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While India are still looking to nail down middle-order spots, the captain indicated he wouldn’t chop and change too much during the course of the Asia Cup

Shashank Kishore17-Sep-2018India want to fix on their middle order as soon as possible. That’s the sense one got from Rohit Sharma’s pre-match media interaction in Dubai on Monday, ahead of India’s opening game against Hong Kong. It’s not yet a race against time – they will also have the five ODIs at home against West Indies next month to try a few combinations – but Rohit wasn’t thinking so far ahead.”It is not settled, we all know about it, because there’s been a lot of guys who have played at that position,” he said. “Going forward we want everything to be settled, but it gives an opportunity to the guys to come and play the cricket they like to play and seal the spot. Nos. 3 [for this tournament], 4, 6 are all up for grabs. All these guys are eyeing that. Obviously, we want to give as many chances as possible to the guys to make sure the No.4 and 6 spot is sealed. As a team we’re very much looking forward to that. I am sure all those guys who are eyeing that spot are hungry and want to grab that position.”Given the stifling competition, Rohit also wanted his players to feel a sense of security, which he hoped to provide by allowing in-form players continuity, instead of chopping and changing in the name of experimentation.”I wouldn’t say it is a concern, but if you look at the future, as a captain or player, you want your team to be settled and even the guys who are eyeing that spot want to be settled,” he said. “Nobody likes to be dropped and brought back into the squad. We want everyone to be feeling safe and settled, so that they can play freely. Right now looking at all the guys who are eyeing that spot, mentally they look fresh and are raring to go. I guess they’re just a performance away from making their claim for that particular spot.”Virat Kohli’s unavailability means the team management will have an opportunity to audition more than three players. With Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit likely to open, KL Rahul is set to slot in at No. 3. The No. 4 slot, however, has been subject to musical chairs in recent times. Suresh Raina’s failures in England have opened the door for Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik to nail it down for themselves.On Monday, the team management was clearly mindful of preserving players and not exposing them to potentially three straight days in the heat and humidity prevalent in the UAE right now, but the focus on those auditioning for key slots was visible. Rahul and Karthik batted among the first set of batsmen, before Rayudu had a hit. All of them enjoyed a decent time in the nets against a battery of four back-up bowlers – Mayank Markande, Siddarth Kaul, Prasidh Krishna and Shahbaz Nadeem.Karthik featured in just one ODI in England and lost his form in the Tests, eventually losing his place to Rishabh Pant. Rayudu, meanwhile, was in the squad for the England ODIs but had to miss out because of a failed yo-yo test. After becoming eligible for selection last month, he hit form for India A in the quadrangular series at home.There’s every chance two among these three will be looked at for the No. 4 spot. Among those auditioning for the role, Pandey was the only one not considered for the England ODIs, but he has forced his way back in after tallying 306 runs in his last four innings without being dismissed while leading India B to a quadrangular series title last month. Outside of these three, the selectors have the option of also looking at Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, who is set to turn out as the Mumbai captain in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-over competition.Kedar Jadhav, meanwhile, is looked at as a finisher at No. 6. His handy offspin delivered with a low, slingy arm is an added advantage. Given the nature of surfaces so far in Dubai – slow turn and plenty of grip – there’s every chance India will look at a third spin option in the XI.On the bowling front, India could field a debutant. Jasprit Bumrah hardly bowled at the nets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar was just bowling off a few paces. Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur however, bowled at full intensity.Khaleel, in particular, has been talked about for a while for the pace and hard lengths he hits with his left-arm variety. Apart from calling him into the nets, the team management has fielded him on India A tours all season to give him a taste of top-flight cricket.”I am quite excited about Khaleel,” he said. “Of course he’s a great variation to squad. Also, he generates quite a bit of pace. He’s young, quite talented, and can swing the ball as well at the same time. I am looking forward to him playing and doing well for the country. From whatever I’ve seen of him, he can get batsmen into trouble. I can surely say that. He’s got a great skillset, it’s just a matter of going out there and doing it. Of course, he has not played a game so he’ll be quite nervous but again he’s got all the tools that are required to play at the highest level.”

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has revealed he's learned a lot about NFL after making the move to the United States.

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Messi embracing new life in MiamiLearning about American footballAlso reveals his other sporting passionsWHAT HAPPENED?

Messi is known throughout the world for being one of the greatest players ever to grace soccer, but he has revealed he does take an interest in other sports. The World Cup winner says his move to the United States has led to a new interest in American football and he has other listed his other favorite sports away from his own profession.

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He told the about his favorite sports: "Tennis, padel, basketball, and American football. I'm learning a lot about American football, getting to know it better, and loving it."

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Messi's presence at Inter Miami has already drawn plenty of celebrities and stars from the worlds of tennis and American football to the MLS side. Tennis stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa have been gifted Messi shirts after taking in a visit to the club, while NFL players Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase were spotting wearing FC Cincinnati shirts when Messi arrived for a game with Inter Miami last season. Messi's arrival in the U.S. has prompted more than 1 million people tune in to watch Miami games, numbers only NFL and college football can compete with.

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Messi is currently out injured and missed Argentina's fixtures with Costa Rica and El Salvador over the international break. He is expected to return for Inter Miami's Champions Cup clash against Monterrey on April 3.

Liverpool progressed into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a victory over Bournemouth in midweek as Jurgen Klopp’s hunt for silverware began to gather pace.

Following a disastrous 2022/23 campaign which saw the club undergo a transitional period, the Reds had returned to their relentless best, especially in the Premier League.

Four successive wins under their belt had come until a trip to Luton Town on Sunday afternoon, where Klopp’s side went a goal down, only to be rescued at the death by Luis Diaz in a surprising 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Liverpool team news

Unlike last term where Liverpool suffered from a major injury crisis that curtailed their season, this time around Klopp has been able to call on the majority of his squad, aside from a few absentees.

The Merseyside giants are still without first-choice left back Andy Robertson with the Scotland captain having undergone successful surgery on a shoulder injury.

Kostas Tsimikas has continued to deputise in that position, however, Liverpool's biggest problem is in midfield as Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

While Klopp should continue to field Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in the two advanced midfield positions, the German has a big decision to make at the base of midfield with Alexis Mac Allister picking up a yellow card against the Hatters.

That eventuality means he has accumulated five yellow cards this term and will now miss the clash with Brentford this weekend.

Alexis Mac Allister’s season in numbers

Mac Allister has been a revelation for Liverpool, especially in recent weeks, since making the switch from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.

The World Cup-winning Argentine has been at the heart of their well-oiled pressing machine, displaying the energy and tenacity required to play in the German’s midfield.

Despite being deployed in the deeper role, Mac Allister’s defensive metrics paint the picture of someone who is thriving as the Reds destroyer, channelling his inner South American roots by throwing himself into challenges.

According to FBref, the 24-year-old has been one of the league’s best defensive midfielders this term, ranking in the top 14% against his positional peers for tackles, top 12% for ball recoveries, top 14% for interceptions and top 3% for blocks.

Mac Allister was originally signed as a box-to-box midfielder, but his tough tackling displays and tactical flexibility have seen him become a vital player in Klopp’s system, acting as a screen in front of the Liverpool back line.

The 21-cap Argentine was even lauded as a “superstar” by TNT Sports pundit and former Red Joe Cole for how he’s transitioned into his role as a six, but also praising his ability to play in any role across midfield.

He said: "I like him in any role. I've been a massive fan of him. I think he can play anywhere in the midfield."

Alexis Mac Allister’s stats vs Luton

That said, he didn't particularly have the greatest of games against Luton, notably being handed a dismal 4/10 rating by the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle, who said of his display: "Gave away possession cheaply too often first half and bypassed far too easily. Slight improvement after break. Booked."

The stats didn't make for fantastic reading either, with the summer signing ceding possession on 15 occasions, the third-highest of any Red on the day while also winning just 30% of his defensive duels. Clearly, this time around, he was lacking the physicality to cope with Luton.

Touches

98

Accurate Passes

74/87 (85%)

Key Passes

1

Duels Won

3/10

Possession Lost

15x

Fouls

2

Tackles

1

Dribble Past

3x

Stats via Sofascore.

What made matters worse was that he was dribbled past three times, largely looking isolated in the middle of the park.

Fortunately, a decision on whether Mac Allister keeps his place next weekend is out of the manager's hands, with Wataru Endo potentially set to earn a rare league start in his place.

Wataru Endo’s season in numbers

Endo has struggled to nail down a starting spot in Klopp’s plans since arriving from Stuttgart in the summer.

The Japanese international has mainly been utilised in the cup competitions, featuring from the off in all three of their Europa League matches and two Carabao Cup ties.

In the Premier League, the 30-year-old has been restricted to only one start and five substitute appearances, with the statistics suggesting he’s struggled to acclimatise to his new surroundings.

Having arrived as a tough-tackling midfield destroyer, 5 foot 10 Endo has been anything but in the top flight, averaging only 0.2 interceptions, 0.5 tackles, 1.2 balls recovered per game and only winning 39% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Although his above metrics are slightly better in the Europa League, posting one tackle per game, 2.3 interceptions, 3.7 balls recovered and 61% of his duels won, it is likely that Klopp will now consider his "monster" for a starting berth.

With Mac Allister out, it could well be the making of a career in Anfield if the Japanese sensation can shine.

Former USMNT player Herculez Gomez rang the warning bell on head coach Gregg Berhalter after USA scraped to the CONCACAF Nations League final.

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USMNT defeated Jamaica 3-1 in semifinalWere on the brink of Nations League exitHerculez called for Berhalter's headUSA Today Sports WHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT secured a 3-1 win against Jamaica in a tense match after a late deflected header from Miles Robinson forced extra time. While the victory ensured a spot in the final of the continental competition, the performance left much to be desired, with the team struggling against a Jamaica side who were missing key players.

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Gomez expressed doubts about Berhalter's capabilities as the head coach and urged the US FA to do away with him as quickly as possible before the 2026 World Cup.

“Gregg Berhalter was two seconds, was a play away from everybody calling for his head. From everybody saying this isn’t the man to lead this team," he said while hosting

And I don’t think I feel too much differently today after this game as I did before it. Gregg Berhalter may be a good coach at a certain level. He’s not the coach for the US Men’s National team at this level, not the coach to lead the US Men’s National team to the World Cup in 2026.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Echoing Gomez's sentiments, USMNT legend Alexi Lalas also criticised Berhalter's performance, particularly highlighting the team's lack of urgency, ruthlessness, and energy during the match against Jamaica.

"You can do whatever you want. But I can say it was a horrible performance and, as a coach, Berhalter deserves criticism for his team’s utter lack of urgency, ruthlessness, or energy," he wrote on

However, Lalas did acknowledge Berhalter's tactical adjustments and impactful substitutions, such as introducing Gio Reyna and Haji Wright, which ultimately contributed to the team's victory.

"But he also made the necessary changes in players/tactics to find the win in a knock-out setting."

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Berhalter will have the opportunity to silence his critics on Sunday evening when the USA will play against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final at the AT&T Stadium.

How he fits into a team that already contains both Rabada and Ngidi is one of the conundrums facing South Africa as they brace for the World Cup next year

Liam Brickhill26-Sep-2018Dale Steyn is set to play his first ODI since October 2016, and with the World Cup just over eight months away, South Africa coach Ottis Gibson has reckoned the quick will add value to his squad as a mentor.”With his experience, [he’s a natural mentor] anyway because that’s the kind of guy he is,” Gibson said four days before the start of the ODI series against Zimbabwe. “He’s talking to the guys around the group, and to have his experience there, whether he plays or not, [is great]. There’s nothing to say he’ll play every game, but to have him in and around the dressing room and the nets passing on his experience can only be a good thing for the guys.”Once Dale is fit, to me he’s still one of the best two bowlers in the country, other than KG [Kagiso Rabada]. And he’s gone away and he’s proven his fitness, so he comes back and we’ll see how he goes in the next couple of games.”He’s someone who’s still clearly very passionate about playing for his country, and we’ll make an assessment on Dale in this series and the next against Australia, the next six games, and we’ll see how we go forward from there.”How Steyn fits into a team that already contains both Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi is just one of the conundrums facing South Africa as they brace for the World Cup next year. Their ODI against Zimbabwe this weekend marks the first of 16 that South Africa will play before their World Cup opener against England at The Oval on May 30, 2019 and the upcoming games against Zimbabwe – and possibly those which follow against Pakistan – will likely be South Africa’s last chance to test new players and combinations before they settle on their World Cup hopefuls, Gibson hinted.”Every person that gets an opportunity now will know that there will be less and less opportunities going forward, so you have to make every opportunity you get count at this stage,” he said.”We’ve looked at some guys, and this series and the next one to my mind – and I’ve spoken to the selectors about it already – are probably the last sort of opportunities to see guys we’ve discussed but haven’t had the opportunity to see yet. I think by the time we get into the Pakistan and certainly the Sri Lanka series in the new year, that we’ll be looking to pick the team that we think is most likely to be the team that goes to the World Cup. So this is an opportunity to look at one or two other players.”With Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla injured and Quinton de Kock and David Miller rested, the most obvious positions South Africa might be looking to experiment in are in their top and middle order. Heinrich Klaasen and Dean Elgar have played just six ODIs each, while Christiaan Jonker has just a solitary T20I to his name. They are largely untested options, though Gibson sees plenty of potential in Jonker and a “like for like” replacement for Amla in Elgar.BCCI”When you look at this squad that we have right now, Faf is missing, Quinny is missing, Hash is missing, and there’s no real seniors,” Gibson said. “Dean is a like-for-like swap for Hash. Again you think about the World Cup, and this is thinking a little further ahead, and then you look at Dean’s record for almost every county he’s played for in England, then clearly he comes into the conversation. So, this gives us an opportunity to see Dean as a like-for-like replacement for Hash, and see how he goes. He’s always made it clear that he’s still keen on playing one-day international cricket, and this gives us an opportunity to see him in that position.”We wanted to see Klaasen a bit longer, and Christiaan Jonker came in and did quite well for us in the T20. His numbers in the franchise system are pretty good. What we’ve set out to do from the outset is to try have almost two players for every position. We know what David [Miller] can do. He’s not had a lot of runs recently, but this is a chance to see Christiaan in that position so we can then assess both of them and see which one we can take forward.”Jonker’s solitary T20I against India in February was the only time Gibson had seen him bat live up to that point, but he liked what he saw then, and said that Jonker had since worked hard to bring his fitness up to the required level.”I liked that he came in and he was just uncomplicated,” Gibson said. “He just watched the ball and hit it. And he obviously understood his game and his strengths really well. And he probably also understood that if you’re going to play international T20 cricket you need to be a little fitter, so he’s gone away and worked really hard on that and hopefully he can give a really good account of himself over the next series.”Gibson said that the likes of Temba Bavuma, Chris Morris and Vernon Philander, while not in the frame for the Zimbabwe series, were still part of the team’s thinking heading towards the World Cup. Philander is only expected to recover from an ankle injury in November, while Morris was sidelined after injuring his back during this year’s IPL. Morris is set to return to action with the Titans when South Africa’s domestic season kicks off this week, but Gibson made no secret over his concerns over Morris’ injury-prone past.”My problem with Morris …Okay, there’s a little bit of a cricket problem, but the bigger problem is fitness I think,” Gibson said. “Not in terms of general fitness, but in terms of staying on the park. Morris in the last three years has had a lot of injury issues, more so than cricket issues, and I think once he’s fit and strong then I think his real talent will come to the fore. That’s the message that I’ve given him already. We know what Morris can do, and we want him to be as fit as he can to allow himself to do what we know he’s capable of doing. Obviously, he’s back to fitness now and he’s playing for the Titans, which is fantastic, and if he can play the next month and a half, two months for the Titans and getting really hardened to cricket, then that’s obviously very good for us.”

A Champions League player is readying an exit from his club, and Arsenal are believed to be interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

Arsenal form this season

The Gunners are back to winning ways after their 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United at the weekend. An Eddie Nketiah hat-trick, a Fabio Vieira penalty and Takehiro Tomiyasu's late strike sealed a routine victory at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta's side have made it seven wins from a possible 10 in the top flight, and it's safe to say the Spaniard was overjoyed with one player in particular as Arsenal close the gap on table-topping Tottenham.

“I’m really happy for him, an academy player, to experience in the Premier League a hat-trick,” said Arteta on Nketiah after his three-goal haul.

“He needs to enjoy the moment. He fully deserves it and hopefully there are many more to come. He’s got an eye for goal. You look at his stats from the last 10 years. What he’s done is remarkable. He needs minutes, opportunities and service. If he gets that, Eddie is going to score goals, that’s for sure. He’s a great player for Arsenal. He can be better, yes. And the best thing is the talent that he’s got, but especially his mentality is incredible. When he has that mentality with that talent, he’s going to get much better.”

Arsenal next take on West Ham in the EFL Cup on Wednesday before their very tough away game to Newcastle United on Saturday.

Arsenal transfer targets – explained:

Nketiah's performance may well give Arsenal chiefs something to think about when the January transfer window reopens, as a lot of rumours have surrounded a potential new striker. According to recent reports, Arteta is targeting Brentford's Ivan Toney as an option, while Arsenal are also interested in Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

Wolves winger Pedro Neto is a target for Arsenal as well, with Arteta believed to want an alternative to star winger Bukayo Saka on the right hand side. There have been sporadic links to new defenders, too.

Indeed, according to Turkish newspaper Aksam, centre-back Victor Nelsson is "preparing to leave" Galatasaray as Arsenal eye a move to sign him. The Denmark international, who's featured regularly in the Champions League for manager Okan Buruk, is extremely likely to leave in January for what will be a club-record transfer. As well as the north Londoners, both rivals Tottenham and Dutch heavyweights Ajax are targeting him as well.

It's added that the price for his signature stands at around £13-£17 million, a fee which could prove bargain-worthy given Nelsson's been lavished with praise for his defending.

"Nelsson has fantastic defensive and positional awareness and has great knowledge of the game averaging overall 1.2 interceptions p90," wrote a Scout Report in 2020.

"He is great at clearing the ball from crosses and positions himself well in the box and is also great at heading away balls from corners. Nelsson also has great decision making when either stepping out or dropping deep and is rarely caught out."

Stuart Broad, the second-highest wicket-taker in England’s Test history, would appear to be vulnerable as England balance the desire to play three spinners

George Dobell in Colombo29-Oct-2018Stuart Broad could be dropped from England’s Test side for the first time since 2012. Broad, the second-highest wicket-taker in England’s Test history, would appear to be vulnerable as England balance the desire to play three spinners while ensuring their batting strength is not diluted.Any final decision will be delayed until the team management have had a good look at the surface for the first Test in Galle but it is expected to offer assistance – possibly substantial assistance – to spin bowlers and little to seamers. That means Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Jack Leach could all be in line to play.Root targets T20 development

Joe Root has reaffirmed his determination to play for England in all three formats, despite being omitted from the team for their two most recent T20Is. He said he accepted the reasons for being left out but hopes a spell playing for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash will allow him to push his T20 credentials.
“I suppose I was given a rest,” he said. “Of course you always want to be involved and playing but sometimes these things are out of your hands and what it has done is give me a couple of extra days to get ready for the Test matches.
“I’m very ambitious to play in all three formats and I’ve an opportunity this winter to go to the Big Bash and put some strong performances in for the Thunder. It will be the first time I’ve had a block of T20 cricket to play since the World T20.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to stay current in that format and develop that side of my game and be a part of the team moving forward.”

With James Anderson and Ben Stokes all but assured of two of the seam-bowling positions, it may well be the final place in the England side is to be contested by Sam Curran and Chris Woakes who, these days, both offer more with the bat than Broad.Broad has, when fit, been an almost ever-present in England’s Test team over the last decade. The last two occasions he has been dropped, however, have both come in Asia, with Kevin Pietersen omitting him from his side for the Chennai Test of 2008 and Alastair Cook doing the same in Kolkata in 2012. He was also rested from a Test against West Indies in 2012 but only once the series was won.While Broad’s record in Asia is far from awful – he has claimed 41 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 36.92, a strike rate of 79.50 and conceding just 2.78 runs-per-over – the England management may feel that Anderson offers at least as much control and a little more threat. Anderson averages exactly 30 in Asia, with lower strike and economy rates. In two Tests in Sri Lanka (one in 2007 and one in 2012) Broad has claimed three wickets at a cost of 66.33 apiece, while Anderson has 11 wickets at 40.72 in four Tests in the country.It could also be that England plan to rotate Anderson and Broad, with the former swapping out for the second Test.While Joe Root, the England captain, insisted that no decision had been made over Broad’s involvement in the first Test, he did accept that England may need to adopt a “different formula” if they are to improve their modest away form. It is two years since England won an away Test – against Bangladesh in Chittagong – and they have lost all three of their most recent away series, to India, Australia and New Zealand.”Obviously our away record has not been what we’d like over the last couple of years,” Root said. “But it’s an opportunity for this group of players to turn that around. We shouldn’t be scared or intimidated by the surfaces or by the make-up of their team.”But we’ve been away from home for a number of times now and struggled. So whether we have to find a different formula we’ll just have to wait and see.”We still haven’t finalised the team. Stuart could still definitely play a massive part within the three-match series and definitely he is an option in the first game.Joe Root and Trevor Bayliss have selection decisions to make•Getty Images”I wouldn’t say it’s a changing of the guard and I wouldn’t say he’s in a weaker position than he has been previously. I think he’s actually improving all the time and using his experience wisely. His action is as strong as it has ever been. If we find a different formula with him or without him, I don’t think it weakens him as a player or shows where his game is going.”Ultimately it will come down to the balance of the side. We’ve a bit of time now to work out what that will be and when we get to Galle we’ll make a big call on that.”Central to England’s thinking is the understanding that they have actually bowled pretty well on recent tours. During the Ashes, for example, their seam attack was largely faultless but rendered impotent by a lack of pace that left them unable to extract much out of pitches. The team management are aware, therefore, that they may have to try something different – whether in terms of a three-man spin attack or by adding Olly Stone’s extra pace – if they are to achieve different results.”We’ve got a number of points of difference within our attack, with spin and seam, which pose a different threat on surfaces that are different to what we’ve played on in the past,” Root said. “What let us down in India, if you look at the results, is that we either dropped chances that were crucial or we wilted on days four and five in our second innings. In the first inning we batted extremely well and put 400 on the board in the majority of occasions.”Taking those chances will be crucial and making sure we’ve got plenty of variety.”England start a two-day warm-up match in Colombo on Tuesday. They may well play up to 13 men in their side and will hope to bat the whole of the first day and bowl for the whole of the second.

Newcastle were dealt another massive injury blow when Jamaal Lascelles was ruled out for up to nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

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Lascelles diagnosed with ACL ruptureCaptain faces six to nine months outMagpies already without Sven BotmanWHAT HAPPENED?

The Magpies captain limped off after just 17 minutes of his team's 4-3 win against West Ham on Saturday. The centre-back was sent to see a specialist and has since been diagnosed with an ACL rupture and will require surgery.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 30-year-old's severe injury comes as the latest blow for Eddie Howe's team, who recently saw fellow defender Sven Botman ruled out for several months with a cruciate ligament injury of his own. Newcastle will be without both players for the rest of the season and part of the 2024-25 campaign. Furthermore, they were given another headache with midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is already suspended for breaking betting rules, facing another lengthy ban after being charged with 50 more violations.

WHAT NEWCASTLE SAID

"Newcastle United can confirm that club captain Jamaal Lascelles suffered a rupture to the ACL in his right knee during Saturday's victory over West Ham United," a statement from the club read.

"After seeing a specialist consultant, he is expected to undergo surgery next week and will be out for six-to-nine months."

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Howe's team are currently eighth in the Premier League and will take on relegation candidates Everton in their next match on Wednesday. Four days later they will travel to London to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Glasgow Rangers secured a confidence-boosting win in midweek against Sparta Prague in the Europa League, and it sets them up nicely to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Goals from Danilo and Todd Cantwell were enough to see off the Czech side at Ibrox and manager Philippe Clement will be hoping for more of the same against Livingston on Sunday.

The Light Blues find themselves eight points adrift of Celtic, although they have a game in hand and the way they are playing under the Belgian, this gap could be cut before Christmas with some luck.

Against Livingston in the Premiership on Sunday, Clement will be looking to rotate his team who sent Sparta packing from Glasgow.

Four changes from that midweek side could be expected in certain areas. Here’s the manager’s predicted XI…

1 GK – Jack Butland

Jack Butland has been in inspired form this campaign for the Light Blues, proving himself to be one of the few transfers that Michael Beale managed to get right during the summer.

The Gers have conceded just six goals in the Premiership so far this term – the best defensive record in the division – and much of it has to do with how good Butland has been between the posts.

2 RB – James Tavernier

Captain fantastic. James Tavernier will once again lead the Gers out for a match, and he has missed just one match so far this term, against Morton in the League Cup back in August, as he was given a rest.

The right-back has already scored ten goals this season across 21 matches, while grabbing three assists, and he is certainly showing no signs of slowing down.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

Like Tavernier, Connor Goldson has missed just one match all season and that was back in August against Livingston.

He is arguably the finest defender at the club and his experience will be vital under Clement, especially if the Light Blues aim to win a trophy or two during the current campaign.

4 CB – Leon Balogun

Ben Davies will drop to the bench from the tie against Sparta and in his place comes Leon Balogun.

The Nigerian re-signed for the club during the summer on a one-year deal having enjoyed a spell between 2020-2022, and he has made two appearances under Clement so far, with the club conceding just one goal when Balogun was on the pitch.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Ridvan Yilmaz was foolishly left out of the Europa League squad by Beale, leaving Clement short on cover in that area should Borna Barisic get injured.

The Croatian has started the previous two matches and this could allow Yilmaz to come in for a rare start as he hopes to take his chance under the Belgian following a topsy-turvy campaign so far.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder looked back to his best during the victory over Sparta on Thursday evening and if he can replicate his European form from the stunning run to the final of the Europa League in 2022, then Clement will have a player ready to go through brick walls for the club.

Lundstram was dribbled past just once in midweek, and he will be given another start against Livingston.

7 CM – Jose Cifuentes

While Ryan Jack has looked back to his best under the Belgian recently, staying clear of any niggling injuries which have cost him games in the past, he could be given a well-deserved rest against Livingston.

This would open the door for Jose Cifuentes to come in and operate alongside Lundstram in the heart of the midfield.

The Ecuadorian has yet to really get into his groove following his move from Los Angeles FC during the summer transfer window, but he has all the required abilities to be a roaring success at the Gers once he hits the ground running.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The young winger made his debut for the senior side back in 2022 against Hearts, but it has only been in the last few weeks that he has established himself as part of the first-team squad.

He has yet to start in the league but has emerged off the bench four times and has created one big chance while averaging 1.3 key passes per game, showcasing his excellent talents and a start is more than he deserves.

The youngster was dubbed as a “spark” by journalist Josh Bunting following his impressive cameo against the Czech outfit, and he could cause the Livi defence all sorts of problems should he be unleashed.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

The former Norwich City man scored his first goal of the season against Sparta, curling a low shot beyond their keeper and this should hopefully be the catalyst which gives him confidence heading into the next few months.

The Englishman was deployed out on the right-hand side of the attacking unit once again in midweek, but due to Sam Lammers failing to impress, he should start in the number ten role, a spot where he can significantly impress.

10 LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion starlet has been wonderful since joining during the summer, scoring nine goals across 21 matches, and his creativity and pace have given the Gers a solid attacking threat on the left wing.

With Ryan Kent departing in the summer, Beale needed a player who could replace him and Sima has done a stellar job thus far.

The England midfielder's stunning strike silenced the Bernabeu as he showed exactly why he is one of the favourites for the 2024 Golden Ball

Last year, Erling Haaland left Santiago Bernabeu having endured perhaps his quietest performance in a Manchester City shirt. In the midst of one of the great goal-scoring campaigns, the Norwegian forward had been silenced, predominantly by Antonio Rudiger. That night, Madrid and City played out an intriguing yet somewhat forgettable 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. One year on, Haaland was quietened again on Tuesday by Rudiger, but the fabric of the match was entirely different.

It wasn't supposed to look like this, though. Both managers deployed line-ups with control and solidity in mind, and thus the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final should have been a cagey affair. The reality was the opposite, as control gave way to chaos in the most memorable of 3-3 thrillers.

City only needed two minutes to take the lead, as Bernardo Silva's whipped free-kick caught Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin napping at his near post. Los Blancos responded swiftly, though, as goals from first Eduardo Camavinga, then Rodrygo overturned the early deficit within 15 minutes.

What played out from there was a feisty clash, with tackles and confrontation aplenty. But there was also some football to be played, something Phil Foden proved with a fine curled effort that brought City back into the game, and capped yet another wonderful performance from one of 2024's top contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

Josko Gvardiol added a third for City within five minutes, as the defender smashed in his own long-range effort, only for Madrid to have the final word, as Federico Valverde volleyed home Vinicius Jr's cross to cap off an instant classic.

This wasn't the game that many would have predicted – least of all Haaland – but leaves the tie balanced perfectly ahead of the second leg on April 17.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Santiago Bernabeu…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Antonio Rudiger

Remember Toni, Erling? The German centre-back engaged in a memorable duel with City's Golden Boot-winning striker last season, shutting him down at the Bernabeu in a campaign where very few knew how to stop the Norwegian powerhouse. And the same happened here, as Rudiger seemed to relish the challenge from the first minute, shackling Haaland throughout.

It was a rough duel, as Rudiger was unafraid to snap into challenges and handle the big man. But it ultimately worked, as Haaland was limited to just one shot on the night, a speculative poke from a tight angle. By the end of it all, Haaland looked short of ideas, while Rudiger won header after header to keep his side alive in the tie.

Their rivalry has become captivating viewing, and perhaps among the reasons why Madrid will feel they can go to the Etihad and get the win they need. Keep Haaland quiet again, and City become easier to beat.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Erling Haaland's big-game reputation

This was Haalan'ds second appearance at the Bernabeu, although he had visited the stadium before when he was considering a move to Madrid in 2022 while still a Borussia Dortmund player. If he was looking to impress the locals with an eventual transfer to Madrid, then he failed badly.

The Norwegian predictably saw little of the ball and was monstered by Rudiger, who proved far stronger and intelligent. Haaland was pushed around by the Germany international, and on the rare occasion he dropped deep to try and help City’s play, he was also smothered by either Toni Kroos or Eduardo Camavinga. His first good contribution came when he raced back to tackle Vinicius around the halfway line.

Haaland has failed to score in three games against Madrid and has a worrying record in the biggest matches, with a couple of notable exceptions. But his lack of goals is not the only issue. City have changed the way they play to accommodate him, and in certain matches they seem to play better without him.

Pep Guardiola now has to make a difficult decision ahead of the second leg: does he persist with a plan that is not currently working, or does he make a gutsy call and start without his record-breaking hitman?

GettyWINNER: Phil Foden's Ballon d'Or case

Foden played just four minutes out of 180 against Real Madrid last season, but he is a new man this year and went into the game as the City player the hosts feared the most. The England midfielder was singled out by Spanish newspaper as the holders’ main threat, stating that the homegrown midfielder had "conquered" Guardiola’s squad.

On Tuesday, he conquered Europe and made an early bid to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. He is the firm favourite to win the PFA and Football Writers Player of the Season awards in England, and if City can retain the Champions League, there is a strong argument for him to win the prestigious global prize too.

With Haaland barely showing any signs of life, it was always going to fall on Foden to drag City back into the game. And after a few blocked shots, he duly delivered, letting rip from outside the area. It was his 22nd goal of the season and possibly his best, even topping his thunderbolt against Manchester United in the derby last month.

It shows how much Guardiola demands of Foden that he was less than impressed with his overall performance. “He was not involved for a lot of the game, we could not find him,” said the coach. “But he has this spark, this talent to create something.” He sure does, and here he lit up the Bernabeu with one of his greatest goals yet.

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GettyWINNER: Josko Gvardiol

So that’s why the Croatian cost so much money! Gvardiol has not had an easy first season settling in at City. In truth, few players do. But he has now adapted to his surroundings and this was the game when he truly shone.

Gvardiol was a serious doubt after being forced off in the first half against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but City were already short of defensive options due to the absences of Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker, and Gvardiol not only returned to fitness, but he produced his best display for the club.

He defended with aggression and intelligence, and on the odd occasion he lost the ball, he fought tooth and nail to retrieve it. And what a time and what a way to score his first goal for City, an utterly unstoppable piledriver that was even better than Foden’s strike. It’s a pity it wasn’t the winner, but Gvardiol had already made his mark.