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Our virtual cricket assistant reluctantly weighs in on this whole Test series business

Alan Gardner03-Feb-2021Hey Srini! What’s happening?
Good day. Would you like to set your preferences?Yes, that’s a good idea. I like Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Test matches.
You have selected: Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes and the IPL.Hmmm, still seems a bit glitchy. Let’s start with a simple one. Hey Srini, what’s going on in the cricket?
Cricket is a game that exists in order to make money. It is played in a bubble and broadcast on television 365 days of the year. Would you like to discuss investment opportunities?Umm, not right now. But there does seem to be a lot of it on, even during a pandemic. What are the big events I should look out for?
IPL 2020 concluded on November 10, 2020. It was won by Mumbai Indians. IPL 2021 auction is scheduled for February 18 – would you like to set a calendar reminder? IPL 2021 begins in two months and…Okay, Srini, thanks. Lots of IPL, that’s good. But isn’t there a big tour about to happen? India’s first home games in over a year?
Team India is scheduled to play the following fixtures: Friday, February 5, 2021 vs Team England, day one, 1st Paytm Test, Anthony de Mello Trophy, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai; Saturday, February 6, 2021 vs Team England, day two, 1st Paytm Test, Anthony de Mello Trophy, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Sunday, February 7, 2021 vs Team Engla…Man, this could take a while
() … Sunday, March 28, 2021 vs Team England, 3rd Paytm ODI, Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Would you like to hear more?No, no, no, we’re good. Wow, that’s a long old tour. Definitely stick all those dates in my calendar. So who are some of the big names on the England team?
India vs England 2020-21, ones to watch: Sam Curran, allrounder, value INR 5.5 crore; Mark Wood, fast bowler, INR 1.5 crore…About turn: let’s hope the spinners have done their homework•Getty ImagesHang on, didn’t I read that those two had been rested for the first part of the tour?
…Sam Billings, wicketkeeper-batsman, INR 1 croreWait a minute, he’s not in the Test squad! Srini, are you just listing English CSK players…?
David Willey, allroun… () Chennai Super Kings are the IPL franchise with the greatest fan following, indomitable serial champions and known for the “knowledgeable crowd” at their Chepauk home. Would you like to hear more about “Yellow Army”?No, I’m not interested in the IPL right now. I want to hear about the Tests
()Hey Srini! Come on… Look, the tour starts in Chennai, right? I’m sure you’ve got something to say about that
() Chepauk is one of the strongholds of India cricket, a ground where they have a win/loss ratio of 2.33. Since the year 2000, India have won five Tests in Chennai and drawn three. Their last defeat came in [file not found]. It is also the venue where India made their highest Test total – 759 for 7 declared, against England in 2016.Oof, so England know what to expect then!
England’s total of 477 in that game was the highest score in Test history to end in an innings defeat. Related YouTube content: Cricket’s Most Epic Fails.Bookmark that for later. So back-to-back Tests in Chennai, with India practically at full strength and riding a wave of emotion following the historic events at the Gabba a couple of weeks ago, eager to seal a 13th consecutive home series win and confirm their World Test Championship final spot. It really will be sink or swim for the tourists, won’t it?
You might say they’re likely to have the buoyancy of a bag of wet cement.Burn! Nice one, Srini… But don’t forget there’s a day-night Test to come in Ahmedabad. Who knows what may happen there?
() Gurunath Meiyappan did not have any role within the team, he was just an enthusiast. Let the commission look into it. Mike Hussey doesn’t know what he’s talking about…Torrid heat, fanatical crowds, fortress Chepauk – what’s to worry about?•Gaurav Sundararaman() We really need to work out what keeps triggering that…
Sorry, did it happen again?Don’t worry, you’re doing really well. Can you just sum up the challenge for England over the next few weeks as succinctly as possible?
No question they’ll be up against it. Big first-innings runs are a must, but with an inexperienced top order much of the burden will fall on Joe Root. If he cracks, India’s attack is likely to go through the rest quicker than those Chinese prawns that did for Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting in Chennai 28 years ago. There’ll be long, hot days in the field, so stay patient and hang in there – particularly the spinners. India’s batsmen will assume you can’t turn a door knob, but that might just mean they leave it ajar. Hope that someone – Ben Stokes? Jofra Archer? – can produce a bit of KP magic (or even the Shaun Udal variety might do). Do your homework in advance, or it may well come back to bite you.Homework, eh? Any recommended reading?
A quick check of the latest booksellers’ charts tells me the No. 1 title in Sports > Indian cricket is . According to my algorithms, that’s going to be a hard one to dislodge.This is all great advice. And at least England won’t have to deal with fanatical Indian crowds, what with the whole bio-bubble thing…
Ah yes, about that. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association will be letting people in for the second Test.Crumbs. Anything else?
Yeah, get a theme song. “Ring of Fire” works. “Highway to Hell” might turn out to be more appropriate.Can’t help noticing you’ve not mentioned Sam Curran…
He’s definitely one to watch in IPL 2021.Srini, show me an extended comedic device that has overstayed its welcome.
Done.

Let’s scale back two years. Liverpool had completed their midfield rebuild under Jurgen Klopp and were primed for a new chapter, putting that bleak 2022/23 campaign to bed.

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and co had gone past their sell-by dates, and FSG went full ham as they countered the midfield exodus with four interesting signings: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.

Those additions led Klopp’s side back into the Champions League and saw the German cap off his Anfield dynasty with one final slice of silverware, beating Chelsea against injury-hit odds in the Carabao Cup final.

Arne Slot approached the recent summer market with a similar need for change.

Well, similar insofar as much money needed to be spent, but Liverpool had just won the Premier League and were supported by the many years of Klopp’s labours. This is supposed to be a successful season for the Reds.

And it still could be, but so much has gone wrong for Slot’s tactically imbalanced team, who have lost four matches in a row and lack any sense of confidence or coherence.

We could pick at any area of the field, but the midfielders have certainly left something to be desired in recent months.

Liverpool need a new midfielder

Two years on, FSG may need to shop once again for a high-level midfielder. While the Merseysiders have talented options in the engine room, the woes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s new role at right-back suggest more physicality and press resistance could be added to ease Gravenberch’s burden.

The 26-year-old Mac Allister, in particular, has been dreadful this term, lacking his typical coolness and energy on the ball, that rare ability to marry technical elegance with combative physicality.

That simply hasn’t been there, with one Premier League noting that the Argentina international is “not up to scratch” at the moment, winning only one tackle per game and losing 57% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

It hasn’t been good enough, and while, candidly, part of Mac Allister’s struggle is down to mismanagement, there’s a sense that an upgrade is needed to add a much-needed dimension to the midfield.

Well, that man could arrive in the form of Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, with Spanish sources confirming this week that the France international could be on the move in 2026, an update which has certainly put Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, on alert.

Valued by Los Blancos at around €80m (equating to £69m), Camavinga is no longer considered untouchable by Xabi Alonso, and those in Spain believe an audacious January bid could be staged by the Premier League champions.

The 22-year-old has been in Madrid for over four years, but injuries and Alonso’s vision have opened the door for potential suitors. Manchester City and Manchester United both expressed interest this summer.

Why Camavinga could be an upgrade on Mac Allister

Camavinga was regarded as a wonder-kid when he first took steps onto the professional stage. Joining from Rennes for around £35m in 2021, he has since featured 186 times for the Spanish giants, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

Though the past year has been an effort to maintain regular fitness levels for Camavinga, he remains a world-class talent, a “duel-monster” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan, who could benefit from a change of scenery, joining a Liverpool team where he could foster his skills for many years to come.

His arrival would not knock Mac Allister from his prominent position, but it would give him competition, to be sure, and Camavinga might even come to be an upgrade down the line, with the statistics drawn from the past year certainly suggesting he has what it takes to outstrip him.

As you can see, Camavinga has played with a touch more completeness and energy than his Argentine counterpart over the past year, and that having suffered with injury problems all the while. He might actually boast a higher standard of quality than Mac Allister, and that is not to the Liverpool man’s discredit.

There is also the matter of age. Camavinga is only 22 years old, and with a wealth of elite experience at that.

He might be struggling for minutes and fluency at Real Madrid, but he’s so young and clearly such a talented midfielder, an expert on the ball and relentless in the challenge.

These are attributes shared with Liverpool’s No. 10, though there’s a case to be made that the Frenchman is even more complete in his midfield game, hailed for his “extraordinary qualities” by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who went on to claim his young star could “play anywhere on the pitch”.

Similar praise have been laid at Mac Allister’s feet in the Premier League. Shortly after the South American’s £35m transfer from Brighton to Liverpool, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described him as a “superstar” signing for the Reds, drawing attention to his own ability to “play anywhere” his manager wants him to.

Such dynamism. Though Liverpool would want to retain Mac Allister’s services for as long as they can, it’s clear he plays a role unlike any other in the Liverpool squad. To put that another way, he provides a dimension his teammates cannot mimic.

And, with that in mind, adding Camavinga to the fold might prove a stroke of genius on Hughes’ part. Real Madrid might want something in the ballpark of £69m, but Liverpool could take advantage of his injury struggles and seat on the Santiago Bernabeu fringe over the past 12 months.

Looking at how it could all transpire in the long run, Liverpool might strike a player who could yet grow into one of the best in the world, eclipsing a star in Mac Allister, who has already provided the club with a higher brand of technical midfield play than they had been treated to in the years before his signing.

Slot can fix Konate & Leoni blow by unleashing Liverpool's 19-year-old star

Liverpool have something of a sore spot in defence this season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 18, 2025

Manchester United’s failings in the Premier League over the last couple of years have been there for all to see, with the fans undoubtedly growing frustrated by the lack of success.

The side have now failed to win the league in each of the last 12 campaigns, with Sir Alex Ferguson the last manager in charge to lift the league title at Old Trafford.

However, Ruben Amorim will be hoping that he can be the man to end such a drought, but it’s safe to say his time in the role to date has failed to lift off in recent months.

He was only able to secure a 15th-place finish in England’s top-flight last time around, with the hierarchy already spending over £200m on new additions since his arrival.

The manager has already made some bold calls on the future of some players at the Theatre of Dreams, including one player who massively failed to deliver in 2024/25.

The stats behind Andre Onana’s struggles in 2024/25

During the 2024/25 campaign, numerous players have failed to deliver in the Premier League – but none more so than goalkeeper Andre Onana, with the shot-stopper costing the side in key moments.

The Cameroonian joined the Red Devils in a £47.2m deal back in the summer of 2023, with such a move potentially going down as one of the worst in the club’s history.

He maintained the number one shirt for the majority of the campaign, but Amorim made the decision to offload him during the recent summer transfer window.

Onana left to join Turkish side Trabzonspor on a season-long loan after the arrival of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, a decision that proved to be the right one given his struggles in 2024/25.

The 29-year-old featured 50 times across all competitions last campaign, but made nine direct errors that led to goals, many of which came in key moments.

He could only muster a 67% save percentage in England’s top-flight last season, whilst also failing to impress in possession – as seen by his pass accuracy of just 68%.

However, one player within the current side has taken over from the goalkeeper in terms of failing to deliver, which could leave the manager with a huge call to make in the months ahead.

Man Utd's biggest liability since Onana

Patrick Dorgu has certainly been a player who has left fans frustrated at United over the last couple of months, especially after the excitement generated around his move 11 months ago.

The Danish international arrived in a £30m deal from Italian side Lecce, with real promise that the youngster could provide a long-term solution to their left-back issues.

However, in 2025/26 alone, he’s massively struggled with the demands of the Premier League, as seen by his tally of just seven league starts out of a possible 13.

His underlying stats in and out of possession this season showcase his struggles, with the manager taking the right call to drop him from his starting eleven in recent weeks.

Dorgu has completed just 72% of passes in 2025/26, whilst also making just 3.4 ball recoveries – with both stats ranking him in the bottom 20% of players in the division.

However, despite the Dane’s struggles, fellow full-back Diogo Dalot has also been under fire as of late and rightfully so given his poor form under Amorim for the Red Devils.

The Portuguese international, who’s usually a right-sided full-back, has often been called upon to feature in a left-wing-back role, which has no doubt affected his performances.

During his seven-year stint at Old Trafford, he’s been known to be more dominant out of possession rather than with the ball at his feet – with Amorim needing to take responsibility for his continued selection.

The recent victory over Crystal Palace may have been an impressive win for the side, but it didn’t stop Dalot from being able to fall below the standards expected of him once again.

He featured for the entirety of the victory at Selhurst Park, but was unable to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst also failing to find a teammate with any of his crosses.

Dalot’s struggles continued in attacking areas, subsequently being unable to direct any of his two shots on target – something which he’s been unable to do all season long.

However, he also failed to deliver when trying to stop the opposition, as seen by just one tackle won and one interception made – resulting in Adam Joseph labelling him “toothless”.

It’s evident that the 26-year-old is massively unsuited to his current wing-back role, but Amorim has made no efforts to try and resolve the current situation at hand.

The first team have massively struggled for quality in wide areas since the manager’s arrival 12 months ago, with such an issue rearing its head right before the January window.

As for Dalot, he’s constantly proving to be an unreliable figure, with the defender potentially emulating Onana’s failures if no change is made in the near future.

Better than Dorgu: Man Utd plot move to sign 'the world's most coveted LB'

Manchester United look set to make yet another big-money move in the defensive department.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 2, 2025

As revealed by former manager Philippe Clement, Rangers “tried” to sign Kenny McLean during his time at the club only to miss out on the Norwich City midfielder.

It’s a case of what might have been for those at Ibrox, who have endured a tumultuous time since not only missing out on their target, but also sacking Clement. After hiring Russell Martin to replace the Belgian, the Gers were forced to make another decision less than three months into the season – giving Martin his marching orders.

45 minutes all season: Rohl's "big talent" can end Rothwell's Rangers stay

With Joe Rothwell out of favour at Rangers, does Danny Röhl already boast a massive upgrade in a “big talent” who’s played just 45 minutes all season?

1

By
Ben Gray

Nov 21, 2025

Now, with Danny Rohl in charge, Rangers have already won more points in the Scottish Premiership than they did in the entirety of Martin’s rein. Sporting director Kevin Thelwell will be hoping that the German’s arrival has at least made up for a disappointing summer of decisions.

He told reporters during the international break: “Yeah, I still feel very confident. The situation is clearly that we felt that we weren’t going in the right direction previously and so unfortunately we had to make that change.

“We’ve changed for an individual who’s got very good experience despite his young years and I think he’s proven that with some of the things that we’re seeing on pitch. I think there’s a clear difference in terms of the way in which we’re playing at the moment and fundamentally that’s leading to getting some good results.”

With Livingston up next, Rohl has the chance to make it four wins from four in the Scottish Premiership and potentially move up to third if results go Rangers’ way. As January approaches and targets such as Kilmarnock’s David Watson reportedly emerge, there’s no doubt that a change in fortunes on the pitch will be doing the Gers a world of good.

As Clement found out not so long ago, however, Rohl may not get the chance to welcome every top target.

Clement reveals Rangers wanted Kenny McLean

As revealed by Clement, Rangers tried to sign McLean during his time at the club, but missed out after the midfielder decided to stay put at Norwich City. Now, the former Ibrox boss has finally received the chance to work with the Scot after taking the vacant role at Carrow Road and revealed his long-term admiration for his talents.

If Rangers did secure McLean’s signature then they would, of course, have a World Cup midfielder in their ranks these days. The 33-year-old recently played his part as Scotland secured World Cup qualification in dramatic fashion against Denmark, scoring a stunning half-way line goal.

Given how much talent they welcomed from the Championship last summer that hasn’t worked out, losing out on a player of McLean’s quality should be seen as a real blow at Ibrox.

Dubbed “great” by former Norwich player Iwan Roberts, the 33-year-old will always have his part in Scottish football history after his goal against Denmark to secure a World Cup place.

£5m Rangers flop is bigger waste of money than Miovski and Chermiti

The Boston Red Sox have signed star rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to an eight-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday.

Campbell's eight-year extension runs through the 2032 season, and includes club options for '33 and '34. The deal will pay Campbell $60 million over the eight years and will buy out his first two free agency years. The club option years could buy out an additional two free agency years. According to a report from Jon Heyman of the , there are escalators in the deal that can pay Campbell $100 million over 10 years.

Campbell won the team's second baseman job in spring training, which pushed free agent acquisition Alex Bregman to third base and Rafael Devers, the franchise cornerstone and former third baseman, to designated hitter. Bregman has played third base most of his career, but there were talks that he would start the year at second if Campbell didn't win the job out of camp.

But Campbell did make the team, and he's been one of the bright spots for the Red Sox amid the team's poor start to the season. The 22-year-old has hit .375 with one home run, two doubles and two RBI in 16 plate appearances.

Campbell is now locked in as the future of the position for the Red Sox, where he will be expected to produce for years to come.

And just like that, after only five months and 13 league games at the Southampton helm, the Will Still experiment at St. Mary’s is over.

There was so much hype surrounding Still’s appointment after he had made quite the name for himself in France when spearheading a 17-game unbeaten run in charge of Stade Reims.

But, with only two Championship wins under his belt from those games mentioned, it did feel like only a matter of time before the underwhelming 33-year-old was put out of his misery.

It will be intriguing to see who the Saints turn to next as they attempt to get out of their second-tier slump and rise back into the promotion reckoning, with interim boss Tonda Eckert even in with an outside shout, having masterminded a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night.

Latest on Southampton's manager search

Indeed, Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas has already confirmed that Eckert will lead Southampton out again on Saturday as crisis-stricken Sheffield Wednesday come to St. Mary’s, as the club continues to weigh up whether he’s a viable candidate for the full-time job.

If he were to guide the Saints to another league win, he would surely be in the conversation. But, there are various other names also being linked to the ongoing EFL opening.

Reports have suggested that EFL veteran Tony Mowbray could be in the running, alongside ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, with the Saints’ sporting director Johannes Spor also casting his net out to Germany, on the hunt for a successful replacement for Still.

Sky Sports has even boldly suggested that former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana would be interested in becoming the next head coach, with Lallana assisting Eckert for the time being during his temporary duties.

The same report does state that it is an unlikely option at this moment in time, owing to Lallana’s complete lack of experience as a head coach.

But, it could well be deemed an inspired choice from left-field, all the same, with the second-tier side perhaps gaining their own Frank Lampard-style figure in the process, who continues to take the Championship by storm with Coventry City.

Southampton's own Lampard appointment

Once upon a time, Lampard was in much the same position as Lallana, as he tried to navigate a coaching career post a glittering playing career from midfield.

While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Lampard during his managerial career to date, with tricky spells at both Everton and Chelsea, he has been largely a hit in the Championship, as evidenced by him steering the Sky Blues to the top of the EFL’s elite division right now.

Games managed

94

104

Wins

46

38

Draws

23

21

Losses

25

45

Goals scored

157

145

Goals conceded

108

153

Off the back of his “fantastic” stint at the CBS Arena to date – as journalist Sam Cunningham has labelled it – Lampard has managed to collect 46 victories from 94 second-tier games, with Lallana now wanting to kickstart his own EFL managerial journey, to try and follow in the ex-Chelsea icon’s footsteps.

After all, Lallana would no doubt command the same respect Lampard clearly holds, with the former St. Mary’s playing icon going on to bag a hefty 60 goals and collect a weighty 47 assists while on the South Coast.

He would surely want to make his own Saints side as entertaining to watch as Lampard’s rampant Sky Blues, therefore.

Moreover, Lallana will be hungry to be a success as a main manager, having played under some of the best in the managerial game in the form of Jurgen Klopp and Roberto De Zerbi, alongside also working closely with Lee Carsley in the England U21 set-up.

Russell Martin also gave a glowing assessment of the 34-year-old when he was still manager at St. Mary’s, with the recently sacked Rangers boss lauding Lallana as a “brilliant” voice to have around the dressing room. He’s also been hailed in the past as “very intelligent” by De Zerbi.

Southampton will know that they need to get this managerial appointment spot on, having been on the receiving end of a litany of blunders in recent years, with Nathan Jones and Ivan Juric also going down as failures, as an outside-of-the-box appointment, such as Lallana, is possibly eyed up.

After all, as a Saints player, the one-time Premier League title winner would once score 11 goals and collect ten assists in league action, to seal promotion to the big time. Can he repeat the same magic as a rookie replacement for Still?

Spors is a fan: Tonda Eckert asked directly about becoming permanent Southampton manager

Tonda Eckert has taken over Southampton as interim boss following their dismissal of Will Still.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 6, 2025

Arsenal know their quality, and they know that they have it within them to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon and keep the hype train moving forward.

The Premier League pace-setters just feel a bit special this year, don’t they? So balanced, so graceful, so dangerous. Defensively, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are a force to be reckoned with, an unbreakable wall, conceding so few chances.

Palace are an entertaining side, though, and they know how to score a goal. Though Oliver Glasner’s Eagles haven’t scored an overload of goals so far this season, they have created more xG (expected goals) than any other side in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace

12

17.1

Man United

15

16.1

Liverpool

16

15.7

Man City

17

14.4

Arsenal

15

13.6

The Emirates will expect three points, nonetheless. However, injuries, ever the bane of Arteta’s progress, could potentially knock the backline out of kilter.

Arsenal team news

The big concern. Gabriel Magalhaes faces a fight to be fit for the weekend clash, having left the pitch with a concern as Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The Brazilian centre-back scored one and assisted another.

Should Gabriel be sidelined, the likes of Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera will be ready to dovetail into an iron-clad defensive line and stave off the Palace threat.

Much has been made of Arsenal’s attacking quality this season. ‘Boring’ is what Arteta’s frontline have been called. This is nonsense, and the emphatic win over Atletico emphasises the deadly array of talent the manager has at his disposal.

In particular, this could be a big match for Bukayo Saka, who has not yet hit his prolific stride this season, three goals from nine matches in all competitions, but remains the focal point for his side, creating 2.3 chances and winning 6.3 duels per Premier League game, as per Sofascore.

However, the England international can’t do it alone. Viktor Gyokeres must carry his continental form back onto the domestic scene, while Gabriel Martinelli will fancy his chances of kicking on after coolly converting in midweek.

But Martinelli may not start this one, with another Thierry Henry-esque Arsenal talent gunning for his place.

Arteta must unleash Arsenal's new Thierry Henry

Henry is one of the greatest players in Premier League history, and possibly the finest to ever wear an Arsenal shirt. Saka could retire with a similar reputation in north London, based on the 23-year-old’s early-career exploits, but there’s another who could start to perform with shades of the long-retired Frenchman.

And that starts this weekend, against Crystal Palace.

For Eberechi Eze, it’s a big one. The silky forward takes on the club who herald him as a hero, with Arsenal having signed the Three Lions star from Crystal Palace for £67m this summer, completing their frontline.

Aged 27, Eze is one of the finest wingers in the country, effortlessly good on the ball. His dribbling ability is a thing to behold, and he is a talented playmaker besides.

He is not, it’s worth stressing, the same kind of player as Henry, whose goalscoring prowess was simply incredible, far beyond the grasp of all but a select few Premier League players across the past three decades.

But there are similarities to be pulled. In 1999, Henry joined the London club from Juventus in a club-record deal. He was a World Cup winner, linking up with compatriots Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.

Highly regarded, it took Henry a while to find his feet in front of goal. Indeed, he went seven matches without a maiden strike in England’s top flight. In spite of this, he ended the campaign with 26 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, 17 goals in the Premier League.

And it’s not like Eze doesn’t know how to score. Last season, for Palace, he posted 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, proving the difference as Oliver Glasner’s project took off the ground in the closing months.

Moreover, his talismanic performances for Palace last year, notching the winner against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, showcase his big-game aura, something Henry had in bucketloads during his time at the Emirates.

Eze loves Crystal Palace dearly, but that will not stop him from striking against the Selhurst Park side, and Arteta might want to capture that potential on Sunday afternoon.

Eze might not have quite the same attacking repertoire as Henry, but he’s a fleet-footed, show-stopping wide forward, with analyst Ben Mattinson going as far as to hail him as a “superstar”.

But, there’s no denying he needs to start playing a little more prolifically, with just one goal and three assists to his name across all competitions in an Arsenal shirt. Eze has played 12 times under Arteta’s wing.

Perhaps he will look to take a leaf from Henry’s book in that regard, and marry his exceptional physical and technical qualities with a sharpness in the final third.

It will come. Eze’s level of talent is unquestionable, and he has proven across a number of years his quality and ability to provide clinical results in the Premier League.

And what better way to kick that off than against his former club, who herald him as a hero but may be forced to taste their legend’s ability as Arteta and Arsenal look to take another stride toward that elusive Premier League trophy.

Bergkamp 2.0: Arsenal's "magic" star can turn Gyokeres into the new Henry

Could Arsenal’s “magic player” alongside Viktor Gyökeres replicate the club’s best-ever attacking partnership of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp?

ByBen Gray Oct 25, 2025

PUMA have unveiled a special edition 'Black Panther' Portugal kit celebrating the legendary Eusebio ahead of their latest set of World Cup qualifiers. Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates will don the black and gold shirt for their upcoming clash with Armenia later this month on a date that will mark the 60th anniversary of Eusebio's 1965 Ballon d'Or triumph.

• Eusebio honoured by PUMA and Portugal

  Before Ronaldo came along, Eusebio was arguably Portugal's greatest ever player. Six decades on from his Ballon d'Or success, PUMA have tried to honour his legacy with two words defenders feared most: Pantera Negra (Black Panther). Limited to 1965 pieces, the shirt comes pre-embellished with #13 on both the front and back – honouring Eusebio’s iconic number. The kit features the PUMA Cat logo and FPF crest in gold material, a flat knit collar and cuffs, and the ‘Pantera Negra’ back-neck sign off. The new collection also features a custom anthem jacket.

Advertisement

• PUMA
  

  Eusebio's widow touched by gesture

  Eusebio married Flora Burheim in 1965, and together they had two daughters, Carla and Sandra. She survives him following his death in 2014, and 11 years on from his passing, his widow has admitted that this PUMA shirt project "fills her with pride".

  "When PUMA reached out to us and shared what they had in mind, I felt deeply moved and honored. Eusébio had a very close relationship with the brand and a sincere friendship with its founder, Mr. Rudolf Dassler. Seeing his memory now honored in such a beautiful and meaningful project fills me with pride. I’m sure Eusébio would be very happy with this tribute," she said.

  Joao Cardoso, the chief marketing and commercial officer at the Portugal FA, added: "Eusébio represents passion, talent, and pride for Portugal. Sixty years after his Ballon d’Or win, his legacy remains alive, inspiring not only those who knew his greatness but also future generations of Portuguese players. The Portuguese Football Federation, in partnership with PUMA, celebrates this legend with a unique kit that blends tradition and innovation, honoring the past and shaping the future of Portuguese football."

• 'Celebrating a football legend'

  Marco Mueller, PUMA’s senior director of product line management performance apparel, said that this tribute shirt is an excellent way to honour a Portuguese great in Eusebio.

  "Eusébio’s legacy transcends generations, and this tribute kit reflects his enduring influence on Portuguese football and global sport," stated Mueller. "By merging heritage-inspired design with modern innovation, we’re celebrating not only a football legend but also the culture and passion that make the game timeless."

  Although this shirt will be debuted for one game only by Ronaldo and Co when Portugal host Armenia in World Cup qualifying on November 16, the kit is on sale as of today. 

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  Eusebio forever in Portugal's hearts

  When Eusebio died, Portugal was in mourning for one of their legends. Shortly after his death, Ronaldo was asked about the great man, and he replied with a glowing tribute. 

  "The feeling is one of sadness. Eusebio was a very important person for Portugal, a real national icon, and he has passed away. Of course, that's extremely sad for all Portuguese people and the whole world, but that's part of life, too," he said. "We'll all be gone one day, and that's why we need to focus on the positive things that happened, and the same goes for his life. He was a very important player, he did a lot of positive things and won many trophies with the national team and for his clubs, especially for Benfica. He will remain in our hearts forever."

  Fast forward to the present, and the Al-Nassr star is targeting a remarkable 1,000 goals in his career. At present, the 40-year-old has a whopping 952 goals to his name, along with 259 assists. And according to Ace Odds, the former Real Madrid star is likely to hit that milestone. Based on his minutes-per-goal ratio throughout his career of 111.2, he has been predicted to hit the 1,000 mark in April 2027, when he is 42. Whether he is still playing then remains to be seen, but Ronaldo is expected to line up for Portugal against Armenia, and potentially against Ireland three days earlier as Roberto Martinez's side aim to book their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Messi's message on MLS salary restrictions might be self-serving, but the larger point about change rings true

Lionel Messi doesn't do enough to promote Major League Soccer – or so we are told. The Argentina and Inter Miami star, since moving to the league, has drawn criticism in some corners for his reluctance to speak. He rarely grants interviews. He's never available to be quizzed by reporters after games.

Messi might have many thoughts. But few hear them, at least publicly.

In the last week, though, he has done two interviews. The timing makes sense. He just signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through 2028. And even if his mere existence in South Florida needs no publicity, these are the standard things you do after committing three more years of your life to America. 

Messi is talking. A little. And most of his words seemed like excellent PR fodder. He said all of the right things about playing for Miami and American soccer. He teased the fact that he might or might not play at the World Cup (Lionel Messi is probably going to play at the World Cup).

But the one comment that has been picked up on repeatedly was in regard to MLS rules. He was asked by an interviewer if he would make any changes to the league. And he knew exactly what he wanted to say.

"Well, for starters, every team should have the opportunity to bring in players and sign whoever each team wants – without limitations or rules for players to bring them in," Messi said.

This is a tired point, to a large degree, and Messi isn't the first to make it. MLS probably should do something about its salary cap rules. But Messi's claim here doesn't read like a careful consideration of financial markets, or the general state of American soccer or flag-waving for the best interests of all 30 MLS teams.

Rather, this sounded an awful lot like a footballer who wants his own way, a player who doesn't talk, speaking up to push for the kind of signings he wants. The funny thing? Now might actually be the time for MLS to listen. 

Getty Images SportThe salary debate

Messi is not the first to bring up the fact that MLS's byzantine salary rules aren't the best thing in the world. They, more generally, split opinion. It's pretty clear, at this point, that capping spending in some way – as the league currently does – limits the league's capacity to improve in quality.

But how, exactly, that should be changed is up for debate. Some have said that restrictions should be loosened, that the league should raise the cap. Others have called for a floor, effectively forcing the teams that are loath to spend to raise the base level.

The most beneficial middle ground would perhaps be the option to open up more designated player spots – and allow for more quality signings. Don't want to spend? Fine, but don't prevent other teams from doing so.

Other stars have picked up on a similar point. Thierry Henry slammed the system more than a decade ago after the Red Bulls lost star player Kenny Cooper due to cap restrictions.

"If you’re in any other league in the world, you keep your good players. Not in this league,” Henry said in 2013. "That’s just the way it is and that’s why most of the time you see players [moving] and being traded. It is an American way of dealing with things, salary cap, draft, trade."

There is a fine lineage of complaining here. Messi is now part of it.

AdvertisementAFPWhat unrestricted spending could do

It's not hard to figure out what more flexibility would mean, in the context of Messi's words: better players for Miami. There was speculation that the Herons might sign Neymar before the 2025 season. It was a fun story. Neymar and Messi are friends. It would complete another Barcelona reunion in Miami.

The parties would surely be wonderful for the Brazilian legend.  Miami manager Javier Mascherano was asked about it at MLS media day and ruled out the signing immediately on the grounds that the club simply didn't have the cap flexibility to make it happen.

"We cannot talk about Ney because we have nothing," Mascherano said. "Obviously, Ney is a great player. Every coach in the world wants him but at the moment, but you know the MLS rules around the salary cap. So for us in this moment, it's impossible to try to think about him."

At the time, it was a throwaway comment in a room full of reporters. Everyone there knew that Miami couldn't wedge Neymar in under the cap – not at a veteran minimum salary that he certainly would not accept. But Mascherano vocalized that fact: it was a non-starter.

That does not mean, though, that a removal of a salary cap would encourage Messi to reunite all of his old teammates in Miami. More likely, it would allow for the construction of deeper and more complete rosters – albeit with a clear Albiceleste lineage. In Miami's case that would surely mean the presence of a few Argentine stars.

It is no secret that Messi has wanted to play with Angel Di Maria again. He probably wouldn't mind having Nicolas Otamendi at centerback, either. And then, there are the others. A deluge of Argentine teenagers – highly rated or otherwise – head to Europe every year to fight for spots.

But Franco Mastantuono, unlikely to make the grade in the big games at Real Madrid, for example, would be an excellent addition to play on the right for Miami.

Getty Images SportMiami, cheaters?

But the more pertinent point here is the fact that Messi is the one saying these words. The rest of MLS has long resented Miami for the way they go about things financially. The Herons have a clear appeal due to would-be signings, and in the past couple of years have deliberately stretched MLS financial rules in order to construct a star-heavy roster.

The irony? Messi is the one who takes up most of the cash. According to this week's salary release, Messi makes north of $20 million, nearly double the next highest paid player in the league, and more than the total spend of 21 other teams in MLS.

Throw in the hefty $8.8M that they pay to soon-to-retire Sergio Busquets, and their spending only gets more extravagant. In order to piece together the pieces around them, Miami have been sneaky – though some might say clever.

Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are both on team-friendly contracts that are well below players of their quality or prestige. Rodrigo De Paul, signed this summer, is technically on a loan deal that will be made permanent at the end of the season.

To complement them, the Herons have made a series of other loan signings that really should be outside their scope. Tadeo Allende, an excellent addition in midfield, is here on loan. No team should be able to spend that much money – and then get such good quality players on the cheap. Miami can. 

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Getty ImagesPlayer power and speaking out

Yet for all of the anger rival fans might have built up, it's hard to begrudge Messi. Not because he finallygave an interview. Rather, MLS is a league that seems fairly content to run in place. It needs its stars to bring about change. This is no longer a setup that needs the safety net of restrictions. 

That change, of course, can come from within boardrooms. But loud voices, in any sport, are instrumental in instigating meaningful conversations. Footballers abroad, for example, have repeatedly talked about load management and the demands on their bodies. Complaints from players themselves, along with fan furor, were key in ensuring that the much-maligned La Liga game set to be held in Miami was abandoned. 

And sure, Messi is acting out of self interest here. He wants his old friends to play football with him in Miami. He likely isn't particularly happy that the Herons struggled so much at the Club World Cup, either. 

But it is also true that the league will find it difficult to improve without significant investment from owners. Does Messi have that top of mind when he gives a rare interview? It's unclear. There is little evidence to suggest that Messi has a deep empathy for the plight of Montreal fans, for example. But he is certainly aware of the weight that his words may carry. 

Crystal Palace are in the market for late signings and are now in surprise talks over a deal to bring a rival star to Selhurst Park, according to reports.

Crystal Palace set to welcome Christantus Uche

The Eagles have been involved in some high-stakes negotiations today and they could be set to welcome a number of arrivals before the close of play.

Eberechi Eze is gone and Crystal Palace may now have found his replacement in the form of Christantus Uche, who will arrive from Getafe after Wolverhampton Wanderers saw their move break down for the Nigeria international.

Bobby Manzi confirmed the latest on his situation this morning via X, stating: “Christantus Uche closing in on a move to Crystal Palace. Versatile forward capable of playing as a striker, left-sided attacker and advanced midfielder. Boosts forward ranks with Odsonne Edouard set to leave. Uche has started all three games for Getafe this season, picking up a goal and an assist.”

Putting that aside, Crystal Palace are set to complete a shock loan move for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Igor Julio in the form of a straight loan, in a surprise development given both sides are fierce rivals.

That may be a pivotal step in Marc Guehi’s situation, which is subject to change at any moment, but it appears that Oliver Glasner wants backline cover regardless of circumstance.

Time is running out and supporters are waiting on baited breath for announcements, which could help to shape the campaign Crystal Palace can have moving forward after their FA Community Shield victory.

Managers are always hungry for more options to fit their tactical mode of operation, and Glasner appears to have made a late play to bring a winger to Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace in talks over loan move for Manor Solomon

According to Mailsport, Crystal Palace are in discussions over a loan swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon that could include a buy option.

Speaking about the deal, reporter Matt Barlow stated: “Crystal Palace are among those interested in Manor Solomon. They had an approach flatly rejected over the weekend.

Crystal Palace make late approach to sign 19-cap defender alongside Canvot

The Eagles are ready to try and land his signature.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Aug 30, 2025

“Maybe Daniel Levy was not keen to deal with Palace after the embarrassment he suffered when the Eberechi Eze deal was hijacked by rivals Arsenal. And Thomas Frank does not want to lose firepower unless it can be replaced. But Palace have returned today and there are discussions about a possible loan with an option.”

Labelled “brilliant” by Adam Pope, the former Fulham man was a smash-hit on loan at Leeds United last term, registering ten goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions as they claimed promotion.

Nevertheless, there may be a late opening for him to leave North London, and a move across the city could be on the cards if all parties can come to an agreement before this evening’s cut-off point.