Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made an interesting comparison between Cityzens midfielder Bernardo Silva and Lionel Messi, claiming after the Portuguese's goal against Villarreal on Tuesday night that both him and the great Argentine have a "hammer in their necks", capable of scoring great headed goals despite their comparatively short stature.

• Silva receives strange Guardiola praise after Villarreal goal

  Silva scored his side’s second goal as City won 2-0 away to the Spanish side, the inevitable Erling Haaland scoring the opener as Guardiola’s men climbed into the Champions League top eight, three matches into the league phase, despite the continued absence of Rodri.

  Bernardo powered home a header from the centre of the penalty area to double the scoreline for his side, leading to Guardiola’s comparison between his neck muscles and a “hammer”, a trait the Catalan believes is shared by Inter Miami superstar Messi, whom he famously managed during both men’s illustrious spell with Barcelona.

  Considering the substantial power behind the header, Guardiola’s comparison makes some sense, though it was a unique one to make, nevertheless.

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  Guardiola describes Silva's powerful goal

  “I’m pleased that Erling scored again; and pleased that Bernardo made an incredible header again. It’s a little bit like [Lionel] Messi, it’s a hammer. They have a hammer in their neck, they are so good. They are small but they are so good with their head contact.”

• Social media reacts to Guardiola's comments

  The commenters on Sky Sports News’ video of the clip in question from Guardiola’s post-match press conference had a field day, as football fans enjoyed the creative comparison made by the City manager.

  “Pep just be inventing anatomy at this point,” said @MaxRakeBitCom, alongside a laughing face emoji.

  “Only Pep could make heading sound like an art form,” laughed @Only1Justus.

  Another user, @0xa1_, added: “Bro’s built like a USB stick but headers like prime Ronaldo.”

  “Pep just compared a neck header to Messi? Try that with Ronaldo and the ball enters orbit,” added @olisaemekalum2.

  Another, @BavuFunzo, joked: “Always finding a point to involve Messi.”

  Another user questioned Guardiola’s use of vocabulary, @xwordz: “Ain’t the hammer, it’s the flexibility and the elastic strength.”

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• Guardiola and Rico Lewis speak after Villarreal win

  "Tough place to come. We played really good. At the end they had one or two chances but we played a fantastic game. A good step for us in this tournament," said Guardiola.

  "It's good that not just Erling [Haaland] scored and we had more chances for others. Impact from Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders good too. Little disappointed with result in Monaco, we created chances and didn't win and played the same as today but today got the goals. Teams in La Liga are really tough and a top-class manager.

  “Spanish people know it, maybe English people don’t know it, Villarreal is a top, top team. So I know how difficult it is to come here. Indeed, in the way we played, I have the feeling that, in many ways, we are coming back to what we were in the past.

  "Our numbers in the Champions League in the last year are not bad. Personally my numbers are not bad. But last season was tough for us, the vibe and how the team are playing now make me feel fine."

  City’s Rico Lewis, who assisted the game’s opening goal for Haaland, told TNT Sports: "We felt in control for most of the game. There's always better things we can do and there were a few spells they had that we could've prevented but we have to be harsh on ourselves if we want to win the competition.

  "We've got some confidence back. When you're playing with confidence there's nothing to stop you but yourself. Everyone trusts each other as well and there's nothing better than us having each other's backs."

  Speaking about Haaland, he added "Impossible, amazing. To play with him in the team, he helps us more than people realise. He draws defenders to free other people and then that frees him up to score. He's impossible to defend. He's such a hard worker and never stops wanting to score."

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is personally in awe of a marquee player who he believes is the ideal player for his Spurs system, and the Lilywhites are also reportedly prepared to table a bid for him in January.

Tottenham's reported January transfer plans

We’re now 11 games into Frank’s tenure as Spurs boss, and the Dane appears to already be transforming the North Londoners into a far more resolute side.

Despite some recent concerns from a section of the fanbase after their ‘narrow escape’ draws against Brighton, Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham displayed real grit at Leeds United last weekend to end their run of seven straight defeats in games just prior to an international break.

Goals from Mohammed Kudus, who was the player of the match, and fellow summer signing Mathys Tel sealed a 2-1 in Yorkshire to also end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten run in the league at Elland Road.

Mohammed Kudus

8.4

Mathys Tel

7.8

Noah Okafor

7.0

Sean Longstaff

7.0

Jayden Bogle

6.8

via WhoScored

The win means Spurs sit third in the Premier League table with the joint second-best defensive record in the division, with only table-topping Arsenal conceding fewer goals – a stark contrast to Ange Postecoglou’s final season in charge when they were far more fragile at the back.

So far, ex-chairman Daniel Levy and the board’s decision to appoint Frank is paying off, despite Simon Jordan urging Levy to consider Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner before Spurs hired their current boss.

The reshuffled Tottenham board following Levy’s departure, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham taking a more prominent role in the day-to-day running of the club, are also poised to try and back Frank in the January transfer market.

Spurs are reportedly keen to sign another winger and centre-back when the winter window opens, after they tried and failed to sign Man City forward Savinho in the summer, with the Brazil international since extending his Eastlands contract and ending all hope of a potential deal.

One of their rumoured targets for 2026 is Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who also signed fresh terms earlier this year, and this has elevated his market value to north of £75 million.

Tottenham preparing January bid for Antoine Semenyo amid Thomas Frank belief

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that Tottenham are positioning themselves to make a major January move for Semenyo and could be “next to bid”.

The winger’s explosive form so far this season has made him one of the Premier League’s most sought-after wingers.

Semenyo has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first seven league games, including a brace against Liverpool at Anfield, helping Bournemouth to a surprise top-four position and attracting attention from England’s top clubs, including Arne Slot’s side, Manchester City and Spurs.

Frank is said to view Semenyo as the “perfect fit” for his squad, particularly given the inconsistent displays from Brennan Johnson and the club’s need for more dynamism out wide.

Semenyo’s ability to play on either flank — combined with his raw pace, directness, and clinical finishing — makes him a tailor-made fit for Frank’s tactical system.

Tottenham’s pursuit of the Ghanaian international is expected to intensify in mid-season as a result, with an offer exceeding £60 million likely to test Bournemouth’s resolve, despite their price tag of £75m.

The Cherries, after extending his deal until 2030, are in a very strong position — and it is even believed that Semenyo rejected an approach from Arsenal in the summer.

However, the 25-year-old’s camp are apparently open to exploring other moves in January if a top side can meet Bournemouth’s lofty demands.

تترقب جماهير كرة القدم في القارة السمراء اليوم الإثنين، مراسم قرعة دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية لموسم 2025-2026، التي تعد واحدة من أبرز المحطات في مشوار الأندية الباحثة عن المجد القاري.

وتشهد النسخة الحالية مشاركة قوية للكرة المصرية من خلال الزمالك والمصري البورسعيدي، بعد نجاحهما في تخطي العقبات في الأدوار التمهيدية.

فقد عاد الزمالك للتألق القاري من جديد بفوز كاسح على ديكاداها الصومالي بنتيجة إجمالية (7-0)، بينما واصل المصري مشواره بثبات بعدما أطاح بـ الاتحاد الليبي بنتيجة (2-1) في مجموع اللقاءين.

وسيكون دور المجموعات هذا الموسم مشتعلاً بمشاركة نخبة من الأندية الإفريقية البارزة مثل الوداد الرياضي وشباب بلوزداد واتحاد الجزائر وكايزر تشيفز وزيسكو يونايتد وغيرها من الفرق التي تبحث عن اللقب القاري.

طالع أيضًا | موعد قرعة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية 2025-2026 اليوم القنوات الناقلة لـ قرعة كأس الكونفدرالية اليوم

تُبث فعاليات قرعة كأس الكونفدرالية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس” المصرية، إلى جانب قناة “بي إن سبورت الإخبارية” المفتوحة على القمر الصناعي نايل سات.

Spinners Crane and Imad complete 40-run victory in Bristol

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Jun-2025

Mason Crane’s four-for helped secure victory•Getty Images

Half-centuries from 21-year-olds Ben Kellaway and Asa Tribe propelled Glamorgan to a 40-run Vitality Blast South Group win over Gloucestershire at Bristol, leaving the trophy holders without a victory in five matches.The visitors posted 189 for six after winning the toss, Kellaway hitting a career-best 53 and Tribe a scintillating 63 not out off 28 balls, with five sixes and five fours. Ajeet Singh Dale claimed three for 17 from four overs.In reply, Gloucestershire stumbled to 149 for nine, Cameron Bancroft making 52 and D’Arcy Short 34. Leg-spinner Mason Crane finished with a career-best four for 20 as the Welsh county secured a fourth group success.Batting at number three, Kellaway found himself facing only the third ball of the game after Will Smale had been bowled by David Payne. It was 27 for two in the fourth over when Kiran Carlson miscued a pull shot off Singh Dale to be pouched at mid-wicket.Kellaway had still moved to 34 by the time the six-over powerplay ended with his side 48 for two. Colin Ingram increased the scoring rate with a straight six off Short’s first delivery and claimed another maximum by smacking Tom Smith over long-off.A pulled six took Kellaway to his maiden T20 fifty off 30 balls, with nine fours, but he fell in the next over advancing down the pitch to off-spinner Ollie Price to present wicketkeeper Bancroft with a simple stumping and Ingram went for 38, taken at fine-leg off Singh Dale.Chris Cooke and Dan Douthwaite fell cheaply, the former superbly caught one-handed by Price at long-on. But Tribe ensured Glamorgan of a competitive total with a late blitz that saw 22 come off the 19th over, bowled by Smith and a further 19 off the last, sent down by Payne.Glamorgan opted to take pace off the ball as early as the second over of Gloucestershire’s reply, delivered by left-arm spinner Imad Wasim. Bancroft got the scoreboard ticking with a four and a six off the first two balls of the third over, bowled by Timm van der Gugten.Miles Hammond fell for a ten-ball duck, sweeping a catch to deep mid-wicket off Imad, and by the end of the powerplay Gloucestershire were anchored on 30 for one. Bancroft and Short put together a stand of 63 without ever cutting loose and when Short top-edged a sweep off Crane to be caught at short fine leg the hosts were 76 for two in the 12th over.Price fell lbw to a full delivery from Crane and Jack Taylor was caught at fine leg by Ingram off Ned Leonard before Ben Charlesworth suffered a second successive first ball duck when driving a catch to long-off to give Crane his third wicket.Bancroft had taken 43 balls over his half-century and when he top- edged a reverse sweep of Crane to be caught at short fine-leg the outcome was beyond doubt, despite a late assault by Graeme van Burren, which brought him 32 runs off 14 balls.

MatériaMais Notícias

Botafogo e Goiás medem forças nesta segunda (2), às 20h, no Nilton Santos, em partida válida pela 25ª rodada do Brasileirão. O jogo terá transmissão do SporTV e Premiere. O Lance! acompanha o duelo em tempo real.

RelacionadasBotafogoTorcida do Botafogo esgota ingressos para partida contra o Goiás no Nilton SantosBotafogo01/10/2023NotíciasELE CRAVA! Aposte R$40 e ganhe R$170 com Tiquinho Soares e Botafogo contra o Goiás!Notícias01/10/2023BotafogoEm campo minado: Botafogo vê mês de outubro se tornar definitivo para suas pretensões no BrasileirãoBotafogo01/10/2023

Os ingressos disponibilizados para a torcida do Glorioso já esgotaram e a casa estará cheia para empurrar o time na noite de segunda.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

FOGO PRECISA VENCER
Líder máximo e soberano no primeiro turno do Brasileirão, o Botafogo tem o pior início de returno da história entre os campeões da primeira metade do campeonato. O Glorioso perdeu os últimos três jogos do torneio e viu sua diferença de pontuação cair para sete pontos. Com apenas uma derrota em casa no Brasileirão, o Botafogo conta com sua força no Nilton Santos para recuperar o embalo.

+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

O Goiás também não vive um momento simples. Na zona de rebaixamento, o Esmeraldino não vence há quatro rodadas e precisa ganhar para se livrar da zona da degola. No primeiro turno, o Goiás foi um dos dois times que conseguiram bater o Alvinegro.

BRASILEIRÃO 25ª RODADA
BOTAFOGO x GOIÁS

Estádio:Nilton Santos
Data e Hora:2 de outubro, às 20h (Brasília)
Árbitro:Braulio da Silva Machado (SC-FIFA)
Assistentes: Guilherme Dias Camilo (MG-FIFA), Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC) e Grazianni Maciel Rocha (RJ)
VAR:Rafael Traci (SC-FIFA)
Onde assistir: SporTV, Premiere e em tempo real noLANCE!

+ Shows fazem Botafogo buscar alternativas para mandar a partida contra o Grêmio

BOTAFOGO (Técnico: Bruno Lage)
Lucas Perri, Di Plácido, Adryelson, Cuesta e Hugo; Marlon Freitas, Tchê Tchê (Gabriel Pires) e Eduardo; Luís Henrique (Segovinha), Victor Sá e Tiquinho Soares

GOIÁS (Técnico: Armando Evangelista)
Tadeu; Maguinho, Lucas Halter, Bruno Melo e Hugo; Morelli, Willian Oliveira e Guilherme Marques; Allano, Anderson Oliveira e João Magno (Matheus Babi).

Both sides confirmed their XIs with Australia opting for three frontline quicks on a surface with a few unknowns

Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan24-Jun-20252:57

Cummins: ‘Iconic’ Barbados, Konstas impressing, team reset

Big picture: Resets all-round in BarbadosThe prevailing northeast trade winds are a constant in beautiful Barbados but the winds of change have swept through both the West Indies team and Australia as they begin a new World Test Championship cycle in Bridgetown.West Indies have not played Test cricket since January in Pakistan and begin the cycle under a new captain in Roston Chase after Kraigg Brathwaite stepped down. Extraordinarily, Chase has not played a Test match since March 2023, having not played in West Indies’ last 13.He leads a new-look squad which, for the opening Test, sees a debut for Brandon King and returns for John Campbell and Shai Hope – the latter as wicketkeeper – for the first time since 2022 and 2021 respectively.Related

'I'm going to give my all' – Hope wants to do it for West Indies in Test cricket again

Plenty left in the tank: Khawaja eyes more Ashes glory and mentoring role for Konstas

Pace, swing, youth and promise – Ian Bishop's rundown of WI's bowling options for Australia Tests

'Good enough to play that role' – Voges backs Inglis as top-four Test batter

'Emotions got to me' – Konstas keen to settle into Test cricket

Meanwhile, veteran Kemar Roach was left out of the squad entirely despite playing in each of West Indies’ last three series. Joshua da Silva could not earn a recall either on account of his Gabba heroics against Australia and a recent run spree in the West Indies Championship, with selectors holding firm after dropping him in Pakistan. There are only three survivors from West Indies’ previous Test: Brathwaite, Justin Greaves and Jomel Warrican.Australia’s “reset” is not quite as extreme following the disappointment of the WTC final loss to South Africa just two weeks ago, but it is significant by their standards. For the first time since December 2018, they will field an XI without either Marnus Labuschagne or Steven Smith on the team sheet.The selectors finally lost patience with Labuschagne and he has been dropped for first time in six years having been a mainstay of Australia’s top three for 53 consecutive Tests. Smith had played 51 in a row before his gruesome finger injury ruled him out of the first Test of this series. He is a chance to return for the second.It means Australia do not have a single batter in the squad remaining from the last Test Australia played in the Caribbean in 2015, when Smith made 199 and 54 not out. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are the only others to have played Test cricket in the Caribbean.Australia confirmed five days out that Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis will play in Barbados to change the age profile of the side. But they will still only field two players under 30.Australia rarely undertake full-scale reboots, and it is understandable they have not made sweeping changes following Lord’s given they have lost just one of their past seven Tests and did not lose a multi-Test series during the previous WTC cycle. But they cannot afford a slow start to the new cycle with an inexperienced top six and an aging attack, given they have away tours to South Africa and India in this WTC schedule as well as an Ashes series later in the year.Form guideWest Indies: WLLWL
Australia: LWWWWShamar Joseph starred the last time the teams met in Test cricket•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Shamar Joseph and Sam KonstasShamar Joseph’s star looked set to explode on the global stage after he carried West Indies to an astonishing Test victory at the Gabba last year. But with the exception of his 5 for 33 against South Africa in August, he has not quite reached the heights that were expected of him. He was named West Indies’ Test player of the year at an awards ceremony in Bridgetown on Sunday night but he has not played Test cricket since November and has hardly played at all due to injury and non-selection in West Indies’ white-ball teams. He bowled 31 overs and claimed just three wickets across two innings for West Indies A against South Africa A in early June. The arrival of Australia should give him a boost of confidence given the way he bowled to them 18 months ago.Similarly outlandish expectations have fallen on Sam Konstas’ slender shoulders following his spectacular Test debut last Boxing Day against Jasprit Bumrah. But he has only played one Test since and his Sheffield Shield returns were lean at the back end of the summer, with his batting causing some consternation among coaches and selectors. He has not played a game of cricket at any level since March and has a first-class average of just 34.89 from 30 innings with only two centuries. Yet Australia’s selectors are convinced he is the man to walk out alongside Usman Khawaja in the hope that they can end the revolving door of openers Australia have had since David Warner retired. Konstas is expected to play all three Tests in the Caribbean no matter what, with a view to getting valuable experience ahead of the Ashes.Team news: Hope to keep wicket, Kuhnemann misses outThe significant call made by West Indies was to make Shai Hope wicketkeeper on his return to the side which opens up a spot for another allrounder. Brandon King will make his debut at No. 4. The bowling attack is as expected.West Indies: 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 John Campbell, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Brandon King, 5 Roston Chase (capt), 6 Shai Hope (wk), 7 Justin Greaves, 8 Jomel Warrican, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Shamar Joseph, 11 Jayden SealesAustralia opted to retain their traditional balance of three frontline quicks and a spinner supplemented by Beau Webster who can provide medium pace and offspin. Josh Inglis will cover for Smith at No. 4.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditions: Dry grass, may turn laterKensington Oval is an unknown for both sides in some respects given it has hosted just one Test in six years and none in the last three. In that game in 2022, Brathwaite batted for 710 minutes in a draw that arguably was a catalyst for England’s Bazball revolution. This surface looked an interesting one with a mixture of bare patches and areas of more grass, although it was dried out. In this season’s four-day Championship there were only two totals over 300 in 12 completed innings. After some rain in the build-up the forecast is promising for most of the game, with Saturday looking the mostly like to be hit by thunderstorms and showers. Chase termed it a “typical” Barbados surface and expected it to start slow before maybe gathering some pace.Stats and trivia Roston Chase’s first Test as captain will be his 50th overall; Jomel Warrican will be playing his 100th first-class match Kraigg Brathwaite and Nathan Lyon are the only members of the two XIs that played in the last West Indies-Australia Bridgetown Test in 2012 which Australia won by three wickets. Australia have played 11 Tests in Bridgetown. They have won four overall including the last three. Despite the drought-breaking Gabba victory in 2024, West Indies have not won a home Test against Australia since the world-record fourth innings chase in 2003. They have not won a home series against Australia since 1991.Quotes”Coming over here with a few unknowns, that’s fine, you have to think on your feet. We feel like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket.”
“We’re looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game. And we’re just looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. I just want to ask the fans to just support the boys through and through.”

South Africa’s schedule of two-Test series throughout the World Test Championship has an unintended benefit in preparing them for getting off the starting blocks quickly, which could come in handy in a one-off final. Or at least, that’s the line Aiden Markram came up with, and is sticking to, three days out from the biggest Tests of his and his team-mate’s careers.”A lot of our series have been two-game series, so in order to win, you can’t start slow. That’s helped us along the way,” Markram said after South Africa’s first training session at Lord’s. “We know the importance of starting well, trying to get ahead of the game early and how important each session is going to be. There’s no second dip at it. We have to make sure we hit the ground running and are nice and sharp come day one.”A prominent example of South Africa taking time to get into matches was on their 2012 tour to England, where England got to 267 for 3 on the first day and South Africa appeared lethargic. But they soared back to win that match, the series and the mace, albeit with a completely different generation of players. The luxury of allowing themselves a meander does not exist in a one-off final and has not existed over the course of the cycle because of how few Tests South Africa have played. They could not afford to slip up, much less when they effectively forfeited a series in New Zealand by sending an understrength side in February 2022, which meant they had to win seven out of their next eight Tests.Related

• Imperfect World Test Championship still manages to stoke five-day fires

• Conrad on SA's C-word tag: 'Unfair to burden this group with anything that's gone before'

Still, there are concerns over whether a team that has not played a Test in six months and whose warm-up match only had one full day of cricket will be ready for an occasion like Lord’s and specifically whether their batting line-up will be. Temba Bavuma is the only player in the top seven who has played more than 50 Tests and, before October, one of only three batters – Markram and Kyle Verreynne being the others – to have scored a Test hundred.South Africa’s inexperience is stark, especially when compared with the opposite in the Australian camp. As one illustration, Steven Smith has played two fewer Tests than Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham and Verreynne – South Africa’s top seven without Bavuma – combined. It’s no secret that South Africa’s batting is considered their weaker suit and all eyes will be on how they front up to Australia’s much-vaunted attack. Markram knows that and, after a few days facing his own bowlers in the nets, believes he is ready.”When you’re opening the batting, obviously your responsibility is to calm the changing room down, get the team off to a good start and get us ahead of the game,” he said. “That’s the challenge, that’s what excites us. When you’re preparing against your bowlers who are world-class, it can only help you as a batter, as uncomfortable as it can be at times. But that’s the gauge – that you judge where your game is at.”At Lord’s on Sunday, Markram faced Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen for a lengthy period of time, and with five fifties from 13 innings at the IPL, he considers himself to be in good form. “I’m feeling good. I feel like I’m moving well,” he said. “The IPL is obviously a completely different format but it was nice to come into a game feeling good. I’m pleased to be in that headspace at the moment and when you’re feeling like this, it’s really about cashing in and trying to make a difference for the team.”Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins with the Test mace ahead of the final•ICC via Getty Images

Markram also has the unique experience of being the only other captain to lead South Africa in an ICC event final this millennium (Hansie Cronje led them in the 1998 Wills International Cup final) – and he has done it twice. Markram was in charge when the South Africa U-19 won the age-group World Cup in 2014 and last year, when the senior side got to the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados. The latter was the apex of a few weeks of intensity as South Africa reeled off eight consecutive wins to reach the final. In Tests, they’ve now won seven in a row. Are there any similarities?”It has a different feeling, to be very honest,” Markram said. “I think because it’s a one-off game and there hasn’t been a consecutive build-up to it, it does feel slightly different, at least for the time being. Maybe the night before, all of a sudden, it might all align. But for now, it’s got a different feel about it. Also, knowing it’s multiple days of cricket, not just three hours and it’s done.”All the reasons that make red- and white-ball cricket different (time, pressure, narrative) is why this South African team cannot be lumped with the ODI and T20I squads who failed to cross the final hurdle before them, but nuance can often get lost. South Africa know that, so “the few of us that have been a part of previous ICC events that didn’t go our way have dealt with it, chatted to each other and made sure we’ve buried it and taken some good lessons from it”, Markram said. “From now on, it’s more about the excitement of having another opportunity to do the job.”And that will require even temperaments and an understanding that they have to start strongly. “It’s about each guy making sure that they don’t peak too early and get too excited too early, because then you end up draining yourself,” Markram said. “So, managing your loads at training, managing specifics at training, instead of trying to flush everything out in one session, have that gradual build-up so that by the time you get to day one, you feel like you’ve ticked every box, but it hasn’t been at 100 miles an hour. We have to respect the Test match format. It takes a lot out of you from an energy point of view and a psychological point of view. We need to be fresh and ready to go on day one.”

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And neither will David Moyes’ new Everton be realised less than a year after he took the reins from Sean Dyche, whose project had fallen apart as the Friedkin Group’s much-anticipated takeover from Farhad Moshiri was completed.

The 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur served Moyes’ team their first competitive defeat at the Hill Dickinson, pinning them in 14th place in the Premier League, with 11 points, as the European pack begin to steal away.

It is very early in the campaign, and predicting where most sides will land when all is said and done is pretty much dancing on the head of a pin. In any case, the Merseysiders know that they have limitations within their squad, namely, lacking the right full-backs or reliable and prolific goalscoring options.

While Everton signed Thierno Barry from Villarreal for a £27m fee this summer, the France U21 international has yet to find his feet in the Premier League.

Compounding this problem is Beto’s wastefulness in front of goal. With nine goals, the 27-year-old is the joint-top scorer at Everton since Moyes returned, but most of this haul was bagged during a ferocious purple patch last season, five goals in four games.

Change may well be afoot in 2026, and Moyes will be conferring with technical director Angus Kinnear as he considers adding another goalscorer to the ranks.

Everton's plans for a new striker

Richarlison has been linked with an emotional return to Merseyside of late. You might have heard. The Tottenham forward was supposedly on Moyes’ radar this summer, but nothing came of the ostensible interest.

Now, according to former Goodison Park CEO Keith Wyness, the Toffees could be in line to seal the Brazilian’s signature in January, bringing back a fan favourite and solving a glaring problem.

The issue is that Richarlison would be a stop-gap solution, and while he has enjoyed bursts of clinical form with Spurs, too many times has he drifted in and out of form, suffering more than his share of injuries besides.

25/26

9

3 (2)

24/25

15

4 (1)

23/24

28

11 (4)

22/23

27

1 (4)

This season, the 29-year-old has scored three goals and assisted two more – the last assist coming, of course, against Everton on Sunday as he delivered for Pape Matar Sarr to head home. However, Richarlison has just one goal in his past 13, having bagged a brace on the opening day of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Whether the £90k-per-week forward would make a progressive return to Merseyside remains to be seen, but maybe Everton would be better off not knowing. Would he truly prove an upgrade on Beto and Barry?

In any case, Everton don’t need to push for such a short-term fix when they have a third candidate to turn things around in the final third.

Everton have a better option than Richarlison

Tyler Dibling hasn’t clicked into gear at Everton after joining from Southampton for £42m this summer, but the silky attacking midfielder has so much potential.

If he finds form, Moyes could turn to his “creator of chaos” – as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson – in Iliman Ndiaye as a makeshift striker, covering for Beto and Barry in their woes.

The Senegal international has been one of Everton’s standout stars since joining from Marseille in 2024, and after finishing as the club’s top scorer for the 2024/25 campaign with 11 goals – despite missing part of Moyes’ reintroduction to Goodison Park – Ndiaye has carried that vein of form across the summer, notching three goals and supplying one assist from nine Premier League appearances this term.

Hailed by content creator Jacob Horsfall as “one of the best the Championship has ever seen” during his earlier stint with Sheffield United, Ndiaye has translated his quality to the Premier League – and then some.

While he is typically a left-sided forward, the 25-year-old has featured primarily on the right this term to accommodate Jack Grealish, and his natural-born clinical edge suggests he could be a fine makeshift striker this season.

Surely he would prove himself a bigger talent than Richarlison, making more of an impact than the Brazilian, who has ebbed and flowed, ebbed and flowed, since leaving Everton for Tottenham in a £60m package three years ago.

Ndiaye, in any case, has risen in stock as Richarlison’s own has depreciated. Tottenham are actually keen on Everton’s goalscoring talisman, and while TFG have priced him at £70m in retaliation, there’s no doubt the crafty Lilywhites would seek to entertain a form of swap deal if the chance arises.

It’s telling that Ndiaye sits alongside Beto as Everton’s top scorer since Moyes returned in January, and that having featured less often than the Bissau-Guinean.

Iliman Ndiaye

26

9

Beto

30

9

Abdoulaye Doucoure

17

3

Charly Alcaraz

25

3

Michael Keane

15

2

Jake O’Brien

19

2

Would Richarlison have outscored the Senegalese, had he played this year in Moyes’ squad? It’s hard to argue that he would have, with analyst Ben Mattinson arguing he “could play for a top six side”.

This is his quality, with FBref recording that he ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe for successful take-ons, the top 2% for ball recoveries and the top 7% for tackles won per 90, underlining just how dynamic and robust his skillset is.

And Ndiaye, furthermore, has yet to miss a single big chance in the Premier League this term, maintaining his prolific quality despite being shipped out to a new area of the field by Moyes.

Would Ndiaye be a long-term answer at number nine? Probably not. But given the finances that would be involved in bringing Richarlison back to the club, making this left-field tactical decision might not be a bad thing on Moyes’ part.

Everton have their best prospect since Rooney who "will play for England"

Everton could now have uncovered their best prospect since Wayne Rooney in this England-destined star.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 28, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been blessed to be able to watch some terrific midfield talents play for the club over the years, from Luka Modric, to Gareth Bale, to Rafa van der Vaart, to Moussa Dembele.

Modric, now 40, is still playing and shining for AC Milan in the Serie A, whilst the other three have since hung up their boots and moved on from football.

In the present day, Joao Palhinha has scored three goals in 11 matches in all competitions to start his career with the club on loan from Bayern Munich, but he is not a creative talent like Modric, van der Vaart, or Bale were.

Ranking Tottenham's best modern-day creators

The 2018 Ballon d’OR winner has to be up there as one of the best creators in Tottenham’s modern history. He laid on 24 assists in 160 matches for the club in all competitions before his move to Real Madrid, per Transfermarkt.

Christian Eriksen, however, has a strong claim to be above Modric in the ranking because he created 88 goals in 305 appearances for Spurs during his time in North London.

Dele Alli may rank between the two with his return of 59 assists in 269 matches for the club in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which would place Modric third, Dele second, and Eriksen first.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is a new player at Spurs who may top all three of them and has the potential to be the Premier League’s new Dennis Bergkamp for Thomas Frank.

Tottenham may have unearthed their new Dennis Bergkamp

As much as Tottenham fans may not want to admit it, Bergkamp is a Premier League legend who used to light up English pitches with his creativity and invention for Arsenal.

The Dutch playmaker assisted 116 goals in 422 games for the Gunners, one every 3.63 matches on average, per Transfermarkt, which illustrates the creative ability that he brought to North London.

Xavi Simons may be the next version of Bergkamp in the Premier League after his move to Spurs from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.

The Netherlands international may only have one assist to his name for Tottenham to date, but his form in Germany and some of the promising signs that he has shown in the Premier League so far suggest that there is far more to come from him.

Simons created 21 goals in two seasons with Leipzig in all competitions after his move from PSV in the summer of 2023, which shows that he can provide assists on a regular basis.

Xavi Simons’ creativity for RB Leipzig (all comps)
Stat	24/25	23/24
Appearances	43	33
Big chances created	19	18
Games per big chance created	2.26	1.83
Key passes	67	102
Assists	8	13
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman’s games per ‘big chance’ created rate was particularly impressive in both of those seasons in Germany, which suggests that he creates ‘big chances’ more frequently than Bergkamp registered assists for Arsenal.

His performance against Leeds United last weekend was a great example of inventiveness and creativity. On several occasions, Simons produced a moment of magic to open up the opposition’s defence when it looked secure, lifting the ball over defenders or playing through balls through the eye of a needle.

The assists will come for Simons, his history with Leipzig suggests as much. It just seems like a matter of time if he keeps doing what he was doing against Leeds; providing creativity, creating chances for teammates, being the spark in midfield.

His central midfield berth against the newly-promoted side could help him to be the creative hub of the team moving forward, and the Premier League’s next Bergkamp.

Like his compatriot, Simons is an incredibly creative and inventive player who can make things out of nothing, but it is now down to him to add the goals and assists to his game to match for the Arsenal man’s legacy and go down as one of Tottenham’s most creative players in their history.

England Under-19s were made to toil on the opening day of the first Youth Test

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay12-Jul-2025India Under-19s were on top after day one of their unofficial Test match against England Under-19s at Beckenham, reaching 450 for 7 at stumps.The day was dominated by two huge partnerships: Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra put on 173 for the second wicket, with Mhatre cashing in after being dropped twice to make 102 and Malhotra hitting 67.Abhigyan Kundu then hit 90 and Rahul Kumar 85 in an even bigger stand of 179 for the fifth.Alex Green, Archie Vaughan and Jack Home all took two wickets apiece, but England were left to rue four dropped catches.India won the toss and chose to bat, but there was a major disappointment for the crowd when the 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was out for just 14. He’d effortlessly glided the first delivery of the morning for four, lifting James Minto over the slip cordon, but then flashed at Green and was caught by Ralphie Albert at deep third.Malhotra eased to 50 soon afterwards when he took two from Vaughan and Mhatre reached his hundred in style by striding down the wicket to the same bowler and hitting him for four over long off.Vaughan then had Mhatre brilliantly caught on the boundary by Singh, who nearly collided with Albert and held on one-handed as he hit the ground.Malhotra went seven balls later, when Green conjured a late away swinger that was caught behind. Vaughan then got Maulyarajsinh Chavda for 11, edging to Flintoff at first slip.If three quick wickets seemed to have put England back in the game, Kundu and Kumar reasserted India’s dominance. Kumar raced to 50 off just 43 balls and it was 289 for four at tea.Kundu brought up his half-century when he drove Albert for four but Home got both set batters out in the 67th over. Kundu cut him to Vaughan at point when he was 10 shy of three figures and Kumar then edged him to the wicket-keeper Tom Rew.This drastically slowed the run rate and Albert then had Mohamed Enaan lbw for 23. Home should have had a third wicket when Henil Patel, edged him to second slip, but Flintoff couldn’t hold a slip-high catch. In the next over Green was thwarted when Denly put down RS Ambrish at first and eight overs were left unbowled when the 6.30 pm cut off was reached, adding to the authentic Test-match feel.Mhatre was luckier. He was dropped by Rocky Flintoff when he was on six, after he got a thick edge to Minto and he reached 50 with an edged four through the vacant third slip area, again off Minto.He was dropped again, this time when he was on 66, by Jaydn Denly, who was at first slip when Mhatre edged Denly’s Kent team mate Ekansh Singh.