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Eddie Howe may not have been at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening, but the Newcastle United manager’s genius was very much present as his team brushed Crystal Palace aside.

Brushed them aside as if they were nothing. Eagles reduced to mites, returning to Selhurst Park in tattered frustration. For Newcastle, the 5-0 win has lifted them above Nottingham Forest and into third place, further into the firm soil of Champions League qualification.

With six Premier League games left to play, the Carabao Cup champions are playing brilliantly, top of the form charts and determined to return to Europe’s elite stage.

The unity from head to toe is a product of Howe’s tactics and the players’ reaction to the boss’s teachings. So many good performances. However, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak proved themselves the picks of the bunch once again.

Isak & Murphy run riot

Last season, Anthony Gordon was crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year after a standout season that saw him guide his team through injury-troubled waters.

Gordon remains a core part of a high-flying, trophy-winning Magpies attack, but this has been Isak and Murphy’s year. Both were on the scoresheet against Palace, with Murphy also setting up Fabian Schar’s goal before the break.

Isak is one of Europe’s best strikers, now boasting 25 goals and six assists across all competitions. It’s no wonder that the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool want to sign the £150m-rated man, but their efforts will likely fall short this summer.

Murphy, however, has ripped up the narrative to shift from inconsequential squad player to an utter force in the Premier League. How it’s happened? Hard graft and unbreakable trust from his manager, who has hailed his industriousness and promoted his potency in front of goal.

This new regime, painstakingly constructed, has served as a solvent for the years of hurt and upset on Tyneside, but Newcastle aren’t just an outfit pieced of superstars, with Murphy’s rise evidence that all can step up and reach new heights in Howe’s system.

Indeed, there’s another Newcastle star who’s gone from strength to strength in recent weeks and is now recorded as playing like Barcelona sensation Raphinha, who is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

Newcastle's own Raphinha

The man in question, as you may well have guessed, is Harvey Barnes, who has risen in stature and responsibility over recent weeks and has been praised, alongside Murphy, as being one of the “two best wide players in the Premier League right now” by pundit Chris Sutton.

Newcastle ran rampant against Oliver Glasner’s Palace, and he got himself another goal.

Talk about a purple patch. Barnes’ strike means he has scored in three successive Premier League matches, four goals in total, having laid on two assists in as many fixtures before.

Barnes’ beauty lies in its simplicity. He carries an Arjen Robben-esque quality of swooping inwards and firing at goal. His strikes bear the crispness of a sure-handled rifle shot, the snap and confidence of a predator starting to pounce.

The 27-year-old played the full 90 against Palace, and though he wasn’t in the thick of the action, he still came away with an excellent goal to add to the haul, underlining his ability to strike when a chance falls his way. The Shields Gazette could award him no less than a 9/10 match rating for his performance, hailing his finishing.

Barnes might not have started all the time since transferring to Tyneside from relegated Leicester City in 2023, but he carries that natural threat that makes him such a dangerous weapon.

It’s something that Raphinha has built up himself under Hansi Flick’s wing at Barcelona this term. Though the Brazilian is more of a natural playmaker than Newcastle’s man, there’s little question that there are similarities between the two.

Both players have been clutch for their sides this season, Barnes growing into his increasingly talismanic role in recent weeks following Gordon’s suspension, picked up against Brighton & Hove Albion during that bitter FA Cup defeat.

Goals

0.64

0.50

Assists

0.21

0.31

Shots taken

3.35

3.38

Shot-creating actions

3.35

5.19

Touches (att pen)

6.28

5.76

Pass completion

78.6%

69.4%

Progressive passes

4.28

4.69

Progressive carries

4.71

2.96

Successful take-ons

1.36

1.69

Both wide forwards are among the most statistically prolific players in their divisions, with both athletically remarkable yet opting against the kind of unrelenting runs and creative passes that others produce. Instead, they conserve their energy, use their intelligence to pick out teammates or strike on goal at the perfect moment.

Barnes might not have enjoyed his counterpart’s consistency, but FBref record that data-wise they are comparable, a testament to the England international’s quality. It’s exciting to think that with further success over the coming weeks, he might indeed finish the season as one of the most talked-about stars.

Of course, the United star might be one of the best wide players in English football right now but Raphinha has actually been dubbed “Europe’s best player” across the 2024/25 campaign by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.

Barcelona would hardly want to sell such a superstar but are financially troubled and have been reported to have listed him at €100m (roughly £86m) as suitors begin to circle.

It all just goes to show how staggering the project that Howe has created at St. James’ Park really is.

Newcastle were interested in signing the La Blaugrana sensation last summer but opted against it in the end due to PSR concerns. Perhaps they will be among the crowd of contenders this summer, for inevitably the clubs will line up for a player so talented, so in-form.

Chalkboard

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

However, with Barnes already in the mix, alongside a dynamic and deadly frontline, fans won’t lose any sleep if it doesn’t come to play. They already have their own version of the £86m-rated star.

103 touches, 87% passing: 9/10 Newcastle star is now as undroppable as Isak

Newcastle romped home to victory against Crystal Palace in a 5-0 demolition job at St James’ Park.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 17, 2025

Sheffield United are thought to be looking to tie down three different key players to new contracts, according to an exciting new update regarding their futures.

Sheffield United reach defining moment in season

The Blades are seven games away from returning to the Premier League, with Chris Wilder’s side topping the Championship table heading into the vital remaining weeks of the season.

United have won four of their last five league matches, seeing them leapfrog a stalling Leeds United side, going two points ahead of them in the process. Perhaps more importantly, they are also only two ahead of third-place Burnley, highlighting how tight things are in the automatic promotion battle.

While on-pitch matters are clearly huge, tying down certain players to new contracts is also essential, with Wilder making it clear that he wants deals for Rhian Brewster, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson sorted: “For me, as you can imagine, all the focus and concentration is on what happens here but if you’re asking me, would I like them all to re-sign, yes. One hundred per cent. They’ve all been outstanding for us and have still got a part to play going forward.”

Sheffield United want new deals for key trio

According to The Star, the futures of Sheffield United trio Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson were “discussed last week when members of the group that own United, including Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, visited Sheffield”.

Wilder has also claimed that “Steve Bettis is on with that and in discussion with the owners”, as they look to get some big in-house business over the line.

This would be great news for United, with the £90,000-a-week-combined trio of Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson such important players this season. This season, they have made 89 appearances in the Championship in total, showing how important they are to the cause, with 67 of those starts.

Ahmedhodzic and Robinson have both been reliable members of the Blades’ defence, but the emergence of Brewster has arguably been one of the biggest feel-good stories of the campaign at Bramall Lane.

Having suffered so much with injuries and not kicking after leaving Liverpool as a highly-rated player, the 24-year-old has scored in his last two appearances, including the priceless winner in the 1-0 victory away to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The Englishman’s influence is going to be big in these next few weeks, given his form, and he has the ability to steer United back to the Premier League.

Sheffield United ready to sign £25k-p/w "natural leader" from league rivals

Chris Wilder could bolster his Sheffield United squad by snatching one of their rivals’ finest talents.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 3, 2025

New deals for him and his two Blades teammates feels like a no-brainer, especially as Wilder values them all so much, and the hope is that all three of them are still at Bramall Lane next season, at which point United are back where they belong.

A report in the aftermath of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge claims that Daniel Levy is preparing to move for Ange Postecoglou’s replacement, following what was a sorry evening for the Australian.

Ange accused of row with Spurs supporters during Chelsea loss

Spurs succumbed to their sixteenth defeat of the Premier League campaign against Chelsea, with Enzo Fernández’s only goal of the game putting Postecoglou further on course to become the club’s worst-ever manager in the competition’s history.

Tottenham eyeing Ange Postecoglou replacement who Jurgen Klopp really likes

The Australian has opened up about his future at the club this week.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 3, 2025

Last season, the former Celtic boss actually broke the record for best start made by a new manager since the Premier League’s inception, but now he’s on the verge of a far less impressive record following a real transformation from hero to zero.

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

The Lilywhites have coped with serious injury problems throughout 2024/2025 which have debilitated Postecoglou’s options, decreasing the chances of him making a success of this campaign, but there is also an argument to be made that the results still haven’t been good enough.

Postecoglou didn’t do himself any favours after instigating a row with Tottenham supporters on Thursday evening either. The 59-year-old cupped his ear to the Spurs’ away end when Pape Matar Sarr notched a brief equaliser against Chelsea, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up, and this was in response to boos over his decision to bring the Senegalese on in place of Lucas Bergvall.

Following the backlash, Postecoglou denied that was why he signaled the Spurs supporters.

“It’s incredible how things get interpreted,” Postecoglou said in a post-match press conference. “We’d just scored, I just wanted to hear them cheer. Because we’d been through a tough time, and I thought it was a cracking goal. I wanted them to get really excited.

“I felt at that point we could potentially go on and win the game. I just felt momentum was on our [side]. It doesn’t bother me, it’s not the first time they’ve booed my substitutions or my decisions, that’s fine, they’re allowed to do that. But we’d just scored a goal, just scored an equaliser, I was just hoping we could get some excitement.”

In any case, pressure is still mounting on the Tottenham manager, and an update has come to light on their links to Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

Tottenham preparing to move for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are preparing to make a move for Iraola, and they regard the Spaniard as an “elite” young manager following his impressive campaign in the Cherries dugout.

Tottenham also believe they could “build a Premier League-winning side” with Iraola in charge, but they still have to convince him of the project.

He remains the top candidate to replace Postecoglou, following previous reports that Tottenham have Iraola as their top managerial target, and rumours of the 42-year-old’s potential switch to London look as if they will only intensify.

As well as Iraola, Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and ex-Dortmund boss Edin Terzic have all been linked in recent months.

One of the biggest troubles for Leeds United this season is how poorly they have performed in front of goal. Daniel Farke’s side find themselves in a relegation battle, which many people expected would be the case. ESPN journalist Bill Connelly said they need “random bursts of quality attacking” to help them stay up.

Well, things haven’t worked out that way so far for the Whites. They’ve found the back of the net just nine times, better than just two sides, including bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leeds’ expected goals tally is just 12.94xG, the 12th best in the top flight.

One man who has struggled for his best goalscoring form is Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Calvert-Lewin’s struggles in front of goal

Leeds secured the signing of Calvert-Lewin in the summer on a free transfer, after his contract at Everton expired. He was brought in with the aim of bolstering their Premier League goalscoring stocks, although it hasn’t really worked out that well so far.

The experienced 28-year-old, who has 11 caps and four goals for England, has not quite hit the ground running in a Leeds shirt.

In nine games for the club so far, Calvert-Lewin has only found the back of the net once, against fellow strugglers Wolves.

It was a good finish, too, from the new Leeds number nine. He got on the end of a loopy cross from Jayden Bogle, finding space between the Wolves defenders and heading home. That is the kind of striking instinct Leeds fans may have expected.

However, it hasn’t really worked out for Calvert-Lewin, aside from that goal. His underlying numbers are surprisingly low, averaging just 2.8 shots per 90 minutes, with an expected goals per game of 0.33xG. That places him in the 25th percentile for Premier League strikers.

With a huge game against Nottingham Forest next up, Farke may decide to rotate the striker out of the side in favour of a man who knows where the back of the net is.

Leeds’ Calvert-Lewin alternative

Ultimately, Leeds need to start finding the back of the net more consistently soon. Goals win you football matches, and right now, they could do with a few victories to help propel them up the table.

Chalkboard

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

Well, Farke could well make the decision to axe Calvert-Lewin against Forest this weekend, and bring in Joel Piroe.

The Dutchman is someone who knows where the back of the net is, and Farke even called him the “best finisher” he’s ever seen as a manager.

With strikes like this one against Bristol City in the Championship last season, it is easy to see where the Whites’ boss is coming from.

Piroe bagged from quite a tight angle outside of the area, which takes some doing.

Indeed, he has put up some impressive numbers in a Leeds shirt so far. In 102 games for the club, the striker has 33 goals and ten assists. Last term in the Championship, Piroe was the main man up front and bagged 19 goals with seven assists in 46 games.

His underlying stats showcase how deadly he can be, too. During the league-winning 2024/25 season, the Dutch striker averaged 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, with an expected goals tally of 0.49xG. Both of those stats placed him in the top 5% of Championship strikers.

Goals

0.56

95th

Shots on target

1.14

89th

Expected goals

0.49xG

95th

Shot-creating actions

2.43

84th

Goal-creating actions

0.38

91st

Bringing Piroe into the side for the trip to the City Ground could be a stroke of genius from Farke. He has a point to prove, having fallen out of favour this season. He’s only played 164 top-flight minutes, but would surely love to get more regular game time.

Calvert-Lewin has been out of form this season. With someone who Farke himself has admitted is a deadly finisher waiting in the wings, he could be the difference in helping find the back of the net more often.

Farke can get DCL firing by ditching Aaronson for "unstoppable" Leeds star

Daniel Farke can finally get Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing at Leeds United by unleashing this speedy winger.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 6, 2025

The fiery spectacle unleashed by Bayern Munich’s ultras during their Champions League victory over Sporting CP was not merely a display of passion, but reportedly a calculated strategic manoeuvre designed to manipulate UEFA’s disciplinary timeline. By triggering an inevitable stadium ban now, the supporter groups aim to serve their punishment during a low-stakes fixture, thereby ensuring a clean slate for the crucial knockout stages of the competition.

Bayern light up the Allianz Arena

The Allianz Arena was plunged into a thick fog at the start of the second half on Tuesday night as the Sudkurve – the heart of Bayern’s active support – ignited over 80 flares in a coordinated display. While the visuals were striking, creating a wall of red fire behind the goal, the action caused significant visibility issues and drew the immediate ire of the club’s hierarchy.

However, according to reports from , this was no spontaneous outburst. It was a pre-meditated "escalation" with a specific bureaucratic target in mind: UEFA’s disciplinary probation period.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe probation trap

To understand the ultras' logic, one must look at Bayern’s disciplinary record. The club has been operating under a suspended sentence following previous pyrotechnic incidents, most notably during the Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen in March this year. UEFA had explicitly warned that any further "pyro" violations within a two-year period would automatically trigger a partial stadium closure.

The Bayern ultras were fully aware of the danger and by lighting the flares against Sporting, they have effectively pulled the trigger themselves, forcing UEFA to convert the suspended sentence into an active punishment.

Why now? The Union Saint-Gilloise factor

Bayern’s next and final home game of the league phase is scheduled for January 21 against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. In the eyes of the ultras, this fixture represents the "ideal" moment to serve a ban. Union Saint-Gilloise are viewed as a far less attractive opponent than the European heavyweights Bayern are likely to face in the round of 16 or quarter-finals. By triggering the partial stadium closure now, the ban will almost certainly apply to the match against the Belgians.

Once served, the "probation" is effectively reset or at least the immediate threat of a closure is removed for the subsequent round. The strategy is to sacrifice the atmosphere for a group stage dead rubber to guarantee the Sudkurve is fully open and rocking when the stakes are highest in the spring.

The plan reportedly goes even deeper. suggests that the ultras are already one step ahead of the inevitable sanction. Anticipating that the Sudkurve standing area will be closed for the Union Saint-Gilloise match, leading figures within the ultra scene are reportedly already organising the purchase of tickets in other sectors of the Allianz Arena.

This would allow the hardline supporters to remain in the stadium, albeit in different blocks, effectively nullifying the "visual" impact of the ban while still technically complying with the UEFA ruling that closes their specific sector.

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Getty Images SportBayern chiefs furious about display

While the fans may see this as a tactical masterstroke against UEFA, the Bayern Munich board is less than impressed. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen did not hide his frustration after the match, fully acknowledging that the club is now powerless to stop the incoming sanctions.

"There will be a partial closure of the fans in the Sudkurve. That was a clear threat of sanction due to the probation we received," he said.

Dreesen expressed concern not just over the financial penalties—which are expected to be substantial—but the safety risks involved.

"I naturally do not find that good," he added. "The weather conditions meant the smoke and fog stayed in the stadium. I was briefly worried that the game might be abandoned due to visibility. It is simply unacceptable."

As the smoke clears, Bayern Munich must now prepare for a hefty fine and a quieter Allianz Arena in January. But if the ultras' calculation proves correct, the roar of the Südkurve will return just in time for the matches that define the season. Whether UEFA will see through the "trick" and impose a harsher penalty for recidivism remains the only flaw in an otherwise audacious plan.

Don Mattingly finally reached the World Series this year as the Blue Jays bench coach, as the Yankees great had never reached the Fall Classic during his playing years as a coach until this season.

However, the World Series ended in heartbreak for Toronto’s players, fans and Mattingly as the Dodgers beat them in a thrilling Game 7 to take home the trophy. Since that game on Saturday, Mattingly has decided to move on from the Blue Jays, but has no intention of retiring from baseball, ’s Jon Heyman reported on Thursday. Heyman noted that the two sides part on “excellent” terms and that there appears to be no animosity.

Mattingly is open to exploring new opportunities in the MLB coaching landscape. We’ll see where, and if, he lands with a franchise this offseason.

One of the positions he’s open to is a return to managing. Right now, only the Rockies and Padres still have open manager roles. He previously managed the Dodgers from 2011 to ’15, and the Marlins from 2016 to ’22. He landed in Toronto as a bench coach under John Schneider after his tenure in Miami. He made the playoffs four times as a manager, but never reached the World Series.

CA chief executive believes there is no correlation between Khawaja’s injury and the three days of golf he played in the lead-in to the Test match

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-2025Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has defended Usman Khawaja saying it is “drawing a long bow” to suggest that his decision to play golf prior to the Test match impacted the back spasms that he suffered on the opening day in Perth.Khawaja, 38, has come under scrutiny after the issue forced him off the field late in England’s short first innings on Friday. His absence was ill-timed as England then collapsed while he was stretching to overcome the spasm and it left stand-in captain Steven Smith calling for Khawaja to come back onto the field.Khawaja eventually did return to the field for the end of the innings but, according to ICC rules, had not returned for the equal amount of time he had been off and therefore was ineligible to open the batting. It meant Marnus Labuschagne was forced to open and Smith batted at No.3. Khawaja eventually batted at No.4 and was dismissed for just 2.Khawaja fielded for all 15 overs Australia bowled prior to lunch on day two and looked unaffected. But he dropped a catch at slip after lunch and then jumped for another and his back seized up again. He left the field for the last 48 minutes of England’s second innings and was unable to open again, with Travis Head walking out for the fourth-innings chase alongside Weatherald.”Unfortunately Uzzy is not moving too well,” Cummins told Fox Cricket on Saturday afternoon. “His back flared up again in the slips going for a jump above his head so he’s unable to open.”We were trying to work out whether we shuffle everyone up like the first innings, but Trav ran off and he was keen to give it a crack.”He’s done it quite a bit in white ball cricket so we switched those roles.”Hopefully Uzzy can still fill in a role in the middle order at some point.”Don’t think we’ll see him until after Marn and Smithy.”CA stressed it was a new injury that he had not suffered prior to Friday. Khawaja had played golf on Tuesday and Wednesday either side of Australia’s training sessions. He skipped Thursday’s optional session, with only four of Australia’s XI doing any training, to play golf alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Several of Australia’s coaching staff also played in the afternoon after the main session.Greenberg, an avid golfer himself who sat with Perth-born professional golfer Min Woo Lee at Perth Stadium on Friday, said there was no correlation between Khawaja’s golf and his back issue.”[Golf] has held him in good stead over the last couple of years. It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf a day prior,” Greenberg told SEN. “Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don’t think so.”Usman’s a very seasoned campaigner, he knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket. So I think that is drawing a long bow. A lot of people talk about cricket being played between the ears.”So getting some time away from being in your hotel or at training I think is really important. I noticed Mitch Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn’t impact his performance.”Golf is a huge part of Australia’s team culture, as it is for their opponents England. They play regularly in the lead-up to Test matches at home and abroad. The entire squad had a team-bonding trip to northern Scotland to play a week of golf before the WTC final, which they lost to South Africa.CA’s medical and strength and conditioning staff have long sanctioned it, especially for the fast bowlers, as low impact time on their feet that also provided a mental reprieve from the grind of cricket training and playing.

The USWNT’s chemistry is clicking at every level, with Catarina Macario and Rose Lavelle driving a dominant showing and Olivia Moultrie rising fast.

The U.S. Women’s National Team had one goal in mind against Italy: start fast. And in just over a minute, they did exactly that. A quick combination between Rose Lavelle, Alyssa Thompson, and Olivia Moultrie led to an early breakthrough, with the Americans on the board almost immediately and silencing No. 12 Italy within seconds. Manager Emma Hayes joked about it being the caffeine gum the team gets, but then dived into her belief that she is helming a quick-learning group. 

"I've said it many times. They're so coachable, these players, and malleable, and everything we're starting to drive in terms of the messaging is really sinking amongst them all," she said. "If I'm honest, there are so many areas, I still think we have to do better, but I thought it was a really good team performance." 

Moultrie, who scored a brace last month against Portugal, added her fifth international goal on Friday night. From there, it turned into a Cat Macario showcase. The forward struck twice for the USWNT, pushing her tally to six goals on the year.

Macario was everywhere – finishing chances, creating danger, and pressing aggressively to force Italy into turnovers high up the field.

The Americans looked fluid, controlled possession, and found goals. And importantly, they started fast, a point emphasized by Lavelle, who is coming off an NWSL Championship and MVP honors, and said the team’s focus was to come out “fast and strong.” Hayes also stressed the importance of finishing this year strong with qualifiers coming up in 2026. 

“All of our energy is on qualifying for the World Cup," she said. "That’s everything we’re focused on. We close out the year with one more game, then we have January camp, the SheBelieves Cup, and two other opportunities before we get into October.

“There’s not a lot of time, so every single minute matters. Our focus is qualification.”

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Inter&Co Stadium.

ImagnWINNER: Rose Lavelle

Imagine winning the NWSL Championship a week ago, scoring the game-winner, earning MVP honors – and then five days later buzzing around the field for the USWNT like it’s nothing. Enter Rose Lavelle. The midfielder hardly looked like someone coming off a historic club season; she was sharp on the ball, quick on her feet, and involved in nearly every attacking sequence.

After the match, Lavelle told Turner Sports, “I think we have such great midfielders. Every time you get on the field with them, it’s so fun, and I think we just keep growing and building connections every single game.” 

The chemistry is evident, and even as Hayes rotates and introduces new faces, the midfield depth remains elite.

“It can be tough when you have injuries, and you have a lot of rotation,” Lavelle said, reflecting on the USWNT’s challenges this past year. “But at the same time, I think it allowed us to tap into our depth and allowed a lot of people to get experience in really, really good, hard games.”

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Italy

It had been 15 years since the USWNT last faced Italy, and despite the Azzurre entering the match ranked No. 12 in the world, they struggled to find any real rhythm against the Americans.

Aside from a few moments that tested the U.S. back line, Italy posed little threat. They finished with just 31 percent possession to the USWNT’s 67 percent, managing only two shots on target and seven attempts overall. The sides meet again in a few days, and a shift away from the 4-4-2 might be necessary if Italy hopes to trouble the U.S. more seriously.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Olivia Moultrie

It’s getting harder to overlook Moultrie, who has been clinical for the USWNT. After recording her second career brace against Portugal, she scored again on Friday to set the tone against Italy.

While her finish was decisive, Moultrie’s overall influence stood out just as much. She was constantly on the ball, showing the composure and awareness expected of a top midfielder. Her runs were well timed, and she combined seamlessly with Rose Lavelle, Claire Hutton and Sam Coffey throughout the match.

The goal was the fifth of her international career – and she’s only 20.

The midfield looks as strong as it has in some time, and performances like this from the young midfielder will give Emma Hayes plenty to think about.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Substitutes

On both sides, there was little change in quality when the reserves entered, though the U.S. saw a more noticeable drop-off. Once Macario came off and Jameese Joseph came on, the standard had already been set – and the same was true in midfield. Matching or building on what players like Lavelle and Moultrie established is a difficult task, especially in a match against a strong opponent like Italy.

In games like this, the next player up has to meet the pace and intensity set by the starters. On Friday, the first XI delivered and dictated the game. The bench, however, struggled to match that level.

From missing the U-19 World Cup to starring for Karnataka, Smaran’s rise has been built on discipline, long levers, and belief

Shashank Kishore14-Aug-2025In March 2025, whispers of a new name began echoing through IPL scouting circles: R Smaran.Clips from his trials with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had gone viral within the inner sanctums of IPL talent scouts. Smaran wasn’t just clearing the ropes; he was launching spinners out of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.Smaran, 22, received excellent feedback from almost all the trials he attended, but quietly decided to craft his own routines over the next few weeks to make up for the disappointment of not featuring in the IPL.Batting sessions, gym work, and running throughout the day were topped up with pickleball in the evenings. He wanted to keep himself away from overthinking. And then, when he least expected it, his phone rang. Sunrisers Hyderabad came calling. They needed a replacement for the injured Adam Zampa.He was no legspinner, and nowhere close to a like-for-like replacement. But the intriguing signing was an indication he might be a long-term investment. But even before the doors could fully crack open, they slammed shut.Smaran tripped over the advertising hoardings while attempting a catch at training and injured himself. And just like that, his IPL season was over.

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On Tuesday, in just his second competitive outing since his season ended, Smaran smashed an unbeaten 55 off 22 balls for Gulbarga Mystics against defending champs Mysore Warriors in the KSCA Maharaja T20 Trophy.Fittingly, the left-handed batter hit a six, out of the ground and into the trees, to seal the win. There couldn’t have been a better start to what is going to be his second season as a professional cricketer.Smaran is tall, nearly six feet. The penchant to clear the ropes comes from having long levers that he uses to his advantage. But that is only one aspect of a game that he says is very much “work in progress.” In his short career already, he’s shown the ability to grind his way through. Smaran is strong square of the wicket, a by-product of his ability to pick lengths and play well off the back foot. He also prides himself on being an excellent player of spin, something a lot of former Karnataka players and talent scouts have vouched for.”Right from the beginning, I’ve had the ability to clear fences,” Smaran tells ESPNcricinfo. “But I think there’s still a fine line between formats, where in order to be really good at all three formats, you still have to learn to curb your game.”But I think in T20, especially with the wickets being the way it is – really good to bat on – and the size of the grounds in India also not being the greatest when it comes to T20. I think it just comes naturally to me. I wouldn’t say [I’m] a six-hitter, but I back myself to hit sixes on the balls that are loose to me.R Smaran scored 516 runs in ten innings in the last Ranji Trophy season•R Smaran/KSCA”But growing up, the red ball was always a priority. Even now, my main goal is to represent India in Tests. And I think T20 will come as a by-product of that.”Smaran’s 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season started poorly. Five matches in, he hadn’t notched up a single half-century batting in the top five. When Ranji season hit a pause midway for the white-ball leg, the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s (SMAT), he wondered if he’d fluffed his chances.Smaran sat out the first game, but was later drafted into the XI for their second game against Tripura after the selectors decided to drop Manish Pandey. Smaran hit a half-century on debut – 57 off 31 – to help chase down 191.”That knock was a confidence booster, since I had a string of low scores,” he says. “Team-wise, SMAT wasn’t great for us, but it gave me the batting rhythm I needed and I was able to carry that forward into the Vijay Hazare Trophy.”That 50-over tournament was a game-changer for Smaran. Having endured the pressure of replacing Pandey, a senior player in the XI, he hit a superb 101 off 92 in the final against Vidarbha. He helped bail Karnataka out from 67 for 3 in wintry conditions as they posted 348. They ended up winning by 36 runs.Smaran finished as Karnataka’s second-highest run-getter, hitting 433 runs in seven innings at an average of 72.16 with two hundreds and two half-centuries.

“Growing up, the red ball was always a priority. Even now, my main goal is to represent India in Tests. And I think T20 will come as a by-product of that.”R Smaran

“My only goal was to win games for the team,” he says. “One game after another, we started winning. Slowly the belief came in that we can go all the way and win the championship. Once we won, it was surreal.”It’s on the back of this run that Smaran entered the second leg of the Ranji season, in January this year, under immense pressure to keep his spot. On a green top at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Smaran saw the Shubman Gill-led Punjab being bundled out for 55. And when he walked in to bat, conditions were far from easy. Smaran defied the odds and conditions to convert his maiden first-class century into a double ton.”That knock needed mental discipline because conditions were tough, particularly the first day,” he remembers. “It gave me the confidence that I had the ability to play a different style of cricket if required. I’m glad it came off.”Smaran ended the Ranji season with another century to boot against Haryana. Having started the season poorly, he accumulated 516 runs in ten innings at an average of 64.50.

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By 2019-20, Smaran had been a prolific run-getter for Karnataka Under-19s, and was shortlisted as part of a wider pool of targeted players the BCCI felt would form part of their mix for the Under-19 World Cup in 2022.But in early 2020, Smaran had a stress fracture on his right shin. He played through pain, but eventually he had to listen to his body. He was advised to take eight months off the game.Fortunately for Smaran, the injury came around Covid lockdowns. It meant he didn’t miss much competitive cricket, but the long layoff from injury led to weight gain that hampered his form upon return.Smaran couldn’t quite make the same impression as he pushed for an India Under-19 berth. He was left out of the Under-19 World Cup, and India went on to win the tournament under Yash Dhull’s captaincy.R Smaran smashed an unbeaten 55 off 22 in the KSCA Maharaja T20 trophy on Tuesday•Maharaja T20″It felt like the world had ended,” he says about not being selected for the Under-19 World Cup. “I didn’t look forward to anything for the next month. My coach Syed Zabiullah, he’s like family to me. He lifted me up and told me this isn’t the end and there’s lots to look forward to. The main goal should be representing Karnataka at the highest level.”Smaran had two prolific seasons after he fully regained his fitness, but found it hard to break into the Karnataka setup. Until a debut finally came late last year.”I’m glad that it happened last year,” he says. “So overall, I think a lot of credit goes to Syed sir for pushing me throughout during the off-season as well. And also me for putting that effort into training, gym and also hitting the nets.”Smaran’s journey is an ode to his dedication. It was particularly tough because he didn’t come from a family that had anything to do with sport. His father, a mechanical engineer, makes solar inverters. His mother, a housewife, wanted her son to also be an engineer.

I just lacked the confidence [when I started last season]. But now I feel that while I’m still not there, I’ve gotten a step better in terms of knowing my game well.”Smaran on his game

“But the way I progressed, even my mom now keeps asking me, when I’m going to do my Masters,” Smaran, who has a bachelor’s degree in commerce, laughs.”After I represented the state in age-groups, they were like, okay, you can pursue commerce now and pursue cricket,” he says. “I think there’s a lot of conflict between me and my parents (laughs), but I think they’ve really supported me throughout and they’ve let me pursue what I love. But yeah, lot of engineers in the family.”As he looks ahead, Smaran is focused on trying to tick another box. “To bring home the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka,” he says. It’s something they haven’t been able to achieve since 2014-15.”I just lacked the confidence [when he started last season]. But now I feel that while I’m still not there, I’ve gotten a step better in terms of knowing my game well. The main goal while batting is to win games for your team. Whichever team that is, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is reportedly facing a significant blow to his January transfer plans after news about a top winger target.

While the January transfer window is set to become a major topic of discussion soon, all attention is currently centered around this weekend’s North London derby clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The statistics paint a pretty bleak picture for Frank’s side, with as many as 11 players either set to miss the clash through injury or are doubts at the very least.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Arsenal prolonged their unbeaten run against Tottenham to six matches in January this year, having also done the double over Spurs in 2023. The Lilywhites have also failed to chalk up a single victory against their fiercest rivals in three years, with their last win coming at the end of the 2021/2022 season under Antonio Conte.

Harry Kane’s brace and a goal from Son Heung-min handed Spurs a statement 3-0 victory on their run to qualify for the Champions League that year, but that remains their only triumph over Arsenal in their last nine meetings.

While the Emirates Stadium is a notoriously challenging hunting ground for Tottenham, having failed to win there in the top flight since 2011, Frank could actually be relieved this clash will be played out on enemy turf.

Frank’s side have lost three Premier League matches on home soil already this season, and their record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the last 12 months has been abysmal with just four victories to show from 20 home league games.

They haven’t won at home at all in the league since their 3-1 win over newly-promoted Burnley on the opening weekend, leaving them second bottom of the home form table but sitting pretty atop of the away form standings (Footy Stats).

Tottenham will be handed some encouragement by Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal just prior to the international break, but it is safe to say they’re up against it on Sunday, with there still being plenty of work to do on Frank’s squad as the Lewis family look to usher in a post-Daniel Levy era.

According to reports, Spurs are in the market for another winger this winter after missing out on Savinho in the summer, with Ademola Lookman believed to be on their radar as one potential signing.

Frank facing 'big blow' at Tottenham after news on Ademola Lookman

The Atalanta winger appeared to be exit bound last summer and even submitted a transfer request, but an exit failed to materialise. Tottenham were repeatedly linked with the Nigerian at the end of the last window, and those links have remained ahead of January.

Lookman bagged 20 goals in all competitions last season and took home 2024’s African Player of the Year award following his stunning performance in the Europa League final that year, which both won Atalanta the tournament and ended Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.

The 28-year-old, who is also out of contract in under two years, would undoubtedly be a superb signing for Spurs and one who can play in many different attacking positions, including as a striker.

However, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider, Frank faces a ‘big blow’ in his pursuit of Lookman, as it is now believed that new Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino could now convince the player to remain in Italy.

Also, if Spurs were to lodge a bid for Lookman in January, Atalanta would demand a minimum of £50 million to consider selling, despite the player’s contract length.

All of this makes the prospect of a winter transfer to N17 looking more and more difficult for the ‘world-class’ forward, but there are alternatives.

Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo is apparently tempted by the prospect of a move to Tottenham amid Real Sociedad’s dismal start to 25/26, and he has a release clause in his contract, which means Spurs could bypass club talks and go directly to the player.