Australian smashes her second fifty of the competition to send Birmingham Bears joint top

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Jun-2025

60 of Harris’ 77 runs came in boundaries•Getty Images

Warwickshire 172 for 9 (Harris 77, Robbins 3-24) Somerset 103 (Wilson 31, Taylor 3-13) by Laura Harris continued her remarkable start at Edgbaston by clubbing Warwickshire to a 69-run Vitality Blast victory over Somerset.Harris followed her 16-ball half-century on her debut in Birmingham last week with an equally spectacular 77 from 34 balls to lift Warwickshire to 172 for 9. Her barrage completed the team’s strong recovery from 30 for 3 after Mollie Robbins (3 for 24) took three wickets in her first ten balls.Somerset replied with a meagre 103. Fran Wilson struck 31 but the innings was unravelled by spinners Georgia Davis (3 for 12) and Millie Taylor (3 for 13) The visitors’ third successive defeat came with an additional worry after Emma Corney was stretchered from the field after her leg twisted the wrong way as he stooped to collect a ball in the outfield.Somerset chose to bowl and started strongly as Robbins took wickets with her first, fifth and tenth balls. Her first struck Abi Freeborn on the back leg and won an lbw decision, Issy Wong then drove to mid off before and Davina Parrin was bowled through an attempted leg-side hit.Five quickfire boundaries from Natasha Wraith and Sterre Kalis sprung the score to 54 for 3 at the end of the Powerplay before Wraith’s middle stump was disturbed by Amanda-Jade Wellington’s second ball.Somerset had started well but were disrupted by the worrying delay while Corney was treated on the outfield. Upon the resumption, Charis Pavely lifted Alex Griffiths to long on, bringing in Harris who lifted her second ball into the South Stand for six.Kalis’s perky 32 ended in the cruellest way she was run out backing up, but Harris charged to her fifty in 19 balls. The Aussie went on to hit nine fours and four sixes to emphatically vindicate her move down the order to get at the spinners.A target of 173 was a tall one for a Somerset side short of runs in the tournament so far and their reply took an early hit when Rebecca Odgers fell lbw to Wong. AC Munday pulled Hannah Hardwick for six but was then lured down the pitch by Davis and stumped.The visitors entered the second half of their reply with only two wickets down but needing 11 per over and that scoreboard pressure took its toll against Warwickshire’s impressive spin attack. Sophie Luff skied a return catch to Hannah Baker, Wellington was bowled, reverse-sweeping, by Taylor and Davis dismissed Wilson and Griffiths, caught at mid off and backward point respectively.Chloe Taylor chipped to extra cover off Taylor who soon trapped Robbins lbw and when Hannah Jones lifted Wong to long on, with Corney unable to bat, Somerset’s tough day was complete.

It would be fair to say that the last five years or so have been a roller coaster for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has taken a team that was teetering on the edge of mid-table mediocrity and transformed them into genuine contenders for the Premier League and Champions League.

However, while he did take over something of a sinking ship from Unai Emery, it would be unfair to lay the blame for everything that went wrong during his short tenure at his feet.

Moreover, there were a couple of things he did right, such as signing a player whose valuation has exploded in the years since.

Emery's best signings at Arsenal

While the majority of Emery’s signings at Arsenal were middling to poor, he did bring in a few quality players during his year and a half in the hot seat.

Undoubtedly, his best addition to the team was William Saliba, who cost the Gunners around £27m and put pen to paper in the summer of 2019.

Granted, the Frenchman didn’t actually play under the Aston Villa coach, and also seemed to be on the way out at one point, but he is now one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad.

William Saliba’s Arsenal Career

Competition

Appearances

Premier League

106

FA Cup

3

League Cup

6

Champions League

22

Europa League

4

Community Shield

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has now made 142 appearances for the club and has just agreed to a new five-year deal that should hopefully keep Real Madrid away for a little while longer.

Another defender signed by Emery who ended up becoming something of a fan favourite at the Emirates was Kieran Tierney.

The Scotsman joined the summer of 2019, and while he’s not on the same level as Saliba and suffered from injury setback after injury setback, he was the epitome of a hardworking professional and something of an old-school defender.

He might not have gone on to become the captain that many thought he might, but he more than made his mark in North London and remains popular among the fans.

Finally, while David Luiz and Bernd Leno were never top-quality players during their time in N5, like Tierney, they could never be accused of not trying, and should probably be held in slightly higher regard than they are.

With all that said, there is another player Emery signed who’s still at the club today and whose valuation has exploded.

The Emery signing whose valuation has exploded

Since it’s not Saliba, it’ll come as no surprise that the Arsenal player in question is none other than Gabriel Martinelli.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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Emery was still in charge of the club when he was signed from Brazilian outfit Ituano in the summer of 2019 for a fee said to be around the £6m mark, and according to Transfermarkt, he is now worth up to €55m, which is around £48m.

In other words, the 24-year-old is now worth £42m more than when he joined the North Londoners, which is a staggering increase of around 700% – not a bad investment.

Now, there will undoubtedly be some who dispute such a valuation, or point to his lacklustre form over the last few years as a reason why he should be worth less.

However, it’s important to remember that while he’s no longer as important as he once was to Arteta, he can still do a job for a top team like the Gunners.

For example, so far this season, he has found the back of the net on three occasions, provided one assist in just nine games, and has become more useful in his new role as an impact substitution.

Moreover, while the “massive talent,” as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, does have his drawbacks and can be frustrating at times, his underlying numbers are reasonably impressive.

Martinelli’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

npxG/Shot

0.16

Top 7%

Average Shot Distance

13.30

Top 8%

Touches (Att Pen)

6.40

Top 9%

Shots on Target %

45.8%

Top 10%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.62

Top 10%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.37

Top 12%

Progressive Passes Rec

10.53

Top 14%

Carries into Penalty Area

2.41

Top 15%

xG: Expected Goals

0.37

Top 19%

GCA (Take-On)

0.09

Top 19%

All Stats via FBref

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty expected goals per shot, the top 8% for average shot distance, the top 9% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area, the top 10% for carries into the penalty area, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Martinelli might never be the superstar attacker so many hoped he would be for Arsenal, but he is a useful squad player and more than justifies his current valuation.

Related Not Saka: Arsenal have future England hero who's "humiliating" PL stars

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have been lucky enough to have numerous top-level attacking talents on their hands over the last couple of years – often handing the supporters moments to cherish forever.

Heung-min Son is just one player who falls into such a category, with the South Korean forward a talent who often managed to produce the goods within the final third.

The winger scored a total of 173 goals for the Lilywhites, a tally which puts him fourth in the club’s record books, with an impressive chunk coming against local rivals, Arsenal.

He scored nine times in his 22 appearances against the Gunners, the third most of any side he’s faced in his career – further highlighting his impact in the North London Derby.

However, despite his impact for Spurs, he was unable to better one player who has often proved to be a thorn in the side of the club in the meetings against them.

Bukayo Saka’s form against Spurs

After his breakthrough in 2020, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has featured against Spurs on ten separate occasions, subsequently being on the winning side in 60% of the outings.

The Englishman has scored five times against the Lilywhites, averaging a goal every other game and often popping up and finding the net in key moments of derby encounters.

He may not have scored in any of the clashes last season, but he did register the assist for Gabriel’s second-half winner, with Mikel Arteta’s side once again claiming bragging rights.

Saka has now registered 25 or more combined goals and assists in each of his last three seasons, further highlighting the top-level talent he possesses, all despite being just 24 years of age.

Given the levels he’s produced, there’s no denying the Lilywhites faithful must wish they had a player of his calibre, but it’s safe to say stars such as the winger would now cost a pretty penny.

However, boss Thomas Frank shouldn’t worry, with the Dane already having his very own version of the Englishman within his ranks at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Spurs star who’s Frank’s own Saka

Spurs’ 2024/25 campaign was a topsy-turvy one to say the least, with huge highs being achieved all whilst failing to deliver in other competitions under Ange Postecoglou.

The Aussie ended their 17-year wait for a trophy with their Europa League triumph, but ultimately, it glossed over the cracks that appeared in the Premier League.

He could only achieve a 17th-placed finish in England’s top-flight, subsequently suffering 22 defeats in the process – something which would cost him his job in North London.

Frank was appointed as the manager to pick up the pieces, a task he’s seamlessly taken to immediately, as seen by his tally of just one loss in his opening nine competitive outings.

While he’s added the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons to his ranks this summer, he already had his answer to Saka within his ranks in North London.

Dejan Kulusevski is a player who’s yet to feature under the Dane due to injury, but there’s no denying that the attacker will have a huge role to play upon his return in the months ahead.

The Swede, who has been dubbed “phenomenal” by one creator, is currently sidelined with a knee injury, but did manage to star on a consistent basis in 2024/25 before he went under the knife to fix the recurring issue.

He registered 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last campaign, ending the year as one of the Lilywhites’ most creative outlets within attacking areas.

Such is the level of his performances last year, he was dubbed as a similar player to Saka by FBref, further highlighting how impressive he was under Postecoglou.

When comparing their respective figures, Kulusevski managed to outperform the Arsenal star in various key areas, showcasing the huge amount of quality he possesses.

The table highlights the depth of areas he managed to outclass Saka, with his return to fitness undoubtedly a huge boost to Frank and the Spurs fanbase.

Games played

32

25

Goals & assists

11

16

Shot on target accuracy

36%

32%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Passes into final third

2.3

0.7

Passes into opposition box

2.1

1.9

Carries into final third

2.5

1.6

Aerials won

40%

33%

It’s unclear what level of fitness he will possess after such a long injury layoff, but when he gets fully firing, the Swede will add another dimension to the club’s potent frontline.

If he can replicate or better his numbers from last year, there’s no reason as to why the forward can’t help Frank make his first season in North London one to remember.

Bigger talent than Vuskovic: Spurs' "absolute jewel" could be the new Son

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1 ByBen Gray Oct 10, 2025

Paul Scholes has opened up about the heart-wrenching reason why he called time on his punditry career. The ex-Manchester United midfielder used to be a regular on TNT Sports on Thursday night's during his former side's Europa League campaign. However, he's revealed that he stepped away from regular punditry duties in order to take better care of his non-verbal autistic son, Aiden.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Scholes stepped down from TNT role

  Scholes has three children – Aaron, Alica and Aiden, who at 20 years of age, is the youngest. However, owing to Aiden's autism, Scholes made the decision to step away from his role with TNT Sports after United's European campaign.

  As the former midfielder as absent on a Thursday night, it would leave Aiden agitated, so Scholes opted to do less punditry work with TNT Sports and has instead stepped up his appearances on the Overlap's Stick to Football podcast. Scholes took over the role vacated by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

  Scholes though has revealed that the new setup works better for him and his son, who he now spends more time with. 

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• 'Everything I’m going to do now just works around him'

  Speaking on Stick to Football, Scholes opened up on his son's condition, saying: "I made a decision this year because of Aiden, obviously due to his special needs you might know about.

  "All the work I do now is just around his routines cos he has quite a strict routine every single day, so I just decided everything I’m going to do it is around Aiden. Everything I’m going to do now just works around him, I do studio work, but everything is built around his day.

  "Last season on Thursday nights I’d do the Europa League for Man Utd, that’s the night I’d usually have him, so he was getting all agitated, biting and scratching. He knows the pattern’s not there straight away.

  "And I did that for years really, always thinking I’ve got to stop this at some point so I had the chance to do the podcast and I thought that would suit me more. Well… not me, Aiden."

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  'He’s great and you have to accept it'

  Scholes previously opened up with the challenges of having an autistic child on a BBC documentary in 2021, which was hosted by Paddy McGuinness, who has three autistic children himself. "For those first few years of being diagnosed you think he’s just delayed, eventually he’ll start talking," Scholes told McGuinness.

  "When you get to 12, 13, 14… now he’s 16 it’s never going to happen. He’s never going to be neurotypical, but he’s great and you have to accept it. I’ve never said this before. I’m looking at him thinking he might have to go into care. I just don’t know how you handle that."

  Scholes revealed that the initial diagnosis affected his performances on the pitch, adding: "We got the diagnosis. We were playing Derby away. I was terrible, absolutely shocking. I didn’t want to be there. Head was gone. I was worrying about autism, reading, trying to find out anything I could."

  The former United midfielder currently has a podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Football – alongside McGuinness and ex-teammate Nicky Butt.

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• Scholes reveals he was dropped by Fergie

  Scholes also revealed he was dropped by then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson while attempting to handle the situation privately. "I never got a break from it, even when playing – it was very hard in those days," Scholes added.

  "I don't think they diagnosed it until he was two-and-a-half years old. But you knew early something was wrong, but then you get the diagnosis, and I'd never heard of it. I remember the manager dropped me the week after, and I hadn't told anyone. I ended up telling them a few weeks later, as it was quite hard.

  "Even now, I don't want sympathy or anything. I just thought, even if I did speak to someone about it, it's not going to help Aiden. The big concern now is, because you're getting a bit older, what happens when you're not here? That's the thing that's now on my mind all the time."

Liverpool are reportedly monitoring Michael Olise's contract situation at Bayern Munich after being made aware of how much it would cost to prise Antoine Semenyo away from Bournemouth. The Premier League title holders continue to scour the global transfer market for a potential long-term successor on their right wing to Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah.

Salah successor: Liverpool looking to plan long-term

Anfield icon Salah has committed to a new contract that will keep him on Merseyside until 2027. He has endured a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign, leading to bench duty being taken in at times in Champions League away games, but the 33-year-old forward remains an integral part of Arne Slot’s plans.

Liverpool are, however, aware of the need to ensure that a suitable replacement for Salah is lined up as he will not be around forever. Various options are being considered, with the Reds having shown during the summer of 2025 that they are prepared to spend big on the right targets – with British recruitment records being broken in deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow much would Semenyo cost?

There is the promise of more cash being splashed in upcoming windows. It could be that, having lured Swedish striker Isak away from Newcastle, another raid is launched on a domestic rival. The reports on Liverpool’s interest in Bournemouth talisman Semenyo.

They claim "interest is not advanced at this stage", but the Reds are "one of several clubs closely monitoring the 25-year-old forward". Bournemouth are not expected to listen to any offers in January, meaning that talks could only be held at the end of the season.

The Cherries have no need to sell, having raised considerable funds from the sales of Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool respectively. They also have Ghana international Semenyo tied to a contract through to 2030.

That deal is helping to keep his asking price high, with the claiming that Bournemouth would "demand north of £75 million ($100m)" for the Bristol City academy graduate – who hit double figures on the goal front for the first time last season and has six efforts to his name through nine appearances this term.

Who else is keen on Bournemouth star Semenyo?

The adds that Semenyo’s valuation is likely to rise if he continues to star for a Bournemouth side that sit fourth in the Premier League table at present and are daring to dream of securing European qualification for the first time in the club’s history. Only an "astronomical" offer will tempt the Cherries to the negotiating table.

Liverpool are reluctant to meet those demands at present. Tottenham and Manchester United have also been credited with interest, while Chelsea "would be keen" if talk of a release clause in Semenyo’s contract becoming active in 2026 proves to be correct.

The presence of Richard Hughes at Anfield could work in Liverpool’s favour, as he was the man that took Semenyo to Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023. He is said to retain "good relations with his former club, which could be key to any potential deal in the future".

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Getty ImagesSemenyo alternative: Liverpool looking at Olise

For now, though, the Reds are also said to be keeping tabs on Olise’s situation at Bayern. The former Reading and Crystal Palace has been a revelation for the Bundesliga champions alongside Harry Kane since moving to Germany in 2024.

He hit 20 goals last season, becoming a senior France international, and has already found the target on five occasions in the current campaign – alongside four assists. There had been talk of the 23-year-old’s contract including a release clause, but Bayern have rubbished those rumours.

Sporting director Max Eberl has said: "What is missing in this discussion is that we signed Michael Olise, who has a contract with us until 2029 – without a release clause – and is on his way to becoming one of the best players on the planet."

That big billing would suggest that Bayern are not about to entertain any offers, but Liverpool will continue to wait in the wings as they draw up succession plans for ‘Egyptian King’ Salah.

MatériaMais Notícias

No domingo (24), o São Paulo fez história ao conquistar o título inédito da Copa do Brasil ao bater o Flamengo por 2 a 1, no placar agregado. Mas nesta segunda-feira (25), já começam as projeções para a próxima temporada, que terá a disputa da Libertadores. Entre as pendências para 2024 estão aqueles jogadores que estão em fim de contrato e podem não permanecer, como é caso de Lucas. A lista, porém, é maior e tem, ao todo, oito nomes.

RelacionadasFora de CampoPolícia investiga morte de torcedor do São Paulo nos arredores do MorumbiFora de Campo25/09/2023FluminenseEmprestado ao São Paulo, Caio Paulista revela mágoa por saída do Fluminense no início do anoFluminense25/09/2023Fora de CampoLugano tem celular furtado nos arredores do Morumbi, mas ex-jogador recupera aparelhoFora de Campo25/09/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Além de Lucas, têm contrato a vencer os seguintes jogadores: Alexandre Pato, Caio Paulista, David, Erison, Felipe Alves, Rafinha e Walce.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que Pet, Dante e outros craques da bola participaram também. Cupom: LANCE400

Mesmo que na lista estejam outros nomes importantes, quem mais tira o sono da torcida é Lucas Moura. O jogador fez um contrato de curto prazo com o Tricolor, somente até o final deste ano, ficando livre no mercado para buscar oportunidades em outros centros do futebol mundial. Embora ambas as partes saibam que é muito difícil a permanência para 2024, ninguém descarta um acordo.

O caso de Alexandre Pato é outra incógnita de um atleta que chegou recentemente com um contrato curto, mas não tem a continuidade garantida para a próxima temporada. Identificado com o clube, o desejo é permanecer, mas isso passará pela avaliação da comissão técnica.

+ Casares revela qual foi a melhor decisão do São Paulo para conquista inédita da Copa do Brasil

Três jogadores dessa lista estão emprestados por outros clubes até o fim de 2023. Casos de Caio Paulista, David e Erison. No entanto, aquele que mais preocupa é Caio, cedido pelo Fluminese. Titular e um dos destaques do ano, ficará somente se o São Paulo entrar em acordo para comprá-lo em definitivo. Já David (Internacional) e Erison (Botafogo) não tiveram grande temporada e dificilmente serão adquiridos ao final dos contratos.

O goleiro Felipe Alves também está emprestado, mas a situação é diferente dos demais. O empréstimo junto ao Fortaleza é até o fim do contrato do jogador com o clube cearense. Ou seja, ele não terá mais vínculo com o dono de seus direitos quando o vínculo terminar. No entanto, seu destino não será com a camisa são-paulino em 2024 e ele deve deixar o Morumbi em dezembro.

Rafinha, por sua vez, é aquele que tem a situação mais encaminhada para permanecer no São Paulo. A tendência é que ele renove por mais um período com seu clube do coração e encerre a carreira vestindo o manto tricolor. Ambas as partes desejam a continuidade.

+ Emprestado ao São Paulo, Caio Paulista revela mágoa por saída do Fluminense no início do ano

Por fim, temos a situação de Walce, formado na base do Tricolor e considerado uma das grandes promessas de Cotia. Acontece que algumas cirurgias no joelho acabaram minando sua carreira e ele pouco conseguiu atuar pelo clube. Sua permanência para a próxima temporada é uma incógnita.

Em meio a esse planejamento para 2024, o São Paulo ainda disputa o Brasileirão, no qual está na 14ª posição com 28 pontos.

Opening stand of 158 between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Tawanda Muyeye sets tone in high-scoring contest

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Jun-2025Daniel Bell-Drummond scored a brilliant hundred as Kent won narrowly in a high-scoring game at the Cooper Associates Ground to end Somerset’s six-match winning start to the Vitality Blast T20 South Group campaign.The 31-year-old registered a high-octane innings of 100 from 49 balls, smashing 12 fours and four sixes and dominating a record-breaking opening stand of 158 with Tawanda Muyeye as the visitors posted a formidable 228 for 5 after losing the toss and being put in. Muyeye weighed in with a 40-ball 70, helping himself to six fours and three sixes in the process, while Harry Finch finished unbeaten on 22 from 13 balls. It was a chastening experience for the Somerset bowlers, Riley Meredith having the best of it with a return of 3 for 44 from four overs.Tom Banton smashed 68 off 33 balls and dominated an opening stand of 91 with Will Smeed to give the Somerset reply the perfect start. But they were unable to maintain the onslaught and Nathan Gilchrist and Joey Evison claimed two wickets apiece as Kent held their nerve to inflict a first defeat of the tournament upon last season’s runners-up.Kent boast a decent record in matches at Taunton in recent years and Muyeye and Bell-Drummond showed no signs of being intimidated by Somerset’s 100% winning start to the campaign, striking the ball cleanly in a progressive opening partnership of 158 in 13.2 overs. These two initially matched one another blow for blow, the powerplay yielding 69 runs and the hundred coming up in 8.5 overs as Somerset’s bowlers were forced onto the back foot.Leading by example, Bell-Drummond was first to 50, reaching that landmark via 29 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Muyeye faced two deliveries more to attain his half-century as the partnership went from strength to strength.Especially severe on Matt Henry, Bell-Drummond took the New Zealander for a six and a four off successive balls in the tenth as Spitfires raced to 118 without loss at the halfway stage to dampen the spirits of a sell-out crowd of 7000. Bell-Drummond took centre stage thereafter, the former Millfield Schoolboy facing a mere 19 deliveries more to go to a magnificent hundred amid a blaze of boundaries.When the veteran batter drove Lewis Goldsworthy to the cover boundary in the 13th to advance the score to 151, he and Muyeye had established a new highest opening partnership for Kent in matches against Somerset, eclipsing the 150 amassed by Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly in a game at Canterbury in 2016.No sooner had Bell-Drummond raised his third century in domestic T20 cricket, than he got out, flashing at a ball from Meredith and offering a catch behind, much to the relief of the Somerset camp. Green then had the dangerous Sam Billings held in the deep before he could inflict damage, while Lewis Gregory bowled Muyeye in the 17th to further check Kent progress.But big-hitting Finch and Jack Leaning ensured there was to be little respite for the home side, staging a fourth wicket stand of 25 at the death.Somerset chased 230 to defeat Middlesex in their last appearance at Taunton three days earlier, and Tom Banton and Will Smeed opened up in a manner that suggested they believed another successful pursuit was within their capabilities. Dropped by Gilchrist in the deep off the bowling of Fred Klaassen when he had scored 2, Banton clubbed three sixes and a four in one Stewart over to rub salt into the wound and state West Country intentions.Making the most of his escape, Banton went to 50 from 22 balls and Somerset’s opening pair put Kent’s seamers under the pump to raise 81 from the powerplay and bring the required rate down to 10.6. Kent earned themselves temporary respite, Gilchrist pinning Banton lbw for 68 with the score 91 for 1 in the seventh. Smeed then departed for 24, top-edging a short-pitched Klaassen delivery to third man as the reply faltered.The onus was now on Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell to play expansively and the third wicket pair plundered three boundaries in one Gilchrist over to keep the asking rate below 12. Kohler-Cadmore hit Wes Agar for an effortless straight six, followed up with a pull shot for four and then admired an Abell swish that went to the fine leg boundary as the stand realised 50 from 24 balls.Kent breathed a sigh of relief when Kohler-Cadmore, having plundered 38 from 20 balls, tried to hit Evison over the top and holed out on the long-off boundary. Gilchrist removed Abell for 22 in the next over, at which point Somerset needed a further 70 to win from 34 balls. Evison then accounted for Gregory, caught at long-on, as he visitors regained the upper hand.Somerset needed 50 off three overs and Sean Dickson and Ben Green gave it their best shot, trading in sixes to heap pressure back onto the bowlers. Green cleared the rope on three occasions at the expense of Gilchrist in the 18th and Dickson helped himself to another six off Klaassen to leave Somerset to chase 19 off the final over, bowled by Tom Rogers. Green holed out in the deep off the first ball, departing for a 12-ball 25, while Dickson finished unbeaten on 31 as Somerset fell just short in a tense finale.

أسفرت قرعة دوري أبطال إفريقيا لموسم 2025-2026، عن مواجهات من العيار الثقيل في دور المجموعات، خاصة التي تنتظر الأهلي وبيراميدز.

وتشهد النسخة الحالية من دوري أبطال إفريقيا مشاركة 16 ناديًا تأهلوا رسميًا إلى دور المجموعات، من بينهم الأهلي وبيراميدز كممثلين للكرة المصرية.

وتأهل الأهلي حامل اللقب إلى دور المجموعات بعد فوزه على إيجل نوار البوروندي بنتيجة (2-0) في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب بدور الـ32، ليواصل سعيه نحو الحفاظ على اللقب القاري.

أما بيراميدز، فقد نجح في بلوغ الدور ذاته بعد تخطيه التأمين الإثيوبي بنتيجة (3-1) في مجموع المباراتين، في ظهور جديد للفريق في البطولة الأهم على مستوى الأندية الإفريقية.

طالع أيضًا | نتائج قرعة كأس الكونفدرالية 2025-2026.. مجموعة نارية لـ الزمالك والمصري

وجاء النادي الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية، من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بجانب أندية شبيبة القبائل (الجزائر)، الجيش الملكي (المغرب)، يانج أفريكانز (تنزانيا).

بينما فريق بيراميدز بطل النسخة الماضية، جاء في المجموعة الأولي، مع ريفرز يونايتد (نيجيريا)، بيراميدز (مصر)، نهضة بركان (المغرب).

  مجموعات دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026

المجموعة الأولى: باور ديناموز (زامبيا)، ريفرز يونايتد (نيجيريا)، بيراميدز (مصر)، نهضة بركان (المغرب).

المجموعة الثانية: شبيبة القبائل (الجزائر)، الجيش الملكي (المغرب)، يانج أفريكانز (تنزانيا)، الأهلي (مصر).

المجموعة الثالثة سانت إيلوي لوبوبو (الكونغو الديمقراطية)، مولودية الجزائر (الجزائر)، الهلال (السودان)، صن داونز (جنوب إفريقيا).

المجموعة الرابعة: الملعب المالي (مالي)، بترو أتلتيكو (أنجولا)، سيمبا (تنزانيا)، الترجي (تونس).

They say all that matters is the win, but last night’s performance was hardly convincing from Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side had what should have been an easy draw against League One outfit Lincoln City in the League Cup, but made a meal of things.

The World Champions ended the first half a goal down and failing to register a single shot on target, only for Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte to save them with early goals in the second half.

It was truly a night to forget for Chelsea, and several players need to be dropped for the next match, including one who performed worse than Alejandro Garnacho and Filip Jørgensen.

Chelsea's underperformers vs Lincoln

Unfortunately, there were more than a few starters who only harmed their reputations last night, like Jørgensen.

The Danish goalkeeper was between the sticks in place of the suspended Robert Sanchez, and, if we are being honest, looked more like a League One-level keeper than his opposite number.

The former Villarreal ace was poor in distribution, completing just five of ten long balls, and utterly hopeless when balls were lifted into the area.

On another night, and against better opposition, the Blues could have been down two or three more goals due to his shakiness.

A less stressful but just as disappointing display came from summer signing Garnacho.

It was the former Manchester United ace’s first start for the club, and while he’ll have plenty of opportunities, he didn’t convince any of those who doubted his move to West London.

In his 59 minutes on the pitch, the 21-year-old took just 26 touches, made 16 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, registered a single shot on target, didn’t even attempt a dribble, lost 100% of his aerial duels and was offside once.

In short, it was an underwhelming showing, and unfortunately for Chelsea, one of their other attackers was just as bad.

The Chelsea ace Maresca has to drop

The bad news for Chelsea is that we really could name several other players who should probably be nowhere near the starting lineup on the weekend, from Enzo Fernandes to Trevoh Chalobah.

Chalkboard

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

However, in this instance, the starter in question is another summer signing: Jamie Gittens.

It would be fair to say that the former Borussia Dortmund gem has not had the best start to his career with the Blues, as last night’s game was his fifth appearance of the season, and he has yet to score a goal or provide an assist.

However, it wasn’t just his lack of output that was a problem last night – although that early miss was poor – it was his lack of any real impact on the match.

The formerly “explosive” Reading-born winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was practically anonymous for most of the time he was on the pitch, which is a real concern given the level of opposition.

It might sound overly harsh, but this opinion is one shared by Amos Murphy of the Express, who gave the Englishman a 5/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘lacked quality with almost everything he did’ – talk about scathing.

Unsurprisingly, the 21-year-old’s statistics back up such appraisals, as in 70 minutes he took just 36 touches – 21 fewer than Jørgensen – completed just 25 passes, failed to play a key pass, misplaced 100% of his long balls, failed to have a shot on target, missed a big chance, lost the ball four times and only attempted one cross.

Gittens’ game vs Lincoln
Minutes	70′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches	36
Passes Completed	25
Key Passes	0
Crosses	1
Long Balls (Accurate)	1 (0)
Shots on Target	0
Big Chances Missed	1
Lost Possession	4
All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, Chelsea won the game, and that is what matters most, but Maresca will be concerned about the performances of his team, and if he wants a better one against Brighton, Gittens should be on the bench.

Cole Palmer facing several weeks out as journalist details "new" Chelsea injury

The England star was hauled off early in to their defeat at Man United.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 23, 2025

After defeating Sassuolo in the Serie A, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has heaped praise on Argentine forward Paulo Dybala for his performance. The Gialorossi edged past their Italian counterparts 1-0 in an away game as the 31-year-old secured the solitary goal, keeping the capital club level on points with Napoli at the top of Serie A.

Dybala fires Roma to another win

Thanks to the win on Sunday, Roma now have the same points as table toppers Napoli but sit second on the Serie A table due to a lower goal difference. The victory was crucial to Gasperini's men as they entered the game on the back of successive defeats to Inter in the domestic competition and Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. Dybala, who recently scored his 200th goal for club and country, added one more under his belt, helping his team cruise past the Sassuolo challenge. Notably, this was the Argentine's first Serie A goal of the season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDybala goal earns praise from Gasperini

After the defeat against Viktoria Plzen, Gasperini was furious with the team's attacking third, tagging them as 'sluggish', but the slender win in Serie A was much more to the coach's liking, singling Dybala out for praise. The 67-year-old said: "I never had any doubts about  Paulo. He's an extraordinary player and a striker, but not a winger: he can play as a first or second striker, he can play anywhere." Happy about the scoreline, he mentioned, "I'm very satisfied with our position in the table and with today's match, which was difficult because Sassuolo are doing well. We played it in the best possible way; after two defeats, we reacted very well. We won an important match."

Gasperini's next challenge is to improve their home record. As of now, they have lost four games at the Stadio Olimpico, which includes a fixture from the Europa League.  

"The absolute priority is to get back to winning at the Olimpico," he added. "It's a shame we lost so many times in front of our fans. We'd like to give them good, well-played games. Not all of them were bad, I'm thinking for example of the one against Inter, while Thursday's win shouldn't have been lost. And today's win allows us to recover a little. At home, we have characteristics that sometimes lead us to hit the wall and then concede goals: we need to be more effective."

Roma warned not to get carried away

Although this win makes Dybala happy, he is not ready to get carried away. The Serie A is a long competition with 38 matches and they have just completed their eighth so far. He said: "We knew it before the match, even looking at yesterday’s results: there was the possibility of staying at the top of the table, but the season is still very long. There are many games left. These are three important points, also to redeem ourselves after the defeats of the past few days. We’re happy, but now we must immediately focus on Wednesday’s match. Scoring difficulties? Strikers thrive on goals, and it’s obvious that we want to score in every match. Unfortunately, there are difficult moments during the season, but the important thing is that the team wins: whoever scores doesn’t matter."

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Getty Images SportUpcoming hurdles for Roma

Roma's prerogative would be to return to winning ways in front of their fans on Wednesday, when they face Parma, who sit 15th in the league. Although it won't be a cakewalk for Dybala and Co., a win will enhance the team's confidence ahead of two crucial fixtures in the next 10 days. After facing Parma, they will travel to San Siro to greet Massimiliano Allegri's AC Milan on Sunday. Milan currently sit a place lower than Roma in Serie A, but the competition between the two heavyweights is expected to be boiling. Post the Milan game, Gasperini's team will head to Scotland to take on Rangers on November 6. Roma have acquired only one victory in their three continental fixtures. Rangers, who are yet to get their first win, will be eager to bounce back and are expected to hand the Gialorossi a tough 90 minutes.