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While yet to be officially ratified, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed 25% stake in Manchester United has sparked tentative hope of a brighter future at Old Trafford among supporters, with the INEOS chief already saying all the right things amid his recent public appearances.

The 71-year-old businessman revealed that he is "very excited" at the prospect of taking charge of his boyhood club, with rumours already rife regarding the possible investments that he could make in the playing squad this summer.

As per a prior report from the Standard, Ratcliffe is seeking to make Crystal Palace star Michael Olise one of his first signings at the club, with the France U21 international having a release clause in his current deal that comes into effect at the end of the season.

The former Reading man would seemingly be a wise replacement for the floundering Antony – who has no goals or assists to his name this season – yet he is not the only right-wing option that the club appear to be considering, amid interest in another young gem who is shining in the Netherlands.

Man Utd eyeing Michael Olise alternative

As per a report from journalist Christoper Michel late last month, the Red Devils are said to have their eye on PSV Eindhoven winger, Johan Bakayoko, with the 20-year-old having enjoyed an impressive season in the Eredivisie.

According to Michel, the Belgian whiz – who has also been the subject of interest from Liverpool – has a market value of around €40m (£34m), making him a relatively affordable option if a deal can be done for close to that figure.

With recent reports from talkSPORT indicating that the aforementioned Olise could command a fee 'well in excess of £50m', Bakayoko could then represent an affordable, quality alternative for Erik ten Hag and co.

How Johan Bakayoko compares to Michael Olise

As United have learned with the case of Antony – who has just eight goals and three assists in 66 games for the club – starring in Holland is a different kettle of fish to performing in the Premier League, with Olise at least having the benefit of his current experience of English football.

That being said, it is hard to ignore the impact that Bakayoko is making for a high-flying PSV side in 2023/24, with the in-demand gem scoring five times and registering a remarkable 13 assists in 29 games in all competitions.

Olise, by contrast, has just five goals and one assist to his name this term – albeit while making only nine appearances – with the Palace ace having also regularly been blighted by injury during his time at Selhurst Park.

Equally, Bakayoko's status as a worthy alternative can be seen by the fact that he has 12 goals and 18 assists in just 66 games for his current side, while his 22-year-old counterpart has a remarkably similar record of 11 goals and 20 assists from 80 games for the Eagles.

Olise vs Bakayoko – 2023/24 league stats
Stat	Olise(PL)	Bakayoko (Eredivisie)
Games	9	17
Goals	5	3
Assists	1	8
'Big chances' created	4	9
Key passes per game	2.2	2.5
Successful dribbles per game	2.7	3.3
Possession lost per game	17.6	13.6
Fouls won per game	2.9	0.8
Stats via Sofascore

Like Olise, the nine-cap Belgium international is a dazzling left-footer who typically operates on the right flank, with his profile having even been described as "similar to [Bukayo] Saka", according to data analyst Ben Mattinson.

That likeness to the Arsenal star – who has racked up 21 goal involvements in 27 outings this term – can be seen by the duo's dribbling prowess, with Saka averaging 2.04 successful take-ons and 5.11 progressive carries per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bakayoko averages 3.73 and 7.51 for those same two metrics, respectively.

Man Utd could repeat Zlatan move by signing "the best no.9 in the world"

The Red Devils have been linked with a swoop for the world-class centre-forward.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 15, 2024

Evidently a real creative outlet from the flanks, the one-time Anderlecht youth asset is certainly a figure to keep an eye on, even amid Ratcliffe's apparent interest in Olise.

Arsenal are thought to be leading the race for an in-demand target in the New Year, according to a fresh report.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners find themselves in a solid position in the Premier League table as we approach the halfway stage of the campaign and can return to the top of the league standings with a win over West Ham on Thursday evening.

Sporting director Edu, who works together with manager Mikel Arteta, could look into new signings with the January transfer window just around the corner to bolster their squad for the season half of the season. A new forward appears to be on the to-do list in 2024, with a number of targets being linked.

Ivan Toney

20/12/2023

Boulaye Dia

16/12/2023

Dusan Vlahovic

23/11/2023

Marcos Leonardo

24/11/2023

Santiago Gimenez

28/10/2023

However, despite the Gunners having the joint-best defence in the league, a new centre-back has also been rumoured to join. Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal are preparing to trigger the release clause in the contract of Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio, and a new development has now emerged.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Portugal regarding Arsenal and Inacio in the last 48 hours, claiming it is the Gunners who are in fact leading the race for the centre-back. The Gunners are ‘best positioned’ to win the race for Inacio and are well-placed to ‘advance for the signing’ ahead of January, with any deal needing to be his €60m (£52.1m) release clause.

There is plenty of interest in Inacio, though, with rivals Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool also keen on the Portuguese star.

Inacio compared to Gabriel and Saliba

Inacio, who football talent scout Jacek Kulig described as "complete", is just 22 years of age but already boasts a wealth of senior experience for Sporting. The player has made 145 senior appearances for the club after progressing through their academy, scoring 14 times and providing eight assists along the way. (Gonaclo Inacio stats – Transfermarkt)

He’s gone from strength to strength and is now a full Portugal international with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation. Thee left-footeed defender even helped Sporting knock Arsenal out of the Europa League last season by scoring in the last 16 first leg. Gabriel and William Saliba have become Arteta’s first choice pairing, but as can be seen below, Inacio has outperformed the pair in a number of areas so far this season.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Successful take-ons

Interceptions

Goncalo Inacio

20

96

7

13

Gabriel Magalhaes

7

45

1

13

William Saliba

8

70

2

11

Therefore, you could argue that securing the services of Inacio in 2024 would be a major coup, especially considering the amount of interest from England in the player from some of their biggest rivals. Arsenal are seemingly in a good position to get a deal done given this latest update, so it’ll be interesting to see if they make their move in the coming weeks.

R Ashwin has reignited the spirit-of-cricket debate by running out non-striker Jos Buttler without bowling the ball. It turns out the dismissal was touch and go when it comes to being within the laws of the game.Running in to deliver the penultimate delivery of his final over, Ashwin stopped after entering his delivery stride. Buttler didn’t have his eye on the bowler and slipped out of the crease. As soon as he saw that, Ashwin simply turned around and broke the stumps at the non-strikers’ end with the batsman out of his crease. The decision was sent up to the third umpire, who didn’t need much time to send Buttler on his way.Rajasthan Royals’ Buttler had an unpleasant exchange with Ashwin, the Kings XI Punjab captain, while the third umpire made his decision. He walked off angry, and was seen shouting in the general direction of one of the dugouts.Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashwin said of the incident: “Look, it was very instinctive. On my part, it was very instinctive. It was not planned or anything like that. It’s there within the rules of the game. I don’t understand where the spirit of the game comes, naturally if it’s there in the rules it’s there.”Responding to a comparison drawn between this incident and the 1987 World Cup match between West Indies and Pakistan – where Courtney Walsh did not run non-striker Saleem Jaffar out in the last over of the match, despite the latter being well out of his crease – Ashwin said the question of ‘sporting’ didn’t arise when it came to rules.”I don’t understand the point of sporting or sportive in that point because it’s rules. What applies for one man does not apply for everyone else. Neither was Jos Buttler playing there nor was I played so it’s very pertinent to just not compare two people…”This was not the first time Buttler had been run out backing up too far. On air in host broadcaster Star Sports’ “Dugout”, Kumar Sangakkara pointed out how, in a game against Sri Lanka in 2014, Buttler was run out in a similar fashion after two warnings by Sachithra Senanayake. Ashwin, too, had attempted dismissing a batsman in similar fashion a few years ago. During an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2012, Ashwin had run out Lahiru Thirimanne for backing up too much. The appeal was withdrawn by then India captain Virender Sehwag, who stated that Ashwin had warned Thirimanne before attempting the dismissal.The question here, though, was whether Buttler would have been inside his crease had Ashwin not stopped at the point of delivery. The updated Law 41.16 says: “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out.”The wording “expected to release the ball” leaves room for subjectivity, which is where Ashwin’s assertion that he hadn’t even loaded becomes critical. If the bowler hadn’t even loaded, as Ashwin said, is it possible to estimate a time when he was “expected to release the ball”?Royals’ coach Paddy Upton, though, didn’t bother about the technicalities. He was miffed, and it showed in the press conference. “I think R Ashwin’s actions tonight speak for him and represent him, when I looked at his team-mates,” Upton said, “and I’m not sure it represented his team-mates. I think we’ll leave it up to the IPL fans to decide if that’s the kind of things they want to see, and we’ll leave it up to the cricket world to judge R Ashwin’s actions tonight. But for us, we’re certainly here to play cricket and entertain the fans and be good role models for people who love the game.”R Ashwin mankads Jos Buttler•BCCI

Buttler was looking in control of the chase of 185 at that time, having scored 69 off 43. His wicket, though, triggered a collapse as hosts Rajasthan Royals lost seven wickets for 16 runs to lose by 14 runs. Every wicket brought about loud boos from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium crowd.At the end of the match, Buttler shook Ashwin’s hand, but refused to look his way. Just behind Buttler, Upton seemed to have said something to Ashwin while shaking his hand, which made Ashwin stop in his tracks and give them a bemused look.”Part and parcel,” Royals’ captain Ajinkya Rahane said at the post-match presentation. “Sadly we are not allowed to comment on controversial issues. I am sure the match referee will take a call. We take these decisions sportingly.”

Glasgow Rangers begin 2024 occupying second place in the Scottish Premiership table and Philippe Clement will be aiming to make this year a much better one than 2023, that’s for sure.

The first ten months of last year were nothing to shout home about, yet the Belgian manager took over and changed the fortunes of the club in the space of just two and a half months in what has been an incredible turnaround.

A League Cup trophy has already been added to the trophy cabinet and, despite a recent 2-1 defeat to Celtic, the mood is high heading into the winter break.

The onus on the 49-year-old coach will now be to ship out some deadwood this month along with signing a couple of new players in order to bolster his squad.

With this in mind, the Ibrox side have been linked with a move for a South American midfielder who was once teammates with former Ibrox cult figure Alfredo Morelos…

Rangers transfer news – Steven Alzate

The previous few weeks have been productive, to say the least, but Clement struggled with injuries to several central midfielders, such as John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Jose Cifuentes, and Nico Raskin.

Latest Rangers transfer news: Gers want PL teen; Saudi link to midfield ace

Who is Philippe Clement eyeing up in the transfer window ahead of his first full season at Ibrox?

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 9, 2024

While they are all either totally recovered or close to returning to the senior side, the crisis means that the manager must bring in another midfielder or two during the transfer window.

According to Belgian outlet DH Les Sports (via the Scottish Sun), the Gers are monitoring the situation of midfielder Steven Alzate, who has only a few months left on his contract at Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

Brighton are looking to sell him during the January transfer window in order to secure themselves some sort of transfer fee, rather than see him walk free in the summer.

The Colombian has spent the previous 18 months on loan at Standard Liege. Although he is currently suffering from an ankle injury, he could be injury-free once Rangers return to action in a couple of weeks.

The Light Blues have a few midfielders out of contract themselves at the end of the season – most notably Lundstram and Jack – and this is a position which Clement will be desperate to bolster.

The former Sheffield United enforcer will likely secure an extension to his deal, but this should be the final season for Jack at the Glasgow side, especially with his recurring injury niggles.

Alzate could be a dream replacement for the Scot, who has been a stalwart for the Gers since arriving in 2017.

Ryan Jack’s statistics at Rangers

The former Aberdeen gem cost Rangers nothing when he arrived during the summer of 2017 on a free transfer after his contract at the Dons expired, and it looked as though it could be a solid piece of business by the club.

Jack soon became a mainstay in the first team and, despite failing to win a trophy during his first three seasons at Ibrox, progress was shown.

Injury problems were his kryptonite, however, and prior to the title-winning 2020/21 campaign, Jack missed 41 matches due to various injuries and this would become a recurring theme during his spell in Glasgow.

He managed to play 19 times as the club won their first Premiership crown for a decade, chipping in with two vital goals, yet he featured just 22 times in all competitions the following season as he continued to pick up knocks on a regular basis.

Despite playing only eight times in the league this term, Jack has shown glimmers of his abilities as he currently has an 87% pass success rate along with losing possession just 4.9 times per game, and he is a useful option for Clement to call upon, when fit, that is.

16

2

36

2

22

1

24

2

39

5

46

4

21

0

Paying a wage for someone who could miss 50% or more of the season is a big gamble to take and the former Club Brugge manager should make the call to let him leave for free this summer.

Steven Alzate could replace Ryan Jack

The 25-year-old was picked up by Brighton in the same summer as Rangers signed Jack, yet it took him a couple of seasons to make his way into the senior side.

A decent loan spell at Swindon Town helped his cause and he went on to play 19 times in the Premier League during 2019/20.

Journalist Josh Bunting heaped praise on him during that season, saying: “Steven Alzate superb again for Brighton, he is so creative, brings so much energy into the game.”

This was as good as it got for Alzate on the south coast, adding just another 24 top-flight appearances to his CV before sealing another temporary switch away from the Amex, this time to Belgium.

Brighton’s loss has been Standard Liege’s gain as the English-born gem has shone in the Belgian top flight over the previous 18 months.

Last term, the midfielder ranked fifth among the squad for goals and assists in the top flight (eight), while also ranking fourth for big chances created (five), first for accurate passes per game (42), and second for tackles per game (2.4).

These statistics indicate that he would be an ideal replacement for Jack, especially as he clearly has the required passing and defensive abilities to succeed at Rangers.

Meanwhile, the talented gem could also offer a threat going forward with his ability to create big opportunities for his teammates in the final third.

Alzate has played just 11 times in the league this term, yet has already contributed one goal and two assists, proving that he can chip in with the odd goal contribution.

Jack’s spell at Rangers will go down as a major what-if. Although he has featured 204 times for the club, the reality is, it could have been so much more if not for the continuous stream of injuries.

Indeed, the Scot has missed a grand total of 118 matches through a succession of injuries since 2017 and the older he gets, the longer it will take for him to recover from any injury he suffers.

This represents an ideal chance for the Gers to bring in a player such as Alzate, who has shown his abilities both defensively and in an attacking sense during his spells with Brighton and Standard Liege in recent years.

The Pakistan left-armer has signed for eight games in this year’s English T20 competition.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2019Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan left-arm seamer, will return to Essex for part of the 2019 Vitality Blast. Amir, who was involved in Essex’s 2017 Championship success, has signed for eight games in the T20 competition.Amir is due to arrive in time for Essex’s first fixture in this year’s Blast, against Middlesex at Lord’s on July 18, before missing two games due to family commitments. He will then be available until mid-August before heading to the Caribbean Premier League.”I’m very excited to return to Chelmsford and re-join my Essex team mates,” Amir said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time here in 2017 and I’m looking forward to playing my role in the club’s success this season.”Essex have already re-signed Australia legspinner, Adam Zampa, one of the few successes of last season, as well as bringing in T20 veteran Cameron Delport for 2019. Last year, they finished third from bottom in the South Group, winning just two of their 14 games.The club also failed to reach the Blast quarter-finals in 2017, but Amir was a success, taking 14 wickets in 13 games and with an economy of 6.77.”Mo is one of the most exciting bowling talents in the world and I’m ecstatic he’s going to be back with us,” Essex’s head coach, Anthony McGrath, said. “He has the ability to bowl at a fast pace whilst swinging the ball both ways and showed a real desire to come back to Chelmsford and be an Eagle again.”Everyone has seen how devastating he can be with the ball and the talent he has, so I think alongside our other overseas player, Adam Zampa, we’re going to have one of the most dangerous bowling attacks in the Vitality Blast this year.”

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a third successive defeat in the Premier League as Aston Villa leapfrogged the London side into the top four on Sunday afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou was appointed in the summer after exemplary work in Scotland with Celtic, with the approach from Daniel Levy decidedly more pragmatic after failed spells with Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

And though recent travails have yielded rotten results, it's important to remember that injuries and suspensions have wreaked havoc on Postecoglou's budding dynasty – Rome wasn't built in a day and all that, but it's true, and time will reap lucrative rewards.

The Lilywhites squad's lack of depth has proved to be the Achilles heel so far, and while the forthcoming run of fixtures looks daunting, Postecoglou will be confident that his side can maintain a foothold on Champions League contention and bolster in January, with some exciting names linked…

Tottenham transfer targets – Santiago Giménez

Tottenham will prioritise the strengthening of the defence this winter and rightly so, with Micky van de Ven injured until after the new year and the squad options failing to evoke confidence.

But the frontline could also use some attention and considering that Spurs are firmly in contention for Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez – according to French outlet L'Equipe – it may well be wise to make a move.

The report claims that the Eredivisie champions would demand €50m (£43m) for the Mexican star, also stressing that he could leave in January given the arresting possible recuperation on Feyenoord's part.

With Real Madrid also named as a suitor, Postecoglou should launch an offer quickly to provide his outfit with a starring talisman for years to come.

Santiago Giménez's style of play

While many have made the jump from Dutch football to the Premier League with seamless ease, there have been some notable players to have flattered to deceive since arriving on English shores, with the judicious Levy probably wary of coughing up such a sum for a player somewhat untested on the biggest stage.

In 2020, Steven Bergwijn's £27m January transfer to London didn't work out and Vincent Janssen scored 27 Eredivisie goals in the season before his transfer to Spurs, while Antony has been abject at Manchester United since his staggering £86m move from Ajax last year.

Nonetheless, Gimenez looks the real deal and has been lauded for his "insane" finishing ability by journalist Antonio Mango, with his haul of 18 goals – including a hat-trick against Excelsior on Saturday – and three assists from 16 appearances across all competitions this term certainly not to be sniffed at.

Player

Goals

Per game

Santiago Gimenez

16

1.39

Erling Haaland

14

1.13

Mohamed Salah

10

0.79

Heung-min Son

8

0.68

Alexander Isak

7

1.09

*Sourced via FBref

The 22-year-old joined Feyenoord from Mexican side Cruz Azul in July 2022 and played an important role in his club's title triumph, scoring 28 goals and providing three assists across the 2022/23 campaign.

Spurs have been delightfully fluid under Postecoglou's management and had flourished with Heung-min Son up front before injuries derailed the progress, but the acquisition of a free-scoring target man such as Gimenez could be a useful avenue to delve down.

To emphasise this point, the 23-cap international ranks among the top 1% of forwards across divisions similar to the Eredivisie for goals scored and touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 3% for total shots taken and the top 20% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Welcoming the 5 foot 11 talisman to the fold could be the perfect way to sharpen the spearhead, providing Son with the counterweight to settle the equilibrium.

Heung-min Son's season in numbers

Son's a stalwart down the N17; adored by Spurs supporters and respected across the game, the South Korean gem has completed 386 appearances for his side since joining from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015, having clinched 153 goals and 81 assists.

Last season, he was definitely not at his best as Tottenham struggled but he has been revitalised this time around after Postecoglou recognised his goalscoring brilliance should be channelled into a focal role up top.

Appointed captain this summer, the 31-year-old has bagged eight goals and an assist from ten matches as centre-forward in the Premier League this season and earned praise for "finishing everything with aplomb" by football.london's Alasdair Gold.

The £190k-per-week ace might be a natural scorer but he is expansive in his skill set and has demonstrated his dynamism over the past few months, ranking among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, pass completion and progressive passes, and the top 13% for progressive carries per 90.

How Santiago Giménez could thrive at Tottenham

This difference in style would be perfect as Tottenham look to compete across multiple fronts going forward, and while Son is thriving Alejo Veliz is the only other senior centre-forward in the fold; aged only 20 and joining from Argentinian side Rosario Central for £13m in the summer, he's not ready for a starring role.

Harry Kane – Spurs' record goalscorer – was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer after many years of service, having plundered 32 goals and five assists last year. Son has been immense in taking the baton but he is not the long-term solution.

Gimenez has been dubbed a "machine" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his prolific escapades and looks like he boasts enough quality in the final third to assume the role that Kane has left behind.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Finishing

Passing

Dribbling

Ball retention

*Sourced via WhoScored

Son could even form a partnership with the Eredivisie star under Postecoglou's wing, utilising his protean threat to blend with Gimenez's knack for finding the back of the net.

While £43m is no small sum, Spurs will clearly need to strengthen in January if they are to return to form capable of matching the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, and this could be the impactful addition needed to spearhead the resurgence.

Newcastle United want to complete the signing of an "exceptional" player at all costs during the January transfer window, according to a new update.

Newcastle want Tonali replacement

It has been a very taxing start to the season for Eddie Howe, who has had a lot to deal with during a campaign when his side were seemingly going to kick on further. Instead, Newcastle have suffered some desperately bad luck in the injury department, with so many important players missing for chunks of action, depleting them hugely, as was shown in the 2-0 defeat away to Bournemouth in their last Premier League outing.

On top of all the injuries, the Magpies have also had to go through the misery of having new signing Sandro Tonali suspended for 10 months for betting offences, bringing an end to his season before it had barely got underway. Such is the Italian's influence in the middle of the park, attention has swiftly turned to finding a replacement, with a new signing in January feeling vital.

Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a move to Newcastle a number of times, as he continues to struggle for game time at Manchester City, and the likes of Ruben Neves and N'Golo Kante have also been seen as targets for the Magpies, with the pair both now playing in the Saudi Pro League.

Newcastle desperate to sign Phillips

According to a new update from Tutto Juve, Newcastle want to sign Phillips at all costs in January, seeing him as their primary midfield target to make up for the loss of Tonali.

The report does state that the asking price "could be an issue as Newcastle United find themselves having to deal with FFP restrictions", adding that "Dan Ashworth and the Newcastle board most likely have not budgeted a central midfielder for the next transfer window", while Juventus are also providing stiff competition. It is also claimed that City aren't keen on losing a huge amount of money in the deal, considering they signed Phillips for big money last year, with a six-month loan with no option to buy looking unlikely.

Phillips still looks like a brilliant option for Newcastle in January, although it clearly isn't going to be easy to bring him in on their own terms, given City's current stance. The fact that he has the same agent as Nick Pope could help, though.

The 27-year-old will surely be desperate for a move away from the Etihad midway through the season, especially with Euro 2024 around the corner next summer, and St James' Park could be perfect for him, allowing him more regular starts in the second half of the season.

City manager Pep Guardiola has called Phillips "exceptional" in the past, showing that he clearly values the midfielder, despite picking others in front of him at the moment, and he has proven himself at the top level for a sustained period now, shining so much for England at Euro 2020.

Of all the options Newcastle are looking at to replace Tonali, Phillips seems to be considered the best following this update, and if a deal of some kind can be struck, he could be an inspired signing, whether that's on a short or long-term basis.

Pakistan captain asks why India don’t have to switch back and forth between venues when all the other teams do

Shashank Kishore18-Sep-2018

Sarfraz Ahmed roars in delight as Pakistan seal a tense win•Getty Images

Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, hasn’t taken the Asia Cup scheduling too kindly, given it will leave his team travelling back and forth from Abu Dhabi to Dubai for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. This will also be the case for Afghanistan and Bangladesh, while India have been exempted from the 90-minute trip.As per the rules, the team that finishes second in Group A will play their first Super Four game in Abu Dhabi. However, a late tweak has been made by the organisers to ensure India will continue to be based in Dubai, irrespective of where they finish in the pool.”If you talk about the pool, India remain here even if they lose,” Sarfraz said. “Travelling is an issue. If you travel for one-and-a-half hour during matches, then it’s tough. In this weather, it is tough because after one day you play another game. I think it should be even for all the teams, whether it’s India or Pakistan. If there are matches in Abu Dhabi, then every team has to play there. I don’t know what the Asian Cricket Council has done about it.”Scheduling aside, a focused Sarfraz fielded a variety of questions, from the pressure of an India-Pakistan game to the hype associated with it. His solution to prevent players from feeling the pinch of an India-Pakistan contest is to play every game with that intensity. He has, however, been telling his team one thing – “The Champions Trophy win is history. Don’t look too much into it.””It’s in the past now. Obviously, it was a great win and we have good memories that will be with us forever, but this is a new game, a new event,” he said. “The atmosphere has changed, we have winning momentum [from the game against Hong Kong] which we want to carry forward.”The one thing he has completely distanced himself from is social media and television news. He had a taste of the build-up for the clash back home, but wants to stay away from the hype to remain focused. He hopes his team would be able to do the same. There will be added attention to the match, with Imran Khan, their World Cup-winning captain and now Prime Minister of the country, likely to be in attendance.”We’ll try to take the game as a normal game. I’ve told the players to play the match in the same manner as we do normally,” Sarfraz said. “The fans say that whatever happens you have to win, but as a captain, I have to win against every team. It would be the same for India too. Yes, their [fans’] wishes give us inspiration. In the past, it has happened that whoever performs in the [India-Pakistan] match becomes a hero.”Sarfraz also didn’t make much of India being without Kohli. “As far as India is concerned, Kohli is their captain for the last two years or so, so as a team it [playing under someone else] is different for them,” he said. “I don’t know what Rohit’s thinking as captain is, whether he takes the same strategy. [Kohli] is a world-class player, but they have got some very good players and have done well in the past.”

Only a few months ago Newcastle United tasted defeat in the final of the Carabao Cup to Wednesday night's opposition.

Given the Toon's Champions League exploits, an EFL Cup tie might not whet the appetite too much but against a dejected Manchester United, Eddie Howe's men have a wonderful opportunity of getting revenge and advancing to the quarter-finals for a consecutive year.

That said, the Magpies will have to do so without a number of first-team players, meaning a huge degree of rotation in midweek is simply not possible.

However, four changes in some key areas could still be expected from Howe with a tough game against Arsenal to come next weekend. Here's the manager's predicted XI…

1 GK – Martin Dubravka

Nick Pope has been the undisputed number 1 this season, as expected, but a rare opportunity looms on Wednesday evening for Martin Dubravka, who will be hoping to get one over the Red Devils having spent a period of time on loan at Old Trafford last term.

2 RB – Tino Livramento

Rather understandably right-back Tino Livramento has only played 45 minutes of football in the Premier League this season. Kieran Trippier has been on fire with seven assists in all competitions but like in the last round deserves the night off on this occasion.

3 CB – Jamal Lascelles

With Sven Botman still on the treatment table club captain Jamal Lascelles is set to retain his starting berth against United despite conceding twice against Wolves last weekend.

4 CB – Fabian Schar

Howe isn't blessed with many options in the centre of defence at the moment. Dan Burn could be shifted across from left-back but it's expected an unchanged middle pairing will take to the field on Wednesday night with Fabian Schar starting again.

5 LB – Lewis Hall

Speaking of Burn, he could also be given the night off this week with Lewis Hall set to earn some rare minutes at left-back this time out. Having arrived from Chelsea in the summer he has struggled to catch the eye of Howe, having featured in just 54 minutes across all competitions.

6 CB – Sean Longstaff

With Sandro Tonali now banned and unable to play until next August and Lewis Miley injured, it means a great deal of rotation won't be afforded in the middle of the park. As such, the ever-reliable Sean Longstaff, who has only missed one game all season, will keep his place in midfield.

7 CM – Joe Willock

The only change in midfield is set to see Joe Willock come back into the team at the expense of Bruno Guimaraes who is rested ahead of the game with Arsenal. Due to injury, the Gunners academy graduate has only played 38 minutes this campaign so it will be a fabulous opportunity to prove both form and fitness to his manager.

8 CM – Joelinton

The menacing Brazilian makes up the last spot in midfield with Joelinton's bite from central areas set to be key to Newcastle reaching the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

9 RW – Miguel Almiron

Due to injury, the Toon are unlikely to be able to make many changes in attacking areas. Jacob Murphy is out so Miggy Almiron looks set to keep his place on the right-hand side of the forward line this week.

10 LW – Anthony Gordon

With Harvey Barnes injured, there is only really one option for Howe to select on his left flank, Anthony Gordon. The Everton academy graduate has been in flying form this season having posted three goals and two assists so will be a huge threat to Man United.

The monotonous drag that is the international break is at an end, and Liverpool supporters now await the fiery encounter that is the Merseyside derby, with Everton making the short journey to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp's side were in the pits last season but have rekindled their former verve and now push for a spot in the Premier League title race, but will need to overcome an in-form Toffees side to get back to winning ways.

Having collected one point from two matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, the Reds risk falling away from the forefront of the pack if Sean Dyche produces a disciplined display of resilience, but the hosts do have enough quality to secure a resounding victory.

What is the Liverpool team news vs Everton?

The shoulder injury sustained by Andy Robertson this week is set to rule him out of contention for the foreseeable future, with Spaniards Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara also confirmed absentees.

With the Scotland star sidelined until around January, Kostas Tsimikas will now deputise at left-back, having played just four minutes of Premier League action so far this season.

Cody Gakpo has been pictured in training after suffering a knee injury against Spurs three weeks ago, and could be in line to start after Darwin Nunez admitted to having felt cramp in South America earlier this week, after playing and scored for Uruguay against Brazil.

Diogo Jota does return from a one-match suspension, however, and could be in line to start against the Blues, having scored four goals from five starting appearances this term.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Curtis Jones, who completes his three-match ban after his contentious dismissal against Tottenham, and while the continuing absence reduces the options at Klopp's disposal, the German manager might be inclined to drop Alexis Mac Allister.

Should Klopp drop Alexis Mac Allister?

Mac Allister has divided opinion somewhat since joining from Brighton in a bargain £35m transfer in the summer, with the dynamic Argentinian midfielder fielded in a deeper-lying role than he perhaps prefers.

However, this is largely due to Liverpool's lack of reliable No. 6 options, and while he has been somewhat unspectacular, the 24-year-old has been something of an unsung hero in recharging a depleted midfield.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, he has completed 89% of his passes in the Premier League so far this term, making 2.8 tackles and ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 67% of his attempted dribbles.

Moreover, according to FBref, the £150k-per-week gem ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for total shots, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

Multi-functional and selfless, he is crucial to the fluidity and progression of this Liverpool team, and usually, he would be among the first names on the team sheet for a high-energy match such as the Merseyside derby, but Klopp would be wise to learn from his past mistakes and relegate the midfielder to the bench this afternoon.

Indeed, after the first international break of the season, a depleted Mac Allister returned to England and started against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux during another early Saturday kick-off and was discernibly out of sorts.

Klopp hooked him early and claimed that "he was done", after clearly struggling after travelling across the globe following a relentless international schedule.

A repeat could be detrimental, and, as such, it might be time for Harvey Elliott to truly make his mark this season and dazzle, proving that he can fill in and produce first-class performances in pivotal clashes such as this one.

How good is Harvey Elliott?

Elliott has been a regular member of Klopp's matchday squad over the past few years, and while the Reds languished last season, the precocious youth earned 46 appearances across all competitions.

This season, Elliott has played nine times across all fronts but has only received one start in the Premier League, though was hooked at half-time in the recent draw against Brighton.

In light of the deluge of absences for the Anfield side of late, Klopp will surely be tempted to start his diminutive dynamo, who has recently excelled with England U21s, posting two goals and two assists from two matches.

His performance against Serbia led Paul Dalglish to dub him an “incredible talent”, which is certainly apt praise for one of England's brightest prospects.

As per FBref, the 20-year-old ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for total shots, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 5% for blocks per 90.

Evidently, the technical ability is there for a long and illustrious career on Merseyside, but having been "outmuscled" by opponents last season – as per writer Leanne Prescott – his physicality probably does still need some work.

The £40k-per-week starlet would be the perfect option to fill in for Mac Allister alongside the always-impressive Dominik Szoboszlai, perhaps with Wataru Endo or Ryan Gravenberch occupying the holding role just behind.

And after such emphatic exploits with England U21s, Klopp will be eager to capture the player's purple patch and channel his recent feats into Liverpool's team.

Elliott's quality has never been in question; right from the off, the rising star's faculty for creative ingenuity has been illuminated in bright light, but he has not quite combined the cogs to cement a starting berth under Klopp's wing so far.

He is improving though, and his promising early-season performances have been eclipsed by his displays as the midfield catalyst during the international break.

With Jones still suspended and Klopp likely to be wary of Mac Allister's fitness levels, it might be the perfect time to unleash Elliott – who could now make his mark at Anfield against Liverpool's acrimonious city rivals.