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Pep Guardiola was not happy with how his side lost the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, giving little away in his post-match conference.

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• City lose 1-0 to Palace in FA Cup Final
• Guardiola unhappy with key decisions
• Palace lift first major trophy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A single goal from Eberechi Eze was enough to win the game for Crystal Palace, despite Manchester City dominating possession for large periods of the game. The Eagles withstood the City attacks, but were perhaps fortunate to still have 11 players on the pitch at the end of the game after Dean Henderson looked to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity for Erling Haaland. The Palace keeper was in the spotlight again shortly after, making a crucial stop to deny Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot – the Egyptian a surprise taker given Haaland's success from the spot. After the game, Guardiola refused to address either moment with much thought.

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  WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID ABOUT THE RED CARD

  On Henderson's handball and potential red card, Guardiola said: "Ask the referee."

  The City boss had angrily confronted Henderson after the game, but refused to say anything about the incident.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID ABOUT THE PENALTY

  On why Marmoush took the penalty over Haaland, Guardiola said: "I don't know, I didn't speak to them. They made a decision. They decide."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The moods in the two camps could not be more different. Whilst Guardiola gripes, the Palace players and staff were celebrating the club's first ever major honour after being FA Cup runners-up twice.

The Guardianes 2020 tournament marked the end of promotion and relegation in Mexican Football

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• Herrera is in his first semester back in Liga MX after his time in Europe and MLS
• He has played in 11 of 17 games in this 2025 Clausura
• 'HH' has only logged 444 minutes

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Héctor Herrera is in his first semester back in Liga MX after his time in Europe and MLS. Now playing for Toluca – who will compete in the after finishing as leaders of the Clausura 2025 – the former Houston Dynamo midfielder took time to speak about one of Liga MX’s most pressing issues: the promotion and relegation system. This topic has resurfaced in recent weeks following the possibility of its return in 2026.

  "The most attractive thing would be to have promotion and relegation. That’s how it works in most countries, but well, there’s nothing I can do, and I prefer not to get involved in that controversy," Herrera said in an interview with Fox Sports.

  The tournament marked the end of promotion and relegation in Mexican football—a decision made by league officials following the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, a five-year freeze was established, with heavy fines imposed on the bottom teams during that period.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The topic of promotion and relegation had gone largely unnoticed for several years, but it has recently regained momentum, especially as several teams in the Liga de Expansión have made significant investments to be considered for promotion to the top division. This renewed interest comes amid the declining level of play in Liga MX in recent years, where teams at the bottom of the table are only required to pay a financial penalty. The argument being made is that reintroducing promotion and relegation would strengthen competition and give deserving teams the opportunity to move up – a system that exists in most countries around the world, except in Mexico and the United States.

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  WHAT HÉCTOR HERRERA SAID

  In the same interview, the midfielder also shared his thoughts on the lack of Mexican players making the move to Europe: “I still don’t understand why there aren’t more players in Europe when there’s so much quality. We’re seeing it now – young players keep emerging who could have an opportunity, and that way, the Mexico National Team could continue to grow,” Herrera stated.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TOLUCA?

  Antonio Mohamed’s team will visit Rayados this Wednesday for the first leg of the Liguilla Quarterfinals. By then, it will have been 18 days since last played an official match. The return leg will be held on Saturday at the Estadio Nemesio Diez.

The majority of the World Cup squad is likely to be rested with fringe players set to get opportunities

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Nov-2023Hardik Pandya will not be part of India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against Australia which begins on November 23, four days after the ODI World Cup. ESPNcricinfo has learned that India’s squad for the T20I series is scheduled to be picked on November 15, the same day Rohit Sharma’s team faces New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals in Mumbai.It is understood that Hardik, who tore a ligament in his left ankle in the World Cup league match against Bangladesh on October 19, was advised six to eight weeks of rest by the BCCI medical staff. The medical staff was initially optimistic about Hardik recovering in time to play in India’s last league match against Netherlands on November 12. However, the swelling failed to recede, causing pain during the fitness tests Hardik underwent before he was eventually ruled out of the tournament, with Prasidh Krishna named his replacement.Related

• Wade to captain Australia in T20I series against India

• Hardik Pandya out of World Cup with ankle injury

• Dravid after Hardik exit: 'Enough quality in our top seven to look after itself'

It is understood that the majority of the World Cup squad is likely to be rested, with the group selected for the Australia T20Is likely to feature most players who were part of the Asian Games in October. The Indian team, which had won the gold medal at the event in Hangzhou, was led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma featured in that squad.The selection panel, led by former India allrounder Ajit Agarkar, will be mindful of the senior Indian team’s workload in the past two months, a period in which they have played the Asia Cup and the World Cup.It is also understood that VVS Laxman is set to be the head coach for the T20I series against Australia. It could not be confirmed what the BCCI plans to do about Rahul Dravid whose two-year contract will end after the World Cup.

From the contenders to replace David Warner, the Western Australia opener was first to score a century this season

Tristan Lavalette13-Oct-2023As Australia’s World Cup travails dominate the headlines, jockeying for selection amid an expected Test transition this summer is playing out in the sedate surroundings of the Sheffield Shield.With Perth stringing together hot weather, hinting that peak cricket season is nearing, opener Cameron Bancroft last week started his case for a long-awaited Test recall by blunting a strong Victoria attack featuring quick Scott Boland and offspinner Todd Murphy.Batting close to four sessions on a sluggish WACA pitch, he made 122 from 319 balls as Western Australia’s title defence started with a massive innings victory. Bancroft did not offer a chance until he fell lbw to Boland early on day three.Related

• Khawaja rested from Sheffield Shield under Cricket Australia workload management

• Edwards praises work with 'childhood hero' Watson amid early-season surge

“I’ve just tried to be consistent with things,” Bancroft told reporters on Friday. “I like to think I’ve improved a lot. I’m slowly getting better as each season goes by.”It was trademark Bancroft against Victoria. He batted through a tough opening session on day two to thwart a typically miserly Boland and provided composure alongside teenaged Teague Wyllie, who lacked rhythm at the start of his innings.When he wasn’t stonewalling with conviction, Bancroft nudged the ball around expertly to frustrate Victoria in warm conditions before taking control when the bowlers tired.There was even a reverse sweep to the boundary off Murphy in a reminder that Bancroft, 30, has also become an accomplished white-ball batter in recent seasons.His disciplined knock was basically a cut and paste of the indefatigable batting Bancroft mustered last Shield season, where he scored 289 more runs than second-placed South Australia batter Daniel Drew and faced 664 balls more than him.Despite that, Bancroft missed out on Australia’s Ashes squad. The last of his 10 Tests was during the 2019 series against England.”Naturally, a little bit disappointed,” Bancroft said about being overlooked for the Ashes. “Going forward the only way is to focus on what I can control and being as consistent as I can.”Perhaps needing a rejuvenation, Australia’s ageing Test team is set to undergo a transition starting with David Warner’s position. If persisted with, Warner has publicly stated that he will retire from Test cricket during the SCG Test against Pakistan in January.”That’s [Test cricket] something I would love to do again,” Bancroft said. “If you’re doing the right things then things can manifest and sort of happen.”At some stage this summer, Australia will almost surely have a new opener with Bancroft battling Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw, who were both selected in the Ashes squad. While Caleb Jewell has emerged from outside the pack.Entering the domestic season, Bancroft was seemingly behind at least Harris and Renshaw in the pecking order despite his prolific Shield record in recent seasons. He featured against New Zealand A in the two-match four-day series although managed just 84 runs in four innings.There has been innuendo over the years that Bancroft’s role in the Newlands sandpaper scandal and subsequent comments in the , when he reopened old wounds, may have proven detrimental to his prospects of a recall.”I think I’ve paid my dues,” Bancroft said. “Like all of us, I’ve made mistakes. That was a long time ago, I’ve moved on from that.”It’s certainly nothing on my mind moving forward. I would be honoured to represent my country again, but right now my focus is on playing for Western Australia.”His commanding century against Victoria may have only been watched by a smattering of spectators, as the footy-mad city emerges from a post AFL season hangover, but national selector Tony Dodemaide stood out in the terraces – not just figuratively.”I noticed he had a brand new pair of Asics shoes, so I complimented him…they matched his shirt nicely,” laughed Bancroft, who has a knack for dry humour.”He’s obviously there observing and watching the game. No doubt he’s seeing how the guys are going throughout the competition.”With Harris having not played in Perth, and Renshaw and Jewell unable to convert half-centuries in their respective Shield matches, Bancroft claimed the opening points but the race for a coveted Test position has only just begun.”I feel like no matter how many runs you score, the feeling of being satisfied never seems to be there,” Bancroft said. “Everything else is external. I want to make sure I’m playing well…things will come eventually at some stage.”

Cruz Azul and the Whitecaps will face each other on June 1st in the final of the tournament.

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• The winner will qualify for the 2029 Club World Cup and the 2025 Intercontinental Cup
• The prize for the winner is $4 million
• The Whitecaps are seeking their first title, while “La Máquina” is aiming for their seventh

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Amid speculation and uncertainty over the venue for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final between Cruz Azul and the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Canadian club has confirmed that the match will be played at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. Through their social media channels, Vancouver announced that the final will take place on Sunday, June 1.

  The decision gives Cruz Azul a shot at winning an international title at a stadium where the usual home team, Pumas, hasn’t lifted a continental trophy since 1990, when they defeated Pinar del Río. While CONCACAF has yet to officially confirm the venue, the Whitecaps have already signaled their return to Mexico City—a place where they recently eliminated Pumas. Vancouver also earned a win over Monterrey earlier in the tournament, making them no strangers to success on Mexican soil.

  So why is the final being held in Mexico City? The tournament’s rules leave room for interpretation. According to Article 12.8 of the CONCACAF regulations, “The final will be hosted by CONCACAF at a neutral venue.” Yet the same article adds: “At its sole discretion, CONCACAF reserves the right to award hosting rights to the club with the higher ranking as defined in section 12.12.5.”

  In other words, the Confederation has full authority to choose the venue—regardless of previous precedent or the use of a points system.

  Article 12.12.5 outlines how ranking is determined: it’s based on performance from the Round of 16 through the Semifinals (excluding the First Round), with total points accumulated as the primary factor. If teams are tied on points, the tie-breakers are applied in this order: superior goal difference, more goals scored, more away goals, more wins, more away wins, fewer disciplinary points, higher position in the CONCACAF Club Ranking, and finally, a drawing of lots.

  As it stands, Vancouver has 10 points and a +4 goal difference—thanks in part to their two-goal win over Inter Miami. Cruz Azul overtook them by reaching 12 points and a +5 goal difference after their semifinal win over Tigres, positioning the Mexican club as the higher seed and, presumably, the host.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cruz Azul and the Whitecaps will not only be competing for the Concacaf Champions Cup title, but also for a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 Intercontinental Cup. Alongside the $4 million prize money, the winner will gain significant sporting advantages.

  Qualifying for these international tournaments also brings financial rewards—especially the Club World Cup, which offers payouts for both participation and progression through the rounds. The Intercontinental Cup, meanwhile, provides valuable experience against top teams from other regions, as seen in 2024 when Pachuca faced off against Botafogo and Real Madrid.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Led by head coach Jasper Sorensen, Vancouver is aiming to become the first Canadian club to win the Concacaf title. In previous attempts, Montreal Impact lost the 2014–15 final to Club América, and Toronto FC fell on penalties to Chivas in 2018. The Whitecaps also have the chance to become just the fourth MLS team to win the competition. DC United did it in 1998, LA Galaxy followed in 2000, and it took 22 years before the Seattle Sounders claimed the trophy in 2022 by defeating Pumas.

  Cruz Azul, on the other hand, is chasing a record-tying seventh title in the competition, which would put them level with Club América as the tournament’s most successful club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL AND WHITECAPS?

  There’s still a long wait ahead before Cruz Azul and Vancouver face off in the Champions Cup final. In the meantime, both teams will need to shift their focus back to domestic competition. Cruz Azul will take on León in the Liga MX quarterfinals, which kick off on May 7 and 8. On the other hand, Vancouver will look to maintain their strong form in MLS, where they currently sit atop the Western Conference. Today, they host Real Salt Lake in Matchday 11.

Lamine Yamal admits that it’s "incredible" to follow in Neymar and Lionel Messi’s footsteps as the wonderkid has become Barcelona’s inspiration.

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• Yamal fuelling Barca's treble hopes
• Has been sensational in front of goal
• Has emerged as an idol to many

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At just 17, Yamal has not only cemented his place in the starting lineup but has also become a beacon of hope for the Catalan giants as they pursue silverware on multiple fronts. With 14 goals and 22 assists across all competitions this season, the teenage sensation is playing a pivotal role in fuelling Barcelona's treble hopes – and the first of the three silverware will be up for grabs this Saturday during the Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals Real Madrid.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal’s performances have ignited a wave of admiration among supporters. His jersey has quickly become one of the most popular items at the club’s official store, and his name is frequently seen and chanted in the stands of the Olympic Stadium. The young winger admitted that seeing this kind of support is still a surreal experience.

• WHAT YAMAL SAID

  Speaking to during a promotional appearance for Powerade’s "The 304" campaign—named after the neighbourhood he grew up in—Yamal said: "It's incredible. When I was a kid, I wore Neymar's shirts, Messi's jerseys, all these players, so seeing kids wearing my shirt means that I'm their inspiration, at least in football.

  "It's something I never thought would happen so fast: [seeing] those 13-year-old kids in the shirt of a kid who's only four years older than them. It is amazing. My mum always tells me to think about [the significance]; that it doesn't happen to just anyone, going somewhere and seeing a kid wearing your shirt. It is something that makes me very happy and is one of the things I like the most."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Born in Rocafonda, a working-class neighbourhood in Mataró just north of Barcelona, Yamal’s journey has captured the imagination of football fans across Spain. Since debuting at just 15 years of age on April 29, 2023, his development has been nothing short of phenomenal. Within a short time, he’s not only broken into Barcelona’s senior squad but also earned recognition on the international stage.

  Yamal already boasts a European Championship victory with Spain and has received numerous individual honours. This past week, he was named Breakthrough of the Year at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, adding to an already impressive haul that includes the Kopa Trophy and the prestigious Golden Boy award.

  "My parents were my references in everything," he added. "Everybody always tells me that I have a bit of my mum and a bit of my dad. I think that on the pitch I have a lot of my father and off the pitch I have a lot of my mother.

  "They are two people I have grown up with and they have taught me everything. They have fought for me. The affection my father has for me is unimaginable. Thanks to him I have learned the love that one has for the family, because he is a person that gives a lot of love to people. So I believe that everything I have and that I will have is thanks to them. I always say I will never be able to thank them fully, but I will try."

“Still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to,” says seamer after Ageas Bowl three-for

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Sep-2023Reece Topley admits he will be overcoming “a bit of PTSD” when he boards the plane later this month for the 50-over World Cup in India after leaving last year’s T20 edition on the eve of the tournament due to an ankle injury.The left-arm seamer was dealt a sickening blow when he damaged ligaments in his left ankle after stepping on a boundary sponge at the Gabba during a fielding drill ahead of England’s final warm-up match against Pakistan. He was soon on a flight back from Australia and watched from afar as England became the first men’s white-ball team to hold both 50-over and 20-over World Cups simultaneously.”You could say I have a bit of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] about getting on the plane again because it was pretty emotional coming back from the last one injured,” said Topley. “But injuries happen in sport. You can only do so much to prevent them. I don’t really think about it too much, but hopefully, they stay away.”Related

• Topley on the comeback trail with World Cup call-up in his sights

• Topley on year-round franchise deals: 'Better off having a seat at the table than being left behind'

• Livingstone 95*, bowlers help England level series in rain-shortened contest

• Switch Hit: By hook or by Brook

There was further heartbreak at the start of the year for Topley. Having returned fully fit, a maiden stint in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore was cut short after bowling just two overs against Mumbai Indians on debut when a heavy fall in the outfield resulted in a dislocated right shoulder.Topley’s return to action after surgery came at the start of August in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with 13, resulting in selection for England’s provisional World Cup squad. That faith from Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott was rewarded on Sunday with 3 for 37 in the second ODI against New Zealand to help square the series.”Obviously, for anyone to come back from seven months out of 12 injured is tricky. When I came back from my ankle injury, I was getting back into it and then it was like having the rug pulled from underneath me when I came home from India. It’s all part of that process again, and hopefully it’s another box ticked, but it’s still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to.”As you get older, the injuries do get a bit harder to come back from – just the nature of just being years older. It’s not like you won’t ever come back from it, it’s just always a bit trickier.””Hopefully, the bad days just sort of become less and less. I definitely wouldn’t say I’m out of the jungle in terms of my ankle and my shoulder, but it’s a case of doing the right things, and hopefully, there’s more performances like Sunday.”The outing at the Ageas Bowl was encouraging after an indifferent none for 47 from seven overs in the first ODI, which New Zealand won by eight wickets. After England set a total 227 in a rain-reduced 34-over affair, Topley was tight for the first five overs with the new ball (conceding just 19) before returning from the 21st over to take three in eight deliveries. His gutting of the middle order with the dismissals of Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra triggered a terminal collapse, with the last seven Kiwi batters falling for the addition of just 36 as the hosts triumphed by 78.While these were his first ODI dismissals in over a year after going wicketless at Cardiff and in two matches in South Africa before the IPL, Topley was as much encouraged by underlining his capabilities beyond the new ball as the return to form.”I like to think I take wickets in all stages, but with the new ball the other day [first ODI], I wasn’t great. It’s tricky. Obviously for seven months of this year I’ve been out injured, so it’s nice to be finding my feet again, hopefully just at the right time for India.”My record in the format is pretty good [36 wickets at 26.83 across 24 caps]. I like to think that I can contribute whenever needed. It was nice to get that performance. Last game, I was pretty nervous about getting back in the ODI squad and it was my first ODI since South Africa as well.”It’s tricky playing and getting yourself back into it mentally and physically after some injuries. The game moves on and people move on, and you obviously don’t get the chance to because you’re sidelined and can’t play cricket. It’s nice to sort of get yourself back up to speed and it’s all part of the process. It’s not the end of it now: it’s just another good day.”That being said, Topley is allowing himself to look further ahead. At 29, this will be his third global tournament for England, after featuring in the 2016 World T20 and again in 2021, when he was an injury replacement for Tymal Mills. Having overcome a spate of back issues which saw him suffer five stress fractures in six years, the last of which came in 2018, he has sights set on two more tournaments for his country, starting with 2024’s T20 assignment in the Caribbean and USA.”It would be the third World Cup I’ve been involved in,” he said of the upcoming trip to India. “I’d like to be involved in next summer’s as well. I’ve set myself a goal to be involved in five World Cups and that’d be something pretty special as a player.”

South Africa are looking to rotate the gloves with Quinton de Kock rested for the series, and Matthew Breetzke and Donovan Ferreira might get a go later on

Firdose Moonda29-Aug-2023Tristan Stubbs will keep wicket for South Africa in the opening T20I against Australia in Durban as the hosts look to rotate the gloves in the absence of the rested Quinton de Kock. Stubbs is one of three options for the three-match series and has been chosen to start in the position ahead of Matthew Breetzke and Donovan Ferreira, who have both yet to play an international match.”He has been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and those that know Stubbo well, know he is the kind of guy that will never really leave a stone unturned,” Aiden Markram, South Africa’s T20I captain, said at the pre-match press conference. “He has spent hours and hours practicing his keeping and it’s been great to see.”This will be just the second time that Stubbs is the designated wicketkeeper in an official match after he also did the job in a first-class match between Warriors and Boland last summer. In that encounter, which Warriors won by 168 runs, Stubbs took two catches in the first innings and six in the second. He also scored 52 in Warriors’ second innings to help them set Boland a target of 343.Related

• South Africa ready to shake off the rust and stack up for ODI World Cup

• Six players to watch in South Africa-Australia T20Is

• Brevis ready to 'just run straight into' Australia as SA debut beckons

Add to that the fact that Stubbs also bowls offspin – most regularly in T20 cricket – and South Africa have a “real all-dimension player”, as Markram put it. “From his personal game, it adds another element for him to take forward in his cricketing journey,” Markram said. “We’ve seen him do well with the ball and we all know what he can do with the bat, now all of a sudden he has got the gloves.”But he may not keep them for all three matches. Prior to the series, South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter confirmed the wicketkeeping role will be rotated while de Kock is rested and one or both of Breetzke and Ferreira will also get an opportunity. The first thing would be to get them in the starting XI and Markram could not confirm whether either would debut immediately. “We’ve not finalised our team completely. We will be having our team meeting at 6pm [on Tuesday night] and if there are debutants, we will make it a special ceremony for them, to remember for the rest of their lives.”Also in line for their first T20I caps are Dewald Brevis, who is expected to bat in the middle order, and Gerald Coetzee, who has played at the Test and the ODI level for South Africa.Keshav Maharaj had injured himself earlier in the year•AFP/Getty Images

Not in line for Wednesday’s match is left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who is making a comeback from a ruptured Achilles’ ahead of schedule. Maharaj tore the ligament in a Test against West Indies in March and was expected to be out for the rest of the year but has been included in the South Africa squad for the second and third T20Is and the ODI series that follows.Maharaj spent Tuesday playing his first competitive match since his injury, a warm-up match between Dolphins and Tuskers. “It’s fantastic to see him back on the park,” Markram said. “He has been incredibly committed and motivated to get ahead of schedule in terms of his recovery and today is probably a very special day for him. It’s huge for his career and it’s something he can be incredibly proud of, to get back on the park this soon.”If match fit, South Africa will consider Maharaj for their 50-over World Cup squad, which will be announced on September 5, with alterations permitted until September 28. With those dates in mind, both the T20I and ODI series against Australia are auditions of sorts and though Markram said the squad is focused on results first, there’s no doubt the World Cup is at the back of their minds.South Africa prepared to take on Australia with a two-day camp in Kruger National Park, with all their white-ball hopefuls. “It was fantastic,” Markram said. “Being a bush lover, I was in my element. There are certain guys for whom it was outside their comfort zone. You also have to appreciate that. But all in all, the guys loved it. We camped out, in the middle of the Kruger, had rangers and trackers around us. The camp was a tracking camp, so being able to track animals, follow animals, go on bush walks, things like that, which is quite a rare thing to be able to do in the middle of Kruger. The boys loved it.”

Griffiths battles with 92, including century stand with Scrivens, before Gregory seals victory

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2023Tazmin Brits’ blistering 66-ball hundred headlined South East Stars’ 19-run win over Sunrisers at Beckenham.The South Africa international hit 10 fours and five sixes on her way to an unbeaten 112 off 72 deliveries as the Stars put up 290 for 9.Sunrisers looked well-positioned to chase down the target after an opening stand worth 143 between Cordelia Griffith and Grace Scrivens was followed by some fine hitting from captain Dane van Niekerk. With 10 overs left, 80 runs were required for victory with nine wickets still in tow.But leg-spinner Danielle Gregory, not introduced into the attack until the 37th over, took four wickets in the space of three overs to turn the tide and end the Stars’ three-match losing streak in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Brits’ blast came after the Stars’ openers had established a fine base, with Alexa Stonehouse and Kira Chathli putting on 111 together.The 19-year-old Stonehouse had some fortune, surviving two dropped chances, but she was the first to fifty, which came off 65 deliveries.A fifty for Chathli arrived in the 23rd over, but Stonehouse departed for 51 from the very next delivery, smacking spinner Jodie Grewcock straight into the safe hands of van Niekerk at mid-off.Chathli impressed with her ball-striking down the ground to spin but saw Bryony Smith dismissed for 2 from the other end; attempting to clip Grewcock through the leg-side, the right-hander lobbed a simple catch to van Niekerk at mid-off.The Grewcock and van Niekerk combination struck again in the 29th over when Chathli also couldn’t beat mid-off, her knock ended on 71.Brits had already entered the fray by this stage and enjoyed some fortune, dropped on 1 by Florence Miller in the deep. She found her flow, though, a pair of boundaries in a Grewcock over followed by a six over long-on off Amu Surenkumar.She was given another reprieve on 44 off the final ball of the 35th over and went on to reach her half-century off 41 balls.The 32-year-old then went on to thump her compatriot van Niekerk for two sixes off consecutive legitimate deliveries, and her century arrived in the 48th over.Wickets tumbled from the other end as the innings came to a close, but Brits reverse-swept the final ball for four to finish with a flourish.Griffith and Scrivens then set about eclipsing the opening partnership that Stonehouse and Chathli had put together. The pair brought up 50 in the 13th over of the innings before two brief interruptions of rain followed, the second one taking two overs off the innings and revising the target to 282.Griffith was the more aggressive of the pair, her half-century taking 64 balls while Scrivens took 87 deliveries to get to her fifty. The latter seemed ready to up her rate, hitting Smith down the ground for four off the first ball of the 32nd over. But an attempted reverse-swat two balls later saw her bowled for 59.Van Niekerk was in next, showing her power down the ground and through cover with four boundaries off one Ryana MacDonald-Gay over.Gregory then arrived to made a crucial breakthrough; Griffith was adjudged lbw on 92 as she missed out on a flick off the pads. The leggie struck again in her next over, with Mady Villiers’ attempted cover drive resulting in a thick edge that lobbed up to Kalea Moore at third man. Grewcock was Gregory’s third, but the most vital delivery was the one to remove van Niekerk, the batter sweeping hard but into the hands of short fine leg for 44.Amara Carr hit a quickfire 29 but Gregory’s intervention was a match-winning one.

Liverpool are in the market for forwards this summer, and they’ve already agreed a £100m deal for Florian Wirtz (which could rise to a British-record £116m).

Wirtz, 22, is a “truly generational talent”, as per sports media professional Cristian Nyari, and he’s only going to get better, having led Bayer Leverkusen to the 2023/24 Bundesliga title (winning the division’s Player of the Year), and breathing life into his side whenever he collects the ball, gambolling his way into the danger area.

Liverpool have got themselves a player, all right, and Arne Slot now has an elite-level playmaker in the attacking third of the field – all the more important with Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Real Madrid.

Though FSG would like to turn their attention toward the front of the pitch, there’s little question that a replacement for Luis Diaz would need to be sourced, should he leave this summer.

It’s for this reason that rumours have gathered apace regarding Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon

Last summer, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Gordon as Newcastle sweated over PSR; after failing to qualify for Europe, the Magpies were forced to stare at their jewels and decide which to sell.

Liverpool were curious, but Newcastle found other ways to offset their troubles, selling more outlying members of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Now, the Merseysiders are keen once again, and Newcastle might be open to selling if their £100m valuation is met.

Liverpool are hardly going to meet such exorbitant demands, but if Diaz does leave, with suitors in Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League, then Reds intrigue in their former academy member, who left and joined Everton when he was 11, could take a more solid shape.

Would Liverpool be getting bang for their buck by signing Gordon for such a figure? Would they really? What about an alternative, one who would arrive for a similar fee but pack a far meatier punch under Slot’s wing?

Liverpool leading race for Diaz heir

Liverpool could sign an even bigger talent than Gordon if they advance their long-standing interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with Spanish reports claiming that the Brazilian forward could be sold for €90m (£77m) this summer.

More to the point, the Anfield side are considered alongside Manchester City to be the favourites in the race for the talented winger, though further Premier League sides are keen. Arsenal, in previous reports, have been credited with an interest.

Coming off the back of a difficult year, both Slot and Pep Guardiola believe a poor Club World Cup campaign could leave Rodrygo isolated, and with his valuation slashed toward a more agreeable €75m (£64m) ballpark.

How Rodrygo would perform for Slot

Picture this: it’s a decade ago, and Liverpool have fallen by the wayside under Brendan Rodgers. The staple of Liverpool’s summer 2015 transfer window was the £32.5m acquisition of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa.

Ten years later and Liverpool are among the frontrunners for superstars like Rodrygo, having won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and plenty more across the intervening years.

It was over ten years ago that Liverpool released Gordon when he was a youngster, and though the England international is talented and a boyhood fan of the club, Rodrygo is the superior player, even if he only notched 14 goals and ten assists across 51 matches last season.

That’s not exactly a terrible haul, though the 24-year-old did only score six goals and six assists across the La Liga season, albeit missing just one big chance in front of goal, as per Sofascore, to emphasise his clinical ability.

The crux of Rodrygo’s Madrid malaise is that he’s routinely fielded out on the right, despite feeling the alternate flank as being his best position. Indeed, the right-footer has been far more prolific when playing as a left winger.

The problem, however, is that Vinicius Junior holds down the fort in that area, with focal frontman Kylian Mbappe also preferring the left side to the right, as can be observed through his league season heatmap.

Given that Mohamed Salah is staying at Liverpool for the next two years, it hardly seems likely that Liverpool would make a marquee move and bring Rodrygo into the fold just for him to play second fiddle to the Egyptian.

Instead, he could replace Diaz, who, at 28, isn’t indispensable, and prove an upgrade on Gordon, with the 24-year-old also enduring something of a tough term in front of goal for the Toon, equal to Rodrygo in that he posted six goals and six assists in the Premier League.

As Liverpool plan to foray deep into next year’s Champions League knockout stage, putting themselves on a platform to claim number seven, Rodrygo would be the perfect fit, for his pedigree on the biggest stage speaks for itself.

Gordon failed to register a goal involvement across his six games in the 2023/24 Champions League, and while he’ll have the chance to rectify that over the coming year, Rodrygo is tried and tested, hailed as a “special striker” who can “play in all positions” by former Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti.

A fierce blend of speed, skills and strength, Rodrygo would be a statement signing for a Liverpool side who are undergoing a good amount of change this summer. While the Brazil star would be a new part, he’d arrive with a wealth of experience at the highest level, and Slot’s sharp tactics would surely whip him back into an elite standard.

Slot's own Mane: Liverpool enter race to sign "unbelievable" £51m star

Liverpool are presented with a unique market opportunity to sign a talented youngster.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 16, 2025