The visitors lost 6 for 37 but a target of 369 would mean breaking records for New Zealand

Tristan Lavalette02-Mar-20242:48

Malcolm: Lyon looms as the big threat for New Zealand

Nathan Lyon outfoxed Kane Williamson and menaced on a sharp turning Basin Reserve surface as Australia remained in the box seat for a first Test victory despite a stirring fightback from New Zealand on day three.Chasing 369, New Zealand reached stumps at 111 for 3 with Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell weathering challenging conditions in an unbroken half-century partnership. They defied Lyon, who was the predictable danger bowler and took 2 for 27 from 16 overs.Related

Green's 174* helps Australia secure big lead as New Zealand collapse for 179

Green's quick learning and Hazlewood's redemption pile on pain for New Zealand

When 'mini-Buddha' lost his calm and New Zealand lost the plot, again

Ravindra mixed defence with proactiveness like when he clobbered the offspin of Travis Head for a towering six late in the day’s play. He reached his fifty off 77 balls by whacking a short delivery from Mitchell Starc to the leg-side boundary.Ravindra did endure several anxious moments, including an lbw appeal from Lyon that Australia unsuccessfully reviewed, but made it through to give New Zealand hope of conjuring a remarkable victory. Given the difficult situation, Mitchell curtailed his innate aggressiveness to finish 12 not out from 63 balls.New Zealand will need to rewrite the record books if they are to take the lead in this series, with the highest ever run chase at Basin Reserve being 277 for 3 by Pakistan in 2003.Glenn Phillips went all out with his five-for celebrations•Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s comeback started when Australia lost 6 for 37 as Glenn Phillips became the first New Zealand spinner to claim five wickets at home since Jeetan Patel in 2008. He finished with 5 for 45 from 16 overs as Australia was bowled out for 164 in their sixth lowest total against New Zealand in Test cricket.But New Zealand’s chase started poorly when opener Tom Latham gifted Lyon a wicket when he nicked off a short and wide delivery on the stroke of tea. Lyon, who entered the attack in the sixth over, had a huge caught behind appeal turned down on Williamson’s first delivery and Australia unsuccessfully reviewed.The riveting battle continued after the interval with Williamson, who made three hundreds in four innings against South Africa, determined to make amends after his horrendous run out for a duck in New Zealand’s first innings.Williamson made a statement by climbing into a couple of rare short deliveries from Lyon, who reverted to around the wicket and was armed with a leg slip. Williamson fell in the trap, unable to get on top of a Lyon delivery that pitched on middle and straightened as he inside edged into the safe hands of Steven Smith at leg slip.After a rare double failure, Williamson was visibly annoyed with himself as his modest career mark against Australia fell to 37.26 compared to 55.25 overall.With spin spitting off the surface, skipper Pat Cummins turned to Head and it proved an inspired decision with his third delivery accounting for opener Will Young, who played needlessly and edged to slip where Smith completed a stunning one-handed catch. It moved Smith past Mark Waugh’s tally of 181 Test catches and into sixth spot on the all-time list.Rachin Ravindra took the fight to Australia•Getty ImagesLyon’s performance had Australia remaining confident despite a collapse in the middle session that loosened their stranglehold.As they seek a rare Test victory over Australia, New Zealand have seemingly been overawed at times in the series-opener. But Phillips has been a standout after he top-scored for New Zealand with a defiant 71 off 70 in their disappointing first innings of 179.He has also stood up with the ball after frontline spinner Mitchell Santner was overlooked for this match. Having had Usman Khawaja stumped in the first session, Phillips provided New Zealand with a much needed spark shortly after lunch with the wickets of Head and in-form Mitchell Marsh on consecutive deliveries.Head, who had made just one run in his last three innings, raced to 29 off 36 balls before holing out to long-off. Marsh was dismissed for a golden duck after being caught at short-leg with Phillips equalling his career best of four wickets in an innings.Phillips soon captured his fifth after Cameron Green, backing up from his masterful unbeaten 174 in the first innings, poked to short-leg to end his 80-ball 34 with Young taking a very sharp catch.Phillips was denied a sixth when Cummins was dropped twice, but Matt Henry claimed the last two wickets – finishing with eight for the match – to complete New Zealand’s fightback.Having never taken a five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, Phillips became the first New Zealand spinner to reach the feat at Basin Reserve since 2006 when Daniel Vettori, who is now part of Australia’s coaching staff, claimed 7 for 130 against Sri Lanka.A New Zealand rally looked unlikely when Lyon, the nightwatcher, dominated the first 30 minutes of play. Having scored the most runs in Test history without a half-century, with a highest score of 47, Lyon fell short after making a breezy 41 off 46 balls in the top score of the innings.Lyon’s milestone bid ended after whipping Henry to a leaping Young at midwicket, but he was back in the thick of the action later in the day’s play.

Los Blancos are nowhere near as good with the France captain in their side, and might just be regretting bringing him in from Paris Saint-Germain

The picture is ubiquitous at this point. A young Kylian Mbappe sits on his bed, leaning against a wall, surrounded by pictures of Cristiano Ronaldo. Here's Ronaldo controlling the ball with his chest, there's Ronaldo holding up the Golden Boot. And in all of them – every single one – Ronaldo is clad in Real Madrid white.

It was an innocent snap at the time of a kid who loved football. Since then, though, it has become symbolic of something bigger. Ever since he was a child, Mbappe has wanted to play for Madrid. This picture is perfect evidence that the French forward's summer transfer to the Spanish capital was a divine right – a move that was always going to be made.

But that child's fantasy, now that it has actually come to life, is far from the perfect story. Mbappe was supposed to be the final piece of this Madrid side, the razor edge that could make Europe's most dominant team almost unstoppable. The reality has been quite the opposite.

Madrid are confused, their players no longer quite on the same page. The fluidity is missing, the connectivity gone. Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain's all-time top goal-scorer and a consensus top-three player in the world, has made this team worse.

Getty ImagesFlirtation

It is worth reflecting on how we got here. Mbappe suggested at least twice that he wanted to play for Carlo Ancelotti's side, and the first flirtation in full came in 2022. Madrid were pretty much convinced that they had secured Mbappe's services on a long-term contract. He was due to be a free agent, and his relationship with PSG had soured. Madrid, it seemed, were a phone call away. Instead, the forward made the surprise decision to re-sign in Paris.

Madrid were furious, and claimed that they would never go in for Mbappe again. The trust was broken… Well, that lasted less than 12 months. In the summer 2023, Mbappe made it clear that he would not sign another deal with PSG, and nor would he even trigger the one-year extension that the French club thought would keep him around past the end of the upcoming season. It was a message of sorts: 'Come and get me, Mr. Perez'.

Madrid didn't bite. PSG accepted a massive offer for Mbappe's services from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, but Mbappe didn't even consider it. Madrid, meanwhile, adapted and revamped. Karim Benzema left and so Ancelotti deployed Jude Bellingham as a false nine. They won both La Liga and the Champions League at a canter.

But by the spring, it was known that Mbappe was going to be a Madrid player. The only question that remained was how much he was willing to give up to PSG in order to make it work for everyone. The terms were never disclosed, but Mbappe spent the final days of his Parisian tenure on the bench, awaiting his move.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStrong first impression

When it finally happened, the Madrid move came on their terms. Gone was the bumper contract that included unprecedented wages and control of Mbappe's image rights, and he would no longer blow their wage structure to bits. Instead, his pay was in line with that of Bellingham (although a handsome €150 million (£128m/$163m) signing bonus didn't hurt).

His unveiling ceremony, in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu, felt a lot like that given to Ronaldo 15 years previously. Mbappe said some of the same things, and brought the same cool-guy, look-at-me alpha energy. Mbappe was here, and everyone had to know it.

For Los Blancos, only good things were said. Ancelotti spoke of his excitement, while various players posted on Instagram welcoming him to the side. The vibes seemed good from day one.

Getty ImagesEarly warning signs

Immediately, however, it was clear that things were going to run less smoothly on the pitch. The natural concern was very much apparent; Vinicius Jr and Mbappe play the exact same position. Whether you count Vini as more of a touchline winger than inside forward doesn't really matter; both are supremely talented, attacking players who play off the left and cut inside. Rodrygo, who so willingly sacrificed his own interests by playing on the right last season, also often gravitates there.

Bellingham, too, prefers to occupy the left half-space before darting to the centre. On paper, it looked frighteningly lopsided, and so it proved in the early weeks of the campaign. Mbappe was told that he had to play through the middle, but ended up shifting to his preferred position anyway. At times, he simply got in Vinicius' way. There may have been smiles and laughs on the pitch, but the two collided in Madrid's season-opening 1-1 draw with Mallorca.

But this was all a symptom of growing pains – or so we were told. They would, over time, figure it out.

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Getty Images SportLeaving everyone exposed

The attacking woes are perhaps a little overblown, though. Yes, there have been some poor moments. Mbappe was caught offside eight times alone against Barcelona's high line in a 4-0 Clasico drubbing (one would have thought that a player of this calibre would know how to time a run). But zoom out, and the numbers are fine. Mbappe has scored nine goals in 17 while Vinicius is racking up goals and assists. And although Bellingham's scoring production has dropped off, he has adapted into more of a No.8.

But this is not a good Madrid team. Los Blancos have struggled against the best sides and flopped in contests they would usually win. A big part of that is their defensive issues, and that all starts from the front. There are no passengers in modern football, especially against sides with the kind of attacking quality to tear you apart. Excuses are useless; defending with 11 men is mandatory.

Madrid already had some issues in that sense, with Vinicius' work-rate often questionable. Mbappe's, though, has been non-existent.

There are basic rules that aren't being followed here. When Madrid lose the ball, Mbappe neither drops nor presses. Passing lanes are left wide open and opponents are given far too much time on the ball. There is an easy formula to play through Madrid these days: get it to your No.6, and spray passes wide – it's how both Barcelona and AC Milan dismantled them.

As the central striker, it is Mbappe's job to prevent that tiny pass. He doesn't even attempt to do it, and the rest of the team is exposed as a result.

Following their £65 million deal to sign striker Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, sources close to a £34 million player believe Tottenham could well go and sign him next.

Postecoglou drops transfer hint with Tottenham still active this window

After sealing a move for Solanke and ending their year-long search for a Harry Kane replacement, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has suggested that Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange could still bring in another body or two before deadline day.

Tottenham have held talks with £60 million Brazil forward via his agents

He scored over 20 goals last season.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 14, 2024

The Australian says his side may not be done after putting pen to paper on a move for Solanke, with Postecoglou hinting there could be "activity" at Tottenham towards the end of the window.

Regardless, the 58-year-old is still emphatic that Spurs managed to seal a £65m move for his top striking target, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season and impressed under Cherries boss Andoni Iraola.

Player

Goals scored

Son Heung min

17

Richarlison

12

Dejan Kulusevski

8

Brennan Johnson

5

Cristian Romero

5

James Maddison

4

“He was obviously one I was very keen to get in," said Postecoglou on signing Solanke.

"It took a while to get it over the line but I think he will be a great fit for us in terms of the player he is and the point of his career where he is at. I think he will be a good fit. As I said, we are a bit light in that front third in terms of adding quality not just to the squad but also to our team. He certainly does that. Pleased to get him on board and we have a week and a bit to work with him.”

In terms of who could come in after Solanke, Fabrizio Romano has previously claimed that Spurs could still sign a new winger, depending on the opportunities available to them in the market.

Meanwhile, following Emerson Royal's confirmed switch to AC Milan, Postecoglou's side have also been linked with a move for AS Monaco right-back Vanderson.

Sources close to Vanderson think Tottenham will sign him

Reporter Bruno Andrade claimed earlier this week that Tottenham have opened talks with Monaco over a deal for Vanderson, with UOL now following up that report with more detail.

UOL state that people close to Vanderson believe Spurs could make a breakthrough in talks to sign him. Monaco are apparently demanding around £34 million to sell their Brazilian defender, who impressed over his 20 Ligue 1 games last season.

The ex-Gremio starlet has also been lavished with praise for some of his performances in France, with journalist Antonio Mango calling him "sensational".

Wiley sustains the shoulder injury after a rough collision that led to him falling on the pitch in Strasbourg's match against Nice on Sunday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Caleb Wiley sustains shoulder injury
• Strasbourg lose to Nice 2-1
• Defender facing spell on sidelines

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Caleb Wiley, 19, has had a rough spell of injuries of late, with the U.S. international being handed his first start since Aug. 25 on Sunday, only to be removed at the halftime break due to the shoulder separation, manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed.

  He only recently returned from a six-week absence due to knee tendinitis, and now, could be facing an extended spell on the sidelines again.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 side conceded two goals after Wiley departed the match at the halftime break, with their 1-0 lead turning into defeat after his injury.

  "Caleb dislocated his shoulder, which was a real blow for us,” Rosenior said in quotes published by Get Football News France. “I felt as though we missed Caleb in the second half."

  The 19-year-old joined the French outfit this past summer on loan from Chelsea FC, after being signed by the English club from MLS side Atlanta United in July.

  He was a member of the USMNT's squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wiley has started three matches in six appearances this season, recording one assist for the French outfit. They have just three matches left on the calendar before Ligue 1 begins a three-week break on Dec. 16 for the Holiday season.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WILEY?

  Strasbourg take on Brest Saturday before matches against Reims and Le Havre to round out their 2024 season. Wiley, meanwhile, is set to be evaluated this week to determine the extent of his injury.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo tenta reverter antigos contratos para buscar novos valores e tentar respirar na crise financeira. O clube entrou com uma ação na Justiça para mudar o valor do aluguel do Shopping Casa & Gourmet, propriedade que pertence ao Alvinegro, de R$ 25 mil mensais para R$ 750 mil mensais.

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+ Reta final: Botafogo entra nos últimos compromissos da Série B com bons números e confrontos diretos

A prioridade fica ao lado de General Severiano, sede social do Botafogo. A estrutura tem 7 mil metros quadrados em Botafogo, bairro da Zona Sul do Rio de Janeiro. A atual diretoria do Glorioso não concorda com os valores e busca um ajuste das cifras na Justiça. A notícia foi dada primeiramente por Lauro Jardim e confirmada pelo LANCE!.

O L! havia publicado no começo de agosto que Jorge Braga, CEO do Botafogo, estava revisando os contratos do shopping. Após o estudo, a conclusão foi de que os valores são abaixo do mercado e que o Alvinegro sai perdendo nessas negociações.

Carlos Eduardo Pereira, presidente do Alvinegro entre 2015 e 2017, esteve envolvido na assinatura do contrato realizado nos anos 90. O mandatário, que então trabalhava como diretor de shoppings, assinou o acordo, que tem valores similares perdurando até hoje.

Se a ação do Botafogo for aceita, o clube vai sair de R$ 300 mil ganhos de forma anual para R$ 9 milhões, o que representaria um aumento de 3000% nas cotações do shopping.

تلقى لاعب نادي بيراميدز، أحمد توفيق، بطاقة حمراء مباشرة، في مباراة فريقه ضد النادي الأهلي، التي تقام بين الفريقين، الآن، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلعب الأهلي أمام بيراميدز، في إطار مواجهات الجولة العاشرة من عمر مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

طالع.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز في الدوري المصري

وقرر الحكم محمود البنا، بعد العودة إلى تقنية الفار، إشهار البطاقة الحمراء للاعب فريق بيراميدز أحمد توفيق، في الدقيقة 41 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، ذلك بعد تدخل بالكوع في وجه لاعب الأهلي كريم الدبيس في كرة مشتركة بينهما. شاهد طرد أحمد توفيق في مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز

ويتقدم فريق بيراميدز على الأهلي، بهدف دون رد، سجله مدافع المارد الأحمر رامي ربيعة بالخطأ في مرماه بعد عرضية من محمد حمدي لاعب بيراميدز.

Leeds United will kick off their 2024/25 campaign in the Championship with a clash against newly-promoted Portsmouth at Elland Road this afternoon.

Pompey won League One last season and will come into this game full of confidence and riding the crest of a wave, hoping to carry their positive momentum into the second tier – as Ipswich Town did last term.

The Whites, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Daniel Farke has also had to deal with losing several of his key performers during the summer transfer window, as Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Crysencio Summerville have all completed permanent exits from Elland Road.

The German boss has, however, been able to bring in a few signings of his own. Jayden Bogle, Alex Cairns, Joe Rothwell, and Joe Rodon have all come through the door to bolster his options across the park.

However, the Whites are yet to add to their attacking options and that could mean that other players will need to step up in the short-term to make up for Summerville's exit.

One position that is currently up for debate is the striker role and Farke must now boldly unleash Mateo Joseph from the start, ahead of Patrick Bamford.

Why Leeds should not start Patrick Bamford

The former England international came off the bench in the last pre-season friendly against Valencia last week and should remain as a substitute for this clash with Portsmouth.

Firstly, the 30-year-old forward is only recently back from an injury that had kept him out of action since April. He missed the play-offs against Norwich and Southampton, and made his return in that clash with Valencia earlier this month.

This does not suggest that Bamford is fully fit and match-ready to hit the ground running against Pompey on the opening day of the season, due to his lack of minutes over the last three months or so.

The left-footed marksman also left a bit to be desired with his performances on the pitch when he was available for selection during the 2023/24 campaign.

Bamford ended the season with eight goals in 33 Championship appearances, hardly an incredible return for a club chasing automatic promotion, and that came from 9.52 xG.

This suggests that the former Chelsea striker, who missed nine 'big chances', was a wasteful finisher and did not make the most of the opportunities that were created for him.

He did not make up for his poor finishing in other ways as the centre-forward only created one 'big chance' for his teammates and registered one assist, which shows that Bamford did not provide much creativity for his fellow attackers.

The great thing about being a number nine for Leeds is that they know that chances will come their way if they are in the right positions, because of Georginio Rutter's creative skills.

Why Georginio Rutter is a striker's dream

The French number ten is a striker's dream because of his incredible ability to consistently create high-quality opportunities for the team's attackers to find the back of the net.

In the 2023/24 campaign, Rutter made his mark in a Leeds shirt, after a short and uneventful first five months with the club in the Premier League, by setting the Championship alight with his creativity and flair.

Appearances

45

Goals

6

Assists

15

Big chances created

22

Key passes per game

1.9

Pass accuracy

69%

As you can see in the table above, the former Hoffenheim man racked up an impressive 15 assists and 22 'big chances' created in 45 games during the regular season.

In fact, his teammates only scoring 15 times from those 22 'big chances' suggests that they did not make the most of his fantastic creative skills.

Rutter ranked within the top 2% of forwards in the division for both Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.29) and assists per 90 (0.39), which shows that he was one of the best players in his position when it came to splitting open opposition defences.

Farke must now boldly unleash Joseph to start with Rutter as part of the attacking set-up against Portsmouth this afternoon, as they could thrive alongside each other.

Why Daniel Farke must unleash Mateo Joseph

It would be a bold call to bring the Spain U21 international in as he is yet to start a league game at senior level for the club to date, having made 23 appearances as a substitute in the Premier League and the Championship.

However, his form for the Whites in pre-season, and Bamford's struggles with form and fitness, suggests that now is the right time to throw him in.

It is the start of a new season and that means that it is time for new heroes, particularly in the wake of Summerville and Gray's departures, and Joseph could be the breakout star at Elland Road this term.

The 20-year-old marksman, who U23 scout Antonio Mango once hailed as a "deadly", scored four goals during pre-season, with two strikes against Hannover, one against Schalke, and one against Valencia.

Joseph also caught the eye as a starter against Chelsea in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge earlier this year, which shows that he can perform in a competitive environment.

Minutes played

90

Shots

3

Goals

2

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

81%

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish whiz, who also played for England at youth level, plundered two goals and created two chances against the Premier League side.

The 5 foot 11 sensation, who scored 19 goals in 33 games for the club's U21s, has showcased his goalscoring quality for the academy and for the first-team when given an opportunity.

It is now down to Farke to finally provide him with a chance to display his abilities as a starter in the Championship against Portsmouth today, with Rutter hopefully using his creative genius to lay-on plenty of chances for the striker to score.

The next Gray: Leeds looking at signing “exceptional” young PL gem

Leeds United are keeping a close eye on this young gem as a potential buy.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 9, 2024

Liverpool are yet to spend a penny this summer, which is perhaps surprising given they have a new manager. Arne Slot took over from Jurgen Klopp last summer, and whilst he has got off to the perfect start on the pitch, with two wins from two, his side have not yet signed anyone.

However, with mere hours left of the window, that could all change for the Dutchman. The Reds are believed to be pursuing one player who could add strength and depth in attack.

Liverpool target Serie A winger

The player in question here is Juventus and Italy international winger Federico Chiesa. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Merseysiders are close to agreeing personal terms with the player, with a "four-year contract ready" following talks earlier this week.

This comes after David Ornstein broke the news that the winger could move to Anfield for a remarkably low fee of around £13m, with Romano adding that an agreement still needs to be reached over the official price tag.

Why Chiesa would be a good signing

Last season for the Turin outfit, the 26-year-old winger featured 33 times in Serie A, scoring nine times and registering three assists. He also scored once in four Italian Cup appearances, as Juve went on to lift the trophy.

In the Serie A in 2023/24, the former Fiorentina attacker was second in the charts for most combined goals and assists as per Sofascore. His 11 goal involvements were only beaten by Dusan Vlahovic, who scored and assisted 20 times.

His 11 goal contributions in the top flight last term would have placed him fourth amongst the Liverpool players, behind five others including three players who got 13 goals and assists. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah came out on top, with 28, according to Sofascore

One of the players who ranked above him on that list, coming in second place, was Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan has struggled to hit the ground running since his initial £64m move from Benfica, having scored 33 goals in 97 games for Liverpool.

Recently, the 25-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield, with Premier League rivals Arsenal believed to be the club considering a potential deal. The Reds could well be lining the Juve attacker up as a replacement for the former Benfica attacker.

Under Klopp, Nunez proved to be a handy utility man, capable of playing on the left wing or at centre-forward. It is safe to assume Slot would utilise this too, so if they sold their club-record signing before Friday’s deadline, they might well want to replace this versatility.

Luckily for the Merseysiders, the Juve number seven is one of Europe’s most versatile attackers, something he has proven throughout his time wearing the famous black and white stripes of the Old Lady.

Chiesa record by position for Juve (45 mins+ only)

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

Second striker

47

10

6

Left winger

37

5

8

Right winger

14

7

2

Left midfield

10

4

3

Right midfield

9

4

3

Centre-forward

3

1

0

Attacking midfield

1

0

0

Stats from Transfermarkt

Even if the Reds do keep hold of their Uruguayan number nine past the close of the window, it could be bad news for the 25-year-old. There is every argument to say the Italy international is a direct replacement for him, given his versatility and similar record in front of goal.

With Nunez already finding himself on the bench in the early weeks of the season, a further attacking addition could spell even more trouble for the towering marksman and his hopes of truly catching fire at Anfield.

Chiesa was described as a “galactico” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, and it is certainly easy to see why. Although he struggled last term, he is an enterprising and versatile attacker, who could be the dream replacement in Slot’s squad for Nunez.

Related Liverpool hit gold on Klopp signing worth nearly 5x more than Chiesa

He’s had his detractors but he sure is the real deal…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 28, 2024

Liverpool confidently won their first game of the new Premier League season back in front of their adoring Anfield masses, as Arne Slot's men beat Thomas Frank's Brentford with relative ease 2-0.

Limiting the visiting Bees to just two shots on target in the game, the Reds could well have won by more on another day, with 19 total efforts registered on Mark Flekken's constantly busy goal.

Thankfully, Mohamed Salah kept onside deep into the second half to stroke an effort home that wrapped up a routine three points in the end, but it was Luis Diaz down the opposing flank that really shone during the comfortable victory.

Luis Diaz's performance in numbers

Unable to open his Premier League account away at Ipswich Town on the opening day, despite tallying up three efforts on the Tractor Boys net, Luis Diaz certainly turned up for the test back on home soil today.

The blistering Colombian winger had the exact same amount of shots registered up against Flekken but converted this time around, finishing off a well-executed counter-attack by lashing an effort past the Bees number one to ease any early nerves at Anfield to make it 1-0.

Away from that important opener, the electric Reds number seven was also ice-cold with the ball at his feet, with zero misplaced passes managed from his 41 touches, alongside offering grit when needed with six ground duels won, before going on another mazey dart forward.

Substituted off on the 72nd-minute mark for Cody Gakpo to get some minutes up top, Slot would have been delighted with the South American forward's individual display when he was at full pelt, with his four key passes on the day also nearly gifting him an assist to make the scoreline more emphatic.

Away from the entertaining attacking performance as a collective, Liverpool were also rock solid at the back courtesy of Ibrahima Konate starring in the heart of defence, who justified his starting spot against Brentford.

Konate's performance in numbers

Not featuring in Suffolk against Kieran McKenna's men from the get-go, with Jarell Quansah starting alongside Virgil Van Dijk initially, Konate was substituted on at half-time in that potential banana skin and ensured the Reds looked far more controlled defensively in that 2-0 win after a shaky first-half.

Fast forward to today, and the French centre-back performed in exactly the same manner over the straightforward 90 minutes, with another clean sheet notched up on his 24/25 resume.

Stat

Konate

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

87

Accurate passes

73/76 (96%)

Possession lost

4x

Clearances

3

Blocked shots

1

Tackles

3

Duels won

4/4

Stats by Sofascore

Glancing at Konate's glowing numbers from the game, when taking in the table above, the former RB Leipzig man has surely made that second centre-back spot next to Van Dijk his own going forward now, with 73 accurate passes managed – the most by any Liverpool shirt – and a flawless record with his duels as four out of four were bravely won.

Both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa were limited to rare chances in the game as a result of Konate's imposing display, with an opening usually thwarted before it became too dangerous, often after a breakaway run forward fizzled out.

Konate's top display was reflected in Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle's post-match ratings, with the 6 foot 4 titan handed an 8/10 rating after the dust had settled.

Doyle labelled the 25-year-old's showing as "composed and decisive", with Slot now hopeful that his number five can be as cool and collected when travelling to Manchester United next weekend.

A 100% record from their opening two league games will make for encouraging reading from Liverpool's perspective, but another victory on the board against Erik ten Hag's men to come would very much see the optimism levels raised once more that this can be a stunning season, even with Jurgen Klopp no longer occupying the dug-out.

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ByHenry Jackson Aug 25, 2024

With six defeats in seven matches, Sunrisers will need to turn things around quickly if they are to make the playoffs

Himanshu Agrawal03-May-2021Big pictureFortunes couldn’t be any different for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Mumbai Indians at the moment.After suffering five defeats in six matches, the Sunrisers axed their captain David Warner, hoping a new leader would help change their fortunes. It brought them little respite, as Kane Williamson couldn’t prevent what would be a heavy defeat against the Rajasthan Royals. The Sunrisers’ batting has fumbled – their highest score remains 177, and on the six occasions that they have chased, their only successful attempt was getting to 121 set by the Punjab Kings.In their bowling ranks, the Sunrisers lost T Natarajan to injury, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has struggled, and Khaleel Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul and Vijay Shankar have failed to provide control. Jason Holder, on the other hand, has played only once despite returning figures of 3 for 30. They have used as many as 21 players so far, and yet have an explosive opener in Jason Roy unused. Assuming the bottom-placed Sunrisers win all their remaining matches, the most they can get to is 16 points. Going by their performances so far, it would require a miracle for that to happen; and if it doesn’t, then it would be the first time since 2016 that they fail to make the playoffs.Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, seem to have rediscovered their lost form. For a side that had lost two in a row and hadn’t batted second in their first five matches, they came back brilliantly to chase down 172 and 219 to remind the others of their potential. Kieron Pollard was destructive against the Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai’s previous match, having hammered 87 off just 34 deliveries, and the Sunrisers will need no reminder that he had also struck an unbeaten 35 from 22 balls to help Mumbai defend 151 against them earlier this season.What Mumbai will only want more of though is runs from Hardik Pandya, who is playing his second consecutive IPL season as a batter only. He has struggled to time the ball and clear the ropes, though that could be down to the slow and low Chennai pitch where Mumbai played five games. But though Pandya has underperformed while averaging only 8.67, he remains too good a batter to be looked beyond so soon.In the newsThere have been four matches played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi so far this season, and the scores batting first read: 171, 171, 218 and 220. That gets the average to 195, the highest among the four venues used. A combination of the pitch neither aiding swing nor spin and the ground’s shorter boundaries have helped the batters dominate. In fact, three of those totals have been hunted down successfully – two of them by Mumbai – with the only instance of the team batting first winning a game coming when the Royals defended 220 against… well, the Sunrisers. That suggests it is a win-toss-and-bowl-first pitch, but only if the Sunrisers’ out-of-form line-up can rise out of their slump will Mumbai be in any real danger of coming second on the night.Kieron Pollard hammered a 17-ball half-century against the Chennai Super Kings•BCCI/IPLLikely XIsMohammad Nabi was kept waiting to attack the Royals’ left-handers until Williamson realised they may never arrive before finally bowling him. To the Sunrisers’ dismay, Nabi ended up conceding 21 in what would turn out to be his only over of the day. Dropping him may be harsh, but the Sunrisers may prefer Holder over him to round off their foreigners’ quota, especially with Rashid Khan and Jonny Bairstow looking good, and Williamson being the captain.Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Manish Pandey, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Kedar Jadhav, 5 Abdul Samad, 6 Vijay Shankar, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Sandeep SharmaAlthough Jimmy Neesham departed for a first-ball duck against the Super Kings, he had no option but to attack in that situation. His two overs also cost 26, but it would be too cruel to drop him after just one bad day, and so Mumbai may pick the same XI that beat the Super Kings in a thriller.Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 Dhawal Kulkarni, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Trent BoultStrategy punt The Sunrisers will hope Rashid Khan and Khaleel Ahmed can maintain their impressive record against Pollard in the IPL. While Pollard has scored at a strike rate of just 64.9 against Khan – he has merely 24 off 37 balls against him across nine innings – Ahmed too has kept him quiet at a strike rate of only 80. Incidentally, both take the ball away from the big-hitting Pollard, who has been dismissed once each by the two. In the IPL, Williamson has strikes rates of just 75, 100, 110 and 115 against Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jasprit Bumrah, respectively. The only frontline Mumbai bowler against whom Williamson has an impressive scoring rate is, not surprisingly, his national side team-mate Trent Boult, whom he hits at 157. Kedar Jadhav, too, doesn’t enjoy facing Kulkarni, Chahar and Krunal, having a sub-80 strike rate against them all. Even against Bumrah, Jadhav manages to go at only 110.8. If Mumbai can maintain the same pace against the Sunrisers’ Nos. 3 and 4, then those who follow may further feel the heat in an already tough campaign.Stats that matter With Warner dropped, the Sunrisers may choose to go with Jason Roy as Bairstow’s opening partner. The duo has batted together five times in T20Is, with those 267 runs having come at an impressive average of 53.40 and a staggering run rate of 10.20. And even as an opening pair in ODIs, Bairstow and Roy have cracked 2663 runs at 7.04 runs an over, including 13 century and nine half-century stands. Though that would mean a fourth different opening combination for them this season, that might just be the tonic the Sunrisers need to keep their playoffs hopes alive. Pollard cracked eight sixes in his knock of 87 against the Super Kings, and in a piece of bad news for the Sunrisers, he has hammered 18 maximums against them in seven innings since the 2018 IPL. But to counter him, they have Bairstow, who has smashed 15 sixes this season, just one behind the leading KL Rahul. Mumbai have won four out of their last five matches against the Sunrisers, including a Super Over win at home in 2019.