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This week: The ODI exploits of Michael Bevan, Lance Klusener and MS Dhoni

Himanshu Agrawal22-Jun-2020What We’re WatchingThe ice-cool pioneer
The idea of a finisher probably first took root during the 1995-96 Benson & Hedges World Series, during which Bevan scored 389 runs at an average of 194.50, bolstered by eight not-outs in ten innings. The highlight came on New Year’s Day at the SCG, against West Indies. Australia needed 173 in 43 overs, and were struggling at 74 for 7 when Bevan orchestrated the kind of escape that would soon become his trademark, scoring an unbeaten 78 and hitting the winning boundary off the last ball, with the No. 11, Glenn McGrath, at the other end.Bevan’s greatest innings, arguably, came in an unofficial ODI in April 2000. Chasing 321 against an Asia XI in Dhaka, the Rest of the World XI slipped to 196 for 7 in the 37th over Game over? Not while Bevan was still at the crease. With Andy Caddick providing support, Bevan somehow kept the RoW in the hunt, and brought the target down to 20 off the last over. What happened next? Well, watch the highlights of Bevan’s unbeaten 132-ball 185 here.Bevan made six ODI hundreds, and his last one, against New Zealand in January 2002, was perhaps his best. All the familiar ingredients were there. Chasing 246 at the MCG, Australia slipped to 82 for 6, and then 143 for 7, and Bevan yet again had only the tail for company. But as always, he knew exactly which bowlers, and which areas of the field, to target. Watch his unbeaten 95-ball 102, and marvel at those meaty leg-side swats, and that lightning running between the wickets.In the 2003 World Cup, England were on the verge of handing a seemingly invincible Australia side a rare defeat, reducing them to 135 for 8 in a chase of 205 in Port Elizabeth. But Bevan was still there, and so was Andy Bichel. invincible? Scratch that.The red-hot marauder
They both batted left-handed, and were both at their best in the late middle order, but their methods were chalk and cheese. Or fire and ice. Lance Klusener bludgeoned bowlers where Bevan manipulated them, but he was no less effective when you put a lost cause in front of him. Need 27 off 14 balls with just three wickets in hand, as South Africa did in Napier in March 1999? And then four off the last ball? No problem.A few months later, Klusener produced one of the greatest individual displays at a World Cup. In a tournament characterised by low totals and seaming pitches, he scored 281 runs at an average of 140.50 (six not-outs in eight innings) and a strike rate of – wait for it – . Oh, and he took more wickets – 17 – than any other South African bowler.
Against Sri Lanka in Northampton, he smashed 52 not out off 45 balls, including smacking 22 off Chaminda Vaas’ final over. In the Super Sixes against Pakistan, South Africa chased 221 with an over to spare despite middle-overs wobbles, thanks largely to Klusener’s 46 not out off 41 balls. Some of his leg-side hitting, as you can see here, was awe-inspiring, particularly a baseball-style six off Shoaib Akhtar. And you’ll remember the heartbreaking finish in the semi-final at Edgbaston, but don’t forget Klusener’s hitting in the lead-up. Just sensational.In 2000-01, New Zealand toured South Africa and ended up on the wrong side of a 5-0 ODI whitewash. It might not have been so one-sided, though, had Klusener not been around to pull off a pair of ruthlessly explosive finishes in Durban and Cape Town.“Finishes off in style!”
Has there been a better finisher than MS Dhoni at his peak? Could anyone better the audacity of his display in Lahore in 2006, when he arrived with India needing 99 off 92 balls, and proceeded to clatter an unbeaten 72 off just 46 balls? The second boundary in the video, off Abdul Razzaq, is particularly impressive: a controlled, one-handed lofted hit off a low full toss, placed calmly beyond the bowler’s reach. Later in the same series, in Karachi, India sent Dhoni in at No. 4 when they were miles behind the required rate and needed 146 to win off 118 balls. Tough ask? Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni only needed 99 balls to finish the job.Dhoni’s most iconic finish, of course, came in the final of the 2011 World Cup, in Mumbai. You know how it ends, you know what Ravi Shastri says next, but you’ll definitely want to watch it again.By this time, Dhoni was a far more calculating sort of finisher, a master of managing required rates while taking the fewest possible risks, and backing himself to produce the big hits at the climactic moments. A sample of this came in Adelaide in 2012, when he hit just one boundary in an unbeaten 44 off 58 balls – a monstrous, match-winning 112m six off Clint McKay, in the final over.A year later, he sat out the league stage of a tri-series in the West Indies, returned for the final in Port-of-Spain, and finished the game in breathtaking fashion. With India needing 15 off the last five balls of a low-scoring thriller, Dhoni sent Shaminda Eranga crashing for 6, 4, 6.What We’re Watching

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs for the second straight time Tuesday night to increase their lead in the NL Central standings to two games.

First baseman Andrew Vaughn broke open the game in the sixth inning when he crushed a grand slam to left-center that gave Milwaukee a commanding 9-2 lead.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell was seen having a priceless reaction to the blast as he immediately jumped on the phone in the dugout to get a new pitcher going in the bullpen.

He barely waited for Vaughn to get out of the batter's box before dialing up some help for his team:

Too funny.

The Cubs will look to avoid being swept by the Brewers when they square off in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

Cameron Green has been “hitting intensity” in training as he ramps up his bowling loads, but it remains unclear whether he will have an overs-restriction in his expected return to bowling in the next Sheffield Shield round.Green played as a specialist batter in Western Australia’s drawn Shield match against South Australia at the WACA. Batting in his preferred No. 4 spot, Green gave WA some hope of chasing down the 303-run target before he unluckily fell for 41 after a dubious caught behind decision.Immediately after the match ended due to bad light, Green had a 30-minute bowl in the middle of the WACA until rain fell on the ground.Related

• Calm and composed Connolly showcases his worth

• Labuschagne welcomes opening challenge with clear head

• Webster falls cheaply as O'Neill stars in Victoria's victory

Green has bowled just four overs since returning from back surgery. He is likely to play as an allrounder in WA’s next Shield match against Queensland at the WACA starting on November 11 although he might be placed under bowling restrictions.”We’ll just make sure he can bowl first and then we’ll work that bit out,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “My hope is that he’ll be able to play as an allrounder the next game. He’s still building nicely. From what we’ve seen in the nets, he’s hitting intensity.”Green did get some quality batting time at the crease after making a duck in the first innings in his return from side soreness that ruled him out of the India ODI series. He faced 108 balls, his longest stint in the middle since the third Test against the West Indies in July.Green was in command and appeared unaffected after copping a stinging blow in the left forearm by quick Henry Thornton. He was eventually adjudged caught behind off a length delivery from Liam Scott that he tried to fend away from his body.Green threw his head back in disappointment at the decision following a half-hearted appeal from South Australia.Cameron Green inspects his arm after a blow from Henry Thornton•Getty Images

After the match appeared destined for a draw, there was a late twist when Aaron Hardie and Joel Curtis fell in quick succession to Scott. But Cooper Connolly held firm with an unbeaten half-century to ensure WA avoided a third consecutive defeat to start the season. It capped a strong allround performance for Connolly, who also claimed two wickets in South Australia’s second innings.With the pitch flattening out as the match wore on, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney opted for caution and declared 30 minutes before lunch. Their hopes of an unlikely victory rested on spearhead Brendan Doggett, who produced a spectacular delivery to dismiss captain Sam Whiteman before being thwarted by Green and Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58.Doggett finished with seven wickets for the match in his return from a hamstring injury, with his only previous game this season being in the One-Day Cup on September 20.With relentless accuracy and menacing movement, Doggett showed why he is likely to be a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been on the fringes for the past 12 months.”I think he would be around the mark for the squad, it’s nice to see him come out and bowl like he did,” South Australia coach Ryan Harris said.After taking six wickets in WA’s first innings to claw South Australia back into the match, Doggett again loomed as South Australia’s talismanic figure. He stepped up in his first over to knock over Whiteman, who shouldered arms only to watch in horror as the ball swung back wickedly to hit the top of the off stump.All eyes were on Green, who entered at 37 for 2 early in the second session after Hilton Cartwright on 12 drove straight to mid-on. Green was rock solid and locked in as gleaned by his routine of stepping to the side and looking up at three of the WACA’s massive light towers after every delivery.Green had most of the strike and took his time, scoring just 8 off his first 32 balls. Bancroft appeared to be cruising towards a brisk half-century until Thornton bent his back and produced a hostile spell. But Thornton was left despondent when he had two big shouts against Bancroft turned down.Thornton then whacked Green’s forehand, with medical attention needed. But Green shrugged off any concern with several delightful strokes to give WA renewed enthusiasm heading into tea.Bancroft reached his half-century on resumption, but fell shortly after when he cut straight to Conor McInerney who juggled the catch at gully. Quick Nathan McAndrew resorted to a short-ball tactic against a patient Green, who did not bite but WA’s task proved beyond them as the match inevitably headed towards a draw.The result leaves the teams, who have won the last four Shield titles, still winless after three rounds.

The 2024/25 campaign was truly one to forget for everyone involved with Manchester United, as the club registered their worst-ever Premier League finish.

Ruben Amorim’s side ended the year in a measly 15th position, sitting just three spots above the relegation zone, with various issues rearing their head throughout the season.

The Red Devils had a real goalscoring issue during their top-flight campaign, as seen by their measly tally of just 44 goals in their 38 outings – an average of just 1.15 per game.

However, at the other end, things were just as disappointing, as they shipped 54 goals in just 38 matches, ultimately leading to a total of 18 league defeats in 2024/25.

Many of the failures that season were directed that way of one man, with Amorim desperately needing to make the right call on his future during the recent summer window.

The stats behind Andre Onana’s failures for United in 2024/25

After David de Gea’s departure from United back in the summer of 2023, former boss Erik ten Hag decided to delve into the transfer market to bolster his ranks – landing the signature of Andre Onana.

As a result, the Dutchman decided to fork out a reported £47.2m for the Cameroonian’s signature – a deal which could go down as one of the worst in the club’s history.

Upon Amorim’s arrival last November, he decided to stick with the former Inter Milan shot-stopper between the sticks, but he was unable to match the confidence shown in him by the boss.

The 29-year-old featured 50 times across all competitions last campaign, but made nine direct errors that led to goals, many of which came in key moments.

From parried shots against Lyon to misjudging Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort against Nottingham Forest – it truly was a regular occurrence for Onana to drop numerous clangers.

His only appearance for the Red Devils this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat to League Two Grimsby Town – a game that would signal the end of his first-team place at Old Trafford.

Amorim decided to ship Onana out on loan to Turkish Super League side Trabzonspor, with the hierarchy backing him with a new goalkeeper on Deadline Day.

Man Utd have another Onana-esque liability

As a result of Onana’s departure, Senne Lammens was the man chosen to fill the void in the goalkeeping department for United, with the Belgian joining from Royal Antwerp.

At just 23, such a move may have been a daunting task to many, but the youngster has wasted no time in cementing the number one shirt as his own at Old Trafford.

He’s made six appearances for the Red Devils to date, keeping one clean sheet, but his goal prevented xG of 0.2, showcases his immediate impact between the sticks.

Lammens is also yet to register an error leading to a goal after his big-money transfer, with his arrival already solving one of the glaring issues in the squad from last season.

However, not all the new additions have slotted in as seamlessly as the goalkeeper, with full-back Patrick Dorgu unable to be as successful at Old Trafford.

The Dane arrived from Italian side Lecce back in January for a reported £30m, with such a move seeming to end the hierarchy’s hunt for a long-term left wing-back.

However, nearly a year on from his transfer, it’s evident that the 21-year-old simply isn’t at the level required and is now becoming a huge liability for Amorim’s men.

Dorgu has only started seven out of a possible 12 league games to date this campaign, with his latest showing highlighting why he’s been an inconsistent figure in 2025/26.

He featured for 58 minutes in the defeat against Everton on home soil, before being replaced by Diogo Dalot after struggling to make the desired effect at both ends.

Minutes played

58

Touches

40

Passes completed

75%

Tackles made

1

Aerials lost

100%

Crosses completed

0

Possession lost

11x

Dribbled past

1

The youngster was labelled “unreliable” by one analyst, after only winning one tackle, and losing all four of the aerial duels he entered – offering a lacklustre option out of possession.

Even with the ball, Dorgu struggled to impress, only completing 75% of his attempted passes, losing possession a staggering 11 times whilst failing to complete a single cross.

As a result, he’s massively becoming a liability under Amorim, arguably the biggest one since Onana’s lack of form for the club back in the 2024/25 season.

A solution for all parties is desperately needed before the January transfer window, with the club potentially needing to reinvest in the market to solve the problem at left wing-back.

Alongside Zirkzee: Man Utd's "waste of time" must not start again for Amorim

Ruben Amorim has a bold decision to make over the future of one Manchester United flop.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 25, 2025

Milnes leads Yorkshire fightback after being bowled out for 194 in rain-delayed start to contest

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025

Sussex 84 for 4 (Milnes 2-35) trail Yorkshire 194 (Lyth 47, Hudson-Prentice 3-33, Unadkat 3-36) by 110 runsFourteen wickets fell at Hove as two sides needing a victory that would make sure of their first division status produced a compelling day.Sussex were in the ascendancy when they bowled Yorkshire out for 194 after tea but the visitors fought back, reducing the hosts 84 for four when bad light ended with 13 overs not bowled.A draw would probably suit both teams in their battle to avoid an immediate return to the second division but despite no play on the first day there is now every chance of a positive result. A pitch that had been under cover for the best part of 48 hours offered help to the seamers throughout but there was also some flawed shot selection from both teams.It looked a good toss to win when Yorkshire reached 100 for two. But Indian left-armer Jaydev Unadkat and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who took three wickets apiece, and the excellent Ollie Robinson fought back to take six wickets between lunch and tea before off-spinner Jack Carson finished the innings off.With the floodlights on, Yorkshire hit back with the new ball. Jack White had Dan Hughes smartly taken low at third slip and Tom Haines was lbw to Matt Milnes working to leg. Milnes struck again in his sixth over thanks to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s alertness. Hill shelled a catch at slip, but the ball landed on Bairstow’s right boot and he scooped it into his gloves as it bounced up. James Coles (29) shaped up well until he found mid-wicket trying to work Jordan Thompson through square.The subsequent clatter of wickets had seemed unlikely for much of the morning session as Fin Bean and Adam Lyth accumulated patiently before Bean (27) was caught behind trying to cut Hudson-Prentice’s medium pace and in the last over before lunch left-armer Sean Hunt found Lyth’s inside edge after he’d made 47 and looked to have done the hard work.Yorkshire then lost five for 15 in 7.2 overs with James Wharton taken low down at slip by Carson to give Robinson a belated reward. Bairstow was bowled through the gate by Unadkat in the next over and he struck again when Matthew Revis played at a delivery he could comfortably have ignored well outside off stump.Hill drove loosely and was caught at slip and Dom Bess fell to a leg-side strangle. Jordan Thompson glided the hat-trick ball from Hudson-Prentice effortlessly to the cover rope and Sussex would have been in an even stronger position had Coles held a waist-high chance at second slip before Thompson added to his boundary.Instead, Thompson and Indian Mayank Agarwal put conditions into perspective by adding 52 for the eighth wicket with few alarms.Agarwal, who made a golden duck on his debut at Taunton last week, had been in since the fall of the first wicket and although he struggled with his timing during nearly two and a half hours he did a solid job while wickets tumbled at the other end until following one from Unadkat which had shaped away.After tea Carson pinned Thompson (38) with a ball which straightened just enough and the innings ended when White was caught at slip driving loosely at Carson.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in line to receive a welcome boost, with one star now expected to make an earlier return from injury.

Mikel Arteta shares Arsenal injury update pre-Fulham

The return of Premier League football after another tedious international break, much to the delight of Gunners supporters, is now imminent.

Arsenal take on Marco Silva’s Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Arteta looking to extend his side’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and maintain their place atop the Premier League table.

The North Londoners have failed to win at Fulham’s ground in each of their last two visits, losing 2-1 there at the end of 2023 and drawing 1-1 a year later.

Silva has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget since guiding Fulham to promotion and an immediate return back to the top flight in 2022/2023, and the Whites are currently faring much better than a few of last summer’s much more lavish spenders.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

15.

Crystal Palace

£48.9m

£67.5m

+£17.7m

14.

Aston Villa

£28m

£43m

+£15m

13.

Fulham

£35.1m

£8.7m

-£26.4m

12.

Burnley

£97.7m

£31m

-£66.7m

11.

West Ham

£131.3m

£55m

-£76.3m

See where Arsenal rank here…

Arteta currently has a few key players out as well, with club captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all unavailable for their trip across London.

Jesus is still recovering from his ACL tear, which has kept him out since last winter, and reports suggest that Arsenal could even sell the Brazilian in January following the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres.

Madueke was in red-hot form before he was sidelined with a knee problem, which was a major blow for the England international, and Odegaard swiftly returned to the treatment table with his own knee issue after just coming back from a shoulder injury.

Havertz, meanwhile, played just half an hour this season before he too suffered a knee complication.

Speaking of the German, reliable club insider HandOfArsenal has shared a very encouraging update on Havertz’s progress via X, which provides further insight into what Arteta said in his pre-Fulham press conference.

Kai Havertz could return "earlier than expected" with Arsenal staff "blown away"

It is believed the attacker is striving to make an earlier return than anticipated, and his performances in rehab have even left Arsenal staff blown away.

This is undoubtedly excellent news for Arsenal, as the 26-year-old has become a crucial figure for Arteta.

Last campaign, Havertz was a key man in their attacking lineup across all competitions, showcasing his creativity and versatility with 15 goals and 5 assists — including four strikes in the Champions League.

These numbers would’ve been even greater if not for a hamstring injury which kept him out for three months towards the end of 2024/2025, and his potentially imminent presence will relieve some of the creative burden on Arsenal’s available forward line.

Havertz will also keep Gyokeres firmly on his toes, with the Swede currently on a six-game streak without scoring.

Bayern Munich continued their record-breaking start to the season as the Bundesliga leaders swept aside Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at the Allianz Arena to secure a 15th straight victory of the new season. With Harry Kane named amongst the substitutes, Nicolas Jackson stepped up to score his first Bundesliga goal. Serge Gnabry also scored for Vincent Kompany's side, while Loic Bade put through his own net to secure the result before half-time.

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Vincent Kompany's team selection raised a few eyebrows prior to kick-off, as the Bayern head coach opted to change his entire front three, dropping Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise to the bench and giving Jackson a start through the centre.

Despite the absence of some of the league leaders' biggest stars, Bayern were clearly the superior side over their visitors from start to finish. Lennart Karl showed flashes of brilliance early on, curling just wide from the edge as the 17-year-old looked to score his third goal in four matches.

It would be Gnabry who opened the scoring. Played through beautifully by Tom Bischof, the 20-year-old's curling pass was severely misjudged by Jarell Quansah to allow Gnabry in behind. When the German found a clear path through on goal, there would only be one outcome and Bayern had taken a 25th-minute lead.

One would become two just six minutes later, Jackson scoring in the Bundesliga for the first time with a perfectly-placed header from Konrad Laimer's cross from the right. It was a big moment for Jackson, who had proven his credentials to fill in for Kane in the Bayern attack. He had the ball in the net a second time less than ten minutes later, but was adjudged to have gone slightly early with the goal disallowed for offside.

Just before half-time the game was safe when Bade put through his own net, deflecting in a Raphael Guerrero cross to secure another comfortable victory before the champions had even needed to call upon their in-form attacking trio on the bench.

Jackson could, and maybe should, have had a second from another inch-perfect Laimer delivery, but on this occasion the Senegalese headed just wide of the post. Soon after as the game approached the hour mark, Kompany rang the changes and took off both of his goalscorers alongside Karl, with all of Kane, Diaz and Olise taking to the field to strike further fear into Leverkusen hearts.

The away side came into the game from a possession stand-point at least in the second period, as the game began to slow down into a lull with the three points already secured. But the visitors, last season's runners-up who currently sit fifth in the division after a challenging start, never truly looked like scoring and did not have a single shot on target until the 80th minute. Christian Kofane sliced wide at the near post when given space in the Bayern penalty area, in a moment which summed up Leverkusen's day in front of goal. It was another comfortable victory for Bayern, who look very difficult to stop so far this season.

Leverkusen, for their part, have seen their 37-game away unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended, and emphatically so. AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe MVP

Having already scored twice for Bayern in the Champions League this season, getting off the mark in the Bundesliga was important for Jackson. Tasked with filling in for Kane against one of the division's top sides, he scored a great header and had the ball in the net on another occasion in the first half. Also played a part in the third goal with a smart first-time pass into Guerrero.

Though he missed a presentable opportunity in the second period, Kompany will be encouraged by the Chelsea loanee's showing as he proves a valuable part of the Bavarian giants' squad which will look to win it all this season.

Bayern had strong performers across the park, as Laimer was a strong creative presence while Karl continued to show flashes. Jonathan Tah was imperious at the back as he faced off against his former club. But Jackson will get many of the headlines, and deservedly so.

The big loser

Leverkusen were second-best across the park, but Loic Bade struggled and scored an own-goal in pretty poor circumstances. Giving the ball away himself in the build-up, the French defender could not sort his feet out and got it all wrong, striking the ball beyond Mark Flekken to seal defeat for Leverkusen before the break. The visitors had no answer to Bayern and can have no complaints about the result.

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تغلب ليفربول على ريال مدريد في الجولة الرابعة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا بهدف نظيف، وشهدت المباراة حدثاً أوروبياً حماسياً.

وقد استقبلت جماهير ليفربول لاعب ريال مدريد ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد بوابل من صيحات الاستهجان عند دخوله الملعب في الدقائق العشر الأخيرة، بعد أن ظهر لأول مرة مع ليفربول في الثامنة عشر من عمره وأصبح أحد ركائز العصر الذهبي ليورجن كلوب.

وقد أثار رحيل ألكسندر أرنولد الصيف الماضي استياء جماهير ليفربول، وكان اللاعب الإنجليزي قد فضل عدم تجديد عقده والرحيل في صفقة انتقال حر وانتقل لريال مدريد مقابل مبلغ رمزي بـ10 ملايين يورو.

وقد فسر العديد من مشجعي ليفربول قرار أنولد بأنه خيانة للنادي وعدم التزام تجاه فريق طفولته.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ريال مدريد يعلن إصابة لاعبه بعد مباراة ليفربول.. ومدة غيابه

وعلق روي كين قائد مانشستر يونايتد السابق في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “الماركا” حيث انتقد ما قامت به جماهير ليفربول: “جماهير ليفربول تكتسب سمعة أنهم مخلصون، وأنهم يتفوقون على معظم المشجعين لكن ما حدث في الليلة الماضية كان مخيب للآمال”.

وأضاف: “جاء ذلك ضد لاعب بذل قصارى جهده لتسعة مواسم مع ليفربول وفاز بالدوري الإنجليزي ودوري أبطال أوروبا لذا فإن إطلاق صيحات الاستهجان عليه لمجرد أنه قرر عدم تجديد عقده أمر غير عادل”.

وأكد كين أن أرنولد يستحق التقدير والاحترام لما قدمه مع فريقه السابق: “لا أقول إنهم يجب عليهم التصفيق له على رحيله لكن إطلاق صيحات استهجان على لاعب شارك في أكثر من 260 مباراة مع النادي يبدو سخيفاً، إنه ابن ليفربول وخريج أكاديمية النادي ولطالما لعب بفخرن على الجماهير أن تنظر لنفسها جيداً قبل التباهي بمستوى أخلاقها”.

وواصل كين الدفاع عن ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد على الرغم من أن المعروف على قائد مانشستر يونايتد السابق انتقاد اللاعبين الذين يقررون مغادرة أنديتهم: “لم يثر أرنولد ضجة ولم يتحدث خارج دوره، لقد اتخذ ببساطة قرار احترافي ويجب احترامه”.

Erling Haaland continued his incredible goalscoring form as Manchester City claimed a 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday afternoon. The in-form striker netted a second-half brace as Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap on title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool and stretched their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions at the Etihad Stadium.

In a tight opening 45 minutes which saw City limited to a handful of half chances, Everton striker Beto had the best opportunity to break the deadlock but he was unable to convert for David Moyes’ men, who performed admirably in the first half.

However, City made the visitors pay after the interval, taking the lead through Haaland after the Norway international headed home from Nico O’Reilly’s cross. And the forward had a second just five minutes later when his low drive found its way past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, taking his tally up to 11 goals in just eight league games.

Haaland almost had a hat-trick late on but he was thwarted by Pickford as City temporarily moved to the top of the Premier League table, before dropping down to second following Arsenal's tight 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday evening. Fellow title contenders Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

  While Everton played well in spells, they were unable to test the Italian enough.

  Matheus Nunes (6/10):

  Neat and tidy in possession, he was a solid performer for the hosts.

  Ruben Dias (6/10):

  Set City on their way to breaking the deadlock with a forward burst before feeding Foden with a pass.

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  Alongside Dias, he did a good job up against Everton's Beto.

  Nico O'Reilly (8/10):

  The young defender provided a lovely assist for Haaland's header.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Nico Gonzalez (7/10):

  As you would expect, he saw lots of the ball as City dominated possession.

  Tijjani Reijnders (5/10):

  Unable to stamp his authority in midfield, he was withdrawn early in the second half.

  Phil Foden (8/10):

  The midfielder pierced Everton's defence with a beautiful pass to O'Reilly, whose cross was buried by Haaland. He was also involved in the second goal, moving the ball out wide to Savinho.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Savinho (7/10):

  The Brazilian recorded the assist for Haaland's second goal of the day.

  Erling Haaland (9/10):

  The striker scored his fifth and sixth career goals against Everton, continuing his rich vein of goalscoring form.

  Jeremy Doku (7/10):

  Looking to continue his fine form, the lively Belgium international was City's best player in the first half.

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  Subs & Manager

  Bernardo Silva (6/10):

  Brought on in the second half, the captain injected energy into City's play.

  Oscar Bobb (6/10):

  He was involved in the build-up to City's second, finding Foden with a pass.

  Rayan Cherki (N/A):

  The summer signing made his return from injury, emerging from the bench late on.

  Mateo Kovacic (N/A):

  A late substitute, he didn't earn enough minutes to impress.

  Rico Lewis (N/A):

  Not on the pitch long enough to make an impact.

  Pep Guardiola (7/10):

  Whatever the manager said at half-time seemed to work, as City were much sharper after the break.

In what was a year to forget for Manchester United football club, captain Bruno Fernandes endured a season to remember on a personal level – producing numerous moments of magic despite the team’s failures.

The Portuguese international racked up a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – by far and away the highest tally of any member of the first-team squad.

However, he was unable to catapult Ruben Amorim’s side to any form of success, as the Red Devils ended the 2024/25 Premier League campaign in a measly 15th place.

The first team desperately needed reinforcements over the summer, something which the board provided with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.

Despite the additions in forward areas, a new midfielder was desperately needed, subsequently adding further quality to the side – but also pushing another talent down the pecking order.

Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United

During the 2023/24 campaign, academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo was a breath of fresh air to the United side – popping up in key moments during his breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old scored multiple times that year, including a last-minute winner against Wolves – before netting the crucial effort in the FA Cup final triumph against rivals Manchester City.

However, in recent times, the Englishman has struggled for consistent action, starting just 19 times last season, with minutes even harder to come by this campaign.

Mainoo hasn’t started a single league game in 2025/26, with his only starting outing coming in the embarrassing Carabao Cup second round defeat to Grimsby Town.

He’s spoken about wanting to leave his boyhood club on loan in recent times to gain valuable game time elsewhere – but his request was denied, subsequently needing to fight for his place in the side.

Such a situation has been a disappointing one for both the player and the club, with a resolution needed, but they may have made a mistake in allowing one former youngster to depart.

The former United star who was the original Mainoo

United’s hunt for a new midfielder was evident during the summer transfer window, targeting numerous talents throughout Europe to offer further quality in the middle of the park.

Bruno, who’s primarily an attacking midfielder, has been forced to operate in a deeper role this campaign – especially after the arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo in the number ten positions.

Hopefully, such a decision doesn’t take away from the numbers he produced last season, already getting off the mark with his last-minute penalty against Burnley last weekend.

However, a new partner alongside him has been desperately needed in recent times, potentially making a mistake in allowing former youngster James Garner to depart the club.

The Portuguese international has previously praised the Englishman, labelling him a “good player” after the Red Devils’ pre-season tour back in 2021.

He rose through the youth levels at Old Trafford, just like Mainoo, but would only make seven first-team appearances – with his spells away from the club catapulting him to stardom.

Garner would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.

He subsequently helped the Reds secure promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, in a spell that would catch the eye of a side already plying their trade in England’s top-flight.

The 24-year-old joined Everton on a permanent basis for an initial £9m in the summer of 2022, with Erik ten Hag not seeing the player in his plans – with the Toffees getting themselves a bargain given his form on Merseyside over the last couple of seasons.

Garner has since made 88 appearances for the Toffees, showcasing his versatility, operating in the middle of the park, as well as right-back, but still thriving despite the unnatural role.

He scored his first goal of the new season in recent weeks, with his beautiful strike from outside the box securing the Toffees a victory in their first outing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The £9m fee now appears to be way too cheap, given his recent success away from Old Trafford, potentially being able to cement his place in Amorim’s side had he stayed at the club.

There’s no denying he was the original Mainoo, rising through the club’s youth levels, but ultimately, their loss is Everton’s gain – with Bruno missing out on starring alongside the Englishman.

Sold for £5m: Man Utd must rue selling £43m star who'd get Sesko firing

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford in recent times.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 5, 2025