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The story of how South Africa won one out of their first five Tests and then remained unbeaten in their next seven

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-20256:55

Philander: ‘SA will put up massive fight against favourites Australia’

1st Test vs India, Centurion: won by an innings and 32 runsDean Elgar’s daddy hundred in his penultimate Test set up a massive victory for South Africa, ensured they could not lose the series and that the country remained India’s final frontier. Elgar’s 185 came after South Africa’s decision to go in all-pace paid off as Kagiso Rabada’s 14th five-for left India splintered around KL Rahul’s second hundred at Centurion. Elgar had support from David Bedingham, who scored 56 on debut and Marco Jansen, who scored 84 at No. 7, and South Africa took a 163-run first innings lead.It proved enough as the combination of Rabada, left-arm seamer Nandre Burger (also on debut) and Gerald Coetzee dismissed India for 131, with Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill the only second innings batters to get into double figures. South Africa did lose something: their captain, Temba Bavuma to a hamstring injury.Jasprit Bumrah shared the Player-of-the-Series award with Dean Elgar•Gallo Images/Getty Images2nd Test vs India, Cape Town: lost by 7 wicketsThings went from the sublime to the ridiculous as Newlands played host to the shortest Test – which lasted just seven overs more than a full ODI – and South Africa were bowled out for their lowest total in a hundred years. Mohammed Siraj took 6 for 15 in the first innings as all but two South African batters – Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne – got past ten.India’s response showed signs the surface was improving and led by Kohli’s 46, they scratched together 153. Against the run of play, Aiden Markram produced his seventh Test hundred but Jasprit Bumrah’s 6 for 61 made a mess of South Africa and left India a target of 79. They reached in 12 overs, after lunch on the second day, to share the series spoils. The pitch later received an unsatisfactory rating from the ICC.Rachin Ravindra smashed his maiden Test double century in just his seventh innings•Getty Images1st Test vs New Zealand, Mount Maunganui: lost by 281 runsAnd then from the ridiculous to the barely believable when South Africa took a squad with seven uncapped players to New Zealand as almost all their frontliners were engaged with their new T20 tournament: the SA20. Six made their debut in this Test and it was evident how deep the gulf was between them and New Zealand.A century from Kane Williamson and a career-best 240 from Rachin Ravindra saw New Zealand pile on 511. They bowled South Africa out for 162 and, as if to make a point, batted again. Williamson scored a second-innings ton too and New Zealand left South Africa a humongous 529 to chase. At 5 for 2, it was clear what the outcome would be. South Africa were bowled out for 247 in what can only be described as an embarrassing state of affairs.Kane Williamson became the quickest (number of innings) to 32 Test centuries•Getty Images2nd Test vs New Zealand, Hamilton: lost by 7 wickets A more competitive South African side had moments where they looked as though they would pull off an upset for the ages when they took a 31-run first innings lead over New Zealand and then set them a target of 267. The notable performances came from the more established names – Dane Piedt, on comeback from the United States, who took 5 for 89 in the first innings and eight wickets in the match – and Bedingham, who shunned the SA20 for a chance at an international career and scored his first, and to date only, hundred.But there was no stopping Williamson, whose 133* saw New Zealand home and earned them their first series win over South Africa. South Africa’s coach Shukri Conrad binned the tour as an aberration, which he likened to “when Burnley went to Anfield,” and it has been referred to in those terms ever since.Keshav Maharaj picked eight wickets for the match•AFP/Getty Images1st Test vs West Indies, Port of Spain: drawnA stung South African side – some of whom had just lost their first ICC white-ball final – regrouped in the Caribbean with a herculean task on their hands. They had to win seven of their eight remaining Tests to have any chance of qualifying for the WTC final. Bavuma returned and scored 86 in the first innings in Trinidad before Rabada and Keshav Maharaj combined to take seven wickets and leave South Africa in control with a 124-run first innings lead. With rain around and victory on their minds, South Africa declared on 173 for 3 and left West Indies 298 to chase. At 64 for 3, South Africa would have sensed victory but despite Maharaj’s best efforts, time and 92 from Alick Athanaze denied South Africa and left their campaign hanging by a thread.Wiaan Mulder put up an all-round show•AFP/Getty Images2nd Test vs West Indies, Guyana: won by 40 runsBeing bowled out for 160 in their first innings – thanks largely to Shamar Joseph’s 5 for 33 – could have been enough to make that string snap, but the stirrings of a comeback began when South Africa bowled West Indies out for 144. Markram’s 51 and Verreynne’s 59 held together a second innings effort of 246 and left West Indies 263 to chase. They were 104 for 6 when Gudakesh Motie and Joshua da Silva put 77 for the seventh wicket and things seemed to be getting away from South Africa. But, Maharaj broke the stand and took three of the last four wickets to give South Africa a tense win and put them back on track.Kyle Verreynne is all smiles after getting to his second Test century•AFP/Getty Images1st Test vs Bangladesh, Mirpur: won by 7 wickets Bangladesh were stunned by a South African attack with two frontline spinners (Piedt had been retained from the wreckage of New Zealand) who bowled them out for 106 but responded strongly to leave South Africa 99 for 5 in the reply. A lower-order rescue act between Verreynne, who scored his second century, and Wiaan Mulder saw South Africa score 308 and hold the advantage. Rabada left Bangladesh reeling with a second six-innings 6 for 46 but Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 97 and Jaker Ali’s 58 kept South Africa in the field for a ball short of 90 overs. Bangladesh scored 307 and, in poetic synchrony, set South Africa 106 to win. They got there with a few jitters, and without Bavuma. He had re-injured his elbow, after it was a concern in 2022, and Markram led the side.Tony de Zorzi celebrates his maiden ton•AFP/Getty Images2nd Test vs Bangladesh, Chattogram: won by an innings and 273 runsTony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Mulder all scored their first Test centuries in an innings that marked the rebirth of South Africa’s batting prowess after a dearth of hundreds. They declared on 565 for 6, confident they had more than enough. Rabada took a second successive Test five-for in Bangladesh’s first innings, where they made 159, and followed-on. Maharaj claimed 5 for 59 in the second innings as he and Rabada bookended both South Africa’s bowling experience and their success. The match was over inside three days as South Africa claimed a first series win in the subcontinent in more than a decade, since beating Sri Lanka in 2014. Many members of the squad, including Maharaj, have identified this as the turning point that gave South Africa the belief they could go all the way.Marco Jansen finished with 11 wickets for the match•AFP/Getty Images1st Test vs Sri Lanka, Durban: won by 233 runs South Africa’s home summer began with great expectation as Bavuma was back from injury and initially, a sense of dread. He top-scored with 70 in Durban but South Africa were bowled out for 191 against a Sri Lankan side with more pace variety than had toured this country before. Then, as though a spell had been cast on Sri Lanka’s batters, they played a baffling array of poor strokes as Jansen ran through them. He plucked career-best figures of 7 for 13 and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 42 – their lowest Test score. Stubbs scored a second Test hundred and Bavuma a redemptive third as South Africa set Sri Lanka an academic 516 to win the game. They were bowled out for 282 against an attack that lost two members – Gerald Coetzee to a groin strain and Mulder to a broken finger.Dane Paterson picked seven wickets in the Test•AFP/Getty Images2nd Test vs Sri Lanka, Gqeberha: won by 109 runsWith Mulder out, Ryan Rickelton got an opportunity and made it count with a workmanlike debut century at St George’s Park. Bavuma contributed with 78 and Verreynne thrilled with a 133-ball 105 as South Africa’s first innings reached 358. Sri Lanka replied with guts and temperament, led by Pathum Nissanka’s 89 but they had no other milestones to record as Dane Paterson plugged away. At 35 years old, Paterson had proved the worth of his time in the county circuit and the value of having someone with over 500 first-class wickets in the squad as he gave South Africa a 30-run lead. On a good batting surface, they then scored 317, with Bavuma scoring another half-century. Sri Lanka needed 348 to win and things hung in the balance on 205 for 5 after four days. Maharaj took 5 for 76 to seal the series and South Africa’s fifth successive win.Kagiso Rabada roars in satisfaction after making 31 off 26 to take South Africa home•Associated Press 1st Test vs Pakistan, Centurion: won by 2 wickets Stop. The. Press.South Africa didn’t need to win this match and at times seemed to be doing their best to lose it as they were faced with chasing 148 in the fourth innings and needed a ninth-wicket partnership of 51 to do it. The precursor to all that is that Paterson took 5 for 61 and Pakistan were bowled out for 211 in the first innings. Then Markram scored 89, Khurram Shehzad and Naseem Shah shared six wickets between them, and debutant Corbin Bosch scored an unbeaten 81 to give South Africa a 90-run lead.Jansen then took 6 for 52 as Pakistan were dismissed for 237. South Africa should have won at a canter but were 27 for 3 overnight on day three and Mohammad Abbas had all three. He added three more then next day at 99 for 8, South Africa were about to head into 2025 needing to win their last Test. Amid the devastating news of the death of batting coach Ashwell Prince’s wife, Melissa, the result barely mattered by lunch on day four until Rabada and Jansen formed the unlikeliest of alliances, nudged, nurdled, edged and smashed their way to the most thrilling of victories. South Africa qualified for the WTC final with a game to spare.South Africa celebrate their 2-0 victory against Pakistan•AFP/Getty Images 2nd Test v Pakistan, Cape Town: won by 10 wickets The job was done and Newlands was a riot as South Africa saved their batting best for last. Rickelton scored the first double-hundred by a South African opener since Graeme Smith in 2013 and the first double by any South African since Hashim Amla in 2016. Bavuma brought up a fourth century and second in the campaign and Verryenne scored his first hundred at home in a first innings domination. Pakistan were bowled out for 194 and 478, and 19-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka played his first game, and South Africa needed just 58 to win. They completed a magical summer with a clean sweep.Seven Tests wins is their second-longest streak (after nine in 2002-03) but they won’t be chasing that necessarily. One more has been the mantra through the campaign and the next one is Lord’s.

The Lahore Qalandars management understands it and the PCB is just beginning to appreciate it

Danyal Rasool26-May-2025Ostensibly armour-plated, yet surprisingly sensitive. Pressure-hardened prodigy, yet a successful adult superstar who still yearns for unconditional appreciation. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who just won a record-extending third PSL title as captain amid wild scenes at his home ground, is perhaps not a man who loves playing cricket so much as one who loves to be loved for playing cricket.What else could explain the change in mood from the delirious high of a last-gasp title victory as Sunday gave way to Monday, to the stultifying demeanour at the post-match trophy ceremony?When Sikandar Raza – his own dramatic journey now well-documented – struck the winning runs for Lahore Qalandars, Afridi was among the first to pour onto the field to exult with his team, uncomplicated joy writ large on his face. Half-an-hour later, as an almost comically large cadre of dignitaries gathered on stage to present the trophy, it seemed the complex emotions that Afridi has come to associate with Pakistan cricket were back.Related

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There was an acceptance of felicitations from the Pakistan president, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Afridi shared little more than frosty nods of acknowledgement, Naqvi increasingly receding into the background as the ceremony went on. The relationship between the two men is difficult, on occasion spilling out openly in the public domain. When Naqvi took over as PCB chief, Afridi was Pakistan captain. Now, he is no longer in the national side.It was a point clearly on his mind during a punchy post-match press conference. At the toss, Ramiz Raja had asked about his return to form, a question Afridi repeatedly appeared to interpret as a slight, because alluding to a return would suggest bad form earlier. When a journalist asked about it post-match, he got the same answer as Raja.”Ramiz asked about my form too and I said I am the same. But you need to have the eyes to see me. I am the same bowler. I have not changed, and I will not change.”When another spoke of how brilliant his final four games had been, he gave a stock reply, but the true riposte was playing around in his head, and, ten minutes later, he returned to it as an aside. “A journalist earlier mentioned that I performed in the last four games. Thank you for noticing that at least I performed in four games! People mention my performances in the last four matches, and appeared to forget all my previous performances.”It is, for the record, not controversial to say Afridi’s form towards the tail-end of this tournament has far superseded what he produced earlier on in the tournament. The last four games saw him take ten wickets, more than in the first seven games put together. His bowling in the second qualifier and the final are contenders for bowling performances of the tournament. But for Afridi, who feels he has endured more than he deserves to in Pakistani cricket as well as in its media, every compliment comes transfigured as a barb. The guard, lowered during the last six weeks with Qalandars, is back up against everyone else.Sameen Rana, the Qalandars owner, was alongside him at the press conference, if only to temper his captain should things go overboard. He referred to Afridi as “not a Qalandars player, but a family member”. He would then speak of his own philosophy of player management, one that, to his and Qalandars’ credit, has not wavered in good times or bad. “The advantage we have at Lahore Qalandars is we don’t judge our players, we back them. When you truly back someone, the results come.”Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lahore Qalandars won the PSL title on Sunday•AFP/Getty ImagesThat is no longer the case with Afridi and the national side. There are days when that can be justified; the cold hard numbers tell a tale of a bowler not quite as effective in the Pakistan colours anymore. But then, there are also nights like these.After enduring a somewhat indifferent PSL, the suspension and resumption gave Afridi a second wind. By the time he was bowling the first ball in the final, he had become the most valuable bowler in the tournament. The first over lacked a wicket but none of his vintage brilliance, starting it with three consecutive yorkers, the ball hooping around at pace as Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel went into survival mode. Three years earlier in a T20 World Cup semi-final, Afridi had taken three balls to trap Allen in front; here, Allen wisely got off strike on the second.The wicket Afridi got in his second over was fortuitous (Shakeel wasn’t close to making contact on that flick down the leg side) but not undeserved. With Quetta Gladiators finding their feet from the other end and getting off to a fast start despite Afridi’s menace, there was, perhaps, an argument for a missed trick when the Qalandars captain did not return for a third powerplay over. That over, bowled by Haris Rauf, would instead go for 16, and Gladiators finished the powerplay at a relatively comfortable 57 for 2.But Afridi would save each of his remaining overs for the most difficult time to bowl. Gladiators rollicked along against the rest of the bowling attack, Hasan Nawaz surging to 52 off 23, the score 106 for 3 in 11 overs. After starting with a wide and a nasty boundary collision that saw two fielders injured and a needless boundary conceded, Afridi produced five consecutive yorkers of near-military accuracy. Gladiators could do little more than forage three singles, and at least the momentum was punctured.But by his fourth over, it was all Gladiators. They were up to 170 for 4 in 17, on course to producing a total high enough to never have been chased in the final of any T20 competition, and knocking Qalandars out of the contest halfway through. The fifth-wicket partnership between Hasan and Dinesh Chandimal was 45 off 25 balls when Afridi marked his run-up around the wicket.There’s no denying that Shaheen Shah Afridi is a generational talent•Associated PressHasan squeezed a low full toss for a single before Chandimal failed to get underneath one and holed out to long-on. Three balls later, Afridi had removed dangerman Hasan himself, drawing a miscue that Raza held on to. The 18th over had produced two runs, and shaved a chunk of Gladiators’ final total. His bowling figures read 4-0-24-3; the other four in his side had conceded 41, 42, 43 and 51.Halfway through the press conference between the Qalandars captain and owner, an official came up to place the PSL trophy on the table. Afridi barely glanced at it; it wasn’t the silverware he craved as much as the joy of achieving success in an environment he has come to value beyond all else.”The atmosphere here is familial,” he said. “No one is anyone’s boss or captain. Everyone is heard, everyone is respected. No one is allowed to disrespect someone else.”That last sentence, perhaps, explains much of what has gone wrong between Afridi and Pakistan cricket over the last 18 months. It is not the way he would characterise the PCB, or the environment within Pakistan cricket, one he has gradually begun to be excluded from.”To improve Pakistan cricket, we need to support our players. You look at the strong national teams abroad, their former players support their team. They don’t call for sackings and removals,” Afridi said. “When you don’t give players that atmosphere, nothing we can do will change the situation. If the media had been positive, the crowds that didn’t come for large parts of the PSL would have been full. I truly believe that. All we have in Pakistan is cricket.”It is likely difficult managing Afridi, as is the case for most high-profile sports stars. He may sometimes lash out, and take offence where it isn’t given. He can have frustratingly long spells of poor form when the analytical side of his game appears to desert him wholly, and he shrinks under pressure. There will be clashes of egos among team-mates and between player and board. But as he has shown time and again with Qalandars, and used to show so often with the national side, he is also a generationally talented bowler, and walking away from him is invariably a failure of management, and a waste of talent.As Rana appears to understand, there is a value to making Shaheen Afridi feel loved and, as the PCB may just be beginning to appreciate, a real cost to not doing that.

Long gone are the days when Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah would tear the Premier League to shreds at Liverpool.

Staggeringly, from 197 games together at Anfield, the long-feared trio would combine for a devastating 338 goals, with Virgil Van Dijk once describing them together in action as a “scary” prospect to defend against.

Now, it’s very much a work in progress in attack for Arne Slot’s men, with both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz remaining goalless in Premier League action since joining.

On top of that, fellow summer recruit Hugo Ekitike has largely blown hot and cold on Merseyside, with no league strikes next to his name from his last five clashes.

Last summer also saw a lot of change in attack in outgoings, with the wasteful Darwin Nunez finally put out of his Anfield misery. But, away from the heavily scapegoated South American, the Reds also waved goodbye to loyal servant Luis Diaz, who is now excelling at Bayern Munich, to Liverpool’s ongoing distaste.

Diaz's electric form at Bayern

Next to the memorable frustrations regularly served up by Nunez, Diaz’s starring role at Liverpool when he was still there could be viewed as slipping under the radar, somewhat.

Yet, Diaz was still labelled as a “very special” talent at Anfield by Jurgen Klopp for good reason, with the one-time Premier League title winner collecting a standout 41 goals and 23 assists from 148 appearances at Anfield.

Before he was moved on to the Bundesliga, he also chipped in with his most fruitful top-flight season in England, tallying up 13 goals.

That same clinical edge has clearly followed him to Bavaria, with Diaz already up to a bumper 11 goals and five assists in his new shade of red from just 17 clashes.

Worryingly, Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike only have 11 goal contributions between them back in England, with the Colombian winger proving to be a stroke of genius signing for Vincent Kompany’s men at the £65.5m range.

To add insult to injury, all three of those Liverpool underperformers mentioned cost far more to obtain, with the 28-year-old already being hailed as a star who “delivers week in, week out” by his new manager.

Thankfully, Slot and Co could be brewing a homegrown iteration of their former attacker.

Liverpool's homegrown Luis Diaz

One of Diaz’s strong points when still situated at Anfield was his ability to line up all along the forward positions, with the malleable Colombian managing to bag eight strikes from 16 appearances as an out-and-out centre-forward, away from regularly completing his duties as a left winger.

The Reds have plenty of exciting young stars in their academy right now, chiefly fellow winger Rio Ngumoha but he’s not the focus this time around.

Indeed, another teenager by the name of Keyrol Figueroa is now beginning to make a strong impression on the youth staff.

Like Diaz, he has interchanged between wing and striker duties for Liverpool U21s this season effortlessly, with his “instinctive” nature in front of goal – as it was described by Liverpool academy reporter Lewis Bower – also seeing him score goals and pick up assists aplenty.

CF

20

8 + 3

RW

6

3 + 2

LW

2

1 + 0

RM

1

0

While he has predominantly found most of his joy on youth pitches comes from leading the line, with a clinical eight goals powered home from 20 games in that role, Figueroa has also not looked out of place whatsoever on either flank, much like Diaz in his Anfield prime. To put those numbers into perspective, it’s more goals than Ngumoha has bagged at the same level, having beaten the goalkeeper on just two occasions in nine U21 fixtures.

He will also want to give a disappointing Isak a run for his money down the line, with a deadly hat-trick bagged against Everton U21s last month no doubt making him an even more popular figure in youth circles in the red half of Merseyside, away from being an adaptable figure.

It would be wild to throw Figueroa into the first team imminently, considering he is just 19 years of age and is only used to the comforts of youth football.

But, if he continues as he is now, it will surely only be a matter of time before he is unleashed, having also been described as a “ruthless” finisher of chances by his U21 boss in Rob Page.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp also hailed Diaz as having a similarly impressive “eye for goal” during his Liverpool playing days, as Slot and Co now hope Figueroa can be as lively in the first team picture as the Colombian down the line.

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.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

Manchester United certainly raised eyebrows during the summer transfer window, especially after dropping over £200m on new additions to bolster their first-team ranks.

Such spending may have come as a surprise to many, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe previously stating before the summer that no massive deals would be conducted.

The vast majority of their efforts were directed to the final third, as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all added to Ruben Amorim’s attacking department.

However, the trio have all made an immediate impact at Old Trafford, scoring seven times between them in the first nine Premier League outings of 2025/26.

As a result of their shopping spree, it would be a surprise to no one that other players will need to be offloaded during the January window to try and balance the books.

The United players who could leave the club in January

Over the last couple of days, United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been strongly touted with an exit from Old Trafford – no doubt due to the form of the aforementioned trio.

It was reported earlier this week that the Dutch international is keen on a temporary or permanent move away from the Red Devils in January, with Aston Villa interested in his signature.

Manuel Ugarte is another first-team member who could be shown the exit door in the next few months, with his move to the Premier League failing to deliver at present.

The Uruguayan international cost a staggering £50m from Ligue 1 outfit PSG last summer, but his move has failed to hit the heights – as seen by his lack of game time under Amorim in 2025/26.

He’s only made two starts in England’s top-flight this season, even dropping behind 33-year-old Casemiro in the club’s pecking order during the early stages of the campaign.

One other first-team member in the form of Diogo Dalot could also find himself one step closer to the exit door after failing to impress over the last couple of months.

Despite making six league appearances under Amorim this season, the Portuguese international has fallen way below the standards expected of him – as seen by his tallies compared to the other options at the manager’s disposal.

The 26-year-old has only completed 75% of the passes he’s attempted in the Premier League, the lowest of any defender in the Red Devils squad – showcasing his lack of impact in recent weeks.

The United star now on borrowed time

The Erik ten Hag era at United was a period largely full of disappointment, with the Dutchman unable to take the club back to their former glory during his tenure in charge.

The 55-year-old spent a little over two years in the role at Old Trafford, achieving a 56% win record and also winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during such a period.

However, the eighth-place finish in 2023/24 was disappointing to many fans, with the start to last season ultimately spelling the end of his time in England.

Ten Hag was responsible for bringing Zirkzee and Ugarte both to the Theatre of Dreams, further highlighting how disappointing his work in the transfer market at the helm.

Despite the failures in the window, the Dutchman deserves huge credit for his work in the development of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo – subsequently handing the youngster the chance to cement his place in the first team.

He would have been an unknown quantity to many supporters, but the 20-year-old amassed a total of 32 appearances in 2023/24, even scoring on five separate occasions.

Many of his efforts were crucial ones, from last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers and efforts against Manchester City in the FA Cup final – it truly was a season to remember for the academy graduate.

Such performances led to journalist Liam Canning labelling Mainoo as United’s “best player” in March 2024, but it’s safe to say it’s not been plain sailing for the youngster since Amorim’s arrival.

In the Premier League in 2025/26, the Englishman has failed to start a single outing, subsequently being restricted to just seven substitute appearances – totalling just 138 minutes in the process.

Kobbie Mainoo – PL stats (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Stats via FotMob

Mainoo has previously voiced his displeasure at the lack of action since the 40-year-old’s appointment – even requesting a temporary loan move away this summer to gain valuable game time.

However, such a request was swiftly rejected by the manager and the board, but he still remains behind the likes of Ugarte and Casemiro in the current pecking order.

Given the lack of faith shown in him by the manager, it’s safe to say the youngster will be on borrowed time at Old Trafford, and the club could look to cash in on him – with a £70m price tag previously mooted.

Ten Hag may have struggled in the role, but one of the best things he did in Manchester was show the needed faith in Mainoo to allow him to flourish in the professional game.

Amorim could learn a thing or two from the Dutchman, as the Red Devils potentially risk offloading yet another top talent far too prematurely.

Related Casemiro replacement: Man Utd to make £42m bid for "one of the best CMs"

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for a new midfielder in January.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 29, 2025

Manchester United have a conundrum in midfield which needs to be solved sooner rather than later.

Ruben Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system, which he is insistent on sticking to, operates with a double pivot. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are his first choices in that role this season.

That has left a few players out in the cold this season, without regular minutes. The two players who have tended to be left on the sidelines are Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. The England international is yet to start a Premier League game this season, and former Sporting man Ugarte has not been able to get into the side over Casemiro.

It seems as though the Red Devils are targeting a new midfielder who can slot into the side.

Man Utd looking to sign England international

The Manuncian side have already begun a mini-revolution in the centre of the park. They have recently signed young Colombian Cristian Orozco, who will perhaps start in the youth team but could well be considered a first-teamer in the future.

Elliot Anderson is a name who is regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford but he’s not the only England international in the crosshairs of INEOS.

Indeed, according to a report from Football Insider, Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher is a player the club continue to ‘monitor’ ahead of the January transfer window.

There has been previous interest in the former Chelsea star from Premier League clubs. Crystal Palace wanted him last summer, and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

However, Amorim’s side are described as ‘frontrunners’ for Gallagher. As far as a fee is concerned, it has been reported that a bid in the region of £26m could be accepted.

Why Gallagher would be a good signing

The signing of Gallagher could well be a strong addition to United’s midfield. Described as a “warrior” in the middle of the park by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he would bring Premier League experience.

Indeed, Gallagher has made 136 appearances in the English top flight, for boyhood side Chelsea, as well as loan spells at Crystal Palace and West Brom. That ready-made experience in the Premier League could be vital for Amorim, as he would need little to no adaptation period.

Of course, over the last 18 months, the former Chelsea star has been plying his trade in La Liga for Atleti. He’s played 69 times for Diego Simeone’s side, chipping in with six goals and six assists. That included a strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.

If the Red Devils were to sign Gallagher this winter, he could prove to be the long-term replacement for Casemiro. United’s Brazilian midfielder is out of contract soon, and it seems like he could be on his way at the end of the campaign.

Indeed, he is a hard man to replace. The former Los Blancos star has been a key figure in that midfield pivot for Amorim, making 12 appearances and chipping in with three goals.

That included this effort against Gallagher’s former side, Chelsea, at Old Trafford.

Replacing Casemiro in that United midfield would not be easy for Gallagher. Aside from his potent threat in the final third, the Brazilian, of course, is a master at breaking up play and winning the ball back.

However, when looking at the stats, it suggests that the Atleti star possesses the skills to do just that. For example, he’s averaged 4.12 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes this season, compared to just 3.6 each game for Casemiro.

Progressive passes

3.73

5.07

Key passes

0.59

0.93

Progressive carries

2.75

0.67

Tackles and interceptions

4.12

3.60

Ball recoveries

4.71

5.60

Finding the man who can eventually step into Casemiro’s shoes was never going to be easy for Amorim. Yet, in Gallagher, United may have landed upon the perfect player. He still has plenty of quality on the ball and final third threat, whilst also being an efficient ball winner.

Furthermore, he’s also got energy, something Casemiro lacks. Indeed, he has been described as an “intensity monster” and as “one of the best midfielders in the sport when it comes to running long distances” by one notable analyst on social media.

£26m is a small fee in the current market, and should the Red Devils choose to pay it, they could have finally found the perfect player to replace Casemiro.

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Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on hiring a Premier League manager, who Pep Guardiola called “incredible”, in a fresh concern for Arne Slot.

Carragher delivers "honest" Liverpool verdict after PSV defeat

Before the international break, Liverpool could at least fall back on the excuse that much of their bad form came on the road. Anfield, for the most part, remained a fortress. Just weeks later, however, and that fortress has been set ablaze by humiliating defeats at the hands of Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

Not everyone is ready to call time on Slot’s time at the club, however, and Anfield legend Jamie Carragher sent a timely reminder on punditry duty that Liverpool aren’t a sacking club, historically speaking.

He said: “Liverpool is not a sacking club, Liverpool, I think, are different from almost every club in European football where the manager is the king, you know, the managers get time.

“Liverpool have never sacked a manager who’s won the league, never in the history. They’ve all, you know, after a few years they’ve gone, they’ve resigned.

Slot must drop 3/10 Liverpool flop who was just as bad as Konate vs PSV

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“I couldn’t believe over the weekend that people were talking about the manager’s job when I spoke to Liverpool supporters after losing at home to Nottingham Forest.

“It’s only going to amplify now and I’ve always been in the camp of you stick with the manager because I’m angry with the players if I’m being totally honest, I’m really angry with the players but it does get to a stage with any manager at any club where I always use this word untenable, where it almost feels like it can’t go on any longer.”

Whether Liverpool chiefs share that view is the big question. Recent reports linking them to the likes of Andoni Iraola certainly suggests that they’re at least preparing for life without Slot.

Liverpool eyeing Andoni Iraola move

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now eyeing a move to hire Iraola from Bournemouth if they decide to sack Slot. The Cherries boss is someone that Richard Hughes knows well, given that the sporting director hired the Spaniard during his time on the South Coast, and could now turn to him for a second time.

Iraola is one of the most well-respected managers in the Premier League these days. He’s taken Bournemouth to new heights and transformed the likes of Antoine Semenyo, who’s attracting interest from Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been one of the many figures around English football to hand the Bournemouth boss praise, telling reporters earlier this season: “Andoni is an incredible, well-respected manager in Spain and did an incredible job in Rayo Vallecano.”

It doesn’t get much better than praise from the Man City boss, and Iraola could yet get the chance to become one of his biggest rivals if Liverpool make their move.

Gravenberch upgrade: Liverpool ready record bid for "best CM in the world"

When Gian Piero Gasperini was unveiled as Roma's new coach back in June, he made a point of repeatedly stating that his first objective was getting the fans onside. The former Atalanta coach may have worked miracles in Bergamo but he's always been a bit of a divisive figure, so his appointment certainly wasn't met with universal approval among the supporters.

Truth be told, they would have preferred to see local legend Claudio Ranieri continue as coach for another year. However, Ranieri refused to reverse his retirement in order to take up a directorial role with the club and felt that the infamously gruff Gasperini was precisely the kind of character required to revive Roma.

"I didn't like him [when I was a coach]," Ranieri revealed with typical honesty, "and I told him so, but he was chosen because I am convinced that Rome needs a strong personality, a coach who is never satisfied, who is always angry, who wants to improve the team, the individual.

"I will be a friend for him, I will be on one side and if he needs something, we will try to solve problems together. He's aware of the difficulties we will encounter but if I had stayed, I would have lost a year of time for the construction; he was called to build something that can bear fruit.

"That won't be easy, of course, but that's why we offered him a year to make himself understood." Happily for everyone involved, Gasperini has needed less than six months to win over the fans by cooking up a surprise Scudetto challenge…

The first sign of Gasperini's killer counters

An hour into Sunday's Serie A clash with Cremonese, Roma were 1-0 up and going top of the table – not that you would have known that from Gasperini's demeanour. He'd been on edge pretty much all afternoon, irked by the decision-making of the match officials, and, in the 62nd minute, he was sent off.

Unsurprisingly, Gasperini lost it and, rather amusingly, he argued afterwards that if he was going to be dismissed, it should have been in the first half rather than the second. Indeed, when he was issued two yellow cards in a matter of seconds just after the hour mark, an irate Gasperini insisted that, in that particular moment, he hadn't actually said anything insulting towards the referee or his assistants.

However, Gasperini's rage quickly dissipated. While he was still reluctantly making his way to the stand, substitute Evan Ferguson scored his first goal for the club. Five minutes after that, a visibly ecstatic Gasperini was out of his seat and slapping colleagues after Wesley finished off the kind of killer counterattack with which the 67-year-old had enjoyed such remarkable success at Atalanta.

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By the time the moment came to speak to the press after a 3-1 win that moved Roma two points clear at the summit of Serie A, Gasperini was all smiles – and particularly when he was shown images of a piece of street art that appeared in the Italian capital last week depicting him as a wizard concocting a title challenge with 'grit, heart and sweat'.

"That's wonderful but disconcerting!" Gasperini joked in his post-match interview with . "The ingredients are fantastic, though, and I agree they are the things that we need. Maybe we can also add a little spice and salt." With Gasperini as coach, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Keeping a lid on the fans' expectations represents a tougher task.

What's interesting, though, is that Gasperini isn't really trying to rain on anyone's parade. He's actually preaching positivity, looking to ride rather than quell the wave of optimism generated by Roma's best start to a season for 10 years.

"We want to keep playing like this," Gasperini said on Sunday. "It's only right to dream in these positions, while at the same time being aware that very few dreams come true in the end. However, we're trying to keep the dream going for a while longer."

Getty Images SportContinuing Ranieri's good work

The good news for Roma's long-suffering supporters, some of whom weren't even alive when they last won the Scudetto (2001), is that we've already seen enough evidence to suggest that the Gasperini-led title challenge is at least sustainable.

As Ranieri alluded to, nobody anticipated an especially smooth transition from last season to this. Gasperini is a notoriously demanding coach, he has been known to clash with unwilling workers, and it usually takes some time for his methods to take root.

There was, therefore, a fear that his spell at Roma would go the same way as his last stint at one of Italy's biggest clubs, when he was sacked after just five games in charge of Inter all the way back in 2011.

However, Gasperini has done a sensational job building upon the excellent platform put in place by Ranieri, who took over with the Giallorossi in total disarray last November and led the club to a fifth-place finish, after losing just once in the second half of the season.

As a result, Roma have retained a base level of organisation and commitment that has allowed them to continue eking out wins. Indeed, across Europe's 'big five' leagues, only Real Madrid (23) have won more matches by a single-goal margin in 2025 than the Giallorossi (20).

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A surprisingly strong defence

Roma have also kept clean sheets in half of their 12 Serie A games so far, and conceded just six goals – fewer than anyone else in Italy's top flight thanks to the likes of veteran centre-back Gianluca Mancini, goalkeeper Mile Svilar and midfield duo Manu Kone and Bryan Cristante, who are both doing an excellent job of protecting the three-man backline.

However, to say that the excellent defensive record is surprising would be a massive understatement, as Gasperini's Atalanta were renowned – and revered – for their offensive game, which was significantly aided by the willingness to go one-v-one at the back.

Gasperini even brought up his adventurous approach in his first press conference as Roma boss. "I don’t think it's any secret, everyone knows what kind of football I like," he said. "My style of play reflects my own characteristics.

"My teams have always played in a certain way, with intensity and quality, scoring a lot of goals, always focused on scoring one more rather than conceding one fewer."

And yet 10th-placed Udinese are the only team in the top half of Serie A to have scored few goals (12) than the current league leaders (15).

Nottinghamshire 282 for 3 (Haynes 124, Hameed 58*) beat Glamorgan 278 for 9 (Byrom 62, Root 56) by seven wicketsJack Haynes starred with a century as Notts Outlaws kept their qualification chances at arm’s length with a comfortable run chase against winless defending champions Glamorgan.The 24-year-old Haynes struck a well-timed 124 with some late acceleration to chase the sub-par 278 for 9 set by the hosts.Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed played supporting roles in the seven-wicket win, the latter combining with Haynes for a 141-run third-wicket stand.Eddie Byrom notched up back-to-back half-centuries with 62 while Billy Root also passed 50 to hold together the Glamorgan innings. One positive for the winless side was 18-year-old Romano Franco picking up a first professional wicket at the third time of asking.After being inserted, Glamorgan got off to a racing start, as has tended to be their way in this competition. Byrom and Asa Tribe’s 71-run opening stand left Notts’ bowling attack – hit by the absence of players in the Hundred – with cause for concern before Tribe’s fun was ended by 18-year-old debutant Byron Hatton-Lowe.Byrom, the steadier of the two openers in terms of strike rate, continued calmly as he watched on for Henry Hurle, playing a first Glamorgan game of 2025, to be dismissed.Kiran Carlson was unable to kick on, as was Will Smale who suffered a ball-watching run out to leave the hosts with just five wickets in hand with more than 20 overs to bat, a theme too common in their campaign.Root held the fort in a knock of few boundaries for 56 before Dan Douthwaite’s blistering cameo added some impetus, the hosts still left short.Zain Ul Hassan was able to contain in a seven-over new-ball spell while Ned Leonard leaked at the other end, Slater enjoying a rather comfortable start.After Ben Martindale was dismissed, a period of experience was due with Slater and Haynes adding 75 before Hameed struck an unbeaten 58 to ice the run chase.Franco impressed in his 10 overs but poor fielding, including a drop by Andy Gorvin with Haynes on 68 proved costly.Tribe followed as the third player in the game to take a first wicket for his club, after Hatton-Lowe and Franco, although the damage was done.

Rayan Cherki delivered a masterclass in skills to inspire Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Sunderland which showed they mean business in the title race. The Frenchman produced the moment of the game by serving up a header for Phil Foden with an outrageous rabona straight from the streets of Lyon, crowning a dominant win for Pep Guardiola's side after goals from Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.

City were lifted before kick off by Aston Villa's dramatic win over Arsenal. They struggled to get going in the face of an expectedly stubborn gameplan from the visitors, who had lost only one of their previous seven games and were seventh in the table when the game kicked off. Haaland barely saw the ball, let alone a shooting opportunity, in the opening half an hour while Foden and Bernardo Silva both missed the target.

Having seen their more elaborate attempts to break down Sunderland come to nothing, Dias broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a no-nonsense strike from 30 yards out which went flying into the top corner with the help of a deflection. The hosts suddenly started playing with a lot more confidence and moments later they were 2-0 up, Gvardiol rising highest to head home Foden's corner.

City had squandered a two-goal advantage in their last home game against Leeds and turned a four-goal lead over Fulham in mid-week to a narrow win by a single strike. They had a couple of nervy moments in the second half, including Granit Xhaka hammering the post and Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from Wilson Isidor from point-blank range.

But Cherki's show-stopping moment, which prompted Foden to run straight towards him in gratitude, ensured City took all the points. And they are now breathing down Arsenal's necks, having cut their seven-point gap behind the Gunners from two weeks ago to just two points.

A miserable afternoon for Sunderland was compounded when Luke O'Nien was shown a straight red card in injury time, four minutes after coming off the bench, for a studs-up tackle on Matheus Nunes.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10):

Made himself big to thwart Wilson Isidor from close range and bail out Dias. His kicking early in the game had been questionable but it's big saves like that which vindicate City's decision to buy him.

Matheus Nunes (6/10):

A pretty solid display defensively although his crossing left something to be desired.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

Had the audacity to shoot from so far out and was rewarded for it, even withstanding the deflection. Nearly cancelled out his goal by lacking awareness in his box when he was mugged by Isidor but Donnarumma came to the rescue.

Josko Gvardiol (7/10):

Defended astutely to ensure there was no repeat of the mad second halves against Leeds and Fulham and played his part in attack. Chipped a pass to Haaland in the first half and then scored a second goal in three games with an athletic leap and bullet header.

Nico O'Reilly (6/10):

An energetic display spent more in Sunderland's half than his own.

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Bernardo Silva (7/10):

Much better from him compared to recent weeks as he conducted the play with some expert passing.

Nico Gonzalez (7/10):

A towering display through the middle, getting the better of Xhaka.

Phil Foden (7/10):

Had a frustrating first half but was much better after the break, scoring his fifth goal in three league games and dovetailing nicely with Cherki.

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Rayan Cherki (9/10):

City's 'free soul' (in Guardiola's words) was in his element here, feeling empowered to try the most audacious of tricks. He laid the ball on for Dias's goal, then produced his ridiculous assist for Foden. He could have had two more assists had Tijjani Reijnders or Haaland had their shooting boots on and he was only denied a goal of his own by a fine Robin Roefs save.

Erling Haaland (5/10):

Barely made himself visible, taking just two touches in the first half. Got one opening after fleet footwork from Cherki but sent a tame shot straight at Roefs.

Jeremy Doku (7/10):

Caused Sunderland no end of worries with his quick footwork and runs inside, even if none of his trickery actually led to goals.

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Nathan Ake (6/10):

A competent 20-minute performance after replacing Gvardiol.

Tijjani Reijnders (5/10):

Really should have scored when he missed the near post after a lovely ball from Cherki.

Omar Marmoush (5/10):

Had an air-shot when he failed to connect with Cherki's cross.

Savinho (N/A):

Replaced Cherki in the 82nd minute.

Rico Lewis (N/A):

Allowed Bernardo a breather by coming on in the 82nd minute.

Pep Guardiola (7/10):

Enjoyed his most comfortable 90 minutes in a while as his side kept their composure after a frustrating start and then easily held onto their advantage. His warning a few weeks ago that 'no one wins the title in November' feels particularly insightful now. 

The Australian retired from ODI cricket after producing several moments of brilliance

Alex Malcolm02-Jun-2025How do you sum up Glenn Maxwell’s ODI career? Mercurial, magnificent, marauding, mind-blowing, maligned, and maddening, perhaps.But even those words feel like they barely scratch the surface.The numbers don’t sum it up either. His 149 games across 13 years seem an oddly low number. His 3990 runs at 33.81 places him jarringly between Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor at 19th on Australia’s all-time ODI run-scoring list.He took fewer ODI wickets than two other batting allrounders in Steve and Mark Waugh, who turned 60 on the day of his retirement.Maxwell’s ODI legacy can’t be measured in totality. A Statsguru search for the greatest ODI players by conventional metrics won’t spit out Maxwell’s name anywhere near the top except, significantly, for his strike-rate.Highest strike rates in men’s ODIs•ESPNcricinfo LtdIt’ll be measured by the moments of sheer jaw-dropping brilliance that he produced more often than he’s given credit for.Mumbai 2023 was his masterpiece. No matter how many times you look at the scorecard, it will never make sense. But again, the numbers aren’t the story.Watching it live it made no sense. Re-living it on replay, it still makes no sense. The entire innings – 201 not out off 128 – was preposterous from start to finish for myriad reasons. He did something that simply no other player could do.But to suggest that was his one great high in an ODI career that featured plenty of lows would be unfair. He was often maligned for his inconsistencies and there is a perception that Maxwell would go missing in key moments.His record suggests otherwise. The key moments when Australia were in the most trouble was when Maxwell often shone brightest. Mumbai is the greatest example. Manchester is another. In a long-forgotten ODI series played in a bio-bubble in front of empty stands, Maxwell and Alex Carey made centuries as Australia chased 303 for a series victory against the defending ODI World Champions having been 73 for 5.Maxwell’s double-hundred in the World Cup 2023 was an innings for the ages•ICC via Getty ImagesMaxwell’s successful chasing habits started early. In just his fourth ODI he made an unbeaten 56 from 38 balls to guide Australia through a tricky pursuit against Pakistan. His unbeaten 44 in the face off in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final is often forgotten behind Steven Smith and Shane Watson’s tussle with Wahab Riaz, but it was no less critical.In 2016 he made 96 off 83 against India as Australia chased 296 with three wickets to spare. Just 17 months before his Mumbai masterpiece he pulled off a stunning chase in Pallekele against Sri Lanka with a mind-bending 80 not out off 51 balls, adding 54 with No. 9 Ashton Agar and No. 10 Jhye Richardson who contributed just four runs between them, to win with two wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. Overall in the ODI World Cup, he averaged 47.42 with a strike-rate of 160.32.As recently as his penultimate ODI innings, at the Champions Trophy earlier this year, he walked out with Australia needing 70 off 50 balls chasing 352 against England and smashed 32 not out off 15 to end the game alongside Josh Inglis with 15 balls unused.Glenn Maxwell averaged 47.42 with a strike rate of 160.32 in World Cup cricket•AFP/Getty ImagesHis ability to translate T20 batting into ODI cricket is unparalleled. In 34 successful ODI chases, Maxwell averaged 56.40 at a strike-rate of 127.89. The list of ODI players who average 50 or more in winning chases striking at 90 or more is illustrious, and Maxwell sits in the rarest air.Maxwell’s outstanding chasing record is instructive about his mindset. For all the moments you wondered ‘how did he do that’, there were just as many thoughts of ‘why did he do that’ when the game was set up for him.Something about chasing near impossible targets simplified the game for him as he explained to ESPNcricinfo last year.”Sometimes the feeling of, oh, there’s no way back that can sort of free you up a bit, so you sort of take the pressure off yourself,” Maxwell said. “It makes it a bit more simple in front of you.”Where sometimes if you’re on top of the game, or level with the game, it can be a bit complicated, where you think we don’t need to go too hard, or we need to only go at four an over and we’re under no pressure. You can be a bit more tentative.”Glenn Maxwell played a huge role as a bowler too in Australia’s World Cup winning campaigns in 2015 and 2023•AFP/Getty ImagesHe thrived in pressure moments with the ball and in the field, too. His bowling record does not leap off the page, but his role in Australia’s two World Cup titles was crucial. In 2015 he played as the lone spinner on home soil and did a sterling job, taking the key wicket of Martin Guptill early in the final after Mitchell Starc had rattled Brendon McCullum’s stumps in the opening over.His wicket in the 2023 final silenced 100,000 people and broke 1.6 billion hearts. With Rohit Sharma flying, Maxwell was asked to bowl the last over of the first powerplay. Rohit clubbed him for six and four off the second and third balls taking his career ODI record against Maxwell to 161 from 127 balls for one dismissal. Maxwell held his nerve, changed the pace and trajectory and forced a mistake to change the complexion of the match.His figures of 1 for 35 from six do not adequately reflect how brilliant that delivery was in that one moment.The rollercoaster of his onfield displays matched the rollercoaster of his life off it. But it is amazing how well he has endured and has kept meeting the moment, despite form slumps, mental health challenges, a broken leg, a golf cart concussion and being hospitalised with severe dehydration at another golf day.He is mercurial in every sense of the word. And he is not done yet. If his ODI record undersells his brilliance, his T20I record emphasises it. Despite another lean IPL ending in injury, you wouldn’t put it past him to produce a special performance at next year’s World Cup.That is the magic of Maxwell. If you can’t handle him at his worst, you don’t deserve him at his best. Not every Australian regime got the best of Maxwell all of the time in ODI cricket, but he produced high points under each of them across a 13-year career.His best will be irreplaceable. That is without question. Seeing it was a privilege, every maddening and magnificent moment of it.