Arsenal are considering a move to sign a new central talisman who is already in the Premier League, according to a reliable journalist.

Arsenal's defensive midfielders

The Gunners have Jorginho, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey as three of their natural options in defensive midfield as it stands, but there’s a strong possibility that all of the trio could be heading for the exit door, whether that be next month or later in the summer.

Mikel Arteta’s formerly mentioned pair will have both reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the season (Arsenal contracts), while the latter has been heavily linked with a departure having told the club that he wants to leave after attracting interest from Juventus.

Should Edu Gaspar lose any of the mentioned midfielders, the sporting director may have to enter the market to find some suitable replacements in that particular position, with Everton’s Amadou Onana having been highlighted as a potential candidate at the Emirates Stadium.

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Belgium’s international was on the radar of chiefs in the capital at the start of the year, and while a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline in January, the 22-year-old could soon be the subject of another approach.

Arsenal keeping tabs on Onana

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones revealed that Arsenal are interested in Onana and are "drawing up reports on how he would fit into" Arteta's side, though he’s unsure whether this is a move that they could afford at this moment in time. He said:

"A few Everton fans probably wanted to drive Onana to another club when he missed that penalty against Fulham in such miserable fashion but at the moment, as a club, they want to keep hold of him.

"At the end of the season, I do think there will be some potential for a transfer but when we directly assess his chances of joining Man United or Arsenal in January, the likelihood is slim.

"Of the two I would say Arsenal would be more realistic though, given they are having a genuine look at this area of the field and have been drawing up reports on how he would fit into their set-up. But I have major reservations on how much Arsenal can invest and if the bulk of any transfer pot would be spent on the midfield."

Onana is a "one-man army" in the centre

Standing at 6 foot 3, Onana provides a real physical presence and adds a different dimension to the centre of the park with his height where he’s currently averaging 2.4 aerial wins per game in the top flight, but he’s also capable of throwing himself into challenges (WhoScored – Onana statistics).

The Dakar native is recording the exact same number of tackles in each match as it stands, representing his desire to get stuck in to try and win back possession for his team, with his all-round style of play having seen him dubbed a “one-man army” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

At Everton, Onana will be used to playing Arsenal and he knows what it takes to grind out a result against them having secured a victory as part of the opposition (Transfermarkt – Onana stats), so if he’s capable of performing to this high level wearing an away shirt, imagine how much more he could improve under the guidance of Arteta.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been photographed walking through Notting Hill with actor Jude Law's daughter Iris.

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• Liverpool star enjoys time with Iris Law
• Alexander Arnold said to use celebrity dating app
• Stayed in London after Liverpool's game at West Ham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alexander Arnold and Iris were spotted chatting as they enjoyed a stroll down Portobello Road in London together. The two dropped into a local cafe for drinks with Alexander Arnold having stayed in the capital following Liverpool's draw with West Ham at the weekend, according to the . Iris is the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost and works as a beauty ambassador for Christian Dior. She has also appeared in several films.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  An "on-looker" told the : "They looked very relaxed and happy and were just strolling around like two ordinary young people having a nice time. You'd never have thought that they are very rich and famous, and most people didn't even spot them. They popped into a café to get their drinks and as it was a nice day, were just having an enjoyable walk."

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  THE GOSSIP

  Alexander Arnold is believed to have recently started using celebrity dating app Raya, which is said to boast an "exclusive clientele", after splitting with Hannah Atkins last year. It's not known how he met Iris but the Liverpool defender has displaying a fondness for fashion and was spotted at the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2024 Men’s Show in Milan in January and the Pharrell Williams fashion show for Luis Vuitton in Paris last summer. Iris is said to enjoy a "jet set lifestyle" and is considered to be an influential figure in the fashion industry.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER ARNOLD

  Alexander Arnold will turn his attention back to the football on Sunday with a visit from Tottenham. The Reds have seen their Premier League titles hopes hit in recent weeks with Jurgen Klopp's men set to finish their campaign with games against Spurs, Aston Villa and Wolves.

Moeen Ali will join Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler in sitting out the T20I leg of England’s tour of the Caribbean, after it was announced that he will fly home after the final ODI in St Lucia on Saturday to rest up ahead of the IPL.Sam Curran, who is also due to play in this year’s IPL but has not been a part of the limited-overs squad, has been called up in place of Moeen.Moeen, who finished as England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket this winter after returning to the side during the India series last summer, is – like Stokes and Buttler – a key part of England’s squads in all three formats.He was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2019 IPL, which gets underway on March 23. Stokes and Buttler, who were omitted from the T20 squad when it was originally announced last week, are both on Rajasthan Royals’ books.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was awarded a category A contract, the second-most lucrative, while Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were moved down from category A+ to A

Nagraj Gollapudi07-Mar-2019Rishabh Pant’s exploits in international cricket since his Test debut in England last year have given him a lucrative entrance into BCCI’s annual retainers’ list. Pant, who was not part of the 26-man list in 2017-18, has been placed in Category A for the 2018-19 season, which carries a retainer worth INR 5 crore.The contracts, which run from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019, were approved by the Committee of Administrators, the supervisory authority of BCCI, on Thursday in Delhi.The list of contracts

Grade A+ (INR 7cr): Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

Grade A (INR 5cr): R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant

Grade B (INR 3cr): KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya

Grade C (INR 1cr): Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha

IN: Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu, Hanuma Vihari, Khaleel Ahmed

OUT: Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Jayant Yadav, Axar Patel, Karun Nair, M Vijay

Grade A is the second-most lucrative retainer, one rung below the A+ grade, which was introduced last year for players that feature in all three formats. The A+ category, worth INR 7 crore, had five players in the previous contract period, but that count has been brought down to three with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan being dropped to the A category. The three players to retain their spots in the A+ category are captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.The A bracket has 11 players compared to seven last year. Three players have also been promoted from B to A: fast bowling pair of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, along with wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav.MS Dhoni, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have all retained their spots in the A category. Wriddhiman Saha, who missed out most of 2018 due to injuries and only started playing few weeks back, has been moved from A to C. There were some new entrants too in the C grade – Ambati Rayudu, Hanuma Vihari and Khaleel Ahmed – as Axar Patel, Karun Nair, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Jayant Yadav were dropped.Opener M Vijay, who was in the A category last year, has been dropped from the list completely. The overall count of players contracted has also come down from 26 to 25 this year.Like last year, the final list was prepared by the five-man national selection panel led by MSK Prasad. The selectors have opted to reward players that have taken significant strides in the last year and have been the key performers consistently.One of those players has been Pant. The 21-year-old has been one of the most improved players on the Indian circuit across formats and is currently auditioning for India’s World Cup squad. Picked in place of Saha, who was injured through 2018, Pant cracked a century in his third Test on a debut tour of England. More recently, Pant made 159 against Australia during the New Year’s Test in Sydney, having taken 11 catches in the series opener in Adelaide, the most by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests.ESPNcricinfo understands Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar were not retained in the A+ category because they did not consistently feature in all three formats last season. Dhawan struggled for form in the Test format on the tours of South Africa and England and was eventually dropped for the Australia tour, with the selectors picking Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. Bhuvneshwar was injured at the start of the season, and although he was included in the Test squad for Australia, he did not play in the four-match series that India won 2-1.Two key players, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who were briefly suspended by the CoA for their alleged misconduct on a TV chat show, will continue to be part of Category B (INR 3 crore). On Thursday, the CoA had asked Justice DK Jain, newly-appointed BCCI ombudsman, to probe Pandya and Rahul’s alleged misconduct. As per the BCCI constitution, the ombudsman is the final authority to adjudicate on such issues.Pandya is not part of the ongoing ODI series against Australia due to a back injury, but his stocks have gradually increased over the last 18 months with the management backing him to play in all three formats as the primary allrounder.Among the players that missed the cut were Shaw, Agarwal and Vijay Shankar. Shaw made his India debut with an effervescent Test century against West Indies last year and was part of the Test squad for the Australia tour, but was forced to return home due to a freak injury while fielding during the warm-up match. Agarwal, too, has made a strong start to his international career, while Vijay, who helped India clinch a thrilling last-over victory with the ball in the Nagpur ODI against Australia earlier this week, has given healthy headaches to the selection panel, which has put him in the pool of 18-odd players shortlisted for the World Cup.Women’s retainers: Poonam Yadav gets Category A contractLegspinner Poonam Yadav has been rewarded with a Category A contract, worth a retainer of INR 50 lakh, following her standout performances in 2018. Poonam was the highest wicket-taker in T20Is in 2018, and the joint-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. She joins Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana in the category, while the experienced Jhulan Goswami has been moved from A down to B (INR 30 lakh) for the 2018-19 season.The list of contracts

Grade A (INR 50 lakh): Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana

Grade B (INR 30 lakh): Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rogdrigues

Grade C (INR 10 lakh): Radha Yadav, D Hemalatha, Anuja Patil, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mansi Joshi, Punam Raut, Mona Meshram, Arundhati Reddy, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Taniya Bhatia, Pooja Vastrakar

The other notable movement up in BCCI’s annual player retainership for women is that of Jemimah Rodrigues, who broke into the national team in 2018. She has moved up from C (INR 10 lakh) into B. She joins Ekta Bisht, Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma, who have retained their places in the category.Middle-order batsman Veda Krishnamurthy, who finished 2018 with ten consecutive single-digit scores across formats, has been pushed down to C, along with left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Liverpool legend shared a pint with Borussia Dortmund fans before Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

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Carragher enjoyed a pint with Dortmund fans Interviewed them outside Signal Iduna Park Dortmund lead 1-0 at half-time WHAT HAPPENED?

The ex-Reds star and CBS pundit interviewed a bunch of Dortmund supporters outside the Signal Iduna Park ahead of the club's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash against the newly crowned Ligue 1 champions. After the interview, Carragher clicked selfies with the fans and then chugged a pint of beer with them.

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The Bundesliga side, who staged a remarkable comeback against Atletico Madrid to qualify for the last-four stage, took the lead at home against Kylian Mbappe and Co. courtesy of a strike from Niclas Fullkrug in the 36th minute. The last time the German club reached the semi-finals was during the 2012/13 season.

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Getty Images WHAT NEXT?

Luis Enrique's side will aim to turn things around in the second half and restore parity in the tie before they head home for the second leg.

Liverpool were set to drop points for the first time at Anfield this season, but Trent Alexander-Arnold said no. The England international's last-gasp winner against Fulham on Sunday afternoon is symbolic of the lionhearted mentality under Jurgen Klopp's management.

Was this on show last season? Decidedly not. Liverpool struggled, toiled, languished and flopped. A fifth-placed Premier League finish was probably a fair reflection of a season marred by a malfunctioning engine room, the cuts too deep despite a late-season purple patch.

But Liverpool's heavy tinkering across the summer has resulted in a new-look midfield that has charged the club back into title conversations, with results such as the 4-3 win over Fulham evidence of a mindset fit for champions.

Unfortunately for the Reds, Arsenal mirrored the result at Kenilworth Road soon after, with Declan Rice popping up big time once again in a further token of his worth after a £105m summer arrival.

Manchester City also exists, and the pursuit of silver-laden success will require season-long fortitude, ingenuity and innovation to prevail and return to the pinnacle of the footballing pyramid.

Such ambitions have been made possible by the acquisitions of cultured Alexis Mac Allister, indefatigable Dominik Szoboszlai and exciting Ryan Gravenberch.

Such signings still have not answered the question surrounding Liverpool's long-term answer to the No. 6 position in the team, where Mac Allister has been playing since the summer.

Indeed, the time for a solution is now approaching, and to take a step in that direction, Liverpool must make a move for high-octane wideman Jeremie Frimpong.

Liverpool transfer news – Jeremie Frimpong

According to a recent report from 90min, Liverpool scouts were present to watch surprise German Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen draw 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund, with Frimpong the man at the centre of Klopp's attention.

Understood to have a £35m release clause in his contract which expires next summer, the Dutchman has been exceptional under Xabi Alonso's management this season, with his exploits down the right channel also attracting Arsenal's attention, with scouts decidedly impressed by what they saw.

The 22-year-old is among the finest attacking wing-backs in the business and appears to offer a skill set that would complement Liverpool's system, though whether the Reds opt to prioritise such a signing over the midfield remains to be seen.

Jeremie Frimpong's style of play

Praised for his "breathtaking" speed by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango, Frimpong is one of the most distinctive and talented defenders in Europe, though it's perhaps incorrect to label him as a member of the backline.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking box and progressive carries, and the top 2% for successful take-ons and progressive passes received per 90, highlighting his placement up within the thick of the attacking action.

As a result of such marauding forays, Frimpong ranks among the top 2% for goals, the top 5% for assists and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, leading United Stand presenter Beth Tucker to call him a “monster” in the final third.

#

Player

Club

1

Theo Hernandez

AC Milan

2

Alphonso Davies

Bayern Munich

3

Kieran Trippier

Newcastle United

4

Joao Cancelo

Barcelona

5

Benjamin Pavard

Inter Milan

*Sourced via Football Transfers

Likened to some of the best offensive full-backs around, Frimpong has certainly been in fine fettle this season, posting six goals and seven assists from 18 appearances across all competitions, particularly eye-catching in the German top-flight.

As per Sofascore, the whiz has clinched nine direct contributions across 13 starts in the Bundesliga this season, notably also completing 80% of his passes, averaging 1.5 key passes and 3.5 ball recoveries per game and providing Alonso's high-flying side with a constant offensive outlet down the right.

Again, it must be stressed that the former Celtic starlet is firmly positioned in the attacking half, only making 0.9 tackles and 0.5 clearances per game and only winning 48% of his duels, so his addition to the fold would hardly eradicate the perpetual question marks over Liverpool's defensive solidity at right-back under Klopp's leadership.

By sealing a swoop for Frimpong, Liverpool would, of course, likely wave goodbye to Alexander-Arnold's permanent role at right-back, with all the pointers suggesting that the brilliant playmaker is destined for a future in the centre of the park.

New beginnings

Two years ago, Klopp scoffed at claims that Alexander-Arnold should move into midfield, saying, "Why make the best right-back in the world a midfielder?"

Now, with the 25-year-old increasingly venturing into the nucleus of Klopp's system of the pitch, it appears inevitable that he will eventually cement a spot in the middle, which would mean that signing someone of Frimpong's ilk makes a load of sense.

Alexander-Arnold is one of the finest creative players in the world, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for assists and passes attempted, the top 25% for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90.

His innate ability to influence play and pick out the Mohamed Salah's and Luiz Diaz's of Liverpool's team is nothing short of extraordinary, though there is a growing sense that his defence-splitting passing would be better utilised as the central fulcrum.

On a per-game average in the league this term, the "genius" – as he has been dubbed by reporter Neil Jones – is creating 1.8 key passes, making 6.8 ball recoveries and 1.3 tackles, also completing 81% of his passes.

This hints at an ability to thrive in the centre, marrying his flair and style with an underrated industriousness; it's also worth noting, that were such changes to be enforced then Frimpong could find the ultimate force supplementing his darting runs.

Frimpong lingers in the final third and weaves into space at breakneck speed, with Alexander-Arnold in the centre, pulling the strings, then there is no telling how indomitable Liverpool's offensive verve could become, and Klopp must seriously consider signing the Bayer Leverkusen star and continuing the evolution of 'Liverpool 2.0'.

MatériaMais Notícias

Rafael Klestoff, de 32 anos, palmeirense de coração, tatuou a imagem de Abel Ferreira segurando a taça da Libertadores, com a bandeira de Portugal sobre os ombros, como promessa pelo título da copa. Em relato exclusivo ao NOSSO PALESTRA, ele explicou um pouco da sua história com o clube e disse que pensou na tatuagem após o término da partida de volta contra o River Plate (ARG), que sagrou a classificação do Verdão para a final da competição.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras x Tigres-MEX: saiba onde assistirPalmeiras05/02/2021PalmeirasCom Wesley em campo, Palmeiras treina com foco no TigresPalmeiras05/02/2021PalmeirasGabriel Veron é cortado do Mundial pelo Palmeiras; Lucas Esteves é o substitutoPalmeiras05/02/2021

Filho de pais sem time, mas neto de um palestrino fanático, Rafael pegou a paixão pelo Palmeiras do avô materno, Décio Roberto. Ele brinca que, diferentemente do que costuma acontecer, foi ele quem ensinou ao seu pai a torcer e não o contrário. Segundo o torcedor, o pai não teve muita escolha senão em acompanhar o sentimento do filho quando percebeu que o garoto, ainda pequeno, viraria palmeirense de verdade.

Rafael cita com muito afeto as recordações dos títulos da década de 90, em especial do Paulistão de 1993 e da Libertadores de 1999. “Eu tenho lembranças reais da minha memória do Paulista de 93. Eu e meu vô pulando no meio da rua de mão dada.” Já a conquista de 99, ele descreve como o auge da sua vivência de títulos com seu avô. “Foi uma das sensações mais incríveis que eu lembro, porque me lembro da felicidade do meu vô. Meu vô radiava alegria e aquilo me contagiava.”.

O palmeirense comenta que, apesar da cara de sério, “Seu Décio” era muito brincalhão e se transformava em dias de jogos do Palestra. Para exemplificar isso, ele se lembra de um jogo entre Palmeiras e Peñarol, pelo Mercosul de 1998, que foi para os pênaltis e os dois assistiram ajoelhados.

A intensa ligação entre eles continua firme mesmo após o falecimento do avô em 2012. Rafael fala da importância pessoal do título do Campeonato Paulista de 2020, porque, antes disso, a última vez que o Palmeiras havia erguido esse troféu, seu avô ainda era vivo. Apesar da partida de Seu Décio, ele diz que o vinculo estabelecido pelo time é tão forte que eles seguem conversando em dias de jogos.

Homenagem de Rafael à memoria e ao ano de nascimento de seu avô, 1930.
Para o torcedor, o sonho da Glória Eterna carregava muito mais do que apenas um título. Significava a memória marcante da alegria do seu avô na primeira conquista, um dos símbolos mais fortes desse elo.

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Esse sentimento envolvido explica apenas uma parte da ideia de fazer a promessa. A tatuagem em si está relacionada ao modo como Rafael enxerga o treinador do Alviverde. Segundo ele, a transformação promovida por Abel Ferreira vai muito além das quatro linhas. “Ele fez os jogadores entenderem o que era o Palmeiras. O Palmeiras tem cara de Palmeiras hoje.” Por causa disso, ele atribui extrema responsabilidade do título ao português.

De início, a ideia era homenagear Abel com a tatuagem de uma foto de língua pra fora, que viralizou nas redes, na sua coletiva de apresentação. Contudo, durante a comemoração do título no gramado do Maracanã, Abel foi fotografado com a mesma língua de fora, mas agora com a bandeira de seu país natal e com a taça da Libertadores na mão. A nova imagem encaixou perfeitamente no propósito do torcedor, que optou por trocar a antiga por essa.

>> Confira a classificação atualizada do Brasileirão e faça sua simulação
>> Palmeiras faz mudanças no uniforme para a disputa do Mundial; veja fotos

Supersticioso com promessas, Rafael ainda fez outras três: descolorir o cabelo após o jogo, doar duas cestas básicas e chegar aos 100kg até o dia de seu aniversário, 17 de fevereiro. Ele já cumpriu duas, a tatuagem e o cabelo, mas pretende cumprir as outras também, pois alega ter receio de dar azar ao time caso quebre sua palavra.

Dando continuidade ao legado de seu avô com as cores verde e branca, Rafael Klestoff aguarda ansiosamente pela participação do Palmeiras no Mundial de Clubes. Ele afirma que cumprirá a promessa das cestas básicas no sábado para dar sorte ao time no duelo contra o Tigres (MEX) no domingo.

O palmeirense de fé e alma verde agora tem marcado na pele a imagem daquele considerado por ele o principal responsável por reviver a alegria de 21 anos atrás de Seu Décio. Dessa vez, não mais ao seu lado por aqui, mas como dito por ele “sentado ao lado de Oberdan.”.

Kurtis Patterson’s maiden Test century continued Australia’s batting dominance in Canberra

Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Feb-2019

Kurtis Patterson pulls•Getty Images

Kurtis Patterson’s maiden Test century propelled Australia to a commanding 5 for 534, before three late strikes seriously dented Sri Lanka’s response – the hosts ending yet another day in the series in a dominant position against a beleaguered visiting side.Having made three hundreds in their innings – the first Australian tons in the summer so far – Australia’s attack then exerted tremendous pressure on a brittle Sri Lanka top order in the final hour of play. What had seemed like a profoundly dead pitch for much of the day was brought to life by Nathan Lyon, who gleaned substantially more turn and bounce from the surface than Sri Lanka’s offspinner Dilruwan Perera had. Lyon made the first breakthrough, removing Lahiru Thirimanne, before Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc also claimed a wicket apiece with excellent deliveries.’Not given any reason’ for sacking as selector – Hathurusingha

Chandika Hathurusingha will seek an audience with Sri Lanka cricket and government authorities after the series against Australia in order to obtain an explanation for his sacking as selector just before the start of the second Test in Canberra. The Sri Lanka coach said there had been little communication and no reason given for the decision.
“I was not given any reason at the moment and it’s beyond my control at the moment so after this tour probably I’ll have the chance to speak to the authorities,” he said.
“At the moment they have not much communication so I can’t give you much so once I have finished this series, I’ll probably be in a much better position to answer that.”

The most pressing among Sri Lanka’s concerns at stumps, however, was the wellbeing of opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne, who suffered a blow to the back of the neck when he failed to get out of the way of a 142kph Cummins bouncer, about an hour before the close. Dimuth collapsed immediately, losing grip of his bat, and lay almost motionless as medical staff inspected and eventually stretchered him off the field, in order to take him for what it is hoped are merely precautionary scans.Encouragingly, Dimuth was conscious throughout the episode, and was seen talking to the medics and moving his hands. But it is as-yet unclear whether he will be able to take any further part in the match.Through the early parts of the day, it was woes of the cricketing kind that plagued Sri Lanka. Kasun Rajitha dismissed Joe Burns in the sixth over of the day, getting a ball to jag in at the batsman, who then chopped it on to his stumps to depart for 180. But that would be the only wicket in the 45 overs they delivered, before Australia declared. The only consolation for Sri Lanka was that Australia’s score did not advance quite as quickly on day two as it had in parts of day one, owing partially to a slightly more disciplined showing with the ball.Patterson, who had been dropped first ball on day one, began the morning on 25 not out, and although somewhat nervy in the early overs, as Sri Lanka’s seamers gleaned movement from the second new ball, eventually settled into a happy rhythm. He was strongest through the covers, hitting half of his eventual 14 fours through that region, but was almost as good with the pull shot, as Sri Lanka’s quicks repeatedly tested him with the short ball.The bowlers had exerted pressure in the first 15 overs of the day, but once the ball stopped moving around, and Sri Lanka’s discipline frayed, Patterson began to appear more and more immovable at the crease. He never quite scored as quickly as day one’s centurions – Burns and Travis Head – had done, at times, but his batting was no less secure than either of those men. He reached a maiden half-century off the 100th ball he faced, and by this stage, seemed to have worn the opposition bowlers down. His second fifty was populated with strong shots square of the wicket – particularly through point as Sri Lanka sprayed the ball around, and through midwicket, when they tried to bounce him out.Through the course of his innings, Patterson struck up an unbeaten 130-run stand with Tim Paine. When Paine made the declaration about halfway through the middle session, Patterson was on 114 off 192 balls, and Paine on 45 – the prospect of a half-century not enough to tempt Paine to delay the declaration slightly.Sri Lanka’s openers had begun their innings in promising fashion, seeing out the 13 overs until tea without incident – largely secure in defence against the new ball. Lyon, however, caused both left-handers a few problems early in the third session, but it nevertheless appeared as if both batsmen were comfortable at the crease.But the nasty blow to Karunaratne, and the consequent stoppage in play, changed the complexion of the session. The over after the injury break, Lahiru Thirimanne pushed at a turning Lyon ball outside off stump, and edged to slip. A few overs later, Kusal Mendis was bowled on his 24th birthday by a Cummins ball that angled in, and seamed away slightly, to evade the outside of Mendis’ bat, and rattle off stump. It was the second such delivery that has dismissed Mendis in this series, with Jhye Richardson having also bowled him in Brisbane.Finally, with only two full overs before stumps, Starc had Dinesh Chandimal caught behind. At first shaping to pull the short delivery, Chandimal made the late decision to duck it, but the ball caught his glove on its way to the wicketkeeper. Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva were not out at the close – Sri Lanka having opted not to use a nightwatchman.

West Ham United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four games after an impressive victory over Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur last time out, a late James Ward-Prowse rebound effort winning the game for the Hammers 2-1.

The Hammers getting the better of a charitable Spurs side slipping up once more in the league means David Moyes' men are now only four points shy of a top-four place, with Fulham now up next at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Despite confidence coursing through the east London side's veins at this moment in time, Moyes could be tempted to tweak his line-up slightly for West Ham's short trip over to West London tomorrow.

Here is the West Ham predicted XI, with Lucas Paqueta potentially dropping out…

1

GK – Łukasz Fabiański

Fabiański filled in last time out in the absence of usual first-team goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, the Frenchman sidelined with an injury.

It looks as if the former Paris St.Germain man won't be back for the clash at Craven Cottage either, meaning the 38-year-old reserve goalkeeper will more than likely start again at Fulham.

Fabiański was crucial at points away at Spurs to ensure his team didn't concede more than one goal, making five saves in total, as per Sofascore.

2

RB – Vladimir Coufal

West Ham's Czech right-back continues to be a pivotal player for his team, notching up five assists this season already from defence.

Coufal did have an off-day by his standards against Spurs – only winning two of his seven duels in the away win – but it shouldn't be enough for Moyes to axe the 31-year-old from his starting eleven.

3

CB – Kurt Zouma

Hammers captain Kurt Zouma performed competently against Tottenham to ensure his team got over the line, clearing the ball away twice from danger in the game when the home side looked like breaching the West Ham defence.

The towering defender did win zero of his duels in the game in what will be a disappointing statistic for the ex-Chelsea man to look at, but Moyes should keep the French defender in his line-up for Fulham tomorrow.

4

CB – Nayef Aguerd

Zouma's centre-back partner Nayef Aguerd was the brighter of the two central defenders in the game at Spurs, the Moroccan battler winning all of his ground duels on the night.

Moreover, West Ham's £30m man did the dirty work required of him with seven clearances and four tackles registered in a game that saw the Hammers number 27 successfully nullify the likes of Heung-Min Son foraying forward.

5

LB – Emerson Palmieri

The main stand-out defender from a resilient Hammers back four was however Emerson Palmieri, the Italian left-back missing only one match under Moyes this season in the league and for good reason.

West Ham's number 33 won eight of his 12 attempted ground duels at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out, a key figure when Tottenham ramped up the pressure in attack.

This is just a snippet of how important Palmieri has become for the Hammers this season, completing 4.6 ball recoveries per game on average as a vital tireless body down the flanks.

6

CM – Tomas Soucek

Tomas Soucek has been a fan favourite for some time now in east London, joining from Slavia Prague in 2020 and never looking back.

This season, Soucek continues to be a reliable figure in the middle of the park for Moyes' men as was displayed by his performance versus Postecoglou's side – intercepting the ball four times in total while playing the role of a brute enforcer.

The Czech midfielder will hope he can add another goal to his ever-increasing Premier League tally of four this season away at Craven Cottage, Soucek one strike away from 30 all-time Hammers goals.

7

CM – James Ward-Prowse

Another player in midfield who has gone on leaps and bounds since leaving their old club behind is Ward-Prowse, the ex-Southampton hero now a decisive match-winner for the Irons in the top-flight as was seen in the narrow Spurs away victory.

This isn't the only goal Ward-Prowse has scored this season, the creative 29-year-old has three goals this season for Moyes' men on top of his astounding ten assists helping the Hammers pull off some impressive victories.

Whilst Soucek operates as an anchor-style figure in the midfield three, the ex-Saints man is allowed to roam more freely and helps the Hammers unlock stern opposition defences with his flair and trickery.

8

CM – Edson Álvarez

Signed this summer from Ajax for a substantial £35.4m fee, Edson Álvarez hasn't let the hefty price tag get the better of him since relocating to the London Stadium.

Álvarez had a quiet game against Tottenham last match, but his understated approach in the game was still useful. Only amassing 30 touches in the contest, his composure on the ball was almost faultless when he did find himself in possession – rarely hitting a pass wayward, misplacing two passes all night.

Moyes will retain the former Eredivisie player in his lineup for the short trip to the Craven Cottage, the Mexican midfielder going under the radar at his new club.

9

RW – Jarrod Bowen

Jarrod Bowen has been a prolific hero in front of goal for his employers this campaign, already finding the back of the net nine times from 14 appearances in the top flight.

Bowen originally joined the Hammers as an unknown entity from Hull City after an impactful spell with the Tigers, but now he is a crucial figure in his manager's plans week in, week out.

His instinctive finish against Spurs helped his team level the scores at 1-1, a crucial strike that paved the way for Ward-Prowse to score a golden chance late on to win the game.

10

ST – Mohammed Kudus

With Michail Antonio still ruled out of contention for the away game at Fulham, Moyes will more than likely persist with Mohammed Kudus as a lone unorthodox striker.

Kudus didn't really ever spark into life mid-week, only registering two shots on goal as a makeshift forward presence.

Yet, with a lack of options for Moyes to call upon from the bench to play as an out-and-out centre forward minus an ageing Danny Ings, the Scottish manager will hope the former Ajax man can be more of a lively nuisance against Marco Silva's men up top.

For his former employers in Amsterdam, Kudus did infrequently play as a centre-forward and scored nine times playing there. Could he break his striker duck for the Hammers tomorrow?

Stumps Victoria battled their way to a commanding lead over a doughty New South Wales bowling attack on day three of the Sheffield Shield final at a chilly and rainswept Junction Oval in Melbourne.No Victorian batsman managed to top Will Pucovski’s 51, which itself included a dropped chance, but the yawning gap created by the destruction of the Blues’ first innings on day two continued to widen all along despite some strong spells from pacers Sean Abbott and Harry Conway and a negative one by the spinner Steve O’Keefe.Resuming after the first of several rain delays at 1 for 48 following the loss of Marcus Harris to Abbott late on the second evening, the Victorians soon lost their captain Travis Dean, judged to have been pinned lbw by an Abbott delivery that seamed back sharply to beat the bat and may just have shaved leg stump.O’Keefe bowled many of his overs with a constricting line outside the leg stump from over the wicket, seldom gaining enough turn to threaten the stumps. But his intent was clearly to support the fast bowlers as they rotated from the Pavilion End.Sean Abbott made early inroads•Getty Images

NSW needed more wickets in quick succession to give themselves a chance of restricting the Victorian lead, but after Pucovski was dropped in the slips when trying to force a cut shot, wicketkeeper Seb Gotch and he were able to put together a pesky stand that endured well into the afternoon.Pucovski reached his half-century from 86 balls, but after Conway seamed one back to have Gotch lbw for 20, Abbott won another lbw verdict as Pucovski fell across his crease while trying to flick to the leg side.Two more wickets fell in quick succession after another rain delay, Cameron White attempting to sweep O’Keefe from around the wicket and being struck in line with the stumps, before Conway earned another lbw by trapping Matt Short. The 13 lbw decisions for the match so far are already the most in a Shield final.The dismissals opened up the Victorian tail, and Chris Tremain fell to Trent Copeland with the second new ball before bad light brought the close, but with the lead already beyond 350, the visitors have a steep task ahead if they are to overturn the seemingly decisive proceedings of the first innings.