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Two teams who have dished out many classics face off with several subplots to look out for – as long as rain stays away

Alagappan Muthu21-Mar-20252:50

The Varun + Narine spin test awaits Kohli

Big pictureFor the first time since they played the first game of the IPL Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will start the season. Something special was born that night, 17 years ago. A thirst trap.A thousand games have come and gone and the fans just can’t get enough. Grounds fill up quicker than an international match (Eden’s been sold out). The trophy’s been taken on tour. Players’ arrivals are being clipped out like movie trailers. Virat Kohli charms 29.1 million souls just by bouncing a ball on his bat. The only thing that has grown as rapidly as the IPL is the people’s appetite for its singular brand of superstars and mayhem.KKR and RCB have had some thrilling encounters. There was a one-run victory just last year. And they’ve propelled this league, and by extension T20 cricket, forward in various ways. Sunil Narine taught the value of opening batters not valuing their wicket. AB de Villiers pointed out that runs can be scored behind the wicket with the same consistency as those in front of it. Andre Russell has been conducting experiments to see if he can hit a ball into outer space for some time now.Related

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All we have to do is just sit back and watch. (And hope the rain stays away.)Next three fixturesKKR go on a trip to Guwahati and Mumbai to face Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians before returning home to host Sunrisers Hyderabad.RCB have a five-day gap before their second game against Chennai Super Kings. Then they go up against Gujarat Titans. That’s a lot of high-quality spin for their batters to deal with to begin the season. But once they’re through, they’ll find themselves at the Wankhede and there’s always runs to be had there.New loyaltiesPhil Salt was KKR’s second-highest run-scorer in 2024 and he made those 435 runs at a strike rate of 182. His proclivity to hit the boundary first and ask questions later was an important point of difference for a side that scored its runs quicker than anybody else. Salt’s gifts are with RCB now.1:12

Cricinformed: Patidar, a menace for spinners

Team news & likely XIIsKKR might not mind losing one half of the opening combination that worked so well last time around considering they were able to bring in a former IPL winner in Quinton de Kock to take over. They will want him to improve on his record at Eden Gardens though (65 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 112). Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje will step in for Mitchell Starc, whom the franchise has let go.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt) 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Varun Chakaravarthy, 11 Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, 12 Vaibhav AroraRCB have armed themselves with a long batting line-up, which should give them the tools they need to take all the risks they want even against a good bowling attack like KKR. However, their new spinner Suyash Sharma could be a doubt to face his former franchise as he is returning from a long rehab following a groin injury.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Swapnil Singh/Mohit Rathee/Rasikh SalamBig questionHave RCB made the right choice in elevating Rajat Patidar to the captaincy? They are yet to win an IPL title and the pressure of that now falls squarely on the shoulders of a man who is a fringe player for India and who only came into the franchise in 2021. The people who know him best, though, suggest he will be more than up for the challenge.In the spotlight: Rinku Singh and Virat KohliIndia have reached new levels of T20 batting since winning the world title. They almost made 300 once, an innings that ended with Rinku Singh sending the last ball for six. He was overlooked for the World Cup but has played 18 of 20 matches since. The IPL was the tournament that put Rinku on the map. What has he got cooking this season?Until IPL 2024, Virat Kohli tended to play out Varun Chakravarthy and Narine and look for his runs elsewhere. But last year, he decided to take them down. His strike rate against the two KKR mystery spinners went up from 98.56 to 166.66. Although it was only a small sample size (18 balls in one match), it signalled a change in Kohli’s outlook. He was willing to take more risks. Will that continue this time around too?1:59

Cricinformed: What makes Narine a six-hitting machine?

Key stats Varun and Narine’s eight overs will likely define the outcome of this game. Their strengths – Varun is a wicket-taker, he had a strike rate of 14.2 last season, and Narine is the banker, he gave away only 6.7 runs an over – line up against an RCB weakness. Five of their top seven, barring Patidar and Jitesh Sharma, have a strike rate below 140 against spin in T20 cricket since 2024. In Liam Livingstone (107) and Tim David’s (106) cases, it’s barely a run a ball. Since top-scoring for KKR in IPL 2024, Narine is averaging 9.05 as a batter across 20 innings with a highest score of 38. Will that prompt a change in the batting order? It’s unlikely, but they do have options. Ajinkya Rahane, their new captain, for example, enjoys batting in the powerplay. Patidar’s elevation to RCB captaincy is based on the value he brought to the team as a middle-overs (7-16) hitter. He scored over 300 runs in this phase last year, at a strike rate of 180.68. His strike rate against spin was even higher (197.24). Although RCB have lost Mohammed Siraj, they’ve brought in the IPL’s highest wicket-taker in the powerplay – Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 71. They also have Josh Hazlewood, who has done well in every phase of play in this tournament (14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.4 in the powerplay, eight at 7.7 in the middle and 13 at 10 in the death).Pitch & conditionsIPL 2024 set a new benchmark for run-scoring and Eden Gardens played a part in that. The conditions there were so conducive to batting that there were six totals of 200 or more, including a successful chase of 262. But putting a dampener on all that fun is a poor weather forecast for the game on Saturday. A steady drizzle on Friday evening brought about an early end to the team’s practice session. The practice began as scheduled at 5pm, but rain set in around 6pm, cutting short the prep.

“Written in the stars, wasn’t it?” Mary Earps is referring to this season’s Champions League draw, which has pitted her Paris Saint-Germain side against former club Manchester United. Unsurprisingly, Earps’ phone pinged “straight away”, with Ella Toone the predictable name to pop up. “There’s a lot of familiar faces that I’m looking forward to seeing,” she says, with the two to meet at Old Trafford next month.

It's fair to say plenty has happened since Earps last played at United’s iconic ground in the final game of the 2023-24 season. A few weeks later, her move to Paris would be confirmed, while even her status as an England international has changed, following her international retirement ahead of this year’s European Championships.

And that is the shortened version of her last 15 months. Perhaps the best summary of it all comes when GOAL asks the 32-year-old what she has enjoyed most since swapping Manchester for the French capital. “I think in a crazy way, it’s helped me deal with chaos better,” she replies.

Getty ImagesUnder the microscope

Earps had plenty of practice in that sense in her first season at PSG. The club suffered what she describes as a “gut-wrenching” Champions League qualifying exit, recovered to reach a French Cup final and the title-deciding game in the Premiere Ligue play-offs, but then ended the season with defeats in both matches as head coach Fabrice Abriel left his post.

That all came while Earps had plenty of settling in to do off the pitch, living in a bigger city than ever before and learning a new language, and while she was constantly under the microscope at England level, due to the battle with Hannah Hampton to be the Lionesses’ No.1. “It’s definitely been a lot, to say the least,” she says.

“I think it's also the price of success sometimes, being under the microscope. I've had to learn that over the last couple of years, since we won the Euros in 2022, then after the World Cup and [being named] Sports Personality [of the Year]. I try to just take it in my stride as best I can. It's not always easy, it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but I think all you can do is be grateful. Be grateful that that's on your shoulders, see that pressure as a privilege and take it as a compliment.”

AdvertisementGetty Images'At peace' with England

That attention was particularly big back in May, when Earps shocked everyone by calling time on her England career. After being one of the Lionesses’ biggest stars during their Euro 2022 triumph and the run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, she watched Sarina Wiegman’s side retain their continental crown in July as a fan – quite literally, after flying to Switzerland for some of the tournament.

“I didn't know how I was going to feel until I got there,” she says. “I hoped that I'd feel all right because it definitely wasn't an easy decision to make. I think it was nice for me to go. I wanted to go and show up in person. That was really important to me.

“I was sitting with Tooney's boyfriend, Joe, and we were just hanging out and it was just dead nice. I felt proud watching. I felt like this was how it was meant to be. I guess when you're at peace with your decision… I think it was reaffirming in a way, that I knew I could go and there weren’t all these mad emotions. And it was nice that I could see them afterwards, just briefly before I had to hop on a flight back and get back into pre-season.

“I think it's brilliant that they've won and what they continue to do for women's football. [Euro] 2022 massively changed the game for women's football in England and I think another win just cements that. It improves the situation and the conditions for future generations to come through and that's something I'm hugely passionate about. I really enjoyed watching them and watching my friends win. I feel immense pride.”

Getty ImagesChange aplenty in Paris

Earps’ full focus from here on out is on PSG then, as they look to bounce back from the disappointments of last season. They were dealt some blows in the transfer market, losing Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Korbin Albert to bitter rivals Lyon while captain Grace Geyoro became the most expensive women’s player of all-time when she signed for London City Lionesses. But there was some good recruitment, too, with Olga Carmona, the Real Madrid and Spain star, and Rasheedat Ajibade, named Player of the Tournament as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer, joining a squad now headed up by Paulo Cesar, formerly the coach of the Under-19s.

“Change of players, change of formation, change of coach, there's been a lot of change,” Earps notes, “but we're all focused on the same goal. I think the team that we've got, we've got a good spirit, a good togetherness. We've started the season okay but we're nowhere near the level that we could reach. That’s exciting. We're still a new team coming together and there's a long way that we can go.”

PSG have the benefit of time when it comes to the Premiere Ligue, which has recently changed to adopt a play-off format at the end of the season to crown the champion. It means as long as the Parisians finish in the top four, they have a shot at dethroning a Lyon side that has won 18 of the last 19 titles. “They're an incredible team,” Earps says. “Lyon are always trying to reinvent themselves. You can see the way that they've invested this year, the players they've signed, the resources they put into their team. It's great that Lyon continue to do that for their women's side but it just puts more fire in my belly that I want to go toe-to-toe with these giants.”

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Getty ImagesA special fixture

Time isn't on PSG's side as much when it comes to the Champions League, however, which begins its league phase on Tuesday. Earps admits that herself. "So it's not a case of just keep building, keep building," she adds. "We've obviously got to perform and get results.” The Parisians will start against another of Earps’ former clubs, Wolfsburg. The former England goalkeeper enjoyed her first overseas spell with the two-time winners, in the 2018-19 season, something she fondly recalls as "an incredible point in my career" that "taught me a lot".

It doesn’t get much easier, either. Real Madrid are second on their list and Bayern Munich are fourth, after that trip to Old Trafford. “I never really got an opportunity to say goodbye, so I'm looking forward to it,” Earps says of her return to Manchester. “I think the pressure of playing for Man Utd helped prepare me for the pressure that you feel at PSG as well. They are both really big clubs and they actually have a lot of similarities. I think that they've both got really passionate fan bases who naturally want the best for their club and take a really big interest and pride in the success of the team.

“Ultimately, I hope it's an incredible game between two great teams at an incredible stadium on a great night in the Champions League. What more can you want? Those are the games that you live for.”

Everton blanked against Aston Villa at the weekend, but David Moyes must be pleased with his side’s start to the 2025/26 campaign.

An exodus was needed this summer, but the dramatic upheaval on the blue side of the River Mersey emphasised the need for accuracy in the transfer market.

Seven points from four Premier League games and a three-match unbeaten run have given the Toffees a platform, but it could have been three wins from three save for some shoddy finishing against the struggling Villa.

Beto was the culprit.

Beto misfires against Aston Villa

He’s come on leaps and bounds under Moyes’ wing, has Beto, but there’s no doubt that the Bissau Guinean striker has flaws within his game, and is prone to ghosting on different occasions across the campaign.

The 6 foot 4 forward fits Moyes’ mould: he is a tower of a talisman and commands the skies well; he has scored twice across five games in all competitions this season, three of which came from the starting whistle.

But Beto has only one goal in the Premier League, and could maybe have tripled his tally against Aston Villa, horribly scuffing a chance into a yawning net when played through by Iliman Ndiaye.

Thierno Barry was signed in the summer to add competition at number nine, but the 22-year-old is raw and not yet settled within the harsh climes of the Premier League.

It’s at moments like these that some fans might wish for another goalscoring option.

Everton will regret selling Beto upgrade

It’s a shame that Moise Kean didn’t prove to be a talismanic figure in Toffee blue.

Kean initially started his professional career with a weight of expectation, such a prodigy he was billed. Things got a little stagnant, though, it’s got to be said, with his £25m move from Juventus to Everton aged 19 doing little to further his career.

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Under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, Everton signed Kean in 2019, but it’s not unfair to stress that the Italian failed to bring it together, scoring twice in the Premier League across 32 fixtures, picking up a red card too. The criticism lacing Moshiri’s dysfunctional reign is thick, but a move for Kean spoke of ambition, for sure.

But it didn’t work out, and after a spin of loan spells, Kean found himself back in Turin for a similar figure that Everton first paid for him. Thus, financially, it wasn’t a shocking blow, but the player’s struggles certainly suggest it was a poor signing.

Perhaps viewed as the successor to Romelu Lukaku’s former place in Everton’s team, Kean was one of many misfires in the transfer market during that long and interminable period of struggle, and his recent exploits back in Italy highlight what might have been in England.

Because Kean struggled even after leaving, peripheral at Juventus. But a move to Fiorentina has resurrected his career and then some, having scored 25 goals and supplied three assists across all competitions at La Viola last season.

It’s clear that Kean needed that return to his home country to develop into the player he is today, but Everton saw something and failed to make it work.

Powerful and clinical and with a “scary” physicality, as has been noted by reporter Carlo Garganese, Kean very much might have been Everton’s next version of Lukaku. Indeed, two years after the Belgian’s mammoth sale to Manchester United, it’s not improbable that Lukaku’s name was brought up during internal discussions ahead of the successful bid for the teenager.

His dribbling has come on so much. Data from FBref reveals Kean ranks among the top 14% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, but also the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, demonstrating an athleticism that Lukaku used to project with such strength on his opponents.

It’s something Moyes might have made good use of in this current Everton setting. The Merseysiders and their boss have pulled away from pragmatic perceptions and have shaped into a modern hybrid form.

Man United

4

7.9

Chelsea

9

7.7

Man City

5

7.6

Brighton

4

6.6

Everton

5

6.3

Fifth Everton sit in the xG (expected goals) rankings for the Premier League campaign so far. Early days, of course, but evidence of growth and newfound attacking impetus.

The caveat being they have only scored five goals, highlighting room for improvement in the ball-striking department. It’s not an egregious deficit by any means, but a striker of Kean’s ability could add that difference to stretch Everton even higher up the table.

Lukaku, in his Everton form, would surely be riding the crest of a wave right now, and Kean could be too. The Azzurri star, after all, was named ‘the new Lukaku’ upon his big move to Goodison Park.

So Moyes and Everton have Beto, and that’s not all that bad. The 26-year-old is a strong and sturdy striker; he commands the box well, tussling with defenders and knocking headers down to his teammates. He is a better player for Moyes’ appointment.

Only, Kean is clearly a cut above, and while it’s hopeless to rue missed opportunities to develop stars who weren’t shining at the time, it must be a frustration for the new board.

Whether Barry comes good is another question, and the Frenchman certainly has the potential to overtake Beto and set his marker as Everton’s starring striker, but he’s not there yet, and Kean could have been a difference-maker this season.

Now worth more than Grealish: Everton must regret selling "phenomenal" star

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa brought into sharp focus Everton’s lack of quality strikers, so they must regret selling this phenomenal striker.

ByBen Gray Sep 14, 2025

Under-fire Forest boss Postecoglou could be out of a job as early as next week as the club plan to make a decision on his disastrous reign during the forthcoming international window. The Aussie manager has failed to see his team win and were humiliated 3-2 by minnows Midtjylland in the Europa League – where some fans chanted for the return of previous boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Will Forest make another managerial change?

Postecoglou's position at Nottingham Forest is under severe pressure following a dismal start to his tenure, and could be out of a job as early as next week, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Forest Fans have already voiced their displeasure, chanting "You're getting sacked in the morning" after the defeat by Midtjylland, which came hot on the heels of the Carabao Cup exit to Swansea City and loss to Sunderland in the Premier League. The results under Postecoglou have been poor: two draws and four defeats and the team has also struggled defensively, conceding 13 goals in these six matches. While Postecoglou was owner Evangelos Marinakis' choice for manager, the owner's history of making swift changes, including the recent sacking of Santo, suggests that poor results could quickly lead to Postecoglou's dismissal if the team's form does not improve. Forest now face a challenging schedule in the coming weeks, including matches against Newcastle United and Chelsea.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportForest have flopped under Ange

Postecoglou was appointed as Forest's manager last month, signing a contract until June 2027, after succeeding Santo, who was sacked just three games into the season. Postecoglou took the helm at the City Ground after being sacked by Spurs, which came just weeks after guiding the club to the Europa League crown in May. But the Aussie boss has endured a torrid start, becoming the first permanent manager in a century to open his reign with six winless games for the club, which began with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal and Forest fans have expressed their discontent with chants aimed at Postecoglou, while also singing previous boss Santo’s name.

Ange fumes over basic mistakes

It was a shocker of an evening for Postecoglou in Europe, and he bemoaned the mistakes made by his players. He said: "I heard it. They’re fans. They want to see their team win and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football anymore. Really disappointing. Just really, really poor goals we conceded in the first half that again allow the opposition to get comfortable in the game and it’s been the story of our last few games. Key moments, let ourselves down. We knew the threat they provided. It wasn’t anything organisationally, it’s just in those moments we haven’t shared the same desire and determination as the opposition."

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Getty Images SportMarinakis' Forest revival

Marinakis acquired 100 per cent of the club back in May 2017, ushering in an era marked by significant financial investment and ambition. His primary goal was to return the club to the Premier League, which was achieved in May 2022 after a 23-year absence from the top flight. Under Marinakis's ownership, Forest's spending has been substantial, particularly since promotion, with £200 million ($270m) invested in the squad and he has converted club debt into shares to strengthen the financial position with nearly £250m ($336.1m) converted to equity over the past five-and-a-half years. Marinakis also owns Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave and has faced accusations regarding multi-club ownership and UEFA regulations, leading him to place his Forest shares in a blind trust in April 2025 to comply with rules should Forest and Olympiacos qualify for the same European competition.

The 38-year-old thought he would finish his career at NSW having played the last two seasons there but returns to Tasmania, where he played most of his career

Alex Malcolm10-Apr-2025Jackson Bird will return to Tasmania for one more Sheffield Shield season after thinking his career was going to finish with New South Wales.Bird, 38, started his Shield career in Tasmania way back in 2011-12 having moved down from NSW to begin a career that saw him play nine Tests for Australia.He returned to NSW two seasons ago with a view to finishing his career in Sydney. He took 34 wickets at 17.20 in seven games last season to finish fourth among the Shield’s leading wicket-takers for the summer. He will now get the chance to finish career where he started in Hobart.Related

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“Two years ago, I probably didn’t think I would get the opportunity to play for Tassie again,” Bird said. “I am really grateful to be able to come back here and finish my career with Tassie after spending so many years here.”Bird is one of only five bowlers in Shield history to have taken 400 wickets and is only 35 wickets shy of going second on the all-time list while he is seven games away from playing 100 Shield matches. He is already Tasmania’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Shield cricket with 350 and will likely add more.Tasmania’s high-performance manager Salliann Beams said Bird’s return would be invaluable for Tasmania after they had injury issues among their fast-bowling ranks last year, and also lost star allrounder Beau Webster to Test duty at key times.”I’m so pleased we’ve been able to find a role for Jackson that has been mutually beneficial,” Beams said. “His talent and bowling expertise around our group once again should excite all of Tasmanian cricket.”Our bowling stocks were tested last season through injury, and the experience of Jackson will give us another reliable option in a bowling line up, while being able to provide his mentorship to a bowling group that has an exciting future.”Tasmania have signed tall left-arm quick Marcus Bean after his surprise emergence in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes while Riley Meredith has also signed a new deal to remain with Tasmania after being linked with a move to Victoria.

Barcelona’s mounting injury crisis has taken another devastating turn as Raphinha’s recovery has hit a major setback ahead of El Clasico. The Brazilian winger is now at serious risk of missing the headline La Liga showdown against Real Madrid, joining Robert Lewandowski on the sidelines after the striker was ruled out with a thigh injury.

Raphinha suffers injury recovery setback

Barca have been dealt a major blow ahead of the upcoming Clasico, as Raphinha’s hamstring injury has proven more serious than initially feared. The Brazilian, who suffered the issue during a clash against Real Oviedo two weeks ago, was expected to return for matches against Girona and Olympiacos to regain fitness in time for Real Madrid.

However, reports that Raphinha “felt discomfort” during final fitness tests, forcing him to halt his recovery process. What was initially seen as a short-term problem has now escalated, with his participation in the Santiago Bernabeu showdown on October 26 now in doubt.

The 27-year-old has yet to train with the group since the international break and continues to work individually in the gym. With just days left before the Girona fixture, Hansi Flick and his staff are growing increasingly concerned about his availability for what could be a decisive fixture in Barcelona’s season.

Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami: Pre-sale Oct. 21Ticket accessAdvertisementgettyFlick’s tactical concerns as Raphinha’s return delayed

Raphinha’s absence could prove particularly costly for Barca boss Flick’s tactical setup, with the coach valuing the winger’s directness and pressing from the right flank. According to the report, the coaching staff recognise how crucial Raphinha is to Barca’s tactical setup and overall playing style. As a result, they have decided to delay his return slightly, allowing him more recovery time before reintroducing him to training on the sidelines.

The German coach is said to be adopting a cautious approach, preferring to prioritise the player’s long-term fitness rather than risk aggravating the hamstring injury. However, the report suggests that even a late push for recovery might not be enough in their race against time.

For now, the winger’s rehabilitation has been limited to light gym work, and he hasn’t stepped onto the training pitch since returning from the international break. That lack of progress has left both the technical staff and medical team pessimistic about his involvement in El Clasico.

Lewandowski ruled out as crisis grows

Blaugrana’s forward line has taken a further hit with their hero Lewandowski’s confirmed absence due to a thigh muscle tear suffered during Poland’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. The 37-year-old, who has already missed several games this season with recurring muscle problems, is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

“Robert Lewandowski has suffered a muscle tear in the biceps femoris of his left thigh. His recovery time will depend on how the injury evolves,” Barcelona confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. Spanish media reports indicate that the Polish striker will definitely miss games against Girona, Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Elche, Club Brugge and Celta Vigo.

Already without goalkeeper Joan Garcia and Lewandowski, the Raphinha setbacks adds to further fears surrounding Dani Olmo, who is doubtful for El Clasico. Ferran Torres, meanwhile, has returned to the squad after a minor muscle scare, while Lamine Yamal resumed full training on Monday following a groin problem.

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GettyBarca's Clasico preparations in turmoil

With the Clasico just around the corner, Barca’s preparation has been thrown into disarray, and Flick must now reshuffle his attacking options, with Torres and Yamal likely to feature prominently in the absence of Lewa and Raphinha.

The Catalan giants will first face Girona at Montjuic before their Champions League fixture against Olympiacos, both of which were initially earmarked as warm-up matches for the returning stars. Instead, these games now serve as a test of Flick’s squad depth and adaptability.

Barca currently trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid and will head into the Bernabeu clash under pressure to secure a result without two of their key attacking players. The hope remains that Raphinha can stage a late recovery, but as things stand, the Blaugrana could enter the most crucial fixture of their season highly weakened.

One of the areas Manchester United were reportedly looking to strengthen for Ruben Amorim over the summer was in midfield. In the end, the Red Devils never brought someone in to play in the middle of the park, but it was a key focus for the club.

They were heavily linked with Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. It was reported at the start of August that United had made contact via intermediaries to sign the midfielder, although the move never happened.

Indeed, over the last few years, United have struggled to sign a permanent replacement in midfield for the great Michael Carrick.

Man Utd's struggle to replace Carrick

It often feels like Carrick does not get the praise he deserves. You do not play 464 times for United if you aren’t a top-level player. As Rio Ferdinand once said, he was “the most underrated and undervalued player in the league” throughout his career.

So, replacing him was never going to be easy for United. Unfortunately, it still seems like the Red Devils are yet to find the man who can properly fill Carrick’s boots. Since his retirement at the end of 2017/18, the Red Devils have signed seven midfielders.

Bruno Fernandes has been the only true success. United’s captain can also be grouped with Donny van de Beek and Mason Mount as players who are attacking midfielders rather than a number six like Carrick was.

Another two of those midfield signings have now left the club. Fred was a marmite figure among United fans, although left to join Fenerbahce last summer. Sofyan Amrabat was only at the club on a season-long loan, and now plays at Real Betis.

So, that leaves Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. The Brazilian legend has had peaks and troughs at Old Trafford, although at 33 years of age, he hasn’t played for the club in his prime.

As for Ugarte, he’s struggled to cement a place in the midfield under Amorim – as evidenced by his lack of action in the Europa League final – and does not possess the quality of Carrick.

So, the wait goes on to replace Carrick. However, United may have had an academy star on the books who could have been the perfect option.

United’s in-house Carrick replacement

Replacing a midfielder as important and talented as Carrick was never going to be easy for the Red Devils. Often, their esteemed Carrington academy is the place to turn for exciting young talents.

Well, back when Erik ten Hag was the club’s manager in 2023, they chose not to offer Ethan Galbraith a new contract. Described as a “little Iniesta or Xavi” by former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough, the 24-year-old could have been United’s Carrick replacement.

He has previously been called “Carrick-esque” by journalist Richard Fay of The Manchester Evening News. It might be with regret for the higher-ups at United to see him doing so well at his current club, Swansea City.

This season for the Swans, he’s nine games across all competitions, scoring and assisting one apiece. The 24-year-old also featured twice for Northern Ireland in the most recent international break, where he impressed against Germany.

His stats from the season so far in the Championship highlight Galbraith’s ability with the ball at his feet.

For example, he averages 2.12 progressive carries and 6.72 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which rank him in the top 3% and 17% of Championship midfielders, respectively.

Progressive passes

6.72

83rd

Passes into penalty area

1.06

72nd

Assists

0.18

86th

Progressive carries

2.12

97th

Carries into penalty area

0.53

97th

It is easy to see how Galbraith compares to Carrick. The former United number 16 had “wonderfully varied, extremely creative passing range, is two-footed and glides across the pitch”, according to his former manager at West Ham United, the late Glenn Roeder.

Galbraith certainly ticks those boxes, as the stats and the eye test both show. If only United had kept hold of the rising star a couple of years ago, he could have been a key part of their midfield under Amorim and their Carrick replacement.

Not Sesko: Bruno has found his new Martial & Rashford in Man Utd "machine"

Bruno Fernandes appears to have a new partner in crime at Manchester United…

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The Orange Cap table wears a different look, but there is no major change on the Purple Cap table after Prasidh Krishna got to the top spot on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-20251:13

Pujara: SKY put a lot of pressure on spinners

Orange Cap leaderboardVirat Kohli (RCB) became the third-ranked batter on the run-getters’ table when he was done for the day, the fifth batter to top 300 runs for the season, but Suryakumar Yadav (MI) got there later in the day, too, and went past Kohli to third spot.Kohli has been scoring consistently without setting the tournament on fire all this while, and has been there and thereabouts on the leaderboard. In the day game on Sunday, Kohli was faced with a moderate chase of 158 and led the way for his team as they pulled off a seven-wicket win.He scored 73 not out off 54 balls, and that has taken his tally for the season to 322 runs. For Kohli, it was the fourth half-century of the season, and he now averages a remarkable 64.40 – the highest for batters with over 150 runs and only behind Tim David’s 142.00 in the tournament overall. His strike rate of 140.00 is the poorest among the top five, though.Suryakumar then scored 68 not out off 30 balls as MI beat CSK by nine wickets to take his aggregate to 333, ending the weekend only behind Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Nicholas Pooran (368 runs) and B Sai Sudharsan (365) of Gujarat Titans (GT). GT take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday, and Sai Sudharsan needs just four runs to take the Orange Cap.Behind Suryakumar and Kohli, also past the 300-run mark, are GT’s Jos Buttler (315) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (307) of Rajasthan Royals (RR). LSG’s Mitchell Marsh, for so long only behind Pooran and Sai Sudharsan, has fallen to No. 7 with 299 runs.7:26

Pujara: Kohli is the best when it comes to chases

Purple Cap leaderboardA number of bowlers who had a shot at getting close to GT’s table-topper Prasidh Krishna’s 14 wickets on Sunday, but none of them got a wicket. Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed of CSK, Josh Hazlewood (RCB) and MI captain Hardik Pandya went wicketless in their respective games, while Arshdeep Singh’s lone strike against RCB has now put him in the mix, but he is still some way away.Prasidh Krishna leads the table, followed by Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Kuldeep Yadav, Noor, Hazlewood and LSG’s Shardul Thakur at 12 wickets each, followed by the five bowlers with 11 wickets: GT duo R Sai Kishore and Mohammed Siraj, Hardik, Arshdeep and Khaleel.Highest batting strike ratesBest bowling economy ratesMost sixesBest bowling figures in a match

Jamie Redknapp hailed Bukayo Saka after the winger inspired Arsenal to a gritty 1-0 win over Fulham that took them back to the top of the Premier League. On a day when Mikel Arteta's men struggled for fluency, Saka's leadership and composure shone through, underlining once again why the England star is so crucial to the Gunners' title ambitions.

Saka excels in Arsenal's gritty Fulham win

Arsenal had to work hard to overcome a resilient Fulham side at Craven Cottage, with Leandro Trossard's second-half strike ultimately proving decisive. The Gunners laboured through a sluggish first half in which Fulham created the better chances, forcing David Raya into two important saves. But after the interval, Arsenal improved their tempo, and Saka's pinpoint corner created the breakthrough moment that sealed the win.

Fulham briefly thought they had a lifeline when a VAR review prompted a penalty awarded for a challnge on Saka to be overturned by referee Anthony Taylor. But the result lifted Arsenal back above Manchester City, maintaining their excellent away form with just one defeat in their last 18 Premier League away games. Although Saka didn't get on the scoresheet, his performance – full of drive and determination – set the tone for Arsenal's resilience. Arteta's side once again showcased their defensive solidity, as Fulham failed to register a single shot on target.

The Gunners have now conceded only three goals in eight league matches this season, highlighting their growing maturity. For Saka, who captained the side in Martin Odegaard's absence, the afternoon further cemented his role as Arsenal’s heartbeat in moments of adversity.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNo one else can fill Saka's boots

Redknapp was full of praise for Saka's all-round influence, telling : "Don't get me wrong, of course, they've got players who can play on that side but he is the man. And that's what I'm talking about when I talk about being a leader today."

The pundit: "He's not a Tony Adams as a captain, but he took the game by the scruff of the neck when the team was struggling and they didn't quite have that flow, and he grew into the game."

Redknapp concluded: "As the game went on, he just started to win his individual battle. He was fabulous. I feel that if they can keep him fit then that's going to be a massive key for them. Obviously, there are other players – [William] Saliba, Gabriel – but Saka just feels irreplaceable."

Saka's Premier League season so far

Saka's numbers this season highlight exactly why Redknapp labelled him "irreplaceable". So far, he has three goals across all competitions and ranks among Arsenal's top players for chance creation and expected assists (xAG). He's averaged over 2.5 key passes per game in the Premier League and continues to be the most fouled Arsenal player, proof of how central he is to the team's attack.

Against Fulham, Saka led the team in completed dribbles and final-third entries, dictating the rhythm of Arsenal's play even when others struggled. His assist for Trossard's winner was his fourth goal contribution of the season, marking his direct involvement in more than 30 per cent of Arsenal's league goals at this stage of the campaign.

Those figures, paired with his relentless work rate, show a player who routinely influences matches. Having missed a brief spell earlier in the campaign through a hamstring issue, after a much longer absence last season, Saka's return to action has been seamless. His sharpness, creativity, and tactical intelligence have made him indispensable on the right flank.

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Saka crucial for Arsenal on multiple fronts

With Arsenal back on top of the Premier League table, the challenge now is to sustain momentum heading into a congested schedule. Saka's fitness will be a major focus, particularly given his importance to both Arsenal and the England national team.

Arteta has already spoken about managing the player's workload carefully to avoid burnout. The Gunners' next test will come in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, where Saka's ability could prove vital as Arsenal seek to progress from the league phase.

If Arsenal are going to achieve what they want to achieve this season, their success is seemingly going to be built on a foundation of 2-0 wins.

Mikel Arteta’s team have enjoyed back-to-back victories by that scoreline this week, beating Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, before downing West Ham on Saturday, with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka the scorers.

The Hammers did not muster a single shot on target, ending the afternoon with a miserly xG of just 0.49, while the Gunners have now conceded just three goals in ten matches across all competitions; Dominik Szoboszlai, Erling Braut Håland and Nick Woltemade the only men to find the target against them to date.

Thus, Arteta’s team remain watertight at the back, but will be hoping for a little bit more at the other end of the pitch, so will their new centre-forward click into gear, and did they actually sell a home-grown version who has been starring in Europe since departing?

Viktor Gyökeres' mixed start to life at Arsenal

Fair to say, after arriving from Sporting Clube de Portugal for around £62m, Viktor Gyökeres did so with sky-high expectations.

Despite Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus’ array of qualities, Arsenal have not had a truly reliable goalscorer since the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2022, and Gyökeres’ tally of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting speaks for itself.

Last month, at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the Swedish international was awarded the Gerd Müller Trophy, given to the highest-scoring striker in European football, but he doesn’t quite look like a world beater just yet in red and white.

His statistics below underline his mixed start to life in North London.

As the table documents, in nine appearances, Gyökeres does have three goals to his name, but it could be more.

Appearances

9

Minutes

733

Goals

3

Assists

Zero

Shots

18

Shots on target

7

Big chances missed

7

Expected goals

3.94

Chances created

6

Big chances created

Zero

Expected assists

0.5

Touches per 90

27.15

% of touches in box

26%

Average SofaScore rating

6.57

His expected goals figure is almost four, while he has so far missed seven Opta-defined big chances across the Premier League and Champions League.

The numbers also show that the striker is offering almost nothing from a creation point of view, mustering just 27 touches per 90, of which more than a quarter come in the opposition’s penalty area.

Patience is required; Gyökeres is taking time to adapt to his new teammates, who are likewise still adapting to him.

However, did the Gunners sell their own home-grown Gyökeres for just £4m, a player who has been absolutely on fire since leaving?

Arsenal's home-grown Viktor Gyökeres

Back in 2021, Arsenal poached an 18-year-old by the name of Mika Biereth from Fulham, an event that would’ve passed most Gooners by, considering he never made a single first-team appearance for the club.

However, he was prolific in Premier League 2, scoring 11 times in 21 games, subsequently loaned out to RKC Waalwijk and then Motherwell, certainly catching the eye during his very brief spell at Fir Park, bagging six goals in 14 Premiership outings for the Steelmen.

His loan in North Lanarkshire was abruptly cut short, allowing him to move to Sturm Graz, first on loan and then permanently for £4m, really making his name in Austria.

Biereth scored 23 times in just 47 appearances for die Schwoazn, averaging a goal every 156 minutes, helping them win a domestic double, as well as bagging three goals in four outings in the Conference League, before netting against Girona and Lille in the Champions League too. As the forward self-proclaimed in one interview, “like Haaland, all I really care about is scoring goals”. He’s like Gyokeres in that regard too.

Thus, back in January, Monaco moved quickly to sign the now 22-year-old for a reported fee of €15m (around £13m).

This quickly looked like a very shrewd investment because, in Ligue 1 last season, Biereth scored 13 times in just 16 appearances, including bagging hat-tricks against Auxerre, Nantes and Reims, firing les Monégasques to a third-place finish.

As a result of this form, Football Transfers estimate that the Danish international’s current market value is now around £23m, representing a 464% increase on what Arsenal sold him for.

The Gunners did pocket around £1m via a sell-on clause when the striker swapped Sturm Graz for the Principality, but could have earned so much more had they given Biereth a chance.

Admittedly, he has only scored once so far this season, on target during a 5-2 victory over Metz at Stade Louis II last month, so only time will tell if he was just a one-season wonder, or if this is a brief blip.

Nevertheless, given that Gyökeres is yet to be firing on all cylinders, perhaps Biereth would have been a more effective option to spearhead this Arsenal attack.

Not Saka or Rice: 8/10 monster is now looking like Arsenal's best player

Arsenal’s title bid continued with a routine win over West Ham United on Saturday afternoon

1 ByRobbie Walls Oct 4, 2025