Category Uncategorized

Newcastle United have the welcome distraction of the Champions League in midweek.

In Europe’s elite competition, the Magpies are two wins from three, with eight goals under their belt. In stark contrast, Eddie Howe’s men are struggling badly in the Premier League.

Their horrendous run of form has seen them secure only three victories from ten, leading to Toon icon Alan Shearer labelling the situation at the moment as “rotten.”

While they may now be without Alexander Isak, a number of their key established players are yet to really fire, including the out-of-sorts Anthony Gordon.

Why Anthony Gordon is becoming an issue for Newcastle

Gordon’s topsy-turvy form sums up Newcastle’s current predicament in a nutshell.

Indeed, the England international has hammered home four Champions League strikes this season and has looked at ease on the biggest of club stages. Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has even selected him to start on a regular basis this term.

That said, domestically, he has been in a horror run of form that stretches back into 2024/25. To date, he has zero goals and assists next to his name from seven Premier League outings. He has also created just two big chances across those fixtures.

Usually so creative, so dynamic and so free-flowing, the winger’s form has totally deserted him in the top-flight.

There is a stale feel in the air regarding Newcastle’s stalwarts, such as the ex-Everton attacker, as they continue to underperform, with Howe perhaps now ready to look at the youth starlets rising through the ranks at St James’ Park to fix a number of his issues.

How Newcastle could solve their Gordon problem

So far this season, Howe has chucked Lewis Miley into the first team mix here and there to freshen things up centrally, with the homegrown prodigy still only 19 years of age.

This surely bodes well for the likes of Sean Neave, who continues to rip up the Premier League 2 with his goalscoring prowess. The Newcastle-born teenager has bagged 29 goals across many different youth teams, yet a senior shot still evades him.

Alfie Harrison – who was previously on the books of Manchester City – will also be hopeful of a senior opportunity shortly, with the tricky 19-year-old maverick already up to four assists for the season in Premier League 2 action, as he continues to stick out as a vibrant Gordon-like talent.

Yet, another youngster is catching Howe’s eye who could really trouble Gordon’s first team security, with the 18-year-old in question even being wildly compared to Kylian Mbappe.

Indeed, the time now feels right to introduce the hotly-tipped Seung Soo-Park to first-team football.

Having joined the Magpies academy ranks from South Korean side Suwon Bluewings earlier this year, with lots of hype attached to his name, he looks ready and raring to make an impact under Howe’s wing.

Park would become the youngest player in the history of Korean league football when he made his senior debut for Suwon, with one goal and two assists coming his way in Korean League 2 action even resulting in his Suwon head coach Byun Sung-hwan lauding him as having the “ability to go to the very top” with his front-foot approach down the left wing.

Further hailed as being “similar to Kylian Mbappe” by Asian football expert John Duerden for his speed and skilful approach down the flanks, the hope will be that Park can explode onto the senior scene much like the world-class Frenchman managed, with promising displays coming his way for Howe and Co in pre-season.

Up against Espanyol, Park ended his bright 63-minute stint with three out of four of his dribbles coming off, leading further to journalist Charlie Bennett lauding him as a “real find” from South Korea.

While Park continues to impress behind the scenes – with two assists also next to his name in the Magpies youth set-up this season – Gordon is deep in a moment of crisis in the Premier League, with his lacklustre showing against West Ham culminating in Howe bringing him off at the half-time mark.

Minutes played

45

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

28

Shots

1

Accurate passes

14/16 (88%)

Accurate crosses

0/3

Successful dribbles

0/2

The previously mentioned Bennett even said at the close of the Hammers’ defeat that Gordon is “not undroppable” – and with Anthony Elanga still without a goal or assist himself in league action after a bumper £55m move – Park might well be the outside-of-the-box answer to their troubling woes.

Gordon may well be in possession of the number 10 shirt right now but this budding Newcastle prodigy looks ready to start his ascent to stardom and swipe it away from him in the coming years.

Newcastle's £100m star in the making is "all over the place" without Isak

This Newcastle United star is seriously struggling at the moment, having once been touted to be worth £100m.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos venceu o Avaí por 2 a 0 nesta sexta-feira (26), na Ressacada, pela segunda rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. Assista aos melhores momentos da partida no vídeo acima.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Santos

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Tudo sobre

Avaímelhores momentosSantosSérie B

Afghanistan will get plenty of practice, and scope to gather information on their Asia Cup opponents, when they play Pakistan and UAE in a T20I tournament starting in Sharjah on Friday. They’ve named virtually the same squad for both competitions, with only Naveen-ul-Haq missing from the tri-series.Abdollah Ahmadzai takes his place in the 17-member squad. The 22-year-old fast bowler, with 14 wickets from 10 T20s, is still waiting for his first international cap and has been named among the reserves for the Asia Cup. These games will be Afghanistan’s first white-ball matches since the Champions Trophy ended in February 2025.Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar is in line to make his T20I debut in the UAE tri-series, as he joins a strong spin unit comprising captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad.Related

• Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE gear up for Asia Cup rehearsal

• No Babar, Rizwan in Pakistan squad for Asia Cup

• Afghanistan bring in Ghazanfar to strengthen spin department for Asia Cup

• Junaid Siddique comes back as UAE ring in the changes for T20 tri-series

• Afghanistan bring back former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as fielding coach

The tri-series will also mark the return of Ibrahim Zadran, with the opener not a part of Afghanistan’s last T20I assignment in Zimbabwe in December 2024. From that squad, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has also been left out, although he is part of the reserves for the Asia Cup. Zadran returns having last played T20Is during the 2024 World Cup.The tri-series, which Afghanistan and Pakistan will kick off, has the three teams playing each other twice in round-robin format before the top two meet in the final on September 7. Should Afghanistan reach the final, they will only get a day’s rest before their first Asia Cup game, against Hong Kong, on September 9. UAE’s first game of the Asia Cup is on September 10 and Pakistan’s is on September 12.

Afghanistan squad for UAE tri-series

Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi

When Freddie Freeman takes the field on Friday night for Game 1 of the World Series, it will feel like he's playing in one of his homes away from home at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. While Freeman's job with the Dodgers in their quest to capture back-to-back championships will be front and center on his mind, playing baseball in Canada, in which he holds dual citizenship along with the United States, will be special for both he and his family.

"Yeah my dad is obviously going to head out there tomorrow as well," Freeman said Tuesday. "So it's going to be pretty special. And I'm not so sure the Canadian fans, Blue Jays fans, will be cheering for me this time around like it was in the World Baseball Classic the last couple of times. But it is special."

Freeman played for Canada in both the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics, changing his representation to Canada through his citizenship from his parents. Freeman's return to Toronto will also be an emotional one, given that he'll be returning to the city where his mother grew up. She died after being diagnosed with melanoma when he was just 10 years old.

"Both my parents are born and raised in Canada, especially in the providence of Ontario—my mom from the Toronto area. My dad from Windsor," Freeman continued. "So, it is special. Everytime I go there, you just have this feeling inside that you feel just a little bit closer to my mom. So I'm looking forward to it."

And even though Freeman will be playing against the Blue Jays, he's still excited about what the team has accomplished thus far, given his Canadian roots.

"I mean, that’s special,’" Freeman said. "When you have a whole country that you know is behind one team, that’s pretty amazing. And then, obviously, what they’ve done. They’ve invested in their team, into that stadium, the visiting clubhouse, they’ve put a lot into the Toronto Blue Jays.

"So to just see the city come together, and get to experience so much jubilation that they had going to the World Series for the first time in 30-plus years, you know it’s an exciting time. And being from Canada, it’s pretty cool."

MatériaMais Notícias

O comando de ataque é, nos últimos jogos, a maior dor de cabeça do Botafogo. A partir desta segunda-feira (10), o Glorioso contará com um reforço: o atacante Carlos Alberto, que estava emprestado ao RWD Molenbeek, está de volta ao clube.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Botafogo

A permanência, ou não, do atleta no Fogão vai depender da vontade de Artur Jorge, que vai avaliar o jogador. Um novo empréstimo não está descartado.

Números de Carlos Alberto

Na Bélgica, Carlos Alberto fez 17 gols e marcou três gols, além de duas assistências. Antes disso, atuou em 33 oportunidades rolo Botafogo, marcando quatro gols e dando uma assistência.

continua após a publicidade

Tudo sobre

BotafogoBrasileirãoLibertadores

The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays conducted a trade of pitchers in between their doubleheader on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays got right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles, while Baltimore got right-handed pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown from Toronto, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported first. It was a quick journey for Dominguez to switch from the home locker room to the visitor's locker room.

Baltimore Banner's Danielle Allentuck documented the short wlak Dominguez took Tuesday afternoon to switch teams.

This trade comes after the two teams' first matchup of the day, in which the Orioles dominated and won 16-4. Blue Jays relievers gave up 12 of the 16 runs the Orioles scored, so this is definitely an area on their roster Toronto wanted to improve on.

Dominguez last pitched on Sunday in the Orioles' 5-1 win over the Rockies. He pitched one inning and gave up one hit and threw one strikeout in the ninth inning to help seal the win. In 43 game appearances and 41.2 innings pitched so far this season, Dominguez has posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He's thrown 54 strikeouts and has given up 32 hits and 15 earned runs.

Initially signed to play two red-ball and ten List A games, Khaleel flew back after just two County Championship matches citing personal reasons

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2025Khaleel Ahmed, the India bowler, has ended his time with Essex after playing two first-class matches for them in the ongoing County Championship.The pacer had initially signed with the club for a two-month stint, which would’ve seen him playing six first-class matches – the remainder of Essex’s first-class season – as well as a maximum of ten possible List A games in the One-Day Cup.The club announced his signing in June, after he had impressed for India A with a spell of 4 for 70 during a red-ball game against the England Lions. He flew out to join the side for a stint that was supposed to last till late September and played in two matches, taking just four wickets at an average of 64.50.However, Essex released a press statement saying that Khaleel had returned home ahead of his remaining fixtures with the club. “While we are disappointed to see him leave,” a statement said, “we fully support Khaleel’s decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us.”Khaleel, who last played for India in 2019, has taken 15 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 31.00. On the other hand, he has been in action for his domestic side, Rajasthan, and was also picked for last year’s Duleep Trophy. Across 22 first-class matches, he has taken 60 wickets at an average of 30.13.He will also be in contention for a spot for the inter-zonal Duleep Trophy competition, which kickstarts India’s red-ball domestic season on August 28.

The Dodgers withstood a late Phillies comeback to take a 2-0 lead in their National League Division Series on Monday night. Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a single and drove in what ended up being the game-deciding run to cap off a four-run seventh inning for Los Angeles.

Ohtani also had some priceless reactions that were captured on film during his five plate appearances.

For example, the reigning NL MVP made a pained face after fouling off a 2-2 pitch in the first at-bat of the game. That's a man who feels like he missed his pitch.

When he was punched out by the home plate umpire Adrian Johnson on the very next pitch, he held up his hand in disagreement, but decided it best to just give a little wave as if he were saying hello again. Perhaps he realized that Johnson had gotten the call right.

During his huge at-bat in the seventh, he provided another priceless reaction to a call he didn't seem to agree with. Either that or he was holding his helmet with all his might so that it would not fly off.

Ohtani and the Dodgers will attempt to finish the series at home on Wednesday night.

انتقد محمد أبو العلا، لاعب الزمالك السابق، الوضع الحالي داخل القلعة البيضاء، مؤكدًا أن النادي يُستخدم – بحسب وصفه – كدور ثانوي في مسرحية تهدف لإبراز بطل واحد فقط على الساحة الرياضية.

وكتب أبو العلا عبر حسابه الشخصي على موقع “فيس بوك”: “إصرار أن نادي الزمالك يصبح بطلاً لا ينجو ولا يُدفن في المسرحية، يستمر في الوضع المعلق، ليقدم دور السنيد لشرعنة البطل الأوحد، وبكده المشاهدين يتبسطوا ويسقفوا”.

وتابع في منشوره: “وبعد كده يبدأ دور الهري الإعلامي لوهم الناس أن مشاكل الزمالك فنية، دون تقديم حلول حقيقية تُنفذ لحل الأزمات المزمنة”.

واختتم محمد أبو العلا تصريحاته برسالة حاسمة: “المخرج عايز كده.. الحلول التقليدية أصبحت لا تفيد!”.

طالع أيضًا | شيكابالا: الزمالك يمر بأسوأ فتراته على الإطلاق.. وأطالب المجلس بالرحيل

ويعيش نادي الزمالك واحدة من أصعب مراحله المالية في تاريخه، حيث يواجه أزمة خانقة أدت لتراكم الديون بصورة كبيرة، سواء مستحقات متأخرة للاعبين الحاليين أو مبالغ واجبة السداد لمدربين ولاعبين سابقين لدى “فيفا”، ما وضع النادي تحت ضغط قانوني متزايد.

وتسببت هذه الأوضاع في لجوء بعض اللاعبين لفسخ عقودهم من طرف واحد بالفعل، بينما يستعد آخرون لاتخاذ الخطوة نفسها خلال الأيام المقبلة بسبب غياب مستحقاتهم المالية لفترات طويلة، الأمر الذي ينذر بمزيد من الاضطرابات داخل الفريق ويهدد استقراره الفني.

Are Manchester City starting to build some serious momentum?

On Wednesday night, the Sky Blues demolished Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the Champions League, with Phil Foden bagging a brace, Erling Braut Håland scoring his customary goals and then Rayan Cherki getting in on the act late on.

Back in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s team have won five of their last seven, including four in a row at the Etihad, rediscovering their best form ahead of Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad on Sunday.

If the serial champions are going to defeat the reigning champions in this weekend’s headliner, which “exceptional” star should Guardiola start in his forward line alongside Foden?

Is Phil Foden getting back to his best?

On Friday morning, Thomas Tuchel’s England squad was announced for next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana, with Phil Foden one of the noteworthy names included.

The 25-year-old has not featured in any of England’s last six matches, seeing just 179 minutes of international action, out of a possible 1,260, that is only 14%, since the Three Lions’ defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

His return to the England squad is an indicator of Foden’s return to form at club level, with his double against Dortmund taking his tally to four goals for the season, having bagged only ten throughout the entirety of the previous campaign, not including the Club World Cup.

Following Wednesday night’s Champions League victory, Guardiola asserted that Foden is back, labelling him a “special player”, while Barney Ronay of the Guardian noted that he was the ‘best player on the pitch’, adding that he was ‘perky and precise all night’.

Thus, Foden’s recent performances mean he is a guaranteed starter against Liverpool, but who should come into the team alongside him, thereby forming part of the Citizens’ attacking quartet in support of Håland?

The exceptional star Pep Guardiola must start against Liverpool

In mid-week, it was Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho and Jérémy Doku who all started alongside Foden, but Guardiola surely must tinker with his lineup this weekend.

Chalkboard

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

That’s because, having recovered from a thigh injury, Rayan Cherki is starting to show glimpses of what he is capable of.

The Frenchman came off the bench to score his fourth goal for the Citizens on Wednesday, having previously netted against Al Ain, Wolves and Swansea.

When he arrived from Olympique Lyonnais for £34m in June, big things were expected of the 22-year-old, with Guardiola describing him as “exceptional”, and his statistics in Ligue 1 last season underlining why.

Goals

8

25th

Assists

11

1st

Goals – xG

+3

7th

Key passes

75

2nd

Big chances created

22

1st

Passes into area

77

1st

Shot-creating actions

146

1st

Goal-creating actions

24

2nd

Progressive carries

106

10th

Carries into area

91

2nd

Successful dribbles

48

13

Touches in attacking 3rd

826

3rd

Average rating

7.6

2nd*

*minimum 25 appearances.

As the table documents, Cherki was one of the outstanding players in France’s top-flight last season, leading Ligue 1 for assists as well as a whole host of other creative metrics, behind only Désiré Doué in terms of goal-creating actions.

This season, despite sitting out eight matches due to injury, Cherki has already started to produce in a Man City shirt, registering three goals and three assists as well as creating four big chances in the Premier League; only seven players have more across the entire division, despite the fact he’s featured in only 163 of a possible 900 minutes to date.

Two of his three assists came against Bournemouth last Sunday, both times setting Håland free to burst in behind to slot the ball beyond Đorđe Petrović.

Thus, this forthcoming Sunday, a similar game plan is surely required.

During their sequence of six defeats from seven games, Liverpool were very susceptible to players running in behind, with Virgil van Dijk not at his dominant best and Ibrahima Konaté largely looking all at sea throughout the entire campaign.

With that in mind, Guardiola will want to pick a team that can exploit this weakness, featuring Håland running in behind and Doku giving right-back Conor Bradley nightmares with his dribbling, pace and trickery.

In order to best supply these other attackers, he must find room for Cherki, who demonstrated against Bournemouth last weekend that he possesses the right skillset to unlock Man City’s other attackers.

In the possible absence of Rodri, Reijnders will be in the team to offer support to Nico González while, as already documented, Foden’s flurry of goals makes him undroppable.

This leaves Savinho, who is still yet to score in the Premier League or Champions League this season, meaning the Brazilian is the most likely candidate to make way for Cherki, who simply has to be included in the starting lineup if Man City are going to become the latest team to defeat Arne Slot’s Reds this season?

Man City "monster" is closest thing Pep's had to Messi & it's not Cherki

Pep Guardiola has found his new Lionel Messi at Manchester City in pure “monster” and it is not Rayan Cherki.

Oct 30, 2025