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Liverpool have placed Watford forward Joao Pedro on a list of potential Sadio Mane replacements, according to a report from the Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Mane’s future

Having initially remained coy over whether the UEFA Champions League final would be one last hoorah in a red shirt, Mane is now expected to seek pastures new in the summer.

As a result, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are battling to secure the 29-year-old’s signature, as Liverpool begin to prepare for life after the talismanic attacker.

Now, a fresh update has suggested that the backroom staff at Anfield have already drawn up a list of potential successors to the Senegalese star…

The latest: Pedro named

As per The Daily Mail, new sporting director Ward is hard at work resolving the Mane situation, and Brazilian forward Pedro – who is worth just £9million (Transfermarkt) and was labelled as ‘exciting’ by former boss Xisco Munoz – has ‘caught the eye’ on Merseyside.

It’s claimed that perennially linked Watford teammate Ismaila Sarr, Chelsea ace Christian Pulisic, Villarreal sensation Arnaut Danjuma and Bayern’s own Serge Gnabry are also of interest to the Reds.

The report also states that Jurgen Klopp will look to add ‘at least one more forward’ with Divock Origi heading for the exit door and Takumi Minamino’s future in doubt.

The verdict: One for the future

Still only 20 years old, Pedro is far from the finished article for the Premier League, as proven by a lowly four goals in 2021/22 as Watford were relegated back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Despite the struggles to have a direct influence on proceedings, the young Brazilian earned a strong 6.84 Sofascore rating comprising of 1.7 shots, 0.7 key passes and 6.0 duels won on average per game.

Sharing stylistic similarities with Wolves powerhouse Raul Jimenez and Brentford target man Ivan Toney (Fbref), Pedro is a more archetypal centre-forward who would be best served acting as a direct replacement for Origi as opposed to Mane.

Holding that perceived market value of £9million, Ward would be wise to test the waters with a low offer as FSG attempt to remain shrewd spenders in the market, particularly in light of the Hertfordshire club’s relegation. Perhaps, then, there will be cash left lying over for a more marquee addition alongside the young Hornet.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is expected to be a target for multiple clubs in the summer transfer window, according to a report from the Liverpool Echo. 

The lowdown: Cult hero status

Stepping into the breach amidst an unprecedented injury crisis that left Jurgen Klopp without Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, Phillips, alongside Rhys Williams, helped guide the Reds to a third-place Premier League finish in 2020/21.

Those exploits, plus a cameo in the San Siro that saw the no-nonsense centre-back flamboyantly deceive Zlatan Ibrahimovic, have meant the 25-year-old will forever be remembered as a cult hero amongst the Anfield faithful.

Having spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign impressing whilst on loan at Bournemouth, a permanent exit could be on the cards this summer…

The latest: Multiple suitors

As per a report late in the middle of last night from The Liverpool Echo, Phillips is wanted by Bournemouth once again after the South Coast outfit secured promotion to the top flight.

It’s stated in the report that contains an interview with Phillips that there are ‘many sides interested’ in the 6 foot 2 towering central defender.

The report also claims that the Reds will demand a fee in the region of £15million for the man hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by former Liverpool man Jamie Redknapp after a goalscoring display against Burnley.

The verdict: Sense in a sale

Under contract on Merseyside until 2025 (Transfermarkt), there is certainly no apparent need for the club to sanction an urgent sale of the Englishman.

From a playing perspective, with Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez all up and running, as well as the superb debut campaign from Ibrahima Konate, the need for a fifth choice centre-back in Jurgen Klopp’s squad is almost at zero.

Therefore, fresh off the back of an earning an impressive 7.04 Sofascore rating for Bournemouth, during which time the Bolton-born ace won on average 4.8 aerial duels per game, new Sporting Director Julian Ward and FSG can be confident of obtaining close to the mooted asking price.

Boasting top-level Premier League and UEFA Champions League experience, the suitors should be falling over themselves to sign a player of Phillips’ calibre and it will now be up to Ward to follow in the footsteps of Michael Edwards and extract every possible penny out of a player sale to put into the coffers.

In other news: Liverpool want to sign ‘intelligent’ forward as Sadio Mane replacement, read more here

A big Rangers claim has emerged on Ibrox loanee Aaron Ramsey and his future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has hinted that the midfielder will not be returning to Rangers for the 2022/23 campaign.

Speaking about the Ibrox loanee, he told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure Aaron Ramsey looked like he enjoyed his time at Rangers.

“But a deal would have to be subsidised because of his wages at Juventus if Rangers were to bring him back. As it stands right now, it looks like he might have played his last game for the club.”

Gio van Bronckhorst will be gutted

The Ibrox boss will be gutted by this claim as it suggests that Ramsey will not be in his squad next season due to financial constraints.

Whilst the midfielder’s time at the club will be marred by his penalty miss in the Europa League final, he showed glimpses of quality throughout the second half of the campaign.

In the Premiership, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93 in seven appearances. He found the back of the net twice, including one against Celtic, and set up another as he created seven chances for his teammates.

The gem also registered one assist in three games in the SFA Cup as he helped the club to win the competition. His statistics, albeit limited, show that he has the quality to pop up with goal contributions from midfield, which is in line with what he has done throughout his career.

He produced 130 goals and assists combined during his time with Arsenal – playing 371 matches – and 12 in 70 games for Juventus. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic career and has proven that he can make a big impact in the final third.

Therefore, with a full pre-season under his belt and more time to adjust to playing with his teammates, Ramsey could have been a huge player for the Gers. The quality – as shown by his statistics – is there and that is why van Bronckhorst will be gutted that he will be unable to work with him again next season.

O’Rourke has not completely ruled out a deal, as the situation may change, but it appears unlikely at this moment in time that he will be pulling on a light blue shirt again.

Hopefully, he can get his career back on track elsewhere if he does not return to Rangers.

AND in other news, GvB can find Kemar Roofe 2.0 in Rangers swoop for “clinical” gem who “rarely misses”…

According to reports out of Spain, Manchester City are ‘main bidders’ to sign a transfer target who has left Pep Guardiola ‘pleasantly surprised’.

The Lowdown: Big Sunday…

The Premier League champions, taking on Aston Villa at Eastlands this afternoon, are looking to retain their crown and beat arch rivals Liverpool to the punch as a nervy final day awaits.

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As a huge Sunday lies is in store for Blues and one which may well define the entirety of 2021/2022, but behind-the-scenes, City officials are already at work on how best to prepare for next year regardless of what happens today.

Guardiola, after completing a deal to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, now wants to bring in a new left-back and midfielder to succeed the departing Fernandinho.

Brighton defender Marc Cucurella, author of a fine season at the Amex, has emerged as a target recently.

The Latest: Spanish source makes claim…

According to Spanish sources, City are indeed eyeing a move for the 23-year-old as they become ‘main bidders’ to sign him from The Seagulls – who could charge around €30 million (£25m) for his signature.

Alongside Chelsea, it is believed the English champions are vying to sign Cucurella – coming as Guardiola has been left stunned by the former Barcelona starlet’s brilliant form.

The Verdict: Get it done…

The Spaniard, even earning call-ups to the national team in recent years, has been a revelation under Graham Potter over this campaign.

According to WhoScored, Cucurella has ranked in as Brighton’s joint-third best performer by average match rating with a solid 6.92/10 – even tearing City’s arch rivals Man United ‘apart’ in recent weeks.

Lavished for his ‘phenomenal’ form since leaving Barca by members of the media, it’s hardly surprising Guardiola’s head has been well and truly turned.

In other news: Man City officials travel to club as Pep and Txiki agree on perfect signing, find out more here.

As the Ranji Trophy hits pause after five rounds, ESPNcricinfo looks at five players who have impressed so far

Shashank Kishore20-Nov-2025

Auqib Nabi (J&K) – Wickets 29 | Average 13.27

A swing bowler with immaculate control, Nabi, 29, has been delivering standout performances in the Ranji Trophy for two seasons now. He’s not a 140kph express quick – around 125-130 kph at best – but he’s someone who can make the new ball talk, like Bhuvneshwar Kumar did.In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Nabi averaged 13.93 for his 44 wickets – more than any seamer in the country, and overall second only to Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey. At the Duleep Trophy in August, he produced a moment that grabbed national attention: four wickets in four balls for North Zone against East Zone.He began the Ranji Trophy with a five-for against Mumbai, but it’s over the last few weeks that he’s truly surged. In the fourth round, Nabi’s five-wicket haul powered J&K’s first-ever win over Delhi. A week later, he took 4 for 39 against Hyderabad, helping J&K secure a first-innings lead that turned into a match-winning one. Then came the spell of the season so far: 7 for 24 against Rajasthan that earned J&K a bonus-point win.With this level of consistency and impact, how much longer before Nabi gets a call-up to the India A squad?Ravichandran Smaran has had a tremendous start to his 2025-26 Ranji season•PTI

R Smaran (Karnataka) – Runs 595 | Average 119.00

Thirteen first-class games into his career, 22-year old Smaran already has three double-centuries – two of them in this Ranji season. A left-hand, top-order batter who first made his name in T20 cricket, he got his opportunity in red-ball cricket only last year when Karnataka moved on from Manish Pandey. Smaran has ensured the transition has been seamless, slotting in with a maturity well beyond his age and experience.Both his double-tons this season have come in matches that Karnataka won comfortably. His unbeaten 220 against Kerala was on a turning surface in Mangalapuram, where he anchored a commanding first-innings total that led to an innings victory.His most recent effort – an unbeaten 227 in Hubli – was in completely different conditions: a green-tinged pitch, Karnataka wobbling at 64 for 3, with Smaran rebuilding the innings alongside Karun Nair before batting through.Smaran combines elegance with power and is confident against spin. His strength off the back foot adds another layer to a well-rounded game. Having made his mark in white-ball cricket last season, he has continued to evolve in red-ball cricket too, ensuring he is nowhere close to falling prey to the second-season syndrome.Prithvi Shaw recorded the third-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history•PTI

Prithvi Shaw (Maharashtra) – Runs 470 runs | Average 67.14

Prithvi Shaw is outside the top ten run-scorers this season, but the impact he’s made and the circumstances of his return is noteworthy. He’s been a typically robust presence at the top, taking pressure off Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has moved to a stable role in the middle order. Shaw, 26, has scored his runs at a strike rate of 92.33 – an indication of his dominance.Having left Mumbai, his start for Maharashtra was inauspicious, with familiar failings resurfacing when he was caught in the slips for a four-ball duck on debut against Kerala. He bounced back to make a barnstorming 75 in the second innings.Shaw’s impact was felt against Chandigarh, when he made 222 off just 156 balls to help Maharashtra race to 359 for 3 in just 52 overs, setting up a target they successfully defended after it looked like the game would end in a draw. Shaw’s innings gave Maharashtra a little over four sessions to bowl Chandigarh out and secure their first outright win.Since then, Shaw has made scores of 71 and 74 against Karnataka and Punjab; the 74 coming in a bonus-point win that put them second in Group B.

Abhinav Tejrana (Goa) – Runs 651 runs |Average 93.00

A stylish left-hand batter, Tejrana, 24, found opportunities hard to come by in Delhi and made the move to Goa ahead of the 2023-24 season. After two strong years in the Under-23 circuit, he finally earned his Ranji debut this season – and announced himself in stunning fashion. On debut, he struck a match-winning double-century against Chandigarh, a knock that justified Goa’s faith in him.He backed it up with a composed half-century against Karnataka, and followed up with his second hundred of the season, this time against Punjab. And in the fifth round that ended on Wednesday, Tejrana compiled a fighting 118 against a high-quality Saurashtra attack – he was one of the few Goa batters to show resistance in an innings defeat.As the season pauses for the white-ball leg, Tejrana is in line to make his List A and T20 debuts for his adopted state.Shams Mulani has been an all-round star for Mumbai•PTI

Shams Mulani (Mumbai) – Wickets 28 wickets l Average 21.10

Mulani, 28, topped the Ranji wicket charts in 2021-22, finished second in 2022-23, and was third last season. This year, he’s once again on course to secure a top-three finish – underlining a level of consistency few spinners in the country have matched.Yet, despite this sustained excellence, he has struggled to become a regular in India A squads, largely because there is an abundance of left-arm spin allrounders. Even so, Mulani belongs in the top bracket of left-arm spinners in the country, alongside Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and R Sai Kishore.This season, he has been central to Mumbai’s surge to the top of Group D, influencing games with both bat and ball. In the season-opener in Srinagar, he hit a vital 41 in the second innings to stretch Mumbai’s lead to 243, before running through J&K with a match-defining 7 for 46 in a tense 35-run win.In the match against Himachal, he scored a composed half-century to help build a commanding first-innings total and set up the follow-on, after which he delivered 5 for 37 to seal Mumbai’s second successive victory.

Four members of RCB’s title-winning side in the XII, but who else make the cut?

Yash Jha05-Jun-202514:45

IPL 2025: Do both Pandya brothers get picked in the team of the tournament?

Sai Sudharsan

Inns 15 | Runs 759 | SR 156.17 | Ave 54.21 | 1×100/6×50Sai Sudharsan was comfortably clear atop the run-scoring charts, with only Suryakumar Yadav coming within 50 runs of his tally. His consistency was second only to Suryakumar – he scored at least 30 in 12 of his 15 innings, seven of them scores of 50 or more – and he did all that while having his fastest-scoring season: Sai Sudharsan’s strike rate of 156.17 was well ahead of his previous best mark of 141.40 in 2023.

Virat Kohli

Inns 15 | Runs 657 | SR 144.71 | Ave 54.75 | 8×50The season where he finally got his hands on the IPL trophy was a quintessentially prolific one for Virat Kohli – he topped 600 runs for the third straight campaign – but it’s the impact on results that saw him tower over the field. Each of Kohli’s eight fifties resulted in RCB wins; no other batter had more than four scores of 50+ in victories. Kohli tallied 584 runs in RCB’s 11 wins; no other batter had 450 runs in victories this season.Related

• Arya, Prabhsimran, Suryavanshi and Rathi make ESPNcricinfo's IPL 2025 Uncapped XII

• 'Heartbreak corner no more' for Virat Kohli in the RCB dressing room

• Kohli and Hazlewood finish at No. 3 on IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap tables respectively

• Kohli, after all this time, just for this moment

• Kohli and RCB are finally IPL champions

Jos Buttler

Inns 13 | Runs 538 | SR 163.03 | Ave 59.77 | 5×50Jos Buttler thrived in his new role as No. 3 to complete Gujarat’s titanic trinity. This was his fastest-scoring IPL campaign, clearing the strike rate of 155.24 he achieved in 2018. Eight of Buttler’s 13 innings came in GT wins, and he crossed 30 in seven of them. Four of his five fifties in IPL 2025 came at a strike above 170 – including a 54-ball 97 not out to close out a 204-run chase versus Delhi Capitals.

Suryakumar Yadav

Inns 16 | Runs 717 | SR 167.91 | Ave 65.18 | 5×50Coming into the season on the back of a rare lean patch in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav redefined consistency, scoring at least 25 in all 16 innings (a world record in men’s T20s). It’s no stretch to say he carried the Mumbai Indians batting – their second-highest run-getter, Rohit Sharma, was 299 runs behind Suryakumar. He finished with the most impact points for a player in IPL 2025; among 11 batters with 500+ runs this season, only two had a better strike rate.

Shreyas Iyer (c)

Inns 17 | Runs 604 | SR 175.07 | Ave 50.33 | 6×50While Shreyas Iyer the captain transformed Punjab Kings’ fortunes, Shreyas Iyer the batter was a man on a mission, piling on an all-timer campaign – only two batters have scored 600+ runs in a season at a higher strike rate (Chris Gayle in 2011, Suryakumar Yadav in 2023). He was responsible for two of the best knocks of the season, both at Ahmedabad: 97* off 42 against Gujarat Titans to start the season, and 87* off 41 versus Mumbai Indians to take Punjab through to the final.2:28

Aaron: Kohli has been king of the castle for 18 years

Hardik Pandya

Mat 15 | Runs 224 | SR 163.50 | Wkts 14 | Econ 9.77This wasn’t really a season for allrounders: only three players tallied 200+ runs and 10+ wickets, and two of them – Sunil Narine and Ravindra Jadeja – didn’t have many wins to show. Hardik shouldered bowling responsibility early in the season in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, taking 10 wickets in his first four outings. His batting role was limited to being a finisher, and he chipped in with some cameos: 42 off 15 vs RCB, 48* off 23 vs RR and 22* off 9 in the Eliminator vs GT.

Jitesh Sharma (wk)

Mat 15 | Runs 261 | SR 176.35 | Ct/St 19/1Jitesh Sharma may not have been the most destructive finisher in IPL 2025, but when he blew hot, he really caught fire. His 40* off 19 took RCB beyond 200 and set up their first win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede in a decade; he scripted the heist that ensured RCB’s top-two finish with an 85* off 33 versus LSG; his 10-ball 24 was pivotal in the title clash with Punjab Kings. He also had the most dismissals for any wicketkeeper.

Krunal Pandya

Mat 15 | Wkts 17 | Econ 8.23 | Runs 109 | SR 126.74Krunal Pandya started IPL 2025 with 3 for 29 against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, and ended it with 2 for 17 to clinch the final versus Punjab Kings. He was player of the match on both occasions. He also took 4 for 45 in RCB’s thrilling win over Mumbai Indians. Wickets, economy, impact – Krunal ticked all boxes. And while his batting wasn’t called upon much, he did hit a match-winning 73* against Delhi Capitals.2:13

Moody: Ridiculous how far ahead of the rest Bumrah is

Noor Ahmad

Inns 14 | Wkts 24 | Econ 8.2 | Ave 17.0The specialist spinner’s spot is the only one taken by a player whose team didn’t make it to the playoffs. Noor Ahmad was streets ahead of the competition: five wickets ahead of the next-most prolific spinner, and just one shy of the Purple Cap. Only three bowlers with 10 or more wickets struck more frequently than Noor, who took at least two wickets on six occasions.

Jasprit Bumrah

Inns 12 | Wkts 18 | Econ 6.67 | Ave 17.55Best economy for a bowler with 5+ overs this season. An economy of *7.5* at the death (no bowler with 10+ overs in the phase went at less than 8.8 per over). Seven innings where he went at less than six per over. Five hauls of at least two wickets. It’s no coincidence that MI’s season turned out the moment Jasprit Bumrah was back. If he’d played the entire season, the Purple Cap couldn’t have been too far away.3:15

IPL 2025 review: MI may need to get a good Indian spinner next season

Prasidh Krishna

Inns 15 | Wkts 25 | Econ 8.27 | Ave 19.52The Purple Cap went to Prasidh Krishna, who marked his return to the IPL after three years with a statement season. He had nine hauls of two or more wickets, and eight spells at less than seven per over. He took 11 middle-overs wickets, the most for a pacer. Prasidh also induced a higher percentage of false shots (41%) than any other pacer in IPL 2025. He made the most of the hard lengths but wasn’t a one-trick pony, as KL Rahul found out with one of the deliveries of the tournament.

Josh Hazlewood

Completing our pace attack is the serial winner who was the architect of RCB’s bowling transformation. Josh Hazlewood was one of only two bowlers to take at least five wickets in all three phases; he was metronomic in the powerplay (economy 7.27), probing through the middle (wicket every 10 balls), and delivered at the death (think 19th over of the chase at Wankhede). He exhibited his big-game chops in Qualifier 1, picking up 3 for 21 – in his first game in over a month.

Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star who could replace Ibrahima Konate, having already sent their scouts to watch the defender in action.

What next after Salah's explosive rant?

Just when they thought it couldn’t get any worse, Mohamed Salah found himself strolling through the mixed zone towards the first microphone available. And this was no friendly catch-up. The Egyptian unleashed a sensational rant, accusing Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” and claiming that there is no longer a relationship with manager Arne Slot.

So, where do Liverpool and Salah go next? The Egyptian has trained today and a decision is yet to be made as to whether he travels to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, some teammates were expecting his rant and those higher up at Anfield knew it was only inevitable that the chances increased that he’d speak out with every passing week on the bench.

Slot maintains the backing of Anfield chiefs, however, who view his decision to drop Salah as a selection choice which was unlikely to be long-term.

Perfect for Wirtz: Liverpool could hire the "best young manager in Europe"

Liverpool have an interest in a manager who would be the perfect appointment for Florian Wirtz.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 8, 2025

What’s more, as reported by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, the relationship between Slot and Salah is genuinely broken at present and the Egyptian simply does not see a future at Liverpool whilst the Dutchman is in charge.

It’s the lowest moment of Liverpool’s season so far and one that they could certainly do without as the fixtures come thick and fast. Alas, business goes on for FSG, who have reportedly joined the race to solve another one of Slot’s glaring problems at Liverpool.

Liverpool join race to sign Jeremy Jacquet

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Jeremy Jacquet, who has impressed their scouts at Stade Rennais.

The Reds have already made checks on the 20-year-old defender and could welcome his arrival to replace Konate in 2026. The Frenchman is in the worst form of his Liverpool career and has already played himself out of a potential move to Real Madrid. Now, with his contract still on course to expire in the summer, he could still leave as a free agent.

Dubbed “physically imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson back in May and as “an insane centre-back in the making” by Jacek Kulig, Jacquet has only come on leaps and bounds ever since. At 20 years old, he’s someone that should be on the radar of several top clubs.

For Liverpool, that physicality would be key. The Reds have been bullied far too often this season with Konate at the scene of the crime all too often.

Salah replacement: Liverpool keen to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"

Tottenham hero Cristian Romero revealed international team-mate Lionel Messi as the influence behind his "beautiful" last-gasp overhead kick goal against Newcastle. Spurs' trip to St James’ Park ended in a breathless finale, with the Argentine defender scoring an acrobatic equaliser deep into stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw.

• Newcastle dominate early but made to settle for a point

  For much of the evening, Newcastle appeared set for a victory that would have accurately reflected the flow of the contest. Eddie Howe’s side were sharp from the opening whistle, pinning Spurs back and dictating the first half with confidence. Yet, despite their control, the breakthrough refused to come until midway through the second period. It was the introduction of captain Bruno Guimaraes that changed the tempo. Howe, searching for inspiration, turned to his midfield leader, and within minutes the Brazilian had stamped his authority. Anthony Gordon whipped a teasing cross into the box, a flick redirected the ball into Guimaraes’ path, and he dispatched a precise finish into the corner. 

  Up to that point, Tottenham had offered little more than occasional flashes of counter-attacking intent. But Thomas Frank, confronted by another worrying result, responded boldly with a triple substitution. Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Xavi Simons were thrown into the fray. The impact was immediate. Mohammed Kudus swung a dangerous ball into the penalty area just seven minutes after Newcastle’s opener, and Romero, who was already leading by example at the back, launched himself into a diving header that skimmed off his forehead and drew Spurs level.

  The drama only escalated as the final minutes ticked down. A Newcastle corner sparked a VAR review when Rodrigo Bentancur tangled awkwardly with Dan Burn at the back post. After a lengthy check, a penalty was awarded, and Gordon made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way in the 86th minute. However, Spurs were unwilling to throw in the towel. When a Tottenham corner was punched weakly by Aaron Ramsdale, the ball travelled only as far as Romero. He showed great athleticism to produce a bicycle kick, and although his connection wasn't as clean as he would have liked, the ball skipped through the crowded box and rolled into the net to break Newcastle hearts.

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  Romero name drops Messi

  After the match, Romero admitted the audacity of the attempt came from studying Messi up close during Argentina training sessions.

  "I train every day with Leo Messi in the national team and I watch him,” he said to Sky Sports. ”It's a beautiful goal."

  He also acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, saying the Tottenham team had been deeply aware of their recent shortcomings.

  Romero said: "It's very important. In the last three or four games, the team knows it's not been good enough. Today, the mentality to play like this altogether it's a difficult time, but especially in this game, I love the mentality.”

• Thomas Frank praises captain’s leadership at both ends

  Spurs manager Thomas Frank was effusive in his praise, describing Romero’s performance as “exceptional” and highlighting not just his goals but also his discipline and composure in defence.

  "The perfect bicycle kick, hit the shin, aiming for the bottom corner," he said. "I think let's start praising Cuti, I think he deserved that for all of the top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels. And then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers."

  Frank emphasised that the team’s resilience was what pleased him most.

  "The performance showed fantastic mentality and character," he added to Sky Sports. "Every team needs that. It is fair to say it has been a tough week, fourth game in 10 days, third away game. St James' Park is always a difficult place to come. Last 60 minutes I am very happy with that performance overall. The ability to react to setbacks was great. We suffered the first 25 minutes. Sometimes you need to suffer, after that we were very brave, calm on the ball going forward. There's a lot to love about the performance."

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  What comes next?

  The draw leaves Tottenham 11th in the Premier League table with 19 points from their opening 14 matches. The wider concern is their long winless run, which now extends to five matches in all competitions. Yet the manner of the comeback, and the grit shown in the final 30 minutes, injected a sliver of optimism into an atmosphere that has grown increasingly restless. Frank’s side will aim to turn resilience into wins when they return home to host Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Eddie Howe is now set to be without one of his Newcastle United mainstays following another injury blow, according to recent reports.

Howe admits he needs "to think" about Pope decision

Defeat against Marseille in midweek was a setback, but Newcastle have the chance to at least make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League against Everton this weekend. The Magpies were excellent against Manchester City last week and will be desperate to commence a domestic resurgence.

If they are to do that, however, then Howe may have a big decision to make regarding his starting goalkeeper. Following yet another mistake from Nick Pope in midweek, many have been calling for the Newcastle boss to turn to Aaron Ramsdale and the Newcastle boss has now had his say.

Since signing Ramsdale from Southampton in a deal worth £27m in the summer, the Magpies have handed the shot-stopper just one appearance in the Premier League, which came from the bench following Pope’s injury against Brentford.

Now, however, the England international could finally get the chance he’s been waiting for following one mistake too many from Newcastle’s No.1.

He won’t be the only defensive change if he comes in, either. Newcastle will be without Kieran Trippier against Everton this weekend after he picked up an untimely injury.

Kieran Trippier set for spell on Newcastle sidelines

As reported by the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Trippier will now miss the next four weeks of action after suffering a hamstring injury. The Newcastle mainstay has started eight of 12 Premier League games this season, but will now miss his side’s next seven fixtures in all competitions as the chaos of festive football arrives.

The biggest of those seven games will undoubtedly be the Tyne-Wear derby in December. It’s the first time that Newcastle and Sunderland will meet in the Premier League since 2017, but the Magpies will be without one of their most experienced men.

Howe tells Newcastle chiefs to sign "composed" Serie A star after scouting mission

The Newcastle boss has set his sights on a midfield target.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 27, 2025

Dubbed “incredible” by Howe last season, Trippier is still one of the leaders in the Newcastle dressing room and has done well to keep hold of his place at times, but will now ultimately miss a crucial stage of the campaign.

Bigger liability than Pope: Howe must finally bin Newcastle "legend"

New York Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen is one of the best in the game because he's never afraid to share how he feels about a moment or play. That was on display during New York's 10-5 win over Miami on Tuesday when he lit into Marlins manager Clayton McCullough over a mind-boggling move during Pete Alonso's at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Marlins intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Alonso in a one-run game. That move normally would be made to set up a possible double play and is something that has been done by managers since basically the start of baseball.

McCullough, however, decided to go a different route as he brought his infield in which, with one out, didn't make any sense to Cohen.

"And again they bring the infield in with the bases load and one out against Alonso," Cohen said. "What is going on? Why would they set up the double play and then not play for the double play? Something is eschew."

The Marlins also brought in their outfield and then watched as Alonso crushed a double to left center that emptied the bases.

Cohen was in disbelief after that, saying: "You see how shallow the center fielder was playing against Pete Alonso? What are you doing?"

Not the best strategy.

The Marlins dropped to 5-6 with the loss. The Mets are now 8-3.