Head swats aside criticism: “Pink ball, white ball, red ball… Who really cares?”

Matt Roller30-Nov-2025Joe Root has questioned whether the Ashes should include a pink-ball Test ahead of Thursday’s day-night fixture in Brisbane.The first pink-ball Test was staged a decade ago and the format was initially devised to boost attendances. The second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes between Australia and England at the Gabba this week will be the 25th played with a pink ball and the fourth in an Ashes series, and tickets have sold out for the first three days.But amid huge demand for tickets across the tour, Root queried whether the day-night element was necessary. “I don’t think you need it in Ashes series. Absolutely not,” he said before training at the Gabba on Sunday.”I don’t mind [pink-ball cricket]. I mean, I don’t think it’s as good as traditional Test cricket. But it’s in the schedule: we’ve got to play it, and just got to make sure we’re better than them at it… It’s clearly something that works here for Australia, and they enjoy it.”He added: “It does add to things. It’s obviously very successful and popular here, and obviously Australia have got a very good record here as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games and ultimately, you know from two years out [that] it is going to be there… A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”Related

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Both Cricket Australia and the ECB were happy to play the game as a pink-ball Test, since home boards need the agreement of their opponents before the ICC grant approval for Test matches to be played as day-night games. The 2pm start time in Brisbane means that the final session will be played in primetime for domestic TV audiences, and in daylight hours in the UK.Travis Head, who scored 123 off 83 balls in the series opener in Perth to put Australia 1-0 up, dismissed Root’s comments. “We’ve embraced it,” he said. “We’ve been able to put out a good product, and been able to play really, really well with it. Pink ball, white ball, red ball… Who really cares?”It’s a great spectacle. We’re going to have huge crowds again. [We’ll] look forward to the week and, look, if you win, you think it’s great, and if you lose, maybe not. Both teams might have differing opinions by the end of it… It still works the same way. It’s still five days, it’s just with a slightly different ball.”Mitchell Starc took 6 for 9 with the pink ball in Australia’s most recent day-night Test•Associated PressRoot has played in each of England’s seven previous day-night Tests, captaining in six of them, and said that England must be aware of “how quickly the game can change” under floodlights. “At different phases of the day, it can feel quite placid and you can feel out of the game with the ball, and things can turn around,” he said.”Similarly, with the bat, [it is about] recognising those moments and utilising them as best you can: when to put the foot down and maximise the good batting conditions; similarly, being able to maximise it when it changes and how quickly it changes.”The sun will set during the second session of play in Brisbane this week, which Root highlighted as a difference to England’s recent day-night Tests.”It looks like we’ll have half of a day under floodlights. The twilight phase is in the middle session, when usually that comes around the back end of the second session and the start of the last session.”There will be different elements to contend with, but that is all part of the fun, right? Can we be skilful enough and brave enough to be better than Australia in those big moments?”Australia’s only defeat in their 14 previous pink-ball Tests came against West Indies at the Gabba early last year, but England have a dreadful record in Brisbane, last winning there in 1986-87.”It is a chance to make a bit of history,” Root said. “It will make it all that bit sweeter if we can get over the line here. I’ve played at other venues where we’ve got terrible records, then come out and won; it’s a great feeling. That’s the carrot dangled in front of us.”

There is also a battle of wristspinners to look out for

Shashank Kishore and Danyal Rasool13-Sep-20251:12

Chopra: Varun and Kuldeep’s eight overs are key

The superstars face off

When Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Shubman Gill with 100,000 people watching in Ahmedabad at the 2023 World Cup, he felt “you could’ve heard a fly buzzing, such was the silence.”Gill, now India’s all-format superstar, is touted to be a captain-in-waiting across formats, having slipped almost effortlessly into the role in Test cricket.Related

• New-look India and Pakistan set to renew old rivalry

• Mohammad Nawaz reinvents himself just in time for India

• Hasan Nawaz brings the muscle to Pakistan's middle

• India batting coach Kotak: Nothing in mind apart from cricket

• India vs Pakistan, minus the fervour

After two difficult years battling back injuries, form slumps, and seeing T20I captaincy come and go, Afridi seems to have rediscovered the menace that once made him Pakistan’s most feared quick: the late in-swing, the skiddy pace, the ability to rip out top orders, like he famously did when Pakistan beat India at the 2021 T20 World Cup on these shores.The two, no strangers to stare downs or sharp words stretching back to their Under-19 World Cup days, will cross paths again on Sunday, for the first time in T20Is.

The battle of the wristspinners

In any other team, Kuldeep Yadav would be an all-format player. In India, though, he has had to make peace with being a white-ball specialist. His four-wicket haul against UAE, after spending the entire summer on the sidelines in England, may have been a neat little prelude.Kuldeep knows this stage well. No one can forget that ball to Babar Azam at the 2019 World Cup, bowling him through the gate and leaving even the late Shane Warne guffawing in admiration.Abrar Ahmed gives Shubman Gill a send-off at the Champions Trophy•Associated PressAlongside him is Varun Chakravarthy, whose career arc could fill a Tamil blockbuster. The ex-architect and film hopeful was dropped soon after India’s early exit at the 2021 T20 World Cup. He wondered if he would ever wear India colours again. But since the last T20 World Cup, which he didn’t even make, no bowler has taken more T20I wickets than Varun’s 32.Pakistan have their own mystery spinners. Sufiyan Muqeem, the left-arm wristspinner, came through the ‘A’ system, has been one of their brightest prospects and is the first Pakistani, at No. 10, in the above list. He is quicker through the air than Kuldeep, more in the mould of Noor Ahmad.Muqeem was instrumental in Pakistan’s win over India at the 2023 Emerging Asia Cup and now has a chance to do it on the big stage. He isn’t a regular yet, but one dazzling ball or spell, like Abrar Ahmed’s ripper that breached Gill’s defence at the Champions Trophy earlier this year, could change that.Varun-and-Kuldeep versus Muqeem-and-Abrar is a fascinating subplot.It will not be easy for Mohammad Haris to take on Jasprit Bumrah•Getty Images

Bumrah against Haris – facts or feelings?

Mohammad Haris, like Sam Konstas, is not better at his craft than Jasprit Bumrah is at his. But the Australian rode his luck in an astonishing Test innings on debut against Bumrah, reverse-scooping him twice for a six and smashing 18 in the most expensive over of the fast bowler’s Test career and Haris could do something similar here in the T20 format.Like Konstas, Haris too will be facing Bumrah for the first time and, like Konstas, he too has a penchant for high-risk shot-making. In just his second T20I, Haris reinvigorated Pakistan’s flagging T20I World Cup campaign in 2022. He took on South Africa’s elite pace bowlers, smashing Kagiso Rabada for 17 in an 11-ball knock that produced 28.Scoring only 54 runs in 11 innings before Friday’s Asia Cup game against Oman demonstrates how that approach fails more often than not. However, Haris’ conventional technique is nowhere near good enough to take on a bowler of Bumrah’s quality. So expect him to try to lash, thrash, paddle and scoop his way to a cameo, because that is all Pakistan need from him, just like they did at the SCG three years ago. But if facts and logic have their way, it might not come off.Can Hasan Nawaz tackle elite spinners?•Associated Press

Hasan Nawaz vs India’s spin elite

Hasan Nawaz has emerged as Pakistan’s bludgeon outside of the powerplay. Having tinkered around with his batting position, Pakistan have begun using him when the field spreads out, where his 2025 T20 strike of 174.09 is below only Dewald Brevis and Tim David’s.Notably though, Hasan’s strike rate drops down to 150 against spin, as opposed to 173.48 against pace. He takes on each kind of bowling – he has his 17 T20I sixes against each – so the quality of spin appears to be making a difference.Against Afghanistan in the recent tri-series, he scored 33 in as many balls across three innings, with Noor and Rashid Khan taking turns to dismiss him. India’s spin trio of Axar Patel, Varun and Kuldeep is very much in the same elite mould, and adept at asphyxiating an innings through those middle overs.We’re likely to see spin come on as soon as Hasan comes to the crease, and whether he can prove himself against that colossal challenge may be a hinge point for this contest.

Chelsea are in conversation with the representatives of a defender as midfielder Moises Caicedo offers his opinion on the potential transfer, according to a new report.

Chelsea play Bournemouth after Leeds United blow

Chelsea travel to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon desperately seeking a response to their shock midweek defeat at Leeds, with Enzo Maresca’s title credentials under scrutiny after a damaging loss that left them nine points adrift of Arsenal.

The Blues suffered a humiliating 3-1 loss at Elland Road on Wednesday, falling two goals behind by halftime before Pedro Neto’s second-half strike proved insufficient.

The defeat represented their second loss to newly-promoted opposition this season, raising fresh doubts about their ability to maintain consistency and challenge Mikel Arteta for the Premier League.

Bournemouth present a challenge despite their own recent struggles.

The Cherries have endured a miserable November without a single victory, collecting just one point from four games while conceding 12 goals.

Tuesday’s narrow 1-0 home defeat to Everton extended their winless streak to five matches and marked their first loss at the Vitality Stadium all campaign.

Andoni Iraola’s side have plummeted from second to 14th during this barren spell, though they remain only five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with significant room for optimism.

The hosts have collected 14 of their 19 Premier League points on home soil this season, establishing the Vitality as a fortress until Everton’s breakthrough.

Chelsea arrive as clear favourites based on superior stats and historical dominance, having won 15 of 23 meetings between the two clubs.

However, the visitors face selection headaches, with Caicedo still serving his suspension after picking up five yellow cards.

The Ecuadorian’s absence is a significant blow given his pivotal role protecting the defence, and Caicedo’s presence was sorely missed against Leeds.

Fabrizio Romano says 24-year-old has now played his last game for Chelsea

He doesn’t have a future in west London.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 4, 2025

Chelsea boast the division’s best away attacking record with 15 goals in seven games, averaging over two goals per match. Yet, their vulnerability without Caicedo was exposed ruthlessly by Leeds, with the midfield lacking its usual protection.

While the £150,000-per-week star continues to sit out, he’s at least making himself useful in other ways.

Chelsea hold talks with Joel Ordonez as Moises Caicedo offers opinion

That is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, who report on Chelsea’s serious interest in Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.

Chelsea have renewed contact with Ordonez’s representatives in recent weeks as they intensify their pursuit of the 21-year-old, with Caicedo also offering behind-the-scenes ‘thoughts’ about his former Independiente del Valle teammate.

The west Londoners are said to have tracked him since before his 2023 move to Belgium, maintaining long-standing interest in the player.

Caicedo and Ordonez developed their friendship during their time together at Independiente’s famed South American academy, and have remained close through international duty.

The Chelsea midfielder now appears to be playing agent, giving his verdict on Ordonez to the club’s hierarchy.

Liverpool represent significant competition for Ordonez’s signature, though.

Arne Slot’s side have monitored him closely over the past year as they desperately seek solutions to their defensive crisis. The Reds initially prioritised Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, but understand he will not depart Selhurst Park during January, forcing them to explore alternative options.

Crucially, both Club Brugge and Ordonez himself are open to a winter transfer, with England emerging as the most likely destination.

Fresh discussions between the player’s camp and Chelsea have taken place recently, building on months of established communication channels, but Man City and Tottenham are also keen.

City and Spurs have shown admiration for Ordonez, closely assessing him in recent weeks as they evaluate their own defensive requirements.

However, Chelsea and Liverpool currently lead the race after laying more groundwork, and perhaps Caicedo’s presence could prove key here in the race for Ordonez’s signature.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen is ranked fifth in the Test bowlers’ charts and second among the allrounders

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2025

India batter Virat Kohli has moved one spot up to fourth in ICC rankings for ODI batters while Pakistan allrounder Saim Ayub regained the top spot among T20I allrounders.Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century in Ranchi where India beat South Africa by 17 runs. He made 135 off 120 balls, and was involved in a 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, who is the No. 1-ranked ODI batter. Kohli now has 751 rating points and is only 32 behind Rohit’s 783.Ayub was the top-ranked allrounder in October before Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza overtook him. But Ayub’s Player-of-the-Match effort in the tri-series final in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets (Zimbabwe being the third team), helped him reclaim the top spot. He dismissed Sri Lanka’s top-scorer Kamil Mishara to return figures of 1 for 17 off four overs before scoring 36 off 33 to set the tone for Pakistan’s chase.Apart from Ayub, Pakistan legspinner Abrar Ahmed moved up to fourth in the T20I bowlers’ rankings led by Varun Chakravarthy, while India’s Kuldeep Yadav moved up to sixth in the ODI bowlers’ charts.Marco Jansen also gained in the Test rankings following South Africa’s clean sweep over India in the two-Test series. Following his 12 wickets in two games, Jansen moved to fifth in the Test bowlers’ charts while he gained four spots to be placed second in the Test allrounders rankings. His team-mate Simon Harmer, who took 17 wickets in the series, jumped up 13 places to be the 11th-ranked bowler.

Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Celtic’s clash with Dundee at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night will be his final game as the interim manager.

The experienced Northern Irish coach has revealed that Wilfried Nancy will take charge for the clash with Hearts at the weekend, ending his time in the dugout.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Hibernian, O’Neill said: “He (Nancy) is the man that will be coming in. I thought it was over on Sunday, but there’s some paperwork still to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be my final game.

The interim boss has won six of his seven matches in his second spell with the Hoops, winning all four of his league games, and there have been several players who have been big winners from the change in manager.

The biggest winners from Martin O'Neill's time as interim Celtic manager

Callum Osmand, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, was one of the early winners from Brendan Rodgers’ departure, after he scored one goal in three games for O’Neill, having not played a single minute under the previous boss.

On the topic of strikers, Johnny Kenny was another winner of O’Neill’s tenure because the Ireland international scored four goals in the manager’s first four matches in charge, per Sofascore, which has shown that he can deliver quality at first-team level for the Hoops.

Reo Hatate has also improved under the interim boss. He has provided two goals and three assists in seven games for the Northern Irishman, per Sofascore, after a return of one goal and no assists in 13 games for Rodgers.

The biggest winner of O’Neill’s tenure, however, has been centre-back Auston Trusty, who has played every single minute of the seven games, having only made two appearances as a substitute in the league for the last manager this season.

Why Wilfried Nancy may drop Auston Trusty

Despite playing every single minute of the last seven Celtic games, the USA international is one of the players who could be on the chopping block when Nancy finally comes through the door.

Chalkboard

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

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Trusty has been playing as a right-sided centre-back because of the injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers, and the French tactician may want a naturally right-footed option in that position.

If Nancy wants that natural balance at the back, whether that is by signing a centre-back in January or giving a chance to another player in the squad, then Trusty could have to compete with Liam Scales for a starting berth as the left-sided centre-back.

24/25 + 25/26 Premiership

Trusty

Scales

Appearances

28

39

Clean sheets

13

22

Dribbled past

11x

8x

Error led to shot

5

2

Error led to goal

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland international has been the more reliable performer for the Scottish giants at the heart of the defence in the Premiership since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Trusty, who was hailed as a “powerful” player by Rodgers, made an error leading to a shot with a loose pass on Sunday, and that was his fifth in just 28 league games for the club.

He has also been dribbled past three more times than Scales, despite the Irishman playing 11 more games, which shows that opposition players find it easier to play against him than his fellow left-footed defender.

Trusty, to his credit, has been solid in his duels in the Premiership this season, winning 62% of his physical battles, per Sofascore, but his errors over the past 18 months or so and the fact that he is currently a left-footer playing on the right may come into consideration ahead of the January transfer window.

Nancy may want to bring in a naturally right-footed player to start games in that role, leaving Trusty and Scales to compete for one place. That is why he may end up dropping the American, who has been the biggest winner from O’Neill’s tenure, once he has a right-footed defender available to select.

His performances at Premiership level since his £6m move from Sheffield United suggest that Scales would be the better option for the new boss at left-centre-back, but we will have to wait and see how it plays out in reality.

Related Celtic flop who was "really shaky" v Hibs is the first player Nancy must bin

This Celtic flop is the first player who should be sold by incoming manager Wilfried Nancy in January.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

MLB’s winter meetings continued on Tuesday, as more deals were struck and rumors continued to fly.

The blockbuster news on Tuesday was the Dodgers signing Mets All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a massive, three-year, $69 million deal. L.A.’s bullpen was a mess in 2025, and last offseason’s big signing, Tanner Scott, was straight up awful. The team’s closer went 1–4 with a 4.74 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, 60 strikeouts against 18 walks in 57 innings, and posted a whopping 10 blown saves. Theoretically, signing Díaz should correct that mistake.

That was the big headline on Tuesday, but there are plenty of rumors circulating around the winter meetings. Several of the biggest we’re hearing are below.

Red Sox could look to Bo Bichette

The Red Sox want to bring free agent third baseman Alex Bregman back, but he has drawn interest from across the league. If he opted to bolt for a new home, it would leave Boston with a sizable hole in the infield. Enter Bo Bichette. Rumors are picking up steam that the Red Sox could turn to Bichette if Bregman walks. While the 27-year-old shortstop’s defensive metrics are awful, he could man the spot for a few years with Marcelo Mayer sliding over to third base.

Bichette is coming off an outstanding season for the Blue Jays in which he slashed .311/.357/.483, and set a full-season personal best with a wRC+ of 134, while producing 3.8 fWAR in 139 games. He’s a hitting machine and would fit well with a young Red Sox core ready to start making the next steps toward contention. Toronto won’t let him walk without a fight, but Boston would be an excellent fit.

Mets willing to trade David Peterson

The Mets watched Díaz leave for the Dodgers on Tuesday, and there’s another All-Star pitcher who might not be back in 2026. The team’s president of baseball operations, David Stearns, has said there is currently a “pretty active” trade market, and ’s Tim Britton and Will Sammon are reporting New York would consider parting with starter David Peterson in the right deal.

The 30-year-old lefty made his first All-Star team in 2025 and went 9–6, with a 4.22 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 150 strikeouts against 65 walks in 168 2/3 innings. That followed a 2024 campaign in which he went 10–3 with a 2.90 ERA in 121 innings. Peterson is under team control through the 2026 season before hitting free agency.

Given his production and what should be an affordable salary (projected to be under $8 million) in his final year of arbitration, Peterson wouldn’t come cheap. The Mets need rotation help, so it would likely take a decent amount to pry him loose. That said, New York needs to find an outfielder to replace the departed Brandon Nimmo and may need to find a replacement for Pete Alonso at first base. Moving a valuable player to fill those holes might be the route Stearns opts to take.

Ketel Marte trade speculation continues

The Diamondbacks continue to field calls on second baseman Ketel Marte. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star is one of the big names available on the trade block this offseason, but he’ll fetch a high price if he is moved. He’s coming off a 2025 season in which he slashed .283/.376/.517, with 28 home runs, 72 RBIs, a wRC+ of 145, and 4.6 fWAR. He was also criticized for sitting out too many games.

For Arizona to move Marte, it would need a massive return. He’s owed $102.5 million over the next six years, which is an incredibly affordable contract for a player with his ability. He’s a consistent, All-Star-level performer, and while he’s leaving his prime, his deal is manageable.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Red Sox are interested, along with three unnamed teams.

Dodgers not “likely” to move Teoscar Hernandez

While they have a mostly complete roster, the Dodgers are looking to rework some things this offseason. They kicked off that effort on Tuesday by signing All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, and they almost certainly won’t be done making changes. One potential deal seems to be off the table, though.

L.A. general manager Brandon Gomes said it “doesn’t feel likely” that outfielder Teoscar Hernández will be moved. After he helped lead them to a World Series title in 2024, the Dodgers re-signed Hernández to a three-year, $66 million deal last offseason. The 33-year-old proceeded to take a step back. In 2025, he slashed .247/.284/.454, with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs, while posting a career-worst wRC+ (102), and only producing 0.6 fWAR. All of those numbers were significantly lower than those he put up in 2024. It doesn’t help that he’s also a terrible defender in right field.

Hernández is expensive for an aging one-dimensional player coming off a down year, but the lack of right-handed bats available in free agency may have elevated his value. Still, it’s a big investment for a risky return. On the flip side, the Dodgers may opt to keep Hernández simply for the sake of continuity. He fits in the clubhouse, and if he underperforms again, the team is more than capable of paying to find a replacement.

L.A. is looking for another outfielder this offseason, and moving Hernández would necessitate finding a second. It’s likely he’ll stay with the team heading into 2026.

The Dodgers forced a Game 7 with a drama-filled 3–1 victory in Game 6 on Friday night. Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Los Angeles was going to start two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on the mound for the winner-take-all Game 7 at Rogers Centre.

Ohtani, the best player in baseball, had a chance to shine bright on the biggest stage MLB can offer.

Here’s a look at how Ohtani fared—both at the plate and on the mound—in the Dodgers’ dramatic 5–4 comeback win in Game 7 to secure their second straight World Series title.

Pitching

Ohtani had a rough night pitching in Game 7.

The two-way superstar was pulled from the mound in the third inning after allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. He tallied three strikeouts before exiting the game.

Ohtani retired the Blue Jays in order in the first inning and escaped a furious rally in the second by striking out Andrés Giménez with the bases loaded.

The third inning is when trouble emerged. Ohtani allowed a leadoff single to George Springer, who moved over to second base on Nathan Lukes’s sacrifice bunt. After a wild pitch moved Springer to third, Ohtani intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to try to set up the double play.

On the very next pitch, Blue Jays second baseman Bo Bichette hammered an 88.7 slider 442 feet into the center field seats for a 3–0 lead.

Ohtani was yanked from the mound after that swing, and Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski came in to close out the third inning.

Hitting

In 11 drama-filled innings of Game 7, Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a walk at the dish.

Ohtani led off the game in the top of the first inning with a single to center field measured at 100.2 mph off the bat. The next two batters, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, moved him over to second and then third base, but he was stranded there when Mookie Betts grounded out to end the inning.

In the third inning, Ohtani came up with two outs and nobody on base. He hit a screaming line drive to left field—measured at 104.4 mph—but Nathan Lukes caught it for the third out.

Then in the top of the fifth, Ohtani got on with another single, putting two men on with one out in the inning, but the Dodgers couldn’t turn the opportunity into runs.

Ohtani walked in the seventh inning and was stranded on the basepaths when Freddie Freeman grounded into a double play. In the ninth, Ohtani flew out to left field. And in his final at-bat of the season, Ohtani got jammed and grounded out to second base in the 11th.

In 17 games this postseason, Ohtani batted .265/.405/.691 with three doubles, one triple and eight homers. He went 9-for-27 with three doubles, three homers and a .333/.500/.778 slash line in seven World Series games.

عزز روني باردجي وفيران توريس تقدم برشلونة بالهدفين الثالث والرابع أمام ريال بيتيس، خلال اللقاء الذي يجمع بين الفريقين ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

ويجرى اللقاء بين الفريقين على ملعب لاكارتوخا، ويحتل برشلونة صدارة ترتيب الدوري الاسباني بـ37 نقطة، ويحتل ريال بيتيس المركز الخامس بـ24 نقطة.

ونجح السويدي روني باردجي في استغلال تمريرة بيدري، في الدقيقة 31 ليسدد بقدمه اليمنى في شباك ريال بيتيس.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | في 112 ثانية.. توريس يسجل هدفين ويقلب تأخر برشلونة أمام ريال بيتيس

وفي الدقيقة 40، أحرز فيران توريس الهدف الرابع لبرشلونة والهاتريك له، بعد تسديدة رائعة من خارج منطقة الجزاء.

وكان ريال بيتيس قد تقدم عن طريق أنتوني في الدقيقة 6، وتعادل فيران توريس لبرشلونة في الدقيقة 11، وأضاف الهدف الثاني له في الدقيقة 13.

وكان هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة قد دخل اللقاء بتشكيل مكون من: جارسيا، بالدي، جيرارد مارتن، كوبارسي، كوندي، بيدري، جارسيا، يامال، باردجي، راشفورد، فيران توريس.

India’s failure to capitalise on their chances sent them tumbling to a 2-0 series defeat against South Africa, according to their stand-in captain Rishabh Pant.”They [South Africa] definitely played better cricket, but at the same time, in cricket you can’t take anything for granted,” Pant said at the post-match presentation. “You can play at home or away, but at the same time, cricket demands that determination and that extra.”There are moments in the game where you need to capitalise [on] it as a team, as a batting unit. But as a team, we didn’t capitalise on those enough for a longer period of time, and that cost us the whole series.”In the second Test in Guwahati, where Pant took over captaincy from the injured Shubman Gill, India let South Africa get away and post 489 after they had the visitors at 246 for 6 at one point.South Africa went on to bat India out of the Test, setting them an improbable 549. On the final day, India’s batters had their chances – both B Sai Sudharsan and nightwatcher Kuldeep Yadav were reprieved – but they eventually folded for 140, suffering a 408-run loss, theirbiggest ever in Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

This was India’s second series defeat in their previous three home series. Last year, they suffered an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand, which ended a proud run of 17 straight home-series wins over a 12-year period. Pant called on India to stick together and find a way past this rut.”Definitely it’s a little disappointing, but as a team we need to get better,” Pant said. “And you’ve got to give credit to the opposition that they played better cricket than us,” Pant said. “Because, in series like this, which has already been tough, if we dwell too much… you’ve got to take the learning and stick as a team.”

Liverpool are considering a move for PSG star Bradley Barcola as they eye up Mohamed Salah replacements. Salah heavily criticised Reds boss Arne Slot in the wake of Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds on Saturday night having been dropped to the bench for the third league game running. Rumours suggest that the Egypt international will now look to leave Anfield next month.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Salah claims he's been 'thrown under the bus'

  Salah only signed a two-year contract extension at Anfield earlier in the year after playing a starring role in Liverpool's title triumph. Indeed, the Egyptian forward scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists for the Reds last season, and was duly rewarded with a new deal.

  However, Salah has struggled to match last season's exploits having scored four goals and provided two assists in his opening 13 league outings. And having started the last three games on the bench, the 33-year-old is now tipped to leave the club next month.

  Salah was heavily critical of head coach Arne Slot in the wake of Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds having claimed he's been "thrown under the bus" and intends to say farewell to the club's fanbase when Liverpool face Brighton next weekend. "I can’t believe it, I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season," Salah said after the six-goal thriller at Elland Road.

  "Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame."

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• Barcola emerges as a target for Liverpool

  And Liverpool are making contingency plans as they look to replace Salah in the New Year, with Bradley Barcola among those on the club's radar. Barcola has started nine of PSG's 15 league games this season, scoring five times in the process.

  PSG are currently in the midst of handing out contract extensions for a number of first team stars, with the French winger among those to have been offered a new deal. Barcola, though, is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract, with Liverpool waiting in the wings as they consider a swoop for the 23-year-old.

  However, the young France international is yet to commit his future to the Parisian powerhouse, despite offering Barcola a hefty pay rise, which would make him one of the club's highest earners. Indeed, Barcola isn't completely satisfied with his situation at the Parc des Princes with the forward behind the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue in the pecking order under Luis Enrique when every player is available.

• AFP
  

  Arsenal to rival Liverpool for PSG forward

  The impasse over talks has opened the door slightly for the Reds, who are now considering a January move for Barcola. Liverpool, though, wouldn't have a straight shot at Barcola, with Arsenal reportedly keen on the PSG star.

  The Gunners enjoyed a hefty recruitment drive over the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. However, with question marks over Gabriel Martinelli's future at the Emirates, Arsenal may look to Barcola as they consider bolstering their frontline in the New Year.

  Arsenal saw their title push take another hit at the weekend as they fell to a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. Matty Cash had fired the Villans ahead with 10 minutes of the first half remining, but the Gunners were level shortly after the restart through Leandro Trossard. Villa, though, went on to claim all the spoils late on as Emiliano Buendia bagged a last-gasp winner, which means Mikel Arteta's men have now won only two of their last five league matches.

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• Salah to link up with Egypt later this month

  Salah's penultimate game for Liverpool could come in midweek when the Reds face Italian giants Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Liverpool are then in action against Brighton on Saturday, in what could prove to be Salah's final match on Merseyside.

  Salah will join up with the Egypt national team later this month for the Africa Cup of Nations. The competition gets underway in Morocco on Sunday, 21st December and concludes on Sunday, 18th January.

  Egypt are one of the favourites to win a record setting eighth AFCON title in Morocco, which would see Salah miss six games for Slot's side should he still be a Liverpool player by the time the tournament draws to a close. The forward has been linked with a January switch to Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray, while a move to the Saudi Pro League has also been mooted.