Whilst Alisson Becker is unquestionably the best goalkeeper that Liverpool have ever had in the Premier League, there’s no denying that his unique injury history have left the Reds short at times. It’s something that Jurgen Klopp had to deal with almost every season and something that Arne Slot now has to handle following the Brazilian’s latest hamstring setback.

The Liverpool manager confirmed the news of the injury that Alisson suffered against Galatasaray and the extent of it, telling reporters ahead of the trip to Chelsea: “I’d be surprised if Alisson’s ready for first game after international break.”

The good news for Liverpool is that they should be used to being without their goalkeeper, but to say that they’ve had some mixed results in his absence in previous seasons would be an understatement.

So, with title rivas Arsenal about to embark on an ‘easier’ run of fixtures by all accounts, do the Gunners now have the upper hand or will the Reds survive with Giorgi Mamardashvili between the sticks?

2019/20: Alisson absent for 18 games Adrian fumbles on biggest stage

Although many will remember the 2019/20 season for how the Covid-19 put a stop to football altogether before Liverpool lifted their first Premier League title, there will still be fans who remember it for Adrian’s Champions League horror show against Atletico Madrid.

Filling in for Alisson, who missed three games with a hip injury not long after he missed 15 games through a calf injury in the same campaign, Adrian gift-wrapped Marcos Llorente’s equalising goal in extra-time as Atletico Madrid advanced in dramatic fashion.

Had Alisson been fit and ready to face Atletico Madrid, Anfield could have enjoyed another Champions League night to remember in a season that they were at their very best under Jurgen Klopp.

2020/21: Alisson misses 10 games Adrian's struggles continue in thrashing at Villa

As football recommenced under Covid-19 protocols, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League were forced to get used to empty stadiums and what felt like meaningless games at times.

One thing didn’t change for the Reds, however, and that was Alisson’s injury problems. This time, he added to the Reds’ woes by missing 10 games – including five through a shoulder injury and three courtesy of another hip injury.

Once again, it was Adrian who was forced to step up and once again, Liverpool paid the price in full. This time, they found themselves on the end of one of the most shocking results in Premier League history as Aston Villa battered them 7-2 in the Midlands.

2023/24: Alisson injured for 15 games after another hamstring issue Kelleher steps up for Liverpool

By the time that the 2023/24 campaign arrived and Alisson suffered his next injury setback – missing 15 games through a hamstring problem – Caoimhin Kelleher was ready to step up. The Adrian days were over and the Reds finally had a reliable backup to turn to, who enjoyed some excellent form.

Games

10

Wins

8

Draws

2

Defeats

0

Clean Sheets

2

The Irishman enjoyed an unbeaten Premier League run and even played the role of hero as Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1-0 after extra-time in the Carabao Cup. For the first time, Alisson’s absence was not a major concern for those at Anfield.

2024/25: Trend of hamstring problems continue for Alisson Kelleher called upon once again

In this two-year period, Kelleher staked his claim as one of the best backup goalkeepers that the Premier League has to offer. The truth is that he was more than ready to step up to a starting role elsewhere last season and earned a move to Brentford in the summer as a result.

Alisson, meanwhile, struggled with hamstring problems once again and missed a total of 26 games as Slot won the Premier League title in his first season in charge. Without him, Liverpool’s form didn’t necessarily dip. After all, they won the Premier League title in fairly dominant fashion. But Kelleher still had moments to forget against Newcastle United and Fulham.

Truth be told, no matter how impressive the Irishman was during his time at the club and how reliable Giorgi Mamardashvili may not prove to be, it’s hard to deny that Liverpool would rather have a player of Alisson’s calibre at their disposal every week.

To say that Arsenal are unrecognisable as a club today from the one Mikel Arteta took charge of over five years ago would be an understatement.

The Spaniard has helped to completely overhaul the club from top to bottom and has signed some incredible players in the process.

One of his very best additions to the squad has undoubtedly been Declan Rice, who was once again incredible in the Champions League this week.

And now, it looks like another of Arteta’s signings is transforming into a Rice-type player this season.

Rice's best European nights for Arsenal

Since joining the club for £105m in the summer of 2023, Rice has made 26 appearances for Arsenal in the Champions League, in which he has scored four goals, provided four assists and averaged 2.12 points per game.

Chalkboard

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

It would be fair to say that across those 26 games, he has been pretty incredible for the North Londoners, but when it comes to picking out his best European nights in red and white, there are three that stick out, the first of which is the home game against Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase last season.

It was a game the Gunners comfortably won 2-0, and one in which the former West Ham United captain totally bossed the Parisians’ smaller and, at the time, out-of-form midfield.

The Englishman didn’t pick up a goal or assist in that game, but he did do that in his second-best Champions League display for the club, which came on Wednesday this week.

Arteta started his record signing in the left eight against Atlético Madrid, and as fans have now come to expect, he was cool, calm and composed on the ball and a physical monster off of it.

Moreover, he provided the assist for Gabriel Magalhães’ opener, and then it was his corner that eventually led to Viktor Gyokeres’ second goal, and the team’s fourth.

However, while the 26-year-old was great against Atleti, he was out of this world against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season.

The midfield machine put in an extraordinary shift at the Bernabéu, but it was the home leg where he was utterly sublime, stopping everything in the middle of the park and then scoring those two world-class free-kicks.

In short, while he cost a lot of money, Rice has been worth every penny for Arsenal, and now another of Arteta’s signings is starting to embody some of his best traits.

Arsenal's new Rice-type star

Due to Arteta’s brilliant signings and Hale End’s production of talent, there is no shortage of incredible players in Arsenal’s squad, but the player who is becoming something of a Rice-type star is Riccardo Calafiori.

Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean they are the same type of player, as that would be a silly thing to suggest.

However, there are some increasingly obvious similarities between the pair, with the first being their mentality.

Like the Englishman, since coming back from his string of injuries that kept him out for most of last season, the former Bologna star has played like a man possessed.

Not only is he someone who can and does bound forward with the ball at his feet, but he’s also more than happy to get into a physical duel with an opponent to try and keep the ball or win it. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean aptly put it, he plays like a “wild horse on the loose.”

On top of that, he is also a sensational striker of the ball, and while he isn’t delivering set-pieces, it has been on show in the goals he has scored over the last year, and even those that have been disallowed, like that unreal volley against Fulham last weekend.

Moreover, like the former West Ham man, the Italian international seems to have limitless energy, and this season has been allowed the freedom to roam here, there and everywhere on the pitch.

This “positionless” approach in games, as one analyst puts it, makes him a nightmare for opponents to defend against and could help him snuff out counters before they have a chance to get out of their half at times.

Finally, the Rome-born titan is also one of the best in his position in the league, as according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of full-backs for expected goals, shots, goal-creating actions, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

xG: Expected Goals

0.28

Top 2%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.28

Top 2%

Shots Total

2.35

Top 2%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.29

Top 2%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.73

Top 2%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.15

Top 2%

SCA (Shot)

0.44

Top 6%

GCA (Shot)

0.15

Top 6%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.96

Top 6%

Goals + Assists

0.44

Top 10%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.15

Top 10%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.44

Top 10%

Goals

0.15

Top 13%

Assists

0.29

Top 13%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.15

Top 13%

npxG/Shot

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.44

Top 17%

Ultimately, Calafiori has been unreal for Arsenal this season, and as he has got better, he has become more and more of a Rice-type player.

Gyokeres can help Arsenal's "unbelievable" star reach Mesut Ozil's level

Gyokeres could play a key role in helping the incredible Arsenal star reach the levels of Ozil this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 23, 2025

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has downplayed concerns surrounding his side’s defensive weakness from set-pieces ahead of Sunday’s London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. With Spurs emerging as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous dead-ball sides, the Italian insists Chelsea are working to correct their vulnerabilities as they look to turn mixed domestic form into consistency.

• Chelsea's flaky set-piece defending abilities

  Maresca faced questions in his pre-match press conference about Chelsea’s worrying trend of conceding from set plays ahead of their trip to Tottenham. The Blues have shipped multiple goals from such situations in recent weeks — including a damaging long-throw equaliser against Sunderland and a chaotic concession to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Those lapses have amplified scrutiny on a side that sits ninth in the Premier League after nine games, struggling to find defensive balance despite notable progress in attack.

  Tottenham, meanwhile, present an added layer of danger. Thomas Frank’s men have thrived on creative dead-ball routines, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice from corners in their recent win over Everton and Kevin Danso’s long throws causing havoc in the opposition's box. With Spurs earning a reputation for their clever set-piece execution, Chelsea’s defensive fragility in this area has become a clear talking point heading into the London showdown.    Maresca, however, remains calm in his assessment. The Italian pointed out that set-piece situations are inherently unpredictable and believes that while the numbers are concerning, they do not paint the full picture of his team’s defensive performances this season. Still, with Chelsea having conceded more expected goals (xG) and shots from set pieces than any other Premier League team, their ability to withstand Tottenham’s aerial threat will be under close observation this weekend.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Maresca downplays the focus on set-piece frailties

  “Tottenham, I think that they are doing very good,” Maresca said when asked about the upcoming derby. “They finished last season winning the Europa League. They started very good this season and also because it's a derby for sure it would be a difficult game.”

  Addressing Chelsea’s defensive frailty from set-pieces, he added: “I think that set-pieces you are going to score goals and you are going to concede goals. The reason why is because if we say that when we concede, we are not strong enough.”

  “I think that with set-pieces, there are teams that they score more goals, less goals, but at the end, set-pieces you are going to score and concede goals because there are actions that are so difficult to defend. We are working on [defending set-pieces]. For sure, we are working. For sure.” 

• Chelsea's defensive structure collapses during set-pieces

  Maresca’s comments come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that underline Chelsea’s struggles at defending dead-ball situations this season. The Blues have conceded an expected goals value of 6.10 from set-pieces, the highest in the Premier League, and 45% of their total xG against comes from such situations. Nearly 40% of all shots faced by Chelsea have arrived from corners, free-kicks, or throw-ins, leaving Maresca with a clear tactical headache to solve.   

  These defensive shortcomings have come despite improvements elsewhere. Chelsea rank among the league’s best in open-play defensive shot quality (0.14 xG per shot conceded), reflecting a well-structured unit that is generally difficult to break down. However, lapses in concentration and organisation during set-piece phases have repeatedly cost them crucial points, including the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland that exposed their susceptibility to long throws and second-ball scrambles inside the box.

  While some have attributed the issue to personnel changes and physical mismatches, Maresca insists it is a collective problem that requires repetition and focus on the training pitch. With Tottenham’s tall defenders and aggressive delivery style, this weekend’s clash serves as an early test of whether those sessions have begun to yield results.  

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• AFP
  

  Chelsea face massive test against dead-ball specialists Spurs

  Chelsea head into Sunday’s London derby aiming to bounce back from the inconsistency that has defined their Premier League campaign. Maresca’s men currently sit ninth with a record of four wins, two draws, and three defeats — a mixture of high-scoring triumphs, such as the 5-1 demolition of West Ham, and frustrating slip-ups at Stamford Bridge. They remain a work in progress, but one with clear attacking potential and renewed belief under their new coach. 

  Tottenham’s own home form has been patchy, with just four points collected from four matches in North London. Yet their ability to create danger from corners, free-kicks, and throw-ins has been a defining strength this term, and they’ll look to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerabilities in this area. The duel between Maresca’s possession-based control and Frank’s direct, set-piece-focused strategy could prove decisive in determining the outcome of this derby.  

MatériaMais Notícias

Em grande clássico, o Vila Nova e o Atlético-GO se enfrentam no sábado (28) pela 34° rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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O Vila Nova se afastou da briga pelo G-4, mas segue com uma das melhores defesas da competição. O Tigre chega ao jogo vindo de uma derrota fora de casa para o Tombense.

Do outro lado, o Atlético-GO tem vivido uma ótima campanha no segundo turno e segue lutando pelo acesso. Atual terceiro colocado na tabela, o Dragão chega de uma vitória em cima do ABC por 3 a 1.

+ Confira a tabela da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro

VILA NOVA X ATLÉTICO-GO

Data: sábado, 28 de outubro
Horário: 19h
Local: Estádio Onésio Brasileiro Alvarenga (OBA), em Goiânia, Goiás
Onde assistir: SporTv e Premiere

Provável escalação do Vila Nova: Dênis Júnior, Marcelinho, Rafael Donato, Eduardo Doma, Rodrigo Gelado, Cristiano, Igor Henrique, Marlone, Juan Christian, Caio Dantas e Guilherme Parede
Técnico: Higo Magalhães

Provável escalação do Atlético-GO: Ronaldo, Rodrigo Soares, Luiz Felipe, Alix Vinícius, Lucas Esteves, Matheus Sales, Baralhas, Dodô, Kelvin, Gustavo Coutinho e Bruno Tubarão
Técnico: Jair Ventura

Fast bowler to leave Warwickshire at the end of the season, ending a seven-year stay at Edgbaston

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jul-2025Fast bowler Craig Miles will leave Warwickshire at the end of the season to return to his home club, Gloucestershire, on a three-year deal.Miles, 30, came through Gloucestershire’s academy, making his first team debut as a 16-year-old before departing for Warwickshire at the end of the 2018 summer. He took 134 wickets across all formats for the midlands county, including 37 in their successful 2021 County Championship campaign, at an average of 21.81. Later that summer, he starred in the Bob Willis Trophy Final, taking 5 for 28 in the first innings as Warwickshire beat Lancashire by an innings and 199 runs.In returning to Gloucestershire, Miles will pick back up a record of 313 dismissals from 116 appearances. Though he struggled with injuries at Warwickshire, the seamer has been fit this season but found himself surplus to requirements for their County Championship campaign.He has so far made six appearances in the Vitality Blast for Birmingham Bears, taking five wickets.Reflecting on a return to his boyhood club, Miles said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to be coming back to Gloucestershire. The chance to wear the shirt again and represent the Club that played such a massive part in my journey was something I simply couldn’t turn down.”From making my debut as a 16-year-old, to unforgettable wins at the Cheltenham Festival, and that incredible day at Lord’s in 2015 – some of the fondest memories of my career happened whilst playing for Gloucestershire.”Every time I’ve returned to Nevil Road, it’s felt like home, and I can’t wait to be back out there.”I’m hugely excited to work with Mark Alleyne and the coaching team, link up with some familiar faces and old friends, and give everything I’ve got, on and off the field, for the Glorious once again.”Speaking on Miles’ return, head coach Mark Alleyne said: “I very much look forward to welcoming Craig back to Bristol.”He left as a precocious talent and returns with a strong body of work on the first-class stage. His experience will be invaluable as we rebuild a formidable attack to compete in Division One. If we’re unsuccessful this year, his presence for that push in 2026 will be savoured.”As an all-format player, he will add great quality across the seasons to come.”

Worcestershire 333 (Brookes 140, D’Oliveira 57) and 31 for 0 (Roderick 16*, Libby 15*) lead Warwickshire 184 (Smith 68, Webster 57, Shahzad 6-42) by 180 runsEthan Brookes’ dazzling century and Khurram Shahzad’s dynamic six-for left Worcestershire pressing for a much-needed Rothesay County Championship win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Brookes’ career-best 140 off 169 balls against the club that released him lifted Worcestershire’s first innings to 333 before Shahzad took 6 for 42 to send the home side all out for 184. Kai Smith struck 68 (100) and Beau Webster 57 (84) to narrowly avert the follow on but Worcestershire closed the second day on 31 without loss, 180 ahead.Bottom of Division One, Brett D’Oliveira’s side is strongly-placed to complete a victory that would open the survival race right up – and have nerves jangling at a few clubs above them.Worcestershire resumed on the second morning on 262 for 8 with Brookes on 80 and the 24-year-old showed no nerves en route to a poignant century at his former home ground. His century, warmly applauded by supporters of both teams, was reached with a six and he went on to strike eight sixes – the second most in an innings by a Worcestershire batter, behind only Graeme Hick’s 11 against Somerset at Taunton in 1988.Brookes and Adam Finch added 88 before the former fell at the end of a strange Dan Mousley over which included four off-side wides, two leg-side sixes, a dot ball and a wicket. Brookes eventually skied the spinner and, two balls later, Finch fell lbw to Tazeem Ali.Warwickshire’s top order was then blown away by Shahzad’s opening burst of 6-2-7-3. Rob Yates left one that knocked out off-stump, Mousley edged behind and Alex Davies dragged on a pull to bag a 25-ball duck.Shahzad had Zen Malik caught at first slip and when Ed Barnard offered Finch the simplest return catch in this fixture since John Cuffe dismissed Billy Quaife at Dudley in 1912, it was 66 for 5.Webster and Smith added 49 but the former’s attempt to bully debutant spinner Bertie Foreman backfired when he chipped to mid-off. After Corey Rocchiccioli pulled Shahzad to deep square and Bamber was lbw, Warwickshire’s last two wickets needed to find 31 to avoid the follow on.Smith calmly and capably ensured they did. He reached an 88-ball half-century with a six pulled off Ben Allison and showed a selectivity of stroke which some of his more experienced team-mates might seek to emulate in the second innings.The follow on avoided by one run, Smith nicked a waft at Finch and Olly Hannon-Dalby drove a full toss to extra cover four balls later. That left Worcestershire 17 overs batting and they quietly increased their advantage – and their chances of recording a first Championship win over Warwickshire in 22 attempts since 2000 and their first at Edgbaston since 1993.

Elly De La Cruz just won't stop making history in the early days of his promising MLB career.

The Cincinnati Reds phenom stole his 100th career base Friday night in the fourth inning of a matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park, swiping second base against right-hander Mitch Keller.

Per Opta Stats, De La Cruz is the first player in MLB history to notch at least 100 stolen bases and 30 homers over his first two seasons in the big leagues. De La Cruz has mashed 37 homers—and counting—over his first 250 career games.

De La Cruz's accomplishment is even more impressive when stacked up against more MLB history.

He is one of four players in league annals to tally at least 20 homers and 75 stolen bases in his first two seasons, joining Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. and two other players who competed many decades ago—New York Yankees outfielder Ben Chapman and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bug Holliday.

MLB players with 20+ homers and 75+ stolen bases in first two seasons*

PLAYER	YEARS	HR	SB
Elly De La Cruz (CIN)	2023 to ’24	37	100
Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)	2022 to ’23	50	79
Ben Chapman (NYY)	1930 to ’31	27	75
Bug Holliday (CIN)	1889 to ’90	23	96

De La Cruz also is on the verge of becoming MLB's first player to lead all of baseball in both stolen bases and strikeouts.

Despite the 204 punchouts entering Friday's game, De La Cruz still has a .343 on-base percentage, high above MLB's league average of .312 this season. And he's clearly making the most of his time on base with 65 steals—14 more than Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani in second place.

Former England team-mates produce vital roles with bat and ball to seal 21-run victory

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Jul-2025

James Anderson claimed another three-wicket haul for Lancashire•Getty Images

Lancashire 174 (Buttler 77, Jennings 42) beat Yorkshire (Shafique 54, Anderson 3-25) by 21 runs Jos Buttler posted a superb season’s best 77 off 46 balls and became only the second Englishman to reach 13,000 career T20 runs as Lancashire Lightning beat Yorkshire in a pulsating Roses match at Headingley and qualified for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.With Nottinghamshire losing at Worcestershire, Lancashire would have advanced whatever this result. But ending a run of three Roses defeats, including one last week, means they secured a top-two finish in the North Group for a home tie in September’s last eight.Buttler’s dynamism from No.3, including eight fours and three sixes, was the centrepiece of 174 all out, which saw the wickets shared around a Yorkshire attack on a competitive surface.Sir James Anderson, fresh from his Hundred wildcard selection, and Australian off-spinner Chris Green shone with three for 25 and three for 27 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 153, including Pakistani Abdullah Shafique’s 54 off 34.Leaders Lancashire won for the ninth time in 13 games – this by 21 runs – and already out Yorkshire lost their ninth game in 13.Phil Salt drove this topsy-turvy contest’s first two balls from Matt Milnes for four, but Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin had Keaton Jennings caught at mid-wicket to keep the visitors in check at 23 for one after three overs.Salt started and ended the powerplay positively, slog-sweeping Moriarty for six as 15 came from the sixth over, which ended with 58 on the board.But Lancashire stumbled as Jafer Chohan’s leg-spin had Salt caught at deep square-leg slog-sweeping for 42 with his first ball and bowled Ashton Turner two balls later – 65 for three in the eighth.Buttler launched sixes in successive overs against spin over long-on. The first, against Dom Bess, took him beyond the 13,000 mark.Alex Hales is the only other English batter to achieve the same feat, and they are amongst only seven batters worldwide to do so.Buttler reached his third fifty in six Blast innings this season, this one off 26 balls. By that time, Lancashire were 121 for four after 13 overs having lost Luke Wells to Jordan Thompson’s seam.Despite Buttler’s presence, Yorkshire took regular wickets to stymie progression.Milnes struck twice and Will Sutherland once late on as the Red Rose fell short of the 200 or more total which has been king at Headingley this season.There were two run outs, including Buttler, amongst three wickets to fall in Thompson’s last over.Wickets continued fall, though.Luke Wood bowled Jonny Bairstow for five eight balls into Yorkshire’s reply before Anderson had Will Luxton caught at deep midwicket – 24 for two in the third over.Lancashire’s quarter-final qualification was confirmed soon after, with Nottinghamshire’s defeat.Anderson removed Dawid Malan caught at mid-on before Green’s bowled a reverse-sweeping James Wharton to tip the balance at 66 for four in the eighth over.But, as wickets fell – Bess was caught behind off Wood soon after, Shafique was strong down the ground.Shafique and Australian Sutherland put Yorkshire in a strong position at 132 for five in the 15th, needing 43 more.However, Shafique pulled Anderson to deep square-leg and Thompson was caught and bowled off Green, turning the tide again at 137 for seven in the 16th.Excellent Green trapped Milnes lbw and Tom Aspinwall removed Sutherland for 28 with successive balls at the end of the 18th over and the start of the 19th – 151 for nine.Defending 22 off the last over, Blatherwick then had Chohan caught with the first ball.

Home side bowled out in 24.3 overs, then blitzed in chase that only last 20.5

Firdose Moonda02-Sep-2025

Aiden Markram blazes a drive over the covers in his flying start•Getty Images

South Africa 137 for 3 (Markram 86) beat England 131 (Smith 54, Maharaj 4-22, Mulder 3-33) by seven wicketsEngland’s batters lasted more than 100 balls, but not much more. They were dismissed in 147 balls for their fourth-lowest total against South Africa in a display of batting that could best be described as fatigued, perhaps from a month of playing in the Hundred.By the time South Africa’s batters had faced 100 balls, the job was as good as done. Aiden Markram scored the fastest fifty by a South African opener, off 23 balls, and dominated an opening stand of 121 with Ryan Rickelton to take South Africa home and open the series with an emphatic win. They batted for 125 balls.The whole match lasted just 272 balls, perhaps as a nod to the difference in preparation for these two sides for this series to where there are on the road to 2027. While South Africa played a series Australia, England only had an optional training session as they rolled in straight from the Hundred. That may also mean England are just beginning their planning for the next World Cup, while South Africa see themselves as on the path as they seek to adopt a more fearless style of play. England often use that kind of language but their loose drives and soft chips were more reckless than brave against a well-drilled South African attack.Keshav Maharaj, recently elevated to No. 1 on the ICC’s ODI bowling rankings, was the most successful bowler and picked up the third four-for of his career. Wiaan Mulder scooped 3 for 33 to mark only the second time he has taken three wickets in an ODI. South Africa also took all their catching chances, seven in total, after a ragged showing in Australia, and made good on Temba Bavuma’s decision to bowl first.England started off in signature style as Jamie Smith closed out the first over with back-to-back drives off full Nandre Burger deliveries and Ben Duckett pushed one past Lungi Ngidi that went for four. But Burger also found swing and in his second over, Duckett was tempted to play at a good-length ball without moving his feet and nicked off to continue a tough run. Duckett only had one score over 20 in eight innings in the Hundred but concerns about his form seemed immaterial when Joe Root drove Burger for four with a high elbow off the second ball he faced and held the pose for good measure.Runs kept coming in boundaries as Root took two off Ngidi and Smith took advantage of width from Burger. However, Bavuma stuck with his frontline seamers and it paid off. Root prodded at an Ngidi ball and edged behind, Ryan Rickelton diving to his right to hold the ball in his glove but it popped out as he hit the ground. He was able to get both gloves to the rebound and claimed the catch, which was confirmed on replay.Harry Brook responded by tonking Ngidi’s first ball for four and Smith just kept swinging. Corbin Bosch was brought on in the ninth over but was guided past third and then through midwicket as Smith entered the 30s. England finished the Powerplay on 57 for 2, with 44 of those runs in boundaries.The Smith-Brook partnership grew to 38 and the pair were on top of South Africa’s seamers when a moment of misjudgement separated them. Brook hit Mulder into the covers and called for two but the second run wasn’t on, Tristan Stubbs swooped in and threw to Rickelton, who broke the stumps and England were 82 for 3. Still, with Smith batting well, they would not have had many concerns. Smith brought up his second ODI fifty, and second successive one, when he sent Maharaj through the covers for four off the 46th ball he faced.At the end of that over, Jos Buttler hit the ball to the boundary, where Tony de Zorzi dived to stop four and hurt his hamstring in the process. He left the field for treatment, did not field again and was not required to bat.An incident like that could easily have shifted momentum England’s way but the opposite happened. In the next over, Smith flicked Mulder to fine leg, Bosch made good ground to his left and took an excellent one-handed catch and the collapse had begun. England lost seven wickets for 29 runs in 43 balls and almost all of them were avoidable.Jacob Bethell was lured into a drive by a floated up Maharaj delivery, got a thin edge and the ball was parried off Rickelton’s gloves to Markram at slip. He took the catch while almost blindsided by his own keeper. Will Jacks popped a simple return chance back to Maharaj; Buttler was leaden-footed when he drove and inside-edged Mulder to Rickelton and Jofra Archer nicked the next ball low to first slip, where Markram picked up another. Mulder was on a hat-trick but Maharaj cleaned up. He had Adil Rashid trapped in front of leg stump and removed debutant Sonny Baker’s middle stump to dismiss England inside 25 overs.Baker would be the first to attempt to defend their score. Given the opening over on debut, his second ball slid down leg and Markram helped it on its way for four. Baker then overcompensated and offered width as Markram cashed in on the off side. The first over went for 14 runs.Rickelton, who has struggled for rhythm from the Australia tour, could not find any early on in England either. He could not get Archer’s first four balls away and then edged the fifth one in the direction of first slip. Root claimed the catch as he seemed to think he got his fingers under the ball and while some replays agreed, others seemed to show the ball bouncing just in front. Rickelton was given not out. Archer finished the over by hitting him on the pads but England didn’t review. If they had, Hawk-Eye showed the ball would have been hitting leg stump and Rickelton would have been out for a duck.Instead, he watched as Markram continued to show Baker no mercy and took 20 off his second over, including two sixes. Rickelton’s opportunity finally came against Baker in his third over and he just about found his touch. He drove Baker for four, edged him short of slip and then flicked off the pads. Despite his first three overs costing 44 runs, Baker got a fourth over and still could not get it right. He overpitched, Markram drove for four, then down the ground and then over the covers to bring up his half-century off 23 balls, with 44 runs scored in boundaries.Baker’s four overs cost 56 runs and he was taken out of the attack before bring brought back in the 12th over and delivering a boundary-free six balls. His relief was short-lived. Baker’s next two overs cost 18 runs and his final analysis of 7-0-76-0 was the most expensive by an England player on debut.Markram had three figures in his sights but with 11 runs left to win was strongly caught by Smith at cover, who intercepted a ball that was destined for the boundary. Bavuma tried to finish it quickly but was caught at mid-off and Tristan Stubbs’ nightmare run continued as he was bowled for a duck to leave Rashid on a hat-trick. Across all formats, Stubbs has only scored one half-century in 35 innings this year. Dewald Brevis finished it off with a six as England lost for the third successive time to South Africa.

Daniel Farke must wonder how he never won promotion with the Leeds United team he inherited heading into the 2023/24 season as the West Yorkshire outfit’s new manager.

Thankfully, the EFL promotion expert did guide Leeds back up to the Premier League at the second time of asking, with a Championship title even being secured along the way, but his previous side disastrously slipped up in the playoff final, even with the likes of both Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray starring week in week out.

Crysencio Summerville, despite his unbelievable display, was another unfortunate member of that team, leaving for West Ham United after the season’s conclusion.

The attacker is still held in high esteem at Elland Road, despite his celebrated stay at the club ultimately ending in disappointment.

What made Summerville so magic

Summerville eventually got a chance to shine again in the top-flight with the Hammers, having initially burst onto the scene as a promising talent in the tough division when Leeds routinely battled against the drop.

An encouraging four goals and three assists came the tricky winger’s way across 28 Premier League outings during the 2022/23 season, with the Rotterdam-born attacker certainly sticking out as a bright spark in an otherwise depressing period for the Whites, as relegation was confirmed.

He was only getting started when looking back, however, with the former Whites number 10 striking fear into Championship defences all season long during the following campaign.

Summerville had the goals and assists to back up his immense footwork and trickery on the left channel, with 20 goals and 19 assists in regular action crowning him as the second tier’s Player of the Season.

Journalist Jake Winderman would even go all out to declare the 5-foot-9 ace as “world-class” for those sublime heroics, while Farke himself stated that the “sky is the limit” for what his star asset could go on to achieve.

Summerville has since shown flashes of his excellence with West Ham, despite injury issues threatening to stop him in his tracks.

After an injury-disrupted 2024/25 season saw just 19 Premier League appearances fall into his lap, the 23-year-old is now up to a quickfire two assists for this campaign, from just five clashes.

While the former fan favourite at Leeds underwent a testing first term away from West Yorkshire, Farke was scrambling for his new Summerville-like star to latch onto, with Manor Solomon stepping into the role effortlessly as another unpredictable talent on the left wing.

Now out on loan with Villarreal, away from parent side Tottenham Hotspur, Solomon was once viewed as a fitting replacement for the immense magic served up by Summerville and Rutter, with a devastating ten goals and 13 assists notched up last campaign by the diminutive 26-year-old helping Leeds to achieve a promotion feat not even their revered Dutchman could clinch.

Solomon would even score Leeds’ title-clinching goal when bursting forward with his usual Elland Road exuberance versus Plymouth Argyle on the final day, with the former Shakhtar Donetsk attacker also receiving similar glowing praise to that of Summerville, lauded as “unplayable” by former Whites boss Neil Redfearn.

The hope was surely to tie down the entertaining forward to a long-term deal past his loan stint, but nothing would come to fruition despite speculative talk suggesting Solomon was up for a reunion, as Leeds looked at other top-flight-ready recruits instead.

So, with Solomon now gone, who has become Leeds’ new Summerville?

Leeds' new Summerville-type figure at Elland Road

Leeds could well have been hesitant to dive in and secure Solomon permanently based on his sketchy track record in the Premier League.

The new Villarreal man is, unfortunately, more known for being ravaged with injuries at that level than being a rip-roaring success, with just four goals and two assists picked up, missing 61 games through injury for both Spurs and Fulham.

Staggeringly, he has already been absent from five games this season through more injury-related difficulties, as Leeds sense they have dodged a bullet somewhat.

In stark contrast, new signing Noah Okafor has been there and done that in some challenging top-flight environments, with a 25-goal haul for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga even seeing scout Jacek Kulig refer to the Swiss international as “prolific” force.

On top of that, he was also previously on the roster of AC Milan for 57 matches, culminating in seven goals being put away with confidence.

Therefore, the powers that be at Leeds would have felt assured that dropping £18m on his services this summer was money well spent, and they have already been vindicated, with two strikes picked up in the Premier League by the direct number 19.

While his calmness in front of goal stands him in good stead to be a Summerville-type figure for Farke’s men moving forward, it’s his ardent manner to always bomb forward and try and create an opening out of nothing that also makes the similarity stick, with Summerville finding that he was constantly fouled in the Championship for also being a brash attacking presence.

Touches

40

27

34

Unsuccessful touches

4

2

6

Goals

1

0

1

Key passes

0

1

2

Successful dribbles

6/14

3/4

1/2

Okafor has come into his own in this regard across Leeds’ last three matches in the league, with the pacey 25-year-old managing an absurd six successful dribbles against Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite only accumulating 40 touches.

Yet, much like in Summerville’s case, it isn’t showboating for showboating’s sake, with two goals picked up across his last three Premier League outings making him a firm starting figure for Farke, which is only reinforced by him amassing three key passes in his attempts to assist teammates around him.

Dubbed as an “explosive” presence by scout Antonio Mango when first securing a move to England, it now appears as if Okafor was the Summerville-like ace Leeds had been crying out for all along.

After all, even an opposition defender for Coventry City in Milan van Ewijk had to hold his hands up at Summerville being an “exceptionally good” dribbler when the Sky Blues clashed with Farke’s men in the second tier.

Okafor will hope, in time, that he’s also remembered as a feared force for defenders to wrestle with, with the early signs of his Leeds career pointing in the direction that he will be a fan favourite for many years to come, particularly if he can be one driving factor behind the Whites becoming top-flight regulars again.

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