The true art of Liverpool's success under Jurgen Klopp's guidance is not the scintillating attacking arrowhead, nor is it the imperious defence that strikes fear into hapless attackers when Virgil van Dijk is at his apex.

No, it is the never-say-die mentality that never allows the opposition a chance to breathe. Sewn into the very fabric of the club's core, Liverpool breeds winners, and while many of the stars of the illustrious Klopp era did not arrive with glittering trophy cabinets, they have been moulded into players of the highest pedigree.

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Occasionally, however, the Reds have opted to sign a player of established brilliance, with honours and accolades pinned to their garment and with a hunger to replicate the feats on Merseyside.

Liverpool have identified a player who fits this mould; indeed, Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella remains a target and could be the subject of an official approach in 2024.

Liverpool transfer news – Nicolo Barella

Italian outlet L'Interista has recently revealed that while Inter are eager to commence contract negotiations with Barella, there are many obstacles in the way of an agreement and this could open the door for Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United to swoop.

In the summer, the Telegraph reported that Newcastle were closing in on a £50m deal to sign the Italy international, though the Serie A side rejected advances in the late stage, with Barella himself also discouraged.

Last week, revelations came to light that Inter are embroiled in financial uncertainties and might need to cash in on some key players to balance the books.

Although multiple parties have registered an interest, there is a sense that 2024 is the perfect year to advance negotiations and snap Barella up, and this is something that Klopp will undoubtedly be considering.

Nicolo Barella's style of play

Barella has been hailed as a "little warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and while he may be diminutive in stature, the maestro projects a monstrous presence in the centre of the park.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 9% for progressive passes received per 90.

Such metrics highlight a remarkable level of creativity but also a willingness to surge up the pitch and make things happen in pockets between the lines, evidenced by his return of nine goals and ten assists across all competitions last season, as Inter won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

Deft and delightful, Barella's direct rate of contribution might have declined this season but he has still been integral to Simeone Inzaghi's side's pursuit of the Scudetto, currently in first place after 17 matches, four points clear from Juventus.

Having started 16 of these fixtures, the 26-year-old has scored two goals, supplied three assists and completed 87% of his passes in the centre of the park, averaging 5.0 ball recoveries and 1.1 key passes per outing.

#

Player

Club

1

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

2

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

3

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

4

Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen

5

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona

*Sourced via Football Transfers

Having once been declared a "genius" by journalist Mike Pielluci, there's no denying that Barella would be a credit to any ambitious side on English shores, but given the overload of creative and multi-functional midfielders in Klopp's squad, the question does arise regarding whether it would be a prudent venture to launch significant funds toward the acquisition of Barella.

Who Nicolo Barella could replace at Liverpool

Of course, Liverpool maestro Thiago Alcantara, aged 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and has not actually featured once during the 2023/24 campaign as he fights to return from a long-term injury.

Undisputably magnificent, the distinguished Spaniard ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 6% for successful take-ons, the top 4% for interceptions and the top 13% for tackles per 90, but his inability to avoid the clamping jaws of the medical room will ultimately convince Klopp that he must depart in June.

While Thiago occupies a deeper-lying role than his Cagliari-born counterpart, both are sublime passers of the ball with a metronomic swagger that establishes control and command in the engine room.

Barella could be a worthy successor but his signing still wouldn't address the concerns relating to Liverpool's requirement for a specialist No. 6.

The move could also prove to be detrimental to the progress and success of Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield, with the Argentinian World Cup winner completing a £35m transfer to the club in the summer.

While Mac Allister has been utilised from deep this season, he remains one of the Premier League's most creative and cultured centre-midfielders, earning praise in the past for his "intelligent" approach by countryman Sergio Aguero.

#

Player

Club

1

Eduardo Camavinga

Real Madrid

2

Hakan Calhanoglu

Inter Milan

3

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona

4

Nicolo Barella

Inter Milan

5

Federico Valverde

Real Madrid

*Sourced via Football Transfers

As the graph above shows, Mac Allister and Barella are midfielders of similar like; not quite cut from the same cloth but mirroring in qualities that would perhaps not be worth the cost, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch also plying their trade at Anfield.

The backline needs attention and, while Wataru Endo has been impressive of late, a long-term solution to the anchor of Liverpool's midfield must be discovered too.

Barella might be an excellent player, perhaps he is even world-class, but there it might be best to invest resources elsewhere to maintain the dynamism and growth of this exciting Liverpool team.

The incident occurred soon after he reached his 42nd ODI half-century during Bangladesh’s chase of Ireland’s 292

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2019Shakib Al Hasan retired hurt during the course of Bangladesh’s chase in the final league fixture against Ireland after hurting his left side.The injury, suspected to be a side strain, took him off the field after he had faced 51 balls for his half-century. The incident occurred at the end of the 36th over of Bangladesh’s chase. Only an over earlier, he was holding his left side in pain. Physio Thihan Chandramohan spent several minutes trying to relieve him of the pain, before Shakib decided to continue batting.Then as he resumed, he felt the pain as he pulled a short ball off Joshua Little. However, he decided to retire hurt in the next over. The gravity of his injury isn’t yet ascertained and it is likely that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will throw light after receiving an update from the physio.The decision was a wise one, considering Bangladesh are in their final stretches of preparation for the World Cup. As such, Shakib has dealt with multiple finger injuries in recent times, the one last September nearly derailing his career as the finger contracted an infection.Shakib then broke his finger during the BPL final in February, which forced him to miss the New Zealand tour.Bangladesh are already through to the tri-series final against West Indies on May 17.

Manchester United have faced plenty of difficulties this season.

This is highlighted by their eighth position in the Premier League and the fact that they’re already nine points off fourth.

With that in mind, Erik ten Hag will look to sign a new forward this month to help fix their attacking woes.

Man Utd transfers latest – Roony Bardghji

As per Football Insider, Man United’s scouting department have been monitoring Roony Bardghji this campaign.

The winger's contract expires in December 2025, but the Red Devils are reportedly huge admirers of him.

However, a move this winter is unlikely unless outgoings occur at Old Trafford due to financial fair play guidelines.

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ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 Roony Bardghji’s style of play

Since moving to Manchester for a whopping £86m, Antony has failed to impress. The former Ajax star has been unable to settle at his new club, with his performances unconvincing and underwhelming. Last season, the Brazilian scored eight goals and registered three assists across all competitions, but this term, he has failed to register a single contribution in 21 matches.

On the other hand, Bardghji has experienced his main breakthrough season since the summer, and the Red Devils have first-hand experience of the quality he possesses, as he scored the winning goal in Kobenhavn’s 4-3 win over United in the Champions League. The 18-year-old is an “unreal talent,” according to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, as underlined by his 11 goals in 30 appearances this season.

Therefore, based on performances this term, it is reasonable to presume that the Swedish star would push Antony further down the pecking order, potentially making him the fourth-choice right winger behind Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho.

Nonetheless, Bardghji’s performance against United gave a glimpse of his quality, and the table below shows a handful of his statistics from that game.

Minutes

27

Goals

1

Shots

2

Dribbles (successful)

3 (3)

Pass accuracy

89%

Ground duels (won)

3 (3)

Despite only playing 27 minutes, the Swedish prospect showed the maturity and bravery of a seasoned professional. The occasion didn’t overwhelm the youngster, and his two shots, including the winner, displayed his goal-scoring instincts, which Antony clearly lacks.

The fact that he completed 100% of his dribbles also highlights his immense technical ability and agility. His small frame and 5 foot 8 height allows him to wriggle past opponents', and when that is combined with his direct approach, he can be unstoppable. However, he is also intelligent and knows when to retain possession, as shown by his 89% pass accuracy.

Furthermore, the left-footed whizz is a “pure diamond,” as per Kulig, as his technique is also backed by his strength and the ability to bounce off opponents. This is highlighted by his 3/3 ground duels won, which makes him almost similar to Bukayo Saka regarding his inevitability of keeping the ball even when he arguably shouldn’t.

Overall, Bardghji has all the attributes to become an elite winger, and Ten Hag must look to bring another Roony back to Old Trafford.

Having returned to form and constructed a three-match winning streak in the Premier League after a tough spell, news that Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero was set for a spell on the sidelines cast a shadow over preparations for the trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion.

Not for the first time, Ange Postecoglou fielded a makeshift backline consisting of four full-backs across the backline, but once again this patchwork effort failed to yield a winning result.

Losing 4-2 at the AMEX Stadium, Spurs have sqaundered the opportunity to draw level with third-placed Aston Villa, and while the defence was arguably at fault, Postecoglou will be disappointed with the efforts of some of his attacking players.

Brennan Johnson's performance vs Brighton

Earning his seventh start from eight fixtures in the English top-flight, Brennan Johnson flattered to receive on the right wing and will have left Postecoglou unconvinced that he deserves a starting spot going forward.

Bemoaning the 22-year-old winger is perhaps unfair, while he cost Tottenham £47.5m to sign from Nottingham Forest in the summer, the fee is outside of his control and there are many attractive qualities that hint at a successful career in north London.

All-time Record Tottenham Transfers
#	Player	Signed from	Fee
1	Tanguy Ndombele	Lyon	£63m
2	Richarlison	Everton	£60m
3	Brennan Johnson	Nottingham Forest	£47.5m
4	Cristian Romero	Atalanta	£42m
5	James Maddison	Leicester City	£40m
*Sourced via Football Transfers

So far, he has posted one goal and three assists in the league, averaging 1.1 key passes and 3.0 ball recoveries per game; he has been described as a "nightmare" for defenders to stop by content creator HLTCO.

But the Wales international was ineffective against a relentless Brighton side that implemented their gung-ho approach to near perfection, firing a fusillade of attacks on the ever-impressive Guglielmo Vicario's goal.

As per Sofascore, Johnson took just 28 touches – almost half of Vicario's – before being hooked after 70 minutes, completing ten passes and attempting only one blocked shot.

While he made one key pass and won four of his six contested ground duels, the £70k-per-week ace failed to make a single tackle, clearance or interception – while he is a forward, this shows a lack of defensive application against a surging home side.

Branding him with a lowly 4/10 score in his post-match ratings, football.london's Alasdair Gold said: 'Had an opportunity when running through in the first half but hesitated and fluffed his effort. Threatened to make an impact but never really did.'

Why Brennan Johnson must be dropped

After the disappointing defeat, Postecoglou might be inclined to shift Dejan Kulusevski back into his favoured right-wing role and allow Johnson to take a breather on the bench.

While injuries have shaped the troubles that have plagued the Lilywhites' campaign after such a resounding start, Tottenham's midfield was outfought and outthought in the crucial central battle.

The No. 10 is a necessary component of Postecoglou's system but it might be wise to indeed move the lively Kulusevski onto the right and bolster the engine room with the likes of Giovani Lo Celso or Oliver Skipp – who missed Thursday's clash with a knock – to establish an additional branch of control.

That's not to say that Johnson should be excluded from contention, nor even that he should not receive a starting berth for the forthcoming period, but it could just be a prudent move to make a tweak and allow Spurs to rekindle their verve, having fought so gallantly in the face of adversity this season.

Aston Villa don’t need to add much to their squad during the current January transfer window, but a fresh face or two could give them a boost in their pursuit of glory.

The Midlands side currently sits in fourth place in the Premier League table following just four defeats in their opening 21 matches. Combine this with the fact they are through to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League and into the fourth round of the FA Cup and there is a chance of a first major trophy since 1996.

Unai Emery won't be rushing to sign someone just for the sake of it and will be diligent in his approach, but if the right deal for the right player comes up in the coming week, could he perhaps land a new signing or two?

Aston Villa’s search for new signings

Despite the lack of transfer activity, the club have not been shy of showing interest in a few players throughout the previous few weeks.

One name to have popped up more than once is Emile Smith Rowe, with reports from the start of the month claiming that the Englishman was on the radar of Emery and the Spaniard certainly knows him well, having coached the 23-year-old during his spell managing Arsenal.

CBS journalist Ben Jacobs spoke to GIVEMESPORT regarding the attacking midfielder recently and claimed that there is a real interest from Villa in luring the player north.

He said: “Smith Rowe is still an interesting point of discussion at Arsenal. I’m still told the Villa interest is genuine. Whether or not anything moves in January remains to be seen, and I think if Smith Rowe, as an academy graduate, were to leave, then it may divide the Arsenal fan base a little bit.

“But it wouldn't surprise me if the right offer comes if Arsenal consider that. Again, that may be one to watch in 2024 rather than in the next few days. But I am told there is something genuine in the Villa interest in Smith Rowe.

With just a week to go before deadline day, Emery still has plenty of time to play with, but he may need to act swiftly as West Ham United are also showing an interest in the 5 foot 9 gem ahead of a potential move.

Smith Rowe made his debut under the former Arsenal coach back in 2018 and a reunion could work wonders for the youngster.

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Bukayo Saka was also given his debut by the 52-year-old and the current Arsenal sensation progressed through the Hale End academy with Smith Rowe.

Signing his former player could allow Emery to secure his next Saka, as if given more regular game time, he could return to the form which saw him capped by England.

How Emile Smith Rowe compares to Bukayo Saka

The duo tend to operate in different positions, yet they both made their debuts within months of each other having shone together for the U18 side.

During a Boxing Day clash against Chelsea in 2020, Mikel Arteta started Saka on the right wing and Smith Rowe in an advanced midfield role and the pair were sublime, with the latter assisting and the former grabbing a goal.

Such is their talent that the Arsenal faithful changed the lyrics to the popular Status Quo track "Rockin' All Over the World", including the line "Here we goo-ooo, Saka and Emile Smith Rowe."

Like life, football is fickle. Saka has hit new heights since that clash just over three years ago, yet Smith Rowe has been hit by various injuries and has missed 23 games since the start of the 2022/23 season.

Domestic statistics during 2021/22

Bukayo Saka

Emile Smith Rowe

Goals

11

10

Assists

7

2

Key passes per game

1.8

0.9

Big chances created

8

3

Successful dribbles per game

1.1

1

Both Smith Rowe and Saka excel at holding onto the ball and finishing, according to WhoScored, and if he can regain full fitness and remain healthy, there is no doubt the 23-year-old would be a stunning signing for Emery.

He may not be making the same impact as Saka right now at the Gunners, but a lack of game time has hindered his progress. Under Emery, however, Smith Rowe will be offered plenty of appearances in the starting XI and this could benefit him and the team greatly.

The statistics that show why Emile Smith Rowe would be a good signing for Aston Villa

The current Arsenal attacking midfielder has made 109 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals, and grabbing 12 assists, yet there is no doubt these tallies would have been considerably higher had he been a regular under Arteta recently.

When he does feature, the Englishman has the ability to contribute effectively, and he displayed this during the 2021/22 campaign.

Across the squad that term in the Premier League, Smith Rowe ranked second for goals and assists (12), along with ranking third for shots on target per game (0.7) and fourth for successful dribbles per game (one), clearly showcasing his talents.

He has been limited to just one league start so far this term and his statistics have suffered as a result, with the midfielder averaging only 0.1 key passes per game along with succeeding with just 0.3 dribbles per match.

Previously hailed as a “game-changer” by journalist Mark Mann-Bryans back in 2021 when he was at the peak of his powers, the previous two seasons have seen his career regress.

Injuries have clearly played a part in his form dropping off, but a lack of time on the pitch due to Arteta favouring other players is not going to help him in the long run.

The three-cap England international last made an appearance for his country in 2022 and at this moment in time, he is quite far off securing his fourth cap anytime soon.

A reunion with Emery could revitalise him, however, and provide him with the minutes that he requires to get back to his best.

If a move does not go through this month, the Spaniard should be monitoring his situation and perhaps make a more concrete move for him when the summer transfer window rolls around in a few months.

A switch to Villa could be a move which benefits all parties, injecting a newfound passion into Smith Rowe’s career in the process.

It was against India in Ranchi three months ago that Australia found some confidence that has since translated into a ten-match winning streak, including two of two in the World Cup so far, but India will be a different kettle of fish at the World Cup

The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy08-Jun-2019Big pictureIt began exactly three months ago, in Ranchi. Coming into that game, Australia had won only eight of their last 33 ODIs going back to the start of 2017, and were still coming to terms with their two best batsmen serving a year-long ban. Their captain Aaron Finch was struggling to buy a run, and India’s fast bowlers, away and at home, had been ruthlessly zoning in on his frailties against the incoming ball.India had just beaten Australia 2-1 in an ODI series in their own backyard, and were leading the five-match return series 2-0.Everything turned around in Ranchi, where Finch made 93 in a 32-run win for Australia. Since that innings, Finch has averaged 71.44. Since that match, Australia have won ten ODIs on the bounce, the last two at this World Cup with a full-strength squad including David Warner and Steven Smith.This Australian resurgence has challenged what had been a pretty set narrative in the months preceding the World Cup, that England and India would be teams to beat, with the rest trailing some way behind. Nope, Australia have snarled. We’re here too.Aaron Finch punches one into the off side•Getty Images

And, in their most recent game against West Indies, they did that most Australian thing, that don’t-kid-yourselves-thinking-we’re-beaten thing. Think Mohali, 1996, or Headingley, 1999, or Port Elizabeth, 2003. The fear factor is back.Their opponents on Sunday, however, won’t be scared. India occupy a different level of ODI pedigree to the two teams Australia have beaten at this tournament so far. Their batsmen aren’t going to get out slogging when the required rate is under control, as West Indies’ did. Their bowlers, you suspect, wouldn’t have let them turn 79 for 5 to 288 all out. India will give Australia plenty to worry about – if not fear – themselves. Jasprit Bumrah is bowling like a demon, the wristspinners are whirring away menacingly, Rohit Sharma has begun his tournament with a match-winning hundred, and Virat Kohli is, well, Virat Kohli.This World Cup has already seen some fine contests. We’ve seen Pakistan defy expectations against England, Bangladesh methodically dismantle South Africa, West Indies rattle Australia, and New Zealand wobble alarmingly against Bangladesh. But we haven’t yet seen a clash of the big contenders. Sunday will be just that.1:56

The easy-going sibling of Lord’s

Form guideAustralia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WLLLWIn the spotlightUsman Khawaja’s form leading up to the World Cup – five fifties and two hundreds in his last ten innings, at the top of the order – prompted Australia to push him to No. 3 and leave out Shaun Marsh to accommodate David Warner and Steven Smith. His first two innings at the tournament, however, have brought him scores of 15 and 13, and awkward dismissals on both occasions. Can he turn his form around against one of the best bowling attacks in the world?India’s last ODI visit to The Oval wasn’t a happy one, but their defeat in the Champions Trophy final included one incredible innings: Hardik Pandya’s 43-ball 76, with six sixes and a control percentage of . Pandya was out injured during India’s recent home series against Australia, and his subsequent return to fitness and peak hitting form has been one of the team’s biggest positives going into the World Cup.Team newsAustralia have played the same XI in both their games so far, and though some of their players haven’t hit top form just yet, there isn’t a compelling reason to make any changes just yet.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (capt), 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Adam ZampaGiven Australia’s troubles against the short ball against West Indies, India could look to bring Mohammed Shami – who can hurry batsmen with the bouncer, as he showed during a six-wicket haul in the Perth Test in December – into their attack. Who could he come in for, though? Bhuvneshwar Kumar would be the obvious option, but without him India’s tail will begin at No. 8, unless they also replace one of the wristspinners with Ravindra Jadeja. Playing all three quicks could also be an option, if the conditions point in that direction.Steve Smith is struck on the hand•Getty Images

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 KL Rahul, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditionsThe Oval has been among the most high-scoring grounds in England since the 2015 World Cup, and a flat pitch can be expected once again. The weather is expected to be dry with a bit of wind about.Strategy punts If Australia go in with the same team balance they chose against West Indies, they’ll again need Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis to share the fifth bowler’s quota. Given that they’re likeliest to bowl the bulk of their overs through the middle Powerplay (11-40), India could think of promoting Hardik Pandya to No. 5, if they’re in a position to do so, and take advantage of having only four fielders protecting the boundary. Apart from Maxwell and Stoinis, it would also put pressure on Adam Zampa, who has suffered at Pandya’s six-hitting hands in the past. One way for Australia to use up a couple of Maxwell’s overs could be to give him the new ball. Shikhar Dhawan has been out six times to offspin in ODIs since the start of 2018, and averages 22.50 against that style of bowling in that period. Stats and trivia Australia have an 8-3 record against India in the World Cup, and have only lost once in seven meetings – the 2011 quarter-final in Ahmedabad – since the 1992 edition. Australia (11 out of 11) and India (5 out of 5) are the only two teams to have taken 100% of their catches at the World Cup so far. Apart from the middle overs, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have also been a valuable source of wickets in the early death overs (41-45). Chahal has 18 wickets at an average of 14.27 in this phase, while conceding just 5.39 per over. Kuldeep has been almost as impressive: 16 wickets, an average of 18.12, and an economy rate of 6.49. Marcus Stoinis needs 18 runs to get to 1000 in ODIs.Quotes”Winning those last three games in India gave us some self-belief we can beat this side in their home conditions and that gives us real confidence coming into a game like this.”
“See, short ball for any batsman is not easy. Even the best guy who can pull the ball, who can hook the ball, will find it difficult. We understand that. And probably we have the bowling attack to do that. Having said that, you don’t want to be carried away with that.”

The debate over whether Simon Harmer is the finest spin bowler in Essex’s history has sounded premature for a player contesting only his third Championship season, but the evidence is growing at a rapid rate. Twelve more wickets, at a cost of only 61 runs, dispensed of Hampshire before tea on the second day at Chelmsford. Harmer was irrepressible, but in considerable part that was because Hampshire were dire.No county can host a result within five sessions and feel entirely comfortable about the outcome and a post-match conversation between the Essex groundstaff and the ECB’s cricket liaison officer, Stuart Cummings, a former Rugby League referee, was inevitable, but there was no sense whatsoever that they saw anything too untoward about a surface that had also been used for a women’s ODI between England and the West Indies last Thursday.During that match, a West Indies player was reportedly sick on the pitch. Presumably on a length. For a spin bowler operating from the River End.Hampshire’s two innings spanned only 63.5 overs as Harmer rushed Essex towards victory as inexorably as a river flows to the sea. He is now the leading Championship wicket-taker with 42 and the Chelmsford pitches do encourage him, as did the rough created by Hampshire’s left-arm seamer Keith Barker.But as well as he bowled, Hampshire’s supposed Championship challenge – they began the round in second place – should surely be categorised under Fake News. They met Harmer with an air of defeatism disguised as counterattack. Even Harmer felt obliged to politely chastise them, saying: “There was turn and bounce with the new ball. They needed to be more patient before taking me on. When it flattened out it would have been easier.”Joe Weatherley, showing the circumspection Harmer advocated, batted through the second innings for 29 from 80 balls. The India international Ajinkya Rahane made a pair and lasted only three balls in the match, twice edging Jamie Porter to the wicketkeeper; decisive breakthroughs because he might have had the wherewithal to play Harmer with aplomb. As for Rilee Rossouw, he succumbed to two of the wildest slogs imaginable.Adi Birrell, Hampshire’s coach, summed things up fairly enough. “Harmer bowled fairly well but the ball wasn’t turning square, it wasn’t impossible to bat,” he said. “Joe Weatherley batted through. He applied himself and needed someone to bat through with him.”It is a painful and hurtful result. Hopefully it is a defeat in isolation. We can’t afford to let this affect us. It was a very bad two days.”Essex had begun the day on 147 for 3 but were themselves bowled out before lunch, as they lost seven wickets for 67 runs, seven to lbw decisions with Kyle Abbott the main recipient as he jagged the ball back sharply.Observe Harmer from behind the arm and he flows into the crease. Watch him from side-on, however, and he is a more unprepossessing sight. Dare it be suggested, his run is little more than a gentle waddle, but the snap of his fingers fills his action with energy.He was on by the fourth over, initially because pace bowler Sam Cook had limped from the field. In the time needed to sneak off for a cheap haircut close to the ground, Hampshire’s second innings had been snipped back. When Harmer is bowling, do not attempt this if you have a luxuriant head of hair.Facing a first-innings deficit of 96, Hampshire lost seven wickets for 32 in only 13.5 overs before finally coming to grief 15 minutes before tea. They were in danger of registering their lowest score against Essex – they made 54 at Southampton in 1931 – but at least that ignominy was avoided.Harmer began by having Sam Northeast stumped; advancing down the pitch he contrived to let the ball squeeze between bat and pad and his ponderous efforts to regain his ground allowed Adam Wheater enough time to stretch to his right to gather and complete the stumping.In the same over, Rossouw paddled his first ball for four then tried to slog over long-on and edged a simple catch into the off side. Aneurin Donald slog-swept a non-turning delivery to midwicket before Harmer took two wickets in his seventh over, having James Fuller lbw, leaving a ball that turned out of the footholds, and finding gentle turn as Barker, reaching forward, edged to first slip.Harmer rounded off the victory as Mason Crane was caught in circus-trick style with the edge running down Adam Wheater’s chest at which point he expertly volleyed it, left-footed, to forward short leg. Never criticise all those pre-match football kickabouts ever again.This was Harmer’s third 10-wicket haul for the county, and fourth of his first-class career. He has taken four five-wicket hauls in his six innings bowling at Chelmsford this year. Essex, who have comfortably won all three of their Specsavers County Championship at home, have moved within seven points of Hampshire, and boast a game in hand.If they beat the leaders Somerset at Chelmsford next week, they will begin to believe a repeat of their title triumph of 2017 is not beyond them. When Harmer has the ball in his hand, anything is possible, but surely Somerset will play him better than this.

While Sunderland have been consistently battling it out in the top six of the Championship since last season, a heavy 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Newcastle United in the FA Cup on Saturday gave the side a dose of reality.

While the Black Cats have aspirations of one day reaching the Premier League once more, they now have a good sense of how wide the gap is in terms of quality between themselves and teams in the top flight.

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Luke Randall

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Furthermore, the weaknesses in Michael Beale's squad were clear to see for the world against their greatest enemies, notably Sunderland's goalscoring woes. However, the January transfer window offers the club the opportunity to rectify these issues.

Sunderland transfer news – Kieffer Moore

It was reported by The Sun last week that Sunderland were one of several suitors in the Championship looking to sign Bournemouth centre-forward Kieffer Moore and that the Wearside club are aware of his current situation with the Cherries.

Star man Jack Clarke has been Sunderland's top goalscorer this season with 12 goals in England's second tier. However, the winger has been responsible for 33.3% of his side's total goals in the league which seems rather unsustainable.

Sunderland's Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman recently hinted that the club would look to sign a new number '9' in this transfer window, claiming that he "want[s] to convert some of [Sunderland's] dominance into more goals". Moore could be the team's perfect solution up top and currently holds a market value of merely £4m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

Kieffer Moore's stats this season

Given his lack of game-time this season, it's not a surprise that Bournemouth and Moore are willing to part ways this season.

The Wales international played merely 236 minutes for the Premier League outfit in all competitions, which is spread across 11 appearances. This comes to just 21.5 minutes per match for the 31-year-old.

In these 11 games, Moore has scored only twice, one being the equaliser on Saturday in Bournemouth's thrilling 3-2 comeback against Queens Park Rangers. Throughout his stay at the Vitality Stadium, the experienced frontman found the net ten times in total across 44 appearances.

However, his goalscoring record in the Championship is excellent, having bagged 47 goals and 14 assists in 155 matches which averages out at one goal contribution every 2.5 games.

Kieffer Moore's Career Stats
Club	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Cardiff City	66	25	6
Yeovil Town	58	9	1
Barnsley	55	23	8
Bournemouth	44	10	0
Wigan Athletic	36	10	5
Forest Green Rovers	34	7	3
Rotherham United	25	13	3
Ipswich Town	11	0	0
Viking	11	0	0
Torquay	4	5	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

This is the kind of prolificacy that Sunderland need up top. In fact, the Black Cats haven't had a natural goalscorer leading the line at the Stadium of Light since Ross Stewart, who was sold in the summer for £8m. In 80 appearances for Sunderland, the Scotland international scored 40 times, helping the side to promotion from League One.

Stewart was quite prolific in the air and scored 28 times with his head throughout his career. At 6 foot 5, Moore could replicate Stewart's aerial prowess, having bagged 37 of his goals from headers, hence why journalist Josh Bunting once described him as a "powerful presence" up top.

Right now, Beale needs someone who can put the ball in the net, whichever way the goals come. Nazariy Rusyn has been his preferred option up top but the Ukrainian has scored just once this season. Furthermore, Rusyn has been averaging just 0.35 xG per 90 in the Championship whereas Moore, despite his limited game-time, has averaged 0.96 xG per 90 and scored one goal more.

Moore is a proven Championship goalscorer and could be the difference between Sunderland earning a playoff spot and failing to do so.

England confirm three changes to their final World Cup 15, with James Vince also stepping up as a replacement for Alex Hales

Andrew Miller20-May-2019Liam Dawson has been called into England’s World Cup squad at the expense of Joe Denly, while David Willey is the unlucky seamer to make way for the inclusion of Jofra Archer, as England’s selectors unveiled their final 15-man line-up ahead of the tournament’s opening fixture, against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.James Vince has also been named in the 15 as a straight swap for Alex Hales, who was deselected earlier this month after failing two tests for recreational drugs, making a total of three changes from the provisional 15 that was named ahead of ODIs against Ireland and Pakistan this month.”It was a very difficult decision,” said Ed Smith, the national selector, at the squad announcement at Lord’s. “David Willey was very unfortunate in missing out, he could easily have been in this World Cup squad, but that’s sport. Sometimes there are more deserving people than there are places in the squad.”Dawson’s inclusion completes a remarkable return to prominence for a player who has not been in the England frame since the ODI tour of Sri Lanka prior to Christmas. A side strain suffered on that trip opened the door for Denly, who marked his first England appearance for almost ten years with a four-wicket haul in a one-off T20I in Colombo.However, having been earmarked as England’s spin-bowling reserve allrounder for the World Cup, Denly failed to cement his place during the Ireland and Pakistan series. He bowled just 11 overs in three matches – in which his solitary wicket came from a leg-side stumping – while his innings of 17 from 21 balls in England’s three-wicket win at Trent Bridge last week was not enough to convince the selectors that he has the batting prowess to be worth a place.Smith added that Denly’s focus would now be on playing four-day cricket for Kent, with a view to cementing his Test place ahead of this summer’s Ashes.”He’s very clear in his situation, there were two things that could have happened,” said Smith. “One, he would have been the World Cup squad. The other one is he goes back to Kent, has a good block of four-day matches before the challenges in the second half of the summer. So he was very clear that both avenues were possible to him.”Dawson, meanwhile, has been in impressive form for Hampshire in this season’s Royal London Cup. He has claimed 18 wickets at 20.33 en route to the final against Somerset at Lord’s this week, and he has also made 274 runs at 45.66, including a century against Surrey at The Oval. He is understood to have been withdrawn from Hampshire’s ongoing County Championship fixture against Nottinghamshire on the Isle of Wight, with Mason Crane deputising for him.ESPNcricinfo LtdDawson’s inclusion in England’s plans had been telegraphed earlier in the month, when the coach Trevor Bayliss hinted that he might be called up to the squad for the latter stages of the Pakistan series. Though that didn’t come to pass, it was clear that he and England’s captain, Eoin Morgan, were at odds with the chief selector, Ed Smith, a strong advocate of Denly’s credentials, and Smith himself admitted that the final decision had been a “consensus” call rather than unanimous.Bayliss ultimately conceded that the casting vote in the event of a selection disagreement would come down to the captain, Morgan, who had dropped a strong hint as to Denly’s lack of suitability for the back-up spin role by bowling him for a solitary over – containing three full-tosses – in the third ODI at Bristol.Smith described the role of the reserve spinner as a “very subtle balance issue”.”Do you tend towards someone who’s mainly a batter who also is a very handy bowler in Joe Denly,” he said, “or do you tend towards someone who’s tilted more towards the bowling side of it but is also a handy batter? It could have gone either way.”I would say that everyone in the room was comfortable with the squad that the selection panel has come up with,” Smith added. “And I think it was very important for me as a selector, that the captain feels comfortable with the squad he takes into the World Cup. Eoin has been captain for over four years, the England one day side has done extremely well, this is the culmination of a long campaign, a lot of planning, the culture of that team has been very strong under Eoin Morgan. He’s very comfortable with the squad, as we all are.”Archer, meanwhile, has completed a stunning rise through England’s ranks, having only received the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup when the ECB changed its residency rules from seven years to three late last year.Having made his name on the T20 franchise circuit, Archer showcased his value to England as a 90mph new-ball bowler in a sharp four-over spell in the rain-ruined first ODI against Pakistan at The Oval, then combined well with Mark Wood on a batsman-friendly surface at Trent Bridge the following week.”We’ve seen Jofra Archer playing for England over the last few weeks, and we’ve seen the skills and the quality he has,” said Smith. “It’s pretty straightforward isn’t it? He’s a very good cricketer, very talented, a very exciting player. He has pace, bounce, athleticism, skill with the bat, he’s an outstanding talent, that was clear to all of us. He’s made a very good start to his England career and long may that continue.”His inclusion is cruel luck on Willey, who had been outspoken about the threat posed to his place when Archer first became eligible earlier this year. Nevertheless, he seemed to have risen to the challenge posed to his place in the squad with an impressive showing in the second ODI at the Ageas Bowl, where he showcased his death-bowling credentials to close out a tight 12-run win.However, Willey was less impressive at other moments of the series – not least in being taken for 86 runs in ten overs at Bristol – and appears to have suffered, ultimately, from the lack of fallibility from his rivals for selection. Tom Curran impressed with bat and ball at various stages over the last two weeks, while Chris Woakes reaffirmed his status with a decisive five-wicket haul at Headingley.Liam Plunkett, meanwhile, remains England’s most prolific seamer since the 2015 World Cup, and the selectors are loath to go into the upcoming tournament without his experience. And Mark Wood, despite his injury concerns, was touching 90mph in what is so far his only spell of the summer alongside Archer at Trent Bridge.Bayliss, who will stand down at England coach after the Ashes later this summer, said: “I hadn’t seen [Archer] play live before but he’s certainly lived up to expectations. He’s got good control, good pace and he can bowl in all the three phases of the match.”It’s been a hectic last six months but the guys have come through and I fully expect them to play well,” he added. “For any team, knockout cricket is when the most pressure is. Our first job is to get through and qualify for the semi-finals. Get to a semi and anything is possible.”

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