جارديان: محمد صلاح "الأناني" يخون زملاءه ويُسرّع نهاية حقبته مع ليفربول

رصدت صحيفة “جارديان” البريطانية، تقريرًا مطولاً عن النجم المصري محمد صلاح جناح فريق ليفربول، بعد التصريحات الهجومية التي أدلى بها في أعقاب المباراة أمام ليدز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وافتتحت الصحيفة التقرير، بالحديث عن انكسار علاقة محمد صلاح بليفربول بعد المقابلة التي أجراها، والتي تعد بمثابة اختبار لعلاقة النادي بالمدرب الهولندي آرني سلوت، وسيظهر أيضًا مدى الدعم الذي يحظى به الأخير.

وأشارت إلى أن صلاح قد يكون متأثرًا نفسيًا بجلوسه بديلاً لثلاث مباريات على التوالي، وأفادت أن تصريحاته كانت بمثابة قنابل يقوم المصري بإلقائها واحدة تلو الأخرى، وهو تصرف لم يكن وليد العاطفة.

“جارديان” وصفت صلاح بأحد أعظم لاعبي ليفربول، وأكدت أن تصريحاته وكلماته مدروسة بدقة لتحقيق ما يريده، وفي هذه الحالة، تكديس المزيد من المشاكل على سلوت.

ويفيد التقرير أن صلاح بالغ في حديثه والأمر مشابه لمقابلة لروي كين نجم مانشستر يونايتد السابق، وتصريحاته التي أدلى بها قبل 20 عامًا والتي أدت إلى إقالته من منصب قائد الفريق، ولم تُنشر كلمات كين علنًا آنذاك، ولم يُنشر النص الكامل حتى الآن.

وحللت الصحيفة تصريحات صلاح حيث اتهم ليفربول مرتين بالتخلي عنه ردًا على فشلهم في الدفاع عن لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وقد حرص المصري على أن يكون جميع أفراد ليفربول – إدارة النادي، والمدرب، وحتى زملائه الذين يُحبهم – في موقف مشابه له.

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سلوت نفسه أصبح في وضع مشابه بعدما كشف صلاح عن انتهاء العلاقة بينهما، وهي وضعية لا يمكن استمرارها، كما طالت الاتهامات مسؤولي الإدارة، وتحديدًا ريتشارد هيوز المدير الرياضي، ومايكل إدواردز المدير التنفيذي، بعد ادعاء صلاح أن هناك من يريد إخراجه من النادي، وبشكل مباشر، تشير الأصابع إليهم.

ويواصل التقرير الإشارة إلى أنه حتى زملائه في الفريق لم يسلموا، بعد إصرار صلاح المتعالي على أنه استحق المركز الذي انتزعه سلوت منه، وذلك قبل أسبوع واحد فقط، ومن بين هؤلاء الزملاء دومينيك سوبوسلاي، أفضل لاعبي ليفربول هذا الموسم، والذي شارك أساسيًا بدلًا من صلاح أمام وست هام وسندرلاند وليدز.

وقد يعترض فيرجيل فان دايك على زميله أيضًا، بعد أن قال: “ليس الأمر وكأنك تتمتع برصيد غير محدود، على الجميع أن يُقدم أداءً جيدًا”، وذلك عندما سُئل عن استبعاد صلاح.

وتبرز هنا أيضًا تصريحات أخرى لفان دايك بعد مباراة سندرلاند: “أحتاجه حولي كأحد القادة”، وتشير “جارديان” إلى أن ما فعله صلاح لم يكن قيادة، بل أنانية خالصة وخيانة لغرفة الملابس، ويبدو أن أزمات ليفربول هذا الموسم لا نهاية لها، ومعظمها صُنع بأيديهم.

وتفيد “جارديان” أن رد ليفربول يجب أن يكون حاسمًا، وإلا فإن مكانة سلوت ستتلقى ضربة قوية من داخل النادي نفسه، بعدما تراجعت بالفعل في نظر عدد كبير من الجماهير بسبب سوء النتائج والأداء.

وعاد التقرير للتذكير بتصريحات روي كين حيث سحب مانشستر يونايتد منه شارة القيادة بسبب هجومه العلني على زملائه، وصحيح أن صلاح لم يصل إلى هذا الحد، لكنه واجه مدربه علنًا وانتقد قراراته.

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وتؤكد الصحيفة أن ليفربول لا يمكن له أن يسمح بمرور الأمر إن كان يريد الحفاظ على سلطة سلوت داخل غرفة الملابس، وقد يكون استبعاد صلاح من رحلة دوري الأبطال إلى ميلان لمواجهة إنتر، ومن مباراة برايتون على ملعب آنفيلد، بداية مناسبة للعقاب، خاصة بعد تلميحه بإمكانية توديع الجماهير – نهائيًا أو قبل سفره إلى كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وتتابع الصحيفة، موضحة أن تغيير المدرب أسهل وأقل تكلفة من تغيير فريق كامل، لكن مع تقدم صلاح في العمر وتراجع مستواه بوضوح هذا الموسم، تصبح المعادلة أقل تعقيدًا بالنسبة لليفربول، ويبدو من غير المعقول أن يستمر صلاح وسلوت معًا حتى نهاية عقد المصري في صيف 2027.

وواصلت مشيرة إلى أن الخطوة التالية من ليفربول ستوضح موقف النادي، إما من دعم محمد صلاح أو مدرب الفريق آرني سلوت، مع الوضع في الاعتبار أن هيوز وإدواردز يدركان جيدًا الاهتمام السعودي بالتعاقد مع المصري واحتمالية السعي لضمه في يناير.

وقد يتغير موقف ليفربول السابق تجاه العرض السعودي الذي تم رفضه قبل عامين، ويبدأ النادي في فتح باب التفاوض والاستفادة ماليًا من بيع صلاح ومن ثم دعم النادي بصفقات جديدة مثل أنطوان سيمينيو لاعب بورنموث.

ووصف التقرير مقابلة صلاح بالانقسامية والحادة، وربما أجريت مع وضع العروض السعودية في الاعتبار، لكنها حظيت ببعض الدعم لأنها تتوافق مع الإحباطات المحيطة بموسم ليفربول.

وأشارت إلى أن صلاح مُحق في قوله إنه لا ينبغي استهدافه بسبب إخفاقاتهم، في حين يعاني العديد من اللاعبين، وقد أنفق النادي ما يقرب من 450 مليون جنيه إسترليني على فريق فاز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بسهولة الموسم الماضي وتراجع في نتائجه سريعًا، وكان هوجو إيكيتيكي هو الوحيد الذي له تأثير ملحوظ من بين صفقات ليفربول الصيفية باهظة الثمن.

وأتمت جارديان تقريرها موضحة أن صلاح سيحتفظ بمكانته كبطل في ليفربول بغض النظر عن تداعيات مقابلته، على الرغم من أن إظهار الدعم الداخلي لسلوت سيؤكد اعتقاد النادي بأن المصري تجاوز الحد.

Bigger talent than Anderson: Newcastle have 'one of the world's best teens'

Newcastle United need some fresh ideas. This much is clear after a turbulent start to the season that has left Eddie Howe searching for answers, his side 14th in the Premier League after 11 matches.

There are internal solutions available to the esteemed English coach, but there’s no question that he views St. James’ Park academy graduate Elliot Anderson as being the missing cog in the machine.

The Magpies reluctantly sold Anderson to Nottingham Forest for around £35m in 2024 to avoid PSR ramifications falling on their head. But now, the 23-year-old is flying, and his boyhood club want him back.

The latest on Newcastle's interest in Elliot Anderson

It is understood that Newcastle and Manchester United are the most likely clubs to do battle for Anderson’s signature next summer. Word on the street, however, is that Forest are set to demand a figure in excess of £100m.

Matches (starts)

37 (33)

11 (11)

Goals

2

1

Assists

6

1

Touches*

54.2

94.4

Accurate passes*

28.7 (82%)

62.1 (87%)

Chances created*

1.0

1.4

Dribbles*

1.0

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.6

8.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

3.5

Duels (won)*

6.5 (52%)

7.5 (55%)

That might be an exorbitant asking price, but we can see why the City Ground side would be so reluctant to part with their man. Anderson has grown into a world-beater of a midfielder, and he is emerging as the most likely candidate to partner Declan Rice in England’s midfield at the 2026 World Cup over the pond.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed, but with the Tricky Trees likely to prove difficult negotiators, don’t hold your breath.

However, it might be pleasing to note that PIF have been busy at the academy level, reinforcing the youth team with top talents capable of finding a way into Howe’s outfit.

And there’s one who might actually prove a bigger talent than Anderson, once given an opportunity to make his mark.

Newcastle have a bigger talent than Anderson

There has been a concerted effort toward raising Newcastle’s youth system over the past few years. And it is working, with prospects such as Vakhtang Salia added to the fold.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all fancied Dinamo Tbilisi’s talented forward this year, but it is a testament to Newcastle’s development that they won the race, enticing the youngster with a clear pathway toward the first team.

A versatile forward, Salia can play on either flank or in a central striking berth. In Ukraine, he scored eight goals and provided four assists across 57 matches for Dinamo’s seniors.

Salia only turned 18 in August, and it was then that his move to Tyneside was green-lit. However, it’s been a rocky start on English shores for the man who has been likened to Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal. He hasn’t played for United yet, injured early in his new start.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has described him as “one of the best teenage prospects in the world”, and with the right care and attention over the coming years, there is every reason that Salia could be fashioned into a superstar, so naturally gifted and with a physicality on the ball that suggests he could adapt to the brutality of the Premier League.

It is frustrating that Salia should have been disrupted in this way so early into his Newcastle career, but this will teach him about adversity, and in this, he could rival Anderson, who has weathered storms of his own before emerging as a superstar at the City Ground.

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West Indies drop Brathwaite for India Tests; Chanderpaul, Athanaze recalled

Khary Pierre, the left-arm spinner who is yet to play in Tests, has also been called up

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2025West Indies have dropped former captain Kraigg Brathwaite from their 15-member squad for the two-Test series in India beginning on October 2, while Alick Athanaze and Tagenarine Chanderpaul have been recalled with an emphasis on players well equipped to play spin.Brathwaite, a veteran of 100 Test caps, lost his place in the XI in the final Test against Australia earlier this year, a series which West Indies lost 0-3 and resulted in an emergency meeting which involved the likes of Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara. Also missing from the squad against Australia are Keacy Carty, Johann Layne and Mikyle Louis.Khary Pierre, the left-arm spinner who is yet to play in Tests, has been called up too. Pierre is the second specialist spinner in the squad alongside vice-captain Jomel Warrican, and has been selected after taking 41 wickets at an average of 13.56 in the West Indies championship. Gudakesh Motie, meanwhile, has been rested “given the demands of the upcoming limited-overs schedule,” according to a CWI release.”The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Athanaze’s last Test appearance was in the subcontinent against Pakistan in January. Chanderpaul, who last played a Test in January 2024 on the tour of Australia, is likely to partner John Campbell at the top. Kevlon Anderson, who has a first-class average of 42.05, keeps his place in the squad. The other batters are the captain Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach and Brandon King.The spin contingent will be led by Warrican, Pierre, and Chase. The seamers are Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales.West Indies are set to arrive in Ahmedabad on September 24. Only four players – Chase, Hope, Alzarri and Warrican – were part of the West Indies squad that last toured India in 2018-19. The first Test is set to be played in Ahmedabad and the second one in Delhi from October 10.West Indies have a busy season ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in February-March. Later this month, they play Nepal in Sharjah for three T20Is, then play two Tests in India before flying to Bangladesh for a multi-format white-ball tour in October-November. They close out the year with an all-format tour of New Zealand from November 5 to December 22 comprising five T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests.

West Indies Test squad for India series



Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.

Tottenham enquire to sign Barcelona's Eric Garcia with decision on future made

Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted an enquiry to sign FC Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, with Thomas Frank personally an admirer.

Spurs lost their second game on the bounce on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at home against Chelsea, and the overall performance was extremely disappointing, recording an xG of just 0.10, their lowest total on record.

They would’ve lost by a greater margin too, if it hadn’t been for Guglielmo Vicario, with the goalkeeper putting in a top display, making seven saves from inside the box and preventing 2.17 goals.

Frank came out to defend two of his players after the match, saying: “We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence who are doing everything they can. They perform very well so far this season and everyone is frustrated.”

Van de Ven has been particularly impressive, most notably scoring a brace in the 3-0 victory against Everton last month, but the manager is now looking to sign a new centre-back.

Tottenham make enquiry to sign Eric Garcia

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have been enquiring about a deal for Garcia for the past few months, with Frank viewing the defender as perfect for his system, given that he is able to play the ball out from the back.

Chelsea are also in the race for the Spaniard, but he is now set to put pen to paper on a new contract with Barcelona to extend his stay beyond 2026, which is news that has come as a shock for the interested Premier League clubs.

With the 24-year-old committed to his boyhood club, Spurs will have to move on to alternative options ahead of the January transfer window.

The north Londoners will no doubt be very disappointed to have seemingly missed out on the centre-back, given that Frank is personally an admirer, while he has also received very high praise from Xavi in the past.

The former Barcelona manager said: “Eric is extraordinary. I value him a lot, he is important to us. He plays in a very complicated position because, at Barca, a centre-back is always exposed. But he is a role model in the dressing room and we value him a lot.”

Tottenham have "one of the most exciting" teenage centre-backs

The 19-time Spain international has also performed very well over the past year, showcasing his passing, tackling and even goal-scoring ability on a regular basis.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.19 (99th percentile)

Passes attempted

83.24 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.99 (98th percentile)

Tackles

2.16 (91st percentile)

A move for Garcia may well be off the cards, but other exciting options remain on the shortlist, with it emerging they are now serious contenders to sign Lazio defender Mario Gila in January, while they already have a highly-rated young centre-back they could call upon.

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Viktor Gyokeres makes 'creativity' demand to Arsenal team-mates after Gunners slip up in Premier League title race with Aston Villa defeat

Viktor Gyokeres knows exactly what Arsenal need to do in order to get their season back on track. The Gunners lost ground in the title race as they fell to just their second Premier League defeat of the season at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. Combined with Manchester City's win over Sunderland, Arsenal's lead at the top of the table has been cut to just two points.

AFPArsenal crashed to second league defeat of the season

Villa went ahead with 10 minutes of the first half to play at Villa Park in Saturday's lunchtime kick off as Matty Cash rifled past David Raya from close range. Arsenal were level shortly after the restart as Leandro Trossard scored his fourth league goal of the season having been introduced at the break in the Midlands.

However, the Villans threw a spanner in Arsenal's title pursuit as Emiliano Buendia scored a last-gasp winner for Unai Emery's side to condemn Arsenal to just their second league defeat of the season.

The result means Arsenal have now won just two of their last five league matches, and the dip in form has seen their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut to just two points, with Manchester City hot on their heels. Star striker Gyokeres, meanwhile, has issued his demands to his teammates after Saturday's Midlands reverse.

AdvertisementArsenal 'disappointed' with Villa defeat, claims Gyokeres

After the game, Gyokeres delivered his verdict on the game and admitted that the dressing room was downbeat following the loss at Villa. "We are of course disappointed with the result," the Swede said after Saturday's defeat.

"It’s not a great feeling right now, but it’s only December and there are a lot of games to play. You can always find some positives, but it’s still a very difficult way to lose a football game. It’s tough right now, but we’ll look forward to the next one soon."

Gyokeres, who has endured a spell on the sidelines recently owing to a hamstring injury, has netted just four league goals following his arrival from Portuguese giants Sporting CP over the summer.

Getty Images Sport'We have to keep creating chances'

The 27-year-old last scored in Arsenal's 2-0 win at Burnley last month, but insists that if the Gunners continue to create chances then the goals will flow.

"We have to keep creating chances and get shots on goal because then you’ll eventually score more goals. So yes, that’s of course a positive and we just need to do things in between also a bit better," Gyokeres added after the Villa reverse.

"It’s football. If you score in the last few seconds or minutes, that is an unbelievable feeling, so it goes both ways. Today, unfortunately, it was the other way. It’s tough, but you learn from it. If we focus on what we can control and do in our favour and focus on the next game, we’ll be better, I think."

Arsenal now turn their attention to the Champions League as they take on Belgian side Club Brugge in midweek before they face winless Wolves at Molineux next weekend as the Gunners seek to get their title push back on track.

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'That's the league'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, spoke about the impact of the defeat at Villa on Saturday, which combined with City's 3-0 win over Sunderland means the north London side sit just two points clear at the top of the table. "That's the league," Arteta started following the 2-1 defeat.

"You go to Old Trafford, you go to St James Park, you go to Chelsea, you come here – we've been in a lot of difficult grounds and today the result could have been different.

"The reality is not, and that's the step that we have to make. We've been 18 games unbeaten and still we are there, very close to each other. That's the level of the league and we know that.

"That's the opportunity that we have ahead of us and that's it. Now it's time to bounce back. They have given me all the right reasons to think that we're going to continue to perform at the same level, because what the boys tried to do today, again, with the schedule that we had, it was amazing. So, [we] move on."

Gibbs-White would love him: Nottingham Forest looking to re-sign £20m star

Nottingham Forest have begun to see an excellent upturn in their form since Sean Dyche took over the club. He’s won three from his first six games, including Saturday’s exceptional 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. It has certainly been a positive start to his tenure.

Indeed, there have been some excellent individual performances since the Englishman became the Forest manager. Morgan Gibbs-White has been one of the standouts, with three goals in his last three Premier League games. The likes of Nicolo Savona and Igor Jesus have also been in impressive form.

With his side in excellent form, Dyche could well turn to the transfer market as he looks to add more quality to the Forest squad.

The latest on Nottingham Forest's transfer plans

It seems like the East Midlands side are looking to add depth in midfield. Reports in the past few days suggest they are plotting a move for talented Belgian midfielder Nathan De Cat, although the likes of Bayern Munich are challengers for the 17-year-old’s signature.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, if that move does not materialise, Forest are also considering Everton midfielder and former loanee James Garner.

According to a report from Football Insider, the club are “looking at him” and could make a move, with his contract up in 18 months.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do. There are a host of Premier League clubs interested in the former Manchester United man, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham United all keeping tabs.

As for the price, he could cost upwards of £20m, according to a report in mid-November.

Why Garner would be a good signing for Forest

24-year-old Garner has been pivotal for the Toffees this season. He has excelled as a full-back and in the middle of the park, with Everton gaffer David Moyes relying on that versatility several times this season.

Indeed, Garner has played 11 times in the Premier League, operating in different areas of the pitch. He’s played three games as a left-back, scoring a thunderbolt in one of those, seven times in the heart of the midfield, and once at right-back.

Of course, a move to Forest would see Garner return to the club. He played a historic part during his first stint, a loan from Man United.

He played 69 times in Garribaldi Red, scoring and assisting 18 times, and helping Forest return to the Premier League. Statman Dave described him as a “special” player during his time at the club.

If Garner was to make a move back to the City Ground, and Dyche utilised him in midfield, he might well form a strong partnership with Gibbs-White. Unsurprisingly, the England international is a key player under Forest’s new boss.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder has been in excellent form under Dyche, with the third of his three goals in the top flight coming last weekend at Anfield. However, he has been a consistent performer in Garibaldi Red his whole time at the club.

He’s recently brought up his 50th goal contribution for the club, and has 22 goals and 31 assists in 135 games. Gibbs-White excels as a number 10, but there are times when he needs to play deeper to help Forest out defensively.

The signing of Garner, however, could change that. The Everton man is someone who could play with Gibbs-White in midfield and take some of the defensive responsibility off the Forest number 10. His defensive numbers are impressive, averaging four tackles and interceptions per game this season, for example.

Garner vs. PL midfielders

Stat (per 90)

#

Rank vs PL midfielders

Defensive 3rd tackles won

1.36

Top 11%

Interceptions

1.45

Top 11%

Clearances

2.73

​​​​​​​Top 9%

Blocks

1.64

Top 19%

Stats from FBref

This sort of defensive nous could make Gibbs-White unplayable for Dyche’s side. With a player like Garner behind him, and Elliot Anderson of course, it might mean he is less shackled defensively, thus being able to be more effective going forward.

This midfield dynamic could hugely benefit Forest, and make them a more potent team in attack. In this market, £20m is a nominal fee for a player who knows the club and can benefit the side.

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Rice 2.0: Arsenal join bidding war for "world-class" £120m monster

They might have dropped points last time out, but Arsenal are flying this season.

They sit four points clear atop the Premier League table and second in the Champions League, with four wins and four clean sheets in as many games.

One of the stars of the Gunners’ impressive campaign so far has been Declan Rice, who has been as crucial going forward as he has been in keeping those clean sheets.

Therefore, fans should be delighted about reports linking them with another top-quality international who’d be a Rice-type signing.

Arsenal target Rice-Type signing

The transfer window is still over a month away, but Arsenal are starting to be linked with some exciting players again.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, stories are once again touting Real Madrid’s Rodrygo for a move to the Emirates following a disappointing start to the season.

A cheaper, lesser-known, but nonetheless exciting wide option the Gunners have been linked with is Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who has been catching the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

However, while either attacker would be an exciting addition to the team, neither could be described as particularly Rice-esque, unlike Elliot Anderson.

Yes, according to reports from Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in the Nottingham Forest star.

In fact, the report has revealed that North Londoners are set to enter the bidding war for the England international, who has a price tag of between £100m and £120m.

It could therefore be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Anderson’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as it would be a Rice-type signing.

Why Elliot Anderson would be a Rice repeat for Arsenal

Now, there are obviously some differences between Rice and Anderson, from their playstyles to career paths, but were the latter to join Arsenal, there would be many parallels with the former’s move as well.

For example, it would be another example of the Gunners going out and spending north of £100m on a top-quality central midfielder from a non ‘big six’ Premier League team.

Moreover, like the former West Ham United captain was at the time of his move, the Forest ace is now an established and vitally important player for England.

In fact, ahead of his side’s win over Serbia, Thomas Tuchel described the 23-year-old as a “key player” for the Three Lions and “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

The fact that he is such an incredible central midfielder is another obvious trait he shares with the Gunners’ number 41, as is his versatility.

For example, since moving to the City Ground, the former Newcastle United gem has made 25 appearances in central midfield, 20 in defensive midfield, five in left midfield and three in attacking midfield.

In other words, like the former Hammers star, the “world-class” ace, as dubbed by one commentator, could play wherever Arteta wanted him to in the middle of the park, and as a result, form relationships with a host of Arsenal players.

Finally, on top of also taking corners, the Whitley Bay-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has some incredible underlying numbers to his name, proving that the comparisons to Rice are fully justified.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for ball recoveries, the top 3% for tackles in the defensive third, the top 4% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ball Recoveries

7.42

Top 1%

Dribbles Challenged

3.32

Top 2%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.16

Top 3%

Tackles (Def 3rd)

1.61

Top 3%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.70

Top 4%

Fouls Drawn

2.14

Top 6%

Outswinging Corner Kicks

1.18

Top 7%

Successful Take-Ons

1.21

Top 7%

Penalty Kicks Made

0.03

Top 9%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.03

Top 10%

Tackles

2.89

Top 11%

SCA (Take-On)

0.16

Top 12%

Corner Kicks

1.96

Top 13%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.16

Top 13%

Tackles Won

1.61

Top 13%

Dribblers Tackled

1.39

Top 13%

Crosses

3.35

Top 14%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.64

Top 14%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.03

Top 15%

Ultimately, while it would cost a king’s ransom, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Anderson, as he’s an excellent player and could have a Rice-type impact on the team.

Arsenal lost 'one of the world's best', now he's outperforming Saka & Eze

The incredible international is now playing better than Arsenal’s Eze and Saka.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 14, 2025

ABC x Sport: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo pela Copa do Nordeste

MatériaMais Notícias

ABC e Sport se enfrentam no Estádio Frasqueirão, em Natal, neste sábado (23), às 20h30 (de Brasília), pela 7ª rodada da Copa do Nordeste. O jogo terá transmissão de SBT (Nordeste), DAZN (streaming) e Nosso Futebol (pay-per-view). Os mandantes ocupam a sexta colocação do Grupo B, com seis pontos, enquanto os visitantes estão na vice-liderança do Grupo A, com 11 pontos.

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➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto do Brasil com a Inglaterra (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅FICHA TÉCNICA
ABC x Sport
7ª rodada da Copa do Nordeste

Data e horário: sábado, 23 de março de 2024, às 20h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Frasqueirão, em Natal (RN)
Onde assistir: SBT Nordeste, DAZN (streaming) e Nosso Futebol (pay-per-view)
Árbitro: Denis da Silva Ribeiro Serafim (AL)
Assistentes: Brigida Cirilo Ferreira (AL) e Rondinelle dos Santos Tavares (AL)

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⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

ABC (Técnico: Marcelo Cabo)
Carlos Eduardo, Yuri Ferraz, Wesley Santos, Richardson e Romário; Erick, Daniel e Diego Jardel; Douglas Squilo (Ruan), Daniel Cruz e Javier Parraguez.

SPORT (Técnico: Mariano Soso)
Thiago Couto; Roberto Rosales, Cassiano, Luciano Castán e Felipinho; Ítalo, Fábio Matheus e Lucas Lima; Romarinho, Barletta e Zé Roberto

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Tudo sobre

ABC-RNCopa do NordesteOnde assistirSport

The weight of the maroon cap: West Indies face test of identity in India

West Indies have the right ingredients to spring a surprise on India, but face an uphill battle amidst cynicism about their future in Test cricket

Karthik Krishnaswamy29-Sep-2025Italy are four-time world champions. They missed out on qualification for the last two editions of the World Cup.West Indies are four-time world champions. They missed out on qualification for the last edition of one kind of World Cup, got into the last eight of the last edition of another kind of World Cup, and the shape of their future presence in the world championship of a third kind is looking, at the moment, a little uncertain.Italy are a football team with a storied history and a less-than-remarkable recent past. West Indies are a cricket team with a storied history and a less-than-remarkable recent past. One team gets to ride the crests and troughs of its fortunes without the world tying every result to the future of the sport in the region it represents. The other doesn’t have that privilege.For West Indies, existential crises are always around the corner.Related

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For a moment, put aside the peculiar position that the tangle of cricket’s history, politics, economics and scheduling has left West Indies in. There is no reason why the maroon cap has to feel so much heavier than caps of other colours. There’s no shame in being the team ranked eighth in the world in Tests, ninth in ODIs, and sixth in T20Is. This is how sport works. For someone to occupy the top of the table, someone else has to occupy its middle and someone else its foot.Great generations come and go, and champion teams routinely become middling teams, sometimes never to recapture old glories. If that’s sad, it’s not the end of the world. Sport, like life, goes on. Hungary are currently 41st on the FIFA rankings, and haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 1986. Football fans may lament that this fate has befallen the team of Puskas, Hidegkuti and Kocsis, but no one’s debating whether Hungary should have the right to play international football at all.West Indies, however, risk being cut out of Test cricket’s top table because cricket is determined to shrink when it has every reason to want to grow. This tendency of cricket’s administrators heightens the anxieties that swirl around the lower-ranked Full Member teams, who have neither the political nor financial clout of the Big Three, nor an Associate team’s sense of nothing to lose. It would be far easier for a strong Associate team like Scotland or Netherlands to create a dressing-room environment that minimises the pressure of results than it is for West Indies, for whom there’s always something at stake.And so we come to where West Indies are now: in two places at once. This is the case both literally – one of their teams is in Sharjah, playing a three-match T20I series against Nepal, and another in Ahmedabad, preparing for a two-match Test series against India – and figuratively.They could be viewed equally as a team on the up – with bowlers of quality who have delivered Test wins in conditions as dissimilar as Brisbane and Multan over the last 22 months, as well as a 2-1 ODI win over Pakistan a month-and-a-half ago – and one in terminal decline – because they just lost a T20I to Nepal and their most recent act in Test cricket was 27 all out.Jayden Seales, one of the key players in West Indies’ bowling group•AFP/Getty ImagesA Test tour of India is among the biggest challenges for any team in the world, let alone one in West Indies’ position. But notice that we said “among the biggest challenges” and not “the biggest challenge”. That downgrading happened last year, when New Zealand came to India and won 3-0 when no one, including possibly themselves, expected them to win even one Test. West Indies will have taken notes from that series, and they’ve brought with them a squad with components that could exploit the kinds of opportunities that Test cricket in India occasionally provides visiting teams.West Indies have lost two key fast bowlers to injury, but in Jayden Seales they have one who can take wickets on most pitches. They have two accurate left-arm spinners in Jomel Warrican, who won them a Test match in Pakistan earlier this year, and the uncapped Khary Pierre, who brings vast first-class experience, bowls at a quickish pace that could suit Indian conditions, and is more than handy with the bat. They have two other allrounders, in Roston Chase and Justin Greaves, to give their XIs at least notional depth with both bat and ball.It’s something, even if it isn’t quite the quality or experience that New Zealand brought to India last year. And New Zealand also enjoyed considerable amounts of luck. Their fast bowlers got the best of seaming conditions in the first Test, when India misread the pitch, and they won the toss in the second and third Tests, which were played on dustbowls that narrowed the quality gap between the two spin attacks.Jomel Warrican bowled West Indies to a win in Multan•PCBWest Indies cannot expect that sort of perfect storm to go their way. They may even have to play an entirely different kind of series, if India react to last year’s drubbing by shifting away from square turners to traditional Indian pitches that enable big first-innings totals. West Indies’ vulnerabilities are likelier to be exposed on pitches where it would take more than one bad session for the better team to lose. And India have taken no liberties; they could have rested Jasprit Bumrah, but they haven’t.This, then, is the challenge that confronts West Indies as they attempt to win their first Test match in India since 1994, and their first series here since 1983. It would take a monumental effort to achieve either of those aims.It would also serve us all – players, coaching staff, board, fans, non-affiliated observers – well to judge the team’s performances by realistic standards, keeping tabs on their processes rather than outcomes.Down that path lies immense potential for growth, but it’s always been West Indies’ fate for their results to mean far more than they should.

Another Diangana situation is quickly emerging at West Brom

Can West Bromwich Albion morph into genuine promotion contenders under Ryan Mason?

At the moment, Mason’s Baggies are wildly inconsistent in the Championship, with a middle-of-the-road finish looking likely if they can’t string together a consistent run of victories sooner rather than later.

The jam-packed December fixture schedule to come will be a big test as to whether West Brom can push up the league, or whether they will have to make do with Championship action for yet another season, having now been outside the Premier League since the close of the 2020/21 campaign.

Whatever does happen, West Brom still have several first-team players out of contract come next June, with West Brom veterans such as Jed Wallace and Josh Maja both at risk of walking away for nothing.

This isn’t new ground for the second-tier outfit, though, with Grady Diangana bringing his up-and-down Baggies career to a close this summer, when his deal expired.

Why Diangana was allowed to leave West Brom

Once upon a time, Diangana would cost West Brom a startling £18m to get through the door from West Ham United.

He demanded such a lavish fee back in the summer of 2020, too, having instantly stood out in the Championship for his new West Midlands employers, with his gung-ho performances in attack.

In total, the Congolese forward would chip in with a sturdy 26 goals and 22 assists from 202 appearances, with Carlos Corberan regularly relying on the magic of his former number 11 when his past Baggies sides were challenging for promotion.

Yet, after mustering up a standout 15 goal contributions under Corberan during West Brom’s promotion near-miss season of 2023/24 , it all began to become a bit pear-shaped for the ex-Hammers winger at the Hawthorns.

Indeed, last season saw Diangana bow out from West Brom as a bit-part figure, with only 14 starts coming his way across a campaign that saw the Baggies fall drastically short of the top six.

With the 27-year-old also reluctant to pen a fresh deal, it was, therefore, agreed that Diangana would walk away from his long-established home, bringing his extensive association with the club to a sad end.

In the here and now, with more contract situations up in the air at the Championship outfit, Mason could have a new Diangana situation unfolding.

West Brom star could be another Diangana

In a summer that saw some of the old guard, such as Diangana leave the building, Mason was also given the appropriate tools to instil some fresh blood into his ranks, with Aune Heggebo already up to six Championship goals for the season, after making the move to England from Brann.

While Mason will be impressed with the current goalscoring exploits of his Nordic recruit, he also has many relics from Corberan’s West Brom past still in his starting XI, with Karlan Grant managing to get minutes here and there under the new regime.

Much like Diangana before him, Grant was once seen as an eye-catching capture when the West Midlands outfit were regularly flirting between the Championship and the Premier League, with £15m dropped on his services in 2020.

In a similar fashion to his former attacking teammate, too, Grant became known as an explosive attacking talent in the EFL’s elite league during the early years of his Baggies career, with pundit Carlton Palmer also praising him for his versatile” edge, even when things weren’t always going his way under Corberan.

Games played

12

Games started

6

Average minutes

54 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Yet, even with 31 goals and ten assists under his belt from 158 total contests, it does look as if the plug will be pulled soon on the number ten’s bumper Hawthorns stay, when you consider he has zero goals or assists from 12 outings under Mason.

With his contract also set to expire this approaching June, it does feel as if it’s a move that suits all parties for his deal to run out without a renewal coming his way, as his past best looks to be far beyond him.

He could, of course, still manage to chip in with a goal or assist this season, having collected seven goals across all of last campaign from inconsistent starting opportunities.

But, with Mason now infrequently starting him this campaign amid poor performances, he is unlikely to want to keep him around, whatever division West Brom end up in when contract renewals pop back up.

Mason must now bin West Brom star who earns more than Heggebo & Johnston

Ryan Mason must now axe this West Bromwich Albion high earner for good.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

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