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The opener’s assault against the fastest bowler in IPL 2022 changed the complexion of the game

Hemant Brar02-May-20222:40

Vettori: Gaikwad looks fearless against pace

Ruturaj Gaikwad doesn’t have the big frame of Kieron Pollard. Nor does he possess the bulging biceps of Andre Russell. He has a “six-pack” but he doesn’t muscle the ball. And on Sunday, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he showed he need not, as he took down Umran Malik – the fastest bowler in IPL 2022 – with sheer timing.The pitch for the game in Pune was slightly on the slower side, but this being Gaikwad’s home ground, he knew that once he got his eye in, things would become easier.He started slowly. At the end of five overs, he was on a run-a-ball 18. After he reached 90, he slowed down again, scoring only nine runs off the last seven balls he faced. In between, though, he smashed 72 off 32 balls, his onslaught against Malik changing the complexion of the game.Related

• Shastri: Jadeja as captain 'looked a fish out of water, totally out of place'

• Gaikwad, Conway, Mukesh sink Sunrisers Hyderabad

• Dhoni says 'burden' of CSK captaincy 'affected' Jadeja's mind

Chennai Super Kings were 47 for no loss after seven overs when Kane Williamson gave the ball to Malik. Most teams turn to their spinners to control the middle overs but Sunrisers rely on Malik’s pace. His 12 wickets are the most by a seamer in overs 7 to 16 this season.However, Gaikwad decided to take Malik on. On the fast bowler’s very first ball, he skipped down the track, and even though he didn’t get the timing right, he got enough on it to clear mid-off for a couple of runs.But then, as if a switch was flicked. Two balls later, Malik bowled one short outside off. Gaikwad stood tall and slapped him over covers for four. The next ball was fuller around off. Gaikwad wasn’t caught on the back foot. He planted his front foot forward and punched it over long-on for a six.Malik is an out-and-out fast bowler. He rarely bowls a slower one, but here he tried that variation too. Gaikwad was up to it, though, and dabbed it towards backward point with little fuss.Ruturaj Gaikwad holds the pose after hitting Umran Malik for a six over long-off•BCCIThe best was yet to come. In his next over, Malik bowled a 154kph thunderbolt – the fastest delivery of IPL 2022 yet – only for Gaikwad to drive it on the up towards long-on, where a misfield gifted him a boundary. That was followed by a top-edged four, which took him to a 34-ball half-century.Sunrisers were also handicapped by the absence of Washington Sundar, who once again hurt the webbing on his right hand while trying to prevent a boundary. T Natarajan too had a niggle, for which he was off the field for quite some time and, therefore, was allowed to bowl only towards the end of the innings.This resulted in Aiden Markram bowling to a well-set Gaikwad, who lined him up for back-to-back sixes. Gaikwad’s all-out attack meant despite Devon Conway languishing on 29 off 28 balls, Super Kings reached 100 inside 11 overs.Then came, arguably, the shot of the match. In the next over, the 12th of the innings, Malik pitched one fuller. Gaikwad took a short stride forward and extended his arms to drive it over mid-off. Such was the timing that the ball sailed all the way.In all, he took 33 off 13 balls against Malik, without playing a shot in anger. All he did was maintain his shape, and convert timing into power.”I thought the wicket was a little bit slow, and he provided the right pace [to bat against],” Gaikwad said of his attack against Malik. “So I just tried to put him under pressure right from his first over.”

“I don’t like to believe in form because in every game, you start from zero. Irrespective of whatever you have scored in the last game, you have to start again”Ruturaj Gaikwad

He eventually fell for 99 off 57 balls, and while Sunrisers did manage to pull things back somewhat at the death, his innings had already set up the win for Super Kings.This is Gaikwad’s third IPL season. In 2020, he had scores of 0, 5 and 0 in his first three outings before notching up three successive half-centuries. In 2021, he started with 5, 5 and 10 and still finished as the leading run-scorer for the season. This year, it was 0, 0 and 1 and now he has scores of 73 and 99 among his last four knocks.To outsiders, it might feel as if he has a magic wand to turn his form around. But the man himself had an even interesting take.”Personally, I don’t like to believe in form,” he told Star Sports, “because in every game, you start from zero. Irrespective of whatever you have scored in the last game, you have to start again. I believe in that, I believe in starting from zero in each and every game. That’s what has helped.”

Baseball’s greatest rivalry takes center stage on Sunday Night Baseball with the New York Yankees hosting the Boston Red Sox for the rubber match of this three-game set. 

Boston made an incredible comeback on Friday night to win the series opener, but the Yankees’ bats responded on Saturday, scoring 14 runs behind three Ben Rice homers. 

New York enters Sunday’s matchup as the favorite, but it has not played well over the last three weeks, allowing Boston to close the gap between the teams in the AL East standings. 

Here’s a look at the odds, probable pitchers, key players to watch and my best bet for Sunday’s standalone matchup. 

Red Sox vs. Yankees Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line

• Red Sox +1.5 (-175)
• Yankees -1.5 (+145)

Moneyline

• Red Sox: +114
• Yankees: -135

Total

• 8.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Red Sox vs. Yankees Probable Pitchers

• Boston: Kutter Crawford (4-7, 3.47 ERA)
• New York: Luis Gil (9-4, 3.41 ERA)

Red Sox vs. Yankees How to Watch

• Date: Sunday, July 7
• Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
• Venue: Yankee Stadium
• How to watch (TV): ESPN
• Red Sox record: 48-40
• Yankees record: 55-36 

Red Sox vs. Yankees Key Players to Watch

Boston Red Sox

Rafael Devers: There may not be a hotter hitter in baseball right now than Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers. Over his last 10 games, Devers is hitting a ridiculous .368 with a 1.297 OPS, slugging five homers, including one on Saturday. Can he carry the Boston offense on Sunday? 

New York Yankees

Luis Gil: The electric rookie got off to a fast start for the Yankees this season, but he’s come back to earth as of late. Gil’s ERA has jumped from 1.82 on June 4 to 3.41 entering this start, and he’s walked 13 batters over his last four starts. That being said, he did lead the Yankees to a win over the Sox on June 14, pitching five innings of one-run ball. 

Red Sox vs. Yankees Prediction and Pick

The Yankees bounced back from a bad loss on Friday night, scoring 14 runs on Saturday to beat Boston and even this three-game set, but can they pull off a win on Sunday Night Baseball?

I'm not sold on it, especially with the struggling Gil on the mound. The rookie had been lights out through the first 2.5 months of the season, but his ERA has skyrocketed over his last few starts, and he’s been prone to the long ball – allowing one in four of his last five outings – as well. 

Gil did allow just one run over five frames in his last start against Boston, but his lack of command as of late is something to worry about for Yankee fans. He's allowed 13 walks in his last four starts, giving him very little margin for error — especially against an offense like Boston's.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Red Sox win this game, especially since Crawford kept the Yankees in check in a 9-3 Boston win the last time he faced New York. 

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has joined Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah and former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas in an exclusive Premier League club. The Portuguese playmaker remains a talismanic presence for the Red Devils, with his match-altering ability on full display once again as Ruben Amorim’s side picked up three priceless points at Wolves.

• Fernandes fires Man Utd into sixth place

  United, who have suffered just one defeat through their last nine games, proved too strong for relegation-threatened Premier League strugglers at Molineux. They were given a brief scare on the stroke of half-time when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde cancelled out Fernandes’ 25th-minute opener.

  The Red Devils flexed their muscles in the second half, with Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount getting on the scoresheet before Fernandes netted his second of the game from the penalty spot. United have risen to sixth in the Premier League table, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Exclusive assist club: Fernandes alongside Salah & Fabregas

  Alongside his two goals on the night against Wolves, Fernandes also registered an assist – as he teed up Mount’s effort. It is that contribution to the collective cause that has seen him join a notable club that boasts only five members.

  He is just the fifth player in the Premier League era to have provided an assist in five consecutive away games. Said streak started for Fernandes in October when crossing for Harry Maguire to nod home a dramatic winner against arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

  Fernandes then whipped in the corner that allowed Casemiro to score against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, before setting up Matthijs de Ligt at Tottenham. Two more assists were added to his tally in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, prior to turning provider for Mount against Wolves.

  Liverpool superstar Salah, who is making plenty of headlines at present, enjoyed his five-game assist run for the Reds in 2023. Gerard Deulofeu achieved the same feat while operating on Merseyside for Everton in 2015.

  World Cup winner Fabregas managed it for Chelsea in 2014-15, with his creative qualities also showcased at Arsenal and Barcelona, while Leicester legend Muzzy Izzet was the first to achieve the feat for the Foxes back in 2003.

• Creative influence: Fernandes just behind Olise & Yamal

  Fernandes continues to pull the strings for United, with his value to the collective cause at Old Trafford being highlighted once again. He has six assists to his name this season and only two players in Europe’s top five divisions have more. They are Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise (eight) and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal (seven).

  The Red Devils’ passionate captain has also recorded a goal and assist in the same game for the 16th time in his United career. In that department, only Salah (27) and Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne (17) sit above him.

  Fernandes has now recorded three goal involvements in a single top-flight fixture on eight occasions, with that box being ticked against Wolves for the first time since a meeting with Leicester in March last season.

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• Getty
  

  Future call: Fernandes linked with Saudi Pro League transfer

  Those working with Fernandes in Manchester are delighted to have him on board, with Mount telling of how his skipper makes life easier for everybody else: “As soon as I saw Bruno with the ball, it was my trigger to get in behind. We all know the calibre of player he is and as soon as he gets on the ball, he's looking. He's a joy to play with when playing high up on the pitch, you know he's going to look and play a ball over the top.”

  While Fernandes remains a key component in the Manchester United machine, questions continue to be asked of his future. It has been suggested that, with his contract only running until 2027, a move elsewhere could be made next summer. Big-spending teams in the Saudi Pro League, who can put lucrative offers on the table, have expressed interest in the 31-year-old – who will be gracing the 2026 World Cup with Portugal alongside ex-Red Devils superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who is already plying his club trade in the Middle East.

India suffered a 408-run defeat, their biggest ever in Test cricket, in Guwahati

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-20256:06

Karim: ‘Harmer’s variations upset India batters’

India’s failure to capitalise on their chances sent them tumbling to a 2-0 series defeat against South Africa, according to their stand-in captain Rishabh Pant.”They [South Africa] definitely played better cricket, but at the same time, in cricket you can’t take anything for granted,” Pant said at the post-match presentation. “You can play at home or away, but at the same time, cricket demands that determination and that extra.”There are moments in the game where you need to capitalise [on] it as a team, as a batting unit. But as a team, we didn’t capitalise on those enough for a longer period of time, and that cost us the whole series.”In the second Test in Guwahati, where Pant took over captaincy from the injured Shubman Gill, India let South Africa get away and post 489 after they had the visitors at 246 for 6 at one point.South Africa went on to bat India out of the Test, setting them an improbable 549. On the final day, India’s batters had their chances – both B Sai Sudharsan and nightwatcher Kuldeep Yadav were reprieved – but they eventually folded for 140, suffering a 408-run loss, theirbiggest ever in Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo LtdThis was India’s second series defeat in their previous three home series. Last year, they suffered an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand, which ended a proud run of 17 straight home-series wins over a 12-year period. Pant called on India to stick together and find a way past this rut.”Definitely it’s a little disappointing, but as a team we need to get better,” Pant said. “And you’ve got to give credit to the opposition that they played better cricket than us,” Pant said. “Because, in series like this, which has already been tough, if we dwell too much… you’ve got to take the learning and stick as a team.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A transferência de Felipe Anderson ao Palmeiras, anunciada na segunda-feira (15), segue sendo assunto quente na Lazio. Em entrevista coletiva, o diretor esportivo do clube italiano, Angelo Fabiani, revelou detalhes da negoicação pela renovação do brasileiro, em tentativa frustada de manter o brasileiro na Itália.

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➡️ Quem é que sobe?! Com R$200 no Lance! Betting, você garante R$398 se Palmeiras x Internacional terminar com nove escanteios ou menos

– Ele foi para o Palmeiras e perdeu dinheiro em relação ao que a Lazio lhe ofereceu. Oferecemos cinco anos e um salário significativo, o segundo ou terceiro mais alto do elenco. Felipe Anderson se comportou como homem e com incrível dignidade e profissionalismo – afirmou o diretor da Lazio.

– Fizemos tudo para mantê-lo, mas quando ele se depara com escolhas familiares e territoriais não há nada que possamos fazer. Ele colocou a família no centro do projeto, recentemente teve um filho. Tiramos o chapéu para Anderson, ele é uma pessoa incrível. Ele nunca levantou problemas nem na Lazio nem em outros clubes. Ele é o filho que todos gostariam – completou Fabiani.

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Além das propostas de Palmeiras e Lazio, Felipe Anderson também negociava com a Juventus, maior campeã nacional da Itália. Mesmo assim, o meio-campista preferiu retornar ao Brasil e defender o Verdão, que irá registrá-lo na abertura da próxima janela de transferências, em julho deste ano.

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

Tudo sobre

Felipe AndersonLazioPalmeiras

Nottingham Forest have now made contact to sign Everton’s James Garner, amid a new update on the midfielder’s future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Forest are looking to bolster their options in the engine room, amid widespread interest in Elliot Anderson, with Chelsea recently joining the race for the Englishman, who has managed to impress once again this season, despite his side sitting 19th in the Premier League table.

Anderson has also emerged as a regular starter for England, most recently putting in a solid showing as the Three Lions cruised past Serbia 2-0, completing 77 passes, while also winning seven duels, the joint-highest number of any player.

The Tricky Trees played a blinder by signing the 23-year-old from Newcastle United back in 2024, and they have now made an approach for another English midfielder…

Nottingham Forest make contact to sign James Garner

According to a report from Football Insider, Nottingham Forest have made contact over a deal for Everton midfielder Garner, who is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning his future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is in doubt.

Forest have registered their interest in signing the 24-year-old, but there could be competition for his signature from Aston Villa, who have also made a move, while former club Newcastle United remain in the race.

The Merseysiders retain the option to extend the Englishman’s contract by an additional year, so they do not need to panic just yet, but they will be eager to tie him down soon, given that interest from elsewhere is now growing.

Sean Dyche knows the central midfielder well from their time working together on Merseyside, with the former Everton manager saying: “Jimmy Garner was terrific, he’s learning and improving. He’s just a good kid. He’s got that nice little edge about him that he’s a bit of a nark now and again, I like it.

“I think you need that as a footballer. The demands he places upon himself is very pleasing as he works very hard in training and I think he’s getting the rewards with his improvement.”

The Birkenhead-born midfielder has also performed well from a defensive point of view over the past year, even outperforming Anderson on some key metrics.

Average per 90 (past year)

James Garner

Elliot Anderson

Interceptions

1.35

1.02

Blocks

1.39

1.37

Clearances

2.24

2.01

Garner has been a key player for Everton this season, starting every match in the Premier League, which suggests he would be able to hit the ground running at Forest, so Dyche’s side should undoubtedly try and get a deal done this January.

Elliot Anderson makes decision on joining Man Utd Elliot Anderson makes Man Utd decision as INEOS ready £60m bid

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson could be set for a major move in January.

1 ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Ex-Celtic striker Charlie Mulgrew has told the Hoops exactly what they must offer Jurgen Klopp to become their Brendan Rodgers replacement in what would be a sensational move.

The Bhoys are still looking for their next manager as Martin O’Neill continues to be a success as interim boss. The 73-year-old made it two wins from two on Sunday after defeating Old Firm rivals Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.

It was just like old times for O’Neill, who watched on as goals from Callum McGregor and a first goal for Callum Osmand ensured that his side got one over on their biggest rivals once again.

Relieved to earn a place in the final, O’Neill told reporters at full-time: “It was an incredible game. We were terrific and got the goal in front and got one disallowed for offside.

“We were in command, but I was saying to [assistant] Shaun Maloney we needed a goal to kill the game off and six or seven minutes later, Rangers get the penalty. I was 73 on Monday… I’m 94 now!”

Victory against Rangers has done O’Neill’s chances of becoming the next Celtic manager no harm, that’s for sure. Although the Northern Irishman was quick to admit that he’s just keeping the seat warm when first arriving, two wins from two has sparked rumours that he could yet get the job until the end of the current campaign.

With Ange Postecoglou taking a break from football and reportedly pulling out of the race and other candidates such as Nicky Hayen still in a job, O’Neill may make perfect sense. He’s more experienced than most, especially at Celtic Park, and he is already turning things around.

But he’s not everyone’s first choice. Instead, Mulgrew has urged Dermot Desmond to “go big” and turn to a Champions League winner in Klopp.

Mulgrew urges Celtic to "go big" and hire Jurgen Klopp

Speaking on the latest edition of The Warm-Up Show, ex-Hoops player Mulgrew urged Celtic to hire Klopp and offer the former Liverpool manager a contract worth as much as £7m-a-year, which works out at £135k-a-week.

There’s no denying that it would be an incredible appointment. Klopp transformed Liverpool, awaking English giants and taking them back to Champions League glory, but it seems unlikely that he would make a return to the dugout for Celtic.

Not just Osmand: O'Neill has another future superstar for Celtic's next boss

Celtic have another future superstar who is as exciting as Callum Osmand in their academy.

By
Dan Emery

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That said, whilst unlikely, all hope isn’t lost. The Liverpool legend recently admitted on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast that a return to management is still possible – saying: “I’m 58, that means I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know. Do I have to make the decision today?

“Then I will not coach again. But thank God, I don’t have to do that. I can just see what the future brings.”

Celtic submit offer for Mark van Bommel

Move to 12/6 conference-style Championship also favoured by players’ union

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2025The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has called for a reduction in both County Championship and Men’s T20 Blast games, urging county chairs and CEOs to “prioritise the welfare” of players ahead of a vote on restructuring the domestic game from 2026 onwards.A majority of male county cricketers in England and Wales favour reducing the number of Championship games played from 14 to 12, according to data collected by the PCA. The players’ union is also recommending a cut to the Blast schedule to help ease the number of back-to-back fixtures which it believes put players at risk.Players would also back a proposed move to a conference system for the Championship with a 12/6 split – two upper divisions of six above a lower division of six, with promotion and relegation as well as a grand final between the conference winners.Related

Counties agree to cut in men's Vitality Blast games for 2026

PCA reiterates fatigue concerns ahead of county domestic review

Reduced County Championship on agenda for latest domestic review

England allrounder Chris Woakes, the PCA’s England Men’s representative, said the call for change was not about playing “less cricket because they don’t want to – it’s about being able to produce the best cricket on the field as possible”.”Welfare is extremely important and not just players but coaches and staff,” he said. “We need to get the scheduling right to give players the time to prepare, recover and make sure they’re in the best state physically and mentally.”The game is now played at a greater intensity and faster rate, especially in white-ball cricket. When you’re having to play back-to-back games it’s almost impossible to be at 100%. Having gaps between games and with safe travel is very important.”The ECB announced on the eve of the new season a review into the domestic structure – the third in the last seven years – overseen by the Professional Game Committee. Consultation has been ongoing, with a vote on the proposals expected later this month.Recently, a number of counties have begun making their preferences public: Surrey and Somerset have called for maintaining 14 Championship games, with a return to eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two; Durham and Lancashire support the 12/6 conference plan, while Middlesex have backed sticking with the Championship as is, with two divisions and 10 teams in the top tier.The PCA expressed concerns about the current schedule at the start of the summer, saying 83% of respondents to a survey cited physical concerns over their workload and 67% called the fixture list detrimental to their mental health.Olly Hannon-Dalby, PCA chair, suggested that “a change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option” and that it would “breathe new life” into the competition.”We are at a critical moment regarding the future of professional cricketers in England and Wales,” he said. “The schedule has always been a contentious issue and we have seen too many reviews with no change but the feeling in recent seasons due to ever-increasing intensity of fixtures has led the game to a position where positive action has to be taken immediately and as an opportunity for the game to grow.”We understand the process is not straightforward and all counties have their own prerogative, however, the game needs to come to a consensus on a way forward to prioritise a duty of care to its players who are asking for reform, not just for their own health but also for an improved product on the field.”We have over 400 male players and we recognise the different career paths available … to protect the majority, a change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option and would breathe new life into what I believe would become the best red-ball competition in the world.”Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s chief executive, said: “Cricket has always been an incredibly innovative sport and relaunching the Blast and Championship with an optimum schedule would see clubs, supporters and players benefit from being involved in world-leading domestic cricket.”We have been pleased the consultation has provided space for player views to be heard and there is a consensus that back-to-back Blast games need to be drastically eased with the aim for the competition to change to 12 regional group games.”With the One Day Cup to stay alongside The Hundred, the congestion of the intense schedule cannot be improved enough by losing two 20-over games across a six-month season alone.”As employers, every county needs to understand the player concerns while looking at the positive outcome a 12/6 split would have in the Championship. The welfare of the players should be at the heart of the decision-making process and we urge all county Chairs and CEOs to consider this when taking their vote.”Ultimately, the right decision would serve to future-proof our game with clarity and commitment to a new era.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن مستجدات بشأن أزمة كيليان مبابي مهاجم ريال مدريد، مع ناديه السابق باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي.

مبابي انضم إلى ريال مدريد في صفقة انتقال حر في صيف 2024، ورفع دعاوى قضائية متعددة على ناديه السابق باريس سان جيرمان.

ومن بين مطالبه، يطالب مبابي، باريس سان جيرمان، بدفع مبلغ قدره 55 مليون يورو، وهو ما يعادل راتب الأشهر الثلاثة الأخيرة من عقده مع الفريق الفرنسي، بالإضافة إلى مكافآت التوقيع والتي لم تُدفع بعد.

وبحسب ما علمت وكالة “فرانس برس” يوم الأربعاء، من مصدر قضائي، كيليان مبابي وناديه السابق، باريس سان جيرمان، قد استُدعيا لحضور جلسة استماع أمام محكمة العمل في باريس يوم 17 نوفمبر، وذلك في إطار نزاعهما القانوني المستمر.

وأفاد المصدر القضائي لوكالة “فرانس برس” أن مبابي يطلب إعادة تصنيف عقده محدد المدة إلى عقد دائم، وستُعقد الجلسة يوم الاثنين 17 نوفمبر.

اقرأ أيضًا | باريس سان جيرمان يصدر بيانًا رسميًا بشأن إصابة حكيمي وديمبلي

وأشار المصدر إلى أنه سيتم النظر مباشرة في القضية، ومن المتوقع صدور القرار خلال عدة أشهر، نظرًا لضيق الوقت المخصص لإجراءات محكمة العمل. 

وكان باريس سان جيرمان أوضح في وقت سابق أنه كان هناك تفاق شفهي ينص على أن مبابي سيتنازل عن جزء من المبالغ المستحقة في نهاية عقده لحماية الوضع المالي للنادي، وهو الأمر الذي وصفه معسكر مبابي بأنه “خيال”.

وسبق وحصل مبابي على حجز احترازي بقيمة 55 مليون يورو من حسابات باريس سان جيرمان في أبريل، لكن المحاكم ألغت هذا القرار لاحقًا في 26 مايو الماضي، وسيظل هذا المبلغ محجوزًا حتى جلسة الاستئناف، والتي لا يزال موعدها مجهولًا.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has made it clear he is a huge admirer of a former Manchester United star, having named him among his favourite players.

Gerrard names Man United legend among favourite players

There is no love lost between Gerrard and Man United, with the Liverpool legend once making it clear just how much dislike he holds for the club, saying: “For more than 26 years, I’d always felt compelled to show fire towards them. They were the enemy. Their shirt is the only one I won’t allow in my house. I have a big collection of shirts I’ve swapped with other players — but not one from United.”

Given that the ex-Liverpool captain predominantly came up against the Red Devils during the Sir Alex Ferguson era, he won just 10 of the 30 matches he contested against Liverpool’s bitter rivals, facing off against some top players during that time.

The likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney all helped United to achieve an at-the-time record-breaking 20 league titles, but the former England international has previously named a different player as among his favourites.

Gerrard picks two most underrated Liverpool teammates, one annoyed Klopp

Do you agree with his choices?

By
Henry Jackson

Sep 13, 2025

Speaking on BT Sport (via The Daily Mail), Gerrard said: “I’ve always been a massive fan of Roy Keane, not Man United. I think for all our generation watching Roy Keane’s consistency levels, how he went about it, I like to get into the box and having someone who would have been able to protect me in there and do some of my dirty work.”

Back in 2015, the Liverpool legend also said: “Roy Keane is one of my favourite players. I really loved playing against him, I have nothing but respect for the guy and as a player but being a Liverpool fan from the day I was born, there is no need for me to have a Manchester United shirt in my house.”

Keane undoubtedly among the best midfielders in Premier League history

The Irishman is well-known for his fiery temper, which often overshadows the fact he was a top player, as underlined by the fact he won the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year Award in 2000, alongside being voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

Although the former Ireland international’s relationship with Ferguson went downhill following his controversial Old Trafford exit, the legendary manager has also singled him out for praise in the past, perhaps most notably after the 1999 Champions League semi-final triumph against Juventus.

The Scot said: “Pounding every blade of grass, competing as if would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt as if it were an honour to be associated with this player.”

As such, it should be no surprise that Gerrard holds the fellow central midfielder in very high regard, and Keane’s legendary status has since been recognised, having been inducted into the Premier League hall of fame back in 2021.