Mohammad Amir was left out again, while Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan were rested for the first two Tests against New Zealand
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2018Despite scoring 160 runs in his debut Test match against Australia last month, opener Fakhar Zaman has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for the first two Tests against New Zealand. A PCB media release said that he along with legspinner Shadab Khan were rested. Mohammad Amir was ignored again, but 18-year-old Shaheen Afridi, who is uncapped in Test cricket, found a place in the squad.Batsman Saad Ali, also uncapped in Test cricket, was rewarded for his 144 for Pakistan A against a New Zealand A attack that included internationals Neil Wagner and Scott Kuggeleijn.Besides that, the squad was largely unchanged. Opener Imam-ul-Haq was included in the squad, indicating that his retiring hurt on Friday was more precautionary than anything else. Fakhar’s absence will allow Mohammad Hafeez to consolidate his position at the top.Pakistan’s squad for the Tests•ESPNcricinfo LtdAfridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, and Mir Hamza are the frontline quicks in the squad. In all, Afridi has played only two first-class games, taking 11 wickets at an average of 17.27. He was in excellent form, though, in the ODIs against New Zealand, claiming back-to-back four-wicket hauls.A PCB statement said chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq had chosen Afridi with his current form in mind, while Saad was rewarded for his consistent domestic performances.The first Test will take place from 16 November in Abu Dhabi, with the second in Dubai from 24 November. The teams will move to Abu Dhabi, again, for the third Test, which starts on December 3. With the conditions in the UAE predictably conducive to spin, seam-bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf, who has been selected again, might not get a game. Pakistan had preferred to go with four bowlers and an extra batsman in Haris Sohail in the series against Australia, with his form and ability to pitch in with left-arm spin counting in his favour.With Mohammad Abbas’s series-defining performances against Australia ensuring he’s an automatic starter, the remaining fast bowlers are competing for, at most, two other places.
Jurgen Klopp said that Liverpool "lost the plot" and advised his players to "go home and sleep badly" after a 3-0 Europa League defeat to Atalanta.
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Liverpool succumbed to shock defeat against AtalantaScamacca's brace and Pasalic strike sunk Reds Klopp stunned after "really bad game"Getty WHAT HAPPENED?
The Serie A outfit, led by Gian Piero Gasperini, delivered a commanding performance, with former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca netting twice and Mario Pasalic scoring in the 83rd minute, to secure a comfortable lead for the Italian side. The match marked Liverpool's first defeat at Anfield since their 5-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League over a year ago leaving them with a mountain climb ahead of the second leg in Bergamo next week.
AdvertisementWHAT KLOPP SAID
Klopp lamented the poor performance, expressing his disbelief at how his side lost their way during the match.
“It was a really bad game, oh my God,” said the Liverpool manager. “We started really well but didn’t continue. Before they scored we just lost the plot. We were everywhere and nowhere. Midfield was spread like that, right midfield and left midfield, I didn’t recognise it a bit. it was really strange. In football terms, that’s tactical discipline. But we had a big chance from Darwin [Núñez] and were unlucky with Harvey [Elliott] and then they scored a goal and we kept playing into their hands.
“We played a bad game, we deserved to lose and we must feel that now. But the boys have exactly this night to feel bad about and then we have to build up again for the Crystal Palace game. That’s how it is. A lot of performances tonight were really 'oops, wow, I didn't know they could play like that. A lot of the players looked really alone in a lot of moments. It was really bad. In this moment it must feel bad. The lads must go home and sleep badly. Congratulations to Atalanta, really well done.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Klopp's decision to make six changes to the starting lineup spectacularly backfired and despite bringing on key players like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, Liverpool failed to overturn the deficit. Yet the manager remained defiant about his starting XI choices and emphasised the need for squad rotation amid a hectic schedule, especially with Liverpool competing in a tight Premier League title race.
"I get the question 100 per cent if we lose a game, that's how it is – the changes," he defended. "But one of the reasons I would do exactly the same again is because if we want to be good in the rest of the season, we have to make changes. 'I am responsible for this result first, I know that. But the decision (about the starting line-up) would remain the same."
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Liverpool did overturn a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final. However, Klopp remained cautious and refrained from making bold predictions. "Can we win 3-0? I have no idea," he added.
Liverpool will need a strong collective effort and a significant improvement in their performance if they are to keep their Europa League aspirations alive. Before that, they need to get three points against Crystal Palace on Sunday as the Premier League title race heats up.
Aston Villa are reportedly in a four-way battle to secure the services of one striker in particular in January, and he's already a familiar face to the Premier League.
Aston Villa strikers
The Midlands outfit only have Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran as their two natural options at centre-forward as it stands, and it’s recently been reported that Unai Emery would like to bolster his ranks in that department to build a squad capable of challenging. Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy is one of the targets to have emerged, but with Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and clubs in Spain and Portugal also chasing him, it could prove difficult to get a deal for him over the line at the start of next year.
Therefore, AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham has seemingly been identified as a potential alternative, and he’s already had a previous spell at the club during the 2018/19 season having joined on loan from Chelsea, so supporters will know the positive impact he can have. The 26-year-old is yet to feature at all this season because he is still recovering from a knee ligament injury that he sustained at the end of the previous campaign, but regardless, he looks set to be a player who will be on the move in January.
Aston Villa plotting swoop for Tammy Abraham
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato.it (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa are keen on Tammy Abraham, but NSWE and Monchi are set to face stiff competition for his signature in January. West Ham United, Fulham and Brentford are also "in the picture" to sign the centre-forward, with the quartet of top-flight clubs all "keeping close tabs" on his situation at AS Roma.
The Premier League teams are "vigilant and determined to obtain new information" about their target ahead of the upcoming window opening, with Jose Mourinho's side ideally wanting to sell him to a club in the highest division in England.
AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham.
Since the start of his career, Abraham has posted 205 contributions, 161 goals and 44 assists, in 373 appearances, which shows how prolific he can be in the final third (Transfermarkt – Abraham statistics), and it’s this form which has seen him dubbed a “goal machine” by ex-professional Stephen Elliot.
Standing at 6 foot 2, Mourinho’s £96k-per-week earner (AS Roma salaries), also recorded 62 shots over the course of the previous campaign which was the joint-highest total throughout his squad (FBRef – AS Roma statistics), highlighting his desire to find the back of the net.
Abraham – Strengths
Abraham – Weaknesses
Abraham – Style Of Play
Finishing
Player has no significant weaknesses
Likes to do layoffs
Through balls
Likes to do flick ons
Furthermore, Abraham has the versatility to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside his usual role leading the line through the middle, so he could be a useful option for Emery to have at his disposal should he ever want to utilise him and Watkins at the same time.
The biggest Indian buy at the last auction, the pacer let expectations get the better of him. After going for big money again, he opens up on burdens and belief
Nagraj Gollapudi18-Dec-20185:43
Agarkar: Unadkat’s salary of 8.40cr doesn’t surprise me
Jaydev Unadkat was big headline news from the mega IPL auction in January this year, after Rajasthan Royals dished out INR 11.5 crore on him – the most spent on any Indian player at that auction. But Unadkat finished the IPL season with underwhelming numbers: 11 wickets in 15 matches with steep economy rate of 9.65. Unadkat had done well for India in the Nidahas Trophy, on the eve of the IPL. Post the IPL, he was out of the Indian team. By his own admission, he was weighed down by his own expectations. Now, though, he has another chance to set the record right, after Royals bought him back, once again making him headline news as the joint-biggest buy at this auction. What were his thoughts on the day? Here’s Unadkat:In January, INR 11.50 crore (USD 1.8 million approx). Now, INR 8.4 crore (USD 1.16 million approx). For the second time this year you have finished as a massive buy at the IPL auction. Were you expecting this again? What I had in mind was not the number, of course, but I was sure that with the form I have been in in domestic cricket, teams would be keen on me. The fact that I am left-arm and an Indian fast bowler stood in my favour too. To be honest, I have not done that badly in the IPL over the past few years, except for the last 2-3 matches last season. I was right up there. This domestic season, I have been in good rhythm: did well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy [domestic one-dayers] where I got 16 wickets, did well in the Deodhar Trophy [domestic one-dayers featuring the best performing players]. In the Ranji Trophy [domestic first-class], I have taken over the captaincy at Saurashtra, and we had an outright win in our last match.You told us after becoming a millionaire last IPL auction that you were happy, you were flying. Are you flying again? I am grounded. I wasn’t’ really flying that time as well. It was a mega auction [since all the teams had to largely rebuild]. There was more hype. Things are much calmer this time. I wanted myself to be composed. I just want keep enjoying my game. It is high time in my career where I don’t bother about the criticism. I am going to play cricket for next 10 years at least.ALSO READ: Curran and Unadkat are IPL millionaires, Hetmyer to RCB Were you following the auction today? Yes, with my Saurashtra team-mates [Saurashtra are in Mumbai for the next round of the Ranji Trophy]. Even last time, I was with the same group of players following the auction on the phone and I needed them to stick around for sure again. Arpit [ Vasavada], Snell [Patel], Dharmendra Jadeja are some of the guys and they obviously are my good-luck charm.Was your pulse racing as the bids soared? I don’t feel that much of anxiety or the hype that was there last auction. Also last auction we were at the ground, there were a lot of media already at the ground minutes after the bidding happened. It is pretty quiet now, pretty calm at the moment. There is more calmness this time around.Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals started the bidding, before Chennai Super Kings joined in at the INR 5 crore mark. What did you think of the way the bidding went? Super Kings were keen on me at the last auction, too. Their think tank really believes in me. Flem [coach Stephen Fleming] and Mahi [MS Dhoni] believe in me from my time with them at Rising Pune Supergiant. It matters if you have played with someone and you believe in them. Just because they did not have enough funds I believe they were being very shrewd with what they wanted at this auction. But I am really happy the belief in me from franchises is still there. And I am going to work the hardest – I am going to work my pants off and do well, become as good a cricketer as I can be from here. It has been emotional for sure, like always.
“I wanted to be the standout player in every game, I was asking too much from myself. That was the only burden I had.”Jaydev Unadkat on IPL 2018
Why emotional? Just because of all the criticism that came last IPL season. I had a hard time coping with it. Not just because of the IPL performances, but because of that I was dropped from the Indian team as well, which was a bit surprising. That way it has been emotional. I want to be right up there.You have spoken of the pressure of expectations that came with the “most expensive” tag last IPL. Can you expand on those feelings? That was a first for me. People talking about you as the highest-paid player and hence the expectations were a lot higher. And then I didn’t really do as well as I should have, as I could have, maybe. But I think I have passed that phase for sure.Did you get carried away? Not really. The personality that I have, I won’t get carried away by the money or be less focused. It was just the expectations that I had for myself: I wanted to be the standout player in every game, I was asking too much from myself. That was the only burden I had. There was no burden from the franchise owners or the other people who mattered. I was just expecting of myself to be the best in every game that I played. That does not really happen in a T20 game, being a fast bowler. So I have been able to come out of that for sure, to understand that it does not matter what expectations off me are, it does not provide any extra advantage in any fashion. I am focused, determined, dedicated. This time I want to enjoy my game.BCCISo you have clarity of mind of now? Yes. It is about being in that mental space where you are not just enjoying your cricket but things outside, too. Life has been pretty good, pretty simple, the way I want it to be. It is about giving it all out there on the field and not really worrying about the criticism that happens.Who helped you through that phase when you were feeling down? At times you feel alone, you need someone to give you words of motivation. I was in that situation after last IPL. I talked to my [elder sister], one of my friends, an Indian Police Service officer herself, to cope with the pressure. But my mother, Nayna, was really the person who eased the pressures. Me, my friends and other members of my family were worried about me not living up to expectations in the last IPL. But my mom was the least worried. She told me if Sachin [Tendulkar] can get out on zero so you, too, can get hit for some runs in some games.ALSO READ: Decoding the mystery: Who is Varun Chakravarthy? The fact that franchises are spending big money on you suggests they have confidence in you. What are the strengths they are investing in? The biggest strength I have is the ability to bowl in any situation in a T20 game: to bowl at death, to bowl initially with the new ball, mix it up [in the middle overs]. The versatility I have in my bowling suits this format. To me that [the franchises’ faith in me] was a confidence booster. I can get as much confidence as I want from the franchise believing in me and my ability. It is up to me how much I can keep enjoying my game. There was no one else but myself to blame for putting that pressure on myself [last time]. I am not going to do it this time. There has to be something in me that the franchise is having that belief again.You are back with Royals. Do you owe them anything? Obviously, yes. Based on the talks when Rajasthan Royals released me, I was pretty sure they were going to bid for me again. The management wanted to get me back cheaper [compared to the January auction]. I owe them for that belief and confidence they have in me.
Leeds United were relegated back down to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 campaign as their three-year stay in the Premier League came crashing to an end.
The Whites had achieved survival under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons respectively, before a mixture of Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce combined to fail to win enough points to avoid the drop last term.
German head coach Daniel Farke was appointed as the club's new head coach over the summer and the former Norwich City tactician was backed throughout the transfer window with nine new signings.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
He was able to bring in Joel Piroe, Sam Byram, Ilia Gruev, Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow, and Glen Kamara on permanent deals, whilst Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, and Jaidon Anthony arrived on loans from Tottenham and Bournemouth respectively.
These signings have played their part to help Leeds to enjoy a strong start to the second division season. The Whites are currently third after 16 matches and eight points off the automatic promotion places.
Farke has the team competing at the right end of the table but, as it stands, they will have to go through the lottery of the play-offs unless they close the gap on the top two.
Failure to win promotion could be damaging for Leeds for a number of reasons; one of which being that top-flight clubs could look to snap up their best talents.
Leeds transfer news – Archie Gray
It was recently reported by The Daily Mail that Premier League giants Liverpool are eyeing up academy graduate Archie Gray ahead of a possible swoop for his services next summer.
The outlet claimed that the Reds are preparing a bid to sign the 17-year-old gem at the end of the season, whilst Crystal Palace and Everton are also said to be keen on the talented teenager.
It is stated that Leeds currently value the central midfielder, who has been deployed at right-back in recent matches, at a minimum of £40m and could demand up to £50m for him.
His current contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and the Whites could have a decision to make if they fail to win promotion and the player opts against putting pen to paper on an extension, as he would only have 12 months left to run on his deal next summer.
Archie Gray for Leeds United against Millwall.
Whilst this is potentially concerning news for Leeds and the supporters, as Premier League clubs are eyeing up their supreme young talent, it should also be looked at as a positive.
It shows that they have an exceptional 17-year-old ace who is playing well enough to attract interest from a European giant, as well as two other top-flight teams.
The minimum £40m valuation that Leeds have on Gray's head also shows that the club have played a masterclass with the versatile gem, who they brought in for £0 as an academy gem.
Gray's academy statistics for Leeds
He progressed through the youth ranks at Elland Road and scored two goals in 11 U18 appearances for the Whites before his U21 breakthrough.
Gray then made a name for himself with the U21s as he racked up two goals and five assists across 26 matches in all competitions, which included three assists in nine Premier League 2 games last term.
Leeds ace Archie Gray.
The teenage starlet showcased his potential against Tranmere in the EFL Trophy during the 2021/22 campaign. As per Sofascore, the talented whiz made three tackles, completed two dribbles, and created three chances for his teammates to earn a rating of 7/10.
He was named on the bench against Arsenal by Bielsa for a Premier League match at the age of 15 in December 2021, and appeared on the bench a further five times that term as a reward for his exploits at youth level.
Gray's first-team statistics for Leeds
The central midfielder had yet to make his first-team bow for Leeds ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and Farke has placed his faith in the academy graduate throughout the season so far.
Gray has already racked up 17 senior appearances in all competitions and has established himself as a key player for the German head coach.
Leeds midfielder Archie Gray.
The England U19 international, who was hailed as "impressive" by EFL pundit Sam Parkin earlier this term, has started 13 Championship matches so far and has caught the eye with his tough-tackling displays.
He currently ranks within the top 14% of his positional peers in the second tier for tackles (2.58) per 90, which shows that the young gem has excelled at making challenges to win possession back for his side on a regular basis.
The exciting young talent has shown strength beyond his years with a duel success rate of 54% across his 15 league outings for the Whites.
Opposition players have not been able to get the better of him more often than not to dominate the 17-year-old from a physical perspective, which is a credit to his intelligent positioning and work in the gym to handle the step up in physicality from academy to first-team football.
Gray's performance against Plymouth in numbers
His most recent performance against Plymouth showcased his defensive qualities as the teenage ace lined up at right-back and produced a solid display.
Gray played the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 win, as Leeds head into the international break on a high, and made three tackles and won seven of his 13 ground duels throughout the match.
Along with his defensive contributions, the academy graduate completed 90% of his attempted passes, created one chance for his teammates, and completed two of his attempted dribbles over the 90 minutes.
These statistics show that the English dynamo made an impact in and out of possession as he used his composure and quality in possession to be a reliable outlet for the team on the right, to go along with his tough-tackling display off the ball.
Statistic
Gray in the EFL Cup 23/24 (via Sofascore)
Appearances
Two
Sofascore rating
7.4
Pass accuracy
93%
Tackles
Six
Ball recoveries
11
Chances created
Three
Overall, Gray has been an excellent option for Farke in midfield and at right-back and, therefore, it is no surprise to see him attracting interest from elsewhere.
For now, though, Leeds must take it as a compliment and be proud of the work they have done with the teenage maestro as they have, as it stands, turned an academy graduate who cost them nothing into a player they value at £40m or more.
Liverpool travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United in the Premier League tomorrow evening, with Jurgen Klopp's side sure to be in high spirits after a remarkable comeback victory against Fulham.
Securing victory at Anfield ensured that Liverpool stayed hot on the trail of table-toppers Arsenal, with Manchester City's draw against Tottenham Hotspur meaning that the Reds have advanced to second place after 14 matches.
The midweek fixture does mean that Klopp will be expected to field a rotated side, especially with the lunchtime trip to London on Saturday to face off against Crystal Palace.
Dropping points could be detrimental in the title race, however, with the Gunners performing at such a high standard and City still favourites to defend their seat at the head of the table, despite a recent decline in form.
As such, Football FanCast predicts that the Reds will make three changes from the team that sank Fulham a few days ago…
1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Alisson is set to return to action soon after injuring himself against Man City, but Wednesday's match comes too soon for the imperious shot-stopper.
Caioimhin Kelleher has been a competent No. 2 for Liverpool but was left red-faced after two meek attempts at stopping the Cottagers from scoring on Sunday.
You can't help but feel that Alisson would've prevented such attempts, but the Irish star is more than capable of making up for it in Sheffield.
2 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Wow. What else is there to say? Trent Alexander-Arnold will start; of course he will. Liverpool's creative "genius" – as he has been called by reporter Neil Jones – produced an incredible display of offensive quality and resilience to ensure that Liverpool emerged victorious last time out.
It feels as if the England international is moving inexorably toward the centre of the park permanently, but that hasn't happened yet, and he will assume the right-back role from the outset. As per usual.
Once described as a “monster” by journalist Charlotte Coates, Ibrahima Konate has largely been impressive for the Redmen since signing from RB Leipzig for £36m in 2021.
Restricted to just five Premier League starts in 2023/24, the £70k-per-week Frenchman will now hope that fitness prevails, with Joel Matip expected to be sidelined for a while after injuring his knee on Sunday.
4 CB – Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk has been utterly magnificent this season, commanding the troops with superlative leadership and protecting the goal with staggering defensive displays.
The 32-year-old Anfield captain has won 76% of his duels in the Premier League this season, underscoring the irreplaceable value he offers in the rearguard.
5 LB – Joe Gomez
Kostas Tsimikas has deputised at left-back since Andy Robertson sustained a long-term shoulder injury on international duty with Scotland in October, supplying three assists from seven games.
However, the Greek international might be due a break and, as such, Joe Gomez could deputise in the unfamiliar role as he did against Luton Town in October.
Not exactly setting the world alight during that 1-1 draw, the 26-year-old was at least industrious and won six ground duels and completed 91% of his passes.
6 DM – Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister got off the mark for Liverpool on his 17th appearance against Fulham, and what a way to get off the mark, rifling his effort from range to leave Marco Silva's side incredulously looking on.
The Argentinian midfielder continues to serve in the deep-lying midfield role, perhaps wishing to play further forward, but he is doing so with superlative commitment and application, and he will continue to thread Klopp's team together tomorrow.
Dominik Szoboszlai has seen a dip in performance over recent weeks after such an emphatic start to life on Merseyside, but the Hungary captain remains the key component in Klopp's engine room.
Crossing
Key passes
Through balls
Passing
Dribbling
Ball retention
Long shots
Set-piece delivery
Defensive contribution
Concentration
*Sourced via WhoScored
Dubbed an "artist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Szoboszlai will be desperate to produce a statement showing against Sheffield United.
8 CM – Ryan Gravenberch
wataru-endo-ryan-gravenberch-liverpool-opinion
Ryan Gravenberch signed for Liverpool from Bayern Munich for £34m in August, and has left supporters more than a little excited with his progressive, penetrative displays in the centre.
As per FBref, the 21-year-old ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and blocks, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.
The myriad of qualities within his skill set should contribute to a harsh winter night for the hosts, who might struggle to subdue the dynamic midfielder.
9 RW – Mohamed Salah
luis-diaz-mohamed-salah-liverpool-opinion
Could Bramall Lane be the ground to host Mohamed Salah's 200th goal in a Liverpool shirt? It would be a safe bet, no doubt. The Egyptian forward is the lifeforce in attack, when he's in the mood for goals, defenders are seldom equipped to hinder his flow; when he's not, his incredible creativity allows teammates to thrive.
The 31-year-old has posted 13 goals and six assists across all competitions this term, though, interestingly, he has just one goal and zero assists from four matches against the Blades.
10 LW – Luis Diaz
takumi-minamino-luis-diaz-liverpool-opinion
Luis Diaz failed to add to his five-goal haul this season during the weekend thriller, but certainly not for want of trying, with the Colombian's piercing presence on the left flank causing all sorts of problems. As per Sofascore, Diaz hit the target four times and created two key passes – lively as ever.
Bottom-placed Sheffield United, who have shockingly conceded 39 times in the Premier League, might not have the same degree of fortitude.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are enjoying more down time between Al-Nassr fixtures, with a clinch shared during a visit to “paradise”.
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Portuguese superstar serving a banMaking the most of enforced breakWill be back in action on May 1WHAT HAPPENED?
The Portuguese superstar and his influencer partner continue to make the most of life in the Saudi Arabian sunshine. They are living the dream, with white sandy beaches and clear blue seas on their doorstep. Those surroundings allow for plenty of relaxing and unwinding to be taken in.
AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Ronaldo and Georgina have been soaking up the rays once again with no professional commitments to contend with at present. Al-Nassr claimed a 3-1 win over Al Feiha in the Pro League on Friday, with CR7 sitting that game out through suspension.
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Ronaldo picked up a red card in Al-Nassr’s Super Cup semi-final defeat to Al-Hilal, meaning that he must serve a two-match ban. That means he will not be back in action until facing Al-Khaleej in the King Cup of Champions semi-finals on May 1 – allowing a “paradise” break to be enjoyed with Georgina.
Defending Premier League champions and treble-winners Manchester City welcome this season's surprise package, Tottenham Hotspur, to the Etihad for Super Sunday's marquee game this weekend.
It will be the 170th meeting between the two sides in all competitions, and despite fantastic starts to their respective campaigns, both teams will be looking to bounce back from disappointing outings last weekend.
Had this game come just four weeks ago, it could have been the Lilywhites who were favourites ahead of this clash thanks to their almost perfect start that saw them draw one and win eight of their opening nine games of the season.
However, three losses on the bounce have left Ange Postecoglou's men down in fifth and with Pep Guardiola's side currently occupying second spot on the table, they have got to be considered the favourites for this tie.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has provided you with everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's big game.
Match Summary
Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 3rd December at 16:30 GMT
Manchester City manager PepGuardiola
Tottenham will be backed by a large and very loud set of fans on Sunday as the club have been given an allocation of 3065 tickets in the away end, which should help to create a cracking atmosphere in City's 53,400 capacity Etihad.
The visitors will go into the game off the back of three defeats in a row, with Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa putting eight past them in those games to their three in return.
This poor run of form has been partly down to their ever-growing injury list, with James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur and many others out until the new year at the earliest.
The hosts will be heading into the game off the back of two league draws, one with Liverpool last weekend and one with Chelsea just before the international break.
The game kicks off at 4.30pm on Sunday evening and should be a brilliant watch for fans and neutrals.
City
DDWWW
Spurs
LLLWW
Where to watch on UK TV
Sky Sports & NOW TV
Sky Sports will broadcast the game as part of their Super Sunday programming, with the match being shown on their Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League TV channels.
The game will also be available for Sky Go customers, who can watch the action from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
For those without a Sky Sports subscription, have no fear. The game can also be watched via NOW TV, and you don't even need a monthly subscription to do so.
The service offers a one-day pass for £11.98, allowing you to watch Sky Sports for the day across multiple devices, such as phones, tablets, computers and game consoles.
There is also a month-long option for £34.99 should you wish to watch any other games this month.
Live Football Streams: Watch Premier League, Championship, La Liga & more
All the fixtures and channels to watch live football on TV this week can be found here.
ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025 Last meeting
5th February 2023: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester City
Due to the fixture congestion of last season, City and Spurs actually played their two Premier League fixtures within the space of about three weeks, and while the defending champions won the first game at the Etihad, it was Antonio Conte's men that emerged victorious in the reverse fixture.
The Italian manager wasn't actually at the game, though, as he was undergoing Gallbladder surgery. That said, his absence seemed to have little effect on his side – which might help explain his sacking – and the Lilywhites played out a professional 1-0 win over their northern opponents.
However, for as fantastic a win as it was, the headlines were reserved for one man that night: Harry Kane. The Englishman's 15th-minute goal was the goal that made him Tottenham's outright all-time leading goalscorer, just ahead of the late great Jimmy Greaves.
It was a hard-fought win, though, as Christian Romero got himself sent off in the 87th minute, leaving his teammates to defend for their lives in the closing stages of the encounter.
Can the north Londoners come away with another 1-0 win this weekend, or will Guardiola's men get their revenge?
Players to watch
Erling Haaland, Son Heung-Min, Jeremy Doku, Guglielmo Vicario
Player
Team
Goals
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
14
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
10
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham United
8
Son Heung-Min
Tottenham Hotspur
8
Hwang Hee-Chan
Wolverhampton Wanderers
7
Manchester City – Jeremy Doku: City's new boy, Doku, has only been in the league for a few months now, but he is already filling full-backs and centre-halfs with fear every time they see him hurtling down the wing.
In his eight Premier League starts this season, he has scored two goals and provided five assists, won four Man of the Match awards and averaged a match rating of 7.71, per WhoScored.
You can never quite tell who Guardiola will start on the wings for City, but with Tottenham's incredibly high line and severe lack of defensive depth, we can see the Belgian causing mayhem out wide.
Erling Haaland: Come one, who else could it have been? While it can be hard to predict City's starting XI week from week, the one thing you can guarantee is that if Erling Haaland is fit, he'll start.
The Norwegian goal machine has continued where he left off last season, has already crossed the fifty-goal mark in the league, and is well on his way to scoring 30-40 this year, so long as he stays fit.
The idea of Haaland playing against a back four comprised of full-backs should worry Spurs fans, but who knows, maybe Postecoglou has something up his sleeve for the league's top scorer.
Tottenham Hotspur – Son Heung-Min: If Tottenham are going to come away from the Etihad with all three points, then they will need Son Hung-Min to fire on all cylinders.
The South Korean international has become the club's captain this season, and so far, he is doing a great job. However, with no goals in his last three games, he'll need to step up once again in Manchester.
Guglielmo Vicario: It's usually not a good sign to have a goalkeeper in a ones-to-watch section, but Spurs' new Italian shot-stopper has been exemplary between the sticks lately.
He was the team's best player against Chelsea, and while he let in four goals by the end, it would have been significantly more than that if another number one was in his place.
He'll once again need to be in fine form on Sunday if Tottenham are to get anything from this game, as you can be sure that City will be peppering his goal with shots as his team press on with their high line.
Predicted Lineups
Yves Bissouma returns and Jeremy Doku starts
Yves Bissouma.
Spurs are in the midst of an injury crisis, and unfortunately for Postecoglou, it's not one that his squad can handle.
Latest Tottenham injury news, expected return dates, suspensions
FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Spurs news involving injuries as they prepare to take on Chelsea.
ByMark Marston May 4, 2024
They have been reduced to their barebones and, with little to no defensive cover, he opted to field four full-backs against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Rodrigo Bentancur is the latest player to join the ever-growing injury list as he hobbled off in what was his first start since February. However, they will have Yves Bissoumma back after he served his one-match ban against Villa.
City are in a much better place injury-wise, but they are still without their talismanic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, former Chelsea man Mateo Kovacic and summer signing Matheus Nunes.
Possible Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie; Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso; Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Bryan Gil; Son Heung-Min.
Possible Manchester City XI: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Rúben Dias, Nathan Ake; Rodri, Manuel Akanji; Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland.
Premier League Table
Second vs fifth
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
As things stand, Manchester City are second in the table and just a single point behind league leaders Arsenal, but they have a better goal difference than the Gunners.
Guardiola's men are three points better off than Tottenham at the moment, which translates to three places on the league table as the Lilywhites are down in fifth after spending most of the first third of the campaign top.
Worryingly for Postecoglou's men, Manchester United are only two points behind them going into this week, while Newcastle United are only three behind.
A loss against City could see them tumble further down the table and end the weekend in sixth place, depending on their result and the outcome of the Manchester United vs Newcastle game.
Leeds United went through a big summer of change as they employed a new head coach and oversaw a shake-up of their playing squad after relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites ended their three-year stay in the top-flight and were tasked with building a squad to compete at Championship level in order to bounce back at the first attempt.
German head coach Daniel Farke was brought in and had to contend with a host of first-team players being moved out of the door, either permanently or on loan.
The likes of Max Wober, Robin Koch, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, and Luis Sinisterra, among others, all found new clubs for the 2023/24 campaign.
Former Leeds forward Rodrigo.
However, that allowed the ex-Norwich City boss to bring in some of his own additions. Joel Piroe, Jaidon Anthony, Djed Spence, Glen Kamara, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, Ilia Gruev, and Sam Byram were all snapped up to bolster the squad.
They have helped Leeds to sit third in the table after 16 matches but the club may already have one eye on the January transfer window, particularly in regard to who could leave the club.
Wilfried Gnonto is one player who they could end up being without after there was plenty of speculation over his future earlier this year, which may lead to them needing an heir to his position in the squad – one that could be taken by academy starlet Sean McGurk.
Leeds transfer news – Wilfried Gnonto
The Italy international handed in a transfer request during the summer transfer window as he attempted to force through a move away from Yorkshire.
It was reported that the player was unhappy at being denied an exit from the club as Premier League side Everton were attempted to snap him up.
The Toffees reportedly made a bid in excess of £25m but that was not enough to tempt the Whites into cashing in on the young gem as they opted to end negotiations with the top-flight side.
Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto.
Due to that situation, Gnonto was not involved in matches against Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and West Bromwich Albion earlier this season before being reintegrated into the squad after the speculation settled down.
More recently, the former Inter prospect did laugh off, via Instagram, a rumour that he was unhappy with his lack of game time so far this season.
However, when asked about the player's future ahead of the turn of the year, Farke decided not to comment on any speculation and, in doing so, did not rule out a possible exit.
It now remains to be seen whether or not the Italian gem will be a Leeds player come February 2024 but, in McGurk, the Leeds head coach already has a talented prospect who could step up to provide a replacement from within the club if Gnonto does move on.
Sean McGurk's season in numbers
The 20-year-old magician is a versatile forward, like the current first-team ace, who can be deployed on either flank or through the middle as a number ten or centre-forward.
This means that Farke has the scope to utilise him in a variety of ways and is not restricted to only being able to call upon him in one specific role within the XI, which could increase the youngster's chances of making a breakthrough at senior level.
He has already racked up an eye-catching eight goals and five assists in 13 U21 matches in all competitions for the Whites so far this season, which works out as a goal contribution every game on average for the talented prodigy.
McGurk has stepped up his game after a return of three goals and three assists in 17 Premier League 2 outings for the U21 side throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
Appearances
Five
44
Goals
Three
Ten
Assists
One
Six
The former Wigan dynamo, whose "terrific" finish was once hailed by ex-boss Nick Chadwick, has already managed an impressive four goals and two assists in eight Premier League 2 appearances so far this term.
This shows that the superb winger is improving with time and experience at that level as his output at the top end of the pitch has increased significantly from last season to this.
He is yet to make his senior bow for Leeds but his outstanding form for the U21s suggests that the potential is there for the terrific Thorp Arch whiz to become an excellent option for Farke if he can translate those performances to the first-team in the future.
Gnonto moving on in January, for example, could provide the manager with an opportunity to hand McGurk a chance to see whether or not the academy starlet has what it takes to make the step up.
Gnonto's goal record for Leeds
It is worth reiterating, once again, that there is no guarantee that the Italian ace will secure a transfer away from Elland Road ahead of the second half of the season.
However, his statistics over the past 18 months or so do not suggest that it will be an unreasonable ask of McGurk to replicate his level of impact in the final third, given what the young gem has produced for the U21s.
Gnonto arrived from Zurich on a permanent basis ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and went on to rack up two goals and four assists in the Premier League for Leeds last season.
The 20-year-old forward has not found the drop down to the Championship much easier to deal with, though, as he has managed one goal and one assist in ten appearances so far this term.
Appearances
Ten
Sofascore rating
6.82
Goals
One
Assists
One
Key passes per game
0.5
Big chances created
Zero
As you can see in the table above, Gnonto has not made a significant impact at the top end of the pitch as the Everton target has not been a consistent scorer or creator of goals for Farke.
This suggests that Leeds' squad would not take a massive blow if they were to cash in on him for the aforementioned fee of £25m, particularly when they have a player of McGurk's potential quality to step up and be the heir to his position at Elland Road.