5.1
4.0
Total duels won*
4.9
3.2
3.2
The data above displays Wharton’s similar well-roundedness from the middle of the park, which is very much like the Liverpool great, with the 21-year-old only getting better with time, as he becomes more and more used to the demands of the Premier League.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite uncovered a goalscoring mojo in the top-flight yet, like Gerrard, but with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai next to him if he takes on this huge Anfield opportunity, there is a possibility that he enhances his varied game to that next level.
Hailed as a “genius” at a very early age at Blackburn Rovers by ex-boss Tony Mowbray, and now an “incredible” star by former Selhurst Park teammate Eberechi Eze, it does feel as if a big move soon awaits Wharton.
If all clicks into place for the 21-year-old at Liverpool, he might well be the second coming of Gerrard; a powerful English midfield technician who has all of the tools to be a Three Lions mainstay for years to come.
It will take some big bucks to land his services, but if Slot can win a new legend in the process, it’s a bold investment that’s definitely worth making.
New Trent: Liverpool star is "one of the most underrated players in England"
Slot could find a shrewd solution to Liverpool’s problems in this talent.
Dylan Cease could be on the move before the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
That shocking news hit on Wednesday, as ESPN's Buster Olney reported the San Diego Padres might try to get creative as they attempt to compete down the stretch. The Padres have a number of pressing needs as the deadline approaches, with left field and catcher at the top of the list. Given their financial situation, moving some salary while making additions makes a lot of sense.
Cease has ace-level stuff, but has struggled this season. After finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2024, he has been a different pitcher in 2025. Through 21 starts, the 29-year-old is 3-10 with a 4.59 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP and 144 strikeouts against 42 walks in 113 2/3 innings. The one thing to note here is that Cease's xFIP is 3.30, meaning he's gotten pretty unlucky this year.
The Padres are set to lose Cease at the end of the season as he'll hit free agency. They could, instead, leverage his value given the lack of available starting pitching at this year's deadline and hope a team will bank on Cease's bad luck turning around, or their staff making minor tweaks. San Diego could then use assets acquired to help improve their roster for the stretch run.
What follows is a look at the best fits for Cease as we approach the trade deadline.
Chicago Cubs
Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have been excellent for the Cubs this season, but there remains a Justin Steele-sized hole in the rotation. As a group, the team's starters rank 13th leaguewide in ERA (3.93) and have allowed the third-most home runs (87). Chicago needs to add juice to the starting rotation, and the organization knows Cease intimately. The Cubs selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft and Cease wound up being a top prospect before the club dealt him to the Chicago White Sox as part of the ill-fated Jose Quintana trade.
This would be a chance for the Cubs to land Cease back on the North Side to help the team's starting pitching depth as they make a push for an NL Central crown.
New York Yankees
The Yankees' focus is sure to be finding a third baseman, but the pitching also needs help. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have carried the starting rotation this season with Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt out after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil is close to a return, but the rest of the team's starters have been shaky at best and awful at worst. As a group, New York's starters rank seventh in ERA (3.74) but they don't have the rotation depth to win a World Series.
Cease has the kind of elite stuff that can show up in October. While he struggled in the 2024 postseason, his average fastball velocity (97.1 mph) ranks fifth in MLB among starting pitchers and his slider was one of the best pitches in baseball in 2024. A few tweaks could have him dominating hitters again.
New York Mets
The Mets have a really good rotation, led by Kadai Sengal and David Peterson with Sean Manaea healthy again to back them up. But they also have a ticking time bomb on their hands. Converted reliever Clay Holmes has already thrown 108 2/3 innings, which is 38 2/3 more than his previous career high of 70. He has been really good this season, posting an 8-5 record with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. But so far in July he has an ERA of 5.66, and has surrendered 13 earned runs on 21 hits in 20 2/3 innings. He could be hitting a wall.
If Holmes continues to struggle, New York needs to find another option for the stretch run. Frankie Montas is back, but he has a 4.62 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP this season through five starts. His last two starts have been better but he's risky. Adding another starter feels like a must for the Mets.
Toronto Blue Jays
Like the Mets, the Blue Jays look solid on the surface, with Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman leading the rotation. But if you look under the hood, the team's starters rank 24th in ERA (4.53). Max Scherzer (5.14 ERA) was sidelined for months thanks to a thumb injury and has yet to look ready for primetime, and Eric Lauer (2.80 ERA) is a low-ceiling lefty who has had some success this season but his 3.82 xFIP says he's getting incredibly lucky.
Cease would be a high-ceiling arm that could add the depth to the rotation Toronto has struggled to find a year.
Bayern Munich have agreed to splash the cash to buy a new stadium as part of the club's commitment to their women's team. The Bayern women's side currently play in the stadium at their training ground, which only has 2,000 seats. The women's team have won the German top-flight league for the past three seasons, which has prompted the management to make significant investment on the side.
Bayern's new stadium
According to , the reigning Bundesliga champions have agreed to spend a whopping £6.5 million (€7.3m) on the Sportpark Unterhaching, which is located in the southern outskirts of Munich. The arena, which has a capacity to hold 15,000 people, will be used by the club as the new home for their women's team. It is a significant infrastructure improvement for the women's side, who earlier played their matches at Bayern's training ground stadium, which only has 2,000 seats.
The Sportpark Unterhaching is also the home ground for German fourth-tier club SpVgg Unterhaching, who once played in the Bundesliga between 1999 to 2001. Sportpark Unterhaching had the opportunity to buy the stadium permanently last summer, but they pulled out of the deal due to finances. The venue has hosted several Bundesliga, women’s national team, youth team and German Cup matches in the past.
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Club chief confirm new stadium
Speaking to the press recently, Bayern's honorary president Uli Hoeness confirmed: "In Spain or England, top games are packed. “Here, you must bang the drum to get 20,000 spectators. And when they do come, we hug each other with joy. (Increasing attendance) is not so simple. (I’m a) friend of women’s football. Today they really can play well."
On passing up on buying the venue earlier this year, SpVGG Unterhaching president Manni Schwabl said: "Floodlights, lighting parameters, safety issues, pitch heating. All of that requires investment. We weren’t sure we could manage it."
How is it going for Bayern's women's team?
The Bayern women's side, who, like the male counterpart, dominate the German top-flight, are off to a flying start in the 2025-26 campaign. They have remained unbeaten in the league thus far, winning 11 out of their first 12 matches and are six points clear at the top of the table.
In the Women's Champions League, they have won three out of their first four matches and will be back in action on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid in a home fixture.
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Bayern out of Salah race
Meanwhile, following Liverpool star Mohamed Salah's infamous public outburst, the Egyptian winger has been tipped to move away from Anfield next month and several top clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, and the Saudi Pro League, have been linked with the winger.
Amid links to Munich, Bayern chief Max Eberl has ruled out the possibility of the Reds forward joining them, as he told : "We have an outstanding talent in Lennart Karl. Putting someone ahead of him now makes absolutely no sense. We've talked about the squad before – we have players coming back [from injury]. The transfers are coming from within. There are no plans to bring in any new players right now; the squad is homogeneous and balanced. A new player could also cause unrest because roles would shift."
Liverpool have now launched their first approach to sign a much-needed right-back target, who could arrive at Anfield or in North London as a free agent.
Arne Slot admits shock at "ridiculous" Liverpool form
It has been a disastrous run for Liverpool, with their 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest proving to be their most shocking result yet. After eight defeats in 11 games, the champions are on course for one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, despite spending over £400m in the summer.
With PSV Eindhoven up next, Arne Slot has admitted just how shocked he’s been by his side’s form and went onto describe it as “ridiculous” in his pre-match press conference.
The Champions League has often been a saving grace for Liverpool this season. Their victory over Real Madrid last time out proved to be somewhat of a false dawn before their Premier League return, but the Reds now have the chance to pick up where they left off in Europe, at the very least.
They will, however, be without an out-and-out right-back yet again following Conor Bradley’s injury to join Jeremie Frimpong on the sidelines. It is a problem that Liverpool must solve and one that could yet see Zeki Celik arrive.
Liverpool launch approach to sign Zeki Celik
According to TeamTalk’s Rudi Galetti, Liverpool have launched an approach to sign Celik in a transfer battle with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, all of whom have made contact.
The right-back is on course to become a free agent when his contract expires next summer and could yet provide a solution for Slot by finally replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 28-year-old, at the peak of his powers, recently earned the praise of Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who told reporters: “He’s the perfect player for any coach.
“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”
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The AS Roma man is also capable of playing centre-back in what would kill two birds with one stone for Slot, who currently has just three senior centre-backs to choose from which includes the injury-prone Joe Gomez.
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