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Jean-Philippe Mateta’s Crystal Palace future is in doubt with an insider revealing the player and his agent are “testing the waters over a move”.

The 28-year-old has grown into such an important player for the Eagles, helping them win the FA Cup last season and already scoring six goals in 12 Premier League appearances this time around.

In fact, former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino has called the Frenchman Palace’s “most improved” player in the recent past, and in fact of all time, hailing his impact leading the line at Selhurst Park.

“Again, Mateta, in my opinion, is probably the most improved player I’ve ever watched, I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched Mateta two years ago and the one I’m witnessing now, completely different.”

Mateta’s rise has unsurprisingly seen him linked with a move away from Palace of late, and now a new update has shared some concern for the Eagles.

Jean-Philippe Mateta eyeing Crystal Palace exit

Insider Mick Brown reports that Mateta is “testing the waters” over leaving Palace, as he eyes a new challenge.

Palace must do all they can to convince Mateta that staying put is best for his career, with the Eagles certainly doing enough of late to suggest as much, not least sealing FA Cup glory last season.

That said, the France international may look at Eberechi Eze leaving for Arsenal in the summer, and Marc Guehi continually being linked with a move to Liverpool, and feel that now is the right time for him to move on.

Arsenal now eyeing another Crystal Palace star as contract talks in danger

He’d be an excellent addition.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 22, 2025

Palace supporters will desperately hope this isn’t the case, as will manager Oliver Glasner, but at 28, he will know that he has reached a key point in his career, in terms of sealing one big move before he passes his peak.

Liverpool now eyeing Mateta deal amid fresh Crystal Palace contract concern

The dog days of summer have come and gone and as the temperature in some parts of the globe begins to gradually drop, the temperature in MLB is rising. Division and wild card races are running hot as the calendar prepares to flip from August to September and contenders move ever closer towards solidifying playoff spots. The playoff picture in MLB is beginning to take shape but there is much still to decide. Can the defending champion Dodgers hold off a furious second-half push from the Padres to win the National League West division title? Can the Astros do the same against a surging Mariners club?

The final month of the regular season will provide the answers to these questions and more. But before all that, it's worth taking a look at the remaining schedules of each contender. Who has the toughest remaining schedule? Who has the easiest path?

Ranking MLB Contenders' Strength of Schedules

The following contending teams are ranked in order from easiest schedule to hardest schedule, in terms of opponent winning percentage.

Team

Strength of Schedule

Philadelphia Phillies

.493

New York Mets

.494

Detroit Tigers

.495

Kansas City Royals

.495

Houston Astros

.496

Cleveland Guardians

.497

Los Angeles Dodgers

.497

Milwaukee Brewers

.497

Cincinnati Reds

.498

Texas Rangers

.499

Toronto Blue Jays

.501

Boston Red Sox

.502

San Diego Padres

.503

Seattle Mariners

.505

New York Yankees

.506

Chicago Cubs

.506

Now, let's take a deeper dive into each team's schedule in the divisional and wild card races.

American League EastToronto Blue JaysPosition in Playoff Race: 1st in AL EastFangraphs Playoff Odds: 99.7%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. NYY Sept. 5-7, vs. BOS Sept. 23-25

Toronto will be battle-tested in the final month, as four of its final nine series will be against teams currently in the postseason picture.

Boston Red SoxPosition in Playoff Race: 1st AL Wild CardFangraphs Playoff Odds: 94.6%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. NYY Sept. 12-14, vs. TOR Sept. 23-25

Boston has it slightly easier than Toronto, as just three of its final nine series are against playoff teams. Six straight games against the Blue Jays and first-place Tigers to end the season is certainly a gauntlet, though.

New York Yankees Position in Playoff Race: 2nd AL Wild Fangraphs Playoff Odds: 98.1%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. TOR Sept. 5-7, vs. BOS Sept. 12-14

One thing is for sure: the Yankees will find out what they're made of in the season's last month. From Sept. 2 to the 14th, the Yankees, respectively, face the Astros, Blue Jays, Tigers and Red Sox. Blue Jays and Tigers and Red Sox, oh my!

American League WestHouston AstrosPosition in Playoff Race: 1st in AL WestFangraphs Playoff Odds: 90.8%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. SEA Sept. 19-21

The late-September series against the Mariners very well could decide the division. But games against the Yankees, two series against the Rangers and games against the Blue Jays loom large as well.

Seattle MarinersPosition in Playoff Race: 3rd AL Wild CardFangraphs Playoff Odds: 90.4%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. HOU Sept. 19-21

The Mariners' sneaky-tough schedule peaks in the season's final week with a pivotal series against the Astros and a test against the defending-champion Dodgers sandwiched around a series against the lowly Rockies.

American League Wild Card Race

Kansas City RoyalsPosition in Playoff Race: 4th in AL Wild Card chase Fangraphs Playoff Odds: 14.6%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. SEA Sept. 16-18

Kansas City has played its way back into the AL Wild Card race and will have a chance to at least cause mayhem with matchups against the Tigers, Guardians, Phillies, Mariners and Blue Jays in September.

Texas RangersPosition in Playoff Race: 5th in AL Wild Card chaseFangraphs Playoff Odds: 7.3%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. HOU Sept. 5-7, 15-17

Even after losing ace Nathan Eovaldi to a rotator cuff strain, the math still says the Rangers have a chance to make the postseason. And six games against the Astros in September give the 2023 World Series champs a chance to take destiny into its own hands.

Cleveland Guardians Position in Playoff Race: 6th in AL Wild Card chaseFangraphs Playoff Odds: 3.8%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. SEA Aug. 29-31, vs. KC Sept. 8-11, vs. TEX Sept. 26-28

The Guardians have had a nightmarish August but are still in the running for the AL Wild Card. Worst case, they muck up the plans of playoff-caliber teams like the Mariners and Red Sox. Best case, they take their nearly 4 percent playoff odds and make something crazy happen.

National League EastPhiladelphia PhilliesPosition in Playoff Race: 1st in NL EastFangraphs Playoff Odds: 99.8%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. MIL Sept. 1-4, vs. NYM Sept. 8-11, vs. LAD Sept. 15-17

Despite a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mets, the Phillies remain in the driver's seat for the NL East title. But four straight games against the Amazin's in mid-September could widen their lead or make this race very interesting.

New York MetsPosition in Playoff Race: 3rd NL Wild CardFangraphs Playoff Odds: 96.6%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. PHI Sept. 8-11, vs. SD Sept. 16-18, vs. CHC Sept. 23-25

The Mets can take one last shot at the division when they take on the Phillies later in September. But games against the Padres and Cubs present a chance for the Mets to rise up the standings and potentially secure home-field advantage for a Wild Card series should they end up as the first Wild Card.

National League WestLos Angeles DodgersPosition in Playoff Race: 1st in NL WestFangraphs Playoff Odds: 100%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. PHI Sept. 15-17, vs. SEA Sept. 26-28

As they look to hold into first place in the NL West, the Dodgers will benefit from a schedule that will see them play just two of their last nine series against current playoff teams.

San Diego PadresPosition in Playoff Race: 2nd NL Wild CardFangraphs Playoff Odds: 99.5%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. CIN Sept. 8-10, vs. NYM Sept. 16-18

The Padres don't have it as easy as the Dodgers, even though they do get to play the Rockies seven times in September. Games against the Reds and Mets will be pivotal for San Diego's standing in the Wild Card race, as well as its chances of catching Los Angeles.

National League Wild Card Race

Chicago Cubs Position in Playoff Race: 1st NL Wild CardFangraphs Playoff Odds: 99.5%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. CIN Sept. 18-21, vs. NYM Sept. 23-25

While the Cubs still have an outside shot at the NL Central title, their most likely path to the postseason is through the wild card, in which they currently hold homefield advantage for a potential series.

Cincinnati RedsPosition in Playoff Race: 4th in NL Wild Card chaseFangraphs Playoff Odds: 3.5%Biggest Remaining Matchups: vs. NYM Sept. 5-7, vs. SD Sept. 8-10, vs. CHC Sept. 18-21

The Reds have a golden opportunity to increase their playoff odds with September series against the Mets, Padres and Cubs, each of whom is ahead of them in the NL Wild card standings.

Strength of schedules and playoff odds are subject to change. Here are the latest, up-to-date strength of schedules and playoff odds.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an apology after he clashed with a television cameraman in the wake of Saturday's disappointing Premier League defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park. Guardiola exchanged words with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after the final whistle and was also spotted confronting a camera operator in a bizarre exchange.

Guardiola apologises for behaviour at Newcastle

Guardiola faced the press again on Monday and took time out to apologise for his behaviour on Tyneside. The City boss appeared overcome by frustration at seeing his team beaten by Newcastle in feisty scenes on the pitch at full-time. He addressed the situation at a press conference ahead of his team's Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen and admitted he was not proud of his behaviour. Guardiola told reporters: "I apologise. I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman. I am who I am. After 1,000 games I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. It’s not about that. What is for sure, I defend any team and my club, that’s for sure. The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club."

The City boss also explained his chat with Guimaraes, saying: "We have known Bruno for many, many years and every time after the game, even at the Etihad, we talk in the tunnel or wherever we talk, always. I don’t know what happened. Our paths always cross and I always have a good relationship with him. I love it. I’m an emotional guy, I love to talk and move my hands and my arms and everything."

AdvertisementAFPAnother landmark looming for Guardiola

Guardiola is now focused on Europe and a match that will bring up his 100th Champions League game in charge of Manchester City. The 54-year-old says his latest milestone makes him feel old, telling reporters: "I realise I'm getting old. Every game is a milestone. It's good. It means every season we've been there. It's a huge competition. It's special for the players. To challenge yourself with the best teams in Europe is incredible, a huge experience. For the club, in terms of reputation, prestige and financial issues it's massively important."

'One more point' – Pep wants qualification secured

The City boss also insisted that Saturday's loss had already been forgotten about and urged his team to regroup and secure qualification for the next phase of the Champions League. The Cityzens have three wins and a draw from their first four games and Guardiola says the clash with Leverkusen is crucial for his team.

"It’s immediately forgotten. That night, a little thought about what happened. It’s massively important the group stage, we have made incredibly good four games, even against Monaco away we played outstanding. Now we start the last four games, two at home two away, tomorrow against third in the table in the Bundesliga table. A massively important game to finish where we want to finish in the first eight. Win tomorrow and one more point and we qualify for the next round in front of the 24 teams. Tomorrow is important and we focus on what we have to do."

Guardiola was also asked about the defeat to Newcastle and whether it spelt the end of City's title hopes. He responded: "Losing four games in 12, we have to improve a lot. Mathematically, it's possible to win the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, and the Premier League. You are experienced journalists. Did you hear me talk about quadruples in November, December when we won the quadruple? No. It will not be an exception in this case."

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AFPWhat comes next for City?

Man City will be favourites to win on Tuesday as the Cityzens possess a formidable record at home in the Champions League and have gone 23 matches without defeat in the group phase at the Etihad. Guardiola will be eager for his team to bounce back after defeat to Newcastle last time out, particularly as the their next game in the competition is against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Could he be more productive? Should he be more selfish? Beauty of Test cricket is there’s always room for more of both

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Jun-20253:26

Harmison: Not sure India believed they could get Duckett out

As a batter, the beauty of Test cricket is that it is a code of the sport where individual success has a greater onus on the team’s success.Such traits do exist in white-ball cricket. But the way line-ups are pieced together, with precise skillsets required for clearly defined roles, batters can bat too long, too short, and face strike too little or too much to knock whole plans out of joint. In the red-ball game, however, when you are, let’s say, faced with a chase of 371, greediness is welcome. Where Test history is concerned, the one with themselves in mind can be king.And so there was Ben Duckett, about half-an-hour after the 6.29pm finish, metaphorical crown on his head, very real magnum of bubbly in his hands. A sixth Test hundred – 149, his third-highest score – had him as Player of the Match after England’s second-highest successful chase. Greed had served him well, siphoning off almost 40% of the runs for himself, and standing out in a Test with five other centurions, one of whom had two.Related

Stokes hails 'incredible' opening stand as England repeat history

Gill must lay down the law after India lose the unlosable Test

Stokes has the last laugh as England's have-a-chase ethos wins big

Duckett 149 lays the foundation as England hunt down 371

England were cruising while Duckett was at the crease. The initial contrast with his opening partner Zak Crawley was clear. A stand of 188 in which Crawley, the one with the license to thrill, provided just 65, having posted his slowest half-century from 111 deliveries while Duckett had taken just 55 for the second half of his full one.The sketchiness when he departed, however, underlined his bombast and brilliance, having left just 118 for the rest to clear. As he watched on from the balcony, it was akin to the sporting equivalent of earwigging your own funeral. The situations beyond his innings confirmed the scale of its quality.Ben Stokes’ approach to playing the reverse sweep against Ravindra Jadeja – half of his 16 shots botched, just eight runs from the shot – highlighted just how good Duckett had to be to score 31 from 12 attempts. There were six boundaries among them, including the four that took him to three figures from 121 deliveries, and a ludicrous flat six over cover point. Tuesday was the seventh time Stokes has been dismissed by Jadeja. Duckett has not only avoided such a fate but boasts the highest strike rate of anyone to have faced the left-arm spinner.The reverse sweeps might not have come through for Stokes, as he scuffed one to opposition skipper Shubman Gill at short third. But it was more effective than his neither forward nor back approach before tea, which produced the odd pop up to keep the close fielders interested. As it happens, the shift in method came after seeking inspiration from Duckett, who by now had showered, got into his training gear and was settling in to enjoy the culmination of a chase he never lost faith in. This was Stokes’ manor in 2019 and here he was six years later, asking someone else for directions.Ben Duckett rolls out a reverse-sweep•Getty Images”I actually spoke to him when we came off for that tea break,” revealed Stokes later. “He’s one of the best in the world at reverse sweeps, sweeps, a fantastic player of spin, particularly on really tricky surfaces. I had a little word with him about what he thought I could potentially look at doing a little bit better, to give myself a better chance.”Part of Stokes’ desired hurry-up was related to the eventual return of Jasprit Bumrah, with 102 still to get in the final session. Duckett was the only one to not just sit on him, though he blocked – and even left – some of the 33 dots of the 49 deliveries exchanged. But among the other 16 was a four punched down the ground – something which no one else had done. Partly it was because the Indian great thought pushing for the stumps was a tactic, because other avenues had been exhausted. So came a flick through midwicket. A retaliation bumper, pulled off the nose, all-but ended Bumrah’s threat with the first ball.The 31-year-old bowled three more overs with it after Duckett had chipped Shardul Thakur to cover. Stokes and Joe Root bunkered down, taking just two singles. Part of that was down to lacking the hold Duckett seems to have over Bumrah, which, since the start of 2024, amounts to scoring more runs against him – 110, off 170 deliveries, for three dismissals – than any other batter.But the lack of intent to Bumrah was also because England were ahead of the game, and risks were unnecessary. Duckett had taken them all for himself. His dismissal as the third wicket came midway through the 55th over with 253 on the board. It meant India needed snookers to protect as much of the remaining 118 to ensure they could make the second new ball count.3:52

Stokes: Always try and keep everyone calm in chases

In the end, it was used for just two overs, bowled by Mohammed Siraj and Jadeja. As Jamie Smith blitzed the stands to confirm the win with Bumrah left grazing on the leg-side boundary, England’s joy was enhanced. The three “Bumrah Tests” were always going to be that little bit more important. This opening victory came with a welcome sense that the next two may not be as treacherous as first feared after a wicketless 19 overs when he was needed most.There’s a strong argument that Duckett is the best multi-format batter in the world right now. The problem is such debates tend to elicit the kind of tedious back and forth that last long enough for a drop in form.But fresh from what ranks as his greatest knock, in one of England’s best wins, let’s lay a few things down. Like the fact that, since his return to the Test side for 2022’s tour of Pakistan, only Root has been more productive. And yes, while England do play a lot of Test cricket, Duckett’s average in that time – 47.37 – is higher than both Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja, who have played as many as his 30 matches.There’s also the fact that he is now averaging more as an opener (44.98) than Alastair Cook (44.86). One of Brendon McCullum’s favourite lines is that opening the batting in England is so hard that the last two to do it well – Cook and Andrew Strauss – were knighted.1:53

Did we see a refined version of Bazball?

From another Sir dumping a drink over his head on the 2017-18 Ashes tour (James Anderson), to sword-on-the-shoulder numbers, Duckett’s journey to this point has not been straightforward. Time coming back from a chastening first go in Tests, time on the naughty step, time under the knife for a ring-finger injury in 2018, and time reworking a grip corrupted by an early return to action have been drivers towards this incredible purple patch. If ever there was someone who was not going to take any of this for granted and make up for what he might have lost, it is him.Which brings us to the drop on 97. A genuinely hair-raising moment for English observers when Siraj was hooked out to Yashasvi Jaiswal at deep square-leg, it signified that Duckett may not be greedy enough.Even with 167 on the board, the focus was on building a bigger platform and further demoralising an India attack for his team-mates’ benefit. An attack that was gradually realising the consequences of its own errors with the bat in the first and second innings.Could he be more productive? Should he be more selfish? The beauty of Test cricket is that there is always room for more of both, hand in hand. Right now, though, Duckett is not just doing more than most, he’s doing it better than some of the best, and on the path to joining them outright.

Shortly after the Mets suffered a season-ending 4–0 loss to the Marlins on Sunday, slugger Pete Alonso announced he will opt out of his current contract and enter free agency this offseason.

Alonso was a free agent last winter but never landed the long-term deal he was seeking. In February, he signed a two-year, $54 million contract with New York that included a player option for '26.

Alonso didn't rule out re-signing with the Mets again this offseason when pondering his future on Sunday.

"Playing for this organization, this city—they've continued to believe in me," Alonso said. "I've loved playing here. There's some great guys in the clubhouse; there's some great people on staff. Every single day, it's been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue. I've really appreciated it and been nothing but full of gratitude every single day.

"Nothing is guaranteed, but we'll see what happens. I love being a Met. So hopefully they've appreciated me the same."

Alonso didn't land the free-agent contract he was looking for last offseason because of a down year in 2024. In 162 games that season, Alonso batted .240/.329/.459 with 34 homers and 172 strikeouts—adding up to a career-worst .788 OPS. He bounced back in '25, batting .272/.347/.524 with 41 doubles, 38 homers and 126 RBIs in 161 games.

The five-time All-Star will be one of the most talented bats available on the open market. But after the Mets and their $341 million payroll missed out on the postseason by one game in 2025, will they be willing to empty their pocketbooks for Alonso?

For the first time in quite a while, there are reasons for West Ham United fans to be optimistic.

Nuno Espírito Santo appears to have found a system that not only gets the best out of his players but has already delivered two Premier League wins in a row.

Moreover, some of the stars who were looking a little lacklustre earlier in the season are now starting to pick up some form.

One of those is Lucas Paqueta, although there is a former West Ham player sold by former Sporting Director Tim Steidten who is still outperforming the Brazilian.

The latest on Lucas Paqueta

It would be fair to say that last season was not Paqueta’s finest for West Ham.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

After all, in 36 appearances across all competitions, the former Lyon star was only able to chalk up a rather underwhelming tally of five goals and no assists.

It looked like it would be much of the same for a period at the start of this season, as aside from a thunderous effort against Chelsea and a penalty against Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old looked like he was simply coasting through games.

Then, just to make the situation worse, stories emerged of him wanting to leave the club as soon as the winter window.

However, the Paqueta-born dynamo quickly responded by posting a picture of himself and his family at the London Stadium, which, given the timing, certainly felt like a statement.

With all that said, this could still be his last season, with transfers expert Fabrizio Romano making it clear that a departure in the summer is still very much on the cards.

If this really is to be his last season in Claret and Blue, at least the mercurial midfielder is starting to show his best again, scoring a goal against Newcastle United and playing well against Burnley last week.

Yet, even with this uptick, Paqueta is being outperformed by another midfielder sold by West Ham last year.

The former West Ham star outperforming Paqueta

There has been plenty of player churn at West Ham in recent years, but one of the most talented to leave was undoubtedly Pablo Fornals.

The 29-year-old joined the Hammers from Villarreal in the summer of 2019, and over the following four and a half years made 203 appearances, in which he scored 23 goals, provided 19 assists and won the Conference League.

However, by the 23/24 season, he was more of a bit-part player, and so when Real Betis came knocking in the January window, the Hammers were happy to let him leave for around £6.8m.

Since then, the Spaniard has already made 69 appearances for the Seville outfit and even started in the Conference League Final against Chelsea last year.

However, this season has been his best in a very long time, to the extent that he’s been called up to the Spanish national team for the first time in four years.

It’s a thoroughly deserved call-up, as in 16 appearances, totalling 1131 minutes this season, he has scored twice and provided four assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.66 games, or every 188.5 minutes.

For comparison’s sake, Paqueta’s tally of four goals in 12 appearances, totalling 1051 minutes, comes out to a worse average of a goal involvement every three games, or every 262.75 minutes.

The comparison is even more weighted in the Spaniard’s favour when examining their underlying numbers.

For example, the “unbelievable” midfielder, as dubbed by journalist Karl Matchett, comes out on top in most crucial metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes and shot-creating actions.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.26

0.20

Progressive Passes

8.45

6.70

Progressive Carries

1.64

0.57

Passing Accuracy

84.3%

75.1%

Key Passes

1.91

1.32

Passes into the Final Third

7.27

4.25

Live Passes

60.5

48.0

Shot-Creating Actions

4.71

2.35

Goal-Creating Actions

0.63

0.09

Overall, while he might not be as good a player as Paqueta, Fornals is certainly outperforming him this season, and is someone Nuno would surely love to have in his squad.

Better than Potts: West Ham must rue losing "the best academy player in Europe"

The former West Ham academy gem is going to be a bigger star than Freddie Potts.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 13, 2025

USMNT icon Landon Donovan expressed disappointment over Ricardo Pepi’s limited minutes during the November 2025 window, saying the young striker has slipped in the team’s forward pecking order – now behind Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright – and that the coach’s selections make that clear. Donovan expressed particular concern about Pepi's complete absence in the USMNT's impressive victory over Uruguay.

ImagnDonovan highlights Pepi's absence against Uruguay

The former USMNT captain noted that despite the team scoring multiple goals and having a comfortable lead, head coach Mauricio Pochettino still opted not to give Pepi any playing time. 

“I would say yeah,” Donovan said on his Unfiltered Soccer podcast when asked if Pepi’s lack of minutes was a concern. “I mean, this is a game where you can’t wait to get on the field if you’re watching from the bench because you’re like, there’s going to be chances, especially when they went down to 10 men. You’re like 'Get me on the field, get me on the field!'

“And yeah, I’m not in Pochettino’s head, I can’t speak for him, but [Pepi] had a chance the other night that he fluffed and should have scored.”

AdvertisementPSV striker now third in depth chart for USMNT

Donovan's assessment placed Pepi clearly third in the striker pecking order under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

“It’s pretty clear right now, although this is always changing, but like it goes, Balogun and then Haji Wright. And I think Pepi right now is third and that’s the way he views it,” Donovan said.

Competition up front

Over the last few camps, Folarin Balogun has taken over as the USMNT’s No. 9 with the AS Monaco star leading the charge going into 2026. His form has matched that as he has netted three goals in his last five caps for the USA. The same applies to Haji Wright, who has netted two goals in his last two caps while Pepi has struggled for form and fitness.

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AFPCritical four months ahead as World Cup approaches

With only one international window remaining before World Cup qualifying intensifies, the competition for striker positions continues to intensify. 

Between them, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill scored 313 runs in the DC vs GT game – the 318 between the four openers is an IPL record

Sampath Bandarupalli18-May-20251:21

Moody: Gill, Sai Sudharsan now have five gears

200 – Target chased down by Gujarat Titans (GT) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025 on Sunday, the highest without losing a wicket in the IPL. The previous highest was 184 by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Gujarat Lions in 2017.GT also became only the second team to successfully chase a 200 (or more) target without losing a wicket in T20s. Pakistan had done the same against England in 2022 in Karachi.2 – This was the second game between the two this season, and on both occasions, GT had a 200 (or more) target, which they chased successfully. This is the first instance of a team chasing 200 (or more) targets twice against an opponent in one IPL season.Only one team before GT had multiple 200-plus chases against an opponent in a T20 tournament (or series) – Bulgaria against Serbia in 2022.2 – DC’s two defeats against GT in IPL 2025 are the only instances of them failing to defend 200 (or more) target in the IPL. Before this season, they had a 13-0 record on that front in the IPL. GT had also never chased a 200 (or more) target before their two wins against DC this season.205* – Partnership between B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill for the first wicket on Sunday night, the highest by a pair in an IPL chase. The previous highest was David Warner and Naman Ojha of Delhi Daredevils (now DC) scoring an unbroken 189 for the second wicket against Deccan Chargers in 2012.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 – Number of double-century partnerships for the opening wicket in the IPL. Two are by Sai Sudharsan and Gill, who previously added 210 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul also had an unbroken 210-run opening stand for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against KKR in 2022.1 – Sai Sudharsan and Gill are the first opening pair with two 200-plus stands in men’s T20s. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are the only other pair with multiple partnerships of 200-plus runs in men’s T20s.7 – Century partnerships between Sai Sudharsan and Gill in 30 innings in the IPL. Only two pairs have had more such stands – ten by Kohli and de Villiers and nine by Kohli and Chris Gayle.1 – Rahul became the first player to score a hundred for three different franchises in the IPL. Rahul had four hundreds in the IPL before his maiden ton for DC on Sunday – two for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and two for LSG.318 – Runs scored by opening batters on Sunday in Delhi. It is the highest aggregate by openers in an IPL match; 313 of those came from Rahul (112*), Sudharsan (108*) and Gill (93*).Only once before have three batters scored 90-plus runs in a men’s T20 match – Tamim Iqbal (95), Shai Hope (91*) and Johnson Charles (107*) in a BPL game in 2023.

Sri Lanka qualified for the Super Four round but the allrounder’s participation is now doubtful

Andrew Fidel Fernando18-Sep-2025Sri Lanka allrounder Dunith Wellalage’s father, Suranga Wellalage, died on Thursday, September 18, the same day that Dunith played in the Asia Cup Group B match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.Wellalage, 22, only learned of his father’s death after the match, which Sri Lanka won by six wickets and eight balls remaining to qualify for the Super Four round of the tournament. Soon after the match ended, he left for home.This bereavement casts doubt over Wellalage’s further involvement in the Asia Cup, in which Sri Lanka have at least three more matches to play: against Bangladesh on September 20, Pakistan on September 23, and against India on September 26.Thursday’s Asia Cup match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan was only Wellalage’s fifth T20I and his first in this tournament. He has played 31 ODIs, with his career best of 5 for 27 coming in the third ODI against India in Colombo in August 2024. He also took 5 for 40 against India in a 2023 Asia Cup match, when the tournament was played in the ODI format. He was the equal-second wicket-taker in that tournament, claiming 10 dismissals at an average of 17.90.

Leeds United travel away from West Yorkshire and Elland Road to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Whites are looking to win back-to-back matches in the Premier League for the first time this season, after they beat West Ham United in their last outing.

Daniel Farke’s side won, thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon, and Anton Stach did not play a single minute of the match at Elland Road.

Why Leeds should unleash Anton Stach

Despite beating the Hammers, Leeds can improve on their performance from last time out because they failed to put the game out of sight for the away side, which led to a nervy ending when they pulled a goal back.

After Rodon’s goal, the Whites did not create a single chance that was worth more than 0.14 xG, per Sofascore, and they allowed West Ham to get back into the game, albeit they were able to hang on for all three points.

Stach, who did not get on the pitch, has proven that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, with one goal, 1.8 key passes per game, and two ‘big chances’ created in eight appearances, per Sofascore.

The summer signing from Hoffenheim has shown that he can be a difference-maker with his individual quality, which could help Leeds to capitalise on a shaky Brighton defence that has conceded 15 goals in the Premier League.

Chalkboard

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

In order to bring Stach into the starting line-up, though, Farke would have to ruthlessly ditch Ao Tanaka, whose performances he has recently defended.

Why Leeds should drop Ao Tanaka

After the win over West Ham, the Japan international stated that he is “not good enough at the moment” and that he will be using these experiences to improve as a player.

Asked about Tanaka’s honest admission, Farke said: “He had a really good start to the season with us. I didn’t expect him to be man of the match [vs West Ham], being in his first match after injury back in the starting line up, but I think he was quite solid and showed a really, really good performance.”

In spite of his defence of the central midfielder’s comments and performance, the German head coach should drop the midfield maestro from the XI because Stach may be able to offer more quality against Brighton.

Appearances

7

8

xG

0.16

0.79

Goals

0

1

Key passes per game

0.6

1.8

Big chances created

0

2

Ground duel success rate

18%

52%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

77%

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.7

2.3

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has struggled to influence games in the Premier League this season, as he has offered little in the final third whilst being dominated by opposition players physically.

The Japanese midfielder is seemingly still adjusting to the step up from the Championship, which is understandable, but Stach has shown that he can make an impact offensively and hold his own defensively in his eight starts in the division.

Given Brighton’s defensive struggles this season, conceding 15 goals in nine games, it could be the right time to bring the German central midfielder back into the starting line-up to give the Whites the best chance of causing their defence problems.

Aaronson 2.0: Phil Hay saw no way back for Leeds flop, now he's "ruthless"

This Leeds United star was the original Brenden Aaronson at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery Oct 30, 2025

Therefore, Farke should ruthlessly drop Tanaka from the XI, despite his defence of the midfielder’s display against West Ham, because it may improve the team’s chances of winning this afternoon, given the context of the opposition.