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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says it was wrong to rule out Virgil Van Dijk’s equaliser against Manchester City in their 3-0 loss on Sunday. The Reds’ captain thought he had found the back of the net after beating Gianluigi Donnarumma with a powerful header. But the celebrations were cut short quickly, with Andy Robertson judged to have interfered with play from an offside position.

Van Dijk's header ruled out by VAR

Liverpool fell behind to an Erling Haaland opener after the Norwegian had earlier had his penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The striker’s looped header lofted over the Georgian in the Reds’ net and handed the hosts a deserved lead.

Liverpool did respond to going behind, with Van Dijk appearing to level proceedings in the 38th minute. Mohamed Salah drilled across a corner towards the back of the City box and the ball was met by a thunderous header by the centre-half, which flew into the bottom right corner. The Liverpool captain wheeled away in celebration to the corner flag, believing he had equalised.

VAR would soon intervene and spoil the Liverpool fans' cheers, though. Andy Robertson, standing three yards offside, ducked under the flight of the ball, but the officials judged him to be interfering with play. It was a contentious decision, given Donnarumma had seen the direction the ball was travelling in, and Robertson was not obscuring his vision.

The Liverpool fans and Slot were justifiably a little miffed.

AdvertisementAFPSlot slams the decision

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Slot said: “I think it's obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion. Because he [Robertson] didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do.

“Immediately after the game someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed City against Wolves last season [John Stones’ last minute winner]. So, it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it's offside. So, there was clearly communication.

“That could have influenced the game in a positive way for us because in the first half we were so poor.

“We would have been lucky going 1-0 down at half-time, let alone if it was 1-1 or 2-1 down. So it has been an influential decision, which is not to say that we then would have had a result over here because you cannot predict how the second half would have gone.”

City run out deserved winners

Regardless of the decision, Liverpool were not good enough and clearly deserved to lose the clash against their title rivals. Jeremy Doku was the standout performer for the hosts and the Reds struggled to contain the lively Belgian who put the game beyond doubt when he scored City’s third.

Earlier, Haaland and Nico Gonzalez had made it 2-0 to the hosts and prompted furious criticism of the Reds by Sky Sports’ pundits. Gary Neville claimed that Liverpool had been “asking to be beaten” by Pep Guardiola’s team and Roy Keane had labelled the Reds’ performance a “disgrace”.

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Getty Images SportCity announce their intentions

City were the standout side, and their performance demonstrated why they are still one of Europe’s best sides. With Haaland in some of the best form of his career so far, it would be daft to write off City for any of the major honours.

Speaking after the game, Ruben Dias sent a warning shot towards league leaders Arsenal and claimed that his team were performing at the highest level. The defender added that “there are new faces because of the ones that left, but that quality stays the same, and we keep on pushing,” in a potential sly dig at the Reds.

Guardiola’s team have now moved within just four points of Arsenal, after the Gunners dropped two costly points late against Sunderland on Saturday. The victory also confined Liverpool to eighth spot in the Premier League, behind rivals Manchester United and eight points behind the Gunners at the top of the table.

There is a long way to go in the Premier League campaign, but Liverpool must start turning their fortunes around sooner rather than later.

Vinicius Junior's savage on-field jibe at Lamine Yamal has been revealed. Yamal put in a disappointing El Clasico showing as Barcelona fell to a 2-1 loss at Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon, a result that leaves the defending La Liga champions five points off Los Blancos. And to add salt to the wounds, Vinicius' comments to the teenager have now been made public.

AFPYamal disappoints in El Clasico

Yamal struggled to impact El Clasico as Barcelona fell to a 2-1 loss at the Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe's 22nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Fermin Lopez in the 38th minute. However, Los Blancos went back ahead shortly before the break through Jude Bellingham.

Mbappe saw a second-half penalty saved by Wojciech Szczesny, with the Pole stepping in for the injured Joan Garcia between the sticks, but it needn't have mattered as Real Madrid went five points clear at the top of the table.

Yamal managed two shots and created two goalscoring chances but was largely kept in check by the Real Madrid backline. And it's now been revealed that Vinicius Junior launched a disrespectful jibe at the 18-year-old as Barcelona struggled at the Bernabeu.

AdvertisementVinicius mocks Yamal to his face

During the match, Vinicius and the rest of the Real squad appeared riled at Yamal for some of the teenager's pre-match comments. The Barcelona star said: "Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…" when talking about Real Madrid on Twitch. Vinicius didn't pass up the chance to launch his own jibe at the Barcelona winger. "Nothing but back passes, huh? Just passing it back to the defenders," the Real Madrid star reportedly said to the teenager when they were in close proximity.

The pair also had to be separated at full-time as tempers flared between both sides. Pedri received his marching orders shortly before Cesar Soto Grado called time on El Clasico, with the Barcelona midfielder pulled up for a late foul on Aurelien Tchouameni after being carded for a foul on Vinicius in the first half.

Vinicius was at the heart of the post-match confrontation as the Brazilian targeted Barcelona trio Alejandro Balde, Yamal and Raphinha. However, the forward wasn't the only Real Madrid star to have been caught dishing out comments to Yamal in a fiery El Clasico encounter at the Bernabeu, with Thibaut Courtois and Dani Carvajal also involved.

Further bookings were dished out to Vinicius, Eder Militao and Rodrygo for their roles in the melee. Backup Real Madrid goalkeeper Andrii Lunin, meanwhile, also saw red in a feisty end to the clash.

Getty Images Sport'You speak too much'

Carvajal was caught exchanging words with Spain teammate Yamal in the centre-circle at full time and the experienced defender reportedly said: "You speak too much. Speak now." Yamal tried to confront Carvajal, but was ushered away by Barcelona team-mates.

Frenkie de Jong, meanwhile, said of the post-match scenes at the Bernabeu: "I didn't see what happened. I was on the bench and saw a lot of people. When the referee blew his whistle, Real Madrid players went after Lamine. It's a bit exaggerated. You'd have to ask them.

"In the first half, we weren't sharp with the ball. Madrid hurt with their players up front. In the second half, we lacked the ability to create danger and clear chances. If Carvajal wanted to speak with Lamine, call him or text him. You're team-mates, you know each other. Why do you have to make a scene on the pitch?"

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Xabi Alonso speaks out about Vinicius strop

Vinicius was withdrawn in the 72nd minute and was furious when he saw his number go up as Xabi Alonso looked to bring Rodrygo on. Rather than sit on the bench, Vinicius instead headed straight down the tunnel and ignored the Real Madrid boss on his way off the pitch.

Alonso has admitted he'll have a "conversation" with Vinicius following his sub strop, stating after the game: "Vini’s character? There are different personalities in any dressing room. Right now we will enjoy the win, then we’ll have a conversation, for sure."

Real Madrid are expected to maintain their lead at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome winless Valencia to the Bernabeu next weekend.

Visitors will have Mehidy Hasan Miraz back and could go with three spinners at SSC

Madushka Balasuriya24-Jun-2025

Big Picture: WTC points at stake for both sidesAfter a draw in the first Test in Galle, the action moves to Colombo with more World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line for a Test arguably more important for Sri Lanka than Bangladesh. As their remaining two home series in this cycle are against India and South Africa, two Tests without a win against a lower-ranked Bangladesh might leave the hosts feeling like they left points on the table.As for the visitors, they were the closer of the two sides to getting a positive result in Galle, and will be heading to Colombo with the belief that they can go one better. And with their remaining two away series this cycle against WTC 2025 finalists Australia and South Africa, the points might prove more valuable than most.It is also Sri Lanka’s first Test of the post-Angelo Mathews era, with the search for his replacement now moving into full gear. The first to get a go looks likely to be spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, whose slow left-arm spin makes him a handy option – particularly in home conditions. With no Tests on Sri Lanka’s cards until next year, he’ll be itching to make this opportunity one to remember.Related

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If Sri Lanka opt to throw all their spin eggs in the Prabath Jayasuriya basket, then one of Pavan Rathnayake, Pasindu Sooriyabandara or even Oshada Fernando could come in.Bangladesh, meanwhile, welcome Mehidy Hasan Miraz back after he missed the first Test with fever. You would expect the No. 2-ranked allrounder in the world to be welcomed back with open arms. But his replacement Nayeem Hasan was arguably the best bowler on show in the first Test.With the SSC surface expected to be dry and batter-friendly, both teams will be trying to decipher the ideal combination. Dhananjaya de Silva hinted that three seamers were likely for Sri Lanka – which could potentially mean a debut for Isitha Wijesundara – but if Bangladesh were to follow suit, it might mean Nayeem misses out.Bangladesh, though, have the seam options to go with a three-pronged spin attack, with both Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain available for selection. With Ebadot just returning from an injury layoff, Khaled could get the nod, particularly owing to his proficiency with the new ball.Form guideSri Lanka: DLLLL
Bangladesh: DWLWLLAnamul Haque fell for 0 and 4 in the Galle Test•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Dhananjaya de Silva and Anamul HaqueFor most of his career, Dhananjaya de Silva has batted at No. 6 or lower. He was tried at No. 5 for the entire 2021 as well, and to some success. But with Mathews retired, Sri Lanka’s Test middle order is getting its first real shake-up in over a decade. The biggest beneficiary of that might be the Sri Lanka captain himself. Dhananjaya looks set to slot into that No. 4 role – at least initially – a position he has batted in on only six prior occasions, and one where he averages just 20.33. DDS, as he’s commonly known, has always been the man for a crisis in Sri Lanka’s lower order, and Sri Lanka will be hoping that crisis-management mode kicks in upon the retirement of one of the country’s stalwarts.Anamul Haque’s Test career hasn’t been one to write home about. Having made his Test debut back in 2013, he was in the wilderness from 2014 to 2022. Anamul’s return to the national team was brief, though, as he was dropped after a single Test for another three years. At 32 years of age, his return against Zimbabwe this April was less comeback, and more a reintroduction. He scored 39, his highest Test score, the only time he batted in that game. The Galle Test brought Anamul scores of 0 and 4, not ideal either. But on an SSC track that is expected to be as batter-friendly – if not, more – now, if ever, is the time to deliver.Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be back in action after a fever•AFP/Getty Images

Team newsSri Lanka will be pondering Mathews’ replacement, as well as whether to play three seamers. Milan Rathnayake’s injury has left open a spot for a bowling allrounder, and Dinusha seems likely to fill that role. Tharindu Ratnayake will be the one to make way if Sri Lanka go for an extra seamer.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udara, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Sonal Dinusha, 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Vishwa Fernando, 10 Kasun Rajitha/Isitha Wijesundara, 11 Asitha FernandoBangladesh will have to decide how to slot in the returning Mehidy, while also pondering whether to go with three seamers or an extra spinner. It could be Nayeem who misses out if the extra seamer does come in. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also picked up a finger injury at training, but it doesn’t look likely to rule him out.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Jaker Ali (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan/Khaled Ahmed/Ebadot Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Hasan MahmudOf active Sri Lanka players, Prabath Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at SSC•AFP/Getty Images

Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have lost four of their last eight Tests at the SSC. Prior to that, they had gone 21 Tests without defeat at the venue. Of active Sri Lanka players, Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at the SSC. Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka just once across 27 Tests.Quotes”Runs in the first innings is the key. Then we can try and take 20 wickets in the game. Toss will not be a major factor. Even in Galle, we were able to score the same number of runs as them.”
“To leave Naeem out is difficult. But we make sure everyone is on the same page, and if a decision has to be made, people understand that it’s what’s best for the team.”

da betsson： Chelsea are now racing Arsenal for the signature of a “world-class” forward, who has just relocated to London, with his club open to a sale.

Blues set sights on Garnacho alternative

da gbg bet： The Blues have long been expected to sign Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, but the deal hasn’t shown much sign of progression recently, despite Fabrizio Romano stating there is still a great deal of confidence that it will go through.

Romano said: “Chelsea expect 100% that Alejandro Garnacho deal to happen. “I fully think we’ll have a “here we go” this week. There were some rumours to include Tyrique George as part of the conversation between Manchester United and Chelsea. This option was already stopped a few weeks ago so at the moment Tyrique George is not part of those conversations as of now.”

However, Tottenham Hotspur’s failed pursuit of Eberechi Eze underlines that anything can happen until a deal is signed and sealed, and the Blues still remain in the market for potential alternative options.

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That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Chelsea are now monitoring Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who is viewed as a back-up option for Garnacho, and there are strong indications that a deal could be possible.

The Italian club are willing to sell Lookman this summer, given that he has already handed in an official transfer request, and they are looking to receive a fee of £45m, although there could be competition from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Interestingly, it is also revealed the 27-year-old has just relocated to London, which indicates a move to Stamford Bridge could appeal, and having removed all Atalanta content from his social media channels, it is clear the forward’s time with the Serie A side is coming to an end.

"World-class" Lookman could be better signing than Garnacho

Garnacho is the younger of the two players, at just 21-years-old, but that is probably one of the only things the Manchester United star has in his favour, with the Nigerian outperforming him across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

Alejandro Garnacho

Ademola Lookman

Non-penalty goals

0.20

0.63

Assists

0.14

0.20

Shot-creating actions

3.58

5.51

Successful take-ons

1.30

1.72

The Atalanta star, who has been lauded as “world-class” by the BBC’s John Bennett, has also proven he can deliver in big matches, most memorably scoring a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in his side’s 3-0 thrashing of the German club in the 2024 Europa League final.

It appears as though Chelsea will only target Lookman if the deal for Garnacho falls through, but they should perhaps reconsider, given that the Nigeria international is clearly a big-game player, and a £45m fee for his services seems very fair.

In quite the twist, Newcastle United are now reportedly the frontrunners to land one of their top targets who has given PIF the green light to move forward with the deal.

Howe: "Complex" Isak situation "far from ideal"

Whilst Newcastle continue to chase transfers of their own, the saga of the summer has been threatening to unfold between Alexander Isak and those at St James’ Park. After deciding to train away from the club and at former side Real Sociedad, it looked as though the Swede had done enough to open the door to his exit as Liverpool came calling with an opening offer.

Ultimately, however, the Reds didn’t do enough and have since had the door slammed in their face by Newcastle, who are demanding as much as £150m to sell their star man. Liverpool’s offer worth £110m was, therefore, always likely to be turned down.

Whilst some around St James’ Park may celebrate Liverpool’s latest stance, it’s Eddie Howe who has been left to pick up the pieces of the Isak saga.

He told reporters when asked about the situation: “I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home. I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it.

The Newcastle boss then went on to say when asked if he knows where Isak is: “I know where he is through the media, so I think from that perspective it’s difficult for me to go into any detail. The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”

Meanwhile, as that situation continues to unravel, another key factor in any potential deal has reportedly progressed in Newcastle’s favour.

Sesko chooses Newcastle

Delo, the number one newspaper in Slovenia, has revealed Benjamin Sesko ‘has made a decision’ and ‘will continue his career with Newcastle United’, while also confirming the rival interest from Manchester United.

And according to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Newcastle have now matched Sesko’s price-tag with a blockbuster “formal bid” worth as much as £70m. Jumping ahead of Manchester United in unexpected fashion, the Magpies could now solve their striker problem with what would become their biggest ever signing.

After a summer of rejections, the news that they are now leading the race to finally sign the striker that they’ve been craving will be music to the ears of all those in Tyneside.

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There’s still a way to go, of course, but there’s no doubt that Sesko would be an excellent addition. Described as “special” by former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell, the towering forward looks destined for the Premier League.

Plays of the Day from the third day of the Test between India and West Indies at the Kotla

S Aga08-Nov-2011The drop
Three years ago, it was Virender Sehwag’s 68-ball 83 that made a 387-run mountain look like a hillock in Chennai. With 276 needed here, Ravi Rampaul had the perfect opportunity to deflate the Indian balloon early. Statuesque footwork and a diffident stroke saw the ball come back at him, but though he got a hand to it, he couldn’t hold on. Sehwag went on to add 43 more and by the time he left, another platform had been established for those who followed.The six
With Shivnarine Chanderpaul gone and the end in sight, Darren Sammy wasn’t about to hold back. But even then, the first ball of Ishant Sharma’s 13th over was something special. A jump down the pitch and the cleanest of strikes down to the sightscreen. Many a West Indian legend would have approved.Limpet-turned-road runner
When people think of Chanderpaul, they usually think of that crab-like stance and adhesive qualities. But this is a man with a 69-ball Test hundred and his approach was clear as soon as he came to the crease. The first ball he faced was flashed down to third man and the second neatly guided through point – the tempo set for a rapid-fire 47 that may have a vital bearing on the result.No time to leave
His pace and bustle weren’t rewarded in the first innings, but Umesh Yadav didn’t have to wait too long for his debut Test wicket. It came with a delivery that angled in at 140 km/hr. Kirk Edwards, who had shown real mettle during his 33, bizarrely decided to offer no stroke, turning back to see the off stump head in the direction of Delhi Gate.Jumbo Redux
Marlon Samuels didn’t have a chance. The carrom ball was at least 10 km/hr quicker than R Ashwin’s stock deliveries. Given that the ball turned away from the right-hander to uproot the off stump, it was hard not to think of a certain leggie whose topspinners flummoxed many a batsman in similar conditions. With his height, accuracy and thoughtful demeanour, the Kumble comparisons won’t end any time soon.

da roleta： No Manchester United fan could’ve envisaged the mammoth spending that has taken place this summer, especially after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments back in March.

da supremo： The 72-year-old stated in an interview that the club wouldn’t spend crazy fees on players in the window, putting the blame on the previous recruitment regime at Old Trafford.

However, he’s overseen a shopping spree that has seen the Red Devils already splash £130m in new additions, that’s before the pending £74m deal to sign striker Benjamin Sesko.

The 22-year-old is set to join Ruben Amorim’s side after flying to Manchester to complete his medical, with a formal announcement all that’s left before he can be considered a Red Devil.

Despite their heavy spending already during the off-season, it could be set to continue, with various other players being considered by the staff behind the scenes.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Despite the previous moves made in the window, Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra still remains as a key target for United this summer, potentially bolstering the depth in the middle of the park.

It’s been reported that the 22-year-old is extremely keen on a move to join Amorim’s side this summer, leading to a £25m price tag being mooted by his current employers.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights between now and the end of the window, with Como star Nico Paz a player they’re keen on, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the Red Devils are plotting a move for the Argentine youngster, after he registered six goals and eight assists in Serie A throughout 2024/25.

It also states that Chelsea are also interested in a deal to land the 20-year-old this window, but any move could prove to be an expensive one, with his current employers demanding £60m for his signature.

Why United’s latest target would be their next Amad

Amad Diallo is a player who has had to bide his time at United, often being a backup option or even an outcast under the management of former boss Erik ten Hag.

The Ivorian has spent multiple years on loan at Rangers and Sunderland, before returning to the fold last year, but he had to wait until Amorim took the reins before having an impact on the first team.

He mainly operated in a wing-back role, managing to achieve a total of eight goals and six assists across all competitions, with his performance against Southampton undoubtedly his best of the season.

The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick during the 3-2 win, securing all three points for the Red Devils, before an ankle injury put a halt to his impressive spell within the first team.

He’s certainly one of the players to watch in the club’s hunt for success throughout 2025/26, potentially being joined by Paz, who could follow in the attacker’s footsteps.

The Argentine would replicate his move from Italy, whilst also having a wand of a left foot that could provide an added level of creativity to the club’s front line in the years ahead.

Paz, who’s been credited with having “immense potential” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has produced countless impressive underlying stats which could make him a hit with the supporters.

He notched 5.5 progressive passes per 90, with 3.9 of which were into the final third, offering another creative dimension – just like Amad has over the last couple of months.

The 20-year-old also completed 51% of the take-ons he attempted, at a total of 2.3 per 90, which ranks him within the top 6% of all players in Serie A in 2024/25.

Nico Paz’s stats for Como in Serie A (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

35

Goals & assists

14

Pass accuracy

81%

Progressive passes

5.5

Progressive carries

2.6

Successful take-ons

2.3

Take-ons completed

51%

Passes into final third

3.9

Tackles won

1.7

Blocks made

1.6

Stats via FBref

Out of possession, the talented star also impressed, winning 1.7 tackles per 90 whilst also making 1.6 blocks per 90 – having the tools to be the perfect box-to-box option in Amorim’s side.

Whilst he may be yet another big-money addition to the squad, it would be a signing that would set the club up for immediate and long-term success, given the levels he’s produced and the potential he holds, given his tender age.

Should he follow in the footsteps of Amad at Old Trafford, it would be a superb piece of business and one that could massively aid the Red Devils’ chances of success.

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Despite Erik ten Hag still holding the status of Manchester United manager, the search for a new boss continues.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe certainly won’t have been impressed with the results this season, particularly recently, but the new owners' biggest concern simply has to be the performance of the team.

Many thought that the 3-3 draw with Coventry City was the final blow to the Dutch boss, with Alan Shearer even believing that an FA Cup win wouldn’t save the manager, stating that his future is "already determined".

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a potential replacement for Ten Hag, who’s impressed in Germany over the last few seasons.

Man United’s search for a new boss

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United have a 'major interest' in 41-year-old manager Edin Terzic.

It’s said that the Borussia Dortmund coach is the ideal profile for the project that the new Old Trafford owners are looking for.

The German international already has experience in the Premier League, having been a part of West Ham United’s coaching staff between 2015-17.

However, they will face competition for his signature if they do decide to make a move, with his former employers at the London Stadium also interested in replacing David Moyes.

How Terzic compares to Ten Hag

Since becoming the head coach of Dortmund on a full-time basis at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Terzic has developed the team into one that can challenge for silverware.

For example, in his first season in charge of the Bundesliga side, he led the side to a second-place finish in the German top flight, missing out on the title on goal difference to Bayern Munich.

However, he had already proved that he could bring silverware to Signal Iduna Park prior to taking on the manager role permanently, winning the German Cup in the 2020/21 season while serving as an interim.

This season, the 41-year-old’s side haven’t exactly been performing quite as well domestically, as they’re currently fifth in the Bundesliga, but they are in the semi-final of the Champions League, after becoming only the second manager to overturn a first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid in the knockout stages.

Nonetheless, as you can see from the table above, Terzic’s Dortmund are slightly better than Ten Hag’s United based on their average stats this season.

Just like the United boss, Terzic’s main formation is a 4-2-3-1, opting for a target man striker, such as Sebastian Haller, and having flying fullbacks that impact the game in the final third, Ian Maatsen and Julien Ryerson.

However, he’s a tactical mastermind who’s extremely flexible with his approach, even changing his system to overcome specific opposition, unlike Ten Hag, who is rather stubborn, always fielding a 4-2-3-1 and playing the same brand of football.

The manager who’s “similar to Jurgen Klopp,” as dubbed by David James in regards to his role as Dortmund manager before a potential move to England, also fits the bill perfectly for the United rebuild, and he also boasts a 100% win record against Premier League teams this season, having defeated Newcastle United twice in the Champions League.

Firstly, he’s a young manager who knows how to develop the youth and turn them into superstars, as shown by his involvement in the progression of Jude Bellingham.

But he’s also not afraid to trust the youngsters over more experienced players, as highlighted by the fact that young Englishman Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has played over 20 league games this season.

Additionally, he’s a brilliant man-manager who's 'loved by his players' – as per the Bundesliga website – and able to get the very best out of each individual in his team, which Ten Hag has failed to do this season in particular, hence why the Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League.

Overall, Terzic may not necessarily be a manager who’ll instantly provide success, but he’s certainly a coach who has the potential to revive a club and lead a project – much in the same way Klopp has at Liverpool.

With a 'Klopp-like intensity' in the dugout, according to ESPN's Derek Rae, the promising coach could oversee a new era at the Theatre of Dreams.

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Marsh dropped after a lean series with bat and ball with Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster named to make his debut as the only change for Australia

Alex Malcolm01-Jan-2025Australia have dropped allrounder Mitchell Marsh for the final Test against India in Sydney with captain Pat Cummins confirming that Tasmanian Beau Webster will make his Test debut.Cummins confirmed on the eve of the Sydney Test that Australia would make just one change, with Mitchell Starc declared fit to play despite carrying an issue with his rib/back.Marsh’s place in the side was under the microscope after a lean series with both bat and ball. He had scored just 73 runs at 10.42 across the first four Tests, with 47 of those coming in the second innings in Perth when the game was long gone. With the ball he had bowled just 33 overs across seven innings in the series (discounting the brief second innings in Brisbane), and since claiming 2 for 12 in the first innings of the series he had figures of 1 for 127 from his last 28 overs.Related

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'He'll push through' – Carey confident Starc won't let back issue keep him out of SCG Test

'Unfair' to question Marsh's fitness as pressure grows on Test spot

Webster has been the form allrounder in the Sheffield Shield in recent seasons. He was the highest scorer in the Shield last season with 938 runs at 58.62 and took 30 wickets at 29.30. Sir Garfield Sobers, in 1963-64, is the only other player in Shield history to score more than 900 runs and take more than 30 wickets in the same season.In four games this season he has scored 303 runs at 50.50, including a century and a half-century, and has taken nine wickets at 37.88 in 96.5 overs across four matches. He has also taken 6 for 17 in a Dean Jones Trophy 50-over match for Tasmania and made an unbeaten half-century for Australia A against India A in the first four-day Mackay and took two three-wicket hauls in the second in Melbourne.”Mitchy, obviously hasn’t quite got the runs, or perhaps the wickets that he would have liked this series,” Cummins said on Thursday at his pre-Test press conference. “So we felt like it was time for a freshening up, and Beau’s been with the squad. He’s been great. So it’s a shame for Mitchy, because we know how much he brings to the team, but feel like now it’s a good week for Beau to get a chance.”Marsh’s popularity within the team, and his close personal friendship with Cummins would not have made the decision easy for the captain or the selectors. But Cummins said Marsh was not surprised by the decision and was very accepting of it.”He was totally understanding,” Cummins said. “I think his words were, yeah, not necessarily blindsided. He knows he hasn’t scored the runs or taken the wickets that he would have liked. So that makes you vulnerable. Really excited for Beau. The first thing he said, I can’t wait to see Beau go out there and give it a crack.”Particularly here in Australia, I think when a batter misses out or gets dropped it’s always seen as a big thing, but it’s not the case. The way that Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] and the selectors and myself look at it is, we love pulling a squad of players together who we think we can call on at different times. And we thought the time was right for Mitchy to have a freshen up and miss this one. But it doesn’t mean that he won’t be back in that team at some point.”Cummins was asked whether Marsh needed to contribute more with the ball if he was to earn a recall but the skipper said that his batting is the main priority.”Not necessarily,” he said. “We’ve spoken about it a lot. He was in the side this summer for being a top six batter. So that’s generally a guiding principle when you pick the top order, [although] not always. I think when he’s at his best, he gets in the side on his batting alone and his bowling is a bonus. Obviously, we’ve got guys like Cam Green who will be back in the mix at some point as well, who provide some other bowling options.”Beau Webster bowls at the nets•AFP via Getty ImagesAt the same time, Cummins said Webster’s superior bowling, and ability to handle bigger loads than Marsh was a factor in the decision-making. That comes just a few days after coach Andrew McDonald suggested Marsh was fully fit and stated it was unfair to question Marsh’s lack of bowling given that he had not bowled for tactical reasons rather than any physical issues.”That was definitely a factor,” Cummins said. “Short turnaround. I think it’s always nice to have kind of a fifth bowler. He bowls quite a lot for Tasmania. So if we need to call on that we can. I think firstly, if you’re going to bat six, you’re picked for your batting, which I think he’s shown in the Shield over the last couple years, when he takes the game on he’s really changed some games for Tasmania. But I’ll sit down and work that out today. But I think particularly that pace bowling, Beau is going to be handy, and we’ve got obviously Nath [Lyon], but also Trav [Head] with some handy offies when needed.”Cummins said he hadn’t had a lot to do with Webster prior to him joining the squad after the first Test of this series. But he has been impressed with his performances for Tasmania and Australia A where he made scores of 33, 61*, 5 and 46* and took figures of 0 for 18, 1 for 51, 3 for 19 and 3 for 49 in the two wins over India A in Mackay and Melbourne ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”He’s just been a one of those star performance for Tasmania with the bat or ball, or in the field,” Cummins said. “He always seems to have a big impact. Quite aggressive. Can change the game, like we’ve seen Mitch Marsh or Trav Head, or Alex Carey do in that middle order. And he’s been a great personality around the squad. Even day five there in Melbourne he was itching to get on the field. It’s going to be awesome to see him debut. Really love what he brought to the squad so far.”Australia XI for the fifth Test: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Old Trafford offers ideal preparation for Asian pitches, as England turn to World Cup defence

Andrew Miller10-Sep-2020Eoin Morgan has challenged his world-beating ODI players to adapt their dynamic brand of cricket to the slow, low pitches on which they will be defending their World Cup title in India in 2023, and believes that three matches against Australia at Emirates Old Trafford offer the perfect opportunity to start putting some new plans into action.Traditionally, the surface at Old Trafford has been among the more rapid on the English circuit, offering good carry to the quicks and sharp turn and bounce for the slow bowlers. However, the venue has already hosted six internationals in the summer’s bio-secure circumstances, the majority of them on sluggish surfaces exacerbated by the chilly Manchester weather, and Morgan was both confident on what to expect in the coming days, and grateful for what it could mean for their preparations.”It’s a huge benefit to us playing at Old Trafford,” he said. “Hopefully it will be slow and take a lot of turn. That’s very useful considering that’s both our weakest point, and it’s more than likely what we will play in India in 2023. If we had a choice of grounds to play at for the next period of time, this would be one of them.”ALSO READ: Aaron Finch seeks winning formula as Australia reset ODI recordEngland’s preparation for the 2019 World Cup was notable for their belligerent attitude to wickets that did not favour their expansive strokeplay, with Morgan himself happy to defend his batsmen even after scorelines of 20 for 6 against South Africa at Lord’s, or 8 for 5 against Australia at Adelaide – the logic being that it was better to absorb the lessons while maintaining a positive attacking mindset, rather than let doubt seep into their game-plans on the odd surface that misbehaved.With India on the horizon, however – both for 2023 and for next year’s T20 World Cup – Morgan acknowledges that England will now need to be upfront about their adaptability.”Going away from what we’re strong at will do us some good for a period of time,” he said. “It allows us to focus on things that are our weaker side, so creating another dynamic well-rounded game in that manner is important. We need to get better at playing on those types of surfaces, because over the course of the last four-and-a-half years, we had to wait either to play in Cardiff, or Old Trafford, or go away on winter tours to experience [spinning] conditions.”It is probably a bigger challenge for our seamers than our batters, because our batters have gone through this for the last couple of years,” he added. “So hopefully we’ll learn more, and upskill what we need to do to get better at playing those types of pitches.”With Morgan himself now fit again after his finger dislocation during the T20Is, and Jason Roy restored to the top of the order following his side strain, England look set to field as many as nine of the 11 men who triumphed at Lord’s in that extraordinary World Cup final 14 months ago – and as the captain himself acknowledged, success on that scale creates a pressure to perform like nothing else.”I think the expectation outside of our own group is probably higher than it’s ever been,” Morgan said. “And it should be. We’re an incredibly talented group of guys and collectively if we perform together, we’re a hard side to beat.”I’d much rather go in with a weighted level of expectation than none at all. We’ve grown into being comfortable with that expectation over the last few years, and slowly it’s crept into our minds as well, just through levels of performance.”Eoin Morgan swings down the ground•Getty Images

However, speaking on his 34th birthday – a milestone that highlights England’s onus on succession planning in the coming months – Morgan acknowledged that there had been room for “huge improvements” during their 2-1 win over Australia in the T20Is, not least in the fielding department which he described as “second-rate”, particularly during their five-wicket defeat in the final fixture.The fact that Morgan himself missed that game through injury seemed to suggest that his continued presence as England’s chief motivator and tactician is pivotal to the team’s success. However, he insisted that no-one is “irreplaceable”, and that the close-knit circumstances of England’s bio-secure summer had made it even more apparent who are the leaders within England’s dressing-room.Morgan’s obvious successors within the white-ball squad are Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes – currently absent on compassionate leave – while Moeen Ali stepped in for the final T20I last week. With Joe Root, the Test captain, also back in the ODI squad, there is no shortage of senior players for England to lean on.”Jos operates in a different manner [to me],” Morgan said. “The energy that he exudes might come across more passionate and more vocal in the field. Same with Ben. Joe is probably a bit calm and more reserved as well. So you’ve different attributes that he might see at different stages, and we had a glimpse into what it might look like with Moeen as captain and Chris Jordan as his vice-captain.”One of the huge benefits of having the same group of 17 players together for an extended period of time is that the guys go through many different experiences together,” he added. “The longer that journey, different leaders evolve. Some guys stand up at different times, and recognising when they step into the game is important because it is an area that we’ve neglected over the years.””Towards the back end of the World Cup and definitely the semi-final and final, the guys who were leaders within our group stood up both vocally and performance-based when they needed to. So, the age-old saying that you don’t really think about the captaincy until you are given it, we’re trying to get rid of that stigma and build, not just one leader to be the next captain, but a group that will support that leader as well and drives things forward.”