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Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed how Erling Haaland convinced him to move from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester City in the summer transfer window. The Italian goalkeeper left the European champions on deadline day to sign for the Premier League giants after falling out of favour under Luis Enrique, who had already signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille.

Donnarumma shares special bond with Haaland

Since his move to City from Paris on deadline day, Donnarumma has built a close friendship with the club's star forward Haaland. In an interaction with the , the Italy international opened up on his close bond with the Norwegian goal machine as he said: "I’d say we just got on well immediately. We have always respected each other, even before we met. We make a lot of banter about playing against each other in the national teams. I’d say they are in a better situation than us now, they have much more peace of mind. But there are still two games left to play. It will be difficult to face each other, as it will be difficult to play against him. I know how strong he is and what chances he can create. It will be hard to face him both as a player and as a friend."

He also rated Haaland as a better player than former PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe as he added: "I think Erling does [have the hardest shot]. He is left-footed, so he is different from Kylian (Mbappe). They are both hard to play against. So it’s complicated. But I would rather have Erling playing for my side."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow Haaland pushed Donnarumma to join City

Speaking about Haaland and his move to City, Donnarumma told : "He's a fantastic guy, so calm and he loves his family and being with them. We hit it off. There's that synergy there where there's just a natural feeling. Even when we played against each other, we were in touch and after the games we even spoke often.

"Then I had the opportunity to come here, he wrote to me. He pushed hard for me to come and I think him so much for that. He's truly a great friend – and it's a good thing I play with him because it's so difficult to be against him! He's an alien!"

Donnarumma thanked City team-mates

The Italian custodian also thanked every member of the City squad for making him feel at home and helping him to adjust to the new conditions in the Premier League. Donnarumma has featured for Pep Guardiola's side in 12 matches across all competitions this season and has kept six clean sheets.

When asked about his performances, Donnarumma said: "I'm a bit angry because I could have kept more. I didn't expect to have such a positive impact on the Premier League. But the team helped me a lot because the moment I arrived, they welcome me very well. They helped me a lot in the first games, especially the first one which was just three days in. In the first training session, it felt like I had been there for two years. The league is very different, there's a lot of running, a lot of intensity so I had to adapt immediately. But the team has been fundamental for me in these first few months."

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Getty ImagesMan City hoping to reduce gap with Arsenal

After a forgettable outing in the 2024-25 campaign, Guardiola's men are back in form in the current season. They had a minor setback at the start of the season, where they lost back-to-back league games against Tottenham and Brighton but have now bounced back in style and are just four points behind league leaders Arsenal. 

City will be back in action in the league on Saturday as they take on Newcastle United away from home. They would aim to win the clash and reduce their gap with the Gunners at the top of the table.

Teenage legspinner takes second five-for in four days to clinch convincing victory

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Aug-2025

Tazeem Ali bowled to the England team on their tour to Pakistan in October•Getty Images

Warwickshire completed back-to-back Metro Bank One-Day Cup wins with an emphatic 79-run victory over Kent at Rugby School.The Bears posted 283 for 9 largely thanks to Ed Barnard (60) and Kai Smith (58). On a pitch offering some turn, they coped most capably with a spin attack led by Matt Parkinson who bowled beautifully for his 1 for 36 from 10 overs.Kent replied with 204 all out, only ever partially recovering from the early straits of 19 for 3. Jaydn Denly hit 52 and Harry Finch 50, but legspinner Tazeem Ali followed his 5 for 43 against Northamptonshire on Sunday with 5 for 54 as Kent succumbed to their third defeat in three games in the competition.In front of another excellent crowd at Rugby, Warwickshire chose to bat, seeking a stronger start than in their first two group games when they had collapsed to 38 for 7 and 32 for 4. They got it as openers Barnard and Rob Yates (46) added 97 in 14 overs before Yates drove Joey Evison to cover.Ed Barnard top-scored with 60•Getty Images

Kent’s spinners reeled the run-rate back in by taking wickets. Barnard posted a polished 52-ball half-century, passing 2,000 career List A runs in the process, but overbalanced on a sweep and was stumped off Denly. Zen Malik drove Denly to cover, Hamza Shaikh fell to a superb catch by his England U19s colleague Ekansh Singh at deep mid-wicket off Jack Leaning. Alex Davies lifted Parkinson to long-off, supplying the legspinner with a well-deserved wicket.At 179 for 5, Warwickshire needed rebooting and Smith and Vansh Jani (42) delivered with a fluent partnership of 79 from 64 balls. Again, Kent hit back well towards the end as Fred Klaassen had Smith caught behind and Grant Stewart trapped Michael Booth and Jani lbw in the same over.Kent’s reply started badly as they lost three wickets in four balls to lurch to 19 for 3. Ben Dawkins was caught at cover off Barnard who bowled Evison first ball. Chris Benjamin, facing his former team-mates, also bagged a golden duck when he edged Ethan Bamber and wicketkeeper Smith took a fine diving catch.Denly and Finch rebuilt with an assured stand of 91 in 88 balls but both perished soon after reaching their half-centuries. Denly sliced Tazeem to short third man and Finch skied an attempted big hit at Adam Sylvester.Sylvester marked his List A debut with an excellent first spell of 1 for 7 in five overs, and his accuracy throttled the pursuit in tandem with Tazeem’s potency. Tazeem hit the stumps of Leaning and Stewart and, after Booth bowled Singh 42, returned to remove Parkinson and Michael Cohen in four balls and follow his maiden five-for in the previous game with another match-shaping performance.

Had Liverpool been dispatched at the London Stadium right now, the calls for Arne Slot’s dismissal would have risen a few decibels, higher than the din that followed successive Anfield defeats against PSV Eindhoven and Nottingham Forest.

But Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over the Hammers in the Premier League, with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sealing three much-needed points for the struggling Redmen.

Still, the Merseyside outfit have left so much to be desired this term, lacking all of last year’s balance and belief as Slot was crowned king in his first year in charge.

So much has gone wrong, and the forthcoming league fixtures against Sunderland and Leeds United will determine whether a true crisis has been averted.

Much more is needed. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Isak are beginning to show signs of world-class quality, but FSG must feel pretty rueful over their decision to sell Luis Diaz and opt against sealing a like-for-like replacement for the Colombian winger.

How Luis Diaz has performed since leaving Liverpool

In fairness, Diaz was set to enter the penultimate year of his Liverpool contract, and there was no sign of a resolution. The Reds cashed in for a healthy £66.5m sum.

However, the 28-year-old’s blistering performances in Germany this season have underscored the dimension that Slot has lost down the left channel. Moreover, let’s not forget that Diaz played plenty of football as a makeshift number nine last year.

Bayern score a lot of goals, and they are the dominant force in the Bundesliga. However, Diaz is impartial as to who he picks apart, having played some immense stuff in the Champions League too.

His prolificness has catapulted him to a seat at the highest table, marrying his athleticism and electricity with a new sharpness in front of goal.

Most G + A from Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (25/26)

Player

G + A

Total

Harry Kane

24 + 3

27

Kylian Mbappe

23 + 3

26

Erling Haaland

19 + 1

20

Michael Olise

9 + 10

19

Luis Diaz

12 + 6

18

Data via Transfermarkt

This serves as a reminder that the grass is not always greener. Diaz will have no regrets over his summer transfer, but Liverpool desperately miss his speed and energy and potent threat.

And now, FSG are in danger of losing their next version of the versatile forward.

Liverpool star could be "the next Diaz"

Liverpool opted against directly replacing Diaz this summer, hoping to keep a road to the first team for Rio Ngumoha clear from clutter.

But Diaz is an elite player, and he is not easily replaced. Perhaps some of a Liverpool persuasion regret their frustrations directed toward him last season, with the clinical performances coming in pockets throughout the year.

History may repeat itself with Alexis Mac Allister, who has been described by prominent Liverpool fan John O’Sullivan as being “the next Diaz” in that he is being hounded out by some segments for his performances this year.

While it’s true that the Argentina “superstar”, as he has been called by pundit Joe Cole, has been off the boil this season, he is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, instrumental for the club’s success since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023.

Few know the byways of the midfield game like Mac Allister, who is combative and creative and cerebral in his performance in the engine room. Not just a steely lieutenant, he is smart and savvy, and that sets him apart.

Alexis Mac Allister in the Prem for Slot

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

35 (30)

12 (11)

Goals

5

0

Assists

5

2

Touches*

55.8

49.2

Accurate passes*

35.5 (87%)

33.1 (86%)

Key passes*

1.3

0.8

Dribbles*

0.5

0.3

Ball recoveries*

4.2

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

1.6

Clearances*

0.8

0.8

Duels (won)*

4.9 (48%)

2.8 (46%)

Data via Sofascore

Form is temporary, as the old adage goes. Mac Allister will surely bounce back, but if Liverpool are set for a rocky road through the 2025/26 season, the 26-year-old may be considered for sale next summer, though reports suggest sporting director Richard Hughes and the club’s officials want him to stay put.

It’s as clear as day: Mac Allister will thrive if sold to a superpower in Germany or La Liga.

And Liverpool, as with Diaz, will be left rueing their decision as they scramble to find an adequate replacement.

Related Semenyo upgrade: FSG enter race to sign £88m "superstar" for Liverpool

Liverpool and FSG are getting ready to sign a new forward in 2026.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 2, 2025

Liverpool are now expected to launch a 2026 offer to sign a key defensive reinforcement, who pocketed Cody Gakpo in the Champions League earlier this season.

Salah set to be excluded from Liverpool squad

Just days after his stunning rant, Mohamed Salah is set to be left out of Liverpool’s squad to face Inter Milan, according to reports. The Egyptian left no stone unturned, claiming that the club have thrown him under the bus and revealing that he no longer has a relationship with Arne Slot.

In many ways, he left Slot with no choice but to exclude him. However, Liverpool are still reportedly keen to keep hold of Salah and see his omission as a logical step rather than a punishment.

What happens next is the big question. The arrival of AFCON should at least take the headlines elsewhere, but when Salah returns Liverpool have a problem on their hands.

The 33-year-old is arguably the best player to ever play for Liverpool in the Premier League, but Anfield chiefs are unlikely to pick any star over their manager at this stage.

Salah replacement: Liverpool keen to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"

The Reds could solve their Salah problem.

1 ByTom Cunningham 4 days ago

There is reported interest from the MLS and the Saudi Pro League, coupled with Liverpool’s own interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, which could result in a big January shake-up.

Alas, the Reds also have other problems to solve. They’ve been far below expectations this season, it’s not just been Salah. Far from it, in fact, and have already set their sights on welcoming the likes of Wilfried Singo as a result.

Liverpool expected to launch Wilfried Singo offer

According to Fotomac, as relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are expected to launch an offer to sign Singo worth as much as €43m (£38m) in 2026.

The Premier League champions could reportedly offer €28m (£25m), plus a maximum of €15m (£13m) in potential bonuses. It would, therefore, be a hefty offer but one they should pursue to solve their right-back problem.

Slot should be well aware of the 24-year-old’s quality too, given that he pocketed Gakpo in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat against Galatasaray earlier this season.

The right-back made four recoveries, four clearances and won over half of his ground duels. Gakpo, meanwhile, was hooked after 62 minutes, having failed to take a single shot.

Whilst concerns surround Salah’s situation and Liverpool’s need for a centre-back, the right-back position has also become a problem. Neither Conor Bradley nor Jeremie Frimpong have truly claimed it thanks to form and injuries, with Dominik Szoboszlai often filling in, and Slot needs a permanent fix.

Liverpool join race to sign Konate replacement who's "an insane centre-back"

MatériaMais Notícias

Gustavo Gómez foi o grande nome da vitória do Palmeiras por 2 a 1 sobre o Criciúma neste domingo (2), no Heriberto Hulse, ao marcar o primeiro gol do Verdão e dar assistência para Lázaro fazer o tento que garantiu a quarta vitória do clube neste Brasileirão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasGómez e Lázaro salvam, e Palmeiras bate o Criciúma nos acréscimosPalmeiras02/06/2024Fora de CampoTorcedores reclamam de atuação do Palmeiras contra o Criciúma e perdem a paciência com Rony e VeigaFora de Campo02/06/2024PalmeirasSem Endrick, Palmeiras deposita confiança em Flaco López, que deve voltar a ganhar mais chancesPalmeiras05/06/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

Com uma queda de rendimento ao final da temporada passada e uma lesão no início desse ano, o zagueiro marcou o seu primeiro gol em 2024 somente no mês passado, diante do Liverpool-URU, e agora já marca o seu terceiro, que faz ele ultrapassar Luís Pereira e se tornar de maneira isolada, o zagueiro com mais gols na história do Verdão, com 37 gols.

Diferente de outras temporadas, pelo menos até aqui, Gómez não tem nenhum gol de cabeça e os três tentos que marcou foram de pênalti.

Ao final da partida, Gómez celebrou o resultado e exaltou o espírito da equipe de nunca desistir:

– Feliz pela vitória. Acho que nosso time tem uma identidade de nunca desistir independente do resultado. Nosso time sempre trabalhou, melhoramos no segundo tempo. O Brasileirão é muito difícil, o mais difícil do mundo. Sabíamos que hoje seria difícil, mas graças a Deus conseguimos os três pontos. – finalizou o camisa 15.

continua após a publicidade

Gómez tomou o terceiro cartão amarelo, mas já iria desfalcar o Palmeiras de qualquer jeito, uma vez que se apresenta na Seleção Paraguaia para a Data FIFA e também a disputa da Copa América.

Tudo sobre

Gómezgustavo gómezPalmeiras

His 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs follows Kasey Aldridge’s 180 and allows Somerset to enforce follow on

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Sep-2025

Jack Leach claimed seven wickets in Hampshire’s first innings•Getty Images

Hampshire 172 (Leach 7-69) and 35 for 1 (Middleton 8*, Vaughan 1-18) f/o trail Somerset 454 for 8 dec. (Aldridge 180, Abell 118, Overton 50*) by 247 runs A spin bowling masterclass from Somerset’s Jack Leach plunged relegation-threatened Hampshire into deeper trouble on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the hosts had increased their first innings total from an overnight 381 for 7 to 454 for 8 declared, the left-arm spinner, overlooked in recent times by England, claimed 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs to help bowl out Hampshire for 172 and make them follow on.Kasey Aldridge was last man out in the Somerset innings for 180, having begun the day on 149, while Craig Overton finished unbeaten on 50.Hampshire made a better fist of things in their second innings, reaching 35 for 1 before rain and bad light ended play 15.1 overs early, but still face a backs-to-the-wall fight tomorrow to avoid what might prove a hugely damaging defeat.The first ball of the day, bowled by Keith Barker, saw Aldridge nudge the single needed to take him to a maiden 150, having faced 207 balls and hit 16 fours and five sixes. He and Overton were positive from the outset.Aldridge cut a boundary off James Fuller to take Somerset’s score past 400 and followed up with an upper cut six off the same bowler. Overton cleared the ropes off Abbott and Washington Sundar as the pair took their entertaining partnership to the century mark from 90 deliveries.The next target was to take the score to 450, which they achieved in the 103rd over to secure maximum batting points. Overton went to fifty off 42 balls and the only remaining question was the timing of the declaration.It came when Aldridge was run out by Nick Gubbins’ direct hit at the bowler’s end attempting a quick single to mid-off. The tall all-rounder, bound for Durham next season, had batted for more than four and a half hours, facing 233 balls and extending his boundary count to 20 fours and six sixes.Hampshire’s reply had reached 13 after five overs when Leach was introduced from the River End. His first over saw Ali Orr bowled between bat and pad by a delivery that turned considerably from outside the left-hander’s off stump.Soon it was 27 for 2 as Gubbins reverse swept Leach straight into the hands of Archie Vaughan at short third and three runs later Fletcha Middleton had his off stump clipped by Leach from a delivery that pitched on middle.Toby Albert launched two defiant sixes off Vaughan in moving to 29 before driving at a wide ball from the off-spinner and offering a straightforward return catch. Lunch was taken with Hampshire 61 for 4.Vaughan struck again after he and Leach had swapped ends in the afternoon session, bowling Ben Brown, on 21, as he attempted to cut.The accurate Leach was bowling some rippers and one accounted for Sundar. Having battled his way to 23, the India Test player pushed forward defensively to a ball that spun back through the gate and bowled him to make the score 102 for 6.Fuller tried to counter-attack and had made 24 off 17 balls when becoming Leach’s fifth victim, lbw sweeping. Barker was bowled for 19 attempting to reverse sweep Leach and Felix Organ top-edged a pull off a Vaughan long-hop to be caught at midwicket before Abbott lofted a catch to wide long-on to end the innings and give Leach season’s best figures.Tea was taken before Somerset enforced the follow-on. The tireless Leach, who played the last of his 39 Tests for England almost a year ago, took the new ball in tandem with Vaughan, while Tom Abell was off the field having suffered a jolting blow on the helmet when fielding at short-leg.Orr and Middleton took the score to 35 in the 22nd over when Orr fell for 27, struck on the back pad by a ball from Vaughan. Before the game could restart, the rain which had been forecast for much of the day finally arrived, much to Hampshire’s relief.

The two matches which begin in late January are shaping as a potential decider in the race for the World Test Championship final

Alex Malcolm29-Oct-2024With Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli about to audition with Australia A for a berth on the Sri Lanka Test tour in January, former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe is urging Cricket Australia to pull spin candidates out of the BBL as early as possible to prepare for the series while the window for the Test players’ involvement in the league could narrow even further if the series dates are earlier than expected.While the immediate focus is on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the associated tussle for a top-order batting slot, Australia’s selectors already have Sri Lanka in mind. The two-Test series could be vital to their World Test Championship final hopes, particularly after India’s defeat at home to New Zealand.Murphy and Rocchiccioli are getting an early chance to book a spot with the two Australia A matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne. The pair will play one game each and when each offspinner doesn’t feature they will each spend time with Australia’s ODI squad to work one-on-one with bowling coach and former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori.Related

• Handscomb a strong chance for a Test recall on Sri Lanka tour

• Bowling to Smith, Labuschagne, Rahul at the MCG: Rocchicioli's rise continues

• Sri Lanka confirm two Australia Tests in Galle, plus a one-off ODI

• Indore to Hobart: Kuhnemann's journey to revive his red-ball career

• Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India A on tour of Australia

Australia had thought the first Sri Lanka Test might begin on January 29 but there is a possibility it could start as early as January 26 with the dates still being finalised between the two boards. It is understood the hierarchy wants a 10-day preparation period for overseas Test tours and could fly to the UAE or Oman for a pre-series camp. If the first Test were to start on January 26, it would mean the Australia tourists could be pulled out of the BBL by January 15.Murphy plays for Sydney Sixers and another contender, Matt Kuhnemann, is a key part of Brisbane Heat’s attack. Rocchiccioli does not currently have a BBL deal but was with Melbourne Stars last season and could yet be picked up.Regardless of exact tour dates and who is selected, O’Keefe believes early red-ball preparation is vital. He cited his own experience in India in February 2017 as an example of how important it was to have a long red-ball lead-in. O’Keefe opted not to play in the BBL at all after playing the Sydney Test. His decision to spend six straight weeks bowling with a red ball before the first Test in India paid huge dividends as he bagged 12 for 70 in Pune.”I pulled out of the last six games of the Big Bash that season because I just said, no, this is not the way that I’m going to be bowling over there,” O’Keefe told ESPNcricinfo. “And I copped a bit of criticism. I remember a couple of coaches coming out saying, well, you’re going to get slogged in India you may as well practice in the Big Bash.”I deliberately took that time off, went and played grade cricket, played a Second XI game just to get used to bowling with the red ball. I think if we’re really going to be serious about the young spinners going over there, whoever is going to accompany Nathan [Lyon], is the Big Bash the best preparation?”I’d be encouraging the selectors to let these spinners be going earlier and then I’d be encouraging those spinners to practice with a red ball in between Big Bash games.”It’s two completely different ways of bowling. In essence, sometimes in Big Bash cricket you’re bowling your six worst deliveries to a batter, and then you’re going to be seven to ten days later asked to be landing it on a tea towel for 40 overs straight.”It’s a change for batters as well. The way that you mitigate that is muscle memory, and you need to practice it.”The BBL planned for a clear window for Australia’s Test players to feature between the end of the five-Test India series, which finishes on January 7, and the start of the Sri Lanka series. However, there were already concerns within CA’s high-performance unit about the Test players involvement given their workloads coming out of what is expected to be a gruelling series. There is also concern about the physical and technical preparation for Sri Lanka, with both Tests likely to be played on sharp-turning pitches in Galle.Matthew Kuhnemann is one of the few left-arm options for Australia•Getty ImagesAustralia have recent experience of how difficult it can be for a spinner to prepare for a subcontinent tour while playing in the BBL. In 2023, Ashton Agar played the New Year’s Test against South Africa before returning to play five games for Perth Scorchers. He then had just 19 days, including a camp in Sydney and another in Bengaluru, to prepare for a Test series in India and was unable to find the consistency required to be selected before being flown home. Australia brought Kuhnemann over at short notice, but he had at least bowled 44 overs in a Sheffield Shield game after the BBL before making his Test debut.”It’s tough, because you’re coming out of Big Bash which is bowling cross-seam, cut shots and yorkers, and leg stump [line] into I need to land the ball on a similar spot consistently and allow the wicket to do the work for me,” O’Keefe said.”In Australia, we’re looking for overspin, because it’s a different game. Over there you need to be able to bowl that square spinner, which if doesn’t spin it hits a shiny side, slides on and you get an lbw. But that same ball can hit the same spot and then spin past the outside edge of a right-hand batter [for a left-arm orthodox]. Is that easy to do? I think it takes a bit of practice. But knowing what Matt bowls, and watching him bowl, I think he’s already got it in his armoury. I think Todd Murphy’s got it in his armoury.”I’ve watched Corey bowl. I think he’s got it as well. But you need to go and bowl a lot of it over there. So the preparation that these guys will have hopefully is a month, but I reckon you need a couple of weeks of going over and consistently bowling it. In Australia, you might bowl it once every two overs, over there you’ve got be bowling it 10 times out of 12 balls.”The selectors are investing in Cooper Connolly for his bowling as well as his batting•Getty ImagesThe selectors haven’t picked a specialist left-arm orthodox against India A although Cooper Connolly will play as an allrounder. The value of a left-armer in those conditions has been highlighted by the success of Mitchell Santner against India last week and Prabath Jayasuriya both against New Zealand in September, and Australia in 2022 when he took 12 wickets on Test debut to square the series 1-1.Australia did not take a left-arm orthodox spinner to Sri Lanka in 2022 with legspinner Mitchell Swepson partnering Lyon alongside two quicks, with the support of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.Chair of selectors George Bailey spoke on Monday of his panel’s desire to find players who bowl left-arm fingerspin for future subcontinent tours.”Happy to very much publicly throw it out there that it’s an incredible skill set in the subcontinent,” he said. “We’ve seen that for many years. Realistically, there’s not a huge amount of players in domestic cricket at the moment that are doing it. It’s something that we’re looking to continue to expose. It’s certainly one of the reasons why we’re excited about Cooper Connolly and his journey.”It’s still very much a work in progress with his left-arm spin. But [beyond] Matt Kuhnemann, Ash Agar, there’s just not a great many players who can do it. We know we’re going to have plenty of subcontinent tours, plenty of Tests where that skill set would be highly desirable. So [we] encourage anyone who’s got that up their sleeve to work hard at it.”

Mohamed Salah has been told his complaints that Liverpool have "thrown him under the bus" after another first-team omission "don't stack up". The Egypt international dropped a bombshell interview after his side's 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday, throwing his Anfield future into question. Now, ex-Reds ace Danny Murphy has criticised the 33-year-old for his "emotional response".

• Salah in another remarkable interview

  Just over a year ago, Salah shocked the footballing world when he said he was "probably more out than in" as his contract ticked towards its final six months. The former Chelsea man eventually signed a new two-year deal earlier this year but it hasn't taken long for him to be back in the headlines. Not long after Liverpool's thrilling draw at Elland Road, Salah said it is "very clear" someone wants him to "get all of the blame", that the club has "thrown him under the bus" and that this situation was unacceptable. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has slammed his outburst and now ex-England international Murphy has weighed in on the matter.

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• AFP
  

  'It's not true'

  Murphy made it clear he didn't give much credence to Salah's claims and that this was something said in the heat of the moment.

  He said on BBC's Match of the Day: "We know that’s an emotional response and doesn’t really stack up. Everyone has to keep fighting for their place and performing at a certain level. I don’t think he’s [Salah] on his own. I think there are a lot of other big-name players starting to get stick and get the fanbase turning a little bit against them. Everyone’s getting judged."

  The former Fulham player also doesn't believe that Salah is unfairly being singled out, particularly as lots of his team-mates are being criticised for their performances as well. He added that this is not how a top professional conducts himself.

  "It’s not true, it’s not true. I think you can be emotional and you can be angry and frustrated, he’s done wonderful things for the football club. [But] you have to keep it in the four walls of the club," Murphy said. "Knock on the manager’s door, go and see the CEO, whoever it is, go and see the owners, do whatever you’ve got to do, express your frustration. He’s causing the team a problem and the manager a problem. And he’s making it all about him. And you just can’t do it. Whether you agree with him being left out or not you don’t deal with it like this."

• Slot on Salah omission

  For the second time in three Premier League outings, Salah was an unused substitute for Liverpool, who sit eighth in the table. The defending champions are 10 points behind table-toppers Arsenal, with Arne Slot's side looking almost unrecognisable from the team that romped to the league title last term. 

  When asked why Salah did not come off the bench, manager Slot said: "It was more about controlling the game at [3-2 to Liverpool] and we didn't need a goal. Normally, when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on."

  Not long after, Salah – who scored 29 goals and added 18 assists in the league last season but this campaign he has just four goals and two assists – would say he no longer had a relationship with the Dutchman. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next for Salah?

  It remains to be seen what Slot will say about Salah's outburst and if he will start against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Reds then take on Brighton next weekend, which will be Salah's last match before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. So, does the veteran have a future at Anfield? Murphy thinks so. 

  "I do think he will [play again]," he said. "I think he'll have time to settle down. Everyone will want a legend like Salah to go on good terms with a wonderful send-off, maybe at the end of the season as great players have had in the past. I hope it doesn't end badly because of everything he's given but there's always a chance if he's adamant. Liverpool are in charge of what happens because they have got his contract. But if he's adamant he wants to leave, maybe we'll see something in January."

Get up to speed with all you need to know as the clock ticks down to the first ball in Perth

Alan Gardner19-Nov-2025So this Ashes is a big deal, is it?
As the oldest rivalry in cricket (yes, we are deliberately overlooking USA vs Canada) the Ashes is always a big deal. But the 2025-26 series has been amped up to what feels like a new level – and this despite England’s woeful record in Australia, which reads P15 W0 L13 over their last three tours of the country.Why’s everyone so excited then?
There are a number of factors at play. Foremost is the style of cricket England have adopted – dubbed “Bazball” by one of ESPNcricinfo’s own – and the sense that they will come and have a go in a manner than few English teams in Australia have managed this century. There is also the hangover from the last Ashes, in England in 2023, which ended 2-2 but sparked all sorts of back-and-forth over “moral victories” and who really came out on top.Related

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They didn’t manage to Bazball Australia at home, then?
No, but they did come back from 2-0 down, and were arguably only denied victory in the series by rain in Manchester. But let’s not go over all that again. England have been planning for the next campaign down under ever since, and have assembled what might be their fastest-ever bowling attack in a bid to win in Australia for the first time since 2010-11.So should Australia be worried?
Not on the face of it, given England have rarely even come close to winning a Test in the (Un)Lucky Country in the intervening period – and have particularly painful memories of a grueling visit, wreathed in Covid regulations, in 2021-22. Australia, meanwhile, have won five of their last seven Test series, including four in a row, and last experienced defeat in India in 2022-23. At home, they haven’t been beaten since 2020-21 (again by India). They also reached the final of the World Test Championship, although lost out on the mace to South Africa.I sense a ‘but’ coming here…
You guessed it. But Australia, who have picked a squad with only one player under the age of 30, are in the rare position of having significant question marks over their XI. Notably, it looks like they will field a debutant opener, while the man at the other end, Usman Khawaja, might be on borrowed time. They have also been beset by untimely injuries: captain, Pat Cummins, will miss the first Test as he continues to rehab from a back stress reaction, while another of Australia’s “Big Three” seam attack, Josh Hazlewood, is out with a hamstring strain.All eyes are on when Pat Cummins could play a role in the Ashes•Getty Images

So England will be taking on a weakened opposition?
On paper, yes, although Scott Boland (Test bowling average in Australia: 12.63) is a more than capable back-up for Cummins, while Brendan Doggett, another likely debutant, has both form and pedigree after his long wait for a baggy green. Steven Smith won’t miss a beat as stand-in captain, either. Whether this is the “worst Australia side since 2010-11” is up for debate, but their selection quandaries have certainly added to the intrigue around the build-up.Ah yes, the old ‘phoney war’…
As daft as ever, and impossible to get away from. But at least it’s almost time to take out the trash talk.Any other reasons for optimistic Englishmen to stay up through the night?
Well, Australian pitches have certainly made for entertaining viewing over recent seasons and might help level the playing field. Whether England have brought the right attack for the conditions is another debate.Will this be Joe Root’s Ashes?•Getty Images

They do arrive with the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked Test batters, Joe Root and Harry Brook (the latter for the first major Test of his supreme away record), as well as a fit Ben Stokes, after a shoulder tear sustained during the English summer. They’ve been lucky with injuries (so far), with Mark Wood surviving his own hamstring-knack scare over the weekend. And the only major talking point around their batting order – the identity of No. 3 – was put to bed during the warm-up game against England Lions by Ollie Pope making scores of 100 and 90.All aboard the Bazball bus, then!
At least until the wheels fall off. The series starts in Perth, where England have only ever won once (at the old WACA Ground) – with Optus Stadium hosting an Ashes Test for the first time. Then it’s on to the pink-ball day-night game at the Gabba in Brisbane, followed by Adelaide, which last hosted England for a daytime Test in 2013-14. If the Ashes are still alive come the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, we should have a series on our hands.Sounds like the chances are good?
Let’s see. It’s certainly their best shot in a long while. At the very least, it’s to be hoped that England won’t have conceded the contest inside 12 days’ cricket.Fingers crossed! Anything else I should know?
Regardless of whether England can be competitive/win a Test/not suffer complete embarrassment, let’s hope that Root finally scores a hundred on Australia soil. Otherwise Matthew Hayden’s middle stump is going for a walk – and not in the good way.

And how often have three batters made hundreds on the first day of a Test?

Steven Lynch27-May-2025MS Dhoni recently made his 200th dismissal as a wicketkeeper in the IPL. Is he top of this list? asked Abhishek Kapadia from India
Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper to reach 200 dismissals in the Indian Premier League during Chennai Super Kings’ recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, when he caught Angkrish Raghuvanshi off the Afghanistan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad.A couple of weeks later, Rishabh Pant made it to 100, during Lucknow Super Giants’ match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow. Two other keepers, who played what appear to be their final IPL games last year, also made more than 100 dismissals: Dinesh Karthik 174 and Wriddhiman Saha 113. For the full list, which will be updated, click here.Yuzvendra Chahal just took his second IPL hat-trick. Has anyone else got more than one? asked Suresh Moti from India
The Punjab Kings legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal took a hat-trick towards the end of CSK’s innings in Chennai at the end of April. It was his second in the IPL, after a hat-trick for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in April 2022.Chahal’s recent hat-trick was the 23rd in the IPL, and he’s the third bowler to have taken more than one. The first man to double up is perhaps a bit of a surprise: Yuvraj Singh picked up two hat-tricks with his slow left-armers during the 2009 IPL in South Africa, for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Durban, and against Deccan Chargers in Johannesburg. These were the only six wickets Yuvraj picked up in 14 matches in that tournament.Another legspinner, Amit Mishra, actually took three IPL hat-tricks, all for different teams: for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers in Delhi in 2008, for Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab in Dharamsala in 2011, and for Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Pune Warriors in Pune in 2013.We were watching Ben Duckett bat against Zimbabwe, and were wondering what the highest Test score by an England batter on his home ground was? asked Giles King from England
Ben Duckett did look in imperious form on the first day of the Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last week, and it was something of a surprise when he holed out for 140.This particular England record is held by Geoff Boycott, with 246 not out against India on Yorkshire’s home ground of Headingley in 1967 . That was a famous – or possibly infamous – innings, as he batted for 573 minutes in all, and was dropped from the next Test for slow scoring. The only other England batter to score a Test double-century on his county’s home ground was Denis Compton, with 208 against South Africa at Lord’s in 1947.The highest Test score by anyone on their home ground is 374, by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo in 2006 .Geoff Boycott’s infamous crawl to 246 at Headingley in 1967 is the also the highest score by a batter at his home ground•Daily MirrorBefore his hundred against Zimbabwe, Zak Crawley had scored seven half-centuries since his previous three-figure score in Tests. What’s the record for this? asked Gerry Watson from England
Zak Crawley’s 124 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last week broke a century drought that stretched back to his superb 189 against Australia at Old Trafford in July 2023.Since then, you’re right that Crawley had reached 50 seven times in Tests without going on to a hundred (all seven scores were between 60 and 79). The record for England is 14 half-centuries between hundreds, by another Kent player in Alan Knott, between July 1971 and January 1975. Alastair Cook had two spells of 11 half-centuries without a hundred, while Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root have both had one.They’re all quite a way short of the overall record: the Australian captain Allan Border had no fewer than 21 half-centuries between Test tons in October 1988 and February 1992, while Temba Bavuma of South Africa collected 19 half-centuries between his first two Test hundreds, in January 2016 and March 2023. The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella has so far made 22 half-centuries in Tests – but no hundreds at all.Three England players scored centuries on the first day at Trent Bridge. How often has this happened in a Test? asked Frank Donaldson from England
England’s 498 for 3 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge was the fourth-highest total by one side on the first day of a Test, and was also only the fourth time three different men had scored centuries on the first day: the same England trio (Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope) also did it against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.The other instances were both by Australia, against England at The Oval in 1884 (Percy McDonnell, Billy Murdoch and Tup Scott) and South Africa in Adelaide in 2012 (David Warner, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions