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The second-highest opening partnership in Pakistan history has all but taken the game out of Sri Lanka’s reach

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando in Karachi21-Dec-2019This is what you’re supposed to do to an opposition at home. In Rawalpindi, Pakistan had had a day of batting dominance, but that was in an innings that had no bearing on the result.In Karachi, Pakistan have imposed themselves emphatically on Sri Lanka, subjecting them to day-long toil and dragging them to a near-hopeless match situation, while they expand their own batting averages and put up feel-good performances after a harrowing away tour.It was Abid Ali who drove the Pakistan cause most relentlessly, through the course of his 174 off 281 balls, never letting the visitors settle against him. His chief sidekick was Shan Masood, who struck 135 himself – his second Test hundred, the first having also been against Sri Lanka. Together, the pair put on 278 for the first wicket, which is the second-highest opening stand in Pakistan’s history. Their partnership formed the spine of a 338-run day. They lost only two wickets, and now have a lead of 315.In the early morning, there was a little movement, but not for long. Left-armer Vishwa Fernando bowled a probing spell first up, but once Abid and Masood fought their way through that, they did not have to contend much with lateral movement. The bounce that had envenomed the seamers in the first innings was in short supply as well. But the skill with which Abid, in particular, attacked loose balls after the first 30 minutes helped set the tone for the day. He pounced on a full delivery on his pads from Fernando and sent it whistling through midwicket in the seventh over of the day. Soon after, he dropped back and latched on to a short ball from Lasith Embuldeniya, sending it down to third man for four. Two balls later, he slog swept him for another boundary for good measure.Abid Ali is jubilant after his hundred•AFP / Getty ImagesMasood was less confident, at least twice getting thick edges to fall in the gap between the slips and gully, and repeatedly having himself beaten outside the off stump. The momentum Abid was creating, however, helped pave Masood’s own path and eventually he started playing big shots as well. The first six of the day came when he stepped out to Dilruwan Perera and launched him over long-on. Together they struck 12 fours and three sixes in the morning. Pakistan’s total skipped along at 4.54 per over in that session.After lunch, the pitch seemed even flatter, and the two batsmen progressed smoothly to their centuries. Abid tickled Embuldeniya to fine leg – the spinners having now switched to a leg-stump line – to move to his second triple-figure score in as many matches. Only eight batsmen had previously hit hundreds in each of their first two games. Masood reached the milestone a few overs after that, off the 148th delivery he faced. Neither changed their approach after getting to their tons. They were just as watchful in their defense, and just as happy to wait for the hittable balls.It helped that by this stage, it had become clear that both Sri Lanka’s spinners were struggling. Dilruwan, who came into this Test with a 2019 average of 89.4, was unable to get significant turn, and seemed the least threatening of all the visiting bowlers. Embuldeniya could not quite replicate the turn and bounce that had enabled him to take four wickets in the first innings. With no seam movement on offer, Vishwa was modest as well. It was effectively down to Lahiru Kumara to produce all the opportunities.Shan Masood goes aerial•Associated PressAs the day wore on, it felt as if the bowlers were tiring at a faster rate than the batsmen, but Kumara did manage to eke out the wicket of Masood just before tea, having him caught on the legside boundary with a bouncer that rose more sharply than the batsman had expected. Abid, though, batted on unconcerned, crossing 150 and putting on a further 77-run stand with Azhar Ali. He had survived one lbw in the day, but was eventually trapped in front by an angled Kumara delivery that would have crashed into middle and leg. He had hit 21 boundaries and a six in his innings. After three Test innings, his average sits up at 160.5.Late in the day, Azhar took advantage of an excellent surface and exhausted bowlers to make a half-century – his first in 2019, after 11 innings. He had Babar Azam for company at stumps. Although both Abid and Masood had outstanding ovations from a Karachi crowd roughly 8000-strong, they saved their loudest chants for Babar’s entry to the field.

Liverpool might have an intense period of football forthcoming but FSG’s new CEO of Football Michael Edwards and Anfield’s fresh sporting director Richard Hughes are already mapping out plans for the summer transfer window.

Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the campaign but the gears are starting to whir behind the scenes and supporters can expect a whirlwind of activity over the coming months, both in the dugout and concerning the squad on the field.

It’s expected that strengthening central defence will take precedence at Liverpool, but that’s not to say that the Reds won’t target improvements in other areas, with the midfield possibly receiving another thrilling addition.

Liverpool's summer transfer targets

Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara are both out of contract at the end of the campaign and while the backline will indeed have its attention, Edwards appears keen to make one more move in the centre of the park.

As such, reports that Liverpool are Juventus’ biggest rival in the race to sign Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners might hold some weight, with Corriere dello Sport – via Sport Witness – stating that ‘concrete interest’ is held, albeit stressing that the OId Lady are the favourites.

Atalanta want €60m (£52m) for the Netherlands international and given the brilliance of his performances across the past few years, there’s confidence that he would make a big impact at Liverpool.

The stunning lineup Michael Edwards could build by rejoining Liverpool

The former sporting director could be perfect to oversee the inevitable change when Klopp leaves this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 1, 2024 Why Liverpool are interested in Teun Koopmeiners

Liverpool are second-placed in the Premier League heading into the final stretch and are behind table-toppers Arsenal only on goal difference. The squad has been restored after sweeping changes to the midfield last season – why is Koopmeiners needed?

Well, as mentioned above, 32-year-old Thiago is poised for the exit after injuries have limited him to just five minutes of action this season, while the injury issues of recent months suggest that the Reds might wish to take action and install a final layer of strength and security in the engine room.

Klopp is leaving in two months, and with him a high-octane, distinctive brand of football, but that’s not to say that his successor will not require many of the qualities that have allowed Liverpool’s players to thrive, and Koopmeiners’ multi-functionality would dovetail right into the system.

Koopmeiners has principally been used in an attacking midfield role this term, though he has also made an impression in central midfield, as the anchorman and even out on the right wing on one occasion, denoting his elite versatility and dynamism.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

Moreover, he has been hailed for his “complete” skill set by Dutch legend Ruud Krol, boasting an impressive return of 12 goals and four assists from 32 matches in all competitions across the current campaign.

But while his goalscoring extravaganzas are the most attractive facet of his arsenal, the £32k-per-week ace is more than just a threat in the final third, completing 82% of his passes in Serie A, as per Sofascore, while averaging 1.9 key passes, 1.3 tackles and 4.7 ball recoveries per match.

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Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

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Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

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James Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur

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Lucas Paqueta

West Ham United

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Xavi Simons

RB Leipzig

Considering his likeness to Real Madrid maestro Jude Bellingham, whom Liverpool were fervent admirers of before his £115m transfer to the Spanish capital in June 2023, it might well be worth playing to Atalanta’s £52m tune and welcoming him to the fold.

Bellingham, aged 20, has plundered 20 goals and nine assists from only 31 matches for Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit so far, with his deadly movement and effortless awareness rubberstamping his tag as one of the world’s most prodigious talents, if not the prodigious rising star.

Of course, he’s not just a goalscorer and has completed 89% of his passes in La Liga, as per Sofascore, averaging 1.7 key passes, 1.4 tackles, 4.5 ball recoveries and 7.1 successful duels per game. It is this that truly defines him as a limitless talent.

Liverpool would do well to sign a player of similar style, and given that the Anfield side have clearly done their homework on this profile, it might just be a venture worth making.

Should he sign, Koopmeiners might even find that he forges a fine partnership with Wataru Endo, keeping the Japan international in the starting XI heading into the new era at the club.

Why Teun Koopmeiners is perfect for Wataru Endo

Moises Caicedo. Romeo Lavia. There was a point in Liverpool’s summer transfer window where signing one of these exciting Premier League midfielders – or perhaps, in a dreamy world – both. As it was, both wound up at Chelsea and Klopp and Co were forced to think outside the box.

They are quite good at that, though, and so the surprise £16m signing of Endo from Stuttgart has proved to be a bona fide success, with The Athletic’s James Pearce exclaiming “what a signing he’s been” following the 31-year-old’s monstrous performance in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

Industrious and dogged, Endo has chalked up 33 displays for Liverpool so far and has completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League, keeping it simple and allowing the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to flourish.

He also ranks among the top 18% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 8% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his command in the centre and added dimension in aiding Liverpool’s offensive surges.

Given Koopmeiners’ tendency to push forward and seek goals, also an effective playmaker, the Dutchman could find the perfect partner in Endo, who has already demonstrated his efficiency behind Liverpool’s existing options, all boasting similarities in creativity to the Atalanta man.

Of course, Liverpool will meet Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals next month in what might stand as an audition for Koopmeiners. Should he impress, rumours might see something of an acceleration in the months to come.

One Rangers player has been slammed by the media after an awful performance in his side's 3-3 draw with Celtic, with one outlet saying he looked "lost" at Ibrox.

Rangers 3-3 Celtic

Philippe Clement's side faced their most important game of the season so far on Sunday afternoon, hosting their biggest rivals in a huge top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash.

Rangers knew that a win would take them two points clear of Celtic at the top of the table, giving them a chance to open up a five-point advantage, but things didn't pan out that way at all in a dreadful first half.

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A huge boost for the Gers.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2024

The Gers found themselves 1-0 down in the first minute after James Tavernier's attempted clearance flew into the net off Daizen Maeda, giving them an immediate uphill battle. Matt O'Riley then doubled the visitors' advantage from the penalty spot after VAR had intervened, following a handball by Connor Goldson.

After the break, Rangers found themselves back in the game when Fabio Silva won a spot-kick – he was initially booked for diving – and Tavernier buried it emphatically. Soon after, Cyriel Dessers thought he had equalised, but there was a foul in the lead-up to the goal, much to the ire of those inside the stadium.

A late equaliser did come through Abdallah Sima, but Celtic restored their lead straightaway thanks to Adam Idah. In the end, Clement's men did get a point thanks to Rabbi Matondo's effort in injury time in what was a dramatic derby.

Rangers player slammed vs Celtic

Taking to X during the game, This Is Ibrox podcast slammed Silva's performance against Celtic, with the Portuguese having little to no impact:

"Fabio Silva looks lost on this left side. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see an early change for Rangers."

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton called the decision to award Silva a penalty "embarrassing", even though he was eventually deemed to have been fouled.

While Silva's influence did admittedly grow in the second half, not least winning the penalty, this was a display that was hugely disappointing overall, and it was only right that he was substituted with a quarter of the game remaining. According to SofaScore, the Portuguese completed just 53% of his passes, also losing possession 16 times in total, and he failed to complete a single successful dribble or contribute defensively.

Not only was the Rangers loanee frustrating in his general play, but he was also arguably guilty of going to ground far too easily, and you could sense the supporters growing tired of him constantly being on the turf.

South Africa allrounder announces impending retirement from all forms of international cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2019Vernon Philander, the South Africa allrounder, has announced his impending retirement from international cricket. The upcoming Test series against England will be his final outing for his country, bringing to a close a career that began in 2007.Philander, 34, has taken more than 200 wickets in his 60 Tests to date, putting him seventh on the all-time list for South Africa. However, he has increasingly had to battle injury, making only six appearances in the last 18 months. He played in 40 ODIs, most recently at the 2015 World Cup, and also featured at the inaugural World T20 in 2007.”It’s been coming on for a while, you get to the stage in your career when you’ve got to make a decision,” Philander said. “I’ve had a wonderful career but I’m moving into the darker area for fast bowlers, 35 next year, so I think it’s an appropriate time to call it a day in international cricket.”Personally I’ve done what I wanted to, trying to play Test cricket and get the team into some great positions. I’ve been part of the No. 1 team for a couple of years and that was always part of the aim. Leaving the set-up now, you want to finish on a high and make sure the team is on the graph back up again. We’ve got a young team at the moment so I’d like to play my part in seeing that I leave the team in a good state and also making sure that I pass most of my knowledge on to the younger players in the set-up.”A bustling seam-and-swing bowler, Philander made a dazzling start to his Test career after debuting at the age of 26, claiming nine five-fors in his first 15 Tests and reaching the 100-wicket mark in just his 19th appearance. He claimed his best Test figures last year, taking 6 for 21 against Australia. However, his fitness levels have been questioned, including by former captain Graeme Smith, recently installed as South Africa’s new director of cricket.Philander was injured four times in his first 10 Test series, but played on Smith’s insistence against Australia in a must-win game in 2014. The next year, on tour in India, he suffered his most significant setback when he hurt his left ankle in the football warm-ups before the Bangalore Test. He did not play the rest of that series, which South Africa lost 3-0, or the 2-1 home defeat against England which followed, and was only in action again nine months later.Philander featured in 14 consecutive Tests after that, but on the 2017 tour of England his problems seemed to resurface. He took ill during the third Test and was hospitalised overnight but was passed fit for the series-deciding fourth Test before back spasms ruled him out. It was then that Smith’s criticism was at its strongest. South Africa lost the match and the series and coach Russell Domingo lost his job, being replaced by Ottis Gibson.Gibson’s first assignment was against Bangladesh, a series Philander sat out as he continued to recover from his back problem. He went on to play in the other eight Tests South Africa hosted in the 2017-18 summer, thereby meeting Gibson’s challenge to stay fit for the rest of the season. But his good run did not last and in February, he was ruled out of a crucial Test against Sri Lanka at home. Sri Lanka became the first team from the subcontinent to win a series in South Africa, who have now lost their last five successive Tests.Philander hopes to bow out on a winning note, however, with the four-Test series against England beginning at Centurion on Boxing Day. He is the senior member of the bowling attack, which has lost the services of Steyn, Morkel, Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott over recent years.”We’ve got a good opportunity playing at home against England,” he said. “It would be a fitting farewell, beating England in South Africa. They’re one of the top-four international sides at the moment and would definitely be a fitting send-off if we can beat them.”The series concludes in Johannesburg at the end of January, and Philander said he would take some time off to decide on his next move but indicated that he saw a future for himself in a developmental role. “I’ll still be involved in the game somehow,” he said. “There’s a massive part for us still to be played in South African cricket, because of development, young and upcoming players need guidance. I see myself playing a massive role in that.”

Mason Greenwood has been hit with a “mercenaries” jibe, as Lazio reveal that they had a £22m ($28m) offer in for the ex-Manchester United forward.

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Enjoyed loan spell at Getafe in 2023-24Linked with clubs across EuropeSecured permanent move to FranceWHAT HAPPENED?

After seeing allegations of attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour dropped in February 2023, Greenwood was cleared to resume his professional career. A loan move to La Liga outfit Getafe was sanctioned, with the 22-year-old impressing in Spain.

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The one-cap England international attracted interest from across Europe, with Lazio one of several sides in the race for his signature. Greenwood ended up completing a £27 million ($34m) transfer to Marseille, with a fresh start being embraced in France.

WHAT LAZIO DIRECTOR SAID

Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani considers his club to have enjoyed a lucky escape, telling of failing to meet the demands of a player that is still rebuilding his reputation: “We wanted Greenwood last year, then there was a hitch with the player – you all know what Greenwood’s problem was. An agent this year approached us with the idea of Greenwood moving to Italy. We gave him a deadline, from there an auction was unleashed and I thought I could go up to a certain limit.

“We offered £22m for 50 per cent of the player, we’re talking about €26m. He preferred to take another path and I say that the best deals are those that aren’t made. I want [Nicolo] Rovella, [Mattia] Zaccagni, players who love the environment where they work. I don’t want these mercenaries, it’s lucky not to make certain deals. I could sell myself for €50,000 more but I have values that my parents passed on to me. If he’s taken another path, we wish Greenwood the best of luck.”

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Greenwood, who won Getafe’s Player of the Year award last season, netted his first goal for Marseille in a friendly date with Pau FC. He is now working on a long-term contract through to 2029, with United including a sell-on clause in the deal that took him to Ligue 1.

A "world-class" Manchester United player could now miss his side's crucial Premier League meeting this weekend through a knock, as the Red Devils' injury woes go from bad to worse.

Man Utd injury news

The Red Devils have a chance to dent their biggest rivals' title hopes on Sunday afternoon, having already knocked them out of the FA Cup last month. Thursday's 4-3 defeat at Chelsea saw them capitulate in stoppage time, however, so confidence is fairly low heading into the game against the Reds.

Not only that, but United's injury problems show no sign of easing, with both Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans forced off at Stamford Bridge, joining the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial on the sidelines.

For all of Erik ten Hag's struggles this season, injuries can be used as an excuse for his team falling well short of expectations, with so many key figures unavailable at different points in the campaign, especially in defence.

With Sunday's visit of Liverpool looming, it now looks as though the Red Devils could have yet another influential figure in the treatment room, acting as a big concern.

"World-class" Man Utd star could miss Liverpool

Taking to X, injury expert Ben Dinnery claimed that Casemiro is a doubt for Liverpool's clash with Manchester United, picking up a new knock this week:

"Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez will be sidelined for at least a month, but Ten Hag said it was too early to know the extent of the injuries suffered by Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans after they were forced off at Stamford Bridge. Willy Kambwala and Harry Maguire could be paired centrally. Casemiro will also be checked after picking up a knock."

Casemiro may be an ageing figure these days, not necessarily proving to be the physical force he was at Real Madrid, but not having him on the pitch to face Liverpool would be a significant blow.

The 32-year-old has so much experience down the years, playing in endless El Clasicos, and that nous is needed is what could be a high-octane and pressurised fixture this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers' comments on the Brazilian sum up his class: "Casemiro is a world-class player. He’s calm, he has quality. Thankfully for us, he’s suspended. He’s given them a stabilising effect. Erik (ten Hag) and his team, they’ve given them good organisation."

The hope is that he manages to shake off his knock and be passed fit for the Liverpool game, but if not, a midfield of Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes looks most likely, which arguably lacks a proper holding midfielder but does at least possess plenty of energy.

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The Man United target could transform the way Ten Hag’s side play.

ByTom Lever Apr 6, 2024

Not only will Casemiro's defensive work be missed, but he also has a penchant for chipping in with important goals, netting 12 times in 74 appearances for United. It would be just like him to deliver, given his big-game pedigree.

‘If he can keep that well, and perform well with the bat, then why not?’ Kohli said a day before the first T20I in New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-20201:54

Rahul is open to accepting any kind of role – Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli has suggested that KL Rahul will keep in the upcoming T20Is too, as it has given them an option of playing an extra batsman in the XI.Rahul kept wickets in three ODIs against Australia at home – starting after Rishabh Pant suffered a concussion in the first game while batting – even though Pant was fit to play in the third game in Bengaluru, and Kohli said a day before the first T20I in New Zealand in Auckland that Rahul “doing really well with the [keeping] gloves” had “opened up another kind of scenario” for them.With Shikhar Dhawan’s injury, Rahul is also going to get back to opening in the T20Is in New Zealand.”[Dhawan’s injury] will certainly alter a few plans for us… in the one-day game, we’ll have to think of sticking to the same what we did in Rajkot (in the second ODI), that will probably work best for us as a side, have another guy at the top and let KL just express himself at that position where he played really well,” Kohli said. “In T20 cricket, obviously the dynamics change a little bit more, because we do have lower-order batsmen who have done well. We have a few more options there in terms of solidifying that spot and probably let KL bat at the top.”Him doing really well with the gloves has really opened up another kind of scenario for us where it gives us a lot more balance in terms of playing an extra batter. If he can keep that well, and perform well with the bat, then why not? As I said, this is something that we are looking to continue for a while. And nothing taken away from anyone else, it’s just what brings the best balance to the side.”With Pant unavailable for the second ODI against Australia and three openers to accommodate in the XI, Rahul kept wickets and scored a smashing 80 off 52 balls at No. 5 to turn the series around for India. Rahul was asked to open again in the decider with Dhawan’s injury, but with five dismissals behind the stumps in the series and that impressive half-century in Rajkot, Kohli said they were going to “persist” with Rahul keeping and batting in the middle order for some more time.BCCIRahul has been moved around the batting order over the years, but has cemented a position for himself at the top in more recent times, and that has led to more consistent returns with the bat: he averages 47.86 and 45.50 in ODIs and T20Is in the last 12 months respectively, both higher than his career average.”It’s amazing. He is open to accepting any kind of role, whatever the team wants – he is a total team man and you can tell the way he keeps as well,” Kohli said of Rahul’s evolution. “He is always looking for an opportunity and looking to make a play, and he is not nervous about it; the collection of throws and getting to the stumps every ball, and he is just in the game. I think he relishes that much more than just being on the field and it’s showing. He is more involved in the game, he is able to look at the field placements as well, so I think it engages him into the game in the right manner. It’s wonderful to have a guy who can do both things well and bring balance to the team.”Dhawan and Sharma were India’s original openers in limited-overs formats but Dhawan’s succession of injuries and Rahul’s form have put a spanner in the works. For now, India named Sanju Samson as Dhawan’s replacement for the T20Is and Prithvi Shaw for the three ODIs to follow. India also have Mayank Agarwal, who was called up during the 50-over World Cup last year, and Shubman Gill in the ranks, who are currently representing India A in New Zealand.”Continuity [is a problem], yes,” Kohli accepted. “But in the meantime, if you talk about replacements, we have a lot of T20 players around, and people who are very experienced when it comes to playing T20 cricket, having played a lot of matches in the IPL and on ‘A’ tours and other series.”I don’t see an issue of replacement. But yes, an issue of continuity for sure. Look, whenever he (Dhawan) is back in the team – he’s done well in the last game that he played – so we’d love to have him back and have that balance in the team where we can really go in with the best batting line-up that we have. But in the meantime, we don’t have any issues with the replacements.”

Yunus Musah has generated transfer talk at AC Milan, but the USMNT star is “200%” certain to remain alongside fellow countryman Christian Pulisic.

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Midfielder moved to Italy in 2023Faces fierce competition for placesNew manager has a role for himWHAT HAPPENED?

The 21-year-old midfielder enjoyed a productive debut campaign at San Siro on the back of his 2023 move from Valencia. He made 40 appearances across all competitions, with 30 of those coming in Serie A, but started only 13 games in the Italian top-flight.

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Competition for places has led to links with the likes of Lyon, with offers reportedly being readied for the New York native. Musah has, however, been figuring off the bench for Milan during their pre-season tour of the States – with new Rossoneri boss Paulo Fonseca finding a role for him.

WHAT FONSECA SAID

Fonseca has no intention of sanctioning a sale, telling of Musah’s place in his plans: “I’m 200% sure he’s the kind of player for our game. He showed [against Real Madrid] in 30 minutes, it was amazing with just a few days of working with us. I’m very confident with him. I believe he can be very important for our team. But of course, he must improve many things, but my opinion? He has the right characteristics to play in this position in our game.”

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Musah and Pulisic were late arrivals to Milan’s pre-season training camp after representing their country at the 2024 Copa America. They are now very much part of the fold again and are looking to figure prominently in Fonseca’s thoughts across the 2024-25 campaign.

Chelsea legend John Terry is reportedly set to continue his coaching role in the club's academy despite a summer reshuffle.

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Terry became Chelsea academy coach in 2023Blues have summer reshuffle in youth setupTerry set to remain and sign new contractWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Neil Bath, who brought Terry back to Chelsea to work in the academy last year, left the club, as did Jim Fraser – who worked closely with the ex-England international. Earlier this year, the former centre-back was negotiating an extension to his rolling contract and now the report states that will be finalised soon.

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The report adds Terry has been influential in helping bring academy talents to the club, speaking with players and their parents and offering advice. While they are set to keep on the 43-year-old, academy products Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, and Armando Broja could all leave the club this summer – so Terry may have a tougher task in showing there is a pathway to the first-team for youngsters in the future.

DID YOU KNOW?

Terry initially spent time in West Ham's academy before moving to Chelsea's as a 14-year-old. He then went onto play 717 times for the Blues, winning Premier League and Champions League titles along with a whole host of other trophies along the way.

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While Chelsea's first-team begin the new Premier League season at home to defending champions Manchester City on August 18, the club's under-21s take on Tottenham two days earlier. Terry may be present for both those matches.

Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour at Liverpool has begun to hit a rut of late. The Reds seemed like they were in with a great chance of winning more than just the Carabao Cup this season, but recent results have derailed their progress.

Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United 4-3 in incredible circumstances, suffered a 3-0 first-leg defeat against Atalanta in the Europa League last eight, and lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace last weekend in the Premier League.

The end of the season is certainly not going the way Klopp would have wanted, and there is real cause for concern that his fairytale ending will not turn out the way both he and Liverpool fans hope.

Of course, whilst Klopp and his squad continue the hunt for more trophies than the Carabao Cup, the search goes on for the German’s successor. Unsurprisingly, there is lots of speculation swirling as to who could be their new boss, with a frontrunner and a surprise candidate emerging in recent days.

Amorim still the frontrunner

The man considered by many to be leading the way for the position of the next Liverpool manager is Sporting’s Ruben Amorim. The 39-year-old is making waves in Liga Portugal, with his Sporting side currently top of the table by seven points.

Amorim has won five major honours as a manager, including the league title with Sporting in 2020/21, one of four titles he has won with Leões. The fifth was a Portuguese League Cup triumph with Braga in 2019/20.

At the start of the month, Amorim explained that he “cannot make any guarantees” as to whether or not he will be in charge at Sporting beyond this season, although in a later press conference denied agreeing on personal terms with Liverpool, as per Sky Sports.

In an interview with the BBC last week, former Liverpool man Abel Xavier called Amorim’s potential appointment a “major signing” for Liverpool, stressing how key it is to find the “correct person after Klopp”.

The Portuguese manager’s ideal system is a 3-4-3, with the two wingers almost acting as number 10s in possession. Certainly, some Liverpool players would translate over to Amorim’s system well, particularly Trent Alexander-Arnold, who would thrive at left-wing back, and Alexis Mac Allister, who would be able to play in Amorim’s intense midfield pivot with ease.

Whether or not Liverpool decide to appoint Amorim remains to be seen. However, it could certainly be a smart choice, with the profiles in Liverpool’s squad perfectly fitting Amorim’s style, and the fact he already has a winning ethos as a manager.

A potential Amorim alternative

The former Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac has emerged as a “surprise name” to take over at Liverpool according to The Mail Online’s David Kent. The Croatian has been out of work since 17th March when he left Wolfsburg, with his previous clubs also including Monaco and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Interestingly, the 52-year-old has never beaten Jurgen Klopp, having managed against him twice; Klopp’s Liverpool beat his Bayern side 3-1 at the Allianz Arena and drew 0-0 at Anfield in 2018/19 in the Champions League.

Despite facing criticism as Bayern manager, Kovac was defended by Uli Hoeness, the club president, on Sports Illustrated’s podcast Planet Football, via Bulinews. Hoeness described his double-winning debut season as “unbelievable”, especially given it was the last season for club legends Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

In terms of his style of play, Kovac has shown great tactical flexibility, and has played back three systems at Frankfurt, and back four systems at Bayern. However, he has consistently played a direct style of play and likes to use quick, direct wingers to great effect. In this instance, we could see the likes of Luis Diaz thrive under Kovac, should he get the Liverpool job.

At Bayern, Kovac also liked to dominate lots of the ball. In 2018/19, they had 66% possession, more than any other side in the league, according to Sofascore. Again, this should translate well over to Liverpool, who have averaged 61.4% possession this season in the Premier League, as per Sofascore. They should certainly be able to handle Kovac’s high-possession demands, especially having played lots under Klopp.

Whether or not Liverpool go with Amorim, the favourite choice, or Kovac, the shock name in the mix, remains to be seen. Either way, both certainly have merits and have had past success. Whoever steps into the shoes of Klopp will have big boots to fill, and will no doubt hope to carry on the incredible legacy he has left at Anfield.

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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 16, 2024