Premier League CEO Richard Masters says discrimination is "leaking into football" after Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused at Anfield.
Semenyo reports racial abuse by fanPolice arrest individual after Liverpool gamePremier League CEO issues statementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool's Premier League clash with Bournemouth was briefly halted in the first half of their 4-2 win on Friday after Semenyo flagged the mistreatment to the referee. Now, Masters has said that nobody should "suffer that sort of abuse", explained the turn of events that transpired after the incident, and that this is a "problem for society".
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He told BBC Sport: "No Premier League footballer should ever have to, in their workplace or online, suffer that sort of abuse. It is important that we keep saying that. We have offered our support to Antoine, as has everybody. I think everyone can see the protocol is being overseen and was affected yesterday. Once Antoine had made it clear to the match official about what had happened, Anthony Taylor brought the game to a halt and talked to both managers, and spoke directly to the stadium’s security official. That allowed them to identify the individual and escort the person off the premises, and I understand he was detained by the police. That’s the way it should work. It is a problem for society. It leaks into football, and it shouldn’t happen in a football stadium. It shouldn’t happen online. It makes people like me and other football people in charge of the game think twice about what else we can do to ensure that these things don’t happen in the future."
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Merseyside Police later said a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was identified, removed from Anfield following the report, and then arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence – before being taken into custody. Bournemouth star Semenyo, who scored twice in the game, later said that "football showed its best side" following the support he had received but this is a problem that is unlikely to go away completely.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
As Masters alluded to, Premier League figureheads will likely take this incident under consideration in a bid to find a way to stop instances like this from happening again. Harsher bans for those found guilty could be one deterrent, but eradicating this entirely is not an easy task.
Already closing in on a deal to sign James Trafford, Newcastle United are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign a towering midfield star who their scouts have already seen in person.
Newcastle "closing in" on James Trafford
It has been far from routine, but Newcastle look set to welcome their second signing of the summer following Antonio Cordero’s earlier arrival. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies are “closing in” on securing Trafford’s signature in a deal that will see those at St James’ Park land a long-term target at long last.
Following an incredibly impressive season in the Championship, in which he played a key role in Burnley’s promotion, Trafford looks destined to become Newcastle’s new No.1 ahead of Nick Pope in the coming months.
The England international, who is still just 22 years old, represents an instant upgrade on the ageing Pope and will hand Eddie Howe one of the most promising young goalkeepers that European football has to offer.
It’s not just upgrades between the sticks that Newcastle are targeting this summer, however. Having already missed out on Joao Pedro and given up on their pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo amid his preference for Manchester United, the Magpies have set their sights on some fresh names.
That reportedly includes Anthony Elanga. The Nottingham Forest man instantly entered Newcastle’s radar following Mbeumo’s rejection and they’ve since had an offer rejected by those in the Midlands for his signature. Even after that rejection though, a deal could still take place with those in Tyneside expected to return with an improved offer.
That said, it’s not just Elanga on the shortlist with reports now suggesting that Newcastle have set their sights on signing a towering midfield star this summer.
Newcastle considering Amir Richardson move
According to NUFC Blog, PIF are now considering a move to sign Amir Richardson after Newcastle completed their scouting mission on the Fiorentina midfielder.
A player with a “freak athletic profile” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, Richardson stands at a staggering 6’5 yet remains an impressive technical player and one that Newcastle should push to sign.
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At just 23 years old, the Fiorentina star would be making his biggest move yet by swapping Italy for the Premier League and St James’ Park. Whether he would sink or swim is the big question, but all signs are pointing towards a player full of potential. As Newcastle look to add depth to Howe’s squad, Richardson could be one to watch this summer.
Sajid and Noman shared 19 out of 20 wickets to leave their batters chasing a target of only 36
Vithushan Ehantharajah26-Oct-2024Pakistan 344 (Shakeel 134, Sajid 48*, Noman 45, Rehan 4-66, Bashir 3-129) and 37 for 1 (Masood 23*) beat England 267 (Smith 89, Duckett 52, Sajid 6-128, Noman 3-88) and 112 (Root 33, Noman 6-42, Sajid 4-69) by nine wicketsThe wait is finally over. For the first time since 2021, Pakistan have won a Test series at home, coming back from 1-0 down to confirm a 2-1 success over England.A comprehensive nine-wicket win on day three of the third and decisive Test in Rawalpindi arrived before lunch, achieved with so little fuss that England’s victory by an innings in the opening match feels like it belongs in a different series altogether. It is only the second time Pakistan have come from behind in a series and the first time they have done so at home.Just as it was in the first innings, and indeed the victorious second Test at Multan, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan ran riot, bagging all 10 wickets as England were snuffed out for 112 in a listless second innings performance. It was Noman’s turn to pocket the match ball with 6 for 42, a sixth five-wicket haul, while Sajid’s 4 for 69 registered a second 10-wicket match of his 10-Test career after 6 for 128 on the first day.That left a nominal chase of 36 on the table, which was still enough for beleaguered home skipper Shan Masood to indulge in a cathartic 23 from six deliveries. He clouted four successive fours against Jack Leach upon his arrival to the crease after Saim Ayub was trapped leg before, then sealed victory with a towering six off Shoaib Bashir.Prior to Masood walking off with Abdullah Shafique, Noman and Sajid had done so hand in hand, basking in the glory of instigating England’s day three collapse in which the final seven wickets fell for just 46, and the fact their introductions turned the series on its head. Since being drafted into the squad after the tourists took a 1-0 lead, they have managed 39 wickets between them – Noman’s left-arm spin taking 20 at 13.85, Sajid’s off breaks 19 from 21.01.And yet, things began serenely enough for England. They started Saturday 53 behind on 24 for 3, but in Root and Brook, they had two batters capable of chipping off that deficit, and then some.Related
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When Brook began the 13th over by striking Sajid for back-to-back fours – first through cover, then over mid off on the charge – the more pessimistic Pakistan fans might have been wondering if the Yorkshire pair were about to embark on another match-tilting partnership. After all, it was these two who combined for all of 454 in the first Test at Multan.However, that was before Sajid and Noman entered the series. And after the former adjusted his line to keep Brook honest, the latter followed up a slow delivery with one far quicker that was cut late into the gloves of Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan’s lead had been cut to 11, but the first domino had been toppled. Others duly followed.Stokes’ troubles against spin continued, inexplicably leading a straight delivery from Noman, expecting turn from over the wicket that never came. Jamie Smith’s charge to Sajid was almost as bad, bowled off stump through a wild swing that belied the sensibilities he had displayed with a load-bearing 89 in the first innings.It was only four balls after Smith’s dismissal that England went ahead, and what hopes they had of extending that in a meaningful way ended when Root was snared by a pearler from Noman with a lead of eight. Perfect dip onto a length to drag the right-hander forward from around the wicket, before just enough spin – it was a delivery the 38-year-old had served up a few times but only Root was good enough to nick. ASajid tagged in to lop off the tail, yorking Gus Atkinson before knocking back Rehan Ahmed’s leg stump for his second 10-wicket match haul. And he looked to have bagged a second five-for in the match when Shoaib Bashir was given out LBW on the sweep.A cursory DRS review came back in the No.11’s favour, with the impact onto the pad coming outside off stump. The reprieve only brought an extra two runs, as Noman caught Leach lacking on the charge, firing one wide of the advancing left-hander, stumped smartly by Rizwan.A lead of 35 was always going to be light work on a pitch that was far from demonic, but it was Masood’s introduction that ensured formalities were completed inside 3.1 overs. Ayub began the chase with a brace of fours at the end of the first over before Leach pinned him in front, confirmed via DRS after another erroneous call from umpire Sharfuddoula.But even his dismissal brought some icing to the cake, as Masood took the team charging over the line for his first series win as captain. After starting his tenure with six straight defeats before the second Test of this series, It was hard to begrudge him that honour.
He went from being their top wicket-taker to being benched in the space of two IPL seasons, but the mystery spinner believes this is his year to bounce back
Deivarayan Muthu31-Mar-2023Varun Chakravarthy burst onto the cricketing scene in 2018 as a mystery spinner with a bagful of variations, but his life – and career – has had more twists and turns than there are variations in his repertoire.He started his career as a wicketkeeper-batter who wanted to become the “next Dinesh Karthik”, then had a cameo as an actor in a Tamil movie, , when he was trying to break through as an assistant director. Somewhere along the way he ditched cricket and movies for architecture. He then returned to cricket again as a mystery spinner who could turn the ball both ways at a quick pace.Related
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It was those abilities, a prized and uncommon skill set, that gave Kolkata Knight Riders’ attack a potent point of difference in the 2020 and 2021 IPLs. Soon after, Varun played for India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, in IPL 2022, his form and rhythm plummeted so much that he was benched for three games. The ball wasn’t quite turning both ways or he wasn’t giving it much of a chance to do so by uncharacteristically tossing it up too full, which allowed batters to get underneath the length and pump him over the top. The mystery in his bowling seemed to have disappeared.
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There is one constant theme in Varun’s life: he has bounced back from setbacks – both on and off the field. In 2017, for example, he started his own architecture business, but the floods in Chennai that year damaged his sites, resulting in heavy losses. He managed to find a way to overcome that disappointment. If anything, setbacks have been catalysts for him to bounce back. Just like when he decided to switch his career path to cricket from architecture.Having experienced such lows in life, Varun didn’t allow a few bad games in the IPL last season to send him into a shell. “Yes, obviously, I take the lessons [from life],” he says. “Cricket is part of my life and whatever happens in life also affects cricket. So I try to implement life lessons into my cricket as well and what I have understood is that even during your ups and downs, you should be level, and the only people who will always be with you are your family.Varun went wicketless in the three T20 World Cup matches he played in the UAE in 2021•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images”I know that I’m not foolproof or damage-proof and I was expecting this kind of an [IPL] season at some point. Everyone will go through a low time, but it’s about coming back.”Sriram Krishnamurthy, Varun’s coach at Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and a former coach with Northern Brave Men in New Zealand, credits Varun with maintaining an equilibrium in both his cricket and life. “Even though he had that IPL season he had, one good thing about Varun we’ve seen from day one is, he never gets too high and never gets too low,” Sriram says. “While his confidence was dented after the last IPL, he wasn’t broken, and that comes down to the person that he is. He’s very practical and realistic about understanding the game and life per se. That’s a big strength of his because I feel like for someone who has had the life he has – being a late entrant into cricket – and how far he has gone, for anyone else, it could have taken them away from reality. We’ve seen other players get lost after this sort of quick success, whereas I feel with Varun, he is always focused on what he has to do and I feel the mental element of bouncing back from failures is there with him.”
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What went wrong with Varun last season?Having worked his way up from a tennis-ball background, he previously hadn’t played or practised as much as he did in the last five years. As a result, he veered away from his strengths and some undesirable technical changes also crept into his bowling. His run-up became slower, his lengths fuller, and overall his bowling lost some of its fizz.In the UAE, Varun got some of his fuller ones to skid or hold off the pitch, but on fairly easy-paced hit-through-the line Indian tracks last season, batters lined him up easily. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, he conceded 107 runs off 48 full balls last IPL.Around the time he was relegated to the sidelines by the Knight Riders, he sat down and watched his old videos to remedy his bowling. “After those games, I had a break,” Varun says. I was basically trying to flight the ball, which was not my expertise. I [now] bowl quicker and that has worked for me. It was better sticking to that. Personally, I worked on my run-up as well. I realised it quite late, but I came to know that was a mistake.Sriram Krishnamurthy, Madurai Panthers coach: “If, with his pace, Varun ensures the batsman doesn’t have much time to think, I feel that will set him up well”•BCCI”I [had] just started running slower because… if a cricketer practises for a long time again and again, there are a few basics you might forget, which you usually get right. It was a case of that and then when I watched previous videos of my bowling, I realised I was running slow. Then my run-up was quicker, like what it was before, and I feel that was the difference. The last three matches for KKR went well for me after the break.”Once he returned to action for Knight Riders in the last stretch of IPL 2022, Varun hit the pitch much harder, increased his pace, dragged his length back, and denied batters easy access to the boundary. He stuck to his guns in the TNPL 2022 that followed and he and Sriram tried to recreate what had worked for Varun when he first broke into the IPL.”I remember having a conversation with him about what he was doing well when he was going well, in terms of the pace and length he bowled,” Sriram recalls. “By being slower through the air and bowling fuller, he was also giving batsmen an opportunity to sort of get to the pitch of the ball, and when you’re doing that you take away the element of [doubt about] which way the ball is going to go. From that perspective, we discussed how he was successful by bowling that length or slightly back of a length, which made the batsmen play him pretty much only off the pitch. The quicker pace with which he bowls means batsmen will have slightly less time to react.”He did go towards doing something different in the last IPL. For a player to evolve, he has to constantly keep working, and that was probably the journey Varun was going on as well. On the basis of performance, it didn’t necessarily reflect too well on how he did for KKR in that IPL, which again dented his confidence a little bit. But again, the clarity he had about his own bowling and whatever the conversation we had was not about me telling him what to do, but it was a process of rediscovering what he did well before, and to his credit, he was fully aware of his strengths. So he recreated that confidence. [Also] there is a difference in the quality of batting in TNPL and IPL. So it gives him a bit more space and time to get his confidence back, so to say.”With the IPL returning to the home-and-away format, Varun is set to play for KKR at Eden Gardens for the first time. He is usually not a big turner of the ball and particularly relishes bowling on bouncier or even flatter pitches. With Eden Gardens no longer the turner that it once used to be, Sriram thinks Varun has the tools to be penetrative at the venue.After his three-game break in the IPL last year, Varun returned to take two wickets in two games•BCCI”Varun is slightly taller than most average spinners and the other thing is his high release point,” Sriram says. “That release point helps him get bounce off the wicket. He has to bowl that length to extract that bounce. If he uses his height and release point… like he said, maybe he’s not a massive turner of the ball, but he turns the ball enough. If he ensures that the batsman doesn’t have too much time to sit back and think, which comes down to the pace at which Varun bowls, then I feel that will set him up well.”Varun has tuned up for the new IPL season after getting ample game time with Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Madurai Panthers in the TNPL, and Vijay CC in the Chennai league during the city’s oppressive summer.”At Tamil Nadu and in the TNPL, they’ve been using me as a death bowler, so it’s something that challenges me and hopefully I’ll be able to do the job in the IPL as well,” Varun says. “KKR have shown a lot of faith in me, which is important for any player. The KKR management has always been in constant touch with me on how I’m doing and all those things. I’ll always be grateful to KKR for what they’ve bestowed upon me and the responsibility that they’ve given me.”Right after the end of the IPL, we had another camp at the KKR academy. Normally people have a camp before the IPL, but the same players were part of another camp. You don’t know if you will be retained or not, but still we trained with the same bunch of guys. That’s something I liked about what they did last year, and it basically helped our preparation for Syed Mushtaq Ali [Trophy]. Regardless of whether they’re going to retain that player or not, they called all the Indians for the camp again. Hopefully, I can live up to the expectations this IPL.”As a retained player, the expectations on Varun to deliver are even greater this IPL and whichever way this season goes, it could well add another twist to his career.
“My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain”
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-20241:58
Pollard: Champion Bravo has given cricket his all
Dwayne Bravo has confirmed his retirement from all cricket after his final season in the CPL was cut short by injury.Bravo, 41 next month, is the leading T20 wicket-taker in history. He had previously called time on his international career in 2021, and stepped away from the IPL last year, as he began to move into coaching – in the last 12 months he has worked with Chennai Super Kings and the Afghanistan men’s team.”My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain” Bravo said in a post on Instagram. “I can’t put myself in a position where I might let down my teammates, my fans, or the teams I represent.”So, with a heavy heart, I officially announce my retirement from the sport. Today, the Champion bids farewell.”ESPNcricinfo LtdIn an 18-year career, Bravo helped set the benchmark in T20 cricket, winning titles at the IPL, PSL and Big Bash, as well as becoming a two-time world champion with West Indies. He finishes with 631 wickets in the format from 582 appearances – second only to compatriot Kieron Pollard.Bravo announced before the ongoing edition of the CPL that it would be his last. He had been due to play in the third season of the UAE’s ILT20, having been retained by MI Emirates, but has decided to bow out after suffering a groin injury playing against St Lucia Kings in Tarouba on Tuesday.Bravo was the most decorated player in CPL history, having won five titles in all, including three with Trinbago Knight Riders alone. He had led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining Patriots to their first title in 2021.Related
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In a number of T20 leagues around the world, especially at the CPL, Bravo has been harnessing his experience to nurture youngsters, settling into a role like MS Dhoni has been fulfilling for CSK for a while. During CPL 2021, for example, he took allrounder Dominic Drakes under his wing and helped transform him into a match-winner. Drakes came away with the Player-of-the-Match award in the CPL 2021 final and continued to work with Bravo in other leagues, including IPL (CSK) and T10 (Delhi Bulls).Bravo has also worked closely with Ali Khan, the USA fast bowler, who also often fronts up to bowl at the death for TKR. Bravo had first spotted Khan in the US Open T20 tournament and signed him on for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global T20 Canada, before recommending him to TKR.
The success enjoyed by Tom Brady and Ryan Reynolds could lead to Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods exploring takeover options at Manchester United.
Famous faces flocking to British footballNBA & golf legends could be nextMore investment & documentaries mootedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
That is according to Matt Jansen, who spent time on the books at Wrexham during his playing days and once saw a transfer to Old Trafford speculated on. He is now watching on from afar as celebrity investors generate plenty of buzz in British football.
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NFL legend Brady is part of the board at Birmingham, while Hollywood actor Reynolds is working alongside Rob McElhenney in North Wales. A number of other famous faces are involved with EFL clubs, with the promise of more takeovers to come.
DID YOU KNOW?
NBA icon Jordan and golf GOAT Woods boast the personal fortunes required to move into club ownership, and it is claimed that they may be tempted to tread a similar path to Brady and Co – with Jansen talking up deals for United and his former employers at Blackburn.
GettyWHAT JANSEN SAID
Jansen, speaking to , said of more A-list investment and money-spinning documentaries: “I think Tom Brady is a good one. Maybe Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, people who’ve been at the top of their sport. The number one in their sport will always be impressive, and can relate a little bit more to football than the music industry.
“It could be any club, couldn’t it? But the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods would probably be looking at Liverpool, Chelsea or Man United, those kinds of clubs. They’re that big a star. So is Tom Brady, but Birmingham are really putting their money where their mouth is. I think they'll be a force this season.
“They could target clubs in the EFL. Look at what Wrexham started and they've been a success. It'll be other people putting it to the likes of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, rather than them approaching clubs.
“They'll see whether it’s worthwhile investing their time. It’s certainly worked for the two at Wrexham, and it’s worked for Tom Brady at the moment. How far it'll go, who knows?
“I could see them buying Manchester United. The fans are unhappy with Ratcliffe at the minute, and there are protests. You couldn’t put it past somebody like that coming in, and his aura could bring success.
“They'd certainly welcome them at Blackburn. They're in a bit of a mess with the Venky’s at the moment. It's a sorry place compared to the great days from Jack Walker’s era when I was playing. It's fallen quite far, and they’d definitely welcome some positive publicity.
“I’m a big Tiger Woods fan, so for me a documentary of him at Blackburn or Manchester United would beat any before it. Woods is a global superstar and it would certainly be one series I’d be looking forward to. It would be incredible if it happened.”
West Bromwich Albion’s Championship season derailed at a worryingly quick pace last campaign.
Heading into Christmas last year, the Baggies were just about holding onto a playoff spot in sixth position, but right after Carlos Corberan’s exit to Valencia was confirmed, West Brom’s promotion push fell off a cliff.
Their woes on the pitch weren’t helped whatsoever by their demoralising striker situation, as the majority of 2025 in the second tier for the Baggies had to be endured without 12-goal menace Josh Maja leading the line owing to injury.
He will be back and raring to go under Ryan Mason’s guidance, but more strength in depth is desperately needed up top just in case Maja suffers from another season-ending setback, with Leyton Orient goalscoring sensation Charlie Kelman now reportedly on the shopping list.
West Brom's ongoing pursuit of Kelman
With Daryl Dike also prone to a long-standing issue in the Hawthorns treatment room, it’s no shock to see West Brom are attempting to be proactive in adding more stars to their often depleted centre-forward department.
Journalist Darren Witcoop first revealed at the tail-end of June that West Brom were keen on adding the Queens Park Rangers outcast to their squad this summer after an explosive loan stint with Richie Wellens’ O’s.
Even though Orient would come up short in their bid to win promotion to the Championship, Kelman would still manage to come out on top as the division’s top goalscorer, with a lethal 26 strikes coming his way in all competitions.
Yet, the 23-year-old has seriously struggled in the second tier previously – with no goals next to his name from 23 appearances in the unforgiving league – meaning other targets might well be sought after by Mason and Co, with one loanee also on the Baggies’ radar potentially even more exciting than the golden boot recipient joining the club.
The "phenomenal" attacker who is more exciting than Kelman
One bonus of having Mason in the dug-out is his connections to the Premier League, with the 33-year-old perhaps able to raid ex-club Tottenham Hotspur for some of their top, young assets.
Will Lankshear is certainly one up-and-coming talent that could tick many of West Brom’s boxes in their search for a deadly, new striker, with reports recently suggesting a move for the 20-year-old to return to the Hawthorns on a loan basis is on the cards.
Of course, there may be some hesitancy on West Brom’s end about diving back in to land the promising striker – considering he netted zero times last season during a brief loan stint – but it’s clear he has more to give away from these struggles, having already bagged a senior strike for Spurs.
Indeed, Lankshear was arguably shoved into the deep-end last campaign at the height of West Brom’s problems on the pitch, with his unbelievable goal record at youth level in North London potentially ready to come to the surface in men’s football now, especially as a familiar face in Mason – who worked closely beside him at Spurs in youth circles – would be by his side.
Games played
61
209
Age
20
23
Goals scored
32
47
Assists
5
11
Staggeringly, despite playing 148 games less than Kelman, the four-time England U20 international is only 15 goals off matching the ex-Orient loanee’s entire career goal tally, albeit from primarily playing Premier League 2 football.
Still, with Kelman only managing a meagre 13 goals from 101 clashes away from his celebrated O’s spell, the “phenomenal” youngster – as he was once labelled by football journalist John Wenham – could well be deemed as the better option.
After all, the QPR reserve attacker would also cost a significant fee to win, which makes the move even riskier when assessing his patchy goalscoring record away from East London.
Whereas, Lankshear would be picked up temporarily, with the 20-year-old no doubt eager to right his earlier West Brom wrongs if he were to join as the Baggies gun for promotion glory.
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He took over during a crisis, but has helped script a series of successful mini-chapters
Shashank Kishore02-Oct-2024Sri Lanka have been on an unprecedented high. The team hasn’t looked in a better shape than they are currently, having come off a historic first-ever series win in England followed by the Asia Cup triumph.There’s boisterous energy around the group that stems from “having walked the talk” in the words of Rumesh Ratnayake, their head coach, ahead of their women’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Sharjah.In February 2023, weeks before the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa, Ratnayake was summoned from the academy to steer a team that appeared to have been stuck in a rut of insipid results and lack of direction within the leadership. Ratnayake wasn’t sure if he’d continue for long, but a week of being with the team convinced him there was enough to work with.Related
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October 3 at the World Cup: Debutants and dark horses
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Sri Lanka’s upset of South Africa on the opening night in Cape Town was mere validation of his intuition. It set the ball rolling for a fruitful association that has seen several successful mini-chapters along the way. Like the Asia Cup and England triumph.The SLC mandate when he took over was “do it your way.” Ratnayake explains he was big on inclusivity. “By that, I mean involving everyone in decision making, not merely me giving instructions and them following,” he explains. “This included all staff as well as playing members. It was never like ‘this is my way of doing.'”Everyone had to show the same level of commitment and fit into the culture we wanted to create. We’ve come a long way since, but it’s an ongoing process. We made them believe first that they could grow. For that, along with skill enhancement it needed a commitment to fitness. We’ve worked towards achieving that.”Ratyanake had to hit the ground running, having little time to familiarize himself with the group. It wasn’t ideal, but he had the complete backing of Chamari Athapaththu, the captain, and SLC. The women’s setup, in a way, has been a deviation from the norm: of coaches coming and going. And recent results are merely a byproduct of that faith and continuity.”We have a good leader in Chamari. I also had the backing of the board, which was huge,” he says. “The entire group also quickly bought in to the direction we wanted to take. And it was to be fearless, and not take the safe way. Not being intimidated by the bigger teams.”A team like New Zealand for example, anyone would be overawed by their build. But we knew cricket’s not a game of physicality. It’s about skills, execution and mindset. You can win with smart options. We spoke about what those smart options were. Mind you, it was a hard road. It certainly wasn’t as easy as people picture it to be.”Taking good decisions in the middle when you have little time to decide involves training in a certain way. We’ve tried to take fear out of the minds. After almost two years now, I can say that it certainly happened in a way which now makes it seem like a picture-perfect walk.”Ratyanake’s primary goal in his time as coach is to develop players. It annoyed him that the team’s chances were always dependent on Athapaththu. “When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it no doubt, but it sort of ignited me to make sure others elevate their standards to get to where Chamari had.”When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it”•Sri Lanka Cricket”So, in every aspect, especially in batting, we made plans, specific scenarios we worked on at training. We worked on what we wanted to achieve and how we were going to. I’m not saying we’re fully close to it yet, but yes, we are somewhat there, where we can say, even if Chamari fails one particular day, there are others who can win games for us.”Ratyanake exudes cautious optimism around Sri Lanka’s chances. He knows they’re in the “stronger group.” And the only way to think they can progress is by thinking “every game is a final.””We want to win those moments,” he says. “We want to concentrate on building a set of small moments together. We’ve tried to instill that into our thinking. This is a very happy bunch of players. They’re united and looking after each other. That’s something you can’t instill; it has to come naturally. Aa coaches we’re fortunate to have that culture.”It’s huge for us. I believe they know their tasks to deliver at the right moment. But there’s no guarantee. And when we get the small things, we hope that we’ll do well to string them together to win the big moment.”
There is little to suggest that Liverpool are close to turning a corner and sustaining a respectable level of performance any time soon. What is most concerning is that the Reds and their boss, Arne Slot, have shown little sign of finding a solution to any of the many problems plaguing their campaign.
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence lies in tatters. There is a grudging acceptance across the red streets of Merseyside that Arsenal’s grip on top position is out of reach. Certainly, the gulf in quality between the two sides this season suggests that Liverpool will have to settle for a lesser prize on the league front.
Liverpool have been outclassed in successive top-flight fixtures, and change is surely needed now. Indeed, Liverpool languish in 11th place in the Premier League, having scored 18 goals and conceded 20.
Defensively, it’s been a mess, and the noise concerning Ibrahima Konate is only intensifying after the thrashing dealt by Nottingham Forest brought the French defender’s season to its lowest ebb.
Why Konate is becoming a huge problem for Liverpool
Konate, 26, was immense throughout the 2024/25 campaign, a powerful partner for Virgil van Dijk. He, of course, won the Premier League title, settling as a regular starter in Didier Deschamps’ France squad too.
Now, Konate is only offering the vestiges of that former level. What is most frustrating is that he has proven his quality before, but the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold beside him as exposed Konate’s issues in establishing confident build-up patterns.
But these two versions of Konate are so staggeringly opposed that it is hard to accept this is the same player. Errors and baffling decision-making have been central parts of the £70k-per-week talent’s season, and you can’t help but question whether he is somewhat distracted by outside noise.
Konate is playing out the final year of his contract at Anfield, and though FSG have offered him an extension, there has yet to be a breakthrough as speculation regarding Real Madrid’s interest continues to linger.
The season-ending injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni in his first game for the club after signing from Parma for £27m this summer was a cruel blow. A detrimental blow. The 18-year-old’s absence has been keenly felt, not least because a move for Marc Guehi fell through on deadline day.
With Slot insinuating that Liverpool’s focus this winter might be on areas further upfield (heavy speculation centres on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo), it might be that the Reds opt to make do at the back.
If this is to be the case, Slot must surely hand one of the club’s most talented young defenders a chance to shine.
Liverpool's academy Konate solution
Slot has shown a willingness to give youth a chance since taking over at Liverpool before the start of last season. Amara Nallo, for example, has been handed a few opportunities at senior level, albeit with those outings on the major stage leaving the up-and-comer beleaguered after red cards in both matches.
However, Nallo isn’t the only teenage centre-back who is playing himself toward senior contention, with 19-year-old Wellity Lucky inching toward a breakthrough after commanding displays for Rob Page’s development side.
Nallo
The Spain-born defender moved to England aged 11 before joining Liverpool’s academy scene, and he has gone from strength to strength in the years since joining, having now made 60 appearances for the club’s respective youth levels.
Earlier this season, the “highly-rated” defender, as he was described by Reds reporter Ben Bocsak, made his professional debut off the bench as Slot’s side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
In the process, he was rewarded after being “outstanding this season” in the Premier League 2, as has been said by youth correspondent Jack Lusby.
A commanding and dominant defender with a promising ability to read and then snuff out opposition attacks, Lucky has shown that he can take his power and potential and transfer that over to contests against senior opponents. In the Football League Trophy this term, Lucky has impressed against the bustle of outfits like Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield for the U21s.
Front-footed and fast, you could even say that he offers shades of a player like Konate, which could make adding him to the mix an attractive prospect from a stylistic standpoint.
Matches (starts)
2 (2)
Touches*
90.5
Accurate passes
61.5 (88%)
Key passes*
0.5
Dribbles*
1.5
Ball recoveries*
6.0
Tackles + interceptions*
3.0
Clearances*
5.5
Duels (won)*
5.0 (83%)
It might not have been against top-level opponents, but for Lucky to have won 83% of his duels across the two fixtures bespeaks his incisiveness in defensive phases. Moreover, his cameo against Palace last month saw him complete all 22 of his attempted passes while making a recovery too. Small factors, but promising nonetheless.
Slot continues to show a reluctance to give Joe Gomez a run of chances, and if Konate continues to flatter to deceive, it’s surely only a matter of time before things change there.
Could that open up an opportunity for a youngster such as Lucky? After all, he has earned Slot’s approval already this year, and Nallo’s struggles under the boss’s wing suggest that Lucky could be set for a promotion sooner rather than later.
To throw Lucky into the deep end would hardly be a propitious move, but if Slot can ease him into life among the big boys, this could add an exciting and fresh dimension to a defence crying out for support.
Read between the lines and you could surmise that Liverpool will prioritise a wide forward this summer. In this, the need for academy support at the rear is significant, and Lucky could be the shrewd solution to thread the connection between the club and the fanbase back together.
Forget Isak: Another Liverpool flop is quickly becoming the new Nunez
Alexander Isak has had a wretched first few months at Liverpool.
Manchester United are weighing up a move which they believe will improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford after listening to fans' opinions.
Red Devils want to raise noise levels at stadiumSupporters stress importance of generating atmosphereFan survey will dictate whether measure is adoptedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils have written to season ticket holders to inform them of a proposal to play no music in the 15 minutes before the players come out of the tunnel at home games and after full-time. The club have been conducting post-match surveys and done research as part of the move towards building a new 100,000-seater stadium, hoping to understand attitudes on different aspects of the matchday experience.
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Their research showed that creating an atmosphere to inspire the players was of utmost importance, which is why fan group The Red Army (TRA) has requested that music is turned off for a period in order to make the stadium as loud as possible. United currently play music during and after the players warm-up, while 'Glory Glory Man United' is played after victories. The club still plan to play unofficial anthem 'This is the One' by the Stone Roses when the players walk out of the tunnel, followed by the Premier League's official anthem – as is standard at all stadiums across the English top-flight – and then 'Take Me Home Country Roads' before kick off.
DID YOU KNOW?
Roy Keane complained about the declining atmosphere at Old Trafford in 2000 by saying: "Away from home our fans are fantastic, I'd call them the hardcore fans. But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch. I don't think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell football, never mind understand it." Since then, Old Trafford has been known for its poor atmosphere, with Keane's comments leading to rival fans mocking United supporters by calling them 'the prawn sandwich brigade'.
Getty WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
Fans have been asked to respond to a two-minute survey on the proposal by Friday afternoon. If the measure is backed then it could be implemented as soon as Sunday's Premier League match against Arsenal, giving Bruno Fernandes and Co extra encouragement for their blockbuster season opener with the Gunners. And if the move is a success then Old Trafford's previously flat atmosphere could be replaced by a cauldron of noise, as has happened at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.