Time was when a trip to Anfield was like stepping into your own personal horror movie. Liverpool have spent much time planting the seeds of fear on their home turf, and Jurgen Klopp made that garden grow.

Then Arne Slot put on the gloves and helped Liverpool evolve into an even smoother and more stylish outfit than when Klopp departed, taking the Reds through the campaign and out the other end with a Premier League title in tow.

But that’s no longer the case. This season, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven have all beaten Liverpool on Merseyside. This sanctum of stability has been reduced to just another ground, and Slot has to fix that quickly if he is to continue his project over the coming years.

Liverpool might have avoided defeat at home to Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the point gained merely papers over the glaring problems that have left many fans shaking their heads at the false dawn at West Ham United last weekend.

It was a performance which left plenty to be desired.

How Liverpool performed vs Sunderland

After the draw, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris spoke of his surprise that his side were afforded so much time and space to play through Liverpool and carve out opportunities in the danger area.

There lies the crux of Liverpool’s problems. They are too weak and brittle, not just suffering from a soft underbelly but a doughy outer shell too.

Alexander Isak toiled in the final third, a few wayward strikes illustrating the record signing’s lack of sharpness. However, it is inconceivable that FSG should have spent around £200m on the Swede and Hugo Ekitike only for Slot to implement a system that cuts off pathways to the central strikers.

Some will take encouragement from the home side’s gear-raising final flurry, seeking out a winner after the fleet feet of Florian Wirtz led to a Nordi Mukiele own goal to restore parity.

But Liverpool are not just shorn of confidence but tactical fluency too. Slot’s strategising across the 2024/25 campaign earned him a reputation for being a “genius” and a “football scientist”, as remarked by Dutch legend Marco van Basten.

Gone is that air about the former Feyenoord boss. Against the Black Cats, Liverpool secured a hard-earned point to narrow the gap on Chelsea after their defeat at Leeds United. Elland Road is where Liverpool head next.

But imbalances and erraticness have become indivisible for the champions this season, whose title defence is in tatters and whose players have fallen by the wayside.

Ibrahima Konate was culpable of some shaky moments, as has so often been the case this term, but there was another Redman who struggled against Sunderland, leading observers to suggest he has morphed into that late version of Fabinho.

Liverpool star looks "like Fabinho in his final season"

Alexis Mac Allister has been abject this season, so far removed from the “superstar” of a midfielder, as said by pundit Joe Cole, who influenced Klopp and then Slot’s trophy-winning campaigns of recent years at Liverpool.

Having spoken about this testing start to the season earlier this week, Mac Allister suggested that he is now back to full fitness after missing out on pre-season and suffering early injury issues. But this was a performance that left much to be desired, underlining the drop-off that is suggestive of a player whose athleticism has gone walkabouts.

Against Sunderland, the 26-year-old failed to impress. Again. He was so slow and stodgy on the ball, and while he won both of his tackles and three of five contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, no chances were created by a player who need to do more and remind the Premier League of his all-encompassing skillset.

Goals

0.17

0.00

Assists

0.17

0.20

Touches

64.41

64.04

Pass completion (%)

83.5

85.4

Shot-creating actions

4.16

2.73

Progressive passes

6.13

4.34

Progressive carries

1.25

1.72

Successful take-ons

0.55

0.40

Recoveries

5.13

4.14

Tackles won

2.01

0.61

Interceptions

0.76

0.61

Aerials won

0.66

0.51

After the draw, one content creator even said Mac Allister “looks like Fabinho in his final season”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.

Fabinho was a stalwart for the club over an illustrious period of Klopp-led success, but he did indeed succumb to a loss of aggression and physicality at the end, at the epicentre of Liverpool’s abject 2022/23 campaign.

This feels similar. The only difference is that Mac Allister is supposed to be stepping into the prime of his career, and is instead languishing so far below expectations it beggars belief.

Can Slot spark a turnaround? Should the Dutchman do so, it feels like Mac Allister will be needed in fine and sustainable fettle, and that has been anything but the case over the past several months.

Mac Allister has been terrible, but his struggles are symptomatic of the wider tactical and mental plague that has spread across Slot’s system this season.

It’s not good enough. It needs to change. Mac Allister is 26, but already he is starting to look like the leggy version of Fabinho, who was sold to Saudi Arabia has Klopp began a midfield rebuild that started with Mac Allister’s signature.

FSG could see £75m bid accepted to sign Liverpool their best LW since Mane

Liverpool are in the market for a left-sided winger this winter.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 3, 2025

Jharkhand cruise to their third straight win of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Karnataka, who were beaten by Rajasthan, have now lost two in a row

Shashank Kishore30-Nov-2025

Associated Press

Ishan Kishan struck his fifth T20 century, an unbeaten 50-ball 113, as Jharkhand made light work of Tripura’s 182 for 7 in Ahmedabad. Jharkhand achieved their target in 17.3 overs, with eight wickets to spare.This was their third straight win of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.Kishan, also Jharkhand’s captain, struck ten fours and eight sixes, and his third-wicket stand of 153 with Virat Singh took his team to victory. Virat finished unbeaten on 53 off 40 balls.Tripura’s batting effort was led by Vijay Shankar (59 not out in 41 balls) and Manisankar Murasingh (42 in 21). Two days after making an incredible 95 not out to help Jharkhand get past Karnataka, Anukul Roy proved his al-lround chops, this time picking up 2 for 29 to be among Jharkhand’s best bowlers. Mhatre slams second consecutive ton Ayush Mhatre cracked his second straight T20 century, this time off 58 balls, as Mumbai crushed Andhra by nine wickets to record their third straight win at SMAT 2025-26.Chasing 160, Mumbai romped home in just 15.1 overs, with Mhatre walloping five fours and nine sixes in his innings. He put on an unbeaten 101 for the second wicket with India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, whose contribution was an unbeaten 31.Tushar Deshpande was the pick of the Mumbai bowlers, taking 3 for 25 off his four overs. Shams Mulani was equally impressive, taking 1 for 24 off his four. Andhra, who started poorly, were kept afloat by Ricky Bhui (48), while SDNV Prasad’s unbeaten 32-ball 44 hauled them towards 160.Nagarkoti swings thriller Rajasthan’s wayFormer India Under-19 star Kamlesh Nagarkoti picked up three wickets as Rajasthan pipped Karnataka by one run in a last-over thriller. This was Karnataka’s second straight defeat and significantly dents their chances of making it to the Super Four phase. Rajasthan, meanwhile, pocketed their third straight win.Rajasthan posted 201 for 5 on the back of useful contributions from Deepak Hooda (43 in 28), Kartik Sharma (46 in 31) and Mahipal Lomror (48 in 30).Karnataka were rocked early as they slipped to 51 for 3 by the seventh over, before Karun Nair (51 in 32) and R Smaran revived the innings.Karnataka looked good to chase the runs down even though the asking rate spiralled to over ten an over for the last six overs. That was when Nagarkoti removed Abhinav Manohar and Pravin Dubey, who orchestrated their opening win with a last-over six, to turn the tide in Rajasthan’s favour. Smaran remained unbeaten on 48 off 31 balls.Patidar shows good form in comeback matchRajat Patidar marked his return from a month-long layoff with a sparkling 20-ball 43, setting up Madhya Pradesh’s 37-run win over Uttar Pradesh in Kolkata. This was their second win in three matches.Coming in at No. 4, Patidar injected immediate momentum to the innings, cracking five fours and two sixes during a 60-run stand with Harsh Gawli that lifted MP to a competitive 184 for 7.UP’s chase disappeared early courtesy seamer Shivam Shukla, but Rinku Singh kept them afloat with a counter-attacking 65. He was the last man dismissed, caught by Patidar off legspinner Rahul Batham, as UP were bowled out in 18.3 overs to slump their first loss of the competition. Batham finished with figures of 3 for 33.

Celtic’s interim head coach Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Wednesday night’s clash with Dundee at Parkhead will be his final match in the dugout for the Scottish giants.

The experienced manager stepped in after Brendan Rodgers resigned at the end of October and has won six of his seven matches in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, to date.

Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy will then take over as the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers and will face a baptism of fire at the weekend against league leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

The French boss will be watching on from afar for the clash this evening and will have one last chance to assess the players who will soon be at his disposal before being tasked with organising them in training.

O’Neill will also be keen for his last game to be a memorable one, leaving Nancy with the team in the best possible position, by claiming all three points against Dundee.

The experienced boss may look to make some changes to his starting line-up from the side that beat Hibernian 2-1 at Easter Road on Sunday in order to secure the win this evening.

The Celtic players who could be dropped against Dundee

Football FanCast have already suggested that right-sided winger Luke McCowan should be dropped from the team after he failed to impress against Hibs at the weekend, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore.

The former Dundee man has been tasked with filling in out wide in recent games, due to the lack of natural options in that position, but he was ineffective last time out, which could provide Benjamin Nygren with a chance to play in that role.

On the other side of the pitch, Marcelo Saracchi could make way for Kieran Tierney at left-back, as the two defenders have shared the workload so far this season in the Premiership.

Appearances

7

10

Starts

6

6

Minutes

405

609

Big chances created

2

2

Assists

1

2

As you can see in the statistics above, they have both started six league games this term, and it could be Tierney’s time to start this evening after coming off the bench against Hibs.

Another player who could be dropped from the starting line-up, alongside Saracchi and McCowan, is left-sided attacker Hyun-jun Yang, who played a part in Arne Engels’ goal with a deflected cross for the Belgian on Sunday.

Aside from that deflected cross, the South Korean forward offered little to the side in or out of possession on the left flank. Per Sofascore, he played 86 minutes without registering a key pass, a ‘big chance’ created, or a shot on target, as his part in Engels’ goal did not count as an assist.

The 23-year-old star, who scored against Feyenoord last week in the Europa League, also lost 75% (3/4) of his duels throughout the game, per Sofascore, which shows that he was not strong enough in his physical battles.

With this in mind, and the fact that they have Hearts to play on Sunday, O’Neill should ruthlessly ditch Yang from the starting line-up to provide another player with an opportunity to impress.

Chalkboard

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

Dropping the South Korea international could allow the experienced boss to finally unleash rarely-seen winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha on the left flank against Dundee tonight.

Why Celtic should unleash Michel-Ange Balikwisha

The Belgian forward played 59 minutes across three substitute appearances in O’Neill’s first three games in charge, but has been an unused substitute for the last four matches in all competitions.

We are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes, in training and in tactical meetings, and the experienced boss will have his reasons for not giving Balikwisha much game time in recent weeks.

However, in a three-game week, this clash with Dundee ahead of the meeting with Hearts on Sunday provides the manager with a chance to give the summer signing from Royal Antwerp a start for the first time.

In fact, Balikwisha has not started a game for Celtic since the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock away from home in September under Rodgers, per Sofascore, which means that the winger has not had many opportunities to showcase his quality.

Hibernian

0

St Mirren

0

Kilmarnock

0

Falkirk

29

Hearts

30

Dundee

26

Motherwell

12

Hibernian

16

Kilmarnock

58

Rangers

65

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic winger started his first two games in the Premiership against Rangers and Kilmarnock, after signing from Royal Antwerp, but has not gotten a look-in since then.

There is more to come from Balikwisha in a Celtic shirt because his form for Royal Antwerp in Belgium suggests that he does have the potential to carry a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Per Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old wing wizard scored 30 goals and provided 17 assists in 145 matches for Antwerp, yet he has only managed two assists and no goals in 12 outings in all competitions for the Hoops.

The only way he will improve and adapt to Scottish football, though, is by playing matches and getting used to the intensity and physicality of the division, which he cannot do from the bench.

That is why O’Neill should give Balikwisha a rare opportunity to start against Dundee as a parting gift to Nancy, as it would provide the winger with another opportunity to develop as a Celtic player ahead of a fresh page under the next manager.

Therefore, the interim manager should ruthlessly drop and rest Yang from the starting line-up this evening, bringing the rarely-seen Belgian in to give him a chance to stake a claim for a place in the side moving forward.

Nancy could bin Celtic star who's been the biggest winner of O'Neill's reign

Incoming Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy could drop this star who has been the biggest winner of Martin O’Neill’s reign.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

حقق منتخب المغرب فوزًا هامًا على حساب جزر القمر بنتيجة 3-1، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وأقيمت المباراة بين المغرب وجزر القمر على أرضية استاد المدينة التعليمية ضمن مواجهات الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات لـ كأس العرب.

وانطلقت بطولة كأس العرب، أمس الإثنين 1 ديسمبر، وتستمر حتى يوم 18 من الشهر ذاته، وتقام فعاليتها بمشاركة 16 منتخب عربي.

ويتواجد منتخبا المغرب وجزر القمر، في المجموعة الثانية من بطولة كأس العرب، مع منتخبات السعودية وعمان.

 كما استطاع منتخب السعودية الفوز على عمان بهدفين مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم.

طالع | موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة السعودية وعمان اليوم في كأس العرب 2025.. والمعلقين ترتيب المجموعة الثانية في بطولة كأس العرب 2025

1- المغرب (3 نقاط)

2- السعودية (3 نقاط)

3-عمان (بدون نقاط)

4- جزر القمر (بدون نقاط)

Sri Lanka fought hard through cameos from Samarawickrama, Theekshana and then Hasaranga but had a tall ask and fell six runs short

Madushka Balasuriya11-Nov-2025Pakistan withstood a valiant all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga to come away with a six-run victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, and with it take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.Chasing 300 to win, a target that would have constituted the second-highest successful chase in Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka were set up well courtesy an 80-run opening stand, but then lost wickets in clusters through the middle overs to fall behind the required rate. A few stands through the middle overs still provided Sri Lanka the control they might have been looking for but none of their batters were able to capitalise on their starts.It meant Hasaranga was left batting with the tail during a 52-ball 59 to take the chase into the final overs, but with 21 needed from 10 he too would fall. Even then, two boundaries from Maheesh Theekshana in the final over gave Sri Lanka hope of an unlikely heist, but Hussain Talat held his nerve with the ball.This though was a hard-fought win set up by Salman Agha’s second ODI century, which helped Pakistan recover from a sluggish start to pose a competitive target. It was then brought home by what was an eventually stellar display from Pakistan’s bowlers, but not one without some significant blemishes – the innings saw 26 wides and two dropped catches.Igniting the game was fiery spell from Haris Rauf, who ended with figures of 4 for 61. Rauf’s intervention came at a point when Sri Lanka were coasting along with Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, on ODI debut, in the midst of an 85-run opening stand off just 70 deliveries.Babar Azam and Haris Rauf celebrate a wicket•AFP/Getty ImagesDuring that period, Sri Lanka were rollicking along – though much of that early brisk scoring was of Pakistan’s own doing. Of the 26 wides across the Sri Lankan innings, roughly 70% came inside the opening powerplay. That provided Sri Lanka’s chase the impetus it needed, shortly after which both Nissanka and Mishara also began to find their range.At that point it was hard to look past a comfortable Sri Lankan chase, but all that changed when Mishara spliced an attempted flat-batted slap straight to mid-off of Rauf. This triggered the first of two mini-collapses in the innings, as Kusal Mendis chopped on the very next delivery, before Nissanka edged behind in Haris’ next over. From 85 for 0, Sri Lanka had stumbled to 90 for 3.But even at that point, with Sri Lanka playing seven specialist batters, the chase seemed well in hand. A view reinforced by the 57-run stand between Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama that followed.Coming off 80 deliveries, it wasn’t a particularly rapid stand, but it helped Sri Lanka regain some of the control that had been lost by the sudden burst of wickets. It was also a partnership which had minimal risk-taking, and as such it took a moment of utter brilliance to bring it to an end.After Sadeera had edged one through a vacant slip region and swung and missed at another, Shaheen Shah Afridi swiftly installed Babar Azam at slip. And Babar was immediately in action as he sprung to his right and plucked an edge off Sadeera the very next delivery. It was a moment of outrageous skill that brought those in attendance at an increasingly raucous Rawalpindi stadium to their feet.That though was the appetiser for what was to follow. The arrival of Janith Liyanage instilled some urgency to Sri Lanka’s proceedings, as he and Asalanka put on a stand of 36 off 31 balls. While Asalanka, who had earlier in the day seemed to have incurred what looked to be a hamstring niggle, was struggling for fluency, Liyanage was rotating strike with ease.During this period it seemed like Sri Lanka had at last found the blueprint for victory: rotate strike, take the game deep, don’t panic. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, that final memo seemed to have passed them by.Asalanka’s brain fade was the catalyst for the next mini collapse, as he charged out to Mohammed Nawaz, only to be left all at sea as Mohammed Rizwan whipped off the bails. Liyanage fell shortly after, as Naseem redeemed himself for his earlier profligacy by seaming one back in to knock back off stump. Kamindu Mendis then ended up chopping on an attempted pull after one had kept low from the excellent Faheem Ashraf.Just like that Sri Lanka were 210 for 7, with Hasaranga the only recognised batter at the crease. Hasaranga’s last ODI fifty had come back in November 2022, but here he batted with clear purpose. Intent on taking the came deep, he was unafraid to give strike to Dushmantha Chameera and then Maheesh Theekshana, as he mixed in the odd boundary to keep the required rate from going beyond a relatively manageable 10 an over.But with boundaries the need of the hour, heading into the penultimate over, Hasaranga could only muscle a just-below-waist-high full toss to Babar at long-on – a catch not as spectacular as his first, but arguably more important. From then on, Pakistan could breathe a little easier, while Sri Lanka were left to ponder what might have been.After Pakistan were asked to bat first, they lost early wickets but a century from Agha and a maiden ODI fifty from Talat helped revive their flagging innings to 299 for 5. The pair came together at 95 for 4 in the 24th over, but by the time their 138-run partnership came to an end, they had taken Pakistan to 233 for 5 in the 44th over.Wanindu Hasaranga sparkled with both ball and bat•AFP/Getty ImagesAgha then turned on the afterburners alongside Nawaz, as Pakistan managed 104 runs off the last 10 overs to set Sri Lanka 300. Agha brought up his second ODI ton with a gentle dab behind point for a single off his 83rd delivery, but the ball prior to that highlighted the confidence with which he was batting – sweeping an attempted Chameera yorker for four.Prior to Agha and Talat’s stand, however, Sri Lanka had choked the Pakistan innings for large parts. Miserly opening spells from Asitha Fernando and Chameera ensured just 28 runs were scored inside the opening powerplay, and while just one wicket fell during that period the introduction of Hasaranga saw wickets fall at a canter. He ended up with figures of 3 for 54, with Asitha and Theekshana the only other wicket-takers for Sri Lanka.Hasaranga might have had another to close out the over after he had Talat rapped on the knee-roll only for the umpire to turn down the appeal. Ball-tracking showed it would have crashed into leg stump, but Sri Lanka had burnt both their reviews early on – both for lbw appeals where the ball pitched outside leg.That proved to be a sliding doors moment of sorts as Pakistan’s fortunes gradually began to shift, and it was also some much-needed luck for Talat, in particular, whose place in the side had come under increasing scrutiny of late – his six innings in ODIs leading up to this game had seen him manage 107 runs with a high score of 41.But with Pakistan in need of resuscitation, he and Agha set about rebuilding. The plan was clear at this point: keep wickets intact for the final overs and then launch. And in this instance, the execution was perfect. Sri Lanka, who might have regretted their decision to not go with a genuine fifth bowling option, were left requiring Janith Liyanage to bowl eight overs of his part-time seam after Charith Asalanka was taken for 18 in his two solitary overs.Liyanage, to his credit, gave away 48 runs, though with Sri Lanka in the ascendancy at the halfway point of the innings, their need to get through their fifth bowler quota allowed Talat and Agha to settle in nicely.And while Talat was unable to see the innings to its close, Agha ensured he remained unbeaten to get his side to a competitive total – one that proved just about enough in the end.

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Vem aí a 21ª edição do Jogo das Estrelas, uma das grandes festas do futebol ao fim da temporada no Maracanã. A partida será disputada no dia 27 e os ingressos já estão à venda, com acesso ao estádio feito exclusivamente por biometria facial. Veja abaixo as informações:

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Para finalizar a compra, é necessário realizar o cadastro antecipado da biometria facial. Torcedores que já realizaram a biometria no Jogo das Estrelas 2024 ou em partida com mando de Flamengo, Vasco ou Botafogo no Maracanã ou Nilton Santos não precisam fazer um novo cadastro facial. Após concluir a biometria, é só clicar em “confirmar compra” e finalizar o pagamento.

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Os setores Sul e Norte custam R$ 50, com R$ 25 a meia-entrada. Já o setor Leste está com o valor de R$ 80 (R$ 40 a meia), com o setor Oeste inferior a R$ 100 (R$ 50 a meia). As gratuidades estarão disponíveis a partir do dia 21 às 10h. No momento do resgate, caso apareça a mensagem solicitando a apresentação de documentos, o atendimento será realizado na bilheteria 2 do Maracanã, nos dias 23 e 26, das 10h às 17h.

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

Lembrando que no dia 27 a abertura dos portões se dará às 14h, com o Jogo dos Artistas marcado para as 16h e o jogo principal, com atrações que começarão a ser confirmadas em breve, às 18h30.

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Uncapped fast bowler Michael Rae has been called up to New Zealand’s Test squad for the second match against West Indies in Wellington. Rae, 30, earned his maiden New Zealand call-up after Matt Henry (calf) and Nathan Smith (side) suffered injuries during the first Test in Christchurch.Both Henry and Smith are doubtful for the second Test, especially considering the quick turnaround between the first two games. The Wellington Test will begin on December 10, four days after the end of the Christchurch Test. Injuries to Henry and Smith reduced New Zealand’s attack to two frontline seamers and left them shouldering a heavy workload.Rae and Blair Tickner, who was the reserve fast bowler in Christchurch, could be in contention for the XI in Wellington.Rae started the second round of the Plunket Shield for Canterbury and took 3 for 65 in the first innings against Central Districts in Napier before he sat out of the second innings. Fraser Sheat replaced Rae in the second innings as the latter prepares for a potential Test debut.Related

• Henry, Santner, Nathan Smith ruled out of rest of West Indies Test series

• Blundell, Smith, Henry sustain injuries in Christchurch; Jamieson returns to Plunket Shield

At 6 feet 6 inches, Rae could give New Zealand’s attack a point of difference and replicate shifts that his Canterbury team-mate Kyle Jamieson put in for New Zealand in Test cricket. Like Jamieson, Rae is also capable of bowling fuller lengths and swinging the new ball.Along with Jamieson, Henry Shipley and Zak Foulkes, Rae has been part of a tall, funky Canterbury attack.”It’s got to be one of the tallest bowling attacks in the world,” Paul Wiseman, current Black Caps talent manager and former spinner, told ESPNcricinfo last year. “Jamieson at 6’8” and then you also have Michael Rae, who is probably 6’6”, and then the others are about 6’5”. Henners [Matt Henry] is shorter, but he’s a genius. I don’t know if we can get all those guys on the park at the same time but it will be a real test for any batter, I think. They are an exciting group and it would be great to see all of them fit in at the same time.”Rae, with his retro headband, has been a regular in domestic cricket in recent years. He has played 69 first-class matches so far, taking 205 wickets at an average of 33.06, including three five-wicket hauls.He also has some first-class exposure outside of New Zealand, having played five games for Warwickshire in county cricket, claiming 14 wickets at an average of 30.28. Gavin Larsen, the current New Zealand selection manager, has tracked Rae’s progress closely both at New Zealand domestic cricket and Warwickshire. When he was with Otago, he had also worked with current New Zealand coach Rob Walter.Michael Rae, in action, with his retro headband on•Getty Images

New Zealand’s team management will also carefully monitor the progress of Jamieson, who returned to the Plunket Shield for the ongoing round, and tearaway Ben Sears, who is currently playing white-ball club cricket in Melbourne. Sears, who is also prone to injuries, will not be rushed back to red-ball cricket.”I’d say he’s doubtful [for red-ball cricket] given he is going through more of a white-ball stepping stone over in club cricket in Melbourne,” New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram said on Friday. “Just to get him some cricket on grass, good facilities, and a good training environment around him, which he’s got over there with a contact we had internally here. Speaking to Ben the other day, I know that he’s feeling really good about his bowling but the Test series will be a bridge too far for sure.”With Tom Blundell sidelined from the Wellington Test, with a hamstring injury, Mitch Hay is poised to make his debut and take over the gloves from captain Tom Latham, who kept wicket across both innings in Christchurch in addition to scoring 145 in New Zealand’s second innings.”It’s been a long shift. I don’t think I’ve done that many amount of overs behind the stumps before,” Latham said on Saturday. “Usually 50 [overs] is about my cap, but obviously not ideal losing Tommy either, but giving to the group as much as you can in a role that I’m used to keeping. So from a familiarity point of view it was fine, just the duration was a little bit more than I’m used to.”In Blundell’s absence, Daryl Mitchell stepped in as a substitute and put in a long fielding shift in the slips though he hadn’t fully recovered from a groin injury. Mitchell Santner, too, was not available for selection in Christchurch because of his own groin injury.

Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano has reportedly issued a final ultimatum to the club regarding his contract extension. The French international is entering the final six months of his deal and has made it clear that European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to meet his financial requests if the Bundesliga leaders fail to match his expectations before January.

• Upamecano plays hardball

  The standoff between Bayern Munich and their star centre-back has reached a critical juncture. According to a report from , Upamecano’s camp has informed the Bavarian hierarchy that negotiations are now effectively closed unless their specific financial terms are met. The 27-year-old, whose current contract expires in June 2026, is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs as early as January 1, giving Bayern just weeks to secure his future or risk losing a key asset for nothing.

  The defender has been a pillar of stability under Vincent Kompany this season, featuring in 20 matches across all competitions. However, his representatives have grown frustrated with the pace of talks and the club’s reluctance to break their wage structure. and both report that Upamecano has demanded an annual salary of €16 million, including bonuses, alongside specific release clauses that would grant him future control over his career path.

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• AFP
  

  Defender makes clear financial demands

  The crux of the issue lies in Bayern's recent efforts to trim their wage bill under sporting director Max Eberl. While the club view Upamecano’s renewal as a priority, they are hesitant to bow to "non-negotiable" demands that would place him among the highest earners in the squad. However, the player’s camp argues that his performances warrant such a status, especially given the market value of elite defenders in their prime.

  The ultimatum puts immense pressure on Eberl and the Bayern board. If they refuse to accede to the €16m package, Upamecano is prepared to run down his contract. Losing a player valued at around €60 million on a free transfer would be a significant financial blow, echoing the painful departure of David Alaba to Real Madrid. 

• Real Madrid and PSG circling

  Adding to Bayern's headache is the genuine interest from Europe’s financial heavyweights. The report claims that both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have indicated a willingness to meet Upamecano’s demands fully. For Madrid, the Frenchman represents the perfect long-term successor to the aging duo of Alaba and Antonio Rudiger. His availability on a potential free transfer fits Florentino Pérez’s recent recruitment strategy perfectly.

  Meanwhile, PSG are eager to bring the French national team star back to his homeland. The Parisian club sees him as a cornerstone for their defence and has the financial muscle to offer a lucrative signing bonus that Bayern may struggle to match. With these suitors waiting in the wings, Upamecano’s warning is not an empty threat; he has concrete exit routes available should Bayern blink.

  The potential exit of Upamecano would be a sporting disaster for Vincent Kompany. The Belgian coach has built his high defensive line around the Frenchman’s recovery pace and ball-playing ability. With summer signing Hiroki Ito still integrating and Josip Stanisic offering a different profile, Upamecano has been the undisputed leader at the back. Kompany has publicly praised the defender's form this season, but his influence may not be enough to sway the boardroom if the financial gap remains too wide. Bayern have reportedly begun scouting alternatives, including Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, but replacing a player of Upamecano’s specific skillset and experience in the January window would be a near-impossible task.

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  Time running out for Bayern

  Bayern face a definitive deadline. They have until the turn of the year to find a compromise before Upamecano can legally commit to a move abroad. The upcoming weeks will likely see a final round of high-stakes poker between Eberl and the player's agents. If no white smoke appears before January 1, the Allianz Arena faithful may have to prepare for life without their defensive rock next season.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has offered a staunch defence of under-fire Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, insisting he has "seen this movie" of crisis talk many times before. Despite the champions suffering back-to-back defeats and facing intense scrutiny over their form, the league chief believes the Basque coach has the "Madrid DNA" required to survive the storm and turn the season around.

Same old story at Real Madrid

The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu has turned toxic in recent weeks, with Alonso's tenure reportedly hanging by a thread following a disastrous run of results in which they have won just two of their last eight matches. However, amidst the clamour for change and the swirling rumours of an imminent dismissal, the president of La Liga has stepped in to offer a calming perspective. Tebas, speaking ahead of a pivotal weekend for the Spanish giants, dismissed the panic surrounding the club, suggesting that such dramatic narratives are par for the course at Real Madrid.

When asked about Alonso’s precarious situation with his future reportedly on the line this Sunday, Tebas was defiant in his support, telling reporters: "I have seen this movie many times before. Real Madrid is a team that knows how to overcome situations. Xabi Alonso has Madrid DNA and I believe that he, the players and the club will move forward. They have had that mentality since they were children and Xabi has lived it from home."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportA week from hell in Madrid

Tebas’ confidence stands in stark contrast to the mood in the Spanish capital. Alonso is currently navigating the darkest period of his short managerial career at Madrid, with the pressure gauge firmly in the red following a catastrophic week. The crisis began last weekend with a shock home defeat to Celta Vigo – a result that saw the Galicians secure their first league victory at the Bernabeu in 19 years – and was compounded midweek by a humbling loss to City in the Champions League.

Reports emerging from Spain suggest that the board's confidence in Alonso was already fracturing before the City defeat. The hierarchy is believed to be deeply concerned not just by the results, but by the manner of the performances. The team have looked disjointed and lethargic, with the exciting, structured football Alonso implemented at Bayer Leverkusen failing to translate to a squad built on individual brilliance. The loss to Pep Guardiola’s side has reportedly pushed the board to the brink, with many outlets suggesting that anything less than a convincing victory this Sunday could spell the end for the Basque coach.

Alonso is 'perfectly prepared' to turn it around

Despite the noise, Tebas believes Alonso has the character to ignore the speculation. He highlighted the coach’s extraordinary achievement in the Bundesliga – where he went unbeaten with Leverkusen and sealed the club's first ever top-flight title – as proof of his elite managerial credentials. For Tebas, the key is for Alonso to remain true to his principles rather than bending to the external pressure.

"Let him continue to be himself," Tebas advised when asked what counsel he would offer the beleaguered manager. "He is a coach who has triumphed and it is not easy to do so in a Bundesliga with the level of competition that exists.

"He is perfectly prepared to carry this forward. I encourage him and Real Madrid, because they always get out of these situations."

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Getty Images SportVinicius tensions add to the fire

While results on the pitch are the primary driver of the crisis, the situation is being exacerbated by significant internal friction, particularly concerning Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian winger has been at the centre of a storm due Alonso occasionally dropping him to the bench. His angry reaction to being substituted against Barcelona caused a stir in the Spanish media, too. The lack of public sanction for that dissent has led to accusations that Alonso has lost authority over the dressing room.

Real Madrid face a do-or-die encounter against Alaves this Sunday in La Liga. They are currently four points behind leaders Barcelona in the table and failure to win will likely see them fall further behind and could result in Alonso's dismissal.

New team, new number.

Rafael Devers will make his debut for the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday sporting a new jersey number—No. 16. Devers wore a No. 11 jersey throughout his time with the Boston Red Sox, up until they surprisingly traded him to the Giants on Sunday.

The number change comes because the Giants previously retired the No. 11 jersey in honor of Hall of Famer pitcher Cal Hubbell, who played for the Giants over his entire career from 1928 to '43.

With No. 11 not an option, Devers explained why he chose No. 16 as his new jersey number for San Francisco.

"I used the number in the minor leagues and I did really well with it," Devers told reporters during his introductory press conference, prompting a laugh from the press room.

In addition to a new number, Devers could soon see time at a new position on the Giants. The Giants plan to try Devers out at first base, and he will take grounders at first this week. While Devers refused to play first for the Red Sox, he is open to playing the position for the Giants. He said Tuesday, "I am here to play wherever they want me to play."

For now though, Devers will make his Giants debut Tuesday night as the team's designated hitter against the Cleveland Guardians, the position he has played all season thus far.