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Glasgow Rangers dropped points in their Premiership opener over the weekend following an uninspiring away performance.

Sound familiar? The Light Blues may be a point better off than at the same stage last season, but the side looked flat throughout the first half, with the same problems that plagued the team towards the end of last term persisting.

James Tavernier looked a shadow of his former self, Cyriel Dessers missed yet more big chances when it was easier to score and Scott Wright offered absolutely nothing from the right flank during his time on the pitch.

Before the transfer window slams shut in a few weeks, Philippe Clement must add another one or two players to his attacking options, otherwise Celtic will run away with the league title.

Opponent

Date

Dynamo Kiev (Champions League)

August 6

Motherwell (Premiership)

August 10

Dynamo Kiev (Champions League)

August 13

St Johnstone (Premier Sports Cup)

August 17

Ross County (Premiership)

August 24

Via Sky Sports

Could a Championship starlet be top of the list for the Belgian?

Rangers still in the hunt for Championship winger

According to Football Insider, Rangers are still chasing a deal to sign Plymouth Argyle winger Morgan Whittaker this summer in a bid to improve their squad.

The Ibrox side had a bid for the youngster rejected back in January as they sought reinforcements ahead of the second half of the season. Could this summer be different?

Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford are also keen on Whittaker, but surely the lure of European football and the chance to win trophies will be a big incentive for the current Plymouth sensation?

Wayne Rooney won't want to lose one of his prized assets, especially as he practically kept the Pilgrims in the second tier with his displays last term, but every man has their price and he would be a great replacement for the aforementioned Wright.

Wright is certainly not the answer to the Light Blues' attacking issues, especially with his dismal record in front of goal.

His performance against the Tynecastle side on Saturday should be the last time he starts for Clement.

Scott Wright’s game in numbers vs Hearts

Credit where credit is due, Wright somehow manages to avoid the cull following the end of every season, despite clearly not being of the required quality to take the Ibrox side to the next level.

The winger lasted just 60 minutes on the pitch before being brought off for new signing Vaclav Cerny, yet he failed to offer any positivity going forwards.

Indeed, Wright failed to deliver an accurate cross from three deliveries, failed with his single dribble attempt, made zero key passes and took just shot which was blocked.

Minutes played

60

Touches

29

Accurate passes

9/12 (75%)

Key passes

0

Crosses

0/3

Shots

1

Dribble attempts

0/1

Duels won

2/7

Possession lost

10x

Furthermore, he also lost possession ten times, won only two of his seven attempted duels and was dribbled past once in what was a severely underwhelming performance.

Glasgow World journalist Lewis Anderson gave the Scotsman a match rating of just 4/10, stating that he ‘didn’t have much impact at all’ and this tells the full story of how woeful he was in the final third.

It is now time for him to move on so Clement can add some more quality to that side of the pitch. While Cerny should prove to be a solid signing, Whittaker is miles better than Wright and could offer much more positivity.

Morgan Whittaker’s 2023/24 season in numbers

The £9k-per-week winger was one of the finest players in the Championship last season, scoring 19 goals in the second tier (20 overall), while also chipping in with eight assists in the process.

This ranked him as the fourth most clinical player in the league last term, showing how impressive he was in the final third, something which Clement is desperate to add to his team.

Goals

19

2

Assists

8

0

Big chances created

10

1

Successful dribbles per game

1.2

0.4

Shots on target per game

1.4

0.3

Key passes per game

1.4

0.6

Among his teammates, Whittaker also ranked first for shots on target per game (1.4), big chances created (ten), key passes per game (1.4) and successful dribbles per game (1.2), showcasing his qualities across a range of attacking metrics.

It wasn’t just among his own squad that Whittaker shone, as his statistics when compared to the rest of his peers in the second tier were just as impressive.

Indeed, throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the Englishman ranked in the top 1% for shots on target per 90 (1.45) and in the top 9% for goals and assists per 90 (0.61), which is further evidence of his effectiveness for Plymouth.

A move to Rangers would give him a grander stage to shine on. Becoming an instant upgrade on Wright in the process.

Why Morgan Whittaker would be a good signing for Rangers

Whittaker offers a wonderful threat in the opposition half, scoring plenty of goals while also being able to generate chances galore for his teammates.

His former manager Steve Schumacher hailed the winger upon joining the club on a permanent basis last summer, saying he is "one of the most exciting prospects in the EFL", a statement which was certainly proven correct following his goal-laden campaign.

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson also heaped plenty of praise on the player amid the links to Ibrox, saying he is “tall, strong, quick & left footed on the right” which is exactly the sort of profile Clement needs on his flanks.

He is almost the exact opposite of Wright, who isn’t the fastest, fails to beat his man and offers nothing in front of goal.

Indeed, since joining the Glasgow side in January 2021, Wright has scored just 12 times in 118 appearances for the club, which works out as a goal every 9.8 matches, a truly dismal figure for a winger.

In his senior career, Whittaker has played only 170 matches, yet during those games, he has scored 41 goals, working out as a goal every 4.1 matches.

You don’t have to be Columbo to work out that the Englishman is a far superior choice to Wright and that Clement should be working his magic in order to lure him north of the border.

It will be tough, especially with Premier League interest, but if the Belgian wishes to add a genuine goal threat on the right flank, Whittaker is his man.

The 0-0 draw against Hearts demonstrated how badly the club need goals injected into the side. The Plymouth Argyle star would be a major coup.

Rangers have genuine interest in move for huge McCausland upgrade

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the English forward.

ByDan Emery Jul 30, 2024

Dietmar Hamann has shifted his focus from Harry Kane to Kylian Mbappe, claiming the French star has made Real Madrid worse.

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Mbappe under pressure at Real MadridHamann takes aim at France internationalKane responds to German's criticism Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe has faced criticism from all corners since his switch to Real Madrid in the summer, with Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema among those to question the 25-year-old's efforts. Mbappe has struggled to adapt to a central role in Spain, going missing in concerning defeats against Barcelona and AC Milan this season.

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Former Liverpool midfielder Hamann has joined the pile-on. The 51-year-old recently fired shots at Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane, but he turned his attention to the underwhelming Mbappe ahead of Los Blancos' trip to Anfield in the Champions League.

WHAT HAMANN SAID

"It's a good time to play Madrid," Hamann told. "I don't think Mbappe has improved them. I think they've got too many stars, or too many players who want to shine, and not enough players who make others better. Somebody's got to do the work.

"The player who's probably suffered the most after the arrival of Mbappe is [Jude] Bellingham. He scored a hatful of goals before Christmas last season. He played pretty much as a centre forward because they didn’t have one, and now he’s got to do some dirty work, because you can’t have four players not defending – three is probably too much.

"Mbappe and Vini don’t do it, Rodrygo sometimes does. It can't function. You can't defend with six or seven players. It's impossible. You might beat teams in La Liga, but you won’t beat the best teams in Europe.

"Obviously, they've got great individual quality, but I think there's a lot of question marks about the team. I don't see them defending the title."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker, who retains support from Bellingham, will hope to prove Hamann wrong when Carlo Ancelotti's side take on Liverpool – winners of their opening four league phase games – on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal have held talks with the agents of a £60 million Brazil striker and new transfer target, coming after he scored 25 goals in all competitions last season.

Edu and Arteta exploring market to sign new Arsenal forward

An array of new attacking options and many interesting names have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium this summer, but sporting director Edu Gaspar is yet to officially get one over the line.

Talks ongoing: Arsenal believe they'll sign £55m ace soon, he wants to join

The Gunners are still trying to make their third signing of the window.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 13, 2024

A lot of the noise coming out of north London in the past fortnight has been centred around Arsenal's ongoing talks over a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, which has dragged on for quite a long time now.

Once, or if, Mikel Arteta sees his compatriot sign for Arsenal before deadline day – the Spaniard may be hoping he can bring in one more forward option. Indeed, a striker has long been viewed by some critics as the final missing piece of the jigsaw at London Colney.

Arsenal were rumoured to hold a serious interest in Ivan Toney as far back as 12 months ago, and have been regularly tipped to move for a striker ever since.

After Toney, Edu was tipped to bid for Victor Osimhen of Napoli, while Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has also been on Arsenal's radar. Even Dominic Solanke was linked with an Arsenal move, before he opted to join their north London rivals Tottenham for a total fee of around £65 million.

Stats (per 90)

Gyökeres

Solanke

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.82

0.55

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

1.05

0.54

Progressive Passes

1.57

1.63

Progressive Carries

3.52

1.41

Shots

3.37

2.87

Shots on Target

1.64

0.95

Shot-Creating Actions

4.08

2.14

Goal-Creating Actions

0.65

0.16

Successful Take-Ons

2.10

1.06

Aerial Duels Won

1.91

2.63

Last season, Kai Havertz impressed in a makeshift centre-forward role, with the German putting himself ahead of Gabriel Jesus in Arteta's pecking order. However, reports suggest that Arsenal are still very much open to the idea of bringing in a new number nine.

Arsenal hold talks with Evanilson agents in search for forward

According to HITC, it is believed FC Porto striker and two-cap Brazil international Evanilson is now turning heads in north London.

Indeed, Arsenal have apparently held talks with Evanilson through his agents, following the 24-year-old's exceptional haul of 25 goals in all competitions for Porto last season.

However, the Gunners are not the only Premier League side registering their interest in Evanilson, as Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham have all done the same.

There are two other English sides currently above Arsenal in the race for him as well. Both Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are the only sides to have formalised their interest in the South American marksman, who is rumoured to command a price tag of around £60 million.

The Zimbabwe duo had recently come into contact with family members who tested positive for Covid

Mohammad Isam06-Jul-2021Zimbabwe are likely to miss out on the services of Sean Williams and Craig Ervine for the one-off Test against Bangladesh that starts on Wednesday in Harare. Both players have gone into self-isolation after coming in contact with Covid-positive family members.”Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, part of Zimbabwe’s 20-man squad announced last week, could not join the squad,” Zimbabwe Cricket media manager Darlington Majonga said. “They had to self-isolate after both came into contact with family members who tested positive for Covid. According to national health protocols, they had to self-isolate.”In the duo’s absence, Brendan Taylor is likely to lead Zimbabwe in the Test. On the eve of the match, Taylor said the absence of Williams and Ervine could be an opportunity for the newcomers in the squad to make a statement.Related

Sikandar Raza back in Zimbabwe ODI squad following serious illness

Liton, Mominul, Mahmudullah steer Bangladesh recovery after Zimbabwe attack's early dominance

Squad news: Chatara returns to Zimbabwe Test squad after three years

Zimbabwe had named four uncapped players in the squad last week – opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano, fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga and batters Joylord Gumbie and Dion Myers – and at least two of them are in line for Test debuts.”We are missing a few experienced players but we have some young and exciting players coming through,” Taylor said. “It is a great opportunity for them to see where they stand. It is an exciting time for Zimbabwe cricket.”The bulk of the responsibility in the batting department now rests with Taylor, who had also temporarily taken over the captaincy from Williams when he missed the Tests against Pakistan.Williams and Ervine were returning to the Test squad for the Bangladesh assignment after nursing injuries. Williams made two centuries against Afghanistan earlier this year but missed the Tests against Pakistan. Ervine, the left-handed top-order batter, would have also been a welcome addition for the side given his decent record against Bangladesh. In five Tests against them, he has 303 runs at an average of 33.66.

The Premier League has witnessed some blockbuster opening-day fixtures, but which players have contributed the most goals in the season's first game?

FootballFanCast has looked at the nine players who have scored more times than anyone else in the Premier League's opening-day fixtures.

For this list, we have listed the players who have scored the most times on the first matchday, with the number of games scored in and opening-day appearances used as a tiebreaker.

Player

Team(s)

Goals

MD1 games scored in

MD1 apps

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

9

7

8

Frank Lampard

Chelsea

8

8

17

Wayne Rooney

Man Utd, Everton

8

7

15

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

8

6

9

Alan Shearer

Blackburn, Newcastle

8

6

11

Teddy Sheringham

Nottm Forest, Spurs, Man Utd, Portsmouth, West Ham

7

7

12

Sergio Aguero

Man City

7

6

9

Louis Saha

Fulham, Man Utd, Everton

6

5

7

Didier Drogba

Chelsea

6

3

8

All stats correct as of 15th August 2024.

The best points totals in Premier League history

No room for the Invincibles here…

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 2, 2024 9 Didier Drogba 6 goals

Didier Drogba’s arrival in west London marked the beginning of a new era.

He was one of the many summer signings made by newly appointed Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in 2004 in a recruitment drive led by Roman Abramovich that also saw the likes of Petr Cech, Arjen Robben and Ricardo Carvalho join the club.

Drogba became a key player for Mourinho and Chelsea, helping them to win the Premier League for the first time in 50 years during his first season at the club. He also had a knack for scoring important goals, specifically on the opening day of the season.

In August 2006, Drogba’s goal capped off a convincing 3-0 win over Manchester City. Three years later, his injury-time winner against Hull City handed new Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti a victorious first game in charge. In 2010, Drogba’s 23-minute hat-trick against West Brom in a 6-0 thrashing got the champions' defence off to the perfect start.

Drogba had the ability to perform on the grandest stages, and his Premier League legacy, which included four titles and two Golden Boots, will be remembered forever.

Season

Team

Opposition

Goals

Result

2006/07

Chelsea

Man City

1

W 3-0

2009/10

Chelsea

Hull

2

W 2-1

2010/11

Chelsea

West Brom

3

W 6-0

Every Premier League Golden Boot winner

Some of the Premier League’s greatest goalscorers have won the Golden Boot – here’s every player to earn the coveted prize.

ByStephan Georgiou May 26, 2025 8 Louis Saha 6 goals

A young Louis Saha spearheaded a newly transformed Fulham to Premier League promotion following his arrival from Metz for £2.1m in June 2000.

And it was here when the prolific Frenchman really made a name for himself in Fulham’s inaugural top-flight season.

Saha had scored 27 goals the previous campaign to finish as the league’s top scorer, and it was his partnership with Barry Hayles that enabled Fulham to reach a then-record of 101 points and gain promotion.

Although his side eventually fell 3-2 to Manchester United – which was hardly anything to be ashamed of in the noughties – Saha scored his first Premier League goal for Fulham on the opening day of the 2001/02 season.

A brace, which included a neat dink over Man United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, had Fulham ahead twice with early goals in each half, cementing Saha’s name in the annals of the English top flight.

Saha won his only career Player of the Month award that August, and you could argue his performance at Old Trafford that day was almost an audition, as he later went on to sign for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in January 2004 for £12.8m.

In a largely injury-ridden career, Saha went on to score 85 goals in 289 Premier League appearances and lift the trophy in 2007 and 2008.

He also scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history after 25 seconds in May 2009 – a record surpassed by Ilkay Gundogan 14 years later.

Season

Team

Opposition

Goals

Result

2001/02

Fulham

Man Utd

2

L 2-3

2002/03

Fulham

Bolton

1

W 4-1

2003/04

Fulham

Middlesbrough

1

W 3-2

2006/07

Man Utd

Fulham

1

W 5-1

2009/10

Everton

Arsenal

1

L 1-6

7 Sergio Aguero 7 goals

Sergio Aguero’s Premier League legacy will ultimately be remembered for his contribution in a particular final game of the season, but he was also prolific in front of goal at the beginning of many others.

After signing for Manchester City from Atletico Madrid for £38 million in July 2011, it didn’t take long for Aguero to put his name on the scoresheet, as he bagged a brace one month after putting pen to paper on his debut in a 4-0 win over Swansea City.

The Argentinian continued his opening-day success when he scored Man City’s first against Newcastle United in 2013. One year later, the north-east club were on the receiving end again, as Aguero added to David Silva’s 38th-minute strike at St James' Park in the first game of the 2014/15 campaign.

Aguero went on to score opening-day goals against Sunderland, Brighton and West Ham in 2016, 2017 and 2019 respectively. During his time at Man City, he lifted the Premier League trophy five times and scored an impressive 184 goals in 275 appearances for the club.

Season

Team

Opposition

Goals

Result

2011/12

Man City

Swansea

2

W 4-0

2013/14

Man City

Newcastle

1

W 4-0

2014/15

Man City

Newcastle

1

W 2-0

2016/17

Man City

Sunderland

1

W 2-1

2017/18

Man City

Brighton

1

W 2-0

2019/20

Man City

West Ham

1

W 5-0

6 Teddy Sheringham 7 goals

Teddy Sheringham’s illustrious Premier League career spanned from its inception in 1992 until 2007, when he was released by West Ham aged 40.

He made a mind-blowing 418 appearances in the Premier League, winning the inaugural Golden Boot and lifting the trophy on three successive occasions with Manchester United between 1999 and 2001.

Sheringham initially rose to prominence at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made a combined 236 appearances for the club, with over 100 appearances for Man United sandwiched in between.

He set a precedent for professional footballers to maintain the highest level of performance well into their thirties by continually scoring goals week after week.

Sheringham was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2001, aged 35, after a remarkable season with Man United which saw him bag 15 goals in 29 appearances.

In terms of opening days, the London-born striker always seemed to grab a goal, whether that be in Spurs’ 4-3 away win at Hillsborough in 1994, or when he scored the first goal in Portsmouth’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Fratton Park.

His tally of 146 goals places him ahead of the likes of Robin van Persie, Jamie Vardy and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the list of all-time Premier League top goalscorers.

Season

Team

Opposition

Goals

Result

1992/93

Nottm Forest

Liverpool

1

W 1-0

1993/94

Tottenham

Newcastle

1

W 1-0

1994/95

Tottenham

Sheff Wed

1

W 4-3

1995/96

Tottenham

Man City

1

D 1-1

1998/99

Man Utd

Leicester

1

D 2-2

2003/04

Portsmouth

Aston Villa

1

W 2-1

2005/06

West Ham

Blackburn

1

W 3-1

The top 10 all-time Premier League goalscorers

FFC takes a look at the PL’s most prolific goalscorers.

ByMark Marston Dec 23, 2023 5 Alan Shearer 8 goals

Alan Shearer holds the all-time record for the most Premier League goals scored, which means he was bound to have scored some of his 260 goals on the opening day of the season.

With Harry Kane now at Bayern Munich, it could mean the Newcastle United man holds onto the record for even longer than he ever would have expected.

Shearer spent four years at Southampton and Blackburn Rovers, before moving to Newcastle in 1996 for a then-record fee of £15 million. He lifted the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995, scoring 34 goals alongside fellow striker Chris Sutton, who added 15 of his own that season.

That was Shearer’s first of three consecutive Golden Boots that he won, scoring 34 goals the following season in what was a 42-match season, before bagging 31 the next, in the more recognisable 38-game format.

It was two seasons before his first Golden Boot-winning season that Shearer had arguably his best opening day success, as he scored two stunners from outside the box against Crystal Palace in 1992.

Shearer scored 206 goals at his boyhood club Newcastle across the decade he spent there and retired as their all-time leading scorer.

4 Jamie Vardy 8 goals

Jamie Vardy will arguably go down as one of the Premier League’s most clinical finishers, and he certainly made the most of his natural finishing abilities in the first game of numerous seasons.

Vardy is another member of the 100 club to appear on this list, having scored 136 goals in 307 appearances for Leicester City – before adding to his tally on the opening day once more this term.

He first scored on the opening day in the 2015/16 Premier League season, netting against Sunderland in a 4-2 win at the King Power Stadium.

That same campaign, Vardy set a new record by scoring in 11 consecutive matches – surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 2003 record of 10 straight games with a goal. Of course, Leicester also won the Premier League having been given odds of 5000/1 by bookmakers to lift the trophy at the start of the season.

Vardy’s brace wasn’t enough for Leicester in the first game of the 2017/18 season, as his side narrowly lost to Arsenal in a seven-goal thriller at the Emirates. The following year, it was Man United who faced the Englishman’s prowess on the opening day.

The striker went on to score consecutive opening-day goals against Midlands clubs West Brom in September 2020 and Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2021.

Vardy climbed past Alan Shearer after scoring the Foxes' equaliser against Spurs in the first game of the 2024/25 season. He is now level with the Newcastle legend on eight opening-day goals, but edges ahead by virtue of scoring in fewer MD1 appearances (9 to Shearer's 11).

Season

Team

Opposition

Goals

Result

2015/16

Leicester

Sunderland

1

W 4-2

2017/18

Leicester

Arsenal

2

L 3-4

2018/19

Leicester

Man Utd

1

L 1-2

2020/21

Leicester

West Brom

2

W 3-0

2021/22

Leicester

Wolves

1

W 1-0

2024/25

Leicester

Tottenham

1

D 1-1

3 Wayne Rooney 8 goals

A 16-year-old Wayne Rooney announced himself to the Premier League when he scored a long-range stunner for Everton against Arsenal at Goodison Park in 2002.

Two years later, Rooney signed for Man United on a six-year contract under Sir Alex Ferguson, and would go on to complete one of the best careers ever seen in Premier League history.

Rooney was on target against his former club in 2005 and made it back-to-back opening-day goals in Man United’s 5-1 thrashing over Fulham the following season. He then scored the only goal against Birmingham City in 2009 and continued this trend against Swansea City and Bournemouth in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

With 208 goals in 491 appearances, Rooney is the third-highest Premier League goalscorer of all time, behind Shearer and Harry Kane. He lifted the top-flight trophy five times and won the 2009/10 Player of the Season.

2 Frank Lampard 8 goals

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Frank Lampard had a natural eye for goal.

Many people forget, but Lampard had already played nearly four full seasons in the Premier League before his move from West Ham to Chelsea in 2001, opening his account on day one on two occasions.

But it was at Chelsea as a 22-year-old where Lampard embarked on his journey to become one of the greatest midfielders the Premier League has ever seen.

Lampard scored his first opening-day Premier League goal in blue during a 3-2 win at The Valley against Charlton Athletic in August 2002. He next scored on the first day of the season in a 3-0 win over Man City four years later, before adding to his impressive record against Portsmouth in 2008.

West Brom, Wigan Athletic and Hull City also fell victim to Lampard’s opening-day goalscoring prowess.

The iconic Chelsea No 8 would go on to score 177 goals in his 609 Premier League appearances, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in the division's history.

He has also scored on the highest number of opening matchdays with eight – one more than Rooney and Mohamed Salah. If you hadn't guessed by now, the Egyptian may have taken his record in less than half the amount of games, but it is still an exceptional return for a midfielder.

1 Mohamed Salah 9 goals

No one could ever have predicted the impact that Mohamed Salah would have at Liverpool upon his arrival from AS Roma for £34 million in June 2017.

The 25-year-old quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific goalscorers after scoring on his league debut against Watford in a 3-3 draw on the opening day of the 2017/18 season.

Salah continued this streak the following season against West Ham in a 4-0 win at Anfield and proceeded to score a goal on the opening day of every Premier League season until he failed to net against Chelsea in 2023. This places him above Shearer here, who fired a blank on the opening day on five separate occasions.

The Egyptian's impressive run included a 4-1 home win over Norwich City in 2019, a hat-trick in front of an empty stadium against Leeds in 2020, as well as strikes against the Canaries once again in 2021 and away at Fulham in 2022.

He then broke the record outright when netting against newly promoted Ipswich Town on the opening day of the 2024/25 season, taking his tally to nine in just eight MD1 appearances.

Salah has won the Golden Boot three times at Liverpool and was instrumental in his club’s first league title in 30 years, among other major honours, including a Champions League in 2019.

Sri Lanka will arrive in Dhaka on May 16, shortly after the Eid ul Fitr weekend, and complete a three-day quarantine

Mohammad Isam05-May-2021The upcoming three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the BCB has announced.The matches, part of the ICC’s ODI Super League, will be held on May 23, 25 and 28, within a bio-bubble stretching between the team hotel and the ground.Sri Lanka will arrive in Dhaka on May 16, shortly after the Eid ul Fitr weekend, and complete a three-day quarantine. Their first practice session will be on May 19 at the National Cricket Academy ground, adjacent to the stadium. The visitors will then play a practice match at the BKSP on May 21. At the conclusion of the ODI series on May 28, the Sri Lankan team will depart on the following day.This will be Bangladesh’s third ODI series within the ICC’s World Cup qualifying campaign. They are currently in sixth place, having beaten the West Indies 3-0 at home in January, but lost to New Zealand 3-0 in in March. Sri Lanka lost to West Indies 3-0 last month, are now in 12th place.The two teams only last week played out their final World Test Championship series, which Sri Lanka won 1-0 after a 209-run win over Bangladesh in Pallekele.Sri Lanka will become the second international team to arrive in Bangladesh since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The BCB successfully hosted West Indies in January-February this year, in a three-ODI and two-Test series in Dhaka and Chattogram.This will however be a different situation, since Bangladesh are in the middle of a strong second wave of Covid-19 cases. The country has been under a lockdown since April 5. The international flight suspension ended on May 1, but the country’s lockdown has been extended till May 16.Bangladesh will be without their fast-bowling coach Ottis Gibson, with the team opting to use a local coach instead.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admits to loving Mohamed Salah, but has vowed to "respect" Liverpool amid fresh transfer talk.

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Egyptian superstar running down dealCould become a free agent in 2025Linked with teams in Saudi & across EuropeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As things stand, Egyptian superstar Salah is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2025. His contract at Anfield is running down, with the prolific 32-year-old winger conceding that he is "more out than in" when it comes to an extended stay on Merseyside.

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Discussions regarding fresh terms may be held at some stage, but for now the rumour mill continues to tick over when it comes to Salah’s future. He has seen a move to the Saudi Pro League speculated on, while PSG and Bayern Munich are said to be among his many suitors in Europe.

WHAT AL-KHELAIFI SAID

Quizzed again on the links to Salah at the FIFA Club World Cup draw, PSG’s Qatari supremo Al-Khelaifi told reporters: "I love Salah, also because he came from our part of the world. I am very proud of him, honestly, for what he's done in the Premier League with Liverpool. And I have big respect for him and for Liverpool. So we never talked to him. Respect Liverpool and respect the player – he has a contract with Liverpool and we never talked to him."

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Al-Khelaifi recently told when pressed on the Salah links: "It’s not true. He’s a fantastic and amazing player, but we’ve never considered him, to be honest. We know every club would love to have him, but this rumour about us is simply not true."

The current international break comes at a bad time for Unai Emery’s side, as his Aston Villa look to build on the victory achieved at Leicester City last weekend.

Goals from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran secured the win for the Villans, as they sit seventh in the Premier League after the first three outings of the new campaign.

The Spaniard has overseen two wins and a loss during the opening three matches, as his side attempt to replicate last season's feat, in qualifying for the Champions League.

Villa have strengthened in key areas to give themselves the best possible chance of making this season another one to remember, but one player who was previously at the club could give them the edge in their hunt for another successful campaign.

Emiliano Martínez’s stats and market value

After joining the club for £20m from Arsenal back in September 2020, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has gone on to achieve unthinkable things for club and country – making him worth every penny that the club spent to win the race for his services.

The Argentinian won the World Cup back in 2022, while playing a key role in Emery’s side last season, keeping eight clean sheets in the Premier League and making 95 saves in 34 league appearances.

However, this season, he’s struggled to replicate his form, failing to keep a single clean sheet in any of the first three outings – whilst coming under fire for his inability to prevent the two goals in the defeat against Arsenal at Villa Park last month.

Despite his recent failings, he still possesses the quality and experience that could prove vital in the latter stages of the campaign, a huge quality if the club are to enjoy a successful stint in Europe during the 2024/25 season.

As a result of his previous impressive displays in claret and blue, the 32-year-old has seen his market value soar, with Martinez now valued at £23.5m as per Transfermarkt.

However, he’s still valued lower than one fellow first-team member who’s seen his value rise massively over the last couple of years.

Jacob Ramsey’s market value in 2024

After coming through the club’s academy and costing them absolutely nothing, midfielder Jacob Ramsey has become a key part of Villa’s first team in recent years – making over 100 appearances after his breakthrough a couple of years ago.

He may have endured an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign, but his best season to date came in the season prior, where the 23-year-old registered 13 goal contributions in the league during his 35 appearances.

Ramsey has enjoyed a decent start to the new season, registering one assist in the 2-1 victory over West Ham, teeing up fellow substitute Duran for the winner.

2020/21

22

0

0

2021/22

34

6

1

2022/23

35

6

7

2023/24

16

1

1

2024/25

3

0

1

As a result, the “terrific” talent, as described by former boss Steven Gerrard, has seen his own market value skyrocket, with the former England U21 international now worth a staggering £29.4m – an example of how successful the club’s academy can be.

His value is higher than teammate Martinez, showcasing how impressive he’s been in recent seasons, with Ramsey a huge part in the club’s recent success under Emery.

This season is a huge one for the youngster, as he looks to put his injury issues behind him and return to the levels that he produced just a couple of years ago.

First and foremost he will be aiming to avoid any setbacks, but he will also be wanting to secure a regular starting role under the Spaniard, helping the club have a successful campaign in the greatest club competition in world football.

Aston Villa's deadline day hijack for Leander Dendoncker replacement fails

The Villans are set to lose one of their experienced heads, but attempts to secure a replacement have failed.

ByBen Goodwin Aug 30, 2024

Nottinghamshire 51 for 3 as rain restricts play to 15.5 overs at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters' Network20-May-2021Spectators returned to Trent Bridge for the first time in 608 days but witnessed only 15.5 overs of cricket on a fragmented opening day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Worcestershire as Nottinghamshire closed on 51 for 3.Dillon Pennington, returning to the Pears line-up after being rested from the trip to Durham last week, took 2 for 12 from his 11.5 overs, Alzarri Joseph picking up the other wicket to fall after Worcestershire won the toss and chose to make the home side bat first on the pitch used when Nottinghamshire beat Essex here two weeks ago.Joe Clarke was out for a second-ball duck against his former team-mates, while Haseeb Hameed, who made hundreds in both innings when these sides met at New Road last month, fell for 24.There were more than 1,000 people at the historic venue when play started on time but only a few hardy souls stuck it out until play was called off soon after 6.15pm after a thoroughly inhospitable day.Each wicket that fell was promptly followed by a stoppage. Pennington dismissed Ben Slater, who had matched Hameed’s 114 not out in the second innings as Nottinghamshire emerged with a draw at New Road, when he switched to round the wicket to the left-hander, who had pulled him for six in his previous over.Slater nicked to wicketkeeper Ben Cox and was immediately joined by the rest of the players in hurrying back to the pavilion as the first spell of rain arrived.The remaining action was contained in three brief passages, of 11 minutes, nine minutes and five minutes, yet the shorter two of those each brought a wicket.Hameed had picked up four boundaries after a positive start but Joseph surprised him with a ball that climbed off a length and glanced the shoulder of the bat, Cox taking the catch.The players were off again after one more delivery, returning next for long enough for Pennington to produce the best ball of his spell, squaring up Clarke and finding enough late movement to take the edge, Cox pouching his third catch as the 22-year-old seamer doubled his wickets tally for the season.Play was due to resume for a fourth time at 6.15 after a two-and-a-half hour stoppage only for umpires Alex Wharf and Billy Taylor to discover a damp patch on the pitch, which they deemed unsafe.

Liverpool great Dietmar Hamann is not impressed with the transfer of Federico Chiesa, calling it a "nightmare" as the Italian battles fitness issues.

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Liverpool signed Chiesa from Juventus last summerItalian winger struggling with injuriesHas already missed 14 games this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Liverpool midfield legend Dietmar Hamann has shed light on Federico Chiesa's transfer from Juventus to Liverpool and has called it a "nightmare" as the Italy international has struggled with fitness issues, leading him to be out of action for over two months. The Reds signed the EURO 2020 winner on a bargain £11 million fee on a four-year deal in the summer, but the move hasn't gone as intended for either party.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Chiesa has been struggling to get back to his best after the ACL injury that he suffered in the 2021-22 season, which saw him remain out of action for over nine months. He has missed 86 games since that injury, 14 of those this season alone after he suffered a muscle injury late in September. Although he has recovered, it'll take some effort to make his way back into Arne Slot's plans.

"What's difficult is we play so many games, and what he needs is playing time," Slot said last week while speaking about Chiesa, who has played just 78 minutes for Liverpool this season. "The problem is if you haven't played for five or six months, it's difficult for a manager to give him his first minutes because you don't know what to expect."

WHAT DIETMAR HAMANN SAID

"The Chiesa transfer has been a bit of a nightmare, in truth," Hamann said while speaking to BoyleSports about Premier League Odds. "Everyone thought it was a good fee, but he had a bad injury a few seasons ago and he hasn’t been able to shake it off.

"It’s a new league, new city and I know from experience that when you come to the Premier League, it takes a few weeks and months to adapt. [Juan Sebastian] Veron was touted as the best midfielder in the world at the time and he lasted one season in England.

"When you come to a new club, and Chiesa came pretty late, you’re always catching up. It’s even harder for him as he isn’t needed right now, too, given Liverpool’s attacking options."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FEDERICO CHIESA?

Slot provided a promising update on Chiesa ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton on Wednesday: "It's definitely a moment where he can get minutes," Slot told reporters on Tuesday (h/t Liverpool's official website). "The amount of minutes is a question mark. You cannot expect from him to play 90, I think, especially at his level, where the intensity is so high, because he has been out for five or six months now. But if he has a good training session he will make minutes, but it's going to be a game where not all of our starters will start, so we have to manage minutes."