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They looked exceptional in their warm-up match against New Zealand, but that is a distant memory as the sides prepare to meet in the World Cup proper

The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy21-Jun-20194:19

Ganga: Inconsistency has plagued West Indies

Big pictureRemember Bristol, May 28? Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? In their final warm-up game before the World Cup, West Indies gave everyone a taste of what they could be at their best. A fast start, courtesy Chris Gayle. A hold-the-innings-together hundred from Shai Hope. Big hitting from almost everyone else, all the way down to No. 10, with Andre Russell in particularly unforgiving mood. A total well north of 400. Pace and bounce from a five-man seam attack, and eventually a 91-run win.All this against one of the more fancied sides going into the World Cup, New Zealand.Three weeks on, West Indies have one win from five matches in the tournament proper, and are falling behind in the race – if it can still be called that – for semi-final spots. Much like Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, Russell hasn’t managed to make the switch from bossing a T20 league to doing likewise in a 50-overs tournament, with further complications thrown in by a pair of utterly wonky knees. His World Cup has been a microcosm of his team’s tournament; too much hitting, too little batting, slow on the field, and no real Plan B beyond the short ball.ALSO READ: ‘Once you realise you’ll survive without the game, you’ll enjoy it for what it is’ – Jimmy Neesham interviewIf West Indies are to make any kind of push – even a heroic failed one – they’ll need to show there’s more to their game. Their last two round-robin fixtures are against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but they could be out of top-four contention before that if they don’t find a way past New Zealand and India.New Zealand? They’re still unbeaten, and they’ve come through a couple of cliffhangers to stay that way. They are more than likely to make the semi-finals, but they know they can’t relax against West Indies – who remain a dangerous team for all their flaws – especially given that they are yet to meet two of their fellow top-four favourites, Australia and England.West Indies fans sing their national anthem before the match•Getty ImagesForm guideNew Zealand WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies LLLWLIn the spotlightHe made an unbeaten half-century in New Zealand’s tournament-opener against Sri Lanka, and got off to a couple of starts thereafter, but Martin Guptill hasn’t really lit up this World Cup. West Indies, however, will want to get rid of him as soon as possible. While they’ve undergone plenty of personnel changes since 2015, Gayle, Russell and their captain Jason Holder will remember all too well Guptill’s 237 against them in the quarter-final in Wellington.ALSO READ: We have to win this World Cup with the bat – Andre Russell interviewEvin Lewis hasn’t featured in all of West Indies’ matches, but after a quiet start he found some form with a 67-ball 70 against Bangladesh. West Indies’ lower-order hitters become more dangerous the less time they’re required to bat, and if Lewis clicks alongside either Gayle or Hope, he could set them up to do what they do best.Kane Williamson, poised and ready•Getty ImagesTeam newsNew Zealand seem unlikely to make any changes, unless they replace the out-of-sorts Colin Munro with Henry Nicholls at the top of the order.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent BoultALSO READ: Colin de Grandhomme to the fore as New Zealand’s ‘X-factor player’West Indies could bring back the offspinner Ashley Nurse if the pitch looks a little dry, given the number of left-handers in New Zealand’s top seven. With Andre Russell unlikely to play, according to captain Holder, Nurse could slot in at No. 8.West Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Shannon Gabriel/Kemar Roach, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Oshane ThomasPitch and conditionsThe two matches so far at Old Trafford have produced first-innings totals of 336 and 397, so plenty of runs can be expected once more, though there has been a bit of help for the spinners too. Friday was a sunny day in Manchester, and more of the same is expected on matchday.3:29

Vettori: Would like to see Nicholls in the line-up

Strategy punt What should West Indies do if they win the toss? New Zealand have batted second in all of their matches at the World Cup so far, and their biggest target has been 245, against Bangladesh. They’ve shown a bit of vulnerability in a couple of these small chases, so West Indies have two options: back themselves to post a big total on what has been a flat pitch so far, and put New Zealand under scoreboard pressure; or bowl first and expose New Zealand to a challenge they haven’t faced in a while. Since scoring an unbeaten 58 against Sri Lanka, Colin Munro has made 24, 22 and 9, and has twice fallen to the short ball, against Afghanistan and South Africa. Given West Indies’ propensity to bowl fast and short, New Zealand could replace Munro with Henry Nicholls, a strong back-foot player who has been in excellent form, across formats, in the months leading up to the World Cup. West Indies’ fast bowlers have pitched 52% of their deliveries at this World Cup either “short” or “short of good length”, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data. That’s significantly higher than the overall figure (before the England-Sri Lanka match) of 43% for all fast bowlers at the tournament. Given the dimensions of Old Trafford, with long straight boundaries and short square ones, West Indies might need to find a Plan B.Stats and trivia New Zealand have won four of their seven World Cup matches against West Indies, including the three most recent meetings. Trent Boult has an exceptional ODI record against West Indies: 17 wickets in seven matches at an average of 15.58, with a best of 7 for 34. Tom Latham averages 33.00 in ODIs, but that figure drops to 27.00 when he keeps wicket.Quotes”I think we still have a possible chance to qualify for the semifinals, but we’ve just got to take it game by game. This encounter with New Zealand is very important. We all know what’s at stake and we just have to come and bring our A game. It’s as simple as that.”
“I think it still plays [on your mind] for sure. They batted very well in that warm-up game in Bristol and put us under a lot of pressure in a warm-up game, too. But for sure we’ll be taking some of the learnings we took from that game, start again, obviously score’s at zero.”
GMT 1520 The preview was updated to include news of Andre Russell’s fitness.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag insists he isn't responsible for approving big-money moves for Antony, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Andre Onana.

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Ten Hag has spent over £400mMany signings haven't worked outINEOS keen to improve recruitmentWHAT HAPPENED?

While United remain on a high following their surprise FA Cup success, questions are still being asked of Ten Hag, whose team flattered to deceive for much of the campaign. This is despite the Dutchman spending more than £400m ($510m/€470m) on new signings, including those of Antony, Casemiro and Mount – three players who haven't repaid United on the pitch.

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Ten Hag's signings haven't worked, but thankfully United's academy continues to do so. Graduates Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both enjoyed breakthrough seasons, and capped it off by scoring in the 2-1 FA Cup final win over rivals City.

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

Ten Hag insists he isn't to blame for United's excessive outlay, instead appearing to point the finger at the old administration – former chief executive Richard Arnold and ex-football director John Murtough.

"The prices paid for players are indeed very high – but I am not responsible for that," he said, per the . "The club did all the negotiations, including with very good potential players who didn't come in the end.

"So it is all a bit more nuanced than the picture that is being painted that the purchase policy is disastrous. It's all negative, but despite all the problems, the foundation at the club has grown stronger. That may not all be visible to the outside world now, but everyone internally will make that analysis."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

The FA Cup win might have given Ten Hag, who was all but certain to depart had it not gone United's way, a lifeline. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, which includes Sir Dave Brailsford and interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, must now decide whether Ten Hag really is the manager to lead them into the future.

Amid something of a mass exodus at Leeds United over the summer, one man whom the Yorkshire side ultimately held on to tightly was promising youngster, Wilfried Gnonto, with the Italy international saying put despite itching to leave Elland Road.

With the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison and Marc Roca allowed to move on elsewhere following their relegation to the Championship, Gnonto had initially looked to set to join those raft of departures, even handing in a transfer request amid interest from Everton.

As it proved, the former Zurich gem – who arrived at the club on a £3.8m deal in the summer of 2022 – was not granted his wish, having since gone on to endure a difficult season under new boss Daniel Farke, despite the drop into the second tier.

While both Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville – who have scored 21 Championship goals in 2023/24 – have thrived in the lower division, Gnonto, meanwhile, has registered just one assist and a solitary goal in all competitions thus far.

After previously shining in the top-flight last term – scoring four goals – the 20-year-old has not kicked on as was expected this time around, with an exit now looking like a very real possibility for the diminutive speedster this month.

Amid reports that the one-time Inter Milan man could be set to join West Ham United before the January window closes, Leeds could well have their eye on a perfect replacement to help send Gnonto packing.

Leeds eyeing Gnonto replacement

As per The Athletic, the priority for Farke this month is to strengthen at full-back, with the German tactician having allowed both Luke Ayling and Djed Spence to depart of late, while competition could also be needed on the opposite side with both Sam Byram and Junior Firpo routinely dogged by injury.

If Gnonto is to depart as expected, however, a fresh face could also well be needed to bolster the frontline, with Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reporting earlier this week that the promotion hopefuls have their eye on Burnley's, Manuel Bernson.

According to the transfer insider, the 26-year-old is the "priority target" to replace Gnonto, with the latter man seemingly set to seal a move to the London Stadium – in the view of Tavolieri.

While Benson has made just four Premier League appearances so far this term at Turf Moor, his heroics in the Championship last season – and his likeness to a certain Gareth Bale – should ensure that he is the perfect option to make Leeds forget all about their Italian dynamo.

Manuel Benson's style of play is similar to Bale

The former Antwerp man played an integral role in steering Vincent Kompany's side to promotion from the Championship in 2022/23, scoring 12 goals and contributing three assists in 33 league games.

While an influx of new additions and a step up in division has left Benson playing second fiddle this time around for the Lancashire side, Burnley's trash could well prove to be Leeds' treasure, with the Belgian a devastating asset when at his best.

That is the view of his agent, Patrick de Koster, at least, who previously laid out the winger's attributes, before even going as far as to liken his client to former Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid sensation, Bale:

“He is a very, very technical attacking player, a left-footed winger, great on the ball and at his best when deployed on the wing. (Like) Gareth Bale. Rapid, fast, great acceleration and an eye for goal.

"Obviously I’m not comparing the two, I’m just saying Manuel has a playing style reminiscent of that of the Real Madrid player.”

Like Benson, the now-retired Welshman also had a wand of a left foot and could thrive on either flank or in a more central role if required, notably racking 185 goals and 137 goals in 553 games in a stellar career at the elite level.

As De Koster noted, the Clarets ace is not expected to hit such heights, yet the combination of his speed and goalscoring ability certainly does offer a clear similarity to Bale – having also even been compared to Dutch icon Arjen Robben by teammate Nathan Tella.

Such plaudits for the "electric" talent – as described by pundit Sam Parkin – certainly bode well as far as Leeds are concerned, with the likes of James and Summerville set to be nervously looking over their shoulder if a deal is to be wrapped up this month.

How Manuel Benson compares to Gnonto

With both Benson and Gnonto having been cast aside, in truth, for their respective clubs this season, it is worth taking a look at how they performed across the entirety of last season.

Although competing in different divisions, Benson's 19 goal involvements in all competitions was far beyond what the current Leeds man achieved in his debut season at the club, with Gnonto recording just eight goals and assists for the Yorkshire side across all fronts.

Farke could land his own Raphinha in Leeds swoop for £28k-p/w magician

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to snap up the talented youngster.

ByDan Emery Jan 20, 2024

The pair were notably alike in a creative sense, with Benson registering three assists in the Championship while creating four 'big chances', with Gnonto creating three 'big chances', while registering four assists.

A notable benefit of the fleet-footed Belgian is his dribbling prowess, having averaged 1.1 successful dribbles per game in 2022/23, while the Leeds man averaged just 0.9 in that regard at Elland Road.

Games

Goals

Assists

71

10

11

69

8

11

42

14

4

28

6

9

16

0

1

13

0

4

The differences between the pair, as shown above, are rather slight, ensuring that if Leeds are to cash in on the 5 foot 7 dynamo, they could instantly replace him with someone of similar ilk – with Benson also boasting the additional benefit of having already flourished in the second tier to help guide a club to promotion.

As such, with Gnonto hardly pulling up any trees this season, despite his obvious promise, Farke could happily nudge him toward the exit door this month, particularly if he can prise a dream replacement from Turf Moor.

Celtic travel away from Glasgow this evening as they prepare to face off against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership as they hope to move further clear at the top of the table.

A win for their rivals on Tuesday night has left the Hoops ahead on goal difference in the title race but three points tonight would provide some separation between the two sides, albeit they will have played one game more.

Brendan Rodgers should be looking for a strong response for his players after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen in the top-flight last time out.

North Macedonia international Bojan Miovski's excellent opener for the Dons was cancelled out by a strike from winger Nicolas Kuhn as both sides were forced to share the points on Saturday.

The Northern Irish head coach could now look to make some alterations to his starting line-up in the hope of an improved performance and result this evening.

Latest Celtic team news

He will not, however, have left-back Greg Taylor available for selection to face Hibernian despite the left-back having returned to training this week.

The Scotland international suffered a groin injury that ruled him out of the last two league matches for the Hoops and he will not be in the squad tonight, but could feature against St. Mirren in the SFA Cup at the weekend.

It was also confirmed by the manager that none of the club's current injured players will return o action against Hibs, which includes midfielder Reo Hatate and central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Appearances

14

Eight

Starts

14

Four

Pass accuracy

92%

79%

Duel success rate

67%

51%

Sofascore rating

7.26

7.25

Rodgers has, though, revealed that Daizen Maeda is back from international duty with Japan and the winger will be part of the travelling party today.

The Celtic boss must, however, unleash German forward Kuhn from the start on the right flank, ahead of both Liel Abada, who started against Aberdeen, and the Japanese attacker.

Liel Abada's struggles against Aberdeen

Rodgers selected the 22-year-old whiz from the start on Saturday and was not rewarded with an impressive performance from the right-footed gem.

It was his fifth Premiership start of the season so far and he did not do enough throughout his time on the pitch to suggest that a sixth is deserved tonight against Hibernian.

Abada played the opening 59 minutes of the match and struggled in and out of possession on the right flank with a lack of impact at the top end of the pitch and weak play off the ball.

The Hoops winger failed to create a single chance for his teammates and missed one 'big chance' in front of goal, which means that he offered little creativity and was wasteful with the opportunities that were created for him.

Aberdeen's players also came out on top in four of their five battles on the ground with Abada, who completed just one of his four attempted dribbles.

These statistics do not suggest that the attacker deserves another chance to impress against Hibs, particularly after Kuhn's impressive cameo off the bench.

Why Rodgers must unleash Kuhn against Hibernian

Celtic swooped to sign the former Ajax and Bayern Munich prospect from Rapid Wien during the January transfer window and he has not taken long to settle into life in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old wizard is yet to start a Premiership match for the Hoops but has already scored his first goal in the division, with the equalising strike against the Dons.

Minutes played

31

Shots

One

Goals

One

Key passes

One

Dribbles completed

Two

As you can see in the table above, the German talent made a bigger impact on the game than Abada, despite playing almost half as many minutes.

His low, deflected, drive made it 1-1, with an assist from Adam Idah, who FFC have also urged Rodgers to select from the start, and the talented gem created more chances (one) for his teammates than the Israel international (zero).

Kuhn's form for Rapid Wien during the first half of the season also suggests that there is far more to come from him as a creator for his fellow attackers.

The 5 foot 9 magician, who was lauded as "absolutely rapid" by UEFA licensed coach @Inverthewing on X, racked up 11 'big chances' created and 1.8 key passes per game across 16 Bundesliga appearances in Austria.

This indicates that Celtic supporters can expect the winger to provide the likes of Idah, Luis Palma, and Matt O'Riley with quality chances to score, to go along with his goal threat, which was on display with his finish against the Dons on Saturday.

Daizen Maeda's form this season

Kuhn could be a big upgrade on current Hoops winger Maeda as the Japan international does not offer a greater threat at the top end of the pitch.

Across the Bundesliga and Premiership, the German whiz has racked up three goals, five assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 18 appearances and 16 starts.

Maeda, on the other hand, has contributed with three goals, two assists, and four 'big chances' created in 17 Premiership matches, which has included 15 starts.

This means that Kuhn has produced seven more goals and big chances created combined during the 2023/24 campaign, despite only having played and started one more game.

The 26-year-old Hoops attacker has also only provided 0.5 key passes and completed 1.2 dribbles per game respectively in the Scottish top-flight this season. Whereas, the former Rapid Wien star managed 1.8 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per match in the Bundesliga during the first half of the campaign.

These statistics suggest that the January addition has the potential to be a big upgrade on the Japanese winger, due to his fantastic ability to split open opposition defences at an impressive rate to create chances for others, if he can hit his top form over the coming weeks and months.

Therefore, Kuhn should be unleashed from the start on the right flank over both Maeda and Abada, and the forward is in FFC's predicted Celtic XI for tonight's clash.

It was slow but steady progress from the home side, and it was also glorious

Paul Edwards23-Jul-2019
Tell a friend that you have just watched a day’s cricket in which 211 runs were scored in 94 overs and he will probably sympathise with you. But if you tell him that you have done so at Cheltenham, he will suspect your day has had its compensations and he will be quite correct. There was no suggestion of tedium at the College Ground this afternoon as two sides tussled for advantage in a match which will be crucial to their promotion prospects.When play was ended two overs early by a brief shower of rain Worcestershire’s cricketers could look back on three sessions in which they had restricted Gloucestershire’s first-innings lead to 61 and then taken eight wickets for 149 runs on a day when the home side’s batting had been rather profligate. But it is Gloucestershire who have the 210-run lead and it is their opponents who have found batting something of a trial recently. No one at the College Ground thought of clapping slowly. And yes, there were those other compensations, features which many think extraneous to the matter in hand but which cricket lovers recognise as inseparable from their summer.Even before play started the blue hills were thickly gauzed in heat. The trees barely moved all day but the counties’ flags fluttered gently in a soft remnant of breeze. The temperature rose and a Range Rover’s alarm went off repeatedly, suggesting it might be thermostat-controlled. Spectators on the back rows of stands hoisted gaily coloured umbrellas to protect themselves. The marquees were crammed with corporate customers and two were made available to the public seeking shade during lunch.For Worcestershire’s tailenders, though, there was no respite from the sun and nor did they desire one. The visitors had seemed likely to concede a deficit of around a hundred when they lost three wickets in the first eight overs of the day but Joe Leach and Adam Finch then batted in some comfort for the next 94 minutes, reducing Gloucestershire’s lead to 61 runs, which worried home supporters, and even delaying lunch, which alarmed them even nearly as much. Finch was hit on the helmet and body by David Payne but was unbeaten on a modest 8 when Leach played on to Ryan Higgins for 38. And it felt as though the Worcestershire skipper’s innings had put a marker down.Such a feeling was well-founded. The early afternoon’s cricket brought Gloucestershire no relief. Leach nipped the third ball of the innings away from Chris Dent and had the home skipper caught behind for nought. Worse followed in the tenth over when Wayne Parnell knocked out Roderick’s off stump with a ball that kept so low that had it been bowled in T20, the disappointed batsman may have walked off the College Ground with “Subterranean Homesick Blues” playing over the loudspeakers.Gloucestershire’s decline continued. Miles Hammond remained rooted to the crease when leg before to Ed Barnard and another near grubber from Parnell cleaned up James Bracey. At that point the home side had a lead of just 108.It was mid-afternoon. The wicketkeeper, Ben Cox, and his slips, Riki Wessels and Daryl Mitchell, all sported wide-brimmed sunhats in a fashion which recalled the age of I Zingari and Free Foresters. Yet this was hard-fought professional cricket in the 21st century and one became aware, yet again, by how very precious festivals like Cheltenham are. Such reveries were interrupted or perhaps enhanced by a flurry of strokes from Higgins, who drove Finch to the boundary without mercy when the freshman bowler overpitched. Indeed, Higgins scored 27 in the space of nine balls before departing for 36 when he flashed flat-footedly at Dillon Pennington and nicked a catch to Wessels at first slip.That dismissal ended what was by far Gloucestershire’s most abundant period of the day. The following 32.4 overs saw only 46 runs scored as Tom Smith and Jack Taylor sought to ground out a defendable total. Every run was cheered by anxious home supporters who could see their chance of victory slipping away. Paolo’s ice-cream vans did plenty of business as did Camper Vin. Ed won one raffle prize and Steven won some wine. The microphone in the Circles to Success tent was in such robust order that everyone in the ground knew about it. Nobody minded.Taylor and Smith were probably apprehensive as to when their number would be up but their wickets did not fall until the last hour of play when both had made useful twenties. Smith fenced Parnell to slip and Taylor edged a cut off Barnard to Cox. Then Benny Howell rather summed up Gloucestershire’s fortunes when he slapped a full toss from Brett D’Oliveira to mid-on. A slow day? Not at all. Days at the College Ground pass with the speed of a swift in flight over the Cotswolds.

Phil Parkinson has revealed the qualities that Wrexham transfer targets must have if they want to play for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

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Hollywood stars in charge of purse stringsShrewd recruitment delivered two promotionsWelsh outfit readying themselves for League OneWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons have made rapid progress under Hollywood co-owners, with back-to-back promotions lifting them out of the National League and into League One. Shrewd recruitment business has allowed the Welsh outfit to surge up the EFL standings.

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Another window of opportunity has swung open in the summer of 2024, with Wrexham expected to be busy as they piece together a squad that can be competitive in the third tier. A number of players have already seen moves to SToK Racecourse speculated on, with additions being sought across the board.

WHAT PARKINSON SAID

Parkinson is, however, eager to point out that no money will be spent for the sake of it and has said of what new recruits must bring to his ranks: “The most important thing we can do is win on a Saturday afternoon at three o’clock. And all our energy goes into that. Keeping the dressing room right, the harmony in the football dressing room is so important if you’re gonna have a successful season. Because once the season starts, it’s a long nine months. You’re on the road together a lot. There’s lots of ups and downs. You need players that when you get beat, are going to respond. When they get left out the team, are going to respond and train properly. So there’s so many dynamics you have to come into play when you’re recruiting players.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney will be making the funds available that allow more business to be completed, but they have also conceded that further investment will be required at some stage as a financial playing field begins to level out.

West Ham United return to action in the Premier League tomorrow afternoon in search of a first victory of 2024, but with title-chasing Arsenal travelling to the London Stadium, it certainly won't be an easy task.

David Moyes' side are still in a decent position in seventh place but last secured a win before the new year, dispatching – drum roll – Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, having previously knocked the Gunners out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign.

Does Moyes have Arteta's number? Don't be so sure. Arsenal have clicked into gear recently and swept Liverpool aside last weekend, just hours after Manchester United beat West Ham 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Lucas Paqueta remains on the sidelines while Michail Antonio is nearing a return from a knee injury, though Sunday's clash will come too soon for the veteran forward.

With this in mind, Moyes might make just the one alteration to his team, with limited options and an unwillingness to make drastic changes likely keeping the starting XI largely the same.

1 GK – Alphonse Areola

Alphonse Areola has statistically been the Premier League's best shot-stopper this season and Irons supporters will be delighted after Moyes' confirmation that he is in line to start after coming off injured at the Theatre of Dreams last weekend.

#

Player

Club

Stat

1.

Alphonse Areola

West Ham United

76.7%

2.

Alisson

Liverpool

75.3%

3.

Nick Pope

Newcastle United

73.6%

4.

Andre Onana

Manchester United

73.4%

4.

Jordan Pickford

Everton

73.4%

Source: FBref

Arsenal will be sure to pepper the hosts' goal at any opportunity – yielding the third-highest shots total (380) this season – and the Frenchman will be crucial.

2 RB – Vladimir Coufal

Vladimir Coufal has supplied five assists from 21 matches in the Premier League this season while also averaging two tackles and 4.4 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

He will need to be on his game against the fleet-footed Gabriel Martinelli, who has three goals from his last three in the top flight.

3 CB – Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma has been immense once again this season across his 19 Premier League appearances, with the club captain making more clearances than any other West Ham player.

The imposing Frenchman will need to command his backline and outmuscle his opponents to ensure that the home side maintain a sense of control.

4 CB – Nayef Aguerd

Nayef Aguerd has not enjoyed the same fruits this season but remains an important member of Moyes' team, starting all 17 league matches when available this term.

The Moroccan also ranks among the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref, and will open up an invaluable extra dimension tomorrow afternoon.

5 LB – Emerson Palmieri

No West Ham player has made more tackles than Emerson Palmieri's 64 in the Premier League this season and the experienced Italian's fortitude will be paramount to his side's prospects in the forthcoming fixture.

His winning mentality and steely approach are exactly what is needed to stifle the threat of the dynamic Bukayo Saka.

6 CM – Kalvin Phillips

Once described as a “Rolls-Royce” midfielder by journalist Josh Bunting, it's been a while since Kalvin Phillips has lived up to such effusive remarks.

He's struggled to impress across his first few matches for West Ham, joining on loan from Manchester City last month, but the £150k-per-week machine is industrious and combative and will make a big difference if he is on his a-game.

Despite his woes since departing Leeds United for Pep Guardiola's project, Phillips still ranks among the top 2% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for pass completion and passes attempted per 90, with his ball-playing ability giving Moyes something to consider ahead of selection.

7 CM – Edson Alvarez

West Ham will face Declan Rice once again on Sunday afternoon after selling the England international to Arteta's side in a £105m transfer.

Edson Alvarez arrived from Ajax as the replacement and has been excellent so far, described as "invaluable" by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

The Mexican covers so much ground in the centre of the park and averages 2.5 tackles and 5.3 ball recoveries per outing.

8 RW – Ben Johnson

Lacking options up front, Ben Johnson was fielded at right-wing last time out and gave a good account of himself, completing 94% of his passes, taking three shots and winning five of his eight contested ground duels.

The likes of Maxwel Cornet will be eager to receive a starting berth but Johnson should keep his place.

9 AM – James Ward-Prowse

With Paqueta out injured, James Ward-Prowse will be expected to be the Hammers' chief creative force, and having supplied ten assists from 32 fixtures since signing from Southampton in a £30m move last summer, the 29-year-old has the tools to do just that.

10 LW – Mohammed Kudus

What a signing. What a player. Mohammed Kudus chose West Ham over Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea and the Irons faithful are eternally grateful for it.

The electric Ghanaian will likely play from the left again to accommodate Johnson on the alternate flank but he impressed with some enterprising drives and could find success against Arsenal.

Sergio Aguero has sensationally claimed that Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are good enough to win the Premier League.

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Messi starring in MLS with Inter MiamiTeam currently top of Eastern Conference StandingsAguero rates Miami's chances in Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?

Messi has taken MLS by storm since arriving on a free transfer after leaving PSG. The Argentine secured a first major piece of silverware for his team last season in the Leagues Cup and has fired his team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings in the current campaign. The World Cup winner has smashed a host of records along the way and currently has 12 goals and nine assists in just 12 outings for Inter Miami in the 2024 season.

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Messi's form has led his good friend and former Argentina international Aguero to speculate on what might happen if the 36-year-old old and his Inter Miami team were to play in the Premier League instead of MLS. Aguero, who won five Premier League titles with Manchester City during his career, feels that with Messi in the team there is every chance Miami could beat the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to finish top of the pile.

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He told Stake.com: "I think they would win the league. They have Messi that is the GOAT, and with him, even winning the Premier is possible."

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There's no doubt that Messi is one of the greatest players ever to have graced the game, with the Argentine having beaten the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to pick up his eighth Ballon d'Or last year. Messi is going for more glory this summer too with Argentina at the Copa America. The world champions begin the defence of their trophy against Canada on Thursday.

England have completed one of the great comeback victories in Test history after bowling out Ireland for 38

The Report by George Dobell at Lord's26-Jul-2019
England have completed one of the great comeback victories in Test history after bowling out Ireland for 38 in the fourth innings at Lord’s.Not since 1907, when England defeated South Africa in Leeds despite having made just 76 in their first innings, has a side won a Test having made such a low first-innings score. But despite England being bowled out for 85 before lunch on the first day, a devastating spell of new ball bowling from Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad saw Ireland bowled out in just 15.4 overs to leave England the victors by 143 runs. It is the fifth lowest first-innings total in history to have resulted in a win and the first Test since 1887 in which two sides have each been bowled out in a single session.Ireland had been set just 182 to win after Stuart Thompson struck with the first ball of the morning. But in gloomy conditions, Woakes and Broad bowled with great control and gained sharp movement to dismiss them for the lowest total in the history of Tests on this ground (the previous lowest was 42 made by India against England in 1974) and in the fewest number of deliveries (94).It is the seventh lowest total in Test history and the lowest anywhere since South Africa were bowled out for 36 in Melbourne in 1932. Woakes finished with 6 for 17 – his Test-best figures – in completing the third five-for of his Test career; all three have come at Lord’s.While Ireland looked every inch the equal of England for much of this game, in the defining moments the extra experience and quality showed. And sensing Ireland’s nervousness in gloomy conditions, Broad and Woakes seemed to raise their game in a manner they struggled to achieve in the first innings. Supported by some fine catching in the cordon, England will know the final margin of victory – and the fact that it was achieved in just seven sessions – does not fully reflect the competitive nature of the entire match.The day had started well for Ireland. Stuart Thompson bowled Olly Stone with the first ball of the day – one that nipped back sharply down the slope to send the leg-stump cartwheeling – to end the England innings and dismiss them for 303.But perhaps that degree of movement boded ill for Ireland. Play was first delayed and then interrupted by rain and, with the floodlights on and the conditions murky, it was pretty much ideal for England’s seamers. And in such conditions and with this Duke’s ball, they are a tough proposition.While Ireland would have hoped for a steady start to settle nerves in a dressing room hunting a first win in Test cricket, they lost their captain, William Porterfield, in just the fourth over. Forced to play at one angled across him, Porterfield edged a low chance which was brilliantly taken, one handed and diving to his left, by Jonny Bairstow. Andrew Balbirnie, perhaps unsettled by Broad’s pace and hostility, was drawn into poking at one he could have left – Joe Root took the chance at first slip – before Paul Stirling, set up by one that lifted and left him, was bowled next ball by one that came into him up the slope; a fine piece of bowling from Woakes.From there things became really ugly for Ireland. They lost three wickets with their score on 24 – James McCollom edging a well-directed outswinger; Gary Wilson leg before to one that came up the slope – a decision won by reviewing the umpire’s original not out call – and Kevin O’Brien was trapped in front by one that nipped back sharply to strike him on the pad.While Mark Adair pulled a six off Broad, the bowler immediately had his revenge as he beat a lavish drive with a fuller delivery, Thompson steered one to slip and Andy McBrine poked at one that left him. By the time Tim Murtagh, unfortunate to be on the losing side after claiming 5 for 13 on the first morning, was bowled Ireland were reeling. England had not successfully defended such a low target in a Test this century.England will know they will have to improve their performance substantially if they are to prevail in the Ashes. They collapsed in both innings, after all, and were saved by a most improbable intervention from their nightwatchman, Jack Leach, who was named man of the match for is batting. But they will be encouraged that, under pressure and with the match to be defined, they were able to step up their standards considerably.For Ireland this innings will sting for some time. And perhaps they will rue their first innings, too: at 132-2 they had this game at their mercy. Had they been able to bat into the second day, in far better batting conditions, they could have taken this game beyond England. But perhaps they, too, can take encouragement from the fact that they – in their third Test – were right in the game for the first three innings against a side playing their 1,011th Test. Give more opportunity, given more experience they will take these opportunities.Either way, for the second time in as many weeks, this old ground has served up a wonderfully dramatic, impossibly entertaining and absurdly unlikely match. A reminder, surely, that whatever the format, cricket’s charms remain undimmed.

England stars have been enjoying a spot of cricket during Euro 2024 downtime, with Kieran Trippier taking a stunning catch off Declan Rice’s bowling.

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Three Lions relaxing in GermanyLooking to keep spirits highTurning their hand to a different sportWHAT HAPPENED?

The Three Lions are hoping to claim a few more scalps themselves before this summer’s European Championship comes to a close, with Gareth Southgate’s side safely through to the last-16 despite yet being able to produce their best form.

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Keeping spirits high will be crucial in an ongoing quest for major silverware, with several players turning their hand to a different kind of sport. Arsenal midfielder Rice may be no Mark Wood in the fast bowling stakes, but he got enough off a very green wicket to tempt Gunners colleague Aaron Ramsdale into a wild slog.

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Rice found a thick edge, with Newcastle defender Trippier on hand in the slips to claim an impressive low catch that required him to fall forwards towards the ball. England captain Harry Kane joined in the celebrations, with a number of other stars watching on from afar.