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It was a night of mixed emotions for Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who saw his side end their four-match losing streak courtesy of a dominant 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, but there was a massive blow in the first-half as Jeremie Frimpong pulled up and had to be substituted. And there was further bad news as it was revealed after the match that record signing Alexander Isak had to come off at half-time due to feeling pain in his groin.

Liverpool end woeful run in style

Slot will have allowed himself a massive sigh of relief after watching his team dismantle Eintracht Frankfurt in thrilling style. The Anfield side recovered from going a goal down to secure a crucial away win at Deutsche Bank Park after Frankfurt took a surprise lead on 26 minutes when former Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen scored, benefiting from a deflected strike. However, the visitors quickly responded, with Hugo Ekitike levelling against his former club just nine minutes later with a composed finish and the Reds seized control with two quick-fire headers from corners by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to go into the break with a 3-1 lead. Slot’s side continued to dominate in the second half and Florian Wirtz, who was pivotal throughout, provided two assists. He set up Cody Gakpo for the fourth goal on 66 minutes, before Dominik Szoboszlai capped off the impressive performance with a long-range strike shortly afterwards. The win will be a huge confidence boost for the squad after their recent slump in form.

AdvertisementAFPInjuries pile up for Reds boss Slot

Liverpool are managing several significant senior player injuries, including goalkeeper Alisson, who is sidelined with a hamstring issue and expected back around early November. Recent knocks have also affected other key players, including midfielder Ryan Gravenberch who sustained an ankle injury during the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at the weekend, ruling him out of the clash in Germany. And now new summer signings Isak and Frimpong have added to the Reds' mounting headaches.

Frimpong suffers early injury blow in Frankfurt

Netherlands international Frimpong was substituted with a hamstring injury just 19 minutes into the Reds' Champions League clash at Deutsche Bank Park. The 24-year-old was replaced by Conor Bradley after he pulled up during a sprint down the right side. Frimpong initially attempted to continue playing before signalling to come off. The injury is a frustrating setback for the Dutchman, who has already experienced a stop-start season with a previous hamstring issue and Slot expects him to be "out for a few weeks". And there were even more concerns after big-money summer signing Isak had to be subbed off at the break.

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Getty Images SportMore injury woes for Reds

Slot told after the game: "Unfortunately he (Isak) didn’t score yet, but he had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit. So that’s a pity, but I’ve said it many times, it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed out three months. You bring him slowly, you bring him slowly and people sometimes arguing that that you can not play him more, not longer. And now we’ve played him for the second time in three days and unfortunately he’s had to go off, so we hope for the best. But it’s not an easy balance to find when a player’s been out for so long."

There’s no respite in Liverpool's upcoming schedule, which includes a Premier League away game at Brentford on October 25, followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace. November brings a league fixture against Aston Villa, a Champions League clash with Real Madrid, and a trip to face Manchester City.

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has confirmed that club captain Marc Guehi will not sign a new contract, and he will leave Selhurst Park next year. The 26 year-old's deal expires on June 30, 2026, when he can leave the Eagles on a free transfer. Many of Europe's elite clubs are interested, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona reportedly chasing him.

Guehi in high demand with Europe's elite clubs

The England international will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the January transfer window opens, giving teams on the continent a leg up over domestic suitors. That could prompt Liverpool to rekindle their interest and offer a fee for Guehi. Back in the summer transfer window, Guehi was close to joining the Reds for a fee of £35 million ($47m), however Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug hours before the deadline as the Eagles could not find a suitable replacement. According to a report by , Palace are unlikely to allow Guehi to leave for a cut price deal in the winter window.

AdvertisementAFPGlasner: 'The club wanted Guehi to stay'

Glasner shared the news that Guehi will leave at a press conference on Friday. While the Austrian made it clear that he and the club's leadership wanted the 26-year-old to stay, they were not caught out by his desire to leave the club. 

"I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," said Glasner. "The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, 'no, I want to make something different'. And that's normal.

"And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together."

Parish explains thinking behind Guehi saga

Parish's decision to block Guehi's Liverpool move at the last minute could be deemed short-sighted. By reneging on the deal, he basically allowed Guehi to walk away for free in 2026, with everyone at the club more or less aware that he would be unwilling to sign a new deal. The Eagles' chairman explained his decision-making in a recent interview with . 

"It's a difficult decision," he said. "It's as simple as that these things are never black and white. I decided in the end that, based on the advice that I got and also with what I think, that we would have a better season if we kept Marc. We don't guess about these things.

"If you look at it rationally, if you look at what is worth the place in the Premier League, the fact that we're in the Conference League for the first time in our history, this is a fairly unusual set of circumstances in which to keep a player. If we were fighting between the difference of 10th and 14th, if that was going to be the difference between keeping Marc and letting Marc go, then probably we would have said; 'Right, we should take the money'."

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Getty Images SportEuropean giants in the box seat for Guehi?

This news confirms what we knew all along, and Guehi is now the most sought-after defensive player available on the market. Every major European club will be interested in speaking to him over the coming months with a view to a free transfer.

Guehi's insistence on honouring his deal with Palace, and the club's reticence to let him go in a cut-rate transfer in January, could well have shunted Liverpool to the back of the pecking order, despite how close the two parties came to a deal.

Real Madrid have been savvy in snapping up out-of-contract stars over the past few years. Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all joined Los Blancos after their deals with their respective clubs were running out. With the Spanish giants expected to pursue a centre back in the near future, they could become a real player in Guehi's future. 

Liverpool's current defensive woes could pressure them into lodging another bid in January, however unlikely it is to come off, just to stave off the interest of Madrid, Bayern and Barcelona. The Reds have been fragile at the back, an issue that has been further compounded by the season-long injury to 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni. The Italian was supposed to provide additional cover for Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, however he has undergone surgery to rectify a serious knee problem. With Konate also out of contract in the summer, and a reported target of Real Madrid himself, how the Reds manage their defensive personnel going forward should be fascinating.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the main contenders to sign a “tremendous” attacking midfielder, who has now been identified as a priority target.

Spurs looking to sign new attacking midfielder

It has been a solid start to the season for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank being left very impressed by his side’s performance in the 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, despite the fact they were unable to take all three points.

Frank said: “I think this is our best performance of the season. I actually think that overall, if there should have been a winner, it should have been us.

“So many crosses into the box, near chances, missed opportunities. We were physically strong and mentally strong, and that is so important if you want to achieve something.”

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Summer signing Mohammed Kudus played a key role in Spurs clawing their way back into the game, with the Ghanaian grabbing two assists, having made a flying start to life in north London.

However, the Lilywhites remain keen on bolstering their attacking ranks even further, having now joined the race for Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who has been identified as a priority target for the upcoming transfer window.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Tottenham have emerged as one of the main contenders for Sancet’s signature. However, there could be rival interest from a number of other Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, who could be an expensive addition to the squad, given that there is a €80m (£70m) release clause included in his contract.

Sancet could be "tremendous" signing for Spurs

There are some doubts over whether the 25-year-old would be a necessary signing, given that a deal would be very costly, and Frank is already relatively well-stocked in attacking midfield, having signed Xavi Simons in the summer.

However, the Athletic Bilbao star clearly has the talent to be a success in north London, having received very high praise from sporting director Rafa Alkorta, who said: “Oihan is at a tremendous level. I’m very happy for him. I’ve known him for years, I’ve followed his career, and I think he’s a very important player, probably more important than he thinks, and what he needs is continuity and luck with injuries.”

The Pamplona-born attacker has shown a very good eye for finding the back of the net in recent times, bagging 15 La Liga goals last season, while also impressing with his passing ability over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.50 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

82.6% (88th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.22 (80th percentile)

Sancet could be a fantastic acquisition for Tottenham, but when James Maddison returns, Frank will be blessed with a number of attacking midfield options, so it may be best to invest the money into other areas of the squad.

The Milan City Council has approved AC Milan and Inter’s acquisition of the San Siro area for the construction of a new stadium. This decision follows Mayor Beppe Sala’s historic announcement to sell the land to the two clubs. However, the project could also mean the eventual demolition of the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

• Milan council agrees to San Siro sale

  At 3:45 a.m., the Milan City Council voted to approve the sale of the San Siro and its surrounding areas to AC Milan and Inter. The decision passed with 24 votes in favour and 20 against after a marathon session. The council’s approval was required following the mayor’s agreement to sell the land to the two clubs for €197 million (£167m/$225m). The plan aims to have the new stadium ready by 2031, in time for the European Championship the following year.

  A statement from both clubs read: "AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano express their satisfaction with the City Council's approval of the sale of San Siro and the surrounding area: a historic and decisive step for the future of the Clubs and the city. While awaiting the official announcement of the outcome of the council debate, the Clubs look with confidence and responsibility to the next steps in the process that will lead them to build a new stadium that meets the highest international standards: a world-class facility destined to become a new architectural icon for Milan and a symbol of the passion of football fans around the world."

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• AFP
  

  Plans for the new stadium

  The clubs plan to invest around €1.2 billion (£1bn/$1.4bn) to not only build a new stadium but also create a recreational area for fans. The development has been divided into five zones, which will include the stadium, a museum, shops, hotels, football fields, and more. AC Milan and Inter have entrusted two architectural firms with the project: Foster & Partners for urban planning and Manica for the stadium’s construction. Once completed, the redeveloped San Siro area is expected to generate €3.1 bn in economic growth, €1.4bn in GDP, and create 16,350 jobs by 2035.

• What happens to the current stadium

  The construction of the new stadium will involve the demolition of most of the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Around 91 percent of the stadium including the first and third tier stands and part of the second tier will be removed. The remaining sections will be preserved and redeveloped creating a park and pedestrian pathways for visitors.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Inter and Milan’s challenge ahead

  With Milan and Inter working for nearly 10 years to have their own stadium, the City Council's approval brings both clubs one step closer to realising their plans. Meanwhile, Inter host Slavia Praha on Tuesday and the Rossoneri are next in action against Juventus at the weekend.

It wasn’t just incomings that Liverpool were focused on this summer and one Reds star has now revealed he had the chance to leave the club.

Liverpool's transformative summer defined by clever selling

Liverpool have been accused of standing still when crowned Premier League champions in the past, almost settling for what they had earned. This time, such accusations would be incredibly far-fetched. Sat atop their throne after becoming champions last season, the Reds have enjoyed a transformative summer — spending over £400m and ruthlessly selling a number of stars to fund it.

In came Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz , Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong, and out went Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez , plus more. It was about as ruthless as it gets from Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, who have created a side capable of enjoying an era of dominance at Anfield, keeping Liverpool second in the net spend pile despite breaking the British transfer record twice.

A lot has been made of Liverpool’s spending and why they’ve suddenly spent more than ever, but one look at their summer sales will provide an emphatic answer. They’re one of the smartest clubs in European football and that was on show for all to see in the summer window.

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The Reds didn’t just sell for any offer that came in, either. They were tactical. The likes of Nunez and Diaz were seen as players that should be moved on, but only for the right price, with the club even happy to let Diaz run his contract down rather than sell too soon for too little. Hughes and Edwards simply waited for that price to come before cashing in.

What Diaz’s move allowed them to do was also keep hold of another star, who has now spoken about interest from Bayern Munich.

Gakpo admits Bayern interest was "difficult"

Whilst it was Diaz that moved on in the end, the story could have been very different. Cody Gakpo has admitted that Bayern Munich “did come” in for his signature, but he chose to stay put at Liverpool in a “difficult” saga.

It’s a decision that would have been a relief to Arne Slot too, given just how emphatically the Dutchman has started the current campaign.

For all of Liverpool’s standout business, keeping hold of Gakpo will prove to be of underrated importance, with the Netherlands star signing a new contract that will keep him in red until 2030.

The winger has scored once and assisted twice in just four Premier League games this season and will be looking to keep hold of his place following the arrival of Isak on deadline day.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has given a brutally honest verdict on the partnership between new signing Xavi Simons and Djed Spence after seeing Spurs beat Villarreal 1-0 in their opening Champions League match of the 2025-26 campaign. An early own goal from Yellow Submarine goalkeeper Luiz Junior ensured Tottenham took all three points in a narrow win in north London.

Getty Images SportTottenham enjoy winning start to Champions League

Tottenham enjoyed a winning start to their Champions League campaign by beating Villarreal 1-0 on Tuesday. The game saw new signing Simons and Spence feature on the left flank for Thomas Frank's side, and the Spurs boss feels the two players can develop a good relationship together, but need more time out on the pitch to build a rapport.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFrank's verdict on Simons and Spence

He told reporters: "I think it was a step forward against West Ham offensively. That is definitely the area where we need to get better, but it's also a little bit [to improve] the relationship. So Djed Spence and Simons, it's their second game together. So too many times they played it too short, or into feet. So, there's something in that definitely. It's fair to say [Simons] and Djed need a little relationship, of course, to get going. No complaints, it's just natural.

"For example, on the right side, Pedro [Porro] and [Mohamed] Kudus, they definitely have something going. I think Lucas [Bergvall] came over to that side, it looks right. On the left side, Xavi and Djed, good against West Ham, but it's not 100 per cent in sync.Offensively, we didn't hit the highest level. There was definitely a spell second half where we decided to just give it to the Villarreal players, and then we just sprint back, which I thought was a very good, and fun, fun thing. But on the flip side, I think Villarreal is a good team, and they defended very well as well. So it was a very, very even game that we just edged."

Substitute Palhinha key to victory

Frank also felt that the arrival of another summer signing, Joao Palhinha, in the second half was crucial to Tottenham's victory. He added: "He's a very good player. He stabilised us more in the middle of the pitch. So that helped, definitely … [The players] are working very hard, and that we have a very good foundation to stand on, tn terms of our defensive organization. We give very little away against a Champions League team."

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Getty Images SportTottenham head to Brighton next

The win continues a strong start to the season for Frank and Spurs. Tottenham will now switch focus back to the Premier League and a trip to Brighton on Saturday.

Arsenal have now been tipped to drop a key member of the starting eleven for their looming opening day clash against Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend.

Mikel Arteta is poised to do battle with Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the north Londoners ending their pre-season preparations as they gear up for yet another title challenge.

Nothing but a perfect start will do for Arsenal, having watched a plethora of their nearest rivals in Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City all splash hundreds of millions on a plethora of summer signings to bolster their squads.

Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta has been a busy man too, investing north of £200 million on six major signings, with Kepa, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres all making the move to N5.

It is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Premier League campaigns in history, and especially near the top of the table, with many standout contenders already making themselves known after productive transfer windows.

“I think on the physical part we’re in a really good place,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s final pre-season game against Athletic Bilbao.

“I think we have competed against very different opponents in different contexts, in different countries, so it’s been a really complete pre-season. You constantly learn and evolve in the team, that’s not going to stop now because this is the last test of pre-season. On Monday we’ll continue to work on things, on things that we have to develop and improve from today, from the last few games, and other things that we want to still do. And especially the integration of the new players to make sure that we create such a bond and spirit in the team that we can compete against the opposition.”

Arteta has a few imperative decisions to make ahead of Arsenal’s face-off with United in Manchester, who are under a significant amount of pressure themselves to make a good start to 2025/2026.

Arsenal tipped to drop Myles Lewis-Skelly for Man United

Journalist Charles Watts, speaking to CaughtOffside, is convinced that Arteta could even drop star left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly for the clash.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a stellar breakthrough campaign last season, with his performances at full-back earning Lewis-Skelly both calls to the England squad and a brand-new long-term contract.

The rising star teenager played 23 Premier League games last year, starting 15 of them, and was handed the nod by Arteta in their blockbuster Champions League ties against Real Madrid and PSG.

Lewis-Skelly has been called “incredible” by the likes of Gary Neville after his rise to the first-team, and he’s now become a key player for them.

However, Watts believes that Lewis-Skelly will be axed for United in favour of Riccardo Calafiori.

“I think who starts at full-back this weekend will be interesting for Arsenal. There is a real competition in those positions,” said the reporter.

“When he’s been on the pitch Riccardo Calafiori has looked very good. I really enjoyed his performance last weekend and if he’s deemed fully fit I think he might get the nod at left-back over Myles Lewis-Skelly.

“It’s a tough call, but Lewis-Skelly hasn’t looked at his best yet this summer, so I would not be surprised if Arteta goes with the Italian to try and negate the threat of Bryan Mbeumo and also cause problems up the other end.”

Calafiori suffered various injury problems across 2024/2025, which hampered the Italian’s game time, but if he can stay fit, Arteta will have a seriously star-studded left-back rotation at his disposal.

Celtic are in the market for more signings this summer and may have landed a boost in their pursuit of a key target, according to recent developments.

Brendan Rodgers quells Celtic transfer concerns

Since Celtic announced former Kawasaki Frontale forward Shin Yamada as their latest signing, there has been little in the way of rumours on incomings surrounding the Scottish Premiership champions.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers is confident the Hoops can strengthen before the window is out, claiming that his side will act to replace the presence of Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn in attack.

He stated: “I’m not really fixated on, ‘I need £10m, £15m or whatever’ – I just need quality players. That is about opportunity and seeing the right players with the right value. The market is complicated, especially when you are trying to get of the level we would like.

“We all know we’ve lost goals and would love to replace it with quality. The market is not as easy as it may seem but I am very confident as a club we will bring in the right players.”

One story that has come to the surface is Celtic’s pursuit of FK Cukaricki midfielder Andrej Bacanin, who is also being tracked by Rangers, Udinese and Ajax following a series of encouraging displays in his homeland.

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Furthermore, the Bhoys have saw a £1.5 million bid turned down for Go Ahead Eagles star Jakob Bruem. Putting a spanner in the works, he is reportedly valued at £5 million.

With plenty of stories beginning to escalate, Celtic have now received a clear indication that one of their targets has his heart fully set on a move to Parkhead.

Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha wants move to Celtic Park

According to the Daily Record’s Scott Burns, Royal Antwerp ‘know’ winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha wants to move to Celtic as direct discussions continue to take place over a potential cut-price deal.

Sporting director Marc Overmars is ‘reluctant’ to climb down from his £5 million asking price, but he knows that the Belgian Pro League club may need to offload the 24-year-old this summer to avoid losing him for free when his contract expires in 2026.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s injury hit 2024/25 campaign

Appearances

18

Goals

4

Assists

3

Dubbed a “technically sharp wide option” by scout Will Glavin, Balikwisha has been on Celtic’s radar for quite some time and could also be joined by another striker and a midfield arrival should he make the move to the Scottish Premiership.

Marco Tilio and Luis Palma’s recent loan departures have left Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and Hyunjun Yang as the only recognised wingers at the club and Rodgers’ variety in the final third is dwindling ahead of his side’s league opener against St Mirren next weekend.

Balikwisha is a known commodity among the corridors of influence at Parkhead, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this one pick up over the next few days.

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on another potential signing for manager Mikel Arteta, and there is an apparent sense inside the Emirates Stadium that they could be within touching distance of securing the deal.

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New sporting director Andrea Berta has already made a real splash since officially replacing his long-serving predecessor, Edu, in late March.

Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga in a £5 million deal earlier this week, and he’s poised to be followed by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who will likely be confirmed in the next few days (Sky Sports).

Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera remains in talks to join Arteta’s side after the Gunners saw their opening bid rejected (Fabrizio Romano), but it could be done soon alongside Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, who’s set to replace Thomas Partey in midfield.

Berta is also keen to reinforce the attacking midfield area across multiple positions, with both Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and Chelsea winger Noni Madueke on the radar as two completely separate deals.

The ambition on show from Arsenal is nothing short of stupendous, and it is a clear signal of their determination to end the club’s long wait for a Premier League title.

However, the success of their window is likely to be determined by the result of their chase for a new striker.

Arsenal in "advanced talks" for Viktor Gyokeres with five-year contract "agreed"

Now, according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, making a bold statement on X, they’ve now made serious headway when it comes to a potential deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede has been central to a public fallout with his club, and the situation is getting toxic amid club president Frederico Varandas’ repeated swipes at Gyokeres’ agent.

Gyokeres has even threatened to speak to the media if this continues, according to newspaper Record, but Tavolieri insists that Arsenal are now really getting somewhere in pursuit of a deal for the 27-year-old after months of rumoured talks.

As per the reporter, Arsenal are now in “advanced talks” for Gyokeres, and they’ve “already agreed” terms on a five-year contract with the former Coventry City star.

Sporting are reportedly demanding around £69 million to sell Gyokeres, while Arsenal apparently aim to get it done for around £60 million (Ben Jacobs), so there could still be some way to go in club-to-club talks.

He would be a blockbuster signing after spending the last two years free-scoring in the Primeira Liga, and you can make a case that Gyokeres is precisely the lethal goal-getter who Arsenal have been crying out for.

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus felt his team had enough runs but lacked intent in the field

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-20242:15

Leask: No surprise to us Scotland are top of the table

Scotland’s Michael Leask is confident the team can maintain their push for a Super Eights berth at the T20 World Cup 2024 despite still having Australia to play as they sit top after half of their group campaign.Leask was part of the match-winning stand with Richie Berrington which took Scotland over the line against Namibia from a position where it appeared they might struggle. It meant they had three points from their opening two matches following the washout against England where they had been well placed at 90 for 0.Related

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“We’ve got a hell of a squad. It’s no surprise to us [that we top the table]. It might be a surprise to some,” he said. “England will probably say it was a surprise to them the other day that we’re 90 off 10 overs. It doesn’t surprise me. This team’s got great depth. We’ve played together for a number of years, a number of us. We’ve got some new fresh blood so it doesn’t really surprise us that we’re in this position. We’ve got two more huge games and why can’t we top the group at the end of it then?”To maintain hopes of progression they will likely have to beat Oman before facing Australia in their final group match in what could yet be a clash with huge significance over who progresses to the next stage. Leask was well aware that Oman, who lost a Super Over contest against Namibia and had Australia 50 for 3, could cause them problems.”Those two games could put us bottom of the table,” he said. “There’s still 80 overs of cricket to play and there’s still a lot of other teams to do a lot of other things as well. We’ve got Oman on Sunday which is a huge fixture for us and then we go again.”George [Munsey] and Michael [Jones] showed up top that they’ve got the skill and ability to face the best in the world [against England],” he added. “And the rest of us didn’t get that opportunity on the day to show how good we are.”I’m not going to sit here and say Australia is not going to be a difficult game. I’m not going to sit here and say Oman is not going to be a difficult game. Because I know how tough the associate game is, Oman is yet to fire, it could be against us.”Meanwhile, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus was left to rue a defeat where he felt his team had not been at their best in the field having fought to a total he believed should have been defendable.”I thought we had enough runs,” he said. “It sort of followed that formula that we wanted to win this game by winning the toss and batting [in] a day game. [We] felt it [the pitch] slowed down towards the latter end of our innings. Throughout the innings there was a little bit of turn and a little bit of inconsistency of bounce when you put some energy on the ball, but unfortunately [it was] a bit of an off-colour display with the ball and perhaps an almost lack of intent in the field.”Namibia’s draw means they now face England and Australia in their final two group matches. “We’ve come to play all four games evenly hard,” Erasmus said. “There’s four more points [available], and we’re going to play our best game against the English and the Australians. Two very good white-ball teams…so what a great honour for us to share a field with that and compete with that.”