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Crystal Palace’s summer overhaul appears to have been a considerable success in the opening weeks of the new campaign, with Patrick Vieira’s charges impressing so far.

With Odsonne Edouard scoring a brace on his debut, Conor Gallagher already becoming a fan’s favourite, and the centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen growing stronger by the game, it’s hard to criticise the south London outfit’s business in the transfer window.

However, while the arrivals at Selhurst Park have settled quickly, proving themselves to be sensible purchases, it’s one of their former stars who was allowed to depart that has raised several eyebrows.

Winger Andros Townsend was amongst several experienced campaigners to be released by the capital club in the previous window, although he revealed back in June that negotiations over a new deal were taking place with Palace’s hierarchy.

“We’re still having brief discussions,” Townsend told talkSPORT (as reported by Football.London). “The club have told all of us that there’s no decisions being made until a manager has been appointed.

“Since then, Christian Benteke has signed a new deal, so… (laughs). So I don’t know. I want to be somewhere on July 1st.

“My agent is in the background now getting as much interest put into an offer, and then I’ll sit down with my agent, and around July 1st (we’ll) see which one is the best for me at this time in my career.”

However, just a month later, the Evening Standard reported that a change in circumstances meant that the former England international would not be returning to Palace, leaving the door open for Everton to swoop.

And now chairman Steve Parish must be regretting his decision to allow the £58,000-per-week gem to depart after watching Townsend flourish at Goodison Park.

In just nine appearances for the Toffees, Townsend has bagged five goals and laid on a further three assists for his teammates, highlighting his ability to still produce at the highest level despite turning 30 in July. He even scored at Old Trafford against Manchester United, mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration in the process.

The flying winger joined Palace in a £13m deal back in 2016, and the club’s chief will surely be gutted that such a talented star walked away for free over the summer, condemning them to their first transfer nightmare of Vieira’s new era.

And, in other news…Crystal Palace could be set for surprise injury boost, Vieira will be delighted 

Many Liverpool fans have reacted to the news that the Reds will face off with Preston North End in the next round of the EFL Cup, and it’s fair to say they are absolutely delighted.

Jurgen Klopp’s side take on the Championship side on the week commencing 25th October following their 3-0 win at Norwich City.

Takumi Minamino scored a double either side of Divock Origi’s first goal of the season, with Christos Tzolis missing the chance to level the scoring in the first half from the penalty spot.

Liverpool have struggled to find success in the Carabao Cup since they reached the final of the competition in 2016, losing on penalties to Manchester City at Wembley.

Part of that however has been down to their unfortunate draws, as the clash with Norwich was their 13th battle against top flight opposition in their last 17 domestic cup ties.

The trip to Deepdale follows the trips to Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, possibly providing a chance for players like Origi and Minamino to impress Klopp again as the Reds boss may be forced to rotate his squad.

Liverpool fans react to cup draw

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to react to the cup draw, which followed Manchester United’s defeat to West Ham United, as one supporter called the news ‘unbelievable’ due to the nature of previous draws.

“Am I dreaming?”

Credit: @empireoflfc

“Wow, finally we’re not playing Prime Barcelona in a cup game.”

Credit: @jasin_Muhaj

“Probably our best cup draw in about 5 years that”

Credit: @MichaelRondel1

“NO WAYY we’ve got an easy draw for once, I can’t believe my eyes”

Credit: @avixxina

“I’ll happily take that”

Credit: @lfc_jdr

“Absolutely unbelievable draw”

Credit: @eddiebrady222

In other news, Liverpool fans have been reacting to a club announcement. Find out more here.

With Marco Silva’s Fulham side heading into Saturday’s Championship clash having suffered three defeats in their last four fixtures in all competitions, the Cottagers would have undoubtedly been hoping to get back to winning ways against Bristol City.

However, despite dominating possession of the ball over the course of the 90 minutes, as well as taking 22 shots and creating five big chances, Silva’s side would ultimately have to settle for a share of the spoils with the Robins, as Kasey Palmer’s 79th-minute strike cancelled out Aleksandar Mitrovic’s second-half opener – with the game ending 1-1.

Not capitalising on chances created has been something of a recurring theme for Fulham in recent weeks, with the west London side having taken 62 shots over their last three fixtures against Bristol City, Leeds United and Reading, scoring just two goals in the process.

And, against the Robins in particular, there was one player in Fulham’s attacking lineup who disappointed more than most – Josh Onomah.

Lost 75% duels

Having been given the nod to start the fixture in the role of attacking midfield by his manager, Onomah did very little to convince Silva, or indeed fans of the club, that he is deserving of retaining his starting spot in the position going forwards.

Indeed, over his 45 minutes on the pitch, the £5.4m-rated man managed just one shot, completed a mere 10 of his 14 attempted passes, failed with his one attempted long ball and ceded possession for his side on 11 separate occasions.

The player Mousa Dembele once dubbed a “quality” talent also won just one of his four duels – a failure rate of 75% – conceded one foul and touched the ball a grand total of 30 times – 13 times fewer than Paulo Gazzaniga between the Fulham sticks.

These returns saw the £30k-per-week midfielder receive a SofaScore match rating of 6.7, with no Fulham player receiving a lower score than the 24-year-old, something which goes a long way to explaining why Silva hooked the midfielder at halftime.

As such, should 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho return to fitness in the coming days, it would not seem as if Onomah has done anything to convince his manager that he is worthy of retaining his spot in the starting XI for the visit of Swansea City on Wednesday – as the former England U21 international badly failed the 44-year-old against Bristol City.

In other news: Silva drops injury update on “outstanding” £27k-p/w ace, Fulham fans will be buzzing

While Leeds United will no doubt be hoping Kalvin Phillips will remain playing at Elland Road for the years to come, Marcelo Bielsa may already have the Whites’ new talisman in one of their academy stars: Nohan Kenneh.

The 18-year-old has already admitted to modelling himself on Phillips, while he also added that he’s a fan of Arsenal Invincible Patrick Vieira too. He said: “Currently I look up to Kalvin Phillips as (we) both play in a similar position, but I occasionally watch videos of Patrick Vieira for his qualities in midfield.”

The Athletic’s Phil Hay dubbed the teenager as “supremely gifted”, and he’s capable of playing in holding midfield as well as further back in central defence.

Also, at a imposing 6 foot 2, he seems to have the physical attributes to hold his own at Premier League level.

Describing himself as someone who is “aggressive and hard-working who likes to break down play”, but also likes “getting forward and scoring long-range goals”, Kenneh seems like he could thrive in the anchor man role if given the chance by Bielsa.

And, speaking on The Roaring Peacock Youth Pod, Matty Ingham, said: “One of the biggest prospects in the academy if we’re being honest. Big, physical presence, can carry the ball and he’s powerful and quick.”

Last season saw him spend all of his time with the club’s academy side, making 11 appearances at Premier League 2 level and helping them clinch the Division 2 title.

While this campaign has seen him play his first couple of games at centre-back, Kenneh could be moulded into Leeds’ next Phillips with a bit more training and coaching from the likes of Bielsa.

With those raw physical attributes, the Leeds boss could give Kenneh the kind of footballing education that he won’t be able to get anywhere else, and build the perfect holding midfielder at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, this Leeds ace has seen his market value decrease dramatically…

Spinner Ajantha Mendis has joined Sri Lanka’s Test squad in Dhaka after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in a domestic first-class match earlier this month. “My ankle is alright now and I am not feeling any pain,” he told reporters on his arrival.Mendis, who picked up 26 wickets in his debut three-Test series against India, was replaced by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for the Bangladesh Tests after he was expected to be out of action for three to four weeks. Mendis had suffered severe soft tissue damage in his right ankle while playing for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club against Tamil Union – his first domestic game this season.He is expected to return to Sri Lanka’s line-up for the second Test, which begins in Chittagong on January 3. Sri Lanka are poised for a 1-0 lead in the series, having amassed a 406-run lead in their second innings of the first Test. There are two days remaining in the Test, which had Tuesday pencilled in a rest day – unusual in recent years – due to the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.Following the Tests, Sri Lanka will play a triangular one-day tournament also involving Zimbabwe, which starts on January 10. Mendis, who has 48 wickets from 18 ODIs, is likely to become the quickest to 50 wickets – Ajit Agarkar currently holds the record, having reached the milestone in his 23rd match.

Taking to Twitter, BBC Scotland reporter Tom English has relayed some ‘extraordinary’ news out of Ibrox as Rangers CEO Stewart Robertson makes a controversial call.

The Lowdown: Rangers make controversial call…

Amid both Rangers and their Glasgow rivals’ opening Europa League group games on Thursday evening, something of a controversial incident emerged as Robertson made a contentious decision.

Indeed, the Gers chief opted to turn away both former Celtic manager Neil Lennon and BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton (a former Hoops player) from working at an Ibrox studio due to their presence apparently posing a ‘security risk’.

Relaying the news on social media, English has dropped his take on the unique debacle.

The Latest: Tom English relays Rangers news and drops claim…

The BBC Scotland journalist has branded this development as ‘extraordinary’ whilst also pointing out Rangers’ strange belief that pundits, of all people, are a risk to security at Ibrox.

Relaying Sutton’s message on Twitter speaking out over the issue, English gave this commentary: “Rangers saying that pundits are a security risk. Pundits! This is extraordinary.”

The Verdict: Robertson has the right…

Opting to turn away both Lennon and Sutton comes as a controversial and unexpected call, but if the Gers CEO believes it is in the best interests of safety at Ibrox, he has every right to do so.

The debate will probably continue over this next week but Robertson’s decision to exclude both pundits arguably shouldn’t be blown out of proportion on this big of a scale.

In other news: ‘One of the best’…BBC pundit wowed as Rangers eye move for ‘big game’ forward, find out more here.

Football Insider have shared the real reason why Richard O’Kelly has left his role at Aston Villa.

The Lowdown: Club announcement

Villa, who have already lost John Terry this summer, confirmed last week that O’Kelly left his position as Aston Villa assistant manager.

The 64-year-old, hailed as an ‘unsung hero’, departed just days before Villa’s Premier League opener, with no real reason as to why he parted ways with the club.

Dean Smith was coy when quizzed on the announcement, with Villa now expected to appoint a new assistant to work alongside Smith and Craig Shakespeare with interviews ongoing.

The Latest: Source shares insight

Football Insider shared a story on Wednesday after being informed by an Aston Villa source.

They revealed that O’Kelly quit after the club tried to demote him to coaching Villa’s Under-23 side.

O’Kelly had no intentions to depart Bodymoor Heath prior to Villa’s U23 plans and offered his resignation after learning the news.

The Verdict: Strange

With Terry leaving earlier in the summer, you’d have thought that Smith would have relied on O’Kelly, who he has worked with for ten years, even more during the upcoming campaign.

That was obviously not the case, going off the latest report, so it’ll be interesting to see who the club bring in to replace O’Kelly – if they were planning to demote him, perhaps they already had an alternative for the first-team lined up?

Villa have already added a set-piece coach in Austin MacPhee this summer and it appears as if another backroom staff addition will materialise soon.

In other news: ‘We’ll win the league’ – Lots of AVFC fans flock to Ward-Prowse update. 

India B Women won the Women’s Challenger Trophy with a six-wicket victory over India A Women in Ahmedabad

Cricinfo staff05-Oct-2008
ScorecardIndia B Women won the Women’s Challenger Trophy with a six-wicket victory over India A Women in Ahmedabad. India B only had 123 to chase after a comprehensive bowling performance, and knocked off the runs in the 33rd over.India A opted to bat but turned in a poor display. By the 12th over they were 30 for 3, with opening bowler Snehal Pradhan taking a career-best 3 for 20. Preeti Dimri, the slow left-arm chinaman bowler, turned in frugal figures of 2 for 13 in ten overs, striking immediately to dismiss Diana David for 17. Hemlata Kala batted 108 minutes for 32, the best score of the innings, and was eighth out with the score 86. Niranjana Nagarajan, in her third game, scored 27 to extend the score to 122.Jaya Sharma batted the entire India B innings to score 58, and it was an innings that required her to do plenty. David’s offspin accounted for three wickets that left India B in trouble at 48 for 3, and it was only until Rajeshwari Goyal applied herself well that the chase got off. Goyal made an unbeaten 40, her best score in six games, and India B sealed themselves the trophy.

Rafa Benitez has plenty of work to undertake if Everton want to be considered a threat for the top six this season.

At the moment, it looks like they will fall into another campaign of mediocrity with a flutter of bargain signings in the window.

On the chalkboard

Unfortunately for the Toffees, their spending in the window doesn’t look set to get much greater.

They’ve been linked with a £3m move for Royal Antwerp full-back Aurelio Buta while another player on their radar is Sean Longstaff.

That’s according to The Athletic who claim that Newcastle’s potential signing of Joe Willock could lead to his departure from St James’ Park.

The report suggests that his future is now in question with Everton monitoring the £13.5m-rated gem’s situation.

Longstaff has come through the ranks at Newcastle and is a defensive midfielder by trade. That being said, he is yet to live up to the immense potential expected of him when Benitez was in the north-east.

Speaking about the 23-year-old in January 2019, the Spaniard said: “(Sean Longstaff) has the potential. He went on loan, came back and did well. We had a lot of teams asking about him for this January transfer window. (Longstaff) is a good player, a good professional, and he is working really hard.”

Although his tally of zero goals from last season dictates he wouldn’t offer much in the final third, he could be an upgrade on Tom Davies.

A fellow academy graduate, Davies is also yet to live up to his true potential and has been linked with the exit door as a consequence.

Longstaff, therefore, could act as a direct replacement for the Merseyside outfit.

In completing 1.4 tackles per match in the Premier League season, he usurped the Everton midfielder’s tally of 1.2. The Newcastle gem was down on Davies’ interceptions but had a slightly better pass success rate.

Furthermore, he had a greater impact in the offensive phases of play, registering more key passes and more shots per match.

Longstaff is by no means outstanding but like new signings Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray, he’d be a useful squad option for the manager.

If Davies does indeed leave then Benitez must move to secure his signature.

AND in other news, Benitez closes in on Everton’s 4th summer signing, fans must be angry…

Lancashire opener Iain Sutcliffe has announced his retirement with immediate effect, meaning his dismissal for 4 on the final day of the Roses match against Yorkshire was his last first-class innings. He says he has been offered opportunities away from cricket and believes it is the right time to move on.”It’s been a great honour to play for a tremendous club like Lancashire,” he said. “I’ve had six fantastic seasons at Old Trafford and everyone at the club has been extremely supportive during this time.”But I’ve been presented with some opportunities away from cricket, and I’m at a stage in my life where I need to explore these at the earliest opportunity.”Sutcliffe joined Lancashire in 2003 after eight seasons at Leicestershire where he helped them to two Championship titles in 1996 and 1998. However, in recent seasons his returns have diminished and this year he has made 164 in seven Championship matches. He finishes with 9464 runs at 34.13 in first-class cricket.”Iain has been a great servant for the club and a model professional during his six seasons at Lancashire,” said cricket manager Mike Watkinson. “He is a positive influence on the entire squad and an outstanding club man both on and off the field”It’s a difficult decision to retire from a sport you love, but Iain knows he has the backing of everyone at the club and we wish him well with his future endeavours”Sutcliffe’s retirement follows the announcement this week that Dominic Cork and Simon Marshall are being released at the end of the season.