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A journalist has revealed that Brendan Rodgers is now a ‘serious contender’ to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Under pressure

Solskjaer is now under pressure to keep his job after the recent 5-0 drubbing at home to bitter rivals Liverpool, and their game away at Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend could prove pivotal.

Erik ten Hag is one name to have been mentioned as his potential successor should he leave Old Trafford, as the Red Devils sit in a measly seventh place in the Premier League table, with just 14 points after nine games played and a whopping 15 goals conceded, the joint-most in the top half (Premier League).

The Latest: Rodgers likely?

As per ESPN journalist Alex Shaw,  Rodgers is now emerging as a ‘serious contender’ to replace Solskjaer, and has support ‘within United’.

However, the possibility of Antonio Conte joining instead has not been ruled out yet, but there are reportedly ‘concerns’ with the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager.

The Verdict: Get it done

If any team lose 5-0 at home to their biggest rivals, their manager would be under immense pressure.

It seems as if with no major trophies delivered to Man Utd so far, now may be the time for Solskjaer to go.

In that case, Rodgers could be the perfect replacement, in spite of his Liverpool links.

Described as one of the ‘outstanding’ managers in the top flight by none other than former United captain Gary Neville back in November, Rodgers has proven unlike Solksjaer that he can win trophies in England, by winning the FA Cup and Community Shield with Leicester City, a team not part of the so-called ‘big six’ (Transfermarkt).

His sides win a very impressive 1.83 points per game, which is more than Solskjaer, and while the latter has only managed Molde in Norway and Cardiff City elsewhere, Rodgers has also managed in the Premier League with both Liverpool and Swansea City and has plenty of European experience with both the Merseysiders and Celtic.

Nonetheless, the Northern Irishman would surely be an inspired appointment.

In other news, find out who could leave MUFC next summer here!

An unrelenting sun spared no one on the field but Lancashire’s discomfort was all the more unpleasant for being given the run-around by a couple of Nottinghamshire batsmen

The Bulletin by Jon Culley at Trent Bridge02-Jul-2009
ScorecardDavid Hussey kept the runs coming after his first-innings century•Getty Images

An unrelenting sun spared no one on the field but Lancashire’s discomfort was all the more unpleasant for being given the run-around by a couple of Nottinghamshire batsmen – moreover at just the time of day that countries accustomed to baking heatwaves set aside for siesta.Bowled out for 289 an hour or so into the morning session, conceding a first-innings lead of 103, Lancashire probably felt they had a chance of dragging themselves back into the contest after Nottinghamshire, having extended their advantage to 175 for the loss of only one wicket, unexpectedly surrendered a couple more.Unfortunately for them the fall of the currently underachieving Samit Patel, shuffling across his stumps to be leg before to Kyle Hogg, leaving Nottinghamshire 79 for 3, only ushered in Lancashire’s tormentor from the first innings, David Hussey. With Mark Wagh already well set, the next hour and half, with the mercury at its highest either side of tea, took the game away from them.Where Lancashire had struggled on a slow pitch and in the face of disciplined bowling from the home side, edging along at less than three runs per over, Wagh and Hussey left scorch marks in their wake, relatively speaking. Their partnership for the fourth wicket breezed through in 24 overs, adding 141.Hussey, as in the first innings, was in imperious form, scoring his 74 off only 78 deliveries, including 10 fours and a massive straight six off Gary Keedy, whose left-arm spin appeared, not for the first time, to be taking all the punishment but without whose economy over a marathon bowl, Nottinghamshire might have raced ahead even more quickly.Hussey had just reached an aggregate score of 200 for the match when, shaping to cut, he was bowled by Glen Chapple. It was a disappointment for the home crowd that the entertainment was cut short but, by that stage, Nottinghamshire were 323 in front and in a position to dictate the remaining course of the match.In the meantime, Wagh had completed his second first-class hundred of the season, getting there in 220 minutes, facing 177 balls and hitting three sixes as well as 11 fours, the maximums coming twice from strong-arm pulls, off Oliver Newby as well as Keedy, with one in between, also off Keedy, driven straight down the ground.It was an excellent – and chanceless – effort from Wagh whose move from Edgbaston has worked out splendidly. In two and a half seasons, Wagh piled up more than 2700 first-class runs, passing 50 some 26 times and converting seven half-centuries to hundreds to average more than 50.Contrast that with his team-mate Will Jefferson, the beanpole former Essex opener, who left Chelmsford in 2007 averaging 41.77 with 11 centuries to his name but has an average for Nottinghamshire over 22 matches of just 26, his solitary three-figure score made against a university side.Jefferson lost his middle stump to Newby for 2. Bilal Shafayat, who has endured his own struggle for runs this year, did somewhat better to reach 30, although he undid it with a horrible heave off Keedy to be caught at mid-on.Patel, out of the England picture because of fitness issues, is another in need of runs, more so after his departure for 1, although none of this mattered too much once Hussey and Wagh had turned the match around.Lancashire could be grateful that Chapple’s 55 in the morning session had at least enabled them to avoid the follow-on. Chapple lost his wicket when he chopped on to Ryan Sidebottom, whose efforts to bowl himself into full Ashes contention were finally rewarded, after his fruitless toil of the day before, with a couple of wickets, Luke Sutton’s edge to Chris Read giving him the other.Sidebottom’s form was only a footnote to the third day’s play but it could, conceivably, be the headline story on the final day. Chasing a theoretical 393 to win after Nottinghamshire declared at 289-7 with half a dozen overs left in the evening session, Lancashire lost Paul Horton to the third ball of Sidebottom’s opening over, the opener run out by Wagh’s fine stop and throw from square leg after turning back from an attempted single.It leaves them facing a daunting task to survive the last day and no one will be keener to see that they do not than Sidebottom.

Sky Sports pundit Ally McCoist has been waxing lyrical over a moment of “absolute magic” from Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn on international duty over the weekend.

The Lowdown: Vital win

The 26-year-old started and scored at Hampden Park on Saturday evening as Scotland came from behind twice to earn a vital win against Israel in their World Cup qualifying group, Scott McTominay netting a stoppage time winner for the Tartan Army.

In his 39th cap for his country, the Villa midfielder scored his 11th international goal and his first since a brace in the 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands in March. He netted from the edge of the penalty area after good work by Andy Robertson and Che Adams, McGinn taking a pass from the Liverpool defender and curling the ball beyond opposition goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.

The victory leaves Scotland four points ahead of Israel with three games to go, with Steve Clarke’s side on course to qualify for the play-offs.

The Latest: McCoist hails McGinn “magic”

Speaking to Sky Sports about McGinn’s goal, Scotland’s first of the match, the former Rangers boss was full of praise for the Villa midfielder.

“What a finish,” he raved. “What a goal and what a finish. Absolutely magic. Don’t underestimate the work of Tierney and Robertson. Brilliant.

“They work their way, they gave the angle, it’s a lovely bit of give and go. A lovely one-two with Adams (from Robertson). He (McGinn) opens himself up and look at that (curling finish).

“That is absolutely magic. That is the only word for that. Magic. Ohh, brilliant. It’s fantastic. John McGinn, what a goal.”

The Verdict: McGinn is vital for club and country

McGinn’s influence for both club and country has been evident in recent years and he showed that again on Saturday evening for Scotland.

Since his 2018 move from Hibernian to Villa Park, the midfielder has made 117 appearances, scoring 14 goals and setting up another 19. His importance to Dean Smith’s midfield is reflected in his industrious qualities (1.8 tackles per game, joint-second highest in the squad) as well as his attacking influence (1.7 shots and 1.3 key passes per game, second highest in the squad for both)

Scotland travel to the Faroe Islands tomorrow night hoping to stretch their lead over Israel, and there is every chance that the 26-year-old could have a big say on proceeding in that game too.

In other news, rumours have started to surface about Villa making a move for a Serie A maestro. Find out more here.

Cricinfo previews the IPL game between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Chennai Super Kings

The Preview by S Rajesh19-Apr-2009Match factsApril 20, 2009
Start time 16.30pm (14.30GMT)Bangalore’s batsmen could do worse than take some tips from Rahul Dravid, who scored a cool 66 against Rajasthan•AFP

Big PictureMidway through the second match on the opening day, it appeared Monday’s game would feature the two losers from Saturday. The stunning fightback from the Bangalore Royal Challengers means, though, that the Chennai Super Kings will be playing catch-up when the two teams clash in Port Elizabeth.It’ll also be the first game in that venue, so both teams will have to assess the conditions afresh and plan accordingly. The batting – apart from Rahul Dravid and, to some extent, Matthew Hayden – was disappointing for both teams, and the trick could well be to scale down the target score and instead keep wickets in hand at the start. Dravid handled the conditions expertly; now it’s for Jesse Ryder, Robin Uthappa and Ross Taylor to learn some lessons from that knock and tighten up.Chennai were patchy with the bat too, and unlike Bangalore, their bowlers didn’t run through the opposition line-up. These are still early days in the tournament, but another defeat will make Chennai the early laggards of IPL season 2, which would be a huge comedown from their heroics last year.Player form guideBangalore: Dravid and Anil Kumble were the obvious form players from the first game, but all the Bangalore bowlers did their jobs. The onus is now on the batsmen to adapt to the conditions and ensure that a 17 for 3 situation doesn’t happen again.Chennai: Hayden didn’t show much rustiness, while MS Dhoni fought hard towards the end, but the rest of the batting needs to step up. The bowling was inconsistent too, with Andrew Flintoff letting the team down in the final overs.Watch out forSteyn v Hayden: Dale Steyn had a hand to play in hastening Hayden’s retirement, dismissing him three times for 58 runs in 107 deliveries in the Test series in Australia. Hayden will want some revenge, and he’ll have a fair chance in a format that is far more loaded in favour of batsmen.Friendly firePietersen v Flintoff: The two England big guns will be pitted against each other, and expect sparks to fly when Flintoff comes racing in to bowl to Kevin Pietersen.Team newsBangalore have little reason to change the combination that worked the magic against Rajasthan: the bowling attack was fabulous, and the batting, while disappointing, has too much class at the top to warrant a change after one failure.Bangalore Royal Challengers (probable) 1 Jesse Ryder, 2 Robin Uthappa (wk), 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Virat Kohli, 7 Balachandra Akhil, 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 R Vinay Kumar, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Dale Steyn.Chennai will probably include Albie Morkel for the unimpressive Jacob Oram, while Muttiah Muralitharan could come in to beef up the bowling attack.Chennai Super Kings (probable) 1 Parthiv Patel, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Andrew Flintoff, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 S Badrinath, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Joginder Sharma, 9 Manpreet Gony, 10 L Balaji, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.Head-to-head recordThe two teams split the matches they played against each other last season, and the margins were almost identical too: Chennai won the first won game by 13 runs, while Bangalore won by a 14-run margin in the return clash.

تقدم فريق الكرة بالزمالك بالهدف الأول أمام منافسه بيراميدز في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما حاليًا ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري.

ويلتقي الزمالك وبيراميدز في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثامنة والعشرين من الدوري، في المباراة التي احتضنها استاد القاهرة في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر.

طالع | مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز في الدوري

وكان اللاعب إمام عاشور قد تحصل على ركلة جزاء في الثانية 30 بعد انطلاق المباراة.

وأحرز أحمد سيد زيزو هدف الزمالك الأول من الضربة الجزاء في الدقيقة الثانية خلال سير اللقاء. هدف الزمالك الأول أمام بيراميدز في الدوري

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has confirmed a major Leeds United boost over Raphinha ahead of their Premier League clash against Liverpool later today.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side appeared to be heading into the game against the Reds on Sunday afternoon without one of their talismans, with the Brazilian FA and FIFA looking to impose sanctions on those Premier League clubs who opted against sending their players out for international duty.

The likes of Raphinha, and Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino for Liverpool, were all in danger of missing today’s game, but Hay has confirmed that everything has now been cleared for the South Americans to play this weekend.

On Saturday morning, he tweeted: “Raphinha’s available for tomorrow’s game. Everyone placated and approval for him to play against Liverpool came through just before before midnight yesterday. #lufc”

Fans will be buzzing

Make no mistake about it, having Raphinha cleared to play against Jurgen Klopp’s side is a massive boost for Bielsa and Leeds’ chances of beating the Merseysiders.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has previously lauded the bargain that Leeds got in Raphinha, declaring: “He’s full of energy, he’s got a (good) work ethic as well where he works for the team, he just does everything right.

“I’m a big fan of his and the recruitment there to find that player, because for £17m, there will be people now scratching their head going ‘why didn’t we get him?'”

It was quite the debut campaign at Elland Road for the former Rennes man, becoming a real game-changer for Bielsa’s side in their first campaign back in the top-flight.

He ranked fourth for goals and first for his assists among his teammates in 2020/21, and his willingness to take players on and try and make things happen for his side was reflected by him averaging the most dribbles of any Leeds player with 1.9 per game.

That sort of attacking impact is exactly why Leeds fans will be absolutely buzzing at the news that Raphinha has been cleared to play against Liverpool today.

Meanwhile, Adam Pope has dropped a Leeds United transfer update…

تجاهل رئيس نادي ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز، هتافات جماهير ناديه، بشأن عودة الدولي البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، إلى صفوف النادي الملكي من جديد، في نافذة الانتقالات الصيفية.

ويريد رونالدو مُغادرة صفوف مانشستر يونايتد، في نافذة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، حيث لا يرغب في الاستمرار، خاصًة بعد الفشل في التأهل إلى بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

بيريز ظهر في مرافق جامعة كاليفورنيا في لوس أنجليس، حيث يُقيم ريال مدريد، وخلال خروجه من ملعب التدريب توقف عند الجماهير، للتوقيع على قمصانهم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ماركا: ريال مدريد يحسم موقفه النهائي من إعادة كريستيانو رونالدو

🖋️ Florentino se paró a firmar autógrafos y hacerse fotos con los fans del conjunto blanco en Estados Unidos

👀 Una petición no pasó desapercibida@AS_TV pic.twitter.com/0jav7td34z — Diario AS (@diarioas) July 21, 2022

الجماهير خلال تواجد بيريز طلبت عودة رونالدو، حيث قالوا: “وقع مع كريستيانو”، بينما قال آخر: “لا تجعله يذهب إلى أتلتيكو مدريد”.

ولكن فلورنتينو بيريز لم يتفاعل على الإطلاق مع هتافات الجماهير، وظل يوقع على قمصان الجماهير المتواجدة أمام ملعب التدريب.

يُذكر أن تقارير صحفية زعمت أن رونالدو قد يعود إلى الليجا من جديد، ولكن عبر بوابة الغريم أتلتيكو مدريد، حيث عرضه وكيل أعماله خورخي مينديز على الروخي بلانكوس.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a huge defensive boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League tie with Chelsea.

The Lowdown: Problems at the back

Despite winning their opening three league games of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo suffered his first defeat as Spurs boss last weekend as Crystal Palace ran out 3-0 winners.

Tottenham were without Cristian Romero, Davinson Sanchez and Giovani Lo Celso due to their involvement with Argentina and Columbia, with the trio currently training in Croatia with a member of the Spurs coaching team.

With Japhet Tanganga being sent off and Eric Dier limping off after only 12 minutes at Selhurst Park, Nuno’s options at the back are slim, but he is now set to be handed a huge boost ahead of the meeting with the European champions.

The Latest: Defensive boost

In a report by the Daily Mail, Spurs’ defensive concerns will be eased as Romero and Sanchez are set to return to the side, with the duo arriving in England on Saturday.

Sanchez and Romero, alongside Lo Celso, have been training in Croatia together to avoid having to self-isolate for ten days after returning from red-list countries.

The report claims that the trio will arrive in London 24 hours before the meeting with Chelsea so are available for selection against Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The Verdict: Eases the blow from Palace

Spurs’ defensive woes were evident in the drubbing at Selhurst Park, with Tanganga losing his head and receiving two yellow cards and Dier being forced off the field.

The return of Romero and Sanchez, the latter of whom was lauded as ‘a beast’ by Mauricio Pochettino, will be pleasing news for Nuno.

Last season, Sanchez produced 2.2 tackles per game, 4.7 clearances per game and won 60% of his aerial duels, and he has started the current campaign off in top form too.

With Romelu Lukaku bagging goals for fun at the moment for Chelsea, having the return of these two extremely physically strong defenders will certainly make Sunday easier and potentially help Spurs return to winning ways.

In other news, Spurs top target for 2022 has been announced after making no bid this summer. Find out more here.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has dropped a Leeds United transfer update which is sure to have fans fuming.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have had a mixed start to the Premier League season to say the least, suffering a thrashing at the hands of rivals Manchester United before being held to a 2-2 draw by Everton at Elland Road at the weekend.

The Whites have been similarly slow off the blocks when it comes to their recruitment, with only Junior Firpo as a notable new arrival.

Hay has now delivered a worrying update on where things stand behind the scenes at Thorp Arch.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Incomings wise, Leeds will get Leo Hjelde from Celtic done before the deadline. As Bielsa said last week, more than that looks unlikely. Good chance that Poveda will head to Blackburn on loan. #lufc @TheAthleticUK.”

Fans will be fuming

Speaking after the defeat to Manchester United on the opening day of the Premier League season, Bielsa himself said: “It’s not probable that any more signings will be made. I’m happy with the players I can count on at the moment. It’s the same group as last season with the substitution of Firpo for Alioski.

“Signings that strengthen the team means a player has to compete with players who already have a position. That means there’s a very high cost to these. With regards to this situation, if players don’t arrive there’s disappointment that they don’t arrive.

“The situation is to find players who can overcome the players we already have at a low price. But to say a low price also means a high price. Low prices at the moment are prices which are very high. For good players, the prices are inaccessible.”

While Bielsa must be lauded for his incredible loyalty to the players who have brought Leeds up from the Championship and into the top flight, there remains a worrying lack of cover in certain areas, which could backfire spectacularly if things go wrong.

The Whites have already seen this season the impact not having Kalvin Phillips can have them, succumbing to a 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford in his absence. Patrick Bamford remains the club’s only senior centre-forward option when you consider that Rodrigo is being used in a more withdrawn role. That’s not to mention the Spaniard himself is looking far short of the club-record signing that he is – he didn’t even make it off the bench against the Toffees on Saturday.

After an impressive first season back in the Premier League saw them clinch a top-half finish, this summer could have, and probably should have, seen the Whites take that next step.

Instead, they’ve stood still, and barring the Alioski for Firpo swap that Bielsa mentioned, this remains the same squad from last season. Whites fans will surely be livid if the club doesn’t execute any more significant business before the end of the transfer window.

Meanwhile, Leeds are plotting a late move for this EFL ace…

Things have not exactly got off to the best of starts for Chris Hughton at Nottingham Forest this season, with the Reds having picked up just a single point over their opening five Championship fixtures of the new campaign.

Indeed, losses to Coventry City, AFC Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and a draw with arch-rivals Derby County have left the 62-year-old’s side rooted to the bottom of the second tier table, while a 4-0 drubbing by Wolverhampton Wanderers has also seen the club exit the Carabao Cup.

As such, it will perhaps come as no surprise to Forest fans that a number of their side’s players have not been at the top of their game during the opening weeks of the club’s 2021/22 campaign, with a number of individuals averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.50 or below.

However, there is one player in particular whose statistics will be most concerning for fans of the club and Hughton alike – Alex Mighten.

Zero shots on target

While it may seem slightly harsh to single out a 19-year-old for his below-par performances while a great many of Forest’s more experienced players have also disappointed for the club so far this season, unfortunately, the winger’s returns for the Reds have simply not been good enough.

Indeed, over his five appearances for Hughton’s side so far this term, the £450k-rated man has scored no goals, registered no assists, made no key passes and created no big chances for his teammates.

Furthermore, the £2.5k-per-week forward has taken a grand total of one shot – which failed to hit the target – over his five league fixtures, as well as losing possession of the ball an average of 10.2 times and being dribbled past 0.4 times per match.

These returns – or lack thereof – have seen the youngster average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.42, ranking him as Hughton’s fifth-worst performer in the second tier.

Having said this, Mighten is still undoubtedly a player with an extremely bright future ahead of him in the game, the forward just so happens to be playing in a Forest side who have failed to hit anywhere near what was expected of them prior to the new season kicking off.

As such, perhaps it would be kind of Hughton to take the youngster out of the team for a couple of weeks, in order to take some of the heat away from his current level of performance and allow him to regain his confidence while playing for the club’s U23 side, before reintroducing the 19-year-old to the first-team when the club have managed to string a few positive results together.

In other news: Forest handed double injury boost ahead of Cardiff clash, Hughton will be buzzing