Bangladesh captain Litton Das has said the current crop of players were “almost ready” for the 2026 T20 World Cup after an improved fielding performance in the 2-1 series win against Ireland.Bangladesh have played 30 T20Is in 2025, the most for them in a year. The victory against Ireland was their fifth in T20I series this year after consecutive wins against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Netherlands and Afghanistan. They had lost to Pakistan and UAE before that streak, and West Indies after.Against Ireland, Bangladesh bounced back from 0-1 down to win the second and third T20Is. On Tuesday, they won by eight wickets and 38 balls to spare after an emphatic all-round display.Related

• Tanzid, Rishad, Mustafizur lead Bangladesh to series win

“I wanted the team to win from pressure situations,” Litton said after the third T20I. “We couldn’t overcome the pressure in the first game but we fought back to win the series. There are many positive sides. We are not a good fielding unit, but we took some brilliant catches in this series. At least in the fielding department, we have shown improvement. After playing the most number of T20Is in a year, I think our players have become more mature.”The credit goes to all the players and coaching staff. Our team was ready since the Asia Cup. We have only used a certain number of players since then. I think we want these players to play their best cricket in the BPL, which we then expect them to replicate for the national team. I am not concerned about anyone’s performance, but about injuries. We will all pray that we remain safe in the next two months.”Litton said Bangladesh had experimented this year, to find their best combination for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February. For instance, Bangladesh used all their opener options in the top four in the third T20I against Ireland, while also mixing up their spinners and fast bowlers.”We have conducted a lot of experiments. We made certain changes that were risky – like Fizz [Mustafizur Rahman] didn’t bowl the last over today,” Litton said. “[Mohammad] Saifuddin bowled the last over. I wanted to see what a player will do after not playing two matches. I think we tried almost everything in every aspect of the team. This bunch of players are almost ready for the next World Cup.”Bangladesh, however, do not have a settled middle order, with at least one position still up for grabs. They tried Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan and Shamim Hossain in each of the three matches, though Shamim didn’t get to bat in the third game.”I am not too concerned about it [the No. 6 position],” Litton said. “Not everyone will get runs in every series. You saw [Towhid] Hridoy doing well in this series. I want them to score runs in the BPL, and then bring that to the World Cup.”Litton also said he had to rotate between three spinners in the XI, which means one of his “match-winners” ends up on the bench.”Mahedi [Hasan], Rishad [Hossain] and Nasum [Ahmed] are my match-winners, so I have to take a tough call when I have to pick [only] two spinners in the XI,” he said. “Sometimes, my performer has to sit out. They have accepted my decisions. They are good team-mates. It will keep happening in the future, but of course we explain to them [why we didn’t pick any of them].”

Two-fors from Heather Graham and Linsey Smith restricted Perth to 137, which Hurricanes chased down with eight wickets to spare

AAP13-Dec-2025Hobart Hurricanes won their maiden WBBL title with a comprehensive win over Perth Scorchers, thanks to an unbeaten 77 off 44 balls by Lizelle Lee.Hurricanes, who topped the table at the end of the regular season, grassed half a dozen chances in the field but were still able to restrict their opposition to 137 for 5.Lee then turned on the fireworks in the chase as her side reeled off the target with eight wickets in hand and 30 balls to spare on Saturday night in front of a delighted home crowd. Hurricanes’ first trophy in the 11th edition of the WBBL came after their male counterparts broke through to win the BBL crown last season.Lee whacked three consecutive boundaries in the opening over, which included a drop that was parried across the rope. In scenes reminiscent of Mitchell Owen’s stunning hundred for Hurricanes in the January BBL decider, Lee turned up the heat and finished with 10 fours and four sixes.Lee’s knock was the highest score in a WBBL final and her best score of the season. She shared a 77-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt (35 to 27) to iron out the majority of the chase.Scorchers legspinner Alana King, who was in good form heading into the contest, copped some punishment and went for 0 for 25 off two overs.Earlier, Scorchers won the bat flip and opted to bat but struggled to get their innings going, despite Hurricanes missing chances in the field. In-form opener Beth Mooney (33 from 26) was dropped three times in the powerplay before being bowled by Heather Graham in the 11th over. Graham (2-26) also picked up the big scalp of Scorchers’ skipper Sophie Devine.New Zealand international Devine, who was dropped on 27, was circumspect early but came to life with two sixes, before getting stumped in the 17th over. Hobart’s English spinner Linsey Smith bowled just two overs but finished with a valuable 2 for 8.Hurricanes had earned a direct passage to the final after ending the season atop the table, while Scorchers, who were gunning for their second title, won two finals games to qualify. On the big day, Scorchers came up short while Hurricanes cruised home.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has issued a passionate defence of under-fire manager Xabi Alonso following the club's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Manchester City. The Belgian shot-stopper insisted the squad remain "united" behind the coach and pledged that the players will support him "wholeheartedly" as they look to end a poor run of form.

Madrid beaten again on home soil

The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was tense on Wednesday night as Real Madrid suffered their second home defeat in the space of just three days. After falling to a 2-0 domestic loss against Celta Vigo over the weekend, the Spanish giants were beaten 2-1 by City in Europe, a result that has increased the scrutiny on manager Alonso.

Goals from Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland overturned Rodrygo's opener to hand victory to the Premier League side in the league phase encounter. The final whistle was met with frustration from sections of the home support, but Thibaut Courtois stepped forward in the mixed zone to offer a defiant message regarding the dressing room's relationship with their head coach.

AdvertisementAFPCourtois 'fighting to change this dynamic'

Speaking to reporters after the match, Courtois rejected any suggestion that the players had lost faith in Alonso’s methods or that the squad was fractured. The goalkeeper emphasised that the performance against Pep Guardiola's side, despite the adverse result, was evidence of their commitment to the manager.

"I think today we showed that we are a united team, that we support the coach and that we are all fighting to change this dynamic," Courtois declared.

Madrid have managed just two wins in their last eight matches across all competitions, a streak that has seen them slip to second in La Liga and seventh in the Champions League table. The defeat to City was particularly stinging as it marked back-to-back losses at the Bernabeu, a rarity for the 15-time European champions.

The match itself saw Madrid start brightly, with Rodrygo ending his long drought to put the hosts ahead after 28 minutes. However, City responded quickly through O'Reilly, before Haaland converted a penalty just before half-time after Antonio Rudiger was adjudged to have fouled the Norwegian striker.

Understanding the Bernabeu's anger

Courtois also addressed the reaction from the stands. The goalkeeper acknowledged the frustration of the supporters following the recent dip in form, while defending the effort the team put in against a high-calibre opponent.

"I understand the anger after a run of matches like this, but I think we reacted on the pitch, we did everything possible and we lost against a very good rival," the Belgian explained.

Courtois pointed to the quality of the opposition as a factor in the result. City, who sit fourth in the Champions League standings on 13 points, controlled significant portions of the game. Despite the defeat, Courtois felt the team "reacted" well during the contest, creating chances in the second half as they searched for an equaliser that ultimately did not come. The goalkeeper himself was called into action to make a double save to keep the score at 2-1, denying City a third goal that would have killed the game off earlier.

When asked directly about the future of the manager and the squad's stance, Courtois offered an unequivocal pledge of loyalty to Alonso.

"Everyone here will support the coach with all our heart," Courtois stated.

This public backing comes at a critical time for Alonso, who took charge earlier in the year. The defeat leaves Madrid on 12 points in the Champions League league phase, still inside the top eight automatic qualification spots but with a reduced margin for error heading into the final fixtures against Monaco and Benfica in January.

The squad situation has been complicated by fitness issues, with Kylian Mbappe remaining on the bench throughout the match due to a knee concern, forcing Alonso to rely on a front line of Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia.

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Getty Images SportFocus shifts to Alaves

Madrid return to La Liga action immediately with a trip to face Alaves on Sunday. For Courtois, this fixture is the priority to arrest the slide and restore confidence within the camp.

"It is by winning on Sunday that we will change this dynamic," he added.

The goalkeeper made it clear that the team must translate their internal unity into victories on the pitch. Real Madrid currently trail league leaders Barcelona by four points in the domestic table. The trip to the Mendizorrotza Stadium offers an immediate opportunity to respond to the defeats against Celta and City. A win would stabilise the situation before the winter break, while another negative result would further extend the difficult run Courtois referred to. The focus now turns solely to Sunday as the squad attempts to turn their "wholehearted" support into three points.

Rennes are no strangers to producing some of the best players around, and Mohamed Kader Meite looks primed to become the next elite talent to step off the conveyor belt after the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Eduardo Camavinga. Still just 18, the towering striker is already said to be turning heads across Europe.

Already standing at a mountainous tall, Meite is – to put it bluntly – an absolute unit, and he is already learning how to use his imposing physique to his advantage in those marginal situations that make all the difference in top-level football.

But the Frenchman isn't your classic, lumbering 'big man' up top, instead bringing a mix of technical ability and the kind of nous in and around the box that is so crucial in the modern game. Indeed, a first-team breakthrough in 2025 has seen him linked with some of Europe's biggest hitters already as the January transfer window looms, including Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United.

But just who is Meite, and why should you be taking notice of Rennes' latest big prospect? GOAL brings you everything you need to know…

• Where it all began

  One of the latest prospects to emerge from the hotbed of talent that is Paris and its surrounding , Meite was born to Ivorian parents in the Creteil neighbourhood in the south-east of the city in October 2007.

  Taking his first steps on the path to a professional career at local club CA Paris 14 in 2013, the striker would develop at a clutch of youth teams in the French capital before catching the attention of Brittany-based Rennes and joining their academy setup in 2022 when he was 15 years old – a reflection of the potential the Ligue 1 side saw, as that is the earliest possible age a player can leave their local area for opportunities elsewhere, per French rules.

  There, Meite would make swift progress through the age grades, mixing it with the big boys as he regularly turned out for the Under-19s in the 2023-24 campaign after making his debut at 15, and even featured for Rennes' reserves in February 2024. He was also included in France's squad for the U17 European Championship in the early summer.

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• The big break

  After a fast start to the following season with the B team, a first-team breakthrough felt inevitable, and five days removed from signing his first professional contract with the club, Meite was handed his senior debut in a 10-minute cameo against Toulouse in Ligue 1 in November 2024. That didn't lead to him establishing himself immediately, but after the turn of the year he was a regular feature in the squad, even earning a start against Paris Saint-Germain in March.

  He would score his first two senior goals in back-to-back games against Nantes in the Breton derby and Lyon towards the end of the campaign, before firing the U19s to glory in the prestigious Coupe Gambardella in late May, netting a dramatic late winner in the final against Dijon. However, it is only this season that people have begun to sit up and take notice more broadly – including his admirers in the Premier League.

  A match-winning foray off the bench in September thrust the young striker into the spotlight, as he turned the Ligue 1 clash with Lyon on its head in the space of 21 minutes. With Rennes 1-0 down, Meite had already forced a good save when he drew a game-changing red card challenge from ex-Liverpool man Tyler Morton with a quarter of an hour remaining.

  Five minutes later, he made a nuisance of himself in the penalty area to assist Anthony Rouault's leveller, and in stoppage time he forced an own goal to snatch the win, pinning a defender out wide, rolling his man and crashing in a shot from an acute angle that somehow ended up in the back of net via the post and a double deflection. There was still time for the teenager to add a richly-deserved goal of his own, as he rose highest to guide a header into the bottom corner.

  This was a cameo that exhibited all of Meite's very best attributes, with the performance even going viral on social media.

• AFP
  

  How it's going

  The goals haven't exactly flowed in the weeks and months since that September night but, at 18, Meite is already a fully-fledged member of the Rennes first-team squad, picking up regular minutes and starting three consecutive games between later October and mid-November. His four goal involvements to date have come in a little over 400 minutes of action.

  He was decisive again in the second of those matches against Chelsea-owned Strasbourg as Rennes secured a convincing 4-1 victory, first showing quick reactions to volley in his side's second from close range before turning provider by pinning his man and firing a pinpoint cutback into the path of strike partner Esteban Lepaul.

  That was the catalyst for a four-game winning run, but it's clear that Meite is going to have to be patient for opportunities in the team and in front of goal as his development continues. At international level, he has already made his debut for France's U21s.

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• AFP
  

  Biggest strengths

  As we've touched upon, Meite is an absolute unit, and it's clear that he is already understanding how best to use his imposing 6'4" frame to his advantage. "He knows how to stay in the box and use his physique," Rennes head coach Habib Beye – a former Newcastle defender – said recently.

  As demonstrated by a couple of his goal involvements so far this season, the 18-year-old is already adept at hold-up play, proving to be an immovable object when he has a defender pinned, and he has the strength to be in control of whatever happens next. He certainly won't shy away from a battle, as he showed when going toe-to-toe with PSG stalwart Marquinhos last season.

  Unsurprisingly, he is also utterly dominant in the air, with two of his four senior goals to date coming from headers. What's more unexpected, though, is Meite's willingness to drop deep to help his team, using his physique to wrestle back possession in midfield and get his team moving upfield.

  Although he is proving to be deadly inside the penalty area, Meite is not your classic, lumbering, 'big man' No.9, often popping up out wide, in the half-spaces and in the No.10 role – reflecting that he has plenty of confidence with the ball at his feet.

Cal Raleigh is having a dream season. He hit 38 home runs before the All-Star break and then won the MLB Home Run Derby thanks to a very precise measurement. The entire internet loves the Seattle Mariners catcher with the sizable hindquarters which is why he also recently signed an endorsement deal with a port-a-potty company.

Fox's Ken Rosenthal went through Raleigh's accomplishments during an interview earlier this and brought up an award most people have probably never even heard of—the "golden locker."

Rosenthal elaborated on the award in his column in The Athletic on Thursday:

This should lead to a number of follow-up questions. Did Raleigh go for the carwash or the haircut? Was this his first Golden Locker of the season? How many players have won the award during the Mariners' seven homestands before the All-Star break?

Hopefully we'll find out more as the season continues. It should only get more difficult for Raleigh to repeat if he continues to rack up these awards.

أجرى الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، مراسم قرعة دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، موسم 2025/26، ظهر يوم الثلاثاء.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق مباريات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، في الفترة بين 16 و18 ديسمبر، على أرض الفريق الأقل تصنيفًا، في مباراة واحدة فقط، حسبما ذكر الاتحاد الإسباني.

وتشارك الفرق الأربعة المتواجدة في كأس السوبر الإسباني، بشكل مباشر في دور الـ32 من كأس ملك إسبانيا، وهم: برشلونة، ريال مدريد، أتلتيكو مدريد وأتلتيك بلباو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. قائمة برشلونة أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. موقف شتيجن وأراوخو

كما يتواجد 28 فريقًا تأهلوا لى تلك المرحلة من البطولة عقب تخطيهم دور الـ64، الذي انتهى مساء الخميس الماضي.

الوعاء الأول: ريال مدريد، برشلونة، أتلتيك بلباو، أتلتيكو مدريد.

الوعاء الثاني: ألافيس، مايوركا، أوساسونا، خيتافي، ليفانتي، ريال سوسيداد، فياريال، إلتشي، رايو فاليكانو، إشبيلية، سيلتا فيجو، فالنسيا، ريال بيتيس.

الوعاء الثالث: هويسكا، كولتورال ليونيسا، ديبورتيفو لاكورونيا، ألباسيتي، سبورتنج خيخون، إيبار، راسينج سانتاندر، بورجوس، غرناطة.

الوعاء الرابع: جوادالاخارا، إلدينس، تالافيرا دي لا رينا، ريال مورسيا، أورينس.

الوعاء الخامس: أتلتيكو باليريس.

وتابع بطولات معكم مراسم قرعة دور الـ32 من كأس ملك إسبانيا…. نتائج قرعة دور الـ32 من كأس ملك إسبانيا 

أورينس ضد أتلتيك بلباو.

أتلتيكو باليريس ضد أتلتيكو مدريد.

تالافيرا ضد ريال مدريد.

جوادالاخارا ضد برشلونة.

ريال مورسيا ضد ريال بيتيس.

إلدينس ضد ريال سوسيداد.

بورجوس ضد خيتافي.

كولتورال ليونيسا ضد ليفانتي.

إيبار ضد إلتشي.

ديبورتيفو لاكورونيا ضد ريال مايوركا.

راسينج سانتاندر ضد فياريال.

سبورتنج خيخون ضد فالنسيا.

هويسكا ضد أوساسونا.

غرناطة ضد رايو فاليكانو.

ألباسيتي ضد سيلتا فيجو.

ديبورتيفو ألافيس ضد إشبيلية.

The Seattle Mariners have acquired Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of

Naylor is slashing .292/.360/.447 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI for Arizona this season.

In exchange for Naylor, the Mariners are sending left-hander Brandyn Garcia and righty Ashton Izzy in the deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The 25-year-old Garcia has appeared in two games for Seattle this season, and has posted a 4.50 ERA across two innings of work in relief. Izzy, meanwhile, is a 21-year-old who has pitched this season for high-A Everett. He has accumulated a 5.51 ERA across 41.1 innings.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo conheceu seus adversários na Libertadores 2024, após sorteio realizado na segunda-feira (18), na sede da Conmebol, no Paraguai.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

➡️Com R$100, você pode faturar R$2000 na Lance! Betting com o futuro campeão da Libertadores 2024!

O jogo mais aguardado do grupo será o reencontro com o Talleres. Isso porque a equipe da Argentina eliminou o Tricolor na fase preliminar do torneio continental em 2019, episódio que marcou o torcedor são-paulino de forma negativa.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O modesto Cobresal representa a menor ameaça técnica ao São Paulo na Libertadores, mas a viagem desgastante e a altitude jogam em seu favor. O estádio dos chilenos fica localizado entre a Cordilheira dos Andes e o Deserto do Atacama, cujo deslocamento é considerado difícil, além do estádio ficar a 2,3 mil metros de altitude.

Apesar de ser figura carimbada nas últimas edições do torneio, o Barcelona não vive grande fase na liga local, tendo uma vitória, um empate e uma derrota.

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LOGÍSTICA

O São Paulo é o terceiro clube brasileiro com viagens mais longas na Libertadores, atrás apenas de Flamengo e Botafogo, respectivamente. O Tricolor vai percorrer aproximadamente 19 mil km nas viagens para Argentina, Chile e Equador.

DATAS

Os dias e horários exatos das partidas da Libertadores não foram divulgados, mas o São Paulo sabe que o primeiro adversário é o Talleres, fora de casa.

continua após a publicidade1ª rodada (2 a 4 de abril): Talleres (Argentina) x São Paulo2ª rodada (9 a 11 de abril): São Paulo x Cobresal (Chile)3ª rodada (23 a 25 de abril): Barcelona (Equador) x São Paulo4ª rodada (7 a 9 de maio): Cobresal (Chile) x São Paulo5ª rodada (14 a 16 de maio): São Paulo x Barcelona (Equador)6ª rodada (28 a 30 de maio): São Paulo x Talleres (Argentina)

Tudo sobre

LibertadoresLibertadores 2024São Paulo

If Danny Röhl didn’t already know that he had a big job on his hands as Rangers manager, he certainly does now.

In his first game in charge on Thursday night, the Gers were ignominiously demolished 3-0 by Brann in Bergen.

That is now a sixth successive European defeat for the Glasgow giants, meaning they sit rock bottom of the Europa League table, with Roma their next opponents on Thursday week.

Meantime, domestically, things aren’t going much better either, so if Röhl is going to claim victory in his first Premiership match in charge, he simply must drop the summer signing flop branded an SPFL League Two level, potentially set to take the title of Rangers’ worst ever striker.

Why Umar Sadiq was a Rangers flop

Umar Sadiq was not at Rangers long, but he certainly made a lasting impression, albeit certainly not the one he would’ve wanted.

After arriving on loan from Roma, the Nigerian striker made only four appearances for the Gers, seeing a total of 116 minutes.

His sole start came at Hampden in a League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, getting the nod due to an injury crisis, infamously missing a gilt-edged opportunity as the Dons defeated Steven Gerrard’s team 1-0 to reach the final, as well as producing a poor dive.

More recently, Sadiq has been on fire in Spain, scoring 43 goals across two seasons for Almería, earning a move to Real Sociedad, something Rangers supporters won’t quite believe, but will he be eclipsed as the club’s least dangerous centre-forward?

The Rangers flop who should be back on the bench

When 49ers Enterprises took over the club in the summer, this was supposed to be the start of a new era of success in Govan, but they’ve so far appointed Russell Martin, who may go down as the worst manager in the club’s history, and spent around £30m, an astronomical amount for a Scottish club, on 13 new signings, very few of whom have improved the team.

So, have 13 new arrivals made a positive impact?

Well, Djeidi Gassama has been the pick of the bench, showing glimpses of brilliance, scoring five goals in Europe, on target against Panathinaikos​​​​​​​, Viktoria Plzeň and Sturm Graz, yet to get off the mark in domestic competition though.

Meantime, loanees Jayden Meghoma​​​​​​​ and Nasser Djiga​​​​​​​ have frankly looked out of their depth, Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard have been very underwhelming, while Emmanuel Fernandez simply hasn’t been given much of a chance to stake a claim, to name but a few.

The most bewildering addition of the lot, though, came on deadline day, with Rangers agreeing to pay £8m to sign Youssef Chermiti from Everton, a fee that could rise to £10m with potential add-ons, making him the most-expensive signing in the club’s modern history.

So, he must’ve really impressed on Merseyside, right?

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Well, after joining the Toffees from Sporting CP for £11.5m, he made just 24 appearances for the club, of which only two were starts, totalling 295 minutes on the field, scoring a grand total of zero goals.

Earlier this month, he was on target during an 11-0 victory for Portugal’s under-21s against Gibraltar at Europa Sports Park, not the highest quality of opposition one may suggest, with this the first goal Chermiti has scored for anyone since converting a penalty for Everton under-21s against Mansfield Town in the EFL Trophy in November 2023.

​​​​​​​

His most recent senior goal was scored for Sporting at Paços de Ferreira on 7 May 2023, 902 days ago, and counting.

So, puzzlingly, Röhl gave the 21-year-old the nod for his first match in charge in Bergen this week, which certainly did not pay off, as the table below documents.

Shots on target

1

1st

Big chances missed

1

1st

xG

0.38

2nd

Dribble success %

0%

13th

Accurate passes

7

22nd

% of duels won

23%

18th

Possession lost

12

9th

Touches

23

19th

Average rating

6.0

32nd

As the table highlights, Chermiti had very little impact all night in Bergen, touching the ball just 23 times, fewer than half the number of touches managed by goalkeeper Jack Butland, while winning only three of his 13 duels and completing a miserly seven passes and zero dribbles.

His big moment came in the first half, but his tame header lacked any semblance of conviction and was easily saved; Mathias Dyngeland probably could have kept it out with his eyes closed.

As a result, Derek Clark of the Rangers Review posited that Chermiti should be sent out on loan to a lower-league club to “learn the game”, adding “he’s nowhere near ready to lead the line”, concluding that Stirling Albion may be his level; for context, the Binos are currently fourth in SPFL League Two.

Having said that, Röhl may be under pressure to play him, considering the sizeable outlay paid to secure his signature.

Nevertheless, the new manager simply has to start Bojan Miovski against Kilmarnock, as the summer signing from Everton is well on his way to being the next Sadiq at Ibrox.

Under enormous pressure to win vital games against Killie, Hibs, Celtic and Roma, Röhl does not have time to allow Chermiti to learn his trade, the striker having looked miles off the required level so far, as Sadiq did seven years ago, but he was only on loan, hence why this summer’s signing is certainly more concerning.

Rohl must unleash the new Ryan Kent who's been Rangers' "shining light"

Ahead of Danny Röhl’s first game in charge of Rangers at Brann, the new manager can get the best out of their “shining light” with shades of Ryan Kent

Oct 22, 2025

It hasn’t been the start to the season that Arne Slot might have hoped for at Liverpool, with a shaky start, albeit a winning start, now preceding a three-match losing run that has accentuated the flaws running through the squad.

But adversity is there to be overcome in football, and the Premier League champions have so much quality and confidence in themselves. Teething problems after a summer spending spree are to be expected, and now the onus is on returning to action after the October international break with fresh impetus and focus.

Chelsea struck late to win against the Reds on Sunday, but there’s no hiding from the lack of attacking coherence in the second half. Some fans were confused by Slot’s decision to keep Federico Chiesa on the bench.

Slot must use Federico Chiesa

Last summer, Liverpool’s only addition, purchased from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m fee. The versatile forward has long been highly regarded for his technical quality and potency in the final third, but injuries have eaten away at his one-time prodigious potential.

But he scarcely played last year, with fitness problems and criticisms from Slot keeping him on the fringes. Excluded from Liverpool’s pre-season tour across the pond, Chiesa’s time on Merseyside looked to have wrapped up.

And yet he stayed, and yet he now plays a big role at Liverpool, one of the most dangerous and effective attacking threats across the opening months of the season.

This revival is nice to see. Will it last? Slot continues to be hesitant in giving Chiesa a star role, and given that Mohamed Salah’s eventual departure will warrant a big-money replacement, Chiesa might find his renaissance is short-lived.

Because Rio Ngumoha has already disrupted FSG’s transfer plans, and his rise to the top could come at the expense of the Italian’s game time.

Rio Ngumoha could end Chiesa's Liverpool career

Liverpool poached Ngumoha from Chelsea in 2024, and what a coup it is turning out to be. John Terry knew it, saying he was “gutted” to watch the electric winger leave for a Premier League rival.

But Chelsea’s loss is Liverpool’s gain. The 17-year-old Ngumoha showed flashes last season, starting for the seniors in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley, and now he has raised his game under Slot’s wing, having featured five times already.

His dribbling and directness have been met by promising physical growth that has not yet finished.

Ngumoha will continue to be guided through adolescence, but the coaches are very much aware they have a prodigy on their hands, with the lad’s long-time youth coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst saying, “I don’t say it lightly, he is one of the best academy talents I have come across, and I have seen some top players become superstars.”

The composure and awareness to find space and score against Newcastle in August tells of the potential, and though he predominantly plays off the left flank, Ngumoha’s bearing is such that he could play across the frontline, an art mastered by teammate Chiesa.

Chiesa, 28 this month, will play a big part at Liverpool this season, but it’s difficult to see him reach the highest level in Slot’s squad. This, however, couldn’t be further away from Ngumoha’s pathway, for the “frightening” talent – as said by reporter Lewis Bower – is viewed as a one-of-a-kind prospect.

It’s crazy to think that Ngumoha only turned 17 in August, four days after firing the winner into Nick Pope’s net. The best, surely, is still to come from this one, and as he develops into a Premier League starter, and hopes of Chiesa establishing himself in an even bigger role at Liverpool are likely to come to nought, sad as that may be.

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By
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