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MCC’s incoming president on the challenge of engaging with Tech Titans, and opening Lord’s up to state schools

Andrew Miller11-Nov-2025″For a lot of my life, I’ve been a little bit unsure about spending so much time thinking about sport,” says Ed Smith, the newly installed president of a 238-year-old sporting institution. “Is it disproportionate, should I do something else? Actually, the way things have gone in the last 15 years, I feel that sport really has never been more important, more useful, if that doesn’t sound too utilitarian.”There’s plenty to unpick in that soundbite from Smith, the former national selector whose latest role in cricket would appear to be rather more ceremonial in nature. After all, the list of his predecessors as MCC president reads like a print-out of Burke’s Peerage – among them, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who served two terms in 1949 and 1974. With the greatest respect to the status of Smith’s new office, utilitarian principles haven’t traditionally seemed like a key criterion at Lord’s.And yet, it’s hard to imagine many more fascinating years to be at the helm of Marylebone Cricket Club, the modernisation of which has been one of English cricket’s subplots for decades. The club’s reputation may have been built on exclusivity, but the current remit is to broaden its appeal – and 2026 promises progress on two distinct, but complementary, fronts.First, there are the implications of the Hundred equity sale. In commanding an astronomical valuation of £295 million, MCC’s co-owned franchise, London Spirit, has demonstrated – in stark, financial terms – the central importance of Lord’s to the whole edifice of English cricket. Without the history and prestige of its grandest ground, the sport in this country would be significantly diminished.At the opposite end of the pyramid, meanwhile, there is next year’s maiden staging of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, a newly conceived state-schools competition that will culminate in a Finals Day for boy’s and girl’s teams at Lord’s in September, and has already attracted entries from 1,084 teams across 750 schools, or one in five in the country.Smith served as England’s national selector from 2018 to 2021•Getty ImagesBetween these two apparent extremes sits Smith, with his remit to be a forward-facing, welcoming ambassador for the club – very much a non-executive, but a potentially crucial executor of MCC’s soft power, as it were.”I don’t like the word brand, but there is a brand power to Lord’s, and I would love that to be used for good and to widen access to cricket,” Smith tells ESPNcricinfo. “I’m very excited to do what I can do, and hopefully we can do a little bit of good in a year.”He pushes back at the suggestion that his role will mainly entail “pressing flesh” with the rich and famous who cross his path in the pavilion and president’s box. However, he doesn’t entirely dismiss the importance of his hosting role, particularly when it comes to engaging with the tech entrepreneurs who coughed up £145 million for their 49% share in London Spirit, and who are likely to pop along at some stage next summer to savour the spoils of their investment. To give him the credit that his intellectual reputation has earned, he potentially offers a higher-brow level of small talk than some of his forebears.”Yes, watching cricket at Lord’s with very interesting people is one of the things that happens in a president’s year,” he says. “People love coming to Lord’s – its draw has been clear in the partnership with the Tech Titans – so that’s not to be underestimated, even though there’s more to it than that.”Having spent a bit of time with some of them over the summer, I think they’re keen on winning and growing the franchise, and having some fun too. And there’s a fast-tracking potential here for some really exciting innovations, just because of the people involved and their opportunity to have a canvas.Related

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“It’s a really exciting partnership, but I’m just keen to get stuck in and do some hard graft behind the scenes, and not just on the major match days.”It’s clear, however, that Smith’s main passion for the coming year lies at the grassroots end of the club – in particular, making sure that the inaugural Knight-Stokes Cup is as much of a success as it needs to be.”I come from a family of teachers,” he says. “Both my grandfathers were state-school head teachers, and my mum’s dad founded a secondary modern school in 1953 outside Bristol. He’d lock his office door and go and roll the cricket square, because he believed you build a school’s community and identity through doing things together. Sport is one of, if not the pre-eminent, way of coming together as a community.”He accepts, however, that the world has moved on since the 1950s, and that harking back to times long gone is clearly not the way to resolve the disconnect that has opened up between the nation’s summer sport and its largest pools of future fans and players.”There are all sorts of ways in which teachers’ time has become precious,” Smith says. “Their roles have become much more regulated, what they do is much more scrutinised by the state. However, the need for them to do lots of different things hasn’t gone away, and amid the rise of smartphone addiction and social media, I think this is the moment for us to restate the case for sport in education.London Spirit was the most sought-after franchise in the Hundred equity sale•ECB/Getty Images”People being distracted is a commercial driver of a lot of modern life. Sport is a way that we can lose ourselves in play, while also pursuing mastery. Whether you end up being very good or no good at all doesn’t really matter. If you’re lost in doing something, and the concentration and the absorption that comes with that, then you’re probably going to get an awful lot out of it.”Smith has a vested interest in the debate, seeing as his own son and daughter, aged 12 and 9, are budding cricketers whose school was one of the first to sign up for the regional qualifiers.”It was great to see the excitement that comes from a good idea that’s been well launched,” he says. “To see that interest and excitement in young peoples’ faces at home on that first day was great, and shows what can be done.”Let’s be realistic. No one believes it’s the total solution to nurturing, reigniting and elevating cricket in state schools. There need to be other contributions from other perspectives, whether that’s the state, whether that’s the schools themselves, whether that’s counties running their pathways.”There’s lots of different pieces that have to come together if there’s going to be a real transformation. But this is a very good contribution, it’s a start that everyone at the MCC is really determined to build on, and I’ll be doing everything I can to support it this year.”It should be said, there has been a certain degree of revisionism regarding the origins of the Knight-Stokes Cup. From the outset last summer, and in subsequent communications from the club, the project has been framed as an MCC-led initiative when, in fact, the creation of a “national Under-15 state school finals’ day for boys and girls” was one of the specific recommendations of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), whose damning report in 2023 castigated English cricket in general, and MCC in particular, for institutional “sexism, classism and elitism”.Smith doesn’t dispute that the club is still playing catch-up in terms of its public image (he unapologetically ducks the thorny issue of Eton-Harrow, stating that it falls outside the remit of his one-year term). He does, however, point out that MCC has long had genuine advocates for state-school cricket among its leadership: most notably, Mark Nicholas, the club chair, and Lord King of Lothbury, his own predecessor as president.In 2005, those two (along with the former Worcestershire chair Duncan Fearnley) were co-founders of the charity Chance to Shine, which has taken cricket back into hundreds of primary schools in the intervening 20 years, and given a first taste of the sport to literally millions of pupils.

“Amid the rise of smartphone addiction and social media, I think this is the moment for us to restate the case for sport in education”Smith is an enthusiastic advocate of MCC’s new state-schools competition, the Knight-Stokes Cup

“There’s obviously a huge amount more for the game to do, I don’t think anyone doubts that,” Smith says, “but they’ve done so much to get cricket bats into the hands of boys and girls at a really young age, and help them fall in love with the game.”We often talk about sport at the sharp end – what it looks like by the time it’s very visible to us, and when it’s manifested as elite teams and national teams. But of course, all that relies on what happens beneath the waterline of the iceberg, and the health of the game more generally.”Some of that, Smith adds, was on display at the MCC Foundation’s national hubs final in September. It was the fifth such staging of a competition that attracted teams from 164 regional sites across the country, and for whom the prospect of competing at such a prestigious venue was a significant drawcard.”I attended the finals day at Lord’s with my family, and I was partly watching the cricket and partly watching the crowd,” he says. “Whether it was a player or a parent, or a sibling, or a supporter, I watched them file out of the ground, and I saw a lot of smiles on a lot of faces. Your expectation is that their love of cricket would be deeper and stronger after that day. That’s one of the things that Lord’s can do.”Plenty other issues will fall across Smith’s desk in the course of his presidency. In particular, there’s the juicy prospect of the maiden Hundred auction in March – an event that surely cannot help but whet the appetite of a former England selector? On the contrary, he’s keen to be respectful of his designated place within the club structure.”I’m very interested in recruitment and selection, but the people who are living it every day are the best in the business,” he says, deferring to London Spirit’s management duo of Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, who will take charge of all such matters. “I’ve got a lot going on, and hopefully I can add value as president, but in a good organisation, you want people to be given clear authority and role clarity about what they’re up to.”

The India captain has been in the spotlight off the field, but his returns on it are dwindling

Shashank Kishore27-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

Suryakumar Yadav’s last act on the field against Sri Lanka on Friday was a punch through the covers to seal India’s victory in the Super Over. But before that moment of assurance at the finish, he had seemed like a man just beginning to be affected by his poor form.During India’s first innings, Suryakumar had chosen to review an lbw decision against him despite knowing that it was almost certainly out. One of T20 cricket’s most feared batters had scores of only 0, 5 and 12 in his last three innings at the Asia Cup.His performance in this tournament is in keeping with a pool of scores that is hard-hitting. In ten innings this year, India’s T20I captain has managed just 99 runs with three ducks, while striking at 110. Go back further, from just after India’s T20 World Cup win in June 2024 to now, his numbers get only marginally better: 329 runs in 19 innings with two half-centuries.Related

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There doesn’t seem to be an apparent weakness or loophole in his game, though his propensity to premeditate – like that pick-up flick he plays nonchalantly – has caused his downfall a few times in this Asia Cup alone. Away from the glare of the game, there seems to be no issue with Suryakumar’s batting. He’s striking the ball sweetly at training, but that fluency has been missing on match days. This lean run has come at a time when the spotlight is on him for different reasons – for his gestures, expressions, comments, press conference quips, and the biggest of them all, handshake-gate. There have been disciplinary hearings off the field and drastic batting-order shuffles on it.On Friday, Suryakumar had an opportunity to find his rhythm in a dead rubber, but he flickered before fizzling out for 12 off 13 balls. An on-the-up cover drive for four off Maheesh Theekshana was as good as it got. He kept getting beaten while playing down the wrong line. A nip backer from Dushmantha Chameera beat his inside edge, and he got a leading edge over point off a slower one.Suryakumar Yadav fell for another low score against Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty ImagesSuryakumar’s first attempt at a sweep also resulted in a leading edge on to the grille of his helmet as he misread the length. He was lbw in the same over, premeditating a sweep against Wanindu Hasaraga, getting caught in a tangle and hit flush on the pad by a full delivery. He walked off tossing his bat, with a rueful look up to the sky.His only significant innings in this tournament was in the group game against Pakistan, when he struck an unbeaten 47, finishing the chase with a six and walking off with his usual gum-chewing swagger. That knock barely registered because the discourse was dominated by handshake-gate.Through all this, his commitment to his team’s needs has not wavered. He’s been the loudest advocate for flexibility in batting roles, that everyone below the openers must be ready to move up or down. Against Oman, Suryakumar chose to push himself down to No. 11, giving the likes of Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav time in the middle instead.Thirteen T20I innings without a fifty is uncharted territory. Suryakumar endured barren series in South Africa and at home against England, but had a blazing IPL before this Asia Cup. He amassed 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91 for Mumbai Indians, scoring 25-plus in 16 consecutive innings, which is why the continued downturn in international cricket is a surprise.After the Super Four game against Pakistan, Suryakumar made headlines for his proclamation that India vs Pakistan is no longer a rivalry. For all his chatter and quips, nothing will speak louder than runs in Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan.

The allrounder overcame a blow to the forearm and spent a lengthy stint in the middle then Cooper Connolly ensured against late alarms

Tristan Lavalette31-Oct-2025Cameron Green has been “hitting intensity” in training as he ramps up his bowling loads, but it remains unclear whether he will have an overs-restriction in his expected return to bowling in the next Sheffield Shield round.Green played as a specialist batter in Western Australia’s drawn Shield match against South Australia at the WACA. Batting in his preferred No. 4 spot, Green gave WA some hope of chasing down the 303-run target before he unluckily fell for 41 after a dubious caught behind decision.Immediately after the match ended due to bad light, Green had a 30-minute bowl in the middle of the WACA until rain fell on the ground.Related

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Green has bowled just four overs since returning from back surgery. He is likely to play as an allrounder in WA’s next Shield match against Queensland at the WACA starting on November 11 although he might be placed under bowling restrictions.”We’ll just make sure he can bowl first and then we’ll work that bit out,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “My hope is that he’ll be able to play as an allrounder the next game. He’s still building nicely. From what we’ve seen in the nets, he’s hitting intensity.”Green did get some quality batting time at the crease after making a duck in the first innings in his return from side soreness that ruled him out of the India ODI series. He faced 108 balls, his longest stint in the middle since the third Test against the West Indies in July.Green was in command and appeared unaffected after copping a stinging blow in the left forearm by quick Henry Thornton. He was eventually adjudged caught behind off a length delivery from Liam Scott that he tried to fend away from his body.Green threw his head back in disappointment at the decision following a half-hearted appeal from South Australia.Cameron Green inspects his arm after a blow from Henry Thornton•Getty ImagesAfter the match appeared destined for a draw, there was a late twist when Aaron Hardie and Joel Curtis fell in quick succession to Scott. But Cooper Connolly held firm with an unbeaten half-century to ensure WA avoided a third consecutive defeat to start the season. It capped a strong allround performance for Connolly, who also claimed two wickets in South Australia’s second innings.With the pitch flattening out as the match wore on, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney opted for caution and declared 30 minutes before lunch. Their hopes of an unlikely victory rested on spearhead Brendan Doggett, who produced a spectacular delivery to dismiss captain Sam Whiteman before being thwarted by Green and Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58.Doggett finished with seven wickets for the match in his return from a hamstring injury, with his only previous game this season being in the One-Day Cup on September 20.With relentless accuracy and menacing movement, Doggett showed why he is likely to be a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been on the fringes for the past 12 months.”I think he would be around the mark for the squad, it’s nice to see him come out and bowl like he did,” South Australia coach Ryan Harris said.After taking six wickets in WA’s first innings to claw South Australia back into the match, Doggett again loomed as South Australia’s talismanic figure. He stepped up in his first over to knock over Whiteman, who shouldered arms only to watch in horror as the ball swung back wickedly to hit the top of the off stump.All eyes were on Green, who entered at 37 for 2 early in the second session after Hilton Cartwright on 12 drove straight to mid-on. Green was rock solid and locked in as gleaned by his routine of stepping to the side and looking up at three of the WACA’s massive light towers after every delivery.Green had most of the strike and took his time, scoring just 8 off his first 32 balls. Bancroft appeared to be cruising towards a brisk half-century until Thornton bent his back and produced a hostile spell. But Thornton was left despondent when he had two big shouts against Bancroft turned down.Thornton then whacked Green’s forehand, with medical attention needed. But Green shrugged off any concern with several delightful strokes to give WA renewed enthusiasm heading into tea.Bancroft reached his half-century on resumption, but fell shortly after when he cut straight to Conor McInerney who juggled the catch at gully. Quick Nathan McAndrew resorted to a short-ball tactic against a patient Green, who did not bite but WA’s task proved beyond them as the match inevitably headed towards a draw.The result leaves the teams, who have won the last four Shield titles, still winless after three rounds.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly locked horns in a battle to sign Liga de Quito’s 16-year-old sensation Ederson Castillo. The midfielder has attracted serious interest from the European heavyweights after dazzling displays at youth level, though they face stiff competition from Atlético de Madrid and Anderlecht who are also tracking his progress.

European giants circle Ecuadorian wonderkid

According to reports emanating from and , the teenage midfielder has become the primary target for a host of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Castillo, who is currently plying his trade with Liga de Quito (LDU), has seen his stock rise meteorically following a breakthrough campaign with the youth sides.

Despite being just 16 years of age, he was an instrumental figure in LDU’s recent triumph in the Ecuadorian U-19 tournament. His performances were marked by a maturity that belies his years, prompting the club’s hierarchy to invite him to train with the senior squad on multiple occasions. Reports indicate that both United and Bayern have moved to the front of the queue, registering concrete interest in the player as they look to secure his services before his valuation skyrockets. The battle for his signature is expected to be fierce, with European scouts now a regular presence at LDU's Pomasqui training complex, analysing every touch and pass the youngster makes as they prepare their final reports for club directors back in Manchester and Munich.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited and Bayern face stiff competition

While the financial might of United and Bayern often clears the field, this transfer battle is far from a two-horse race. Atlético de Madrid are reportedly monitoring Castillo closely. The Spanish giants, led by Diego Simeone, have a long history of success with South American players who possess the requisite grit and technical quality. 

Furthermore, Belgian outfit Anderlecht are firmly in the mix. While they cannot compete financially with the likes of United or Bayern, they offer a compelling sporting project: a proven pathway to first-team football in a development-friendly league. Anderlecht have already successfully recruited from Liga de Quito in the recent past, signing Nilson Angulo, which could give them a unique advantage in negotiations. The Belgian route is often seen as a smarter intermediate step for South American talents before making the jump to the Premier League or Bundesliga, allowing them to adapt to the European game away from the blinding spotlight of the very top tier.

Ecuador's golden generation spurs interest

This developing transfer saga is emblematic of a wider shift in the transfer market. Ecuador has rapidly established itself as the new "gold mine" for elite talent in South America. The unprecedented success of players like Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, and Pervis Estupinan in Europe’s top five leagues has convinced top clubs that the region is producing "best-in-class" athletes who can adapt physically and technically to the rigours of European football.

For United, a move for Castillo would be entirely consistent with the club’s revamped recruitment strategy under their new sporting structure. The Red Devils are keen to move away from paying exorbitant fees for established stars, focusing instead on identifying high-ceiling teenagers. Bayern share this philosophy, with their "Bayern Campus" project designed to integrate top international talents into the first team at a young age. Both clubs are desperate to find the "next Caicedo" at source, rather than paying a British record fee for him years later as Chelsea did.

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Getty Images SportFIFA regulations delay potential move

Despite the intense speculation, any potential deal for Castillo comes with a significant logistical caveat: FIFA’s regulations on the international transfer of minors. Under current rules, Castillo cannot officially register and play for a European club until he turns 18. This means that any agreement reached in the coming months would likely mirror the structure of Chelsea’s high-profile deal for Kendry Paez, who is now on loan at Strasbourg.

The fellow Ecuadorian wonderkid agreed to join the Blues at 15 but remained at Independiente del Valle to continue his development until he was old enough to move in June this year. For Castillo, a similar "pre-contract" arrangement is the most likely outcome. He would theoretically sign for a European giant but remain on loan at LDU for the next two years. This period would allow him to gain vital experience in the Ecuadorian Serie A and potentially the Copa Libertadores before crossing the Atlantic, ensuring he arrives in Europe ready to compete for a first-team place immediately. 

Deandra Dottin was among those battling injury but she was almost able to turn the game West Indies’ way

Shashank Kishore19-Oct-2024

Hayley Matthews tries to hide her emotions after the loss•ICC/Getty Images

Hayley Matthews’ face sank into her cap as tears ran down her cheeks. Stafanie Taylor had her eyes closed to prevent tears from gushing down. Deandra Dottin was aimlessly staring into the distance. Afy Fletcher was looking skywards and young Zaida James trying to console her. Chinelle Henry had her right eye covered with soft cotton and ice to reduce swelling.The common thread running through all of this: pain and raw emotions; the hurt of having stumbled with victory within their grasp was all too evident.West Indies came into this T20 World Cup as rank underdogs and remained that way until they bowed out. But in between, they displayed exemplary skill, the ability to adapt and play a flavor unique to them – one that Matthews had spoken of, time and again during the campaign. Of trying to “have fun” and “dance like the world ain’t watching.”Related

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It’s this attitude that heralded fearlessness and a turnaround from a 10-wicket hammering from South Africa in their opening game. It’s this enterprise and naked aggression, especially on the batting front, which sent England packing in a shootout. But by the time they got to the semi-final, it seemed as if the threshold of physical pain that they had to endure, which the fun element had largely help mask, left them running on fumes.Matthews was nursing a sore thumb after coping a hard knock at training. Zaida had just about recovered from a blow on the jaw and a bruising on her hand. Taylor had her right knee heavily taped, huffing and puffing her way between deliveries. Even a limp seemed to elicit excruciating pain but bailing out of it wasn’t an option. Her inability to run left the batters looking for the big shots that they couldn’t execute as often as they would’ve liked.This was evident never more prominently than it was between overs four to eight of their chase which brought West Indies just 11 runs. Singles had become non-existent because of Taylor’s injury, leaving her to rely on boundaries that led them both to take more risks.”She was battling soreness and pain, and she was just battling to get through it all the time,” head coach Shane Deitz said of Taylor. “It was amazing that she was able to come up today. She looked probably better than she did for the last few weeks. She really was mind over body. She gave everything and obviously couldn’t get so over the line. But she put everything in for the team, which we all respect and thank her for that.”Another player who was battling her way through the tournament was Dottin. The entire women’s cricket fraternity waited as she announced a much-awaited comeback after walking away from cricket “dishearten by the system”. Here she was, clutching her sides as she bowled, which Deitz later revealed was due to a side strain that she had been nursing all along.Deandra Dottin was so nearly the match winner for West Indies•Getty ImagesIt didn’t stop her from putting her hand up to bowl when asked to in a crunch game. Dottin’s four wickets were among the primary reasons why West Indies found themselves chasing only 129. Her lack of pace and cutters, while not fully a 100% bowling fit, told you of her determination to contribute. It was the kind of superhuman performance that can uplift a dressing room.Yet an hour later, it was Dottin who had to muscle the big sixes to get West Indies back into the chase with their asking rate creeping up. Dottin was on 7 off 10, showing no inkling of rhythm to her batting. Until she decided to hit her way out of trouble with a slog sweep shelled by Rosemary Mair at deep square leg. An over later, Dottin was once again let off the hook by Eden Carson off another slog. West Indies needed 64 off 36.You knew then Dottin stood in the way of New Zealand and a World Cup final. As if her bowling performance wasn’t enough, the ‘world boss’ still needed to deliver a blockbuster with the bat to give West Indies a chance. Despite those early struggles, Dottin had steely belief that she can hit the ball anywhere for six. It probably made her look at her dangerous best. When she muscled Lea Tahuhu for a 79-metre hit over the longest boundary to start the 16th, an over that went for three sixes, you wondered if the momentum had swung the West Indies way.Dottin had injected belief. It was as if a cheat code had been activated with a prompt to hit the ball far and long. But the physical toll it had taken on her had been so immense that when she was out to a top-edged a slog, it was as if she had only held up until then on adrenaline and nothing else.The shush in the West Indies camp was one of dejection. They needed 33 off 21, but it almost seemed as if the numbers were immaterial at that very moment. They eventually fell eight short – a margin they would’ve so easily covered up with two boundaries on another day. But this was knockout pressure, and a bandaged team willing themselves to fight as much as their bodies allowed them. And on Friday, it wasn’t enough.The long flight home will be tough. But they can be massively proud at what they achieved in UAE, despite all their systemic shortcomings that merely a Women’s CPL can’t help tide over. But in having fun and playing with flair and flamboyance, West Indies sparked conversations of a revival. Now to build on it and show there’s more to them than just the Matthews, Dottins and Taylors.

Anfield erupted. It really did. That was the performance Arne Slot’s Liverpool have been searching for this season, with Alexis Mac Allister’s second-half header putting Real Madrid to the sword in the Champions League.

Real Madrid were overwhelmed, enervated, reduced to mincemeat in a similar fashion to last season’s win over the La Liga giants, and it could have been a wider, more sobering margin for Europe’s biggest hitters, but for a strong performance from Thiabaut Courtois between the posts.

The win over Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend stopped the rot, ended the four-game losing run, but this was a display of a different nature, the Reds going from strength to strength and reminding Europe of their prowess.

There have been many issues and imbalances within Slot’s squad this season, but this was an emphatic performance, outstanding from every department, both in possession and against the ball.

Epitomising this mini-revival on Merseyside, of course, was Conor Bradley.

Bradley proves too much for Real (again)

Not for the first time over the past year, Bradley came up trumps against Real Madrid’s devastating frontline, this time focusing his sights on Vinicius Junior, who was ineffective all evening against the Northern Irish star.

Content creator George Scaife remarked that he had “the game of his life” against Los Blancos, winning all three of his tackles, winning eight duels and recovering so many balls.

With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined with an injury, the 22-year-old has a real chance to kick on now and nail down a starting berth after a shaky start to the campaign which has presented him as unsure and somewhat unfit at times.

There have been times when Bradley’s place in the Liverpool side has been called into question, but he has the ability to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made an unsuccessful return to Anfield on Tuesday, in the long run.

However, there’s another star who has become their main man, having looked endangered in the starting line-up after the summer spending spree.

Liverpool star is becoming one of world's best

There’s no question that Liverpool have been woefully out of sorts this season, but Dominik Szoboszlai has been a pillar of strength throughout the opening months.

Effortlessly good as an all-action midfielder and tenacious and industrious in a makeshift right-back berth, Szoboszlai’s energy and enterprise on the ball have been second to none, and he has been hailed as “our most important player” by one prominent Reds fan, also admitting that he “would be one of the ones to drop out of the XI” after a summer of spending that saw Florian Wirtz signed for a record-breaking £116m fee.

But the Hungary skipper has been nothing short of sensational, and he was once again the star of the show, peppering the Real Madrid goal and assisting the winner with a delightful set-piece delivery.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

1

Touches

54

Shots (on target)

5 (4)

Accurate passes

30/39 (77%)

Chances created

3

Crosses

3/3

Interceptions

1

Recoveries

6

Duels won

2/9

The Liverpool Echo saw it fit to hand the 24-year-old a 9/10 match rating, ahead, even, of the goalscoring Mac Allister, producing a masterful creative display and working overtime to overwhelm the Spanish midfield.

While the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk continue to stand proud as the leaders in Slot’s squad, there’s little question that Szoboszlai is outplaying the lot this term, and as the Reds click into gear, raising their collective level, Szoboszlai could hit staggering individual heights.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

As the 2025 season barrels into the second half, the July 31 trade deadline draws nearer. With only six teams more than seven games outside of a wild-card spot, there is a shortage of obvious sellers, adding a level of intrigue to the ever-shifting market.

The dynamics of the trade market are sure to swing wildly in the coming weeks. As we gear up for the drama, has a primer of the 25 best players who seem most likely to be traded by the end of July. We’ve identified each player’s best fit, and offer predictions for where (or if) they’ll get dealt that are, of course, all certain to be proven correct by the time we hit August.

1. Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox LF

2025 stats: .254/.307/.404, 5 HR, 8 3B, 20 2B, 41 R, 38 RBI, 0.6 fWAR in 81 games

Best fits: Padres, Braves, Royals, Dodgers, Phillies, Guardians

Duran ranked fourth in the AL in WAR last season—directly above Juan Soto and José Ramirez—while leading the majors in doubles and triples. The 28-year-old has fallen off quite a bit this season, but he’s under team control through 2028 and still profiles as an above-average leadoff hitter for the next several years. The Red Sox would have to be blown away by an offer to consider trading another building block so soon after the Rafael Devers deal, especially if they continue to linger on the edge of the playoff race, though they do possess a surplus of outfielders and Duran has been the name most frequently popping up in rumors.

Prediction: Not traded

2. Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks 3B

2025 stats: .251/.323/.569, 25 HR, 15 2B, 48 R, 67 RBI, 2.3 fWAR in 78 games

Best fits: Brewers, Cubs, Tigers, Mariners, Royals, Yankees, Twins

Suárez is a streaky power hitter who’s had a terrific first half—the 33-year-old leads the NL in RBIs and is on pace to top his previous career high of 49 home runs set during the 2019 juiced-ball season. He also recently hit the 300th home run of his career and will likely be the best bat moved before the deadline. D-Backs GM Mike Hazen has thus far indicated an unwillingness to sell, but top prospect Jordan Lawlar is waiting in the wings, Suárez is a pending free agent and Arizona may not have the pitching to keep up in the playoff race following season-ending injuries to ace Corbin Burnes and closers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk.

Prediction: Traded to Brewers

3. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins RP

2025 stats: 4–3, 1.73 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 1.10 WHIP, 11 SV, 41 K, 14 BB, 1.0 fWAR in 36 1/3 IP

Best fits: Cubs, Phillies, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Braves, Rangers

Duran has taken his game to new heights in his fourth big-league season, blowing hitters away with a four-seamer that sits 100.4 mph and a devastating knuckle curve that’s generated a 42.6% whiff rate. He’s posted a staggering 71.7% ground ball rate and is yet to allow a home run. Should the Twins fall out of the race, there should be no shortage of contending teams lining up to add a game-changing closer to the back of their bullpen.

Prediction: Not traded

4. Josh Naylor, Arizona Diamondbacks 1B

2025 stats: .307/.363/.479, 10 HR, 18 2B, 42 R, 53 RBI, 1.5 fWAR in 76 games

Best fits: Mariners, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox, Twins, Royals

A 2024 All-Star with the Cleveland Guardians, Naylor is enjoying his best all-around offensive season following an offseason trade to Arizona and its hitter-friendly confines, where his OPS is over 200 points higher than on the road. Still, he’s one of just 10 qualified players batting at least .300 and slugging at least .475. Naylor, like Suárez, is set to be a free agent this offseason and a number of teams in need of a bat could sway the D-Backs into selling.

Prediction: Not traded

5. Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals SP

2025 stats: 4–5, 2.93 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 68 K, 23 BB, 0.9 fWAR in 83 IP

Best fits: Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Angels, Padres

Lugo doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, but he hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.60 since 2020 and quietly finished second in AL Cy Young voting last year while winning a Gold Glove to boot. The 35-year-old also fared well in two playoff starts last season. The converted reliever would improve just about any postseason rotation and the Royals may feel obliged to deal Lugo ahead of his looming free agency if MLB’s lowest-scoring offense doesn’t perk up in the coming weeks.

Prediction: Traded to Blue Jays

6. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins SP

2025 stats: 4–8, 6.69 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, 59 K, 34 BB, 0.3 fWAR in 74 IP

Best fits: Cubs, Blue Jays, Astros, Tigers, Dodgers, Mets

The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has been on a winding path to rediscover his form after making his return from Tommy John surgery. Through the first two months of the season, that form seemed a long way off. Alcantara went 2–7 with an 8.47 ERA through his first 11 starts, with 29 walks and just 40 strikeouts in 51 innings. Since the start of June, the results have been much better: a 2.74 ERA and 3.20 FIP in four outings, with a meager 5.3% walk rate. If he can keep that up, interest should be high in the 29-year-old, who has a club option to keep him under contract through 2027.

Prediction: Traded to Dodgers

7. Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles CF

2025 stats: .214/.298/.419, 12 HR, 8 SB, 31 R, 35 RBI, 0.7 fWAR in 64 games

Best fits: Phillies, Mets, Guardians, Royals

A lack of starting caliber center fielders drives much of Mullins’s trade value. At his peak, he was a legitimate difference maker with speed and power, posting a 30–30 season in 2021 and averaging 16 homers and 28 stolen bases from ‘22 to ‘24. This year, Mullins’s offensive production has dipped to career lows in batting average and on-base percentage, though he’s still tracking for over 20 home runs. A sub-par defensive center fielder (ranking last at the position in defensive runs saved), he’s a free agent after this season, and likely not a part of the Orioles’ long-term plans.

Prediction: Traded to Guardians

8. Ryan O’Hearn, Baltimore Orioles 1B

2025 stats: .301/.384/.485, 11 HR, 30 R, 30 RBI, 2.0 fWAR in 67 games

Best fits: Mariners, Royals, Giants, Rangers

O’Hearn has been among the few bright spots in what’s been a dismal season in Baltimore. After posting a respectable 119 wRC+ from 2023 to ‘24, his 149 mark to start the year ranks as the sixth-highest in the American League. O’Hearn can passably play first base and the corner outfield, and has improved against lefties to the point where he’s not automatically relegated to the bench against southpaws. He’s a free agent after this season, so likely wouldn’t cost much to acquire, and could be a middle-of-the-order bat to boost a contending team’s lineup.

Prediction: Traded to Mariners

9. Felix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles RP

2025 stats: 0–1, 2.60 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 16 SV, 38 K, 17 BB, 0.5 fWAR in 27 2/3 IP

Best fits: Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Rangers

Bautista’s stuff hasn’t quite returned to its pre-Tommy John surgery level of dominance—his sinker is a couple ticks slower and doesn’t generate whiffs as frequently. He’s also walking batters at a 15.0% rate—fifth-highest out of nearly 400 pitchers with at least 20 innings this season. None of that has stopped him from putting up strong results, with a .170 expected batting average against that ranks as the third-best among qualified pitchers. Bautista hasn’t given up a run in his last 10 outings, with 17 strikeouts and just two hits allowed.

Prediction: Not traded

10. Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves DH

2025 stats: .247/.379/.406, 11 HR, 10 2B, 34 R, 40 RBI, 1.0 fWAR in 76 games

Best fits: Tigers, Mariners, Royals, Yankees, Twins

After mashing 79 homers over the last two seasons and finishing fourth in NL MVP voting last year, Ozuna’s power has significantly fallen off in his age-34 season, though he’s partially compensated by trailing only Juan Soto in walk rate (17.3%). It’s hard to imagine the Braves waving the white flag unless things really unravel, especially after they won the 2021 World Series with a late-season surge sparked by additions from GM Alex Anthopoulos. But if Atlanta ends up dealing anyone, it’ll probably be their only pending free agent of much value.

Prediction: Not traded

11. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks SP

2025 stats: 7–3, 3.39 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 93 K, 25 BB, 1.8 fWAR in 93 IP

Best fits: Cardinals, Cubs, Braves, Blue Jays, Mets, Twins, Red Sox, Angels

Kelly has never made an All-Star team or garnered Cy Young votes, but he’s been one of the league’s most solid starters since coming over from the KBO in 2019. His 3.78 ERA over that span ranks 14th (min. 800 IP), ahead of hurlers like Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola. He also showed during Arizona’s 2023 World Series run that he can be counted on in the playoffs, recording a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts. The 36-year-old could make for a sneaky-good hired arm amid one of his best seasons if the D-Backs elect to move him before he enters free agency in the winter.

Prediction: Traded to Cardinals

12. Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox RP

2025 stats: 3–2, 1.36 ERA, 1.86 FIP, 0.82 WHIP, 14 SV, 48 K, 10 BB, 1.4 fWAR in 33 IP

Best fits: Phillies, Tigers, Dodgers

Playing for his fifth team in four years, Chapman could be headed for a sixth if the Red Sox continue their slide down the standings. And his form could ensure that the cost to acquire him is much steeper than a typical 37-year-old free agent to be. That’s because the lefty has been as lights-out as ever, with a 38.1% strikeout rate and a career-best 7.9% walk rate. Chapman still touches triple digits regularly and keeps hitters guessing with his four-pitch mix. Even in his 16th season, he still looks plenty capable of anchoring a title contender’s bullpen.

Prediction: Traded to Tigers

13. Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox CF

2025 stats: .185/.270/.313, 8 HR, 8 2B, 27 R, 32 RBI, 22 SB, 0.0 fWAR in 73 games

Best fits: Mets, Guardians, Phillies, Padres, Rangers

Robert’s production at the plate has rapidly diminished since winning a Silver Slugger in 2023 to the point where he’s currently valued as a replacement-level player even with his stellar baserunning and glovework in center field. A pair of $20 million club options for 2026 and ’27 that were once seen as potential bargains are now highly unlikely to be exercised. His walk rate (10.2%) and chase rate (32.7%) are at career-high points, indicating an improvement in his plate discipline, but his abysmal squared-up rate (17.9%, second percentile in MLB) indicates there’s work for him to do to be a plus on offense. The White Sox don’t have much to gain by holding onto Robert, but it’s hard to tell if their valuation on him will come down enough by the deadline for another team to take a swing on the 27-year-old.

Prediction: Traded to Mets

14. Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels OF

2025 stats: .208/.278/.460, 19 HR, 43 R, 53 RBI, 0.9 fWAR in 78 games

Best fits: Padres, Phillies, Guardians, Mariners, Royals

Ward is putting up the best power numbers of his career, on pace to soar past last season’s career-high 25 home runs sometime in the next month or so. That’s come at the expense of his results on balls in play, with his .222 BABIP the product of an extreme fly ball approach. Under team control through 2026, Ward could be of use to teams with corner outfield holes and add some extra thump to the middle of the lineup. But the Angels are hovering on the periphery of the wild-card race and have demonstrated a reluctance to sell in years past, so it seems more likely he’ll stay put in Anaheim.

Prediction: Not traded

15. Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins SP

2025 stats: 2–2, 3.78 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, 69 K, 29 BB, 0.7 fWAR in 64 1/3 IP

Best fits: Dodgers, Cubs, Orioles, Blue Jays, Cardinals

Cabrera has long been an intriguing yet inconsistent talent, capable of dominating one outing then looking erratic the next. He’s put together an impressively stable stretch here after a rocky April, posting a 2.36 ERA and 3.38 FIP with a 26.3% strikeout rate in nine starts since the beginning of May. Cabrera is still only 27 and under team control through 2028, so Miami is likely to want to hang onto him—though offers for one of the few impact starters on the market could entice them to part ways.

Prediction: Not traded

16. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks SP

2025 stats: 5–9, 5.75 ERA, 5.17 FIP, 1.41 WHIP, 88 K, 42 BB, -0.4 fWAR in 97 IP

Best fits: Braves, Twins, Blue Jays, Angels, Padres, Mets

Gallen has finished in the top 10 of NL Cy Young voting three times this decade, but the 29-year-old has picked an awful time for a down season. With his team desperately needing quality arms and himself months away from free agency, Gallen ranks 297th out of 300 qualified pitchers in run value (ranking last if you don’t count Rockies or White Sox) and leads the NL in free passes. None of his five pitches are working for him as practically all of his batted-ball metrics have trended in the wrong direction. He’s even given up 12 combined earned runs in his last two starts against the Rockies and White Sox. It all makes for a somber outlook, and while his track record may convince a contender to try and squeeze some quality innings out of him down the stretch, it also will make it hard for two teams to agree on his value. 

Prediction: Not traded

17. Walker Buehler, Boston Red Sox SP

2025 stats: 5–5, 6.29 ERA, 5.74 FIP, 1.57 WHIP, 56 K, 29 BB, -0.4 fWAR in 63 IP

Best fits: Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, Mets

Buehler’s numbers to date look like a massive disappointment until you realize they’re more or less in keeping with what he did in his final year with the Dodgers. His postseason heroics might have made the Red Sox brush aside his regular season struggles, and perhaps they’ll buoy his trade value for a contending team looking for someone who’s proven capable of getting outs in October, either as a starter or in relief.

Prediction: Not traded

18. Tyler Mahle, Texas Rangers SP

2025 stats: 6–3, 2.34 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 56 K, 27 BB, 1.7 fWAR in 77 IP

Best fits: Padres, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Cubs, Braves

Mahle has enjoyed a successful rebound campaign after shoulder and elbow injuries limited him to just 38 1/3 innings over the past two seasons. Unfortunately, he was placed on the IL with shoulder fatigue a couple of weeks ago, and whichever team he plays for down the stretch will want to be cautious with his workload. The 30-year-old’s medical history—and less-than-stellar secondary metrics—likely point to him staying put in Texas, though a quick return to the mound combined with a slide down the standings for the Rangers could make him a back-end rotation option on the trade market.

Prediction: Not traded

19. David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates RP

2025 stats: 2–5, 2.93 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 11 SV, 39 K, 8 BB, 0.9 fWAR in 27 2/3 IP

Best fits: Phillies, Cubs, Tigers, Blue Jays

The Pirates actually demoted Bednar to the minors early this season after three rough outings in which the two-time All-Star retired only three of the nine batters he faced. He returned in mid-April and has been nearly untouchable since, posting a 2.03 ERA and 1.50 FIP over his last 28 appearances to regain closer duties. Bednar is making a reasonable $5.9 million this season and has one year left before reaching free agency, so teams would be getting more than just a rental to fortify the back end of their bullpen.

Prediction: Traded to Phillies

20. Ramón Laureano, Baltimore Orioles OF

2025 stats: .258/.328/.484, 9 HR, 8 2B, 22 R, 22 RBI, 1.2 fWAR in 53 games 

Best fits: Padres, Phillies, Guardians, Mariners, Royals

After forcing his way into playing time down the stretch in Atlanta last year, Laureano has done the same in a crowded Orioles outfield this season and has in fact been Baltimore’s second-most valuable player, per bWAR, behind only Gunnar Henderson. The 30-year-old still boasts a cannon of an arm and can play either outfield corner, with his reverse splits this season (.957 OPS vs. RHP, .578 OPS vs. LHP) indicating he can continue to start if needed. The O’s do hold a $6.5 million team option on Laureano for 2026, but it may behoove them to sell high on him.

Prediction: Traded to Padres

21. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies 3B

2025 stats: .222/.324/.404, 12 HR, 12 2B, 32 R, 25 RBI, 1.3 fWAR in 78 games

Best fits: Brewers, Mariners, Royals, Yankees

McMahon is on pace to hit 20 homers for the sixth straight full season, an impressive accomplishment that’s somewhat lessened by playing half of his games at Coors Field—despite that fact, he’s never registered as an above-average bat by wRC+. His OPS this season is also more than 300 points higher in Colorado compared to road games. The 30-year-old is also set to make $16 million in each of the next two seasons, meaning the Rockies would likely have to pay part of his contract if they want to acquire a meaningful prospect package in a trade. Still, McMahon’s season statistics are about as consistent as they can get, and he could fill multiple spots around the infield for some playoff team. 

Prediction: Traded to Yankees

22. Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates RP

2025 stats: 2–1, 1.57 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 0.79 WHIP, 26 K, 5 BB, 0.9 fWAR in 34 1/3 IP

Best fits: Phillies, Mariners, Rays, Braves, Blue Jays

Santana gets things done without big velocity or the ability to miss many bats. His 6.8 K/9 doesn’t scream “closer” for many teams, but he’s nonetheless been effective thanks to his command. Santana could be attractive to teams looking for a bridge arm to their highest-leverage reliever, and is under team control through 2026.

Prediction: Traded to Rays

23. Jesús Sánchez, Miami Marlins OF

2025 stats: .245/.315/.409, 7 HR, 24 R, 28 RBI, 8 SB, 0.5 fWAR in 58 games

Best fits: Guardians, Mariners, Reds

Sánchez’s production has never quite seemed to match his potential. He put up 18 homers and 16 stolen bases in 2024, but his slash line to date this season has translated to a 99 wRC+. He has elite bat speed and an imposing frame (6’ 4”, 222 pounds) that indicates there’s more in the tank, making him enticing enough for a team looking for an experienced hitter that’s still something of a project. Sánchez is under team control through ‘27.

Prediction: Traded to Reds

24. Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies RP

2025 stats: 2–1, 2.62 ERA, 2.49 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 56 K, 18 BB, 1.1 fWAR in 44 ⅔ IP

Best fits: Reds, Cubs, Mariners, Tigers, Rays, Braves, Blue Jays, Phillies

It’s hard to rack up whiffs in the high altitude of Denver, but Bird has managed to nearly double his strikeout rate (30.1%) from last year during his fourth season in the majors. The righthander has actually performed far better this year at Coors Field than on the road, though he’d likely figure out how to succeed in another home park once he isn’t constantly changing altitudes. The Rockies have precious few tradable assets and should probably cash in on a reliever who, while performing admirably, isn’t doing much to change their fortunes and is under team control through 2028.

Prediction: Traded to Cubs

25. Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals RP

2025 stats: 0–2, 2.89 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 23 K, 8 BB, 0.6 fWAR in 28 IP

Best fits: Blue Jays, Reds, Cubs, Mariners, Tigers, Rays, Diamondbacks

The Nationals righthander wouldn’t close for most contenders considering his mediocre strikeout rate and career 3.51 ERA, but he’s nonetheless racked up 106 saves over the past five seasons and could at least fill a setup role for a better team than Washington. The Nats have little incentive to keep their 2024 All-Star past the deadline given his pending free agency, so Finnegan seems like a lock to change addresses by the time the calendar turns to August.

Prediction: Traded to Blue Jays

With Arsenal flying high in the Premier League and looking imperious in the Champions League, the narrative from rival fans has been that the North Londoners are boring to watch.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that set-pieces have been an essential source of goals for Mikel Arteta’s side so far, but the suggestions that the Gunners are unusually dull fall apart when properly scrutinised.

For example, according to FBref, they take the second most shots in the league, play the second most passes into the penalty area, play the most through balls, and take the most touches in the opposition’s penalty area, all per 90 minutes.

Moreover, while Arteta has his fair share of physical monsters in the side, he also has an abundance of brilliant technicians, including one player who’s showing shades of Santi Cazorla in his game.

Why Arsenal fans love Santi Cazorla

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had plenty of brilliant midfielders play for them over the years, many who went on to win far more at the club than Cazorla did.

So, why is the Spaniard still one of the most beloved to wear red and white?

Well, there was that free-kick that started the side’s fightback in the 2014 FA Cup final.

There is also the fact that he played for the side during a rather barren spell, and so fans were desperate to see some genuine quality in the team.

However, while both of these factors certainly contribute to the high esteem in which the fans hold him, they remain secondary to the primary reason: his style of play.

The former Malaga gem was the epitome of an Arsene Wenger-type player, someone who was brilliantly effective yet also a crowd pleaser and a genuine magician on the ball.

The 40-year-old was seemingly able to do it all with a ball at his feet.

Ping a ball from one side of the pitch to the other? He could do it. Carry the ball through the middle of the park, beating four players in the process? Easy. Play the perfect defence-splitting pass to set up his striker with a one-on-one? Piece of cake.

Cazorla might not get the respect he deserves from rivals, but Arsenal fans correctly hold him up as one of the most entertaining players to grace the Emirates.

So it’s undoubtedly exciting to see one of Arteta’s signings begin to show shades of the Spaniard in his game this season.

The Arsenal star with shades of Cazorla

When considering who in the current Arsenal squad could be compared to Cazorla, most might look to Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, or perhaps even Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

However, while there are certainly arguments to be made for those three sharing some traits with the Spaniard, it’s Riccardo Calafiori who is showing shades of him in his game this season.

Now, the Italian obviously plays a totally different position to the former Gunners ace, but he still shares several similarities with him.

For example, and this is a negative one, the former Bologna star has had terrible luck with injuries since his move last summer.

In fact, he ended up dealing with six injuries last season, which resulted in him spending 175 days on the sideline and missing 30 games for both club and country.

Fortunately, the 23-year-old also shares a couple of extremely positive characteristics with the 40-year-old, including the freedom he is allowed on the football pitch and the incredible entertainment he brings.

While Arteta can often be quite regimented in his tactics and instructions with the rest of the team, it has become increasingly clear that he wants and allows the Italian to maraud all over and cause as much chaos for the opposition as possible.

This has become obvious from simply watching him play, but it’s even more evident when examining his heatmap from this season, which shows him popping up all over the place.

Crucially, though, the Rome-born “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, is making excellent use of this freedom, helping out attacks by stretching the opposition’s backline, popping up in the box and interchanging with his own attackers.

Amazingly, the £120k-per-week maverick has taken the second most shots in the league for the Gunners this season, and his underlying numbers only further show his attacking prowess.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goal-creating actions, the top 12% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Shots Total

2.11

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 1%

xG: Expected Goals

0.24

Top 4%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.24

Top 4%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.24

Top 4%

Goals + Assists

0.35

Top 7%

SCA (Shot)

0.35

Top 7%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.59

Top 7%

GCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.29

Top 9%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 12%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.29

Top 12%

Assists

0.24

Top 15%

npxG/Shot

0.11

Top 15%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.35

Top 15%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

29.73

Top 18%

Ultimately, this combination of freedom to express himself and the ability to make the most of it is why journalist James Benge described Calafiori as “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” and why he’s the most Cazorla-esque player in Arteta’s squad.

Arteta can fix Gyokeres blow by starting Arsenal gem who's "shades of Isak"

The promising gem could be the perfect Gyokeres replacement for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 4, 2025

Nair, Jurel, Akash Deep and Prasidh were back for the visitors, who trail the series 1-2

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2025Toss A 15th successive toss refused to go India’s way, and they will have to start the deciding game of an engrossing series by doing a bit of heavy lifting. The conditions in London were overcast. The pitch was green. Ollie Pope, standing in for the injured Ben Stokes, had no hesitation in choosing to bowl.Shubman Gill, who admitted tongue in cheek that the toss was the thing that he was thinking about the most, called heads again, as he has done all tour, and it let him down for one last time at The Oval. He confirmed four changes for India – three expected, with Jasprit Bumrah (workload management), Rishabh Pant (broken foot) and Anshul Kamboj (rookie) sitting out – for Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel and a fully fit Akash Deep. The final one though appeared to be tactical, with batter Karun Nair replacing allrounder Shardul Thakur, who only bowled 27 overs across two Tests.England had already announced their XI with Stokes, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Liam Dawson making way for Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson. This is the 22nd first-class match (and fourth Test) at The Oval since May 2023. In 22 out of 22, the captain who has won the toss has chosen to bowl first. The reason for that is the amount of help the fast bowlers have got out of this pitch. Since the start of 2023, seamers have taken 617 wickets and spinners have taken 79.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Jamie Overton, 11 Josh TongueIndia: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 B Sai Sudharsan, 4 Shubman Gill (capt), 5 Karun Nair, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Kylian Mbappe scored a brace and Hugo Ekitike opened his international account as France cruised past Ukraine to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus stuttered in the first half, but an outstanding display in the final 35 minutes ripped apart Ukraine's feeble resistance. Didier Deschamps' men have had a near-flawless qualifying campaign as they have won four and drawn one of their games to rack up 13 points from a possible 15.

France are going to the USA next summer!

The Parc des Princes stood still before a ball was even kicked as a minute's silence was observed to remember the victims of the deadly Paris attacks 10 years ago, on November 13. One hundred and thirty-two lives were lost, and around 352 were left injured as gunmen open fired on cafe terraces and at the Bataclan concert hall. Against that heavy backdrop, France stepped onto the pitch for their 2026 World Cup qualifier, expected to seal their participation in next summer's showpiece event with a routine victory. 

From the first whistle, it was one-way traffic. France enjoyed the bulk of the possession, pinned Ukraine back, and peppered their penalty area with touches, 21 inside the box before half-time. But the scoreline stubbornly refused to budge. In the 17th minute, they created the first significant chance of the match as Mbappe drilled in a low left-footer, but Ukrainian keeper Anatoliy Trubin was equal to it. Before the half-hour mark, Cherki tried his luck from distance, but it failed to trouble the keeper. Frustration was creeping in and Manu Kone mistimed a challenge on Roman Yaremchuk, collecting a yellow and ruling himself out of France’s next qualifier in Azerbaijan. Four minutes from half-time, Barcola curled a peach towards the top corner and once again Trubin clawed it out with a spectacular leap. As the teams headed towards the tunnel, France were furious as Ukraine’s low block was a fortress they failed to breach. 

After a tepid first half, drama started to unfold in the second. In the 50th minute, Dayot Upamecano’s high foot caught Yehor Nazaryna in France’s box. VAR had a good look at it and asked the referee, Slavko Vincic, to come to the screen. Vincic was seen engaged in deep discussions with the VAR officials, and after a careful review, he deemed the offence to be not severe enough to award a penalty.  

Four minutes later, Taras Mykhavko clattered straight onto Olise’s left foot, and Vincic was certain that it was a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Mbappe and the forward scored from the spot with a cheeky Panenka as the keeper dived to his left. After breaking the deadlock, France did not think of taking their foot off the gas pedal and instead pressed for the insurance goal. 

Ukraine were living dangerously, and Olise doubled the lead with a ruthless finish after being fed by N'Golo Kante. The floodgates opened as tired Ukrainian legs struggled to keep up with the hosts' tempo. Mbappe scored the third from a rebound that fell kindly for him after Ekitike's attempt was blocked by Trubin. And the icing on the cake was the Liverpool forward's first international goal in the 88th minute. 

AdvertisementAFPThe MVP

Mbappe was undoubtedly the star of the match. The Real Madrid forward was anonymous in the first half, but he sprang to life after converting from 12 yards. His partnership with Olise was simply unstoppable as they found spaces despite a five-man defensive setup by Ukraine. His two strikes see Mbappe reach 55 international goals and close in on Olivier Giroud at the top of France's all-time goalscoring list. He also reached 400 career goals, an astonishing feat for the 2018 World Cup winner. 

The big loser

Ukraine manager Serhiy Rebrov got the tactics right in the first half, but after falling behind, everything unravelled in spectacular fashion. He did not have a Plan B, and suddenly, the defensive block became too porous.

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