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Looking ahead to 2026, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign a former Real Madrid defender alongside a number of Premier League rivals.

David Moyed "thrilled" with Crystal Palace win

Without a win in four games in all competitions and heading into the Hill Dickinson to host a Crystal Palace side without a defeat in 19 games, Everton looked destined for an uphill battle on Sunday. The Eagles had just defeated the Premier League champions in Liverpool and were after another Merseyside scalp – taking the lead through Daniel Munoz.

As bad as Barry: Moyes must drop Everton star who won just 30% duels

Everton won vs Palace but some of their new signings struggled to impress.

1 ByWill Miller Oct 6, 2025

From there, it seemed as though Everton were set to hand Palace the 20-game unbeaten run that they were after, only for the Hill Dickinson to get its most dramatic moment yet.

After equalising through Iliman Ndiaye in the final 15 minutes, the stage was set for someone to become a hero and that someone was Jack Grealish. The Manchester City loanee was perfectly placed to benefit from Munoz’s clearance and simply deflected home to hand his side a 93rd-minute winner.

David Moyes, like every Everton fan inside the Hill Dickinson, was left “thrilled” by his side’s dramatic comeback – telling reporters: “I’m thrilled with the three points, thrilled with the result.

“Mixed emotions on the performance. Not very good at all in the first half and could have been three down, but kept defending, kept stuck at it, showed a bit of resilience.

“I’ve been waiting on a late goal here. Aston Villa was 0-0, we couldn’t quite get the winner against West Ham, so I was hoping we’d get one of them. Thankfully, we got it today.”

Having sealed the three points, Moyes’ side now sit as high as eighth in the Premier League and providing an early marker to become shock contenders for a European place – something that should boost their transfer ambitions.

Everton join race to sign Mario Gila

According to The Boot Room, Everton have joined the race to sign Mario Gila from Lazio in 2026. The former Real Madrid defender has attracted interest from all around the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth all joining Everton in the battle to secure his signature.

It’s no real surprise that interest is rising in the 25-year-old, who has been one of few bright sparks in Maurizio Sarri’s struggling Lazio side.

Former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare was also full of praise for the Spanish defender after signing him from Real Madrid, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”

Considering concerns that Jarrad Branthwaite could still leave Everton, Gila wouldn’t exactly be a bad signing to welcome in 2026. The Spaniard is at the peak of his powers and already has impressive experience under his belt.

It would be yet another ambitious move from The Friedkin Group, who’d be signing a former Real Madrid gem ahead of their rivals.

Ed Barnard, Olly Hannon-Dalby share seven wickets but hosts stumble in final session

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-May-2025Lower-order resistance led by James Fuller lifted Hampshire to 300 all out after their batting fragility had surfaced again on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Bowled out twice for under 200 in last week’s 366-run defeat to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Hampshire this time dipped to 130 for 5 and 223 for 8 before Fuller’s bullish 52 not out from 52 balls marshalled the addition of 77 for the last two wickets.Ed Barnard took 4 for 56 and Olly Hannon-Dalby 3 for 47 for a Warwickshire team full of confidence after their strong start to the season. They then wobbled themselves, however, as they lost both openers before closing the first day on 27 for 2 in reply.Hampshire elected to bat but lost Fletcha Middleton in the fourth over of the day when he edged Hannon-Dalby to second slip and Rob Yates took his 147th catch for Warwickshire.Mark Stoneman and Nick Gubbins gritted out 62 from 24 overs but, with the lunch interval beckoning, that fragility kicked in. Gubbins edged an outswinger from Beau Webster to wicketkeeper Alex Davies and Tom Prest nicked a firm-footed jab at Barnard.Hannon-Dalby struck the biggest blow with the 32nd ball after lunch when the obdurate Stoneman gave Davies his third catch. Ben Brown followed the pattern of batters getting in then getting out he when dug in for 29 from 56 balls but then dragged a drive at Webster on to his stumps.At 130 for 5, Hampshire were in jeopardy of coming in under 200 again, on a good batting pitch, but Dawson and Toby Albert applied themselves to add 68 in 19 overs. Both then perished in the space of ten balls. Dawson edged Barnard high to second slip and Albert flicked Tazeem Ali to midwicket to give Yates his 148th and 149th catches for Warwickshire.That left the sun-soaked crowd on tenterhooks to see if Yates would get the opportunity to take his 150th catch for Warwickshire. They didn’t have to wait long before Kyle Abbott drove mightily at Barnard but sliced to second slip when Yates triumphantly seized the ball above his head.That was 223 for 8 and Hampshire appeared well under par but the tail wagged. Former Warwickshire loanee Brad Wheal counterattacked for a 24-ball 28 before falling lbw, struck on the back pad, to the impressive Barnard. John Turner, recalled to the side in place of Sonny Baker, helped Fuller add 34 before edging Hannon-Dalby behind.Warwickshire were left with eight overs to bat during which Hampshire hit back hard. Yates’ day took a downward twist when he was trapped lbw by Abbott and, with 16 balls left in the day, Davies top-edged an inexplicable heave at Wheal and Middleton took an excellent catch running in from deep backward point.

After a long, long two weeks, the international break has finally come to an end, and Arsenal are back in action.

Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table when they take on Fulham away from home later on this afternoon.

However, Craven Cottage has not been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners in recent years, and they’ll be without club captain Martin Odegaard.

Fortunately, Arteta now has a squad to deal with situations such as this, and to make sure his side collect all three points, he should bring in one of his best summer signings to replace the Norwegian.

Arsenal's recent form against Fulham

Arsenal’s overall record against Fulham is a spectacular one, as since their first meeting back in February 1904, they have won 43 games, drawn 13 and lost just nine.

There have also been some big wins in that time, such as a 5-1 thumping at Craven Cottage in former manager Unai Emery’s first game against the West Londoners, a game famous for a brilliant team goal.

However, even though Arteta has transformed the North Londoners back into title challengers in recent seasons, Fulham have become something of a bogey team for his side at the same time.

For example, in the last five encounters, Arsenal have won just two games, drawn two and lost one.

Moreover, the Gunners dropped two points in the game at Craven Cottage last season and dropped all three the year before that, in a season they lost the league by just two.

01/04/25

Home

2-1 (Win)

08/12/24

Away

1-1 (Draw)

31/12/23

Away

2-1 (Loss)

26/08/23

Home

2-2 (Draw)

12/03/23

Away

3-0 (Win)

In other words, while this should be a straightforward game on paper for Arteta’s men, it truly is anything but.

With that said, Arsenal are looking good, have already won at another historically tough ground in St James’ Park, and should have more than enough firepower to deal with whatever Marco Silva has planned for this afternoon.

Additionally, while Odegaard’s absence is far from ideal, Arteta can start someone else in his place who’s just as talented a footballer.

The Arsenal player who should replace Odegaard

Arsenal might not have spent as much money on individual players as some other sides this summer, but they made sure to bolster the squad, and as a result, there are a few ways Arteta can replace Odegaard for this game.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, the best option he has is to keep Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze in the midfield and bring Martin Zubimendi back into the starting lineup.

There are a few reasons why this would be the best approach, and the first is that his presence at the base of midfield will allow Eze to focus all his attention on the happenings at the sharp end of the pitch.

Moreover, even though Rice has been dropping back a bit more on occasion this season, almost into a double pivot, having the former Real Sociedad star behind him should also give him more license to bomb forward at times.

With that said, it’s not just the 26-year-old’s defensive stability that makes him an obvious inclusion in the lineup, but his passing range and ability to strike the ball.

The latter was on full display when he scored that ridiculous volley against Nottingham Forest, and the former has been on display all season, be that in short passes out from the back, impressive switches, or long driving through balls.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 6% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for pass completion, long pass completion, passes blocked and successful take-on percentage, the top 10% for overall blocks and more, all per 90.

Pass Completion %

88.9%

Top 6%

Pass Completion % (Long)

75.0%

Top 6%

Passes Blocked

1.68

Top 6%

Successful Take-On %

100.0%

Top 6%

Blocks

1.83

Top 10%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

44.47

Top 10%

Aerials Won

1.52

Top 10%

Goals/Shot

0.33

Top 14%

Passes Completed (Medium)

25.13

Top 14%

Passes Attempted (Medium)

27.87

Top 14%

Live-ball Passes

61.37

Top 14%

Total Carrying Distance

218.22

Top 14%

In other words, the former Liverpool target is an extremely well-rounded six, and with numbers like these, plus the eye-test, it’s easy to see why club insider AFC Camdem has dubbed him the Gunners’ “signing of the summer.”

Ultimately, missing Odegaard is far from ideal, but by bringing Zubimendi back into Arsenal’s starting lineup, Arteta will allow Rice and Eze to be more expressive and attacking, which should help them collect three points.

Arsenal player blows away staff with injury return now "earlier than expected"

It is a big boost for Mikel Arteta.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 17, 2025

Vinicius Junior's disappointment at being substituted during Sunday's 2-1 Clasico win over rivals Barcelona drew a rather unpleasant reaction from the Brazilian, which has caused further controversy in the aftermath of the game. However, his former team-mate Toni Kroos believes "nobody can judge or imagine" the emotions the forward felt in the moment, although he urged the Real Madrid star to "keep his anger to himself a little more."

Vinicius dominates Barcelona before being substituted

Vinicius Jr ran rings around the Barcelona defence, especially right-back Jules Kounde, in what was perhaps the most electric performance from the Brazilian so far under Xabi Alonso's reign. The Real Madrid No.7 was motivated to prove a point following the controversial pre-match comments by Lamine Yamal, as he played a vital role in helping his team break their losing streak against their arch-rivals on Sunday, despite not registering a goal or an assist. 

In a match blemished by controversy both before kick-off and after the full-time whistle, Vinicius' reaction upon being substituted after 72 minutes seemed to have spoilt the mood inside the dressing room amid jubilant celebrations after the win. 

Alonso decided to take his star winger off for Rodrygo in the 72nd minute, with the match delicately poised at 2-1 in favour of the hosts. However, the former Flamengo prodigy not pleased one bit and threw a temper tantrum, speaking the words "I'm leaving this team" before storming down the tunnel at the Bernabeu. Soon after, he was captured sitting on the Madrid bench, before engaging in a verbal brawl with Yamal as tensions flared between the two nemeses after full-time. 

AdvertisementIMAGO / Alberto GardinKroos understands Vinicius' reaction but offers 'anger' advice

Speaking on his podcast Kroos defended Vinicius and said: "When you play an exceptional match, especially in a game like this, you're not happy. I never liked being substituted either. But to be fair, I've never gone straight to the dressing room afterward. You can always judge from the outside, but I like to keep in mind that, in reality no one, except those who are there, in a Clasico and in front of 80,000 spectators with the score 2-1, knows that one wants anything but to leave. Nobody can judge or imagine that emotion. Or often, most of those who judge it simply cannot put themselves in his position.

"In the cold light of day and with a bit of distance, he'll probably think: 'Well, I can hold back the anger a little longer.' He could keep his anger to himself a little more. I understand his anger, but as you can see in the images, it's not conveyed in the ideal way. Even so, I want to point out that it's an emotionally exceptional situation to be down there in a match like that. I've experienced it many times, so you don't always have to take everything so seriously. Coaches don't usually do that either. Especially those who used to be players."

Madrid won't sanction Vini Jr following controversy

A report from Spanish publication on Monday revealed that Madrid are "angry" with Vinicius, calling his outburst following his substitution unjustifiable. The club will not be imposing any fines, sanctions, or disciplinary action on the 25-year-old. Even though the word from Madrid's offices is that nobody expected him to be substituted, they are completely behind Alonso and will show total support towards any decision he makes on the pitch. The report further added that the club will not intervene in this matter, rather allowing Alonso to deal with the situation. Madrid will back the decision of their head coach.

"Vini’s character? There are different personalities in any dressing room. Right now we will enjoy the win, then we’ll have a conversation, for sure," Alonso said following the Clasico win, hinting that he will definitely hold talks with the Brazil international. 

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AFPReal Madrid face daunting schedule

With momentum favouring Los Blancos, they will next face Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend. Per reports, the tickets for the game have already been sold out. After this game, however, Alonso's men will play five straight away games in a row, which includes trips to Liverpool and Olympiacos in the Champions League.

West Indies face absence of star player as they seek to avoid whitewash across formats

Valkerie Baynes04-Jun-2025Hayley Matthews is in doubt for the third and final match of West Indies’ tour of England with a shoulder injury which kept her out of the second ODI in Leicester.Matthews will see a specialist in London on Thursday for the left shoulder problem which she aggravated during a fall in the field during the first ODI in Derby last Friday.”She’s going to London tomorrow morning, so we’ll know more then,” Shane Deitz, West Indies Women’s head coach, said after his side’s 143-run defeat in Leicester on Wednesday night. “Hopefully we’ll get some good news tomorrow.”England could sweep the entire tour with a win in Saturday’s third and final ODI in Taunton after winning the first by 108 runs and securing the T20I series 3-0.Matthews was the player of the series for the T20Is despite her side not winning a game. She was the leading run-scorer overall with 177 at an average of 88.50 and strike rate of 137.20, including an unbeaten century in the series opener at Canterbury. She complemented her innings of 71 in the third match at Chelmsford by taking 3 for 32 with the ball.She shared a 91-run stand in Derby with opening partner Qiana Joseph, who scored 62 after struggling for runs through the T20I series and who was also missing from the second ODI through illness. Deitz, however, was more hopeful of Joseph returning in Taunton.”I was hoping she’d be okay today, but she got on the team bus and looked terrible so we sent her back to bed,” Deitz said. “Hopefully she’ll come good in a couple of days. She played really good the other day. She’s getting better as time goes on in the team so fingers crossed. I’m pretty sure she’ll be right for the next game.”Related

Matthews' all-round brilliance in vain as Scotland upset West Indies

Beaumont, Jones tons, Smith five-for on debut hand England big win

Linsey Smith: 'I wanted to change the story of England's 50-over cricket'

Amy Jones: 'Setting the tone is a cool responsibility'

Jones, Beaumont make back-to-back centuries as England seal 2-0 lead

Realeanna Grimmond, the 20-year-old allrounder, flourished on ODI debut with a 72-ball 53 to top-score for her side while opening alongside regular No.3 Zaida James in the absence of both openers.”She’s an up-and-coming talent and I’m really proud of her,” Deitz said of Grimmond. “That’s the confidence she needed to go through the scenarios of being out in the middle against the best players in the world and feeling that you belong – and she’s definitely proved that she does belong. Now it’s about keeping the work ethic up and improving on different areas of her game over time. She’s going to have a really long, good, successful career ahead of her if she does all the right things.”Jannillea Glasgow added an eye-catching 44 off 24 in just her fifth ODI and first appearance in the format on this tour.But the valiant efforts of West Indies’ youngsters couldn’t match a 202-run partnership between Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, who both scored back-to-back centuries.Having put on a stand worth 222 in Derby, Jones bettered her innings of 122 there – her maiden international century – with 129 off just 98 balls and Beaumont followed her 107 with 106.Beaumont’s latest knock, from 109 balls, came as she battled a heavy cold.Of Jones, who has been her opening partner at The Blaze during this year’s domestic 50-over competition, Beaumont said: “I’m so proud of her backing up that first century at Derby, to do it again today and in even better style, I think. For her to actually take that lead role there and look after me, as well as go and play like that, was just outstanding.”We complement each other so well. The height difference, it means we hit different lengths in different areas. You’d have to ask the bowlers, but I think it makes it quite difficult to bowl to as a pair.On her illness, Beaumont added: “It’s just a cold going through the camp, but I’m proud of how I managed it mentally and kept finding a second and third wind at times. I actually sent a message off saying, ‘if you want me to get on with it, let me know, but I’m struggling to hit it out the ring at the minute.’ Then I found a bit of gas from somewhere.”After Jones was the first England wicket to fall, Emma Lamb added a 45-ball 55, while a neat cameo of 31 off 19 from Sophia Dunkley pushed the hosts past the 350-mark. In reaching 366 for 6, England fell just 12 runs shy of their highest ODI total, 378 for 5 against Pakistan at Worcester in 2016.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany heaped praise on Lennart Karl on Tuesday, explaining his diminutive stature makes it difficult for defenders to get close to him. Kompany also acknowledged Karl's "relaxed attitude" as one of the keys to his dramatic rise. The 17-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Bavarian giants this season and has scored in back-to-back games, setting up a few records.

Karl's stocks rising after Bayern breakthrough

Karl has made rapid strides at Bayern Munich ever since he joined the club's youth academy as a promising 14-year-old in 2022. Last season, he made 26 appearances in all for Bayern's Under-17 and U19 outfits, scoring 32 goals and delivering 10 assists. His exquisite displays earned him a place in Bayern's squad for the Club World Cup over the summer, where he made his debut against Auckland City. 

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, he was promoted to the first team and has made 10 appearances in total already, making three starts and aggregating 291 minutes of action – evidence that Kompany counts on the youngster to become an important piece of the rotational puzzle amid a demanding schedule. He became the youngest Bayern goal scorer in Champions League history last week, backing it up with his second-ever goal in the 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach to become the third-youngest goal scorer in club history in the Bundesliga. 

Although his contract was renewed until 2028 earlier this summer, Bayern are set to reward the talented teenager with an automatic extension until 2029 on his 18th birthday on February 22, 2026. Per reports, he will also start earning a higher salary.

AdvertisementAFPKompany explains why Karl is so unique

"Lennart Karl, as a young player, brought that magic with him: his relaxed attitude and his goals. That's all good for us," Kompany said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of Bayern's second round clash against Koln in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

Asked what makes the teenager, who stands at 1.69m tall, so strong, Kompany said: "Shorter players often have a lot of power in their turns. It's tough for a defender to get close. They don't need a lot of space to cause danger. The key thing is how quickly they can get a shot away. I don't know if it's about size, but Lenni is able to get shots away quickly. Every good player in the Champions League is able to shoot half a second quicker than the others. I believe that makes the difference, not body size."

Karl receiving praise from former Bayern legends

Former Bayern Munich winger and club legend Arjen Robben has been tracking Karl's exploits, claiming that the young German is worthy of all the praise he is being lavished with. "Lennart Karl deserves the praise he received, he was superb," Robben told Bayern Munich's official website. "The lad should also enjoy it. The most important thing at that age is to keep focusing on the next game. You have to work on yourself every day and you can't think: 'I've played a great game now, everything's great'. You have to keep pushing yourself in training and not be satisfied with yourself. That's the difference in the really good players staying at the top for a long time. Getting to that point is one thing, but staying at the top is something else."

Another Bayern legend monitoring Karl's progress at Sabener Street is Lothar Matthaus. In a recent column for , he wrote: "Can Karl follow the path Jamal Musiala took before him? The possibilities are always there; it's up to the player himself, and he needs a coach who trusts him. I think Kompany trusts him based on his recent performances and isn't worried about benching or substituting a seasoned player for him. And I believe Karl will get regular playing time because he's delivered when he's been on the pitch.

"Karl will be deployed regularly. Vincent Kompany has slowly introduced Karl to the team, with brief appearances in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and last week, his first full 90 minutes in the Champions League. Karl caused a sensation with his goals against Brugge and Gladbach, but he still needs to show up in training every day. He's ambitious and wants to develop – those are the basic requirements.

"This presents a great opportunity for FC Bayern to integrate another player from the campus into the first team, after [Aleksandar] Pavlovic and [Josip] Stanisic, as Uli Hoeness has always wanted. I believe Karl can become an important player for Kompany, who just extended his contract until 2029."

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Getty Images SportChelsea, Man City, and Arsenal keeping an eye on Karl

Karl’s steady rise into the first team has not gone unnoticed, with several Premier League giants reportedly taking interest. According to , scouts from Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City have been tracking the teenage prodigy’s progress. Adding another layer of intrigue is his agent Michael Ballack’s connection to Chelsea, where he starred between 2006 and 2010.

For the remainder of the season, the priority will be ensuring Karl’s continued development through consistent minutes off the bench and occasional starts. His versatility gives Kompany valuable rotation options, given his ability to play on both wings in the attack and also as an attacking midfielder in the No.10 role. Should his progress persist, a call-up to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for next year’s World Cup in the Americas may not be out of reach.

“He’s a fantastic player. He’s not afraid to dribble. He just has to keep working hard, and he’ll have a great future ahead of him,” Kane told this past weekend. “Who knows? If he plays a bit more from now on and plays like he did [against Club Brugge], then he has a chance [of making it to Germany's squad for the 2026 World Cup]."

Harry Kane might not be plying his trade for Tottenham Hotspur anymore, but he’s a player who will forever remain in their history for his efforts in North London.

The England international was a product of the Lilywhites’ academy setup, subsequently bursting through the ranks before securing his place in the first-team back in 2014.

He would make 435 appearances for the club during his decade in the first-team, even breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in their history.

His tally of 280 goals surpassed the record set by the late Jimmy Greaves, but his talents within the final third have also been reflected in his international career.

Kane has scored 74 goals for his country, which has also allowed him to break the record set by former Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney.

However, in 2025, the Lilywhites have a crop of fellow English talents, with many hoping to follow in the striker’s footsteps in being a mainstay on the international stage.

Spurs’ star performers for England in recent years

Alongside Kane, Spurs have had numerous players who have represented England at international level, many of whom have starred and made themselves key members of the squad.

Dominic Solanke and James Maddison have both previously been named in the Three Lions’ squad, but have been unable to make any appearances in recent months due to their respective injury issues.

However, Djed Spence is the latest player to break into Thomas Tuchel’s squad, even starting the friendly against Wales at Wembley on Thursday night.

The full-back featured for 90 minutes in the triumph over Craig Bellamy’s side, subsequently pocketing teammate Brennan Johnson and firing shade at the winger on social media.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, with the defender completing 98% of the passes he attempted, whilst also winning 100% of the tackles he entered.

With the 25-year-old the latest player to make his mark for England, there will be hope that another youngster in the Lilywhites ranks can follow in his footsteps in the years ahead.

The Spurs star who could be England’s next superstar

After making 19 appearances for Spurs last season, 18-year-old winger Mikey Moore is a player with a huge future ahead of him in North London.

He’s spent the majority of his life on the books of the Lilywhites, but was catapulted into the limelight last season as a result of the injury crisis under Ange Postecoglou.

Such a situation even led to the teenager scoring his first professional goal in the meeting with Elfsborg in the Europa League – a moment that will undoubtedly stick with him forever.

However, he was loaned out by Thomas Frank this summer, subsequently joining Rangers until the end of the 2025/26 campaign to gain valuable minutes to continue his progression.

He’s not the only talented Englishman within their ranks, with 16-year-old star Luca Williams-Barnett another player who is set for a bright future in North London.

The attacking midfielder has been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s for the majority of 2024/25.

He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again – now becoming a key member of the U21 side.

Such form has led to the teenager being handed his first senior appearance against Doncaster Rovers last month – with analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him “one of England’s best talents”.

Williams-Barnett’s first-team outing is one thing, but he’s also managed to thrive in the youth ranks once again, now registering eight goals and five assists in his nine outings in all competitions.

Luca Williams-Barnett

9

Rio Kyerematen

5

Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny

4

Oliver Irow

3

Yusuf Akhamrich

3

Tynan Thompson

3

Dane Scarlett

2

Dante Cassanova

2

His numbers for the U21s are nothing short of sensational, with the teenager now boasting the best record of any player in the squad – an unthinkable feat for someone playing five years above their age category.

Williams-Barnett has also cemented his place in the England U18 setup, making three appearances already this campaign and scoring on two occasions – further showcasing his incredible talents.

Given his tender age, there’s no denying that the attacker needs more time in the academy system to develop before being able to make the jump into the first-team squad.

However, if he continues on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t emulate Kane’s success, whether that be in North London for Spurs or even on the international stage for England.

Bigger talent than Vuskovic: Spurs' "absolute jewel" could be the new Son

While Luka Vušković is impressing on loan at HSV, Tottenham have struck gold on an “absolute jewel” who could become Spurs’ new Son Heung-min.

1 ByBen Gray Oct 10, 2025

McMullen and Leask’s contributions weren’t enough for Scotland to chase down 199

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2025Opener Michael Levitt’s breezy 90 helped Netherlands beat Scotland by 17 runs in a high-scoring contest in the T20I tri-series in Glasgow on Wednesday. His 57-ball innings lifted Netherlands to 198 for 7 after they were asked to bat. In reply, Scotland managed only 181 for 9 on the back of Brandon McMullen’s half-century and Michael Leask’s quickfire 46.Netherlands lost Max O’Dowd and Teja Nidamanuru inside the powerplay but it was the 75-run third-wicket partnership off 45 balls between Levitt and Scott Edwards that steered Netherlands to a competitive total. While Levitt, who had scored a T20I century before, smashed six fours and five sixes in his knock, Edwards chipped in with a 21-ball 31. Fast bowler Charlie Cassell broke the threatening stand, trapping Edwards lbw in the 13th over. Three overs late, Levitt was dismissed by fast bowler Jasper Davidson. There were also handy lower-order contributions from Ryan Klein and Roelof van der Merwe that ensured Netherlands had enough on the board.For Scotland, Cassell and Davidson shared four wickets among them.In the chase, Scotland stumbled early, when opener Mark Watt was run out in the third over for a 9-ball 6. However, No.3 McMullen and George Munsey revived Scotland briefly with their 50-run stand for the third wicket. Offspinner Nidamanuru gave the breakthrough by ending Musney’s stay in the eighth over and dismissed captain Richie Berrington in his next over. McMullen too fell after a 27-ball 51 leaving Scotland in trouble.While No. 6 Leask stood up with his 46 off 23 – where he struck five sixes and one four – Scotland kept losing wickets regularly on the other end. From 151 for 5, Scotland lost the next four wickets for 30 runs to eventually finish at 181 for 9. Netherlands’ left-arm spinner Van der Merwe, though leaked 44 runs in his four overs, accounted for two wickets in the 17th and 19th over to halt Scotland. Nidamanuru finished with 3 for 30 from his four overs while Aryan Dutt and Daniel Doram also scalped a wicket each.With this victory, Netherlands have moved to top of the points table with four points from three matches. They will face Nepal on Thursday Scotland are second with two points from three matches.

When Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night during a frantic first half, it looked as if Enzo Maresca’s men had the easiest passage through to the next round of the EFL Cup.

Nobody told Vitor Pereira’s hosts to just roll over in the second half, though, as a spirited fight-back from the bottom-of-the-table Premier League side shocked the complacent Blues, who just about got over the line in the end to reach the quarter finals with a surprisingly slim 4-3 victory.

It was very much a night where the attackers shone at Molineux for both sides, with Jamie Gittens sticking out as one of Chelsea’s brightest performers, as the ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker continues to show Maresca why he is deserving of more consistent first-team minutes.

Gittens' standout night versus Wolves

Indeed, the £48.5m summer recruit has just started just two Premier League games so far this season for the Italian.

Yet, he is definitely banging down the door now to be a common starter under the ex-Leicester City boss, with an assist picked up against Ajax in the Champions League earlier in the month, being followed up now by the exciting number 11 sealing a crucial fourth goal for the under-pressure Blues in the West Midlands.

Gittens wasn’t fazed by the strain of a Wolves comeback, though, as he rifled home this fierce effort to gift the under-the-cosh visitors a 4-2 lead, and himself his first ever Chelsea strike, which was well needed in both respects, considering David Møller Wolfe clinched a brace late on.

The 21-year-old’s creative flair was also on full display again in the EFL Cup, with two assists picked up right at the start of the match by the electric left winger, setting the tone for what would become an enthralling contest under the Molineux floodlights.

He will surely be retained in Maresca’s starting XI when Chelsea return to Premier League action, but one of Gittens’ teammates on the night won’t be so lucky, as his feeble defending – in particular – nearly cost his away side dear in their bid to lift the EFL Cup.

Maresca must now axe 5/10 Chelsea star

Heading into this mid-week clash against the Old Gold, the Chelsea manager will have been looking for a response from his troops after they slipped to a late defeat to Sunderland in the league.

Maresca would have been keeping a close eye on how Tosin Adarabioyo fared at the back, after the Chelsea number four was far too lax with Black Cats striker Brian Brobbey in the late stages of that 2-1 loss, which led to Chemsdine Talbi then hammering home a killer blow.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

89

Accurate passes

66/73 (90%)

Tackles won

0/2

Interceptions

3

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

0

Ball recoveries

3

Total duels won

7/12

Safe to say, when looking at the table above, the 45-year-old would have been, once again, let down by his captain’s weak efforts, with the 6-foot-5 centre-back only managing to win three of his seven aerial duels during the 4-3 win.

Moreover, Adarabioyo would also struggle when going in for tackles, with zero tackles actually won – from two attempted – no doubt boosting the confidence of the hosts to go far more gung-ho in the second half to try and pull off a shock comeback.

Adarabioyo has also looked visibly shaky in the Premier League in recent matches, too, with possession being given away 19 times against Manchester United at the tail-end of September, resulting in the London-born centre-back being given limited minutes off the substitutes bench in the following league matches.

With Trevoh Chalobah also being scrutinised at the back as of late, it will be interesting to see who Maresca plays in the heart of defence as Chelsea clash with near-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the start of November, with Adarabioyo no doubt targeted by Thomas Frank’s set-piece-heavy side, based on his unassertive showing at Molineux.

The leaky 28-year-old would, subsequently, be handed a low 5/10 rating post-match by Football London’s Bobby Vincent, who stated that the lofty number four looked very shoddy when ‘called into action a lot more’ in the second half.

Thankfully, as much as the match will be remembered for some ropey defending, it will also be remembered, rightly, for some top-drawer attacking prowess, with Gittens – who was gifted a 9/10 rating by Vincent – ready to become a Chelsea first-teamer now, while his ex-Fulham teammate prepares for a spot on the bench against Spurs.

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ByEmilio Galantini Oct 29, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved why he remains football’s ultimate clutch performer, dragging Al-Nassr from the brink of frustration to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Al-Feiha on Saturday night. After being knocked out by Al-Ettihad from the King's Cup, their weekend could have been spoiled, but their Portuguese talisman decided otherwise. They are now leading the domestic standings after getting off to a perfect start with seven wins from seven matches, and on Saturday evening, the men in yellow once again showed why they are more determined than ever to be crowned as Saudi champions during their comeback victory.

Nassr's comeback

The hosts were dominating proceedings right from the first whistle, and Joao Felix came close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute but saw his effort tipped over the crossbar. However, almost against the run of play, Al-Feiha drew first blood after Jason was put through on goal. The goal came from a tactical misfire. Jorge Jesus’ high defensive line, designed to suffocate space, backfired horribly. Jason latched onto a simple long ball, broke free of the sluggish backline, and slotted calmly past Nawaf Alaqidi. It was a sucker punch that left the hosts stunned and briefly scrambling for rhythm.

Despite going behind, Al-Nassr refused to panic. With Ronaldo barking instructions and Sadio Mane buzzing around the left flank, the home side resumed their onslaught. The equaliser appeared imminent when Mane squared for Kingsley Coman, who smashed the ball home, only for VAR to intervene. After a painstaking review, the goal was chalked off. Mane had strayed offside by a matter of inches when Ronaldo released him down the wing. The decision left Ronaldo visibly fuming, throwing his arms in the air in disbelief.

A frustrated Ronaldo rallied his teammates again, and in the 37th minute, the Portuguese icon produced the goods to bring his side back on level terms. It was a perfect team goal, which was started off by Felix as he played a cheeky through ball to Coman. The French star split Al-Feiha's defence, and Ronaldo kept his calm to finish the move with a clinical finish. 

As the second half unfolded, Ronaldo led the charge for a breakthrough. He saw two efforts fly agonisingly wide, while Felix’s long-range strike was parried brilliantly by Mosquera. With every passing minute, it felt as though time was slipping away. Al-Feiha’s players began to sense they could escape with a draw, until fate intervened deep in stoppage time. Fortune smiled on the hosts, and after a lengthy VAR check, a penalty was awarded to Al-Nassr.

Up stepped Ronaldo, calm and collected. As the whistle blew, he took his familiar stance, stuttered in his run-up, and smashed the ball into the net. He wheeled away in celebration, pounding his chest as the crowd erupted. Three more points!

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Ronaldo popped up at the right time, at the right place, to once again save Al-Nassr's blushes. His numbers this season have been mind-boggling. The winner was his eighth league goal and number 36 in the calendar year. He is currently 48 goals away from the 1000-milestone, and the forward will back him to create more history after signing a two-year deal in the summer, which will keep him at the club until 2027. 

The big loser

While his side walked away with all three points, Jesus’s tactics left much to be desired. His defensive strategy gifted Al-Feiha their goal, and his inability to chalk up a Plan B could have cost them a perfect start to the season. If not for Ronaldo’s late intervention, this could easily have been the night Al-Nassr’s flawless run ended.

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