أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي أقيمت مساء السبت.

واستقبل ليفربول خصمه أستون فيلا على ملعب “آنفيلد” ضمن مباريات الجولة العاشرة للدوري الإنجليزي “البريميرليج”.

وتمكن ليفربول من تحقيق الفوز أمام أستون فيلا بهدفين دون رد، ليعود إلى سكة الانتصارات بعد سلسلة من النتائج السلبية.

وحصل المصري محمد صلاح جناح ليفربول على جائزة رجل المباراة أمام أستون فيلا، بتصويت الجماهير عبر موقع البريميرليج الرسمي.

اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح يُعادل رقم روني ويحقق إنجازًا مع ليفربول بهدفه أمام أستون فيلا

وكان محمد صلاح قد سجل هدف تقدم ليفربول أمام أستون فيلا، في الدقيقة الأولى من الوقت المحتسب بدلاً من الضائع للشوط الأول.

وحصل محمد صلاح على نسبة تصويت بلغت 53%، يليه زميله ريان جرافيرنبرخ بنسبة 33%.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo inicia a semana lidando com um desafio de olho na caminhada da Copa Sul-Americana. A equipe alvinegra tenta ser incisivo para que seu poderio ofensivo se sobressaia e garanta a vitória no primeiro jogo das quartas de final, contra o Defensa y Justicia, da Argentina.

Para isso, a equipe tenta garantir poder de decisão para o o confronto que acontecerá na quarta-feira (23), às 19h (de Brasília), no Nilton Santos. O técnico Bruno Lage tem alternativas para escalar o Glorioso.

+ Confira a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Lage testou Júnior Santos no empate em 0 a 0 com o Guaraní, do Paraguai, na competição. Depois, deu oportunidades aos jovens Janderson e Carlos Alberto. Recentemente, o clube contratou Diego Costa para ampliar seu leque ofensivo.

Prestes a encarar um jogo decisivo pela Sul-Americana, o técnico Bruno Lage tenta encontrar o melhor atalho para dar força ofensiva ao Botafogo. Após o empate em 0 a 0 com o São Paulo, o português traçou um panorama sobre o que tem à sua disposição.

– O Janderson é o exemplo perfeito daquilo que é um jovem valor e que nós não podemos colocar uma pressão tremenda em cima dele. Ele tinha feito no Santos uma boa entrada, depois não me recordo agora o jogo, mas foi a opção. Quis ver outros jogadores naquela posição, optei por ver primeiro o Júnior (Santos), porque o Júnior já tinha jogado naquela posição e o Carlos Alberto também vinha a desempenhar muito bem naquela posição e depois tinha uma entrada muito boa no último jogo internacional. E senti que hoje a equipe poderia iniciar da mesma forma que iniciou a segunda parte, e o Janderson fez um jogo seguro – afirmou, ao fim do empate em 0 a 0 com o São Paulo.

Outra opção testada na reta final, Diego Costa também foi vista com entusiasmo pelo treinador.

– Destes 20 minutos que ele jogou, vamos começar a aumentar para que ele tenha um rendimento mais sustentado e um volume de jogo maior – afirmou.

O Botafogo direciona sua rota para a Copa Sul-Americana.

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.

Birmingham Bears swept aside despite posting 226 on run-filled night at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-May-2025Sam Hain extended an extraordinary run-scoring record for the Bears at Trent Bridge with an unbeaten 92 off 49 balls – but his efforts were eclipsed as the Outlaws pulled off a record-breaking Vitality Blast victory.Jack Haynes was the match-winner with an unbeaten 89 off 41 balls with three sixes as the home side countered the Bears’ 226 for 5 with 229 for 3 – the biggest score they have achieved to win a match batting second in their T20 history, after skipper Joe Clarke’s 23-ball 58 had provided a launch pad.Hain has batted seven times against Outlaws on the ground since his first visit in 2016 and has been not out six times, including his career-best unbeaten 112 in 2022, giving him an average of 505 in those fixtures.He hit six sixes in a team tally of 14, Ed Barnard hammering four in his 28-ball 55. Australian allrounder Daniel Sams took 2 for 39 on his Outlaws debut but Conor McKerr’s analysis of 4-0-67-0 was the worst by a Notts player in T20 history – yet in the end it was a footnote.Outlaws had needed 22 from the last two overs but Haynes took 18 and two leg byes off Barnard, before Tom Moores found the boundary to clinch a seven-wicket win with five balls to spare.The Bears stumbled to 12 for 2 from 15 deliveries after being put in, with New Zealand batter Tom Latham – a first wicket for Sams – and Rob Yates back in the hut. Yet Hain and Alex Davies plundered 46 runs from the next 21 balls, Hain lapping McKerr for the night’s first six before Davies cleared the rope off Dillon Pennington and Sams for 58 for 2 from six overs.Davies collected his third maximum as Calvin Harrison joined the attack and though he top-edged the legspinner to be caught at deep backward square for 40 from 22 balls, the momentum remained with the Bears, who were 103 for 3 after 10, Hain having hauled a free hit deep into the Fox Road stand after Moises Henriques delivered a full toss over waist height.Barnard was quickly up to speed, one of his sixes disappearing into the sheets and scaffolding currently encasing the pavilion. He fell in search of another, superbly caught by Harrison on the run at deep midwicket to give Henriques his maiden Outlaws wicket.Sams bowled George Garton, but Hain raised his sixes tally to six with two more off the unfortunate McKerr. Warwickshire have made three of the five highest scores against Notts in this format, all made in the last five seasons, all at Trent Bridge.Clarke helped Outlaws to a superb start, the skipper hitting four sixes of his own to be 58 from 22 in a powerplay score of 88 without loss. His luck ran out when he found the fielder at deep backward square off Danny Briggs as skipper Davies brought his spinners into the game, Jake Lintoff then having Lyndon James caught at long-off.Yet Haynes and Henriques – the other Aussie allrounder making his Outlaws – put their side right back in it with an exhilarating stand of 101 in just 57 balls before the latter holed out to wide long-on for 34 (27 balls), leaving 31 needed from three overs.

Ex-Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has rejected the notion his former club can’t attract superstar players to the north east after a number of big-name summer signings elected to join rival teams in Manchester and London this summer. Shelvey believes it's a mistake to look down on the region and has spoken of the love players feel from supporters at St James’ Park.

Frustrating transfer window for Toon

Newcastle United endured a challenging 2025 summer window, missing out on several key targets despite Champions League qualification. One of the most notable players Newcastle failed to sign was Hugo Ekitike who joined Liverpool and they also missed out on Liam Delap, who opted to join Chelsea instead, as did Joao Pedro. Bryan Mbeumo chose Manchester United over Newcastle, further hindering efforts to strengthen their right-wing position. Another big target was Benjamin Sesko, but he penned a deal to join Ruben Amorim at Man Utd instead. In defence, Newcastle pursued Dean Huijsen, but he moved to Real Madrid and they also targeted goalkeeper James Trafford, but he rejoined Manchester City.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFun on the Tyne for Shelvey

Shelvey, who played for Newcastle between 2016 and 2023, told BBC Sport: "There's this debate about whether Newcastle are able to attract the big players compared to the Manchester clubs and the London clubs but, until you go there, you don't understand what it does to you. There are loads of things to do. I don't care what anyone says. If players are going to listen to this, it's a no-brainer to go there and play football. You will not find love at a football club like I found at Newcastle, with how they take to their players and how much they back you. But I've only got good things to say about my time at Newcastle. I loved it. Even when I first got the call about going there, I drove 12 hours from Swansea because of the traffic. I just wanted to get up there, get my medical done and get signed. I had experienced playing against Newcastle at St James' Park and you get a real buzz, but you never understand how big the club is until you are there."

It wasn’t all bad news for Newcastle

Newcastle actually had a busy summer transfer window, bringing in several players to strengthen the squad, particularly after the departure of star striker Isak. Woltemade, arrived as the club's record signing while Anthony Elanga and Yoanne Wissa were brought in to boost the attacking options, with Wissa in particular replacing Isak as striker. Malick Thiaw's arrival from AC Milan bolstered the defence, while Ramsey provided a creative presence in midfield. Ramsdale joined on loan to offer competition in goal. The signings of youngsters Cordero and Park represent a focus on long-term squad building. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPPositive outlook heading into Brighton clash

Newcastle, currently 11th in the league, are looking for their first away league win of the season after drawing all three of their previous away fixtures 0-0. They can capitalise on the momentum of their most recent 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, but will be without Lewis Hall (hamstring) and Tino Livramento (knee injury). Brighton are 12th and are in strong form at home, having lost only one of their last 11 Premier League home games. Meanwhile, Wissa is progressing towards fitness after suffering a devastating injury setback while on international duty with DR Congo, and hasn’t kicked a ball for his new club yet. But Howe has delivered a positive update, saying: "We have seen him back on the grass for the first time which is great to see, it is now a case of stepping him up gradually. In terms of timelines, it is similar to what I've said – nothing has changed."

When the fixture list was drawn ahead of the upcoming season, things were not kind to Arsenal.

The Gunners faced trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park. They also faced Manchester City at home.

Thus, after seven weeks of action, for Arsenal to be top of the league, and top having conceded just once from open play, is seriously impressive.

While Mikel Arteta’s men now begin to motor, their closest rivals, Liverpool, falter. Last weekend, had the north Londoners lost and Arne Slot’s side secured victory, the gap between the two would have been eight points.

Instead, Arsenal lead by one after consecutive defeats for the Merseysiders. It’s funny how quickly football can change. Who knows just how important this weekend’s action will be come next May, though.

How Arsenal defeated West Ham

While on paper this clash looked like a straightforward victory for Arsenal, it has been a bogey fixture of late.

Indeed, as Thierry Henry reminded Bukayo Saka prior to Saturday afternoon’s fixture, the Hammers have won on their last two visits to the Emirates Stadium.

Well, with Graham Potter recently sacked and Nuno Santo now at the helm, a new manager bounce threatened a third straight victory for the Irons.

Fortunately for those of a red and white persuasion, that did not happen. In fact, Arsenal didn’t really have to work too hard for victory at all.

Indeed, Nuno’s men only had four shots throughout the entire game. To put that into context, the Gunners managed 21.

Much of their win is owed to that man Saka who, despite an injury-hit start to the campaign, is growing into the season nicely now.

Saka scored in the Champions League in midweek and followed that up by netting from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 after Jurrien Timber had been fouled.

That spot kick capped off an electric display from the winger who walked away at the end of the game with an expected assists (xA) tally of 1.11. To sum up how good that is, until Saturday, no player in the Premier League this season had accumulated more than 0.75 Expected assists (xA) in a single match.

The other hero of the day was Declan Rice, who once again found the net against his former employers.

The midfielder started the game in a deeper role, behind Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, but following Odegaard’s injury was pushed further forward again and his goal came as a result of a late dart into the penalty area.

It wasn’t the most free-flowing of displays from Arsenal but they got the job done and kept yet another clean sheet. Weaknesses are certainly few and far between; however, their 2-0 win wasn’t without one big negative.

The biggest negative from Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham

While another game went by without Viktor Gyokeres finding the back of the net, there was a bigger worry come full-time for Arteta.

Chalkboard

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

Indeed, after just half an hour, Odegaard walked from the field with yet another injury. For the Norwegian, he has really been through the wringer over the last year and more specifically, this season.

To sum up the captain’s woes, on Saturday, he became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive league starts. It’s a flabbergasting statistic.

It’s a rather dismal fact and one that is clearly a source of huge frustration for the midfielder. Last season, it was an ankle problem that disrupted his campaign and led to some below-par performances.

In the first few weeks of this season, it was his shoulder that was causing discomfort. He returned to the starting XI in midweek against Olympiacos and had a stunning hat-trick, winning the Man of the Match award.

Match rating

8.5

Assists

1

Key passes

4

Shots

4

Dribbles success

100%

Duels won

5/9

Odegaard was instrumental in the victory, providing the assist for Saka’s strike and supplying the pre-assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opener. Both passes were exceptional, but the first was a timely reminder of just how good the skipper is when fit and firing.

So, to get him back in a Premier League starting lineup on Saturday meant a lot. Sadly, it was robbed of him after just half an hour in heartbreaking scenes.

This time it was a knee problem, and it looks rather more significant on this occasion. Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta confirmed that his star playmaker had left the Emirates with his knee in a brace.

While this isn’t just frustrating for the player, it’s equally frustrating for the club. Once one of the finest wonderkids in the land, Odegaard has worked hard to get to where he is now.

Ignored and shunned by Real Madrid, the Norway international has found a home for himself in London, and he’s been one of the star players for a while now.

Cast your minds back to 2022/23 and you may well recall how he ended the term with 15 Premier League goals. No midfielder scored more in England’s top-flight that season.

Yet, he just cannot stay fit now and ended last campaign with just three league goals to show for his efforts.

Odegaard is yet to find the net this term and is plagued by injuries again. Might we have another Jack Wilshere on our hands here? The club will hope not, but parallels are almost uncanny.

Two of the most exciting wonderkids to have graced the game in the last two decades, they’re both left-footed, they both possess the same level of vision and sadly, Odegaard is quickly becoming as injury-prone as Wilshere.

He’s not there yet but if the 26-year-old is to live up to his enormous potential, he will need to find a way of stringing a run of games together.

As The Standard’s Simon Collings noted on Saturday, Odegaard has been “ridiculously unlucky” of late but to put things more bluntly, as one prominent fan noted, he looks like “he’s made of paper”. That was a phrase that sadly became synonymous with Wilshere.

While the Norwegian’s fitness up until the last year has not been too troubling, he is now in dangerous territory. The positive for Arteta is that he has a phenomenal replacement in Eze, but the negative is that he looks set to be without his captain again.

RCB are already in the IPL 2025 playoffs but will be without Lungi Ngidi for their final group game, and are also missing pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2025

Blessing Muzarabani was a net bowler with LSG earlier•Getty Images

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have brought in Blessing Muzarabani, the Zimbabwe fast-bowling spearhead, as temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who will leave to join South Africa for their preparations ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The replacement will be effective from May 26, the day before RCB’s last league-phase game, against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) away in Lucknow.An IPL statement said that Muzarabani would be joining RCB for INR 75 lakh.Muzarabani is in Zimbabwe’s squad for their four-day Test against England at Trent Bridge from May 22 to 25 and will link up with RCB after that game. Zimbabwe have another game lined up from June 3 – the day of the IPL 2025 final – in Arundel against the South Africans, which will act as a warm-up game for South Africa ahead of the WTC final.Related

Hazlewood expected to return to IPL for playoffs

Seifert named as Bethell's temporary replacement at RCB

Blessing Muzarabani: '100 Test wickets would be really special'

From poverty to plenty: 2025 is a bumper Test year for Zimbabwe like none before

GT, RCB and PBKS book their places in IPL 2025 playoffs

Eight South Africa players – Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians) and Ngidi were in any case set to leave for the United Kingdom on May 30, with CSA confirming that they would not be able to complete their IPL commitments following the rescheduling in the wake of the border tensions between India and Pakistan.RCB are currently without Josh Hazlewood, their highest wicket-taker this season, who is nursing a shoulder injury, but have the rest of their overseas contingent back after the break. Of them, Jacob Bethell would also be leaving for the ODI series against West Indies ahead of RCB’s penultimate league fixture.RCB became one of the three teams to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs on Sunday night after Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Delhi Capitals (DC). They are currently at No. 2 on the points table with 17 points – eight wins and a no-result from 12 games – and have matches left against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at home in Bengaluru on Friday and then against LSG.Muzarabani has never played an IPL game but has been a net bowler at LSG in the past. RCB’s current head coach Andy Flower was in the LSG backroom at the time. The two have also been together at Multan Sultans in the PSL and at Gulf Giants in the ILT20. Muzarabani has been one of Zimbabwe’s star performers in Test cricket in recent months, with 26 wickets in his last four Tests, including a nine-wicket match haul in Zimbabwe’s win over Bangladesh in the Sylhet Test in April.

Aston Villa had the most difficult situation of any Premier League club going into the transfer window, as they were the side closest to a PSR breach. After losing to Manchester United on the last day of the season and missing out on Champions League football, they didn’t have the financial means to go out and spend as much as they would have liked.

The ramifications of this have been felt in the league this season, as Unai Emery’s side have struggled in their opening games and were the last team to open their scoring account.

For teams with such financial restrictions, the best way to cope is by investing in and developing youth. In recent years, Villa have produced academy products such as Jacob Ramsey and signed the likes of Morgan Rogers.

And Emery is now looking to add to the Villans’ youth system by recruiting from the academy of a club that they have worked with in the past.

New signing marks beginning of relationship with Toure club

Aston Villa have completed a deal with Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas for their youngster, Mohamed Koné.

Koné is described as “a highly-rated midfielder who has attracted plenty of admirers”. Villa had first-hand experience with the youngster prior to finalising the deal, as he “spent a number of weeks at Bodymoor Heath before joining the club officially in the summer”. He has already been playing with the Aston Villa Under-21s in recent weeks, even scoring against Peterborough United.

The ASEC Mimosas academy has yielded success in the past, having developed talents like Yaya and Kolo Touré, along with several other Ivorian stars who have made it to the ‘big five’ European leagues. The Touré brothers are their most notable graduates and are players who have found success at the highest levels of English and European football.

Intriguingly, Aston Villa describe the move as a “symbol of the close relationship between Aston Villa and ASEC” and also reveal that this will be “the start of a productive relationship”, clearly trusting the African side’s capabilities in producing a funnel of talent to supplement their academy and first team with fresh prospects.

Villa's poor form could be an opportunity for Kone

Normally, a 17-year-old would have a long wait before breaking into the first team. However, Villa’s poor start to the season may make Emery gamble on him. Ramsey left the club in the summer to join Newcastle United, and Rogers’ inability to find form this season has been a major contributing factor to the club languishing in a relegation battle.

This may open the door for Koné or other youngsters to break into the first team if Emery can’t turn things around with the senior pros and his job security comes into question.

Arsenal are trying to lock star defender William Saliba down with a brand-new contract, but Andrea Berta is forced to contend with the temptation of a move to Real Madrid.

Mikel Arteta dealt William Saliba concern as Arsenal contract runs down

As things stand, the Frenchman’s deal is set to expire in 2027, and as each day passes, Mikel Arteta grows more and more vulnerable to losing his pivotal centre-back who’s formed a stellar partnership with Gabriel.

Saliba and the Brazilian have been a vital ingredient of Arsenal’s trophy challenges since the beginning of 2022/2023, with the pair often praised for being the best central defensive pairing in Europe.

It is testament to summer signing Cristhian Mosquera, who’s seriously impressed in Saliba’s absence, that Arteta’s side have conceded just once in five total games so far this term.

The 24-year-old is pushing to play in Arsenal’s vital Premier League clash against Man City on Sunday, according to Arteta in his pre-match press conference, but behind-the-scenes, tying Saliba down isn’t exactly plain sailing.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

While there is optimism among reliable media sources that Saliba could eventually commit his future to Arsenal, with talks currently ongoing (Fabrizio Romano), some reports suggest that negotiations are moving at a slow pace (Football Insider).

This could give Real hope of signing the ex-Saint-Etienne star in 2026, with an update now coming to light on the situation courtesy of El Desmarque.

Arsenal set William Saliba price tag after blunt response to new contract offer

As per the outlet, Saliba has already rejected the Gunners’ first offer of a contract renewal, and El Desmarque report that the Bernabeu is a realistic destination for him.

According to their information, Saliba is prepared to leave Arsenal amid Real’s serious interest, and Xabi Alonso’s side view him as a “dream” signing.

Arsenal have also set a “high” price tag for the France international at around £70 million, which can be considered lofty when factoring in he’ll have just one season remaining on his deal by next summer.

Real are aiming to make a splash through the signing of superstar defenders next year. It apparently hasn’t been ruled out that they could sign both Saliba and Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate, which would be quite the statement of intent from Florentino Perez.

Arsenal simply cannot lose William Saliba

Saliba’s importance extends beyond raw defending. He is comfortable in possession, rarely flustered and plays a huge role in starting Arsenal’s build-up from the back.

Real’s interest is no surprise — he’s exactly the level of player they’re regularly target. However, Arsenal are no longer in a position where they can be bullied into selling their stars. With the team now competing consistently at the top, losing Saliba would send the wrong message and tear a significant hole in Arteta’s carefully constructed long-term project.

Signing a replacement for Saliba would be Berta’s most almighty task yet, and it is something they’ll be looking to avoid at every cost.

The May 11 IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) *has been shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. The last-minute change is due to the escalation in tension across the India-Pakistan border.The MI game was PBKS’ last game of this year in Dharamsala, their second home venue. Last Sunday, in their first game of the season in Dharamsala, they comfortably defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and this evening they are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals (DC) in a crucial match there.MI were originally scheduled to be in Dharamsala today, but their travel plans were stalled after the IPL decided to have discussions on shifting the match.Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) have accepted the IPL’s request to host the PBKS-MI game. GCA secretary Anil Patel suggested that MI were scheduled to land in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening.PBKS are currently third on the points table with 15 points from 11 games. MI are just one slot below, with 14 points from 12 games.To be certain of qualification, Punjab Kings (PBKS) need to win a couple of games and move up to 19 points. They can even go through with 15 points on NRR, but for that to happen, several other results will have to go their way. If they win each of their three remaining games, they’ll be assured of a top-two finish. Two of their three remaining games are against teams in the top five, which makes those results extremely vital for PBKS.MI have played six games in Ahmedabad in the IPL, winning just one. They have lost all their last five matches at the venue.