Wayne Rooney has sought to bring an end to his supposed feud with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. The Manchester United legend has found himself caught up in a war of words with the Netherlands international, with the pair coming face-to-face during an awkward television exchange after Van Dijk helped Liverpool to a Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Van Dijk's reaction to 'lazy criticism' from Rooney

Ahead of that game, with the Reds having endured a testing run in the 2025-26 campaign, Rooney suggested that Van Dijk is among those to have allowed lofty standards to slip in a Premier League title defence. He is not the only prominent figure at Anfield to fall into that category.

The commanding centre-half is, however, club captain on Merseyside and is expected to lead by example – calling in-house meetings if required in a bid to get to the bottom of why a run of six defeats in seven was allowed to happen.

Van Dijk responded to comments from ex-England captain Rooney by saying: "I didn't hear him last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism."

AdvertisementAFPLiverpool captain sent out for post-match press duty

Rooney doubled down on his claims, only to then be confronted by Van Dijk after the Dutchman was sent out for post-match press duty with after Liverpool battled to a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in European competition. He said when picking up a microphone next to Rooney, with team gatherings at Anfield being addressed: "It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row that it helped pretty well but in a world of chaos you have to try and stay calm and take perspective of things. In that meeting the time was October, so much football to be played, so many twists and turns that can happen and I think at times the noise was a lot (said with a small smile on his face). I think it is very important to put things in perspective, keep your head down and work and get out the situation because the quality we have, that is not the issue. It is about keep working and keep going."

Rooney responds to awkward exchange with Van Dijk

Rooney looked slightly uncomfortable when being faced with Van Dijk, but told his podcast for : "I thought he was good that night, and I had loads of people say, 'Oh, when he came up to you,' I think fair play to him for coming out. We didn’t know he was coming out. It was meant to be [Dominik] Szoboszlai, I think, to come to the table. But I think fair play to him, he came out and he put his point across.

"Listen, Virgil van Dijk over the last five, four years has been one of, if not, the best centre-backs in the world, and his performances have dipped over the last few weeks.

"I’ve had my opinion on that; he has his own, which you have to respect. But when you’re the Premier League champions, teams are coming for you, and when you don’t win one game, people ask questions. So, when you don’t win four games in a row, of course, there are questions of the captain. I think I said it a few weeks ago on here, what he should be and he will be doing is getting the players together.

"I think he said that he got the players together and took them for a meal or something, trying to bring that chemistry back, and that’s what I was saying he should be doing as a captain, and he’s done that. It certainly seemed to help in the Madrid game. He’s a fantastic player, but he hasn’t started the season great. You want to see good players playing well, and he performed well [against Real Madrid]. So, for him, I’m sure for Liverpool, he hopes that continues."

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AFPLiverpool fixtures: Man City clash next up for the Reds

Rooney added after being asked when it became apparent that Van Dijk would be joining him for an on-air discussion: "When he was there, and I think it's great. No disrespect to Szoboszlai, but I'd rather speak to Van Dijk."

He went on to say: "I think the issue is, when you don't play well and you're not winning games, as Premier League champions, everyone's going to have an opinion. And, of course, when you're not playing well or you're not winning games that opinion, they're going to look at why and give their thoughts why. Liverpool can use this in two different ways: they can let it affect them or they can use it to spur them on.

"You look at Man United over the last few years, the criticism that they've had. I played the game, I was captain of England, captain of Man United. I got criticised for for all kinds. That's part of being a top player. You have to deal with that. You have to accept it at times. Listen, I was unfair with my comments, I'd be the first to hold my hands up. Same way I did with Man United when I had a rant about them and then they won games, and I come back on that. If I was unfair, I'd be fair to hold my hands up."

Rooney maintains that his comments were fair, with it the role of a pundit to offer opinions that may not be universally well received, and he will be an interested observer on Sunday when Van Dijk and Liverpool head to the Etihad Stadium for a heavyweight showdown with old adversaries Manchester City.

Midfielder Sandro Tonali was conspicuous by his absence as Newcastle trained on Monday morning ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

The 25-year-old Italy international did not take part in the open section of the session in front of the cameras at the club’s Darsley Park base.

Tonali, a £55million signing from AC Milan during the summer of 2003, was replaced by Jacob Ramsey with 20 minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brighton remaining.

The Italian has become a key member of Eddie Howe’s midfield alongside Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton since returning from his 10-month ban for gambling offences in August last year.

Tonali, a Carabao Cup winner with the Magpies in March, played all but a few minutes for his country in their World Cup qualifying victories over Estonia and Israel during the last international break.

Head coach Howe will hope to have him at his disposal on Tuesday evening as Newcastle attempt to add to the three points they collected from a 4-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels earlier this month after losing their opening fixture to Barcelona at St James’ Park.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 14, 2025

Everton haven’t quite been at the races in recent Premier League matches as the Toffees’ bright start to the season has come unstuck.

Indeed, two frustrating home draws to Aston Villa and West Ham United recently will not be what the Hill Dickinson Stadium masses would have wanted to see from their free-flowing side, as not even Jack Grealish or Iliman Ndiaye could inspire a winning performance on either occasion.

Defeats in the Merseyside Derby and in the EFL Cup will have also given David Moyes plenty of food for thought as to what he should change in the coming matches to turn around this sticky patch of form.

In an ideal reality, Moyes would love to be able to call upon Jarrod Bowen again to boost his exciting attacking personnel on Merseyside, with the England international a dependable performer for the Scotsman throughout his two Hammers stints.

Moyes' close relationship with Jarrod Bowen

Of course, Moyes is blessed in the attacking department when it comes to either flank, with Grealish on four assists already this campaign, while Ndiaye has been among the goals this season as well.

Still, when Bowen smashed home this fantastic effort to level the tie on Monday night, his ex-Hammers boss would have been irritated that he didn’t have him at his disposal anymore.

Games played

202

Goals scored

60

Assists

41

Moyes’ long reign at the London Stadium saw Bowen pick up goals and assists by the bucket-load, with the West Ham captain managing to tally up a staggering 101 goals and assists from 202 games under the Glaswegian’s watchful eye.

It’s early days, but Ndiaye will hope he can – one day – be a similar Bowen-style figure for the 62-year-old, with 14 goal contributions already next to his name on Merseyside when regularly deployed down the former Hull City man’s trusty right-hand side.

Grealish will also be taken aback by the idea as he searches for a club where he can achieve similar long-term success, away from the anxiety of first-team minutes drying up at the Etihad.

But, it could be that Everton have discarded Moyes’ next iteration of Bowen already when letting his homegrown ace depart the building in 2023 for a whopping £45m.

Why Everton must regret selling Bowen 2.0

At the time, the Toffees would have felt that cashing in on the hit-and-miss attacker in question was the best outcome for all involved, with the Merseyside prodigy calling for a move away from his boyhood employers.

That doesn’t mean they can’t be pained by what Anthony Gordon has turned into since moving on from the blue half of Liverpool, however, with the 24-year-old going on to become a Champions League-level performer with Newcastle United, alongside being called up to the same Three Lions camps that Bowen has been involved with off the back of his blistering form.

Games played

111

Goals scored

25

Assists

23

Trophies won

1x

Gordon would never quite sparkle fully into life in the senior picture at Everton, with just seven goals and eight assists coming his way. But, much like Bowen found with the Hammers, the Liverpool-born winger found St James’ Park to be an instantly welcoming fit, with a sublime 46 goal contributions and counting next to his name now on Tyneside.

This sharp upturn in form has led to various voices waxing lyrical about the former Everton number ten, with Jamie Carragher even hailing Gordon as “one of the best players in the Premier League” when strutting his stuff with the Magpies back in 2023.

Bowen, of course, has been exposed to similarly outlandish praise, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton even declaring that the 17-time Three Lions international was “one of the best signings in West Ham’s modern history” earlier this year.

Moyes would have loved to have unearthed this side from Gordon at his boyhood club if he stayed put – securing himself another Bowen-like presence in the process – but the 24-year-old’s tale in the Premier League unfortunately only has Everton in its opening chapter.

It feels like a lifetime ago since Gordon was putting away chances like this for his boyhood club, but Moyes won’t curse too much about the decision to offload the Magpies’ number ten, knowing he can get a tune out of Grealish and Ndiaye, even if there are bumps in the road to overcome.

Not just O'Brien: Moyes is wasting Everton star in his current position

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

The most valuable player on a pitch is a striker, and nowadays, being a world-class centre-forward is more than just scoring goals.

Starting the press without the ball and linking up play are also two important attributes, but more often than not, a striker is judged by their goal to game ratio.

Currently, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane are viewed as some of the best strikers in world football.

Related The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 of the most iconic centre-forwards football has ever seen, factoring in longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their personal accolades and honours they have won.

20 Greatest Strikers of All Time

Rank

Name

Country

1

Pele

Brazil

2

Ronaldo

Brazil

3

Gerd Muller

Germany

4

Eusebio

Portugal

5

Ferenc Puskas

Hungary

6

Romario

Brazil

7

Thierry Henry

France

8

Alfredo Di Stefano

Spain

9

​Marco van Basten

Netherlands

10

Robert Lewandowski

Poland

11

​Josef Bican

Austria

12

Wayne Rooney

England

13

Luis Suarez

Uruguay

14

Alan Shearer

England

15

Jimmy Greaves

England

16

Karim Benzema

France

17

Harry Kane

England

18

Gabriel Batitusta

Argentina

19

Kenny Dalglish

Scotland

20

Hristo Stoichkov

Bulgaria

20 Hristo Stoichkov

An all-rounded forward and the greatest Bulgarian player in history, Hristo Stoichkov kicks off the countdown.

The powerful left-footed striker was famously signed by Johan Cruyff at Barcelona when he was at the top of his game and made the Catalan giants even better.

Stoichkov won five La Liga titles at the Nou Camp and collected the Ballon d’Or in 1994 after picking up the 1994 World Cup Golden Boot.

19 Kenny Dalglish

Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish wasn’t just a goalscorer and could run games of a football as a centre-forward.

‘King Kenny’ starred in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring more than 200 goals and winning 24 trophies during an iconic career.

18 Gabriel Batistuta

Argentine powerhouse Gabriel Batistuta was a goalscoring machine in the 1990s for Fiorentina, outscoring every other Serie A player in that decade.

Named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list in 2004, Batistuta was known for his aerial ability and physical presence, but when he had the ball at his feet, he was an excellent dribbler and clinical in front of goal and had an unbelievable World Cup record.

17 Harry Kane

Harry Kane is one of the most clinical strikers around, and he’s been finding the back of the net on a regular basis for Tottenham, Bayern Munich and England since 2014.

In fact, Kane has scored 17 or more league goals in 12 successive seasons, and his goalscoring record is remarkable. Now England’s all-time top scorer, Kane may not have the trophies to match his individual brilliance, but he is more than just a goalscorer with an incredible passing range.

16 Karim Benzema

One of the most underrated strikers in recent times, Karim Benzema often hasn’t got the plaudits he’s deserved after starring at Real Madrid for 14 years.

Finally lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Benzema has won 33 honours during his career and scored more than 350 goals during his time at the Bernabeu.

Whether it be in the air or with the ball at his feet, the Frenchman was a nuisance for centre-backs and was often overshadowed by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

15 Jimmy Greaves

Part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup, Jimmy Greaves was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on six occasions in the 1960s and starred for Chelsea and Tottenham during his career.

A Spurs legend with two FA Cup triumphs, Greaves also won Serie A with AC Milan. He finished his career as the highest scorer in England’s first tier of football with 357 goals, highlighting how much of a prolific goalscorer he was.

14 Alan Shearer

The Premier League has been regarded as the best league in the world over time, so Alan Shearer, the divisions all-time top scorer, had to be in the list.

The Englishman netted 260 times in the English top flight for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, winning the title once.

Long range strikes, in the air or from the spot, Shearer could score any type of goal and came third in the 1996 Ballon d’Or.

13 Luis Suarez

Despite plenty of controversies during his career, Luis Suarez’s footballing ability at his peak for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona was incredible.

The Uruguayan has scored goals on a consistent basis for 20 years now and was named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalscorer in 2010, 2014 and 2016.

Suarez has proven he can score all across the world and his 2013/2014 season with Liverpool is arguably one of the best individual seasons the Premier League has ever seen.

12 Wayne Rooney

One of four English strikers on the list, Wayne Rooney is Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer and had every attribute an iconic centre-forward required. From physicality to pace and world-class technical ability, Rooney scored 253 times for the Red Devils and netted 53 times for England.

Dropping deeper in midfield throughout his career, Rooney was unstoppable in his prime as a striker, winning 16 major honours.

11 Josef Bican

Josef Bican represented both Austria and Czechoslovakia on the international stage and was one of the most prolific forwards during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Capable with finishing with ease with either foot, Bican scored more than 800 goals during his career despite making just over 600 appearances.

A ridiculous goal to game ratio, Bican has rightly gone down as a Slavia Prague legend.

Manchester United are now eyeing a “sensational” £52m Kobbie Mainoo replacement, having received the green light from Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo heading for the exit door amid Keane criticism

Amorim has been extremely reluctant to give Mainoo game time this season, but the Man United manager has the backing of Roy Keane, who recently suggested the midfielder hasn’t done enough in substitute appearances to force his way into contention.

Keane said: “He’s had opportunities recently and when he’s come on and got opportunities, he just looks a bit short for me. I wouldn’t be scratching my head thinking: why is he not in the team? I can see why he is not picking him at this moment in time.”

However, with an opportunity to play for England at the 2026 World Cup at stake, the 20-year-old cannot afford to sit on the bench for the entire season, and it has now been revealed that he is close to sealing a January exit.

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Napoli are now leading the race for the central midfielder, with the Italian club advancing in talks in recent days, and the academy graduate’s departure could exacerbate the need for Amorim to sign a new midfielder this winter.

As such, the United manager has now given a move for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher the green light, according to a report from Football Insider, which states the former Chelsea man is being targeted as a direct replacement for Mainoo.

The Red Devils are closely monitoring Gallagher ahead of the January transfer window, as club chiefs believe he would be a better fit in Amorim’s system than Mainoo, but there may be competition for his signature.

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur are also credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, although a deal could be expensive, considering he was recently valued at the £52m mark.

"Sensational" Gallagher could be solid Mainoo replacement

It would be sad to see Mainoo leave, given that the youngster progressed through the youth ranks, but Amorim clearly isn’t totally convinced by the Stockport-born ace, who has featured for just 118 minutes across six Premier League appearances this season.

In an ideal world, Man United would sign one of the best midfielders in the world to replace the starlet, but the Atletico Madrid maestro could be a solid option, given his previous exploits in the Premier League and battle-tested mentality.

During his time with Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 campaign, the Epsom-born midfielder displayed his attacking prowess, chipping in with eight goals and three assists in the top flight, while he is also solid defensively.

Indeed, Gallagher places in the 96th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, proving that he is a well-rounded midfielder.

أجرى المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، حوارًا مع شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية قبل مباراة يوم الأحد المقبل ضد مانشستر سيتي، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويستضيف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول، في الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26.

وحرص آرني سلوت على الإشادة بنظيره مدرب مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، والذي سيخوض مباراته رقم 1000 كمدرب، وذلك يوم الأحد ضد ليفربول.

وقال سلوت، في تصريحاته: “أنت دائمًا تتطلع لمشاهدة فريقه يلعب، عندما تحلل كل خصم، يكون من الرائع اللعب ضده دائمًا، لأنك حينها تُتاح لك فرصة مشاهدة خمس أو ست أو سبع مباريات لفريقه دون أن تشعر بالملل أبدًا، على الأقل أنا لا أشعر بالملل أبدًا، لأن فريقه يمتلك دائمًا فكرة جيدة وواضحة عن الاستحواذ على الكرة، ويحاولون دائمًا إسعاد الجماهير”.

وأضاف: “من الممتع مشاهدته، بينما لم تعد العديد من المباريات الأخرى ممتعة من وجهة نظري، أصبح الأمر يتعلق أكثر بإضاعة الوقت وأشياء لا أحبها كثيرًا في اللعبة، لكنها أدوات جيدة جدًا تُستخدم لتعقيد الأمور على الفرق الأخرى إذا لعبت ضدك”.

وواصل: “إنه تكتيك جديد في كرة القدم لكن هذا شيء نادرًا ما تفعله فرق بيب جوارديولا، بالطبع كان أداء برشلونة معه مذهلًا، كنا نحب أن نشاهد مبارياتهم ليلة الأحد، وعندما تنظر إلى فرقه الأخرى التي دربها، نجد أنه ابتكر أساليب جديدة مثل الظهير المقلوب، إنه دائمًا أمر مميز أن تشاهد مباراة لأحد فرقه”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | بـ4 أهداف مميزة.. مرموش يغري جوارديولا قبل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول

وأفاد: “الكثير من المدربين يحققون الانتصارات، ولكن أسلوب جوارديولا في الفوز بالألقاب هو ما يجعله يتفوق على كثيرين غيره، أتساءل إن كان هناك العديد من المدربين الذين يبدأون مسيرتهم المهنية الآن ويصلون إلى 1000 مباراة، خاصة بالمستوى الذي عمل به، لأنه ربما كان من الصعب جدًا تحقيق ذلك بالفعل، وهناك الكثير من التضحيات التي تأتي معه”.

وعن صراع المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي، قال: “إذا نظرت إلى الجدول في الوقت الحالي، فالأمر واضح، يتقدم آرسنال بست نقاط على مانشستر سيتي، ويتقدم علينا بسبع نقاط، ولكن عندما كانت هناك 10 مباريات متبقية الموسم الماضي، وكنا متقدمين بثماني أو 10 نقاط، لم أشعر بالأمان التام بالنسبة لي”.

واسترسل: “ربما أيضًا لأننا في ذلك الوقت كنا في النصف الثاني من الموسم ونعاني بالفعل قليلاً، لم يلاحظ الجميع ذلك، لكنني شعرت بذلك وكان الأمر أصعب فأصعب بالنسبة لنا للفوز بالمباريات”.

واستطرد: “لم يستقبل آرسنال سوى ثلاثة أهداف وخسر مباراة واحدة، أمامنا، لذلك في الوقت الحالي لا يتعلق الأمر بالنظر إلى جدول الدوري، بل بمحاولة الفوز بأكبر عدد ممكن من المباريات ووضع أنفسنا في أفضل مركز ممكن، لكن بالتأكيد سيلعب فريقان قويان للغاية ضد بعضهما، وسنرى ما يخبئه لنا المستقبل”.

وتطرق سلوت للحديث عن الانتقادات التي تعرض لها قائد ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، مؤخرًا، حيث قال: “لقد اخترت قادة في أنديتي السابقة حيث كان اللاعبون أصغر سنًا بكثير، لكن مع فيرجيل من الواضح جدًا أنه قائد هذا الفريق، عندما تتجول في مركز تدريب أكسا، وعندما نبدأ جلسة التدريب، يمكنك سماعه، يمكنك الشعور بأنه قائدنا”.

وشدد: “لقد كان بالفعل مهمًا جدًا لهذا النادي على مدار سنوات عديدة، لكنني لا أعتقد أنني تعاملت مع العديد من القادة الذين كانوا صريحين وذوي صوت عالٍ مثله، لقد كان قائدًا رائعًا بالنسبة لي، ومنذ أن أصبح قائدًا لهذا النادي”.

واستأنف: “يمكن تقييم أدائه بـ10 من 10، وعندما يكون التقييم 9 من 10، يُنتقد أحيانًا كذلك، أعتقد أن لاعبين آخرين سيتلقون الإشادة على ٩ من ١٠، لكنه يُنتقد بسبب ذلك”.

واختتم: “لقد قدّم أداءً مشابهًا للموسم الماضي، ولكن كانت هناك لحظة أو اثنتان هذا الموسم كان بإمكانه فيها تقديم أداء دفاعي أفضل ثم تعرض للنقد فورًا، ربما يجب عليه أن ينظر إلى ذلك على أنه إطراء، لأنه من هنا انطلق”.

Bayern Munich have filed an official protest with UEFA and threatened legal action after Paris police imposed last-minute travel restrictions on their supporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. The German club labelled the decision “unacceptable” and received backing from the host PSG themselves.

• Bayern furious with last-minute police order in Paris

  The German giants have taken their frustrations public after the Paris Police Prefecture issued a “general order” just 24 hours before their Champions League meeting with PSG. The order, delivered on Monday afternoon, required all Bayern fans traveling by coach to gather at a toll booth outside the French capital before being escorted by police to the Parc des Princes. Additionally, all other supporters were instructed to travel solely via public transport and to return the same way after the match.

  The German club reacted swiftly, filing an official protest with UEFA during a meeting later that day, calling the sudden decision “surprising” and “unacceptable.” Bayern also confirmed that the new measures mean fan buses will not be permitted to leave Paris until around 5:00 AM CET, hours after the final whistle. The restrictions have drawn strong criticism from both clubs, with PSG supporting Bayern’s stance against the ruling.

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• Bayern announce legal action and UEFA complaint

  Bayern’s statement outlined their dissatisfaction with how French authorities handled the matter, stressing that all necessary travel and safety details had been planned weeks in advance. The club confirmed they would be pursuing legal avenues alongside their protest lodged with UEFA.

  “This Monday afternoon, the Paris Police Prefecture issued a general order at short notice to regulate the arrival of fans and set up a police control zone for the Champions League match between FC Bayern and Paris St. Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium. After FC Bayern was only informed of this surprising measure today, the club immediately lodged a protest at today's UEFA meeting and will take further legal action. Paris St. Germain supports FC Bayern in this matter.

  "The general ruling affects all fan coaches and stipulates that they must gather at a toll booth outside the city before the match. It also stipulates, among other things, that all other Bayern fans must travel to the stadium exclusively by public transport. After the match, everyone must return to their original means of transport. The coaches will then be escorted out of the city by the police.

  "For FC Bayern, the short notice of the decree is unacceptable, as all the relevant information has been available for weeks, as is the case with all matches involving the German record champions. Furthermore, there has been no change in the risk situation with regard to FC Bayern fans since the last meeting in Paris in 2023. Due to the official regulations it is expected that the fan coaches will only be able to leave Paris in the early hours of the morning (from around 05:00 CET) to make their way home.”

• PSG side with Bayern amid growing tensions

  Interestingly, PSG themselves backed Bayern’s complaint, confirming that they were not involved in the police directive and expressing solidarity with their visitors. The situation has sparked tension just hours before one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Champions League group stage.

  The move by French authorities has revived memories of the 2022 Champions League final in Paris between Real Madrid and Liverpool, when organisational chaos outside the Stade de France led to severe crowd congestion, tear gas incidents, and a 37-minute delay to kick-off. An independent report later found that UEFA bore “primary responsibility” for what could have been a “mass fatality catastrophe.”

  The new restrictions, seen by many as an overcorrection, have caused widespread frustration among both clubs. Bayern maintain that there has been no change in the security landscape since their last visit to the Parc des Princes, while PSG reportedly described the late decision as “regrettable.”

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  Clash of Europe’s in-form teams

  The controversy arrives on the eve of a blockbuster encounter, as on the pitch, all eyes now turn to Tuesday’s showdown at the Parc des Princes, a clash that not only determines who tops the standing but also reignites one of Europe’s fiercest modern rivalries. The tension off the field has only heightened anticipation, with Bayern looking to make a statement win against the defending champions, and PSG aiming to cement their position as Europe’s most in-form side.

  PSG and Bayern head into the tie unbeaten in the Champions League group phase, each having secured three wins from three matches. The reigning champions, PSG, currently top the table on goal difference, while Vincent Kompany’s Bayern trail closely behind, having scored one goal fewer.

  Kompany’s men enter the fixture in electric form, riding a 15-match winning streak across all competitions, a new record for the Bavarian club that eclipses AC Milan’s 1992-93 benchmark. The trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have spearheaded their attack, contributing 54 goals already this season.

MatériaMais Notícias

Eliminado da Libertadores e muito distante da briga pelo título brasileiro, o Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira definitivamente vive um final de ano muito decepcionante para as suas atuais pretensões.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasSegurança, família, exposição… Os motivos que levaram os jogadores a deixarem o PalmeirasPalmeiras09/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras perde profissional do departamento de futebol para o FlamengoPalmeiras09/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras ainda briga pelo Brasileirão? Olhar do Porco responde!Palmeiras09/10/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Prestes a completar três anos no cargo de técnico do Verdão, Abel terá duas semanas para levantar a moral do time visando a recuperação no Brasileirão.

Decidimos listar cinco motivos que fazem o Palmeiras estar passando por essa atual fase. Se liga aí:

Escolhas de Abel Ferreira

As escolhas de Abel Ferreira foram muito questionadas pela torcida, principalmente nos dois jogos diante do Boca na Libertadores. Para grande parte da torcida, Abel foi muito teimoso em manter o esquema com Mayke e Marcos Rocha e dar poucos minutos para as Crias, principalmente Endrick. Nos dois jogos em que Abel apostou na garotada no comando de ataque, a produção ofensiva melhorou bastante, apesar das derrotas para Red Bull Bragantino e Santos.

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Lesão do Dudu

A lesão de Dudu foi ponto chave na queda do Palmeiras neste segundo semestre. Abel Ferreira não encontrou um substituto para o camisa 7 até agora. Pelo menos o garoto Kevin parece estar brigando por uma vaga como titular no lado esquerdo do ataque alviverde, mas o ‘Baixola’ faz uma falta gigantesca ao ataque do Verdão.

Medalhões pouco decisivos

O Palmeiras não faz um bom segundo semestre de 2023 também pela queda de desempenho de alguns jogadores que são muito importantes para o Verdão, casos de Artur, Rony, Veiga e Gómez. Quem tinha que decidir, pouco decidiu e claro que o elenco curto sente demais a falta do protagonismo deles.

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Elenco curto

Uma das maiores criticas da torcida para a diretoria nesta temporada foi a falta de reforços. O elenco foi se enfraquecendo e o próprio Abel confirmou que faltou maturidade e um pouco mais de experiência para mesclar com as jovens Crias que estão subindo para o profissional. A pressão por reforços para 2024 só aumenta…

+ Abel revela que jogadores pediram para sair do Palmeiras por ameaças: ‘Não aguentaram a pressão’

Priorizar a Libertadores

O Palmeiras respeitou demais o Boca Juniors, tanto que não levou nenhum titular para o duelo contra o Red Bull Bragantino, mesmo com o jogo sendo quatro dias antes do duelo decisivo diante do time argentino. A garotada não segurou a bronca em um jogo de seis pontos e o Verdão acabou eliminado da Libertadores dias depois. Agora a luta pelo Brasileiro ficou muito mais difícil e o clube vê a briga pelo G-4 ainda mais acirrada. Pra piorar, o Verdão foi ultrapassado pelo Massa Bruta na vice-liderança do Brasileiro.

Tafadzwa Tsiga, Newman Nyamhuri, and Vincent Masekesa are the three uncapped players in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025

Richard Ngarava has returned from a lower-back injury•AFP/Getty Images

Left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava has made a return from injury to Zimbabwe’s T20I squad for the upcoming triseries at home against South Africa and New Zealand.Three uncapped players – wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga, left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri, and legspinner Vincent Masekesa – were also included in the squad of 16. Vincent and Tsiga have played Tests for Zimbabwe, while 19-year-old Nyamhuri has played three Tests and four ODIs.The triseries is scheduled to take place at the Harare Sports Club from July 14 to 26. Each team will face the others twice before the top two sides contest the final.Ngarava recovered from a lower-back injury that had ruled him out of Zimbabwe’s recent fixtures; his last competitive match was the one-off Test in England in May. Allrounder Brian Bennett was also been cleared to play following a concussion suffered during the recent Test series against South Africa.Zimbabwe open their campaign against South Africa on July 14, followed by matches against New Zealand on July 18, South Africa again on July 20, and New Zealand on July 24. All the matches of the tri-series will begin at 1300 local time.Zimbabwe squad for tri-series: Sikandar Raza (capt), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga

West Indies’ second innings lasted only 14.3 overs and had seven batters dismissed on a duck as they went down by 176

Andrew McGlashan14-Jul-2025There was a feeling that the stars had aligned for Mitchell Starc, playing his 100th Test with the pink ball he has so often dominated with, but few could have imagined the carnage that unfolded on the third day at Sabina Park as he claimed three wickets in his first over and the quickest five-wicket haul in Test history including his 400th.Yet that was not the end of it. Scott Boland claimed a hat-trick, removing Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican, leaving West Indies 26 for 9 and in danger of equaling the lowest-ever Test total – made by New Zealand against England in 1955. They edged past it courtesy of a Sam Konstas misfield in the gully, but only by one run when Starc ended the Text next ball to finish with a career-best 6 for 9. West Indies were all out in 14.3 overs.Related

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'Unreal' – Starc and Boland amaze each other with stunning feats

Starc’s incredible performance propelled Australia to a 176-run victory and a 3-0 series margin after they had set West Indies 204 for victory in another match dominated by the quick bowlers. Alzarri Joseph, with a career-best 5 for 27, and Shamar shared nine wickets as Australia’s last four wickets fell for 22 runs but that was nothing compared to what followed.Starc produced one of the great opening overs. He removed John Campbell first ball, the fourth time in his career he had struck with the opening delivery of an innings, when the left-handed edged a perfect outswinger to substitute wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, who was standing in for the concussed Alex Carey.Four balls later, Kevlon Anderson shouldered arms as the ball swung back to strike his shin in front of middle stump, yet he reviewed the plumbest of lbws. Next delivery, another one arched back between Brandon King’s bat and pad to demolish the stumps. It was the sixth time in Test history that a team had been 0 for 3.Mitchell Starc completed his five-wicket haul in just 15 balls, the fastest in Tests•AFP/Getty ImagesMikyle Louis survived the hat-trick ball at the start of Starc’s second over, but fittingly his 400th wicket came with another trademark inswinger as he trapped Louis lbw, becoming the fourth Australian bowler to the landmark after Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Lyon.The extraordinary scenes continued when, two balls later, Starc added Shai Hope lbw to bring up a five-wicket haul in just 15 deliveries, the fastest from the start of an innings – beating the previous record of jointly held by Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad and Scott Boland by four deliveries.Starc’s monopoly ended when Josh Hazlewood had Roston Chase caught behind to leave West Indies on a scarcely believable 11 for 6. In the eighth over, Greaves became the first batter into double figures as he and Alzarri managed to reach the tea interval, which at one stage had been in doubt.Australia pose after blanking West Indies 3-0•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter the interval, Boland got into the act as Greaves edged to slip and Shamar was lbw via the DRS. Then, with the hat-trick delivery, he speared one through Warrican. Few would have bet against four-in-four, but Starc ended with the honour of wrapping up one of the wildest passages of play imaginable.The ball had dominated from the very start of the day when Cameron Green shouldered arms to one from Shamar, which shaped back to cannon into off stump. Green had played superbly the previous evening to give Australia a cushion for the fourth innings, although in the end they didn’t come close to needing it.Shamar took his series tally to 22 wickets at 14.95, the most for a West Indies bowler against Australia since Courtney Walsh in 1999, but not long later, there was only one quick bowler being talked about.