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Wolverhampton Wanderers are ending the Premier League season in superb fashion after the dismal early-season reign of Gary O’Neil

Indeed, Vitor Pereira has masterminded six league wins on the spin to propel the club up the table.

If they started the season in this form, the Old Gold would be nowhere near the relegation places and this is something Pereira will hope to change when the 2025/26 season rolls around.

He has already brought in a few players during the winter window, but more activity awaits when the summer one opens in a few weeks.

Wolves searching for a new winger this summer

Wolves will be targeting a new right-winger come the summer as Pablo Sarabia could depart when his contract expires, while Carlos Forbs is due to return to Ajax.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, according to Birmingham World, the Old Gold have held internal talks surrounding a possible move for West Bromwich Albion winger Grady Diangana.

The 27-year-old could be a decent signing, especially considering he is going to leave West Brom when his deal expires at the end of June and would available on a free transfer.

He might not be the big-name star that the Molineux supporters expect, but Diangana could be the player who is finally able to replace Pedro Neto on the right flank from next season.

Wolves can finally replace Neto with Grady Diangana signing

It was always inevitable that Neto was going to leave Wolves sooner rather than later. Following a season where he scored three times and registered 13 assists, Chelsea signed him last summer for a fee in the region of £54m.

This money was too good to turn down, but the club haven’t been able to replace him, with both Sarabia and Forbs struggling to offer any sort of consistency on the right flank.

While Sarabia has found the net against Ipswich and Manchester United this month, he has only scored three times in all competitions. As for Forbs, he’s not scored at all in 11 appearances.

2023/24

24

3

13

2022/23

19

0

1

2021/22

13

1

1

2020/21

35

5

6

2019/20

44

5

5

With over 200 appearances for the Baggies, Diangana has plenty of experience in English football. Add 48 goal contributions – 26 goals and 22 assists – during that period, and the winger certainly has an eye for goal.

He spent time on loan at West Ham a few years ago and was even hailed as “unplayable” by former professional Michael Brown.

When compared to his positional peers across leagues most similar to the Championship, he ranks impressively, noting sitting in the top 20% for successful take-ons (1.96), in the top 2% for through balls (0.86), and the best 24% for goal-creating actions.

In the Championship this term, the 27-year-old has also created five big chances, averaging 0.5 key passes and succeeding with 0.9 dribbles per match.

They might not be the most impressive numbers, but his pace offers a viable threat in the opposition third and this could work wonders for Wolves next season.

Crucially, he’s also a particularly hard worker, notably registering some impressive defensive numbers, ranking among the top 11% of wingers for tackles won.

Due to Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR), the Old Gold wont to be able to spend as much as they want in the summer so bringing in Diangana, who wouldn’t cost anything in the way of a transfer fee, could be a solid signing for the club.

80% duels won: Wolves star is now as undroppable as Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now won their last six Premier League games in a row after convincingly beating Leicester City 3-0.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

Here’s what Mominul, Whatmore and others had to say ahead of Mushfiqur’s milestone Test

Mohammad Isam18-Nov-2025Tamim Iqbal”It is a humongous achievement for Mushfiq. He is someone who genuinely deserves to play 100 Tests for Bangladesh. Many international cricketers who debuted after him, have already retired playing more than hundred Tests. There was a time when Bangladesh played only a few Tests in more than two years.”It wouldn’t be possible to play so many Tests without having a long career. At the same time, discipline, hard work and vision were also necessary. This achievement should be celebrated by every cricket lover of this country. Mushfiq should be praised and celebrated throughout this Test match. He should be free of judgment from this match, whether he scores 20 or 200.Related

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“I have played with him for 17-18 years. I have seen him get big runs, but I have never seen him get tired after a long innings. I have seen other cricketers get tired after scoring big hundreds, but never Mushfiq. The way he prepares himself, and his hunger. It is built in him or he has worked to build it within him. I think he will have his hunger even in the last game in his career.”Mominul Haque”I still can’t believe that someone from the Bangladesh team has played for 20 years, and is about to complete 100 Tests. I am so pleased to share the dressing room with such a legend for so many years.”I sometimes think that he leads a very boring life. How can a person be so disciplined and dedicated to cricket? We could never be like him. He is very quiet off the field. He is disciplined about his food, sleep, etc. I don’t think we will ever get someone so dedicated and disciplined to his craft.Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque have played 65 Tests together•BCB”He does so many small things so well. I think he is a proactive individual. He is very organised. He does specific training. Mushfiq knows exactly what he wants to do. Like after this Test series, I am sure he will start working on the Pakistan bowling attack. Even though it is three months away. I think top players plan well ahead. He has tremendous attention to details.”Dav Whatmore”Mushfiq is someone who knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and was self-motivated and disciplined to achieve. I am very happy to see him stand the test of time, of his ups and downs as well as recovering from injuries. Since I left in 2007, I did follow Mushy’s career periodically. Along with Shakib [Al Hasan] and later Tamim [Iqbal], he began to make his country proud and did so well on the 50-over game as well. His slog-sweep is legendary!”Chandika Hathurusinghe”As Mushfiqur Rahim walks out to play his 100th Test match, Bangladesh cricket celebrates not just a milestone, but a man whose impact on our game goes far beyond statistics. I have had the privilege of coaching Mushfiq in two different periods of Bangladesh cricket–first from 2014 to 2017, and again from 2023 to 2024–and what remains constant is his unwavering professionalism, commitment, and leadership.”Mushfiqur is one of the most meticulous cricketers I have ever worked with. His preparation is world-class–intentional, disciplined, and consistent every single day. Whether we were playing at home in Mirpur or away in foreign conditions, Mushfiq never allowed standards to drop. He arrives early, studies conditions, and makes sure every session has purpose. For younger players, simply observing him is an education in what it means to be a true professional.Hathurusinghe: Bangladesh cricket is richer because of Mushfiqur•Associated Press”Beyond his technical skill and mental resilience, what stands out most is his character. Mushfiq is one of the most trustworthy and genuine leaders I’ve had in any team I have coached around the world. He sets the cultural tone. He leads through action, not words. When he speaks, players listen – not because of seniority, but because they know his intentions are always for the team.”Reaching 100 Test matches is a monumental achievement for any cricketer, but for someone who has represented Bangladesh with such pride and humility, it feels particularly special. Mushfiqur Rahim has carried the hopes of a nation with grace, discipline, and unwavering dedication. His journey is not just a testament to talent – it is a story of relentless hard work and a deep love for the game.”As he takes this historic step in his career, I congratulate him not only as his former coach, but also as someone who has immense respect for the professional and the person he is. Bangladesh cricket is richer because of him, and his legacy will inspire generations to come. Congratulations, Mushfiq. You deserve every bit of this moment.”Habibul Bashar”He is a true legend of the game. I am really, really proud of Mushfiqur Rahim. He did a fantastic job. It is a huge deal. You have to perform to play a hundred Tests. To go through the grind for so long. You reach a point when your heart doesn’t want, your body doesn’t want to continue. You reach a point when you tell yourself. ‘I have had enough’. I don’t think the phrase ‘I have had enough’ exists in Mushfiqur Rahim. He is Mr Cricket, our Mike Hussey.”We also have to bear in mind that Bangladesh doesn’t play a lot of Tests, like England, India or Australia. I think holding onto the dedication and interest is a huge achievement in itself. I think his passion makes it special, and makes him stand apart from the rest of the players. I wish he continues for longer.”

The new captain was at the heart of a hard-fought victory over rivals Mumbai Indians

Alagappan Muthu15-Apr-20242:54

Was Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl the final over sound?

MS Dhoni knows sixes. So, when his eyes widened, and he pushed his lips up and out, as he watched the ball sail over the boundary with an appreciative nod, it’s proof that something special has happened.Akash Madhwal was bowling. He had seen the batter charge at him. Making room outside leg stump. So he corrected his course. And dragged his line wide. Ruturaj Gaikwad was mid-move when he realised he was out of position.Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings is the biggest rivalry in the IPL. And that’s not just for the fans. The teams soak in it too. It showed in their tactics on Sunday night; in how much work had gone into outdoing each other. Of course, there are times when even the best laid-plans are busted by individual brilliance.Like Gaikwad – out of shape – managing to reach a ball he wasn’t meant to and striking it for six over point.Related

• Dhoni dazzles Wankhede with six, six, six

• Pathirana's four-for overshadows Rohit's ton as Mumbai go down

• Hardik says MI undone by CSK bowlers' 'smart approach'

• Pathirana the point of difference against Malinga's Mumbai

• Pollard 'sick and fed up' of people picking on Hardik Pandya

Mumbai made similar moves and their opener was at the centre of it all too. Rohit Sharma vs left-arm pace is love story made in hell. CSK would have hoped to exploit that with Mustafizur Rahman, who has been in form this tournament. Except as soon as he came on, he was hit for four. Rohit kept doing this. Attacking the first ball of the over. It got to the point where he was toying with CSK.Once, he hurtled out of his crease, making room for himself to lift Mustafizur over cover. Next, he shuffled across his stumps, because he knew the bowler would pull his length back and bring his line tighter, and as reward for all of that quick thinking, he found himself in the perfect place to do a little redecoration of the Wankhede. His six crashed into the roof.This was cricket on the cutting edge of the cutting edge. And it was so much fun.Ravindra Jadeja had the biggest smile on his face as he finished his spell. He had been hit for a reverse-swept boundary but still gave away only six runs in the over. Mumbai had tried to smash him almost every ball. Rohit even tried to reverse sweep him, twice. And he doesn’t do reverse sweeps. He’d played only seven of those in his entire IPL career coming into this game. Once again, those were attempts to get a boundary off the first ball of the over.Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 69 off 40 balls even after dropping himself down the order•BCCIAccording to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, Mumbai brought out a big shot to 14 of Jadeja’s deliveries and he turned seven of them into dots or singles. CSK’s left-arm bowling machine had to do something he hates in order to succeed like that. He gave up the stumps. He bowled wide. Returns of 4-0-37-0 doesn’t do justice to his effort. The corresponding figures for Matheesha Pathirana (12 and 8) Tushar Deshpande (11 and 7) and Shardul Thakur (13 and 7) showcase just how good the whole team had to be to defend a total at the Wankhede.CSK’s win in the end owed as much to the fact that there wasn’t a lot of dew on the ground as there has been previously in Mumbai. Their slower balls into the pitch were sticking, so much so that they were able to drag a rampaging Rohit back. He had raced to 66 in 39. Then, he took 12 deliveries to score 12 runs. That kind of deceleration, especially in the back ten, is usually telling. He did go on to bring up a century. He did not celebrate it.”In the middle, when Rohit was going strong, we felt game is sliding a little,” Thakur told the host broadcaster. “And when I came on to bowl, I felt let’s be brave here and make him play to the bigger side [they weren’t playing on the centre wicket], challenge him to hit me on the bigger side, if he can clear the boundary, well give him full marks but if he can’t, then [that] might be turning point of the game.”2:45

‘Dhoni may be surprising even himself’

The night ended with Gaikwad raising his fist in the air, his head ever so slightly bowed. He was taking a moment for himself. This was the game that he finally became CSK’s captain. took the decision to give up his spot as opener – which is crucial to the way he bats because he is a touch player – to Ajinkya Rahane in order to give him the best chance of success because he was playing with a niggle. This little shift also enabled CSK to have their best pace-hitter out in the middle at all the times Jasprit Bumrah came on to bowl. That head-to-head only lasted four balls and yielded three runs but check out what Gaikwad did against the other two specialist quicks: 47 runs in 21 balls with four fours and four sixes, one of which, a picture perfect, straight bat, simple extension of defence against Gerald Coetzee, who is in the running for the fastest bowler of IPL 2024, had him literally licking his lips.Cricket on the cutting edge. So much fun.CSK might have been slow to start. They even allowed a powerplay over to sneak by without a single boundary, and were 48 for 1 at the end of six, but this is all by design. They conserve wickets and leverage their batting depth unlike any other side in the IPL. The numbers bear it out. Since 2021, CSK are the quickest-scoring team in the last ten overs (9.79 rpo), with the most fours (316) and the most sixes (254).On Sunday night, they made sure eight of the back ten went for double-digits, peaking with Dhoni smashing three sixes in three balls off the opposition captain. Then, they prevented it from happening to them by taking the pace off – CSK bowled 27 slower balls that cost them just eight runs an over as opposed to MI’s 13 slower balls that were smashed for nearly 12 an over. The difference might well have been in how Gaikwad’s men kept exhorting the Mumbai line-up to see if they can clear the longer side of the ground. They did that by digging it into the surface instead of floating it up on a length.1:35

Gavaskar on Hardik: ‘Ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy’

“This was a repeated [used] pitch today,” Thakur added, “On the 11th, MI played on the same pitch and I think in Wankhede whenever the pitch is repeated, slower ones work better the next game and we felt apart from Pathirana I think we felt we should keep bowling slower ones into the pitch and at some point we’ll be able to get them out.”When Tim David was at the crease, Mustafizur wanted to target him from around the wicket. But realising that it was vital to keep away from the Australian’s hitting arc, the CSK captain overruled his strike bowler and made him come over the wicket. At the cost of a wide and a six, they dismissed MI’s final hope of victory.In their last game, after failing spectacularly in the effort to make sure Dhoni hit the winning runs, Gaikwad thought he might make up by letting take the lead as the players came together to shake hands. Dhoni would have none of it. He hung back. He knows new history is being written at CSK. And now after beating Mumbai in Mumbai, everybody does as well.

Warner’s first-ball duck needed someone to step up early, and Marsh did that for 18 overs

Sidharth Monga16-May-2022The match is about to start. Sarfaraz Khan has marked the guard, Mayank Agarwal has set the field, and then David Warner realises it is Liam Livingstone bowling the first over. So Warner decides he will take first strike, Agarwal flips the field again, and finally the first ball is sent down. It is a wide offbreak, Warner goes after it, the ball turns and jumps, and he is out first ball.Is Warner cursing himself for changing things up at the last minute? What is Mitchell Marsh thinking when he crosses Warner? How is he going to react to the situation? His side has lost the toss, they have to quickly assess the conditions with their key batter gone first ball and then go about setting a dew-proof total in what is practically a must-win match. There isn’t much time to do all that.It took Marsh four balls to assess the conditions and the situation, and then launch a counterattack on Kagiso Rabada, which included successive sixes down the ground. However, equally impressive was how he retreated after that attack because first Sarfaraz got on a roll and then the Punjab Kings spinners bowled well on a helpful pitch.Related

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“Get as many as I get in the powerplay before it starts turning,” Marsh, who top-scored with 63, told Star Sports when asked what his reading of the conditions was. “I think in the last 18 months or so I have had that mentality in the powerplay. It was a really good partnership with Sarfaraz. He played some amazing shots. Would have been nice to get out of the powerplay one down and then we probably could have kept going. But our innings was sort of stop-start, stop-start with the wickets.”Marsh ticked three boxes in the powerplay itself. He read the conditions perfectly, was selfless in starting a counterattack, but then took on the responsibility of batting through once he saw the younger batter strike well and then get out just before the powerplay ended.This was only the seventh time that Marsh had played 48 or more balls in a T20 innings. Barring a 100-run chase in which you can afford to bat slowly, this was his slowest innings of such a length.2:33

Manjrekar on Sarfaraz’s performance alongside Marsh

There’s a reason why no big hitter is considered a complete performer until he does it in the second half of an IPL season where pitches begin to slow down and the spinners start dominating proceedings. It shows in Marsh’s numbers that he has not been tested much on that front, but also over the last 18 months or so he has played a lot of T20 cricket in these conditions, especially when losing in Bangladesh and in the West Indies just before the World Cup that they won in the UAE.That experience has helped turn Marsh, who traditionally prefers pace on the ball, into a more complete T20 batter, who might still not be great at dominating spin but someone who can target his bowlers better, and then play out the others. Twenty overs is not a lot of time and can induce panic if you play a few dots, which is kind of what happened with the Kings batters in the chase and they didn’t even give themselves a chance for when the dew set in for the last eight overs of the chase.In his resurrection as a T20 batter, Marsh has played that final-winning innings, has scored a Big Bash hundred, and won Capitals the last match, but the most impressive thing has been his turnaround as a player of spin. Before Australia turned him into a No. 3 in July 2021, Marsh had faced 692 balls of spin for a strike rate of just 101.58. Since the promotion up the order, though, Marsh has gone 123.21 per hundred balls of spin, which is quite acceptable for someone who scores at 144.53 against pace.These are not sensational numbers by themselves but serviceable stats for an anchor. Add to them his ability to read then conditions, know when to strike and dovetail with his batting partners, and you have a solid T20 batter. Now he is even doing it in the second half of the IPL, which calls for high levels of precision from those setting up to play long innings.

The Dodgers are shaking things up ahead of World Series Game 5, making a pair of significant tweaks to the lineup after dropping Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Moving up in the lineup and taking Mookie Betts's spot as the No. 2 hitter for Wednesday's game will be catcher Will Smith. Betts will move down to No. 3, where Freddie Freeman had been batting. Freeman will hit fourth. Betts, despite batting behind Shohei Ohtani, whom Toronto has been remarkably cautious about pitching to, hasn't been too productive in the postseason. He's recorded three hits in the World Series, all singles, and has just a .688 OPS in the playoffs.

Additionally, Andy Pages is moving to the bench in favor of Alex Call, who will start in left field. Pages has struggled at the plate in the postseason, with just four hits in 50 at-bats. He's collected just one hit in the World Series, prompting Dave Roberts to remove him from the starting lineup in favor of Call. With Call in left field and batting ninth, Kike Hernández will be in center field.

Pages had been playing center field, so the Dodgers will be making a change to their approach on defense, too.

With the series knotted at 2–2, it's guaranteed that the teams return to Rogers Centre for the closeout game, whether that be Game 6 or Game 7. Los Angeles was considered a heavy favorite heading into the Fall Classic, and the fact that the Blue Jays have won even two games is a surprise to many. Now, the Dodgers will be hoping these lineup changes can propel them to a crucial win in Game 5 before they return to Toronto.

The New York Yankees are currently going through it.

On Tuesday, the Yankees were shut out for the third straight game, this time falling to the Los Angeles Angels 4–0. The Yankees managed just four hits on the night, with the offense looking as stagnant as it ever has during this recent slump.

It’s just the seventh time in the history of the franchise that the Yankees have been shut out for three straight games, and their scoreless streak is now at 29 innings strong.

As the Angels recorded the final out of the game, broadcaster Michael Kay summed up the poor state of the New York offense with disappointment in his voice.

“29 straight scoreless innings,” Kay said. “When you see a lineup with this type of talent base, it’s almost incomprehensible that they’ve been shut down to this extent.”

The Yankees will try to finally get their bats going with one more game against the Angels on Wednesday night.

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future remains shrouded in uncertainty after a dramatic public outburst intensified his feud with manager Arne Slot, but the Egyptian has received unexpected support from his first-ever coach. Ivica Todorov has spoken out to defend Salah’s professionalism and commitment, urging observers not to rush to judgment as the transfer storm grows louder.

Salah's deteriorating relationship with Liverpool

Salah’s situation at Liverpool has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks, with the Egyptian superstar finding himself at the centre of a major stand-off with manager Slot. A run of poor form, combined with tactical disagreements and his shock interview following the draw with Leeds United, has amplified speculation over whether he has already played his final game for the club. The matter escalated further when Salah was excluded from the squad for the Champions League clash with Inter Milan, a clear sign of ongoing tension behind the scenes at Anfield.

The Liverpool hierarchy is now attempting to navigate a crisis involving one of the club’s greatest-ever players, who until recently had been indispensable to their attacking structure. While most figures around the club have supported Slot’s approach, Salah’s own camp has remained firm in their belief he has been unfairly targeted for the team’s struggles. The growing division has prompted major questions about his contract, his January availability, and whether the Saudi Pro League or MLS may attempt a swoop.

Amid the noise, former coaches, pundits and former players have weighed in on Salah’s character, but few have taken his side until his first manager, Todorov, stepped forward. The Serbian-French coach who gave Salah his debut at El Mokawloon in Egypt has defended the forward’s integrity and work ethic.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesSalah's first manager defends Egyptian's professionalism

Speaking to Africa Foot, Todorov delivered an emphatic defence: “I know Mo Salah well. I don’t doubt for a moment his commitment, his work ethic, his lifestyle.”

He continued with strong praise for the professionalism of the Liverpool icon: “He’s a great professional. But time passes, he’s 33 years old, he’s been at Liverpool for more than eight years. I get the impression that Arne Slot no longer really trusts him.”

Todorov also questioned the club’s handling of the situation: “It’s going to be difficult for the two men to mend fences. Liverpool is struggling in the Premier League. I don’t understand why the coaching staff is depriving themselves of such an important player to try and get out of it.”

He concluded by warning that only a few clubs could realistically match Salah’s value: “There aren’t many clubs in the world that can offer him a higher salary than he earns at Liverpool. The Saudis can, but does he want to play in a league that, while it has improved over the last three years, isn’t as competitive as those in England or Spain?”

Salah linked with a January transfer away from Anfield

Todorov’s comments arrive at a time when Salah’s relationship with Liverpool feels more strained than at any point since his arrival in 2017. The winger, who once dominated the Premier League and led the club to Champions League and Premier League glory, is enduring one of his least productive seasons, scoring only five goals so far. As the team’s struggles intensify, Slot appears to have made the bold choice to reshape Liverpool’s attack without its long-standing talisman. The fallout has shifted into the public sphere, something extremely rare for Salah, whose career has been defined by professionalism and discretion.

Meanwhile, external pressure continues to mount, with the Saudi Pro League monitoring developments closely and MLS officials openly expressing interest. Salah remains under contract until 2027, but the longer the tension persists, the more likely Liverpool will need to make a definitive decision. For now, Todorov’s public support adds a rare positive voice for the Egyptian star during a turbulent chapter of his career.

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Saudi Pro League move on the cards for Salah?

Liverpool now face a delicate balancing act as they attempt to stabilise their season while addressing the future of one of the club’s most influential players. Slot’s tactical rebuild appears incompatible with Salah’s current form and relationship with the manager, raising questions about whether a January exit may become inevitable. If Salah departs, Liverpool will be tasked with replacing not only his goals but his leadership, a challenge that could reshape the club’s trajectory.

For Salah, the next few weeks could define the twilight of his career. A move to Saudi Arabia would provide financial magnitude, while remaining in Europe may offer the competitive edge he still craves. Alternatively, a shock move to MLS has entered the conversation, though a resolution between him and Slot remains the least disruptive scenario for Liverpool.

يلتقي منتخب السودان مع لبنان، مساء اليوم الأربعاء، في المباراة التي تقام بينهما، ضمن منافسات التصفيات النهائية المؤهلة إلى كأس العرب 2025.

يتنافس منتخبا السودان ولبنان، على حسم بطاقة التأهل إلى دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025 المقرر إقامته في قطر.

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب فلسطين يهزم ليبيا ويتأهل إلى كأس العرب 2025

وتقام بطولة كأس العرب، في قطر خلال الفترة من 1 حتي 18 ديسمبر المقبل، بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا.

ومن المقرر أن ينضم الفائز من مباراة السودان ولبنان، إلى منتخبات المجموعة الرابعة في كأس العرب، العراق والجزائر والمتأهل أيضًا من مباراة (البحرين وجيبوتي). موعد مباراة السودان ولبنان اليوم في كأس العرب 2025

تقام مباراة السودان ولبنان، اليوم الأربعاء 26 نوفمبر، في تمام الساعة 6 بتوقيت مصر والسودان ولبنان، 7 بتوقيت السعودية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة السودان ولبنان اليوم في كأس العرب 2025

تنقل مباراة السودان ولبنان، عبر قناة أبو ظبي الرياضية 1 وبي إن سبورت المفتوحة والكأس 1.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has proposed a new points-based plan to bring an end to the Premier League’s reliance on set pieces and encourage more attractive football. The ex-France international is frustrated with the direction English football has taken but he has stopped short of criticising his old club, who lead the way when it comes to corners.

Free kicks, long throws and corners back in vogue in 2025-26

Free kicks, long throws and corners have all surged in popularity in the 2025-26 Premier League season. Once seen as a sign of weakness for a team to put so much emphasis on being proficient at set pieces, often due to a lack of quality from open play, those very tactics are now widespread across the division, with all 20 clubs getting in on the act.

However, with free kicks, long throws and corners now back in vogue, football fans have become split on whether the new-found dependency is good for the game or a terrible habit which needs to be banished. While some see the set-piece craze as a breath of fresh air, others feel the game has become uglier as a result.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEx-Gunners ace Clichy proposes plan for more attacking football

Clichy, who spent eight years with Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, is very much a believer that English football has gone backwards, but he reckons he has now come up with a solution which will inspire more teams to play attacking football.

In an interview with he said: “Unless we change the rules to encourage teams to play offensive football (that could become a problem). Say you are losing 4-2 but scoring a third goal in a game counts as 0.5 points. It means you can still get something out of it rather than a team defending, which is counterproductive to the love of the game.

“Every time there is something in place, it is hard to make changes. When you talk about what I just said about 0.5 points or a throw-in becoming a kick-in, people are going to laugh but remember a few decades ago when you could pass the ball back and forth with the goalkeeper (picking the ball up)? The person who proposed (changing that) that probably got laughed at too, because change is uncomfortable.”

Former left-back refuses to criticise Arteta for changing Arsenal's style

Leading the way when it comes to corners are Clichy’s old club Arsenal, who – under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta and led by the aerial skill of defender Gabriel Magalhaes – strike fear into their opponents every time the ball goes out of play. However, while Clichy believes Arteta has made Arsenal far more physical than they were under former manager Arsene Wenger, he has refused to criticise the Spaniard for changing the club’s style of play.

“Mikel has changed how people see Arsenal,” Clichy continued. “In the Premier League, if you are disrespecting the physicality of the game and the set-play moments, you have a big problem. Mikel has done what he felt was needed for Arsenal to win.

“They are first and you still have people arguing that they don’t play the Arsenal way. It doesn’t make any sense. The Arsenal way is to win trophies. Pretty or not, the fans will be happy.

“We keep on talking about Wenger’s Arsenal playing really good football 20 years later. This is not the same game. It is not the same league. It is not the same generation of players. People who still think Man United need to play with the same DNA of (Sir Alex) Ferguson and are comparing that side to the current one. It is not the coach who is wrong. It is the people who are still comparing these teams.

“If Arsenal win 1-0 with a set piece, then that is all we need to know. We need to accept the coach has a different vision. In the end, you need to win because then pretty much everyone will say it is good enough.”

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Getty Images SportArsenal's next match: Arteta's men face Tottenham in north London derby

Arsenal will be hoping to continue their set-piece prowess when the Premier League returns this weekend following the conclusion of the international break. Arteta’s men – who are currently top of the table – play host to Tottenham in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Thomas Frank’s Spurs are currently fifth in the standings and eight points (18) behind their fierce rivals (26).

كسر تيجاني ريندرز، لاعب خط وسط مانشستر سيتي صمته بشأن قرار بيب جوارديولا بجلوسه على دكة البدلاء ضد ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي.

وأكد ريندرز أنه كان يشعر بأنه مدلل في السنوات الأخيرة ولا يشكو من الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، ويرغب اللاعب بمواصلة تأقلمه مع الحياة في مانشستر سيتي.

وكان ريندرز قد انضم لمانشستر سيتي بتوقعات كبيرة، وقد تطور خط الوسط بانضمام لاعب ميلان السابق بعد رحيل كيفن دي بروين، وسجل وصنع خلال الأشهر الأولى في الموسم.

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وقال ريندرز في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “جول”: “الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز رائع ومازلت أستمتع كل يوم في مانشستر سيتي، هناك الكثير مما يجب مراعاته في التدريب، وكيفية استعدادنا تكتيكياً مع اللاعبين الموجودين لدينا”.

وأضاف عن قرار جوارديولا بجلوسه ضد ليفربول بديلاً: “كان قرار المدرب”.

واختتم عن المنافسة هذا الموسم على مختلف المراكز في مانشستر سيتي: “إنه موسم طويل جداً، إذا نظرت لفريقنا، يمكن لأي لاعب أن يكون أساسياً، لقد كنت مدللاً بعض الشيء في السنوات القليلة الماضية، هذا جزء من التواجد في نادي كهذا وينتهي بك الأمر أحياناً على مقاعد البدلاء”.