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da aviator aposta： O reencontro entre Loco Abreu e Botafogo teve fortes emoções. Ídolo do clube alvinegro, hoje ele treina o César Vallejo e viu seu time ser goleado sem dó por 4 a 0 no Nilton Santos. Loco também lidou com as homenagens dos torcedores no estádio.

Antes de a bola rolar, existia muita expectativa por este reencontro entre clube e ídolo. O filho de Loco Abreu e novo reforço do Glorioso para temporada, Diego Abreu, marcou presença no Nilton Santos e sorriu emocionado ao ver seu pai sendo homenageado pelas arquibancadas.

+Veja os 25 reforços mais caros da janela que fechou nesta quinta

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoLuís Castro celebra vitória do Botafogo na Sul-Americana e parabeniza os jogadores: ‘Trabalho tem sido ótimo’Botafogo20/04/2023BotafogoBase do Botafogo treina em novo gramado do Nilton SantosBotafogo19/04/2023BotafogoAo L!, Lucas Perri revela preparação para defender pênaltis, celebra atual momento e mira títulos pelo BotafogoBotafogo17/04/2023

da casino： Aos gritos de “Uh, é o Loco”, um ídolo era reverenciado pelos torcedores, mesmo estando em lados opostos. Apesar do carinho e admiração, Loco precisou se tornar profissional e focar na partida. No começo do primeiro tempo, ele ficou sentado durante boa parte, às vezes conversava com seu auxiliar e de vez em quando fazia algumas orientações para seus jogadores.

+Loco Abreu visita Nilton Santos ao lado de Diego e celebra chegada do filho ao Botafogo: ‘Fico emocionado’

No segundo tempo, quando percebeu que sua equipe que não demonstrava nenhuma reação em campo, Loco ficou mais enérgico na beira do gramado e tentou incentivar seus atletas para não desistirem do jogo. O uruguaio, inclusive, não concordou com a decisão do segundo pênalti alvinegro e fez duras reclamações ao quarto árbitro.

+Botafogo relembra cavada histórica de Loco Abreu, e Jefferson responde: ‘Inesquecível’

No término do jogo, mesmo sendo homenageado pelos torcedores, Loco não ficou muito tempo em campo e se dirigiu rapidamente ao vestiário. Na entrevista coletiva, ele se mostrou irritado com as perguntas frequentes sobre Botafogo: “Vamos parar. Só tem pergunta de Botafogo. Os torcedores do César Vallejo vão ficar p… pra c…”.

+Reforço do Botafogo, Diego Hernández destaca importância de Loco Abreu: ‘Abriu uma grande porta’

Loco Abreu é um dos grandes ídolos da história do Botafogo. O uruguaio atuou no clube alvinegro entre os anos 2010 e 2012. Agora, será missão de seu filho Diego Abreu tentar repetir os feitos do pai no Rio de Janeiro.

The allrounder won’t feature in T20Is against West Indies or New Zealand due to a focus on red-ball cricket this month

Andrew McGlashan09-Feb-20240:56

Is Smith in? Finch names his T20 World Cup starting XI

Cameron Green remains firmly in the thoughts of Australia’s selectors for the T20 World Cup with the upcoming IPL to play a role in how they put together the final squad ahead of the tournament in June.Green has been left out of the two T20I series against West Indies and New Zealand to prioritise red-ball preparation for the Tests against the latter – which will include a Sheffield Shield outing for Western Australia against Tasmania next week – but he could yet feature in the World Cup.He will return to IPL in late March, where he has been traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore from Mumbai Indians, and performances in that competition could still sway the selectors.Related

Behrendorff hopes towering 12-month run translates to T20 World Cup ticket

Ponting: Pant is 'very confident' of playing entire IPL 2024

Neser recalled for New Zealand tour, Renshaw retains reserve batting spot

“Yeah, very firmly,” national selector George Bailey said when asked if Green was still in the frame. “We know he’s going to go to the IPL and getting a big batch of T20 cricket in. It’s a constant conversation with multi-format players, working out the priority at any given time, and making sure they get what they need but he’s certainly one whose name I think, as we are finalising that 15 for the World Cup, will be firmly in the mix.”Green made his mark at the top of the order in T20Is shortly before the previous World Cup in 2022 when he hammered two rapid half-centuries against India. He was then elevated into Australia’s squad when Josh Inglis was injured although only played once in that tournament, in the final match against Afghanistan.He did not feature in any of Australia’s eight T20Is last year with the priority given to Tests and ODIs. Green endured a challenging 2023 across formats after his first IPL stint, struggling for runs in Tests before losing his place at the end of the Ashes and only having a bit-part role in ODIs which included suffering a concussion against South Africa when he’d been earmarked for a run at No. 4.He has since returned to the Test side in a new role at No. 4 amid the post-David Warner batting reshuffle, which has seen Steven Smith move to open. Three innings against West Indies brought a top score of 42 and he’ll get another chance in that position against New Zealand with selectors happy to play the long game.”There’s a skill set there that’s unbelievable across all three formats,” Bailey said. “[We’re] really confident that just continuing to expose him he’ll get better and better and learn more about his game.”But like any player, I don’t think it’s going to be a straight line – there’ll be fluctuations throughout, as there always is. His last two years have been a whirlwind, I imagine, at different times. He’s travelled with the team basically non-stop.Cameron Green made a half-century in the ODI series against West Indies•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”It’s a challenge that all those players do go through, but I guess when you are younger and you get exposed to that, it can be tough. But I’m sure if you ask Cam he wouldn’t have it any other way.”Like for Green, the IPL could play a part in who takes the final pace-bowling slot in the T20 World Cup squad although Nathan Ellis’ skills at the death currently have him at the head of the queue, meaning T20 player of the year Jason Behrendorff has a challenge to get in with Sean Abbott also likely to be squeezed out.Behrendorff will face West Indies but is not part of the New Zealand tour. Ellis was due to feature in both but has been withdrawn from the West Indies games as he continues to recover from a rib injury sustained late in the BBL. Behrendorff has an IPL deal with Mumbai Indians while Ellis is with Punjab Kings. Spencer Johnson, who was one of the big-money signings at the auction, will feature for Gujarat Titans.Behrendorff has developed his death bowling to the extent that he was Australia’s second-most economical bowler in that phase last year, behind Ben Dwarshuis who played just two games, conceding 8.51, while Ellis went for 10.90 although he did send down more than double the number of deliveries.”It’s not necessarily who’s in front, it’s more the roles you are looking for them to fill,” Bailey said. “Working through the what ifs and what skillsets you want to prioritise if something happens to another player, where you’ve got cover and what you need to make sure you have access to.”Nathan’s skills at the death are fantastic, think we have some great new-ball bowlers there. Can’t fault the work that Jason Behrendorff’s done over the past 12-18 months and his ability to add to his game…the ability to be able to now bowl through the middle and at the death is really impressive so he’s another one who is really putting their hand up.”Again, it’s just trying to get that balance of how we can get some information through these next six games and which guys will be getting an opportunity in India in the IPL which we’ll obviously be watching really closely.”

A match in Brazil descended into a mass brawl after a slap from an official with Military Police called to intervene.

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• Brazilian match descends into brawl
• Military Police called to intervene
• Watch the video

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Clube Banespa were taking on Sao Paulo FC social club in an Under-17s clash when a choatic fight broke out after a player put his head towards a linesman, who retaliated with a slap. The linesman is then quickly surrounded by players and forced to back up against a fence as he came under attack.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Military Police were then called to calm down the incident. All individuals involved were taken to the police station.

• Teradeportes
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THOSE INVOLVED?

  The incident was then said to have been reported for investigation in contravention of the Brazilian Penal Code articles 129 (bodily harm) and 147 (threats), so further action could well be taken.

Skipper leads from the front as George Balderson made inroads after Lancashire post 331

ECB Reporters Network11-May-2024Haseeb Hameed posted his first Vitality County Championship hundred since September 2022 and his first since being made captain but his Nottinghamshire side still have work to do to match Lancashire’s first innings total in their Division One match at Trent Bridge, where they trail by 52 runs on 279 for 7.Hameed, who still harbours ambitions of playing Test cricket despite being tried and discarded twice by England, finished day two unbeaten on 137 after hitting 16 fours, although he was dropped on 104 off left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.Hartley went wicketless in 18 overs in his last county match before joining the England squad as they prepare for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan and the T20 World Cup as all-rounder George Balderson took the bowling honours for his side. Balderson, who shared a key partnership with Keaton Jennings in Lancashire’s first innings, has 4 for 72 from 22 overs.Lancashire could reflect on a satisfactory morning’s work after Nottinghamshire’s strong finish to day one. Forcing the home side to concede another 25 runs for their last two wickets, most of them courtesy of Tom Bailey’s bat. The 33-year-old seam bowler hit five boundaries in his 42-ball unbeaten 31.Olly Stone, whose performance with the ball on day one deserved more than his one wicket, dismissed Will Williams, caught at second slip, and Saqib Mahmood, who chipped to extra cover, to finish with three for 56 from 23.2 overs.Seeking to overhaul Lancashire’s 331, Nottinghamshire started on the front foot but Ben Slater’s second-over boundary turned out to be his only scoring shot as Mahmood, bowling for the first time in a senior match for 12 months following a stress fracture, claimed his first comeback wicket via an edge to third slip.Hameed and Will Young looked as though they could put that setback behind them, weathering what remained of Mahmood and Tom Bailey’s new-ball offensive, but when Williams replaced Bailey at the Stuart Broad End, Young was dropped at second slip on 17 and then bowled for 27, shouldering arms to a ball that hit his middle stump, having come back sharply off the pitch.A sequence of beautiful shots by Hameed greeted the afternoon, and when Joe Clarke followed a deft steer to the third-man boundary off Bailey with a handsome drive through the covers to greet the return of Mahmood, it appeared the Lancashire bowlers might be in for a tough session.But again a potentially damaging partnership fizzled out as Balderson came back into the attack, his away movement finding a thin edge to have Clarke caught behind before Tom Moores, recalled after a couple of hundreds in the Second XI, rather gave his wicket away with a rash swing outside off stump that saw him caught behind too in Balderson’s next over.Jack Haynes proved to be a more patient accomplice, content with diligent accumulation as his captain cashed in on his form to dominate the bowling, most productively through the on side. Having reached his half-century from 99 balls, Hameed went past 100 in just 63 more, bringing up the milestone with his 15th boundary, tucked away backward of square off Balderson.After going a full season without reaching three figures last year, in which his numbers were generally disappointing after an excellent 2022, there was relief in his celebration on account of that, but also in quelling any fears that the challenge of stepping into Steven Mullaney’s shoes as captain might detract from his batting.It is his first hundred against his former county and his first against First Division bowling since 2016, when he was a 19-year-old prodigy hailed as the ‘new Boycott’ and made hundreds in both innings in the Roses match at Old Trafford.He was promptly put down on 104, a difficult chance coming hard to slip Luke Wells off Hartley, but though Hameed survived Nottinghamshire suffered another setback in the last over before tea, Haynes, on 35, becoming the second batter on the day to be out not playing a stroke as Balderson brought one back to claim his third success.With Hartley and seamer Williams matching each other for economy, Hameed and new batter Lyndon James had to graft for runs after tea, the first 50 runs of their partnership needing 145 deliveries.The sixth-wicket pair reduced the deficit to 83 runs but the second new ball, with which the Nottinghamshire bowlers had enjoyed success on the first day, brought a rapid dividend. James, driving expansively, was caught at first slip as Balderson picked up his fourth scalp, before Calvin Harrison’s bright 21 ended with an edge to second slip off Bailey.

India’s 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka was their first ever clean sweep away from home in a series of three or more Tests

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2017

Sri Lanka’s worst series results in Test history*

• 0-3 v Australia in Australia, 1995-96

• 0-3 v India in Sri Lanka, 2017

• 0-3 v India in India, 1993-94

• 0-3 v South Africa in South Africa, 2016-17

• 0-3 v Australia in Australia, 2012-13

A rare drubbing in an away seriesAs much as this was written was on the wall at the start of the series, the achievement is put in perspective in the fact that this is India’s first ever clean sweep away from home, in a series of three or more Tests. While Sri Lanka did not help their cause for the best part of the 11 days, they were repeatedly put on the back foot by a spate of injuries through the series. They lost allrounder Asela Gunaratne, their best seamer in Nuwan Pradeep, and finally their most experienced Rangana Herath. The final scoreline would have been no different in all likelihood, but a full-strength Sri Lanka side could have prevented this from becoming India’s most dominant performance in a series away from home.Three Tests, three innings winsFor the first time in 65 years and only the second time in Test history, a three-Test series ended with the same side winning by an innings every time. India dished out spiteful turners which their spinners made the most of, while the Sri Lanka attack, led by a young Muttiah Muralitharan, couldn’t cope as well against India’s top order. It was the series in which Kapil Dev broke the world record for Test wickets, going past Richard Hadlee.The ‘Brownwash’India had won just one of their previous 25 Tests when England visited in 1993. As they landed on Indian shores, offered an early prediction, saying that “current form suggests they are in for a good hiding”. What followed was anything but, as England became the first visiting side to lose every single Test in a series in India. Vinod Kambli smashed a double hundred in Mumbai, and Graeme Hick’s resistant 178 ended in vain. Three big wins, which popularised the usage of ‘brownwash’ in cricketing parlance.Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar hand over the Border-Gavaskar trophy to MS Dhoni•BCCISpinners hand New Zealand a thrashingIndia’s spinners picked up 41 of the 60 possible wickets to help their side kick-start a home season in which they won 10 of the 13 Tests over a six-month period by handing a 3-0 thrashing to New Zealand. Kane Williamson, the visiting captain and their best batsman, struggled through a series, battling form and fitness issues. He ended up with a single fifty from four innings, and fell to R Ashwin every single time. His numbers were reflective of how New Zealand’s batting line-up fared, as they slipped from one defeat to another against India’s rampant bowling attack.‘Homework-gate’ and other horror talesUntil 2013, India had never swept a four-match series, and it was made all the more special by the fact that it was Australia they beat. The Border – Gavaskar Trophy has been among the most closely fought ones in recent years, and this was a rare one-sided series in which Australia seemed to have lost the plot off the field. Mickey Arthur’s ‘homework-gate’ after the second Test dominated headlines, after which the previously suspended Shane Watson returned to lead Australia in the final Test. It was a rare spell of sustained domination for India, as they humbled a higher-ranked Australian side in familiar conditions.

A first-hand account of Friday afternoon, when the Bangladesh team found itself yards away from the scene of the worst terrorist attack in New Zealand’s history

As told to Mohammad Isam16-Mar-2019Tamim Iqbal spoke to ESPNcricinfo’s Mohammad Isam about ‪the events of Friday afternoon‬, when the Bangladesh team had a brush with death near one of the two mosques in Christchurch that were the target of terrorist attacks that have claimed at least 49 lives.***Let me tell you what happened before we got on the bus. It will help you understand how those two or three minutes made such a huge difference for us. Normally Mushfiq [Rahim] and Riyad [Mahmudullah] want to be present during the [sermon], which is why we want to reach the prayers early. The bus was scheduled to leave ‪at 1.30 pm‬, but Riyad had gone to the press conference. A bit of time was spent there, and after finishing the press conference, he came to the dressing room.In the dressing room, we got engaged in a game of football. Taijul [Islam] didn’t want to lose, but the others wanted him to lose in that game. Taijul and Mushfiq were having a one-on-one game, which took up a few more minutes. These little things saved us in the end.ALSO READ – Bangladesh team leaves Christchurch and tries to move onWe got on the bus right after that. The plan was to go to the team hotel after prayers, which is why Shree [team analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran] and Soumya Sarkar (both non-Muslims) were with us. Since it was optional training, those who weren’t going to practice, they’d stay back at the hotel, and those who had practice, they’d come back to the ground. This was the plan.I always sit on the sixth seat on the left. When we were getting near the mosque, everyone on my right started to see something outside the window. I saw that a body was lying on the floor. Naturally, we thought either he was drunk or had fainted. So then the bus kept going, and stopped near the mosque. But everyone’s attention remained with that man lying on the ground.While that was happening, my attention went to another man, bloodied, and about to fall down. Panic set in at that point.Our bus stopped in front of a car near the mosque. We saw that the bus driver was talking to a lady who was literally shaking and crying. She was saying, ‘There’s some shooting going on, don’t go, don’t go’.Bangladesh players arrive at Christchurch airport to catch their flight to Dhaka•AFPOur bus driver said that these guys are going to the mosque. She replied, ‘No no no, don’t go to the mosque. It is happening in the mosque.’ She started to cry. Everyone heard and saw her, and we started to panic a little more. At that point we were about 20 yards from the mosque. Literally get out of the bus and walk to the mosque. That close. We saw some more bloodied bodies lying around the mosque.When we saw more dead bodies, we couldn’t figure out what to do. Those wearing the cap, they took it off in fear. I mean, we figured out that something was going on. Those wearing punjabi [shalwar kameez] they started to wear a jacket over it. What else to do?We then just lay down on the floor of the bus. It had been about seven or eight minutes at that stage. We still didn’t exactly know what it was but we knew that there was some kind of violence happening.We were panicking big time. Look at me, I can’t even talk properly. We told the bus driver to get us out of there. Do something. But he wasn’t moving. Everyone started to shout at him. I was shouting at him. For those six or seven minutes, there was no police.Then suddenly the police appeared, and the way the special forces stormed the mosque, we just went numb. My whole body went cold. More injured and bloodied people started to come out of the mosque.ALSO READ – ‘There’s shooting here, please save us’That was the time we couldn’t control ourselves. We started screaming, ‘let us go!’ Someone said, ‘What if they shoot us when we get out?’ Someone else said, ‘We are in danger if we are stuck in the bus.’ I also felt that we would have a chance to escape if we got out of the bus. We become a big target in the bus. But where will we go? Both doors are closed.Right at that point, for some reason, the driver took the bus 10 metres ahead. I don’t know why he did this. We were at breaking point at that point. Everyone lost it. We started to bang the middle door. We were kicking and punching that door. He opened the door.When he took the bus forward, I started calling you. You thought I was joking. I was not in a position to tell you, ‘Isam I am being serious.’ You heard me, right? I lost my mind when I saw Mazhar [Uddin, another journalist] calling me. I didn’t know what was happening.It was about eight minutes when we finally got out of the bus. Everyone said let’s run though the park. Someone said that we become easier targets in the park [Hagley Park], what if the shooters just notice us there and start shooting?The Bangladesh team left Christchurch on Saturday•AFPThe next thing that really scared us was how the police may react seeing us running with bags, etc. By that time I saw you three there [Isam and fellow journalists Utpal Shuvro and Mazhar Uddin]. I didn’t realise it then but last night, I realised how big a risk you three took.There will be very few people on earth who will take that risk. I don’t think many close people would have turned up in that situation, like you came. I actually got relieved when I saw you guys. Then we all started to walk. By the time we had gone a fair distance, everyone started to run towards the ground [Hagley Oval].You know, you had seen death with your own eyes. Your body goes cold. It was something we will never forget. And it is such a thing, it is getting worse with every hour we pass. I have spoken to a lot of my team-mates, and everyone is talking about it. The good thing is that everyone still has a little smile on their face. But trust me, inside, everyone is shattered.We returned to the team hotel and went straight to Riyad ‘s room. We started to watch the shooter’s video. The players started to weep, like they were doing in the dressing room.One thing for sure, Isam , it will take a long time to get over. I hope the families help us. We might need counselling. I close my eyes, and I am seeing those scenes. Last night most of the cricketers slept in groups. I slept with [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz and [masseur Mohammad] Sohel . I dreamt that those guys are shooting in a bike.On our way to the airport, we were telling each other that if things had gone wrong by even a little bit, it would have been our dead bodies, not us, going home. It was just a matter of 30 seconds.

Just one wicket falls to newly promoted side in one-sided onslaught at Edgbaston

ECB Reporters Network12-Apr-2024

Durham endured a day of torment on their return to Vitality County Championship Division One as Warwickshire piled up 490 for one on the opening day at Edgbaston.The visitors chose to bowl but were pummelled by openers Rob Yates (191, 205 balls) and Alex Davies (226 not out, 274 balls) who added 343, the second-highest championship opening stand for Warwickshire.Their season-opener at home to Hampshire having been washed out last week, Durham must have wished the rain had stayed around as they toiled on a flat pitch with the Kookaburra ball.Yates took advantage with a stylish innings which included 25 fours and five sixes, while captain Davies posted an iron-willed maiden double-century with 25 fours and three sixes. In first class cricket, Durham have conceded only five partnerships of 300-plus – three of them by Warwickshire.This latest instalment of woe arrived despite the presence in the bowling attack of three debutants – Scott Boland, Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann. They ended the day with a combined one for 220.Durham’s decision to bowl appeared strange, bearing in mind the Kookaburra and the good batting pitch for the first game of the season at Edgbaston last week, and Yates and Davies duly rattled up 50 in 57 balls. Boland ended the Australian season in good form with 16 wickets in his last two games for Victoria but endured a joyless entry to county cricket. His first ball went for four and so did four others in his first three overs. Thirteen fours arrived in the first 12 overs as Davies raced to his 50 in 57 balls and Yates to his in 58.During the lunch interval, Warwickshire legend Dennis Amiss, speaking to club members, recalled his debut in 1960 when, as a 17-year-old, he did not get a bat as openers Norman Horner and Billy Ibadulla put on 377. That remains Warwickshire’s highest opening stand in first class cricket, but Yates and Davies had a real good go at it.They alternated in taking the initiative. Davies was first to his century (102 balls) but after Yates passed his ton (118), he accelerated. Successive sixes off Brydon Carse over the very short boundary took him in front of his partner and he struck Ackermann gloriously for 16 in three balls just before tea before perishing in pursuit of another six when Alex Lees held a swirling catch at long off.Yates left the field to a standing ovation and the spectators were soon back on their feet in acclaim for Davies’ maiden double century (249 balls). Never mind the propitious conditions, it was an innings of immense discipline and concentration from the captain and he has power to add tomorrow. In company with Will Rhodes (60 not out, 100 balls) he milked the melancholy Durham attack for 147 in the last 34 overs of the day.Warwickshire’s team includes Craig Miles, recalled from his loan spell at Glamorgan in light of injuries to Liam Nowell (torn pec muscle) and Michael Booth (side strain) and the delayed arrival of Hasan Ali who arrived in Birmingham today ready to make his debut away to Hampshire next week.

The Premier League trophy will be ribboned in red this year, with Arne Slot almost certain to lift the title in the first season of his tenure at Liverpool.

After a summer of frustration in the transfer market, failing to convince Martin Zubimendi to part with Real Sociedad and make the move to England, Liverpool have charged through the 2024/25 campaign with such consistency and coherence that they perch comfortably ahead at the summit.

The players fell short last season, lost in the fogs of the final stretch and falling early in a three-horse Premier League title race. However, Slot’s tactical vision has been a breath of fresh air, one which has cleared the pathway toward gold.

Who saw it coming? Few at all. Maybe a certain German manager was thinking that he’d led a group of players as far as they could go within his decade-stretching project.

Klopp's early clearout

Jurgen Klopp. Leader of men. Rouser of footballers. Builder of exciting projects. But also ruthless when he wanted to be, during his time as Liverpool manager.

That larger-than-life, grinning visage became synonymous with Anfield’s rise from the rubble over the past decade, but Klopp, for all his bubbly demeanour, acted mercilessly in cutting away the rot after replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015.

Long-serving stars Joe Allen and Martin Skrtel were sold in the summer of 2016, Klopp wasting no time after his opening half-season, which saw Liverpool reach the Europa League final and lose against Sevilla.

But these players were recognised to be getting on and lacking the level of quality required. The sale of Christian Benteke carried more animosity.

Liverpool signed Benteke from Aston Villa, where he was beloved for his powerful focal presence and reliable scoring touch, for £32.5m in July 2015, one year after Luis Suarez left and took Rodgers’ hopes with him. He spent mere months on Merseyside before Klopp’s appointment.

The Belgian was hardly terrible, finishing his sole campaign in red with a modest return of ten goals and six assists across 42 matches in all competitions, but he lacked the technical ability of the likes of Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge, ahead in the pecking order and more vibrant in their football.

He fell out of favour in the months under Klopp’s wing, even remarking that the German boss ignored him, continuing to state he found it hard to understand.

Klopp ultimately knew what he wanted and acted with intent, ignoring the fact Liverpool had spent a significant sum on the striker only one year before. It’s impressive that the Reds recouped much of their outlay in August 2016, when Crystal Palace swooped in and paid £27m to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Back to the present, Slot is expected to go into the upcoming transfer window swinging, and the Dutchman appears to be taking a leaf from his predecessor’s books as he and sporting director Richard Hughes prepare to cash in on Liverpool’s new version of Benteke.

Liverpool's new version of Benteke

Unlike Klopp, Slot is stomping toward silverware in his maiden year as Liverpool’s head coach. And it’s a Premier League gold medal at that.

It’s remarkable that he’s reached such heights after a summer (and winter) of such nominal first-team investment. Slot’s resourcefulness and Klopp’s success in rebuilding his team before departing truly are two sides of the same shiny coin.

But now is the time for change, and Liverpool need to get busy this summer if Slot’s tenure is to be remembered as a dynasty, and not a flash in the pan.

That’s why selling Darwin Nunez has to be one of the priorities this summer. The Uruguay international, 25, has fallen heavily by the wayside at Anfield, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to get back up.

24/25

42 (17)

7

7

23/24

54 (33)

18

15

22/23

42 (26)

15

4

While his numbers aren’t shambolic, they don’t reflect the club-record £85m transfer fee paid in a positive light, nor do they tell the full tale of a player who has routinely frustrated due to profligacy in front of goal and a lack of nous in critical moments.

Slot’s unwillingness to start him mirrors Klopp’s hesitance in unleashing Benteke, who started each of Liverpool’s opening six Premier League fixtures in 2015/16, before Rodgers departed, but only seven across 23 appearances thereafter, with Klopp at the helm.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is among the journalists who have confirmed Liverpool are expecting to sell the £140k-per-week Nunez this summer after a deal to join Al-Nassr in January fell through.

Klopp shipped Benteke out after his first stretch as the Anfield chief and now Slot is going to repeat the trick. Sadio Mane effectively replaced the hulking striker in 2016, albeit in a different position, and then Mohamed Salah followed one year later.

Selling Benteke was essential to the purchase of Southampton’s winger, however, and freeing room and resources with Nunez’s departure falls into the same boat, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

Neither Benteke nor Nunez have played their part at Liverpool uselessly, but it’s clear that in both cases an upgrade could be scored, and given the competitive nature of the Premier League and Slot’s triumph this term, it’s important that FSG don’t rest on their laurels.

Slot, like Klopp, comes across really well but serves his role with a solemn undertow of ruthlessness that will serve Liverpool well as a whole but leave the likes of Nunez forced to find a new employer.

Just as with Benteke, way back when.

Imagine him & Van Dijk: Liverpool lead race for 'world's most in demand CB'

Liverpool are looking to sign one of football’s biggest talents this summer to partner Virgil van Dijk

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 17, 2025

Multan Sultans continued their dream start by handing defending champions Lahore Qalandars their third straight loss in the Pakistan Super League on Wednesday. Iftikhar Ahmed smashed 24 runs in the penultimate over, and earned Sultans a five-wicket win over defending champions Qalandars in a rematch of last season’s final.Qalandars’ much-trumpeted pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, has now failed to defend in three successive games, as Haris Rauf continued to struggle and Zaman Khan also proving expensive (2-52).Sultans now sit pretty on top of the table with six points from three straight home wins, while Qalandars are yet to get first win under their belt.Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who was dropped on 40 by Afridi, went on to compile this season’s top-score of 82 off 59 balls before Ifthikar charged against Zaman’s pace in the 19th over, smacking two sixes and three fours, and guided the home team to 170 for 5.Iftikhar wiped the hopes of Qalandars for its first win with a robust knock of unbeaten 34 off 11 balls after the home team needed 21 off the last two overs.The inclusion of left-arm spinner George Linde (1 for 26) of South Africa seemed to have beefed up Qalandars’ bowling in the absence of injured Rashid Khan when he bowled brilliantly in the middle overs after Qalandars posted 166 for 5, but Iftikhar’s onslaught against Zaman sealed the game.Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen (54) scored his second half-century in three games and Fakhar Zaman made 41 as they put on 94 runs for the second-wicket stand and pushed for a daunting total before Sultans pulled back despite dropping four catches.Khushdil Shah, who dropped two catches in the last game against Islamabad United, floored two more chances on Wednesday, but fast bowler Mohammad Ali (2 for 28) continued to impress with his swing and variations which restricted Qalandars in the end.

Chelsea new boy Liam Delap is among six players nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Season award after a standout season for Ipswich.

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Delap on six-man PFA shortlistArsenal youngsters also namedBournemouth and Villa players nominatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Delap is named after scoring 12 goals in his debut Premier League season and making a £30m move to Chelsea, while Lewis Skelly's nomination crowns a breakthrough campaign in which he also became an England international. There is space for another Arsenal youngster, two Bournemouth nominees and an Aston Villa star.

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Ethan Nwaneri joins his Gunners team-mate Lewis-Skelly on the shortlist, alongside Morgan Rogers. Dean Huijsen, who has signed for Real Madrid from Bournemouth, is named, as is his former team-mate Milos Kerkez.

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Nwaneri scored nine goals during his breakthrough season at the Emirates, while Rogers was also superb at Villa, scoring 14 goals and assisting 15 in the 2024-25 campaign. Huijsen has broken into the Spain team and will play for Real Madrid next term, and Kerkez looks set to be on the move from Bournemouth, too, with a move to Liverpool lined up.

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The prestigious prize will be awarded during a ceremony at the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, August 19. On the same night, the PFA will dish out awards to the best players in the Premier League, WSL, Championship, League One and League Two.