All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly stepped up their search to find a suitable successor to Hugo Lloris, following an update regarding the club's apparent interest in Everton goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.

What's the latest on Pickford to Tottenham?

According to Football Transfers, the Lilywhites have made contact with the Merseyside outfit over a possible summer swoop for the England international, with finding an heir to Lloris seemingly a real priority with the veteran Frenchman having just a year left to run on his existing deal.

The report suggests that the north Londoners have been 'following' the 29-year-old over an extended period of time and are now ready to make their move, albeit with Daniel Levy and co said to have concerns over meeting the reported £40m transfer fee.

The piece also adds that the former Sunderland stopper – who only recently signed a new long-term deal at Goodison Park – is keen to know who Tottenham's new manager will be and whether international colleague Harry Kane is set to stay at the club, prior to agreeing to any summer switch.

Would Pickford be a good signing for Tottenham?

If recent transfer dealings with the Toffees are anything to go by, it could well prove an awful mistake if Levy is to make a move for Pickford this summer, with Spurs having only recently been stung by their £60m capture of Richarlison from Goodison.

After previously scoring ten goals and providing five assists in his final league season at Everton during the 2021/22 campaign to secure their survival, the Brazilian has since been unable to replicate that impact at N17, having scored just once and registered only four assists in the top-flight in 2022/23.

Those woes – which saw the 25-year-old net just a further two goals in Europe and in domestic cup competitions – have unsurprisingly led to notable criticism, with talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino stating that the mercurial forward "has been a joke this year", due to his drab form.

The fear will be then that the signing of Richarlison's ex-teammate – Pickford – could well lead to a repeat scenario, with the 6 foot 1 'keeper also potentially having the ability to underwhelm if he is to make the move to the capital this summer.

While the experienced asset did only recently prove integral to the Toffees' successful relegation fight – having been described as the "difference" between the other relegated clubs by pundit Gary Neville – the £125k-per-week man has been a "liability" at times in recent seasons, according to BT Sport's Chris Sutton.

Also dubbed a "strange goalkeeper" who makes "too many errors" – in the words of Sutton – Pickford came under fire after his dismal display when Everton met Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in October, having given away a penalty for a foul on Kane, after initially fumbling Heung-min Son's tame attempt on goal.

That "really poor mistake" – as per ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp – is an illustration of the stopper's frustrating inconsistency, having also notably made two errors leading to goals in the Premier League in the most recent campaign.

Those shortcomings – as well as the tale of Richarlison – should have Levy thinking twice before making a move for Pickford this summer…

Tottenham Hotspur have been called a “hot mess” amid reports Celtic manager Ange Postcoglou is a leading contender for the Spurs job.

What’s the latest on Ange Postecoglou to Spurs?

The Lilywhites still have a fair few names on their managerial shortlist to succeed Antonio Conte, who left north London over two months ago.

Indeed, Marco Silva of Fulham, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi and free agent Graham Potter have been mentioned most recently, with chairman Daniel Levy also personally holding Luis Enrique talks.

Former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers and ex-River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo are being linked too, but it appears Postecoglou is a name gathering more and more momentum.

Relible outlets have suggested in the last few days that the 57-year-old has become a leading contender for the Tottenham job, coming as he chases a domestic treble north of the border.

Celtic face off against Inverness at Hampden Park this Saturday, a game which will go some way to cementing Postecoglou’s status as one of their most successful managers of recent years.

However, despite his great success at Parkhead, members of the media are not exactly thrilled by his potential Tottenham appointment this summer.

Journalist Oli Gamp of The Daily Mail, writing on Twitter, believes Spurs hiring the Australian would be the worst decision made by Levy in the last five years.

Pulling no punches in his damning assessment of Spurs, Gamp brands the club a “hot mess” in response to Postecoglou’s links to N17.

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Going off his entertaining brand of football and silverware accumulated at numerous sides, whatever the quality of division, we believe Gamp’s assessment of Postecoglou is a slightly harsh one.

Revered for his “beautiful” style of attacking play, the former Brisband Roar boss has won 10 pieces of silverware across an impressive career, and could well make it 11 this weekend.

Snooker legend John Higgins is certainly aware of Postecoglou’s impact at Celtic since being appointed in the summer of 2021, giving this glowing assessment on him to STV (via The Celtic Way):

“Ange Postecoglou has been amazing for the club he has come in and everybody just loves him, so for as long as he stays at Celtic I think we can look forward to more games like the weekend for, hopefully, years to come.”

The tactician is a beloved figure at his current club, and for good reason, so Spurs critics certainly shouldn’t discount him so quickly.

West Indies Women have picked 30-year-old uncapped allrounder Erva Giddings for the first three ODIs of the five-match series against England Women, which starts from October 8

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2016West Indies Women have picked 30-year-old uncapped allrounder Erva Giddings for the first three ODIs of the five-match series against England Women, which starts from October 8.WI Women’s ODI squad

Stafanie Taylor (capt), Anisa Mohammed (vice-capt), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Erva Giddings, Stacy-Ann King, Hayley Matthews, Shaquana Quintyne, Tremayne Smartt
In: Erva Giddings
Out: Kyshona Knight, Kycia Knight, Shakera Selman

The 13-member squad does not include Kyshona and Kycia Knight and Shakera Selman, who were part of the World T20-winning team earlier this year. Offspinner Anisa Mohammed has been appointed vice-captain.Giddings, who bowls medium-pace, was invited to attend the West Indies Women’s training camp in Jamaica last month. She had earlier been picked in the West Indies side for the tour of Pakistan in 2008-09, which was called off due to security reasons.The first two matches between West Indies and England – on October 8 and 10 – will be played at the Trelawney Stadium, Florence Hall. The last three matches, at Kingston’s Sabina Park on October 14, 16 and 19, will be counted for points in the ICC Women’s ODI Championship.West Indies are second on the table, with 20 points from 15 matches, while England trail them by one point. Australia Women, who lead the group with 30 points, have already secured their place in the 2017 Women’s World Cup.The top four teams at the end of the ICC Women’s Championship will gain direct entry into next year’s World Cup, while the bottom four teams will have to play the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier with six other regional qualifiers. The top four sides in the Qualifier will then advance to the World Cup.

At the SSC, Sri Lanka will have the chance to push for a rare series whitewash, while Australia will be desperate to end a horror streak in Asia

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale12-Aug-2016Match factsAugust 13-17, 2016
Start time 10.00 local (04.30 GMT)The SSC pitch bore a dry look on the eve of the Test•ESPNcricinfo LtdBig PictureLike a villain in Peter Falk’s old detective show, Australia’s undoing could be completed by one more thing: Colombo. Crushed near Kandy, gutted in Galle, Steven Smith’s men now move on to the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground for the final Test of their tour. Their No.1 ranking is at stake although, having lost the series already, even a surprise win in the third Test might not be enough to save their position.Make no mistake: this is Sri Lanka’s chance to create history. That rarest of cricket achievements – a whitewash against Australia – is theirs for the taking. In nearly 140 years of Test cricket, Australia have played 177 series of three or more matches and only four times have they been whitewashed: 0-3 to England in 1886; 0-4 to South Africa in 1969-70; 0-3 to Pakistan in 1982-83; and 0-4 to India in 2012-13. Smith arrived on this tour never having lost a Test as captain. Now he is in danger of joining Tup Scott, Bill Lawry, Kim Hughes and Michael Clarke in sharing an unwanted page in the record books.The achievement is similarly rare for Sri Lanka who, prior to this campaign, have played 50 series of this length. Only three times have they swept teams 3-0, and two of those came against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The other was against a declining West Indies in 2001. To complete such a rout against Australia, who were presented with the ICC mace before this series began, would count as one of the finest achievements in Sri Lankan cricket history. Angelo Mathews could be on the verge of joining Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene as the only Sri Lanka captains to lead such 3-0 sweeps.Of course, such talk is getting ahead of proceedings. Australia have one more chance to defend their honour. They would, though, need to show vast improvement in both playing and bowling spin in order to turn their results around, and none of the evidence from the first two Tests suggests that is probable. Having lost their past eight Tests in Asia, Australia have moved on to their ninth life. Chances are that when they head to India next February the cat will be dead, and unlikely even to bounce.Form guideSri Lanka: WWDLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: LLWWD
In the spotlightNominally it is spin that has troubled Australia during this series, but often their problem has been the ones that don’t turn. Between them, Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera have served up more sliders than a hipster café. Perera has 11 wickets at 15.63 in this series and, remarkably, 10 of them came in Galle, where he became the first Sri Lankan to score a fifty and take 10 wickets in a Test. Also during that match he became the fastest Sri Lankan to reach the milestone of 50 Test wickets, getting there in his 11th Test. Between Perera, Herath and left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan, Australia’s batsmen can expect no let-up in Colombo.Australia have played two spinners in each of the Tests so far, yet it is Mitchell Starc who comfortably leads their wicket tally with 17 at 13.47. Starc’s speed, accuracy and ability to gain reverse swing have made him a weapon on these Sri Lankan pitches. Australia’s batting has been their major issue, but with a little more assistance from the spinners Starc might at least make a contest of it. His 11 for 94 in Galle were the best figures ever by an Australian in Sri Lanka, and the best by an Australian fast bowler in Asia since the 1970s.Team newsDimuth Karunaratne’s poor run of form – he has scores of 5, 0, 0 and 7 this series – could leave his place in jeopardy, although as the SSC is his home ground and the series is already won, the selectors might give him one more chance. If Karunaratne is dropped, a possible scenario is that Dhananjaya de Silva could move up to open and Roshen Silva slot into the middle order. Suranga Lakmal is set to play his first Test of the series, in place of Vishwa Fernando, who was required for only two overs on debut due to Sri Lanka’s spin strength.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Kusal Perera, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Suranga Lakmal.Shaun Marsh appears a likely inclusion for Australia, though whom he replaces is up for debate. Adam Voges has carried hamstring tightness but trained fully on Thursday, although a decision on whether Voges would play in Colombo was not going to be made until after training on Friday. If Voges is passed fit, it is not out of the question that Usman Khawaja could make way for Marsh. An unchanged attack is probable, given the likely need for two spinners again.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Usman Khawaja/Shaun Marsh, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Jon Holland.Pitch and conditionsThe SSC pitch might have a reputation as a draw wicket, but that is based on old evidence. In 2014, the top layer was re-laid and the surface has had a little more character. Since then three Tests have been played there for two results and a rain-affected draw. The pitch this year will be dry and is expected to provide plenty of turn.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers have sent down only 30 overs in this series, compared to 221.2 overs from their spinners In the past decade, Australia have played 17 Tests in Asia for just a single win: against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2011 So far in this series, Australia’s batsmen have collectively averaged 16.32. By comparison, in the UAE against Pakistan in 2014, Australia averaged 25.65 and in India in 2013 it was 25.89Quotes”We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can play in these conditions. To win the last Test match, that will give us a little bit of confidence. We’re going to hopefully play with a little bit more freedom and courage, and be willing to take the game on.”

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to bolster their squad heading into the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Thierry Small to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Ibrox outfit have made contact over a possible move for left-back Thierry Small.

The report claims that the Gers have registered an interest in the young defender as Michael Beale is pursuing a deal to add the prospect to his defensive options for next season.

It is stated that Tottenham Hotspur had a bid of £800k rejected by Southampton for the player in January as they held out for a fee in the region of £1.2m.

Who is Thierry Small?

He is an 18-year-old left-back – signed from Everton for £5m in 2021 – who is currently on loan at St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

With his positional ability in mind, he could well be the ideal heir to current first-team ace Borna Barisic.

The Croatian defender, who turns 31 later this year, is heading into the final year of his contract at Ibrox and Beale could bring Small in with a view to him replacing the full-back in the future.

Since arriving in Glasgow in 2018, the 30-year-old has scored nine goals and assisted 48 in 200 competitive appearances for the club in all competitions.

In the Premiership this season, Barisic has made 2.4 key passes and 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game, showcasing his ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Small is not quite at that level yet, with 0.9 key passes and 1.4 tackles and interceptions per match for St. Mirren, but he has shown promise with his performances in the top flight at the age of just 18 by creating chances and making defensive interventions week-in-week-out.

The Englishman, who does not turn 19 until August, has played 13 matches in the league this season and this experience in Scotland could allow him to make a seamless transition should he move to Rangers as he now knows what it is like to perform at this level.

Small's form at youth level for Southampton and Everton also suggests that he has the potential to make a huge impact in the final third from a left-back position. He scored 11 goals and assisted four in 51 matches for the two academy sides combined and as a result, could grow into a Barisic-esque defender who can burst forward to be a difference-maker in attack.

The youngster has plenty of time left on his hands to grow and develop and the Light Blues could invest in his potential instead of signing a ready-made and established player in that position.

Once hailed as a "very enjoyable" player to watch by ex-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, he could be a future star for Beale if he is able to kick on and translate his academy form over to first-team level.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that the Chelsea team has been "unfit" all season but Mauricio Pochettino will fix that.

What will Mauricio Pochettino change at Chelsea?

It's a season that started with Thomas Tuchel in charge, that will end in mid-table obscurity under Frank Lampard (via Graham Potter) with a new man set to take over in the summer.

In other words, it's been a disastrous campaign for the Blues but with just three Premier League games to go, they have at least taken on big step towards improvement.

Indeed, it looks as though Pochettino will be at the helm next season, but he'll certainly have plenty of issues to address right away.

Notably, he'll have to trim the bloated squad and also restore confidence in those who have been at the heart of this chaotic mess in recent months.

What's more, while talking on the Chasing Green Arrows podcast, Jones revealed that the squad's fitness has been a major problem too but the 51-year-old won't stand for that.

The insider explained (45:29): “One of the big talking points that we made – and it's because we get told it by people in and around Chelsea – this Chelsea team are unfit.

"I don't mean unfit as in I am unfit. Obviously, like I couldn't play in the Premier League. This team cannot be intense for 90 minutes, they cannot press properly. They don't have the legs that it takes to be up there challenging anymore.

“And that will change under Pochettino 100 per recent. But it's something that has been a recurring problem throughout this season. It's been brought up several times about the fact that the levels just aren't there.

"It goes all the way back to the summer, when Tuchel was really annoyed at Chelsea's preseason plans and said he wasn't getting enough time with them at the training ground, he wasn't happy with their preseason plans. They never recovered from it."

How does Pochettino make his teams fit?

If you go back to pre-season, it's not hard to see why Tuchel wasn't happy as Chelsea were thumped by Arsenal 4-0 in a game that foreshadowed the campaigns both teams were set to have.

Pochettino will no doubt hope to address this issue straight away and The Telegraph have already reported that his new players could be in for gruelling training sessions.

On top of that, former Southampton player Rickie Lambert told TalkSport what it's like to work under the Argentine, saying: "He pushes you in training so much that match days feel like a rest."

While that may sound daunting for the squad, it also sounds like exactly what they need if they are to succeed next term.

To appreciate the full perfection of this day’s cricket, it may be useful, just for a moment please, to recall this ground in December: the grass is tussocky and barely green at all; the outfield is marked out for junior football games

Paul Edwards at Southport18-Jul-2016
ScorecardLuke Procter raises his bat to a century – and so much more•Getty ImagesTo appreciate the full perfection of this day’s cricket, it may be useful, just for a moment please, to recall this ground in December: the grass is tussocky and barely green at all; the outfield is marked out for junior football games; there are dishcloth skies and lowering dusks; and crows are perched in the bare balsam poplars like black commas, punctuating the winter.Now a Monday in July and summer is suddenly emerging from grey bedragglement. The sycamores at the Grosvenor Road End stand as if saluting its tardy arrival In the middle Haseeb Hameed and Luke Procter are building the 114-run partnership that will take Lancashire into the lead. From the direction of Harrod Drive, Ben Stokes is running in, determined to win the game for Durham and prove his fitness for the Manchester Test. But for all that Stokes and Borthwick may be in the selectors’ minds, this is not an international occasion. It is Lancashire and Durham badges which proliferate along with those of fine local clubs: Ormskirk, Fleetwood Hesketh, Sefton Park.Then Hameed, having taken 14 runs off a frolicsome four balls from Graham Onions and passed fifty for the sixth time in 15 innings this season, arches back but can only fend a fearsomely nasty short ball from Stokes to the substitute fielder, Jeremy Benton – almost a utility cricketer? – at third slip. Hameed, his sadness momentarily infinite, troops off without waiting for Rob Bailey’s finger. He receives a warm round of applause and the crowd settles again. Blue pastels and panamas are almost a uniform in the marquees. Petersen opens his account with a swept four off Borthwick, who is getting ever more joy from Grosvenor Road. There is a rattle of crockery as lunchtime approaches.Dreams may, indeed, take their time to arrive and be gone in a casual glance but that is no reason not to enjoy the reverie, be it a day at the cricket or the scent of a once-familiar perfume. Decembers come soon enough.But this day held its flawlessness through the afternoon session and on into the evening. A sip of Manzanilla before lunch Petersen was leg before to Borthwick when attempting to force the ball to leg and that dismissal heralded a Durham fightback on the resumption. Bowling from the Harrod Drive End, 19-year-old Adam Hickey, he of Benwell Hill CC, took his first Championship wickets when Steven Croft underclubbed a drive to Borthwick at mid-on and Karl Brown prodded him to Keaton Jennings at short-leg. Poor Brown is struggling badly at the moment and it is sad to see. .Those reverses left Lancashire with a lead of just 121 and only five wickets in hand but Tom Moores proved his mettle first by driving his ninth ball, bowled by Borthwick, for six and then by accompanying Procter to his second century of the season. Frankly Lancashire’s No3 needed all the nursemaiding that was on offer. Already he had nearly run himself out twice, once when simply dawdling and once, on 73, when his misunderstanding with Croft was unpunished thanks to Hickey’s fumble.Procter, though, is a true fighter and he has developed a method which suits him. True he crouches in his stance not so much like a fierce tiger about to pounce as an aged butler about to keel over. But like others with bizarre comportment at the wicket – Michael Yardy, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – his technique works for him and when he plays his cover-drives and pulls, the execution is as classical as Palairet could have wished. A scrambled single was called by the alert Moores and Procter sprinted to the bowler’s end before giving a little leap of joy and holding his bat aloft to all and to sundry. He had batted for four minutes less than five hours and he may have played an innings which sets up a victory.The crowd stood to Procter when he reached three figures and they stood again nine overs after tea when he returned to the pavilion having made 122 off 282 balls. They applauded as well when the details of his innings were announced over the public address system for this was a day when people seem determined to relish every good thing. One saw their point.Two overs after Procter was out Moores failed to make his ground when called for a single by Kyle Jarvis. It says something about the 19-year-old’s sangfroid during his second first-class innings that a run out seemed his most likely mode of dismissal. He had made 35 and had looked the part of a Division One cricketer. On the final day of this game, he will keep to Simon Kerrigan and Matt Parkinson on a turning pitch. Every day offers young Moores a new test, a new adventure and he looks as if he is enjoying every dashed minute of it.When Moores was out Lancashire’s lead was 196, competitive perhaps but nothing like the 250 for which Ashley Giles was looking. That was all but achieved thanks to a 27-run stand for the ninth wicket between Kerrigan and Nathan Buck and then thanks to Buck levying 16 runs off four balls from Borthwick, one of the sixes sailing over the Indoor School. Unlike the enjoyment derived by the crowd from this day, that ball is gone for over.Stokes ended the innings when Parkinson was caught at short leg but, as a bowler anyway, the all-rounder does not look quite at his fighting weight. Whether his batting is ready for the challenge of Mohammed Amir and Yasir Shah…well that, as Alan MacGilvray used to say, “is for tomorrow.”This evening spectators can smile ruefully at their sunburn and reflect on their day’s cricket. Tennis players are on their courts now but the light is still crystal-bright at a blessed Trafalgar Road. On the patio there is excited chatter and more clinking glasses as people discuss the several glories of the day. Someone is belting out “Flower of Scotland”, although God knows why. On second thoughts, there should be songs.

Chelsea are eyeing a sensational summer swoop for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

What’s the latest on Lautaro Martinez to Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, the Italian giants are set to demand a fee of £69.5m to allow the forward to leave the San Siro.

The report also details that the Blues are set to be rivalled by Manchester United for the 25-year-old’s signature as both clubs are frantically scrambling for a consistent goalscorer.

The Argentine’s current contract expires in 2026, so the Nerazzurri are in no rush to sell, and it would be a tricky deal given his insurmountable importance to the side.

The same outlet previously revealed that the incoming Mauricio Pochettino is interested in the prospect of bringing his compatriot to Stamford Bridge.

How would Lautaro Martinez fit in at Chelsea?

The 5 foot 9 attacker has been imperious form this season and has registered 35 goal contributions in 52 appearances in all competitions.

The 48-cap international was also part of his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph and his national team compatriot Lionel Messi once lavished Martinez with praise and said:

“He’s spectacular. He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that.

“He’s very strong, really good one on one, scores a lot of goals, and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”

The £186k-per-week whiz is an effervescent goalscorer and creator – this is showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 14% for shot-creating actions per 90 and the top 9% for non-penalty goals, according to FBref.

He could be the solution is a hideously disjointed and underperforming Chelsea frontline, which has mustered just 36 goals – the fourth lowest in the division.

With Christopher Nkunku set to join the 2021 Champions League winners, this could spell the start of a new and devastating strike force that could terrorise Premier League defences.

The Frenchman scored his 14th Bundesliga goal of the season to secure RB Leipzig a commanding 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich.

As both the incoming Chelsea star and their apparent transfer target have been in fine form this campaign, it's clear that they – as a duo – would instantly hand Pochettino a frightening frontline, one that is a considerable upgrade on the current underperforming group, in which the likes of Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Joao Felix have evidently flopped.

Furthermore, with the future of the Portuguese loanee still clouded and the German's inability to function as the team's focal point, the addition of these two silky technicians could transform the West London outfit and as such, Chelsea could ensure that Pochettino instantly strikes gold upon his arrival.

Rashid Khan belted 60 off 44 balls to rescue Afghanistan from 109 for 6 to 229, and then returned 4 for 21 in eight overs to dismiss Ireland for 150

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Rashid Khan played a starring role in Afghanistan’s victory•Peter Della Penna/ESPNcricinfo LtdSeventeen-year-old Rashid Khan produced his career-best batting and bowling performance in ODIs to give Afghanistan a 2-1 lead against Ireland in Belfast. Rashid, who had played in the Under-19 World Cup as well as the World T20 this year, first belted 60 off 44 balls to rescue Afghanistan from 109 for 6 to 229, and then returned 4 for 21 in eight overs to dismiss Ireland for 150.Afghanistan’s victory, however, was marred by Ireland opener Ed Joyce’s controversial run-out. After driving the ball over extra cover in the sixth over, Joyce stopped running mid-pitch, assuming the ball had reached the boundary. Mohammad Nabi chased the ball down and flicked it back to Rashid, who then threw to the non-striker’s end where Yamin Ahmadzai, the bowler, took the bails off with Joyce mid-pitch, having assumed the ball was dead.The on-field umpires – Alan Neill and C Shamshuddin – asked Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai to withdraw the appeal, but he refused to do so. There was no TV umpire for the game, and the wicket led to an exchange between Ireland captain William Porterfield – who was also batting at the time – and the Afghanistan players.Speaking after the match, Porterfield confirmed that Joyce had thought the ball crossed the rope. “We ran past each other, he [Joyce] said he pretty much saw him [Nabi] pass the rope, flick it back,” Porterfield said. “The fielder comes back and says he didn’t. I don’t know what footage is out there of [this]. The umpires said they are going on his word, and this is as far as it goes for me.”Four overs after Joyce’s dismissal for 12 off 21 balls, Porterfield was run out as well, for 16 off 27 balls. Rahmat Shah, who had earlier laid the foundation for Afghanistan with 48 off 70 balls, then removed Sean Terry and Stuart Poynter to reduce the hosts to 67 for 4 by the 18th over. Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling threatened a recovery with thirty-something each, but Rashid, the legspinning allrounder, sliced through the middle and lower order. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad was involved in three of those dismissals. Ireland lost their last six wickets for only 20 runs.They had started well with seamer Peter Chase having Noor Ali Zadran, who had replaced Javed Ahmadi, nicking behind for 10. Shahzad, coming off three successive half-centuries, flickered only briefly on Sunday, holing out to deep square leg off Stirling for 22.When Samiullah Shenwari and Stanikzai exited in successive overs, Afghanistan had slipped to 84 for 4 in the 21st over. Ireland’s bowlers tightened the screws by delivering 53 boundary-less balls, a sequence broken by Nabi flat-batting a four off seamer Tim Murtagh. Najibullah Zadran had fallen in the dry spell, and Rahmat edged behind soon after it ended, leaving Afghanistan teetering on 109 for 6.Nabi and Rashid then came together to add 54 for the seventh wicket and revive their side. That was followed by an unbroken partnership of 66 between Rashid and Mirwais Ashraf at over eight to the over, lifting Afghanistan to 229 for 7 on a pitch that Porterfield later admitted was difficult to score on.Rashid, who was dropped on 17 and 34, got to his maiden international fifty, which included five fours and two sixes. Terry spilled the first chance of his, parrying the ball to the cover boundary, while Murtagh fluffed the second.Porterfield said the fielding lapses cost Ireland on a surface that assisted spin. “Just under 200 on that pitch would have been about par,” he said. “I think that, putting those couple of chances down… you’re probably looking at 175-180 [if those catches were taken], which I think is pretty chaseable regardless of the [pitch]. We’ve done it [drop catches] a couple of times now in game where we’ve been just a wicket or two behind. Difficult to claw back from there.”With the first ODI of the series being washed out, Afghanistan cannot lose this series now. The final ODI will be played on July 19, at the same venue.

Liverpool are interested in signing all three of Alexis Mac Allister, Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenberch this summer, according to reliable journalist Neil Jones.

Will new midfielders arrive at Liverpool?

It is no great secret that the Reds will be looking to strengthen significantly in the middle of the park ahead of next season, with that area of the pitch proving to be problematic throughout 2022/23.

Having previously been the team's engine room, it has been far too easily to get through this term, with age catching up with certain individuals and the rest of the team struggling because of it.

Liverpool have been linked with a host of signings, and while Jude Bellingham has been the most high-profile, it has been made clear that the club aren't willing to blow most of their summer transfer budget on one player, despite his enormous talent.

Instead, it is vital that at least two or three new midfield faces arrive in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to transform the Reds' midfield and make it a force again.

Could Reds secure triple signing?

Mac Allister, Mount and Gravenberch have arguably emerged as the most likely additions in recent weeks, and taking to Twitter, Goal's Jones said that the trio are indeed "very much on the agenda":

"Alexis Mac Allister, Mason Mount, Ryan Gravenberch very much on the agenda."

If Liverpool could bring in all three of those individuals, it would certainly represent a positive window, considering the youth and quality they would bring to the squad. Mac Allister has excelled for Brighton all season, scoring ten times in the Premier League, and his intelligence and class could make him an instant hit at Anfield.

While Mount hasn't had his best season for Chelsea, he is still a top-quality player with 36 caps for England, and Gravenberch has been considered one of Europe's brightest young midfielders for a number of years now.

It could certainly be argued that a true defensive midfielder is also required at Liverpool, however, given Fabinho struggles, with these three players at their best in more attack-minded No.8 roles. If the Reds could bring in Manuel Ugarte, for example, it would be the icing on the cake, although whether the funds are there to sign four midfielders is certainly up for debate.