The new season is just over a week away, but the wait goes on for those of a Liverpool persuasion, with no new signings having arrived to bolster Arne Slot's squad.

That delay may have alarm bells ringing among supporters, yet taking a measured approach to the market should be celebrated rather than condemned, with the Dutchman also afforded adequate time to assess those already at his disposal.

A key issue to resolve for the ex-Feyenoord boss will be the make-up of his midfield unit, with the aim to try and replicate the golden trio of Jurgen Klopp's time in charge, in the form of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum.

Filling the Brazilian's void in the number six berth may be the priority this summer – as David Ornstein has alluded to – yet the Reds may also have the chance to finally fill the shoes of Slot's compatriot, Wijnaldum, in that box-to-box role at Anfield.

Liverpool's search for a midfielder

According to journalist Dean Jones – speaking on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast – the Merseysiders have reportedly been "offered" the chance to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder, Manu Kone, with "four or five" Premier League clubs also in the mix.

That follows a prior report from transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who revealed that the 23-year-old could be up for grabs for as little as £20m, with just two years left on his existing deal in Germany.

The promising Frenchman – who is currently part of Thierry Henry's Olympic squad – was previously touted as a target for Klopp and co last summer, albeit with the club eventually bringing in the quartet of Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Why Manu Kone would be a good signing

As noted above, the Anfield giants did overhaul the midfield ranks a year ago, yet there is still that nagging feeling that another addition is needed, particularly to help fill the void in front of the back four.

Kone can operate in that pivot, number six role, although his strengths perhaps lie in more of a box-to-box role, having been described as a "one-man army" in the centre of the park by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As U23 scout Antonio Mango has also noted, the former Toulouse man is an "energetic, hard working counter pressing midfielder" who "likes to get in the faces of the opposition", showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 18% among his peers in Europe's top five leagues for tackles made per 90.

It is that relentless nature which could ensure he is the perfect heir to Wijnaldum, rather than Fabinho, with the one-time Newcastle United man having regularly been lauded for his "immense" work rate – as per pundit Paul Merson – during his five-year stay on Merseyside.

38 games (34 starts)

2 goals

0 assists

1 'big chance' created

93% pass accuracy

0.6 key passes per game

1.3 tackles & interceptions per game

51% total duels won

5.7 possession lost per game

Part of the side that claimed Premier League and Champions League glory under Klopp, among other honours, the 33-year-old was arguably the "perfect midfielder" – as per Klopp – having offered that all-action presence in the side.

Much like Wijnaldum – who registered 38 goals and assists in 237 games for the club – Kone also has the ability to impact proceedings in the final third, scoring twice and registering two assists in all competitions last term.

More impressively, however, is the fact that the Gladbach ace also ranks in the top 15% among his peers for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, further evidence of the link he can provide between defence and attack.

As such, Slot could well make a dream first signing by bringing the Frenchman into the fold, with his Wijnaldum-esque talents making him a perfect fit for life at Anfield.

Liverpool could sign best CF since Suarez with move for £59m "powerhouse"

FSG would need to break their record to land this goal machine…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 3, 2024

Everton are interested in signing a Brazilian winger who has a release clause of more than £50 million, according to a new report.

The Toffees will be looking ahead to their second game of the season, as Sean Dyche and co will be keen to put things right after their opening weekend defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. It was a poor start to the campaign for the Merseyside club, but Dyche will hope that if his new arrivals bed into life at Everton, it could be a campaign that turns out to be much better than last season.

Bid incoming: Everton line up move for "remarkable" Calvert-Lewin upgrade

The Toffees desperately need reinforcements after failing to score against Brighton yesterday.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 18, 2024 Everton are readying a loan offer for Eddie Nketiah

Everton saw the disappointment of last season and knew that they needed to make changes to the squad if they were going to avoid a repeat. Therefore, the club has made five new additions over the course of this summer, with the likes of Jake O’Brien, Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom, Tim Iroegbunam, and Jack Harrison all arriving.

Saturday’s disappointment against Brighton could spur the club on to do more business in what remains of this transfer window, and adding to their forward line could be an area they look at.

Jack Harrison

Leeds United

Tim Iroegbunam

Aston Villa

Iliman Ndiaye

Marseille

Jesper Lindstrom

Napoli

Jake O'Brien

Lyon

It was claimed over the weekend by Football Insider that Everton are preparing a bid to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah. The report stated that the Toffees are readying a loan offer before the deadline on August 30th. Nketiah’s proposed move to Marseille fell through earlier in this transfer window, and as a result, Everton could now have a run at the forward.

However, the club faces two potential hurdles in any deal for the striker, as according to Football Insider, a deal for Nketiah may depend on what happens with current striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who started in the club’s 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls.

While Everton also face competition from Nottingham Forest, who are also working on a deal to sign the Arsenal striker this summer. But as well as Everton looking at potentially signing Nketiah, the club is also looking at a deal for a Brazilian winger.

Everton in talks to sign £50m+ Brazilian forward

According to O Tempo via Sport Witness, Alisson Santana has emerged as a target for Everton. The 18-year-old currently plays for Brazilian side Atletico-MG and he was promoted to the club’s first team in 2023. He has gone on to play 29 times for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals and recording one assist.

Santana originally likes to play on the right wing, but during his time in Brazil, the left-footed forward has played in several positions across the front line, as well as in central midfield.

According to this report, Everton are keen on signing Santana this summer, with it being stated that the Toffees have already made an offer for the player, but it hasn't been revealed how much.

The report does claim that negotiations are underway between the two clubs, as Santana has attracted interest from other clubs as well as Everton. However, the offer made by the Toffees is said to have “pleased the most.”

The 18-year-old is contracted to the Brazil club until December 2027 and is said to have a release clause of €60 million (£51 million), and while he could leave the club in this transfer window, Everton are unlikely to pay that sort of figure.

واصل فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك تحت القيادة الفنية للمدرب السريسري كريستيان جروس، تدريباته اليوم الثلاثاء استعدادًا لمواجهة بيراميدز المقبلة.

ويواجه الزمالك نظيره بيراميدز في إطار مواجهات الجولة الحادية عشر من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل” 2024-2025 يوم الجمعة المقبل.

وعقد السويسري كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، جلسة فنية مع لاعبي الفريق قبل انطلاق المران.

وخلال الجلسة، شدد جروس على أهمية التركيز التام في الفترة المقبلة، مشيرًا إلى ضرورة تحقيق الفوز على بيراميدز للانفراد بصدارة جدول الترتيب.

فرج عامر: صفقات الأهلي والزمالك بأسعار خاصة.. والدوري أصعب هذا الموسم

كما أعرب عن سعادته بالمستوى المميز الذي قدمه اللاعبون خلال مباراة الجونة، والتي انتهت بفوز الأبيض (4-1)، مؤكدًا على أهمية مواصلة الانتصارات لتعزيز موقف الفريق في المنافسة على اللقب واستعادة الصدارة.

وفي ختام الاجتماع، شرح المدير الفني بعض الجوانب الفنية والخططية التي سيتم تطبيقها خلال التدريبات استعدادًا للمباراة المقبلة.

وخصص الجهاز الفني فقرة تأهيلية واستشفائية للاعبين الذين شاركوا بصورة أساسية في لقاء الجونة، وذلك لتجنب تعرضهم للإجهاد قبل مباراة بيراميدز.

وفضل الجهاز الفني عدم إشراك هذه المجموعة في باقي فقرات المران، حفاظًا على جاهزيتهم البدنية.

وشهد المران خضوع محمود حمدي “الونش” لفحص طبي تحت إشراف الدكتور محمد أسامة، رئيس الجهاز الطبي، للاطمئنان على حالته بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها في الرأس خلال مباراة الجونة.

وأكد الجهاز الطبي جاهزية اللاعب للمشاركة في الدوري المصري، حيث شارك في التدريبات الاستشفائية مع زملائه الأساسيين.

وشهدت تدريبات الزمالك مشاركة ناصر ماهر لاعب وسط الفريق، بشكل تدريجي، عقب انتهاءه من البرنامج التأهيلي الذي كان يخضع له خلال الفترة الماضية بسبب الإصابة التي تعرض لها بمزق في العضلة الخلفية.

وشارك ناصر ماهر في الفقرة التأهيلية مع مجموعة اللاعبين البدلاء والمستبعدين من مواجهة الجونة بالأمس في مسابقة الدوري، بجانب المشاركة في جزء من تدريبات الكرة في إطار البرنامج التدريبي الموضوع له من قبل الجهاز الطبي لتجهيزه للمشاركة بشكل كامل في الوقت الأمثل استعداداً للفترة المُقبلة.

وشارك مصطفى الزناري مدافع الفريق في جزء من التدريبات الجماعية  عقب انتهاء اللاعب من البرنامج التأهيلي الذي كان يخضع له خلال الفترة الماضية تحت إشراف الجهاز الطبي بسبب الإصابة التي كان يعاني منها في العضلة الخلفية.

وخضع مصطفى الزناري للتدريبات التأهيلية والاستشفائية مع مجموعة اللاعبين البدلاء والمستبعدين من مواجهة الأمس أمام الجونة في مسابقة الدوري الممتاز، بجانب المشاركة في جزء من تدريبات الكرة.

ويقوم الجهاز الطبي للفريق بقيادة الدكتور محمد أسامة بالتنسيق مع الجهاز الفني بقيادة السويسري كريستيان جروس المدير، بمشاركة الزناري بشكل تدريجي في التدريبات لتجهيزه بالشكل الأمثل للفترة المُقبلة.

Big picture

It’s a clash of two underachievers. Punjab Kings, the biggest auction spenders by virtue of having the bigger purse, now want to translate potential into performance. Rajasthan Royals, wooden spooners of the previous season, are looking to start afresh under a new captain in Sanju Samson, but have to make up for the lack of experience.There’s plenty of firepower, no doubt. Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran bring explosive hitting for the Kings. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes will try and negate that for the Royals. Kings have the exuberance of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order, but Royals will bank on the inexperience of either Manan Vohra or Yashasvi Jaiswal to partner Stokes, having off-loaded Robin Uthappa to the Chennai Super Kings.Royals don’t just have batting issues around Samson, Stokes and Buttler to sort. Their middle order looks fairly inexperienced, and Riyan Parag will be expected to deliver more consistently than he has, along with Shivam Dube and last season’s breakout star Rahul Tewatia. Without Jofra Archer, the bowler lacks a bit of hostility, which they’ll have to try and make up through the smarts of Chris Morris, the costliest IPL buy, and Mustafizur Rahman or Andrew Tye.

In the news

Jofra Archer will miss the first four games, after undergoing a finger surgery in the last week of March in England. He’s also been troubled by an elbow issue. In his absence, it’s likely one of Mustafizur or Tye will get the nod. It’s likely they won’t have the services of David Miller, who is still finishing quarantine and has to undergo a few medical tests before getting a clearance. Kings have everyone fit and available for selection.

Likely XIs

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ben Stokes, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal/Manan Vohra, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Jos Buttler, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Rahul Tewatia, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Andrew Tye, 11 Kartik Tyagi/Jaydev Unadkat Punjab Kings: 1 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Chris Gayle, 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Shahrukh Khan, 7 Jalaj Saxena/Saurabh Kumar, 8 Riley Meredith, 9 M Ashwin/Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed ShamiRelated

• Rahul looking forward to Meredith's 'proper pace'

• Damien Wright interview

• Samson: 'You're a captain when you're fielding, not when you're batting'

Strategy punt

Buttler has had the most success in the IPL as an opener, his average of 40.7 and strike rate of 157 across 31 innings is significantly higher than his returns at No. 4 or No. 5. This doesn’t factor his returns at No. 6 since he’s just played three innings there. So you’d think he’s suited to open with Stokes. But there’s a question of filling a giant-sized hole in the middle order, so it’s understandable they may want Buttler to lend experience. If they choose not to partner Stokes with either Manan Vohra or Yashasvi Jaiswal, their next best option is Liam Livingstone, who they have re-signed. The England batsman has had an excellent last 12 months, for Lancashire in the Blast and for Perth Scorchers, for whom he was the second highest run-scorer in BBL 2020.Chris Gayle acclimatised superbly to the No. 3 position after coming into the XI halfway through IPL 2020, but is there a case of opening with him alongside Mayank Agarwal? This would mean Rahul drops a position down, to No. 3 or No. 4, where he has an outstanding record: he averages close to 50 and strikes at 140 in 18 innings there. The move could also allow Rahul to shed his conservative approach upfront. He struck at just 124 in the Powerplay last season.

Stats that matter

• In the four recent matches between these two sides, the lowest score has been 170. Last year in Sharjah, Punjab Kings made 223 and then saw Tewatia sensationally take them down at the death in an innings for the ages.
• Both Punjab Kings and Royals were joint toppers for the worst economy (8.3) in the Powerplays last season. Very little separated their death overs bowling too. While the Royals went at 11.6, the Kings were only marginally behind at 11.2.
• In Archer’s absence, Morris, who returns to the Royals, will have a key role to play. Last season, his presence tremendously boosted Royal Challengers Bangalore’s death-overs bowling. With him in the side, they conceded at just 8.3 in the death over eight games. Without Morris, this economy shot up to 12.4. Overall, Morris has the third-best economy among 43 pacers to have bowled 40+ overs in the death in the IPL.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Floresta está na fase de grupos da Copa do Nordeste. Na Arena Castelão, a equipe empatou por 1 a 1 com o Ferroviário no tempo normal e venceu na disputa de pênaltis por 4 a 3.

Primeiro Tempo

O clima de decisão tomou conta da partida e as duas equipes se lançaram ao campo de ataque com a missão de furar a marcação rival.

Melhor em campo, o Ferrão teve duas boas oportunidades com Berguinho, mas não conseguiu aproveitar.

Segundo Tempo

A rede balançou no começo através da bola parada. O Floresta levantou na área, a bola pegou em Vitão e morreu no fundo da rede, 1 a 0.

O empate do Ferroviário só veio nos acréscimos. Marquinhos bateu cruzado, a bola pegou no zagueiro e sobrou no pé de Carius, que mandou para a rede, 1 a 1.

Pênaltis

Na marca da cal, melhor para o Floresta. Carius, herói no tempo normal, perdeu a última cobrança e Alisson marcou para o Tubarão.

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Fans might be crying out for signings down Anfield Road but Liverpool are actually in a very good position, having won Arne Slot's first game at the helm against Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

Three points to start the campaign is not the extent of the positivity, with Jurgen Klopp leaving the Merseyside squad in a highly promising position, with a strong framework and an abundance of varied potential.

But that's not to say that it's been flawless. A dogged pursuit to sign Martin Zubimendi ended with no gain, while key triumvirate Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all into the final year of their contracts and without any sign of a resolution.

Such worrying possible outgoings on that front will surely influence transfer thinking, and with Joel Matip now gone and Joe Gomez being linked with a move away, Reds supporters might be treated to a defensive signing before the end of the month.

Liverpool transfer plans

Liverpool have not signed a centre-back since Ibrahima Konate's £36m release clause at RB Leipzig was met in 2021, and now is surely the time to refresh the ranks.

As such, there might be something in whispers that Liverpool are gearing up to sign Marc Guehi this month. As per The Athletic, Liverpool appreciate the England star and could look to accelerate their interest following Crystal Palace's decision to reject four Newcastle United bids, holding out for £75m.

That would mean that FSG would need to sanction an outlay to the same tune as the one-time signing of Van Dijk from Southampton for the same fee – this feels unlikely; Guehi is a talented player but such a figure doesn't really align with Liverpool's circumspect transfer approach.

£75m would also be the required price were Liverpool to sign Everton sensation Jarrad Branthwaite, who has seen his odds slashed on a cross-Merseyside switch this month – make of that what you will.

It's a big figure and something that Liverpool will be unlikely to sanction, with FSG preferring to complete shrewder deals and turn budding talents into top-class superstars.

Cody Gakpo is one example, with his present market value surpassing both of the English transfer targets…

Cody Gakpo's transfer value in 2024/25

It's January 2023, and Gakpo has just announced himself to the major stage following a sensational campaign in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.

The Netherlands international had attracted attention from Manchester United and a deal looked to be close, but Liverpool swept by and hijacked the deal, signing Gakpo on an initial £35m deal.

He arrived at a turbulent time, and while he's ebbed and flowed, Gakpo looks ready to tackle the 2024/25 season after a strong finish to the Klopp era and further international success at Euro 2024 in Germany.

He has bagged a decent return of 23 goals and nine assists from 46 starting appearances at Liverpool, made all the more impressive when noting that Klopp played him across a wide range of roles, leaving him unable to nail down the fluency that comes with a determined place in the starting 11.

And anyway, his underlying numbers are a thing to behold. Hailed for his "special skill set" by Klopp's former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, the 25-year-old will be itching to showcase his quality under Slot's management.

Assists

0.25

Top 17%

Shot-creating actions

4.19

Top 7%

Passes attempted

31.88

Top 11%

Progressive passes

4.19

Top 7%

Progressive carries

2.36

Top 20%

Successful take-ons

1.62

Top 12%

Tackles

1.16

Top 11%

Because of all this, it's no surprise that Gakpo's market value has shot right up, with CIES Football Observatory's number-crunching model working out that the Dutchman currently bears a market value of £88m, placing him in a higher bracket than both of the aforementioned defensive targets.

It's a testament to FSG's model that Gakpo was found and acquired for a comparatively small figure before being sharpened on Merseyside to a point that sees him regarded among the highest-valued forwards in the Premier League.

The £120k-per-week ace was introduced off the bench in Liverpool's season opener but will feel that he has plenty to give this year and could prove his lofty worth as the campaign goes on, especially if Slot allows him to maintain a more sustained attacking position at the front of the ship.

He notched three goals and an assist over five matches for Oranje in the summer and looked a real menace in a left-sided attacking role – a deployment that he was given sporadically last year.

There's been a real clamour for signings at Liverpool and understandably so. Left wing has been one of the more talked-about positions, and Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon was even reported to have agreed to a £75m deal with the Reds before the Magpies, sweating over a Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) breach, found an alternative, less damaging route to delve down.

But with Slot adamant that the fleet-footed Luis Diaz is going nowhere, that hardly looks to be detrimental to the prospect of success this season, especially when considering Gakpo's quality in the role.

He's one of the most underrated players in Liverpool's first team and could be in line for a big campaign that will finally announce him as one of the Premier League's very finest forwards. With so much yet to give, Liverpool have definitely hit the jackpot with this one.

Liverpool can land "immense" £38m titan who'd be better than Branthwaite

This would be a statement signing from FSG…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 20, 2024

The MLS commissioner addressed several pressing issues, including a potential schedule change and spending power for Inter Miami, Seattle in CWC

CARSON, Calif. – Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber looked at the gathered media at the Dignity Health Sports Park's Stadium Club Area Friday and pointed to the obvious.

"It's hard to believe was our first true soccer complex," Garber said. "Think about what that means. This week, we broke ground on NYCFC's new stadium in Queens – over 10 years in the making. When that stadium, along with Inter Miami's new stadium, comes online, we will have 28 soccer stadiums that have been built, which is remarkable."

MLS has come along way since the last time the Galaxy hosted a title game in 2014, with vast improvements in infrastructure and expansion in key markets. Yet, there are plenty of challenges ahead – from more transparency on the impact of what the Apple TV pact is doing for the league to the MLS roster spend.

Garber, who this week extended his contract through 2027, touched on all of that in more in his State of the League address, one day before the LA Galaxy host New York Red Bulls for the 2024 MLS Cup. GOAL look at the key takeaways.

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• Potential schedule changes

  With two major FIFA international tournaments in the U.S. over the next two summers – the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup – there has been plenty of speculation of potential switch of schedule for MLS.

  Garber said that MLS will not play during the 2026 World Cup and will take to-be-determined break for the Club World Cup next summer (which also coincides with the Gold Cup in the U.S.) Outside of those two competitions, the Commissioner didn't offer specifics about potential changes, but did outline the challenges in doing so. It's been reported that the league is considering a fall-to-spring schedule.

  "We could be the only league, or one of only two leagues in the world that works on our schedule," Garber said. "It's complicated. And I say this to all of you regularly – we're across three time zones, multiple weather factors. We're traveling across a continent, and making those changes is something we've got to be very, very thoughtful about. I do think that we are considering more than ever before this opportunity to change, but it's not something that we're ready to talk about right now.

  "We've got a lot of work to do and that work is ongoing."

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  The impact of FIFA Club World Cup

  Like many observers of Thursday's Club World Cup draw, Garber was sympathetic of the Seattle Sounders' plight in next year's tournament. Both Seattle and Inter Miami will represent MLS in the 32-team field.

  "We're proud to have the Seattle Sounders with a pretty tough draw," Garber said with a smirk before adding. "We proud to have Inter Miami, our record-setting Supporters' Shield winner, representing our league. It's a chance for us to showcase our growing competitiveness on the global stage against the world's best clubs in meaningful matches."

  Garber was also asked how MLS teams can be competitive in the tournament, considering the differences between the North American league's payroll and ones around in Europe and South America. Garber acknowledged MLS clubs are on the lower end of overall transfer market value on the global stage, and mentioned there could be changes following the next board meeting for the two participants in the tournament.

  "We're working on ways that we can provide each team with some opportunity to be more competitive," Garber said.

  Garber seemed to indicate a desire for all of MLS clubs to more proactive in growing their fanbases to justify adding more resources to roster spending.

  "There's been a year work on what kind of things we need to do, specifically, to grow our fan base," he said.

  Garber pointed to a wide range of topics that league is exploring, including finding content partners to better tell its story, to looking at changes to the competitive structure of the league.

  "I don't have an answer to it," he said, "but we're looking at it now that we'll have 30 teams. We have the same playoff format, [or] maybe we don't. But all those things will go into, you know, a pathway to grow our fan base and make our league more competitive."

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  Conflicts with U.S. Open Cup, Leagues' Cup

  Garber received criticism for his decision to largely pull MLS clubs out of the U.S. Open Cup last year. He was emphatic in largely reversing that decision in his remarks Friday.

  "We will participate in the U.S. Open Cup again next year, we will likely have more teams, and believe that tournament play, if we could manage it with 30 teams, where at least a team at each team is in one tournament, is good for the club. It's good for the fans," he said.

  He added, "We want teams to have an opportunity to lift a trophy, and maybe if some of them can live multiple lift multiple trophies, that's a good thing. But it is going to be nearly impossible for all teams to be able to participate in all tournaments. It's just not enough games during the schedule, with or without any change in the calendar."

  When MLS reduced participation in the Open Cup, some fans protested the Leagues Cup, contested between MLS and Liga MX. Garber admitted the tournament needs improvement and said there could be changes for next season.

  "I think we need more MLS vs. Liga MX matches," he said. "That was really the point of the Leagues Cup in the beginning."

  Despite the issues of Year 2, Garber stands behind the tournament.

  "It worked super well on the first year," he said. "That was not just about Lionel Messi, it was just the way the tournament laid out. And we're looking at modifications that will, I think, make it more focused on what it is that we're trying to achieve, which is this great rivalry between our two leagues."

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  The impact of Apple TV

  As one of the league's accomplishments, Garber pointed to the fact that viewers on Apple TV watch 65 minutes out of an average 90 minute match on the streaming service – highlighting the strong engagement on the platform. He did not offer any addition insight into the streaming data of MLS Season Pass.

  For all the growth MLS has seen with its attendance numbers, its decades-long challenge has been solving how to become a more appealing product on TV – a significant source of revenue for all sports leagues around the world. With Apple TV's MLS Season Pass numbers still very much shrouded in secrecy, it has led to concerns that the product might not be drawing strong viewership.

  Garber mentioned that with the shift from linear to streaming services being a relatively new phenomenon, both parties are still determining what the success metrics are in this new landscape.

  "I also want to point out that this is a new world for all of us," he said. "As we get into a world of streaming, the entire industry has got to figure out a new metric. Is that metric, average minute audience? Is it unique viewers? How could we figure out the way to compare the audiences that we've had in the past to the audiences that we have now? How important is subscriptions to viewership? To us, subscriptions are very important."

  He added, "Somebody's paying for the opportunity to watch a game, so when they do watch it, it is intentional. That's leading to the 65-minute time that people are spending on our games. But we are very pleased with those viewership numbers."

  He also noted that having more structured programming, with most games being played on Saturdays and a select set being played on Wednesdays, has paid dividends.

Two unpredictable sides desperate for a win face off in a two-match Test series in Pallekele

Mohammad Isam20-Apr-2021Big pictureIll-judged shots, inconsistent bowling, dropped catches, batting collapses – these aren’t unexpected anymore when Sri Lanka or Bangladesh play Test cricket. At the same time, when they start the first of two Tests in Pallekele on Wednesday, do expect the odd heroic performance. Those aren’t unusual with these teams either.Bangladesh come into the series having lost their last eight international matches across formats. The wheels came off during the white-ball tour of New Zealand, but the confidence had already been shattered during their 2-0 Test series defeat against West Indies. Bangladesh were favourites at home, but they looked a team without a Plan B when the West Indian rookies fought back in Chattogram and Dhaka.What will particularly hurt Bangladesh is the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently playing in the IPL. Without him, the visitors will rely heavily on Tamim Iqbal, Mominul Haque, and Mushfiqur Rahim .Related

Shoriful Islam included in Bangladesh squad for first Sri Lanka Test

Hasaranga, Nissanka, Oshada and Embuldeniya – Arthur's picks

Three questions for Sri Lanka, three questions for Bangladesh

Haque: 'We haven't been batting up to expectations'

In the batting department, Iqbal will be expected to provide stability at the top, although he hasn’t had a set opening partner for a long time, and the No. 3 position also remains uncertain. Haque’s home-and-away record carries a Jekyll-Hyde look, which would leave Rahim, one of Bangladesh’s best batters on foreign soil, with some heavy lifting to do. There are concerns in the bowling department, too. Mehidy Hasan and Abu Jayed are the only bowlers who are confirmed inclusions in the XI, leaving at least three spots up for grabs.Bangladesh’s situation opens up an opportunity for Sri Lanka, who recently lost to England at home, and drew 0-0 in the West Indies. A few fightbacks notwithstanding, Sri Lanka have mostly struggled to get going in the recent past. At home, South Africa were the last visitors they truly dominated, in February 2019. After a 2-0 win in that series, they drew against New Zealand and lost to Pakistan, too.The emergence of Oshada Fernando and Pathum Nissanka has helped the team strike a balance, with Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal bringing in the experience. Mathews returns after missing the West Indies series. Lahiru Thirimanne’s three fifties against West Indies were also encouraging, but for Sri Lanka to do better, these batters have to score big.Much of the hosts’ bowling would depend on Suranga Lakmal in the absence of the injured Lasith Embuldeniya, who has been their highest wicket-taker this year so far. Vishwa Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga and Lahiru Kumara will also have to lend support to Lakmal’s new-ball efforts.Mominul Haque will look to improve both his captaincy record and away numbers as a batter•Raton Gomes/BCBForm guideSri Lanka DDLLLBangladesh LLWLLIn the spotlightSuranga Lakmal was adjudged Player of the Series for his 11 wickets against West Indies. He will be expected to do a similar job against Bangladesh in conditions that might assist pace bowlers. Lakmal would also be keen to bring down his bowling average of 50.87 in 23 Tests at home.Mominul Haque has two things to work on: reviving his captaincy fortunes after losing five out of the last six Tests, and fixing his dismal away record as a batter. There will be considerable pressure on both fronts but, as he has proven in the past, he has the character to turn things around.Team newsSri Lanka may go in with three specialist quicks, though this would be a highly unusual strategy at home. Lakmal would be the first-choice pacer, while Vishwa and Kumara might also feature in the XI. On the batting front, they will try to squeeze Nissanka into the side. Chandimal, who had a decent tour of West Indies, might just make way for Nissanka.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Oshada Fernando, 4 Dinesh Chandimal/Pathum Nissanka, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lahiru Kumara, 11 Vishwa FernandoSoumya Sarkar’s axing once again opens up the debate on the opening combination. Pallekele’s green pitch may tempt Bangladesh to play three pace bowlers.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mominul Haque (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mohammad Mithun, 7 Liton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan, 9 Ebadot Hossain, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Abu JayedPitch and conditionsThe photograph of Karunaratne inspecting a greenish Pallekele pitch two days before the first Test left many wondering if seam, swing and bounce could play a part on the first morning. Though it has rained around the Pallekele area, the weather is likely to be clear over the next five days.Stats that matter This will be Bangladesh’s first overseas Test since the pandemic began. They lost the home series against West Indies 2-0 in February. Lakmal’s recent Player of the Series award was the first for a Sri Lankan fast bowler in a Test series since Nuwan Kulasekara won one in 2014. No Bangladesh bowler has taken a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka since 2014.Quotes”Technically, he’s outstanding. Physically, he’s very good and his fielding standards are exactly where they need to be. He’s slotted in nicely. Yes we’ve had to chip away and polish a little bit, but whatever Nissanka did with his coaches through the ranks has been pretty good. They’ve prepared him very well for international cricket.”
“I have come to Sri Lanka to play cricket. We will play according to our plan. I am only concerned about these things, and not much else. I don’t need to think about other things as a professional cricketer.”

Lamine Yamal belted out a verbal tutorial on how to recreate his magical trivela assist for Raphinha on FIFA after Barcelona's 5-1 win over Mallorca.

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Yamal starred for Barcelona against MallorcaTrivela assist for Raphinha resembled a FIFA moveYoungster shared how to do the trick in video gameFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Making his first start since November 3 after recovering from an ankle injury, Yamal wasted no time making an impact. He played a pivotal role in Barcelona's second goal, earning a penalty that set the tone for a dominant second half. However, it was his trivela assist that arguably emerged as the best piece of action of the match. This marked the second time this season Yamal had set up Raphinha with an assist with the outside of his boot, having previously delivered a similar pass from a longer distance during Barca's victory over Villarreal.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT YAMAL SAID

"I think the button on FIFA is L2 [for the trivela pass]," Yamal said to after the match. "It is something I can do quite well, something I usually do and something I will keep doing."

Reflecting on his partnership with Raphinha, Yamal said: "I am really happy for Raphinha, we have a good understanding. And he knows when I am in that area of the pitch, I will always try that pass."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

With eight assists to his name in La Liga this season, Yamal continues to lead the La Liga standings in this category, demonstrating a maturity and consistency beyond his years. Moreover, Frenkie de Jong’s goal, facilitated by Pau Victor’s assist, came after yet another pinpoint outside-foot pass from Yamal, reaffirming his pivotal role in unlocking Mallorca's defence.

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DID YOU KNOW?

This victory extends an impressive trend: Barcelona have won all 12 league matches in which Yamal has started this season. Conversely, they have struggled in his absence, failing to secure a win in the four games he has missed, suffering three defeats and one draw.

West Ham United have been the busiest Premier League side this summer, making eight signings already, spending a total of €144.40m (£123m), and it doesn't seem like they are done quite yet.

Despite huge investment, the Hammers suffered an opening day defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, with striker target, Jhon Duran, scoring the winner.

The Hammers will want to put that loss behind them quickly, moving onto a London derby against Crystal Palace this weekend, before facing Manchester City the following week.

West Ham transfer news

As reported earlier this week, West Ham are keeping an eye on Sunderland winger, Jack Clarke. Crystal Palace and Wolves have also been mentioned previously, but it seems the latest reports have West Ham and Southampton as the two potential suitors.

The 23-year-old is mainly deployed from the left hand side, however has shown in the past he can play through the middle, playing once as an attacking midfielder, and once as a centre-forward for Sunderland last season.

Clarke – who has been touted at around £25m – made 42 appearances for Sunderland last season in all competitions, scoring 15 goals, providing four assists, and totalling 3,623 minutes played.

Clarke vs Summerville comparison

Of course, West Ham have already dipped into the Championship market this summer, picking up Championship Player of the Year, Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United. The 22-year-old made 49 appearances for Leeds last season, scoring 21 goals and providing ten assists.

But with West Ham's recent ambition, there is a possibility they could acquire Clarke, to provide instant competition to Summerville for that left-wing spot, as both players excel in different ways.

Clarke vs Summerville comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

Clarke

Summerville

Goals

0.37

0.49

Assists

0.10

0.25

Progressive Passes

4.64

4.40

Key Passes

2.35

2.88

Progressive Carries

7.89

5.04

Successful Take-Ons

3.81

2.52

Shots

2.69

3.27

Shots on Target

1.01

1.23

Carries into Pen Area

4.54

2.57

Stats taken from FBref

Clarke was described as "insane" by analyst Ben Mattinson, waxing lyrical about the 23-year-old's ability as a ball carrier, playmaker, and direct threat. This is backed up by his exceptional progressive carrying numbers, averaging 7.89 per 90 during the 2023/24 campaign.

His one-versus-one ability is a huge factor for his success, combining his brilliant carrying numbers with the ability to beat his man, averaging 3.81 successful take-ons per 90. This allows Clarke to access dangerous areas of the pitch through his own progression, even averaging 4.54 carries into the penalty area per 90, compared to Summerville's 2.57.

One area that Summerville comes out on top though, and something Clarke has to improve upon, is their output. Summerville, averaging higher goal and assist numbers per 90, has delivered output at a more consistent rate. However, this could also be down to the quality of teammates.

Having the pair of left-wingers on the books could provide West Ham with solid competition for that side of the pitch, with Clarke's ability to drive the team forward with his carrying qualities, and Summerville's more consistent output adding extra goals and assists to the side.

Related Watch out Fullkrug: West Ham could land dream £21m Duran alternative

He has bags of Premier League experience already

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Aug 21, 2024