LAKR hardly got going in the chase, as Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad shared four wickets
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2025Texas Super Kings returned to winning ways and rose to second place on the MLC 2025 points table with an all-round display that brushed Los Angeles Knight Riders aside. It was TSK’s fourth win in six games and LAKR’s fourth loss in five matches as the tournament reached the halfway mark of its league phase.The stars of the game for TSK were lower-middle-order batters Shubham Ranjane and Donovan Ferreira and left-arm spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad.LAKR had started well, making good use of their decision to bowl by reducing TSK to 33 for 3 in four overs, all three taken by Shadley van Schalkwyk including the big wicket of Marcus Stoinis for a golden duck.Akeal Hosein struck twice before the Los Angeles Knight Riders batters even had time to settle down•Sportzpics for MLCOpener Smit Patel then resurrected the innings with a steady stand of 64 off 46 with Ranjane, nearly taking the score to 100 when Smit scooped Andre Russell to short fine-leg for 38 off 33. The wicket turned out to be detrimental for LAKR because there was no stopping Ferreira and Ranjane after that. Ferreira started with back-to-back fours off Ali Khan and then went after Russell with 6, 4 and 4. Van Schalkwyk then leaked sixes to both batters in his last over – which went for 23 – as the two put on 82 in just 40 balls. The stand ended in the 19th over after a big mix up led to Ferreira’s run out, and Ranjane also fell two balls later. Two more wickets fell in the last over but TSK finished on 196, which proved to be enough.The LAKR openers had hardly found their feet when Hosein struck twice in two balls, dismissing Nitish Kumar with a spectacular arm ball that swung in sharply to knock over middle stump. Unmukt Chand and Saif Badar struggled to score quickly, taking the team to 39 for 2 in the powerplay, before a cross-seam delivery from Stoinis had Badar edging behind. The asking rate had shot above 12 an over now and never came down as variations from the TSK bowlers – both spinners and fast bowlers – kept LAKR on a leash.Sherfane Rutherford struggled his way to 13 off 15 before being bowled by Noor, and even the hard-hitting Jamaican duo of Rovman Powell and Russell couldn’t turn things around. Powell hit the first six of the innings in the 15th over just before Russell was deceived by a sharp wrong’un from Noor that turned from leg stump with plenty of drift to dislodge his off stump. LAKR now needed 95 from 27 balls and never even got close.
O Fluminense divulgou nas suas redes socias na quarta-feira (11) que o plano de sócio “Arquiba 100%” está disponível para novas adesões. Essa modalidade do programa estava fechada por conta do limite de assinaturas.
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No dia 21 de agosto informou que os planos Arquiba 100%, Arquiba Família, Maraca+ e Maraca+ Família, que garantem check-in com 100% de desconto, atingiram o limite de adesões previsto, com mais de 40 mil contratos, e por isso tiveram a comercialização interrompida.
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O Fluminense FC informa que os planos Arquiba 100%, Arquiba Família, Maraca+ e Maraca+ Família, que garantem check-in com 100% de desconto, atingiram o limite de adesões previsto, com mais de 40 mil contratos, e por isso tiveram a comercialização interrompida.
Os planos Arquiba… pic.twitter.com/JTqIF4rly6
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) August 21, 2023
São três mil novas vagas e apenas para o plano “Arquiba 100%”. De acordo com o clube, essas vagas são para novas adesões e upgrades. Haverá ainda um reajuste para R$ 160 por mês.
Uma outra mudança para o plano “Arquiba 100%” é que agora o assinante pode retirar apenas um ingresso por partida. A nova medida já está em vigor e busca priorizar a presença dos sócios nos jogos.
+Fluminense divulga venda de ingressos para o retorno ao Maracanã, contra o Cruzeiro
Real Madrid have confirmed that captain Dani Carvajal will be sidelined for up to three months after sustaining a right knee injury during Sunday’s fiery Clasico against Barcelona. The 33-year-old defender, who was involved in a heated post-match confrontation with Lamine Yamal, will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage, the club announced on Monday.
Carvajal to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery
Carvajal is facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines after Real Madrid confirmed that their captain suffered a right knee injury during the 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. Medical examinations revealed a loose intra-articular body in the knee joint, requiring arthroscopic surgery to remove and repair the tissue. In an official statement, Madrid said: “Following tests carried out on our captain Dani Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a loose joint in his right knee. Carvajal will undergo arthroscopy.”
The veteran full-back felt discomfort following the final whistle on Sunday, where he was a late substitute in Real Madrid’s win, sealed by goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. The injury could sideline him for around three months, potentially ruling him out until early 2026 as per El Partidazo de COPE.
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Carvajal’s injury nightmare continues
Carvajal’s setback represents a major blow to Real Madrid, who had only just welcomed their skipper back from a calf injury sustained against Atletico Madrid in September. The defender’s latest issue affects the same knee in which he ruptured ligaments and a tendon last October, forcing him to miss most of the 2024-25 season. This recurring problem will likely force Madrid to take an especially cautious approach to his rehabilitation to avoid further complications.
Madrid’s right-back options are now limited heading into the middle phase of the campaign. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has only recently recovered from a muscle injury, is expected to step in as the primary replacement, while Fede Valverde could once again provide cover in that position. The reshuffle will demand tactical flexibility from Xabi Alonso’s side, as both Alexander-Arnold and Valverde naturally prefer more advanced or central roles, respectively.
For Carvajal personally, the injury halts his efforts to regain form and consistency after a difficult period plagued by fitness setbacks. Having worn the armband since Nacho Fernandez’s departure, the Spain international had been eager to re-establish his leadership role in a squad undergoing transition. Instead, his latest absence leaves Madrid once again relying on short-term adjustments to preserve their early-season momentum.
Injury comes after clash with Yamal
The injury comes on the back of his clash with Yamal: Carvajal’s involvement in post-match tensions has added further intrigue to an already explosive El Clasico. The right-back was spotted exchanging heated words with Lamine Yamal moments after full-time, with Spanish media reporting that he told the teenager: “You speak too much. Speak now.” The altercation followed remarks made by Yamal days before the match, when the youngster suggested on Twitch that “Real Madrid steal,” a comment that reportedly angered several Los Blancos players ahead of the showdown.
Multiple Madrid stars appeared to confront Yamal during the melee, with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham also drawn into the argument before being separated by officials. Frenkie de Jong later defended his Barcelona team-mate, accusing Madrid players of overreacting and “trying to provoke” the 17-year-old forward. While no disciplinary action has been announced, the incident has fueled media debate in Spain about respect between senior and junior internationals, especially with both Carvajal and Yamal sharing the Spain national team dressing room.
Despite the controversy, Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory was an important result that extended their lead at the top of La Liga to five points and snapped a four-game losing streak against their Catalan rivals. Mbappe and Bellingham’s goals proved decisive, while Fermin Lopez scored Barcelona’s only goal from Marcus Rashford’s assist. The win demonstrated Madrid’s growing composure under Alonso, but Carvajal’s injury has now cast a shadow over their momentum heading into November.
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Real Madrid to miss captain until January 2026
Real Madrid’s immediate focus will be managing without their captain through the busy winter schedule, with fixtures piling up in La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Alexander-Arnold is expected to make his first start since recovering from injury in Madrid’s next league match against Valencia on November 1, while Valverde will remain on standby to fill in as needed. The club’s medical staff will oversee Carvajal’s surgery and rehabilitation closely, with hopes that he can return to training early in 2026 if recovery progresses smoothly.
For Carvajal, the coming months will be another test of endurance and patience as he battles to return stronger once again. His professionalism and influence in the dressing room remain highly valued, and Madrid’s medical team will ensure he receives every resource to complete his recovery. Until then, Los Blancos will need to navigate the challenges ahead without their leader on the pitch — and hope that his latest setback does not linger beyond the new year.
Arsenal now have the squad depth to fight on multiple fronts and deliver that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.
Last year’s pursuit of silverware was completely derailed by injuries, because Mikel Arteta did not have enough high-class players in reserve to cover for key absentees.
The Gunners’ substitutes bench for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain epitomises this.
Riccardo Calafiori, Benjamin White and Leandro Trossard were introduced, while the other players at Arteta’s disposal were Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Jorginho as well as goalkeepers Neto and Tommy Setford, alongside now departed youngsters Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Jack Henry-Francis.
In short, not a lot of game-changers there. Fast-forward to this season, Arteta is regularly forced to leave senior players out of his matchday squad altogether.
Nevertheless, having said all of that about depth, guaranteed, world-class starters are also pivotal. Declan Rice is shining like a beacon again but he’s not the only player to become Mr Reliable at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice's new role at Arsenal
Arsenal fans sing “we got him half price” about Rice, and they’re only half joking. Who can forget those free-kicks against Real Madrid? They were special, alright.
In the history of football, only 11 players have transferred for more than £100m, many of whom go down as bona fide flops; looking at you João Félix and Philippe Coutinho.
Others, such as Neymar at PSG, Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona and Jack Grealish at Manchester City, perhaps did not live up to the hype, while it’ll be interesting to see how Liverpool’s record men, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, perform at Anfield in the long run.
Rice, on the other hand, has certainly proved to be value for money at Arsenal.
The England international has made 113 appearances for the Gunners to date, missing only three Premier League matches, scoring his 17th goal for the club against former club West Ham United last time out.
Initially signed as a holding midfielder, the club’s record signing has been granted more freedom to attack the final third the longer his Arsenal career has played out.
Whether it’s set-pieces or corners, Rice is now a true box-to-box phenomenon, something he touched on during the ongoing international break.
Alongside Gabriel, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, when available, Rice’s name is written in proverbial permanent marker on Arteta’s team sheet, but is another underrated Arsenal star elevating himself into a similar category?
Arsenal star is becoming one of the best in the world
Having conceded just three goals in ten matches across all competitions so far this season, Arsenal may well be the best defensive team in the world right now.
Gabriel and Saliba rightly earn a lot of the plaudits, but the form of Jurriën Timber should not be overlooked.
After arriving from Ajax for £38m, the Dutch defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest on the opening day, not seen again until the final day of the 2023/24 campaign against Everton.
Last season, the right-back roles were very much reversed, with Benjamin White sidelined for an elongated period, meaning Timber, pretty much, started every game, accumulating 3,680 minutes across all competitions, a remarkable amount for a player returning from an ACL issue.
Now that White is back, the Englishman can’t get back into the team as a result of Timber’s outstanding form, starting each of the last six Premier League matches.
Speaking on the Arsenal Vision Podcast, Tim Stillman asserted that Timber is “now one of Arsenal’s best players every week”, and the statistics below support this claim.
Timber 2025/26 PL statistics
Stats
Timber
Arsenal rank
Tackles
25
1st
Tackles won
14
1st
Interceptions
6
3rd
Clearances per 90
2
3rd
Ball recoveries
18
5th
Attacking 3rd touches
134
2nd
Carries into final 3rd
11
3rd
Passes into final 3rd
24
3rd
Key passes
8
2nd
Big chances created
2
2nd
Shot-creating actions
19
2nd
Average rating
7.36
1st
Stats via FBref and SofaScore
The table underlines that Timber is vital to Arteta’s team all across the pitch.
As well as ranking highly for tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, the Dutchman is also in the top three when it comes to touches in and carries and passes into the final third, as well as key passes and chance creation.
The only player consistently above Timber for these metrics is Rice, notably known to be the ultimate all-rounder, but the Dutchman should also be viewed in a similar way. Like the former West Ham man, he’s a warrior and somebody who always delivers in the clutch moments. They’re both hugely consistent individuals.
The £38m paid to secure the full-back’s signature is looking more and more like a bargain when considering that, according to Football Transfers, he is now valued at around £58m, a figure that is likely to only increase, given that he is just 24 years old.
Thus, if Arsenal do go on to achieve what they hope to this season, Timber will certainly be key to that success.
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Vincent Kompany’s contract extension with Bayern Munich has sparked fresh debate over his long-term ambitions, with former player Dietmar Hamann suggesting the Belgian coach could have a Manchester City exit clause. While Bayern insist the deal shows “commitment and continuity” with Kompany, speculation grows over whether the Belgian could one day succeed Pep Guardiola.
Kompany signs contract extension at Bayern
Belgian coach Kompany’s future at Bayern appears to have been settled after the club confirmed the extension of his contract until 2029, just a year into his tenure. The decision, which came with Bayern enjoying a perfect start to the season, has been widely interpreted as a signal of faith from the club’s hierarchy. However, former Bayern and Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes there may be more to the story.
In his column for , Hamann wrote: “Bayern extended Kompany's contract until 2029, even though it still had 20 months left. I mean, the extension wasn't a must, but I understand why they did it. Bayern probably have in mind that Manchester City will be interested in Kompany at some point when Pep Guardiola leaves. It would be interesting to know if Kompany has a clause in his contract. Christoph Freund didn't reveal anything about that on Wednesday evening, but he didn't completely deny it either.”
Hamann’s comments have added intrigue to what was seen as a straightforward show of confidence. The timing, with Guardiola’s Manchester City deal expiring in 2027, the same year as Kompany’s old Bayern contract, has further fuelled speculation about whether Bayern moved quickly to prevent any future approach from the Premier League champions.
AdvertisementAFPHow's Bayern dealing with these speculations?
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund downplayed suggestions of any exit clause. Speaking to during Bayern’s 4-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge, Freund stated: “We never talk about contract details, but we extended the contract so that he stays here for a long time. That is his and our intention, and an exit clause really has no place in a contract like this.”
Freund’s response was measured yet firm, stressing Bayern’s desire for continuity and stability under Kompany. “It’s also a signal to the team and everyone that we want continuity and that we have the perfect coach for FC Bayern,” he added.
Still, Hamann’s speculation wasn’t entirely without context as Kompany, who captained Manchester City for over a decade and remains one of their greatest leaders, has often spoken warmly about his connection to the club. His composure and tactical acumen have drawn parallels to Guardiola himself, making him an obvious candidate to eventually take over at the Etihad.
The Guardiola factor and Man City link makes the case strong
The link between Kompany and Guardiola is inevitable, Kompany captained City side to historic success, embodying the tactical discipline and leadership that defined their dominance. With Guardiola’s contract set to expire in 2027, City will eventually face the challenge of appointing a successor, and Kompany’s rise at Bayern makes him a natural name in that discussion.
Kompany himself has never hidden his admiration for Guardiola’s influence on his career. His managerial style, which emphasises controlled possession and collective pressing, mirrors the Catalan’s philosophy. However, Bayern’s new long-term deal represents the club’s firm stance to keep their man in Munich amid potential interest from elsewhere.
Whether City view Kompany as Guardiola’s heir remains to be seen, but the idea of their legendary captain returning to manage his former club continues to capture the imagination of fans across Europe.
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Getty Images SportKompany's rise at Bayern
Since taking over in the summer of 2024, Kompany has swiftly established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. His calm presence, attacking philosophy, and willingness to back youth have rejuvenated Bayern both domestically and in Europe.
The 39-year-old has overseen a perfect start to the season, with Bayern boasting a 100 per cent record in all competitions and sitting top of the Bundesliga and their Champions League group in the 2025-26 season. His tactical balance, blending high pressing with measured possession play, has restored the identity Bayern were accused of losing in recent years.
Against Club Brugge, Kompany showcased his faith in young talent by starting 17-year-old Lennart Karl, who scored Bayern’s opener and became the club’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer. The Belgian coach’s handling of youth players, has been widely praised, underlining his reputation as a modern, progressive leader capable of building for the long term.
Kompany’s Bayern have scored 198 goals in 68 matches under his guidance, showing a blend of flair and structure that has silenced early critics. His empathetic approach, marked by open communication and respect for every squad member, has re-established a sense of unity reminiscent of Bayern’s golden eras.
Washington Freedom pulled off the highest successful chase in MLC as they chased down Texas Super Kings’ 220 for 6 with seven wickets and two balls to spare. The previous record was 201, chased down by MI New York against Seattle Orcas earlier this week.Mitchell Owen (89 off 52) and Andries Gous (80 not out off 45) were the chief architects of Freedom’s win, ensuring TSK captain Faf du Plessis’ 69 off 31 went in vain.After TSK were sent in, du Plessis gave his side a flying start, hitting four fours and two sixes in the first four overs. Smit Patel had contributed only 8 off 11 balls till then. But when Owen came for the fifth over, he hit his first three balls for 6, 6, 4. Owen dismissed Patel on the very next ball but there was little respite as du Plessis finished the over with a boundary.Andries Gous hit six fours and four sixes in his innings•MLC
Du Plessis brought up his half-century off just 20 balls before becoming Owen’s second victim. Marcus Stoinis and Milind Kumar then took over and added 42 in just 26 balls for the fourth wicket. Shubham Ranjane applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 26 off ten balls, with TSK ransacking 56 from the last four overs. For Freedom, Owen picked up 3 for 33 from three overs and Glenn Maxwell 2 for 35 from four.Owen and Rachin Ravindra gave Freedom a steady start of 38 in 4.3 overs. Following that, Owen and Gous took the side to 96 for 1 after ten overs. With another 125 required, TSK were still the favourites, but Owen and Gous turned the game around in the 12th and 13th overs, smashing Noor Ahmad for 22 and Donovan Ferreira for 24. In those 12 balls, Owen and Gous hit a combined five sixes and three fours to reduce the equation to 69 needed from seven overs.Owen fell to Adam Milne at the start of the 15th over but Gous carried on. With 20 needed from two overs, TSK still had a chance. Maxwell hit Milne for a six off the first ball of the 19th but the seamer sent Maxwell back two balls later. It came down to 11 needed from seven balls before Glenn Phillips’ six reduced the requirement to five from the final over.Bowling the final over, Stoinis conceded three singles off the first three balls before Phillips hit the next ball past backward point to seal the win.
Liverpool’s luck ran out at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace were always going to present Arne Slot’s side with a stern test, and their unbeaten start to the campaign continues at the champions’ expense.
It was a poor performance from the Premier League champions, who arrived in south London with a reshaped system, and that was quickly foiled by Oliver Glasner’s eagle-eyed tactics. Slot made the requisite changes at the interval, but Liverpool found themselves on the receiving end of last-minute heartache this time.
Slot might have suffered a rare off-day on the tactical front, but there were any number of Redmen who left with their tails between their legs, producing poor individual performances in the capital.
Liverpool's worst performers vs Palace
Ibrahima Konate has endured a tough start to the season. Out of contract at the end of the year and with Real Madrid hot on his tail, the centre-back has lacked his usual clarity and robustness at the back, and against Palace, Sofascore record that he made two direct errors within half an hour as the Eagles ravaged the visitors’ backline.
Both of the full-backs, Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez, left plenty to be desired, and the boss will know that chinks in the tactical make-up need to be smoothed out soon if Liverpool hope to start playing with more fluency and control, from start to finish.
Also toiling was Mohamed Salah, who has hardly been himself across the first phase of the campaign. The 33-year-old won the full gamut of individual awards last season to sit alongside his second Premier League gold medal, but he’s struggling at the moment, anonymous and out of sorts against Palace.
However, there’s a glaring spotlight on another of Slot’s stars, and it’s a new recruit. Indeed, one of Liverpool’s new additions is beginning to take the shape of a former title winner in Darwin Nunez, and Slot will hope to change the narrative swiftly.
Liverpool's new Darwin Nunez
Alexander Isak, on his full debut in the Premier League for Liverpool, missed a gilt-edged chance to restore parity with plenty of time left on the clock. However, the Sweden international is one of the most accomplished strikers in Europe, dominant in the English game over the past few years.
It is not the 25-year-old who is at risk of becoming Liverpool’s new version of Nunez, but Florian Wirtz, who broke the British transfer record when swapping Bayer Leverkusen for Anfield this summer, before Isak’s deadline-day arrival.
It’s not the first time the Anfield side have broken the bank in recent years. Nunez was signed from Benfica for a deal rising to a club-record £85m fee in 2022. The striker never maximised his financial potential, largely because his own deficiencies precluded it.
Across three years, Nunez missed a litany of chances and routinely lacked the composure and quality in the big moments. He won some silverware, sure, but he failed to repay the faith with individual performances.
It’s early into Wirtz’s time at Liverpool, but already he is struggling for form, having yet to score or assist across seven appearances in the Premier League. Against Palace, his fortunes did not change.
Florian Wirtz’s Performance vs Palace
Match Stats (* per game)
#
Minutes played
74′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
57
Accurate passes
37/44 (84%)
Key passes
1
Possession lost
10x
Dribbles
2/4
Tackles
0
Duels won
3/7
Data via Sofascore
The 22-year-old is billed as one of the most talented footballers in the world, and there will remain every confidence in the FSG offices that he will come good. But all of a Liverpool persuasion will be hoping that that will be sooner rather than later, for a continuation of these middling returns would only raise the volume around his sub-par start to life in England.
Agonising misses became the Uruguayan’s currency on Merseyside, and there’s no denying Wirtz missed a golden opportunity of his own on Saturday afternoon.
Still, it’s worth noting that the Liverpool Echo handed the German a 6/10 match rating, acknowledging his impetus and tenacity, albeit drawing attention to his lack of quality on the ball too.
Nunez will be fondly remembered by the Liverpool fans for his efforts and his affable personality, but the plain truth is he arrived for a significant sum and, on an individual level, fell by the wayside.
There is hope, such hope and confidence, that Wirtz will not head down the same track, but with every passing performance, the £116m man has yet to show the Premier League what he is about.
Journalist Mark Ogden said before Liverpool’s defeat to Palace that Wirtz is “struggling to make an impact”, and that narrative has not changed now that Slot’s side have been sent packing.
There were times last season when Slot was said to have been riding on the coattails of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s success. He wiped such claims away.
However, the Dutchman has since pieced his own super-team together, and now, the new system needs to join as one and prove that the Reds have what it takes to defend their Premier League title.
Not Isak or Ekitike: Liverpool struck gold on star worth more than Salah
This unsung Liverpool hero continues to prove a fantastic signing for the club.
On the brink of a new era at Ibrox, the 49ers have already been handed one request by the next Rangers manager, who is beginning to form his backroom team.
Gerrard on the brink of Rangers return
It’s been an incredibly busy week for Rangers, who called time on Russell Martin’s tenure last week following a disastrous spell in charge. The former Southampton boss lasted just 123 days and picked up just one win in seven Scottish Premiership games. It was a run that simply could not go on, no matter how badly the 49ers wanted their first appointment to work out.
Since then, it has been all hands to the pump in their search for a new manager which is seemingly about to end with Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend is reportedly on the brink of returning to Ibrox in his first job in management since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January. Arriving with it all to do, Gerrard will be hoping to achieve the same success as his last tenure, having won Rangers’ 55th league title.
Gerrard, according to former England teammate Rio Ferdinand, is chomping at the bit to get back in the technical area and now has the chance to do exactly that at the club he’s had the most success as a manager.
Rangers have already lined up his backroom staff, with Jermain Defoe, Gary McAllister and Steven Davis set to return to the club with him alongside another previously unnamed coach, who has now been revealed.
Gerrard requests Steve Holland at Rangers
According to The Daily Record, Gerrard now wants Rangers to hire Steve Holland as part of his backroom staff in his first request as manager. The former England coach has been out of a coaching role since managing Yokohama Marinos in Japan in a short spell earlier this year, but could now hand Gerrard a major boost.
Rangers on verge of hiring new manager who shares agent with £100m+ Real Madrid superstar
The Gers are closing in on the appointment.
ByBen Goodwin Oct 10, 2025
Having been the England assistant for four years from 2013 to 2016, Holland is someone that the former Liverpool midfielder should know well and given that Michael Beale’s Rangers return seems unlikely, the Gers should go all out to welcome his preferred choice.
The 45-year-old recently spoke about the importance of leaning on his backroom staff, including Defoe and McAllister.
Whilst they will be important appointments for Gerrard, the experience that a man like Holland would provide is simply invaluable at this stage of his managerial career.
A total of 72 player slots will be available for the auction
Firdose Moonda24-Jun-2025
Rashid Khan and his team lift the SA20 trophy•SA20
The fourth season of the SA20 is set for a major shake-up with almost two-thirds of the player pool available for the auction, which will be held on September 9. Franchises will be permitted no more than six retentions or pre-signed players, the least in the tournament’s short history.That means 72 player slots are available for auction, which represents 63% of the 108 places across the six franchises.Squad composition is unchanged from the previous editions with a maximum of seven overseas players, and a minimum of 11 South Africans. The salary cap has been increased to R41 million (US$2.31 million) from R39.1 million (US$2.2 million) and teams can sign one wildcard player whose fee is not included in the salary cap. The amount of money available means that the SA20 is the league with the second-highest salary cap in the world, after the IPL. All six SA20 franchises are owned by IPL teams.Franchises will be allowed to use a Right to Match (RTM) card which will allow them to match the winning bid for a player who represented them in season 3. The number of RTMs will be determined by the number of the South African players franchises have retained.The rookie draft has been cancelled and teams will be required to sign a minimum of two under-23 players.With no home Tests in the 2025-26 summer (due to the national men’s team playing abroad until mid-December and stadium refurbishment for the 2027 ODI World Cup) the SA20 has been moved forward from its usual January start date. It is due to kick off on Boxing Day and reach its conclusion by January 26. The SA20 will revert back to a January to mid-February window for 2027 and 2028, when it will also have a slightly longer playing window. The number of franchises (6) and matches (34) remains unchanged.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has described out-of-favour Joel Piroe as “the best finisher I’ve ever worked with” and says the striker has a crucial role to play this season.
Farke paid tribute to Piroe before Saturday’s lunch-time kick-off against Tottenham at Elland Road having left the Dutchman out of his side’s previous four starting line-ups.
Piroe’s 19 league goals helped fire Leeds to promotion last season, earning him the Sky Bet Championship’s Golden Boot, but he did not even make Farke’s squad for last month’s defeat at Fulham.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has emerged as Leeds’ first-choice striker, while Farke has given fellow summer signing Lukas Nmecha the nod off the bench ahead of Piroe in recent matches, with the Whites boss going into Piroe’s versatile ability.
Farke also described Piroe as a “top professional”, adding: “I’m pretty sure that we will see him on many occasions on the pitch and hopefully he can deliver.”
Leeds will bid to extend their unbeaten home league record to 24 matches on Saturday against Tottenham.
Weekly wages: Leeds United FC 2025/26 highest-paid players
We at Football FanCast have gathered all the information on exactly how much the wages of each player is at Leeds United.
By
Charlie Smith
Sep 23, 2025
Farke’s side last lost a league game at Elland Road in September last year – 1-0 against Burnley – while a third Premier League win of the season could lift them into the top half of the table.
Tottenham, who have won five of their last six encounters with Leeds, sit fourth after last week’s 1-1 home draw against Wolves and drew 2-2 in Norway against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday in the Champions League.