Tottenham Hotspur breezed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last night, after beating League One outfit Doncaster Rovers 3-0 in North London.

Goals from Joao Palhinha, Brennan Johnson and an own goal from Jay McGrath secured the win for Thomas Frank’s men, setting up a fifth-round clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The showing on home soil last night was an extremely professional one, avoiding a slip-up and keeping their hopes alive of securing a trophy during the Dane’s maiden campaign in charge.

A strong side was certainly fielded in the meeting with Grant McCann’s side, as the new boss looked to keep the continuity that he’s built in recent weeks flowing ahead of Premier League action this weekend.

However, numerous players failed to grab their first-team opportunity with both hands, potentially leading to the 51-year-old looking past them for their clash with Wolves on Saturday.

Spurs’ poor performers against Doncaster last night

Brennan Johnson has seemingly fallen down the pecking order over the past couple of weeks, subsequently being named as a substitute in each of the last three of Spurs’ league outings.

However, the Welsh international was handed a start against Doncaster last night, subsequently getting on the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the encounter in North London.

The 24-year-old had the least amount of touches of any player to play 90 minutes (36), whilst also being caught offside three times – showcasing his lack of positive impact against the League One outfit.

Johnson wasn’t alone in failing to capture the opportunity handed his way, with Djed Spence also looking lacklustre against the opposition two divisions below them in the pyramid.

The full-back failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst only winning one of the five duels he entered – often struggling to get the better of his opposite number.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other starter for Frank’s side looked way below the level expected, which should result in the player being dropped once again.

The 5/10 Spurs player who must be axed

Coming up against League One opposition was always going to be a tricky task for Spurs and Frank, but it was one that the side navigated with flying colours.

The Lilywhites restricted Donny to just two shots on target in the 90-minute display in North London, subsequently keeping their fifth clean sheet in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

Whether it be Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso or Palhinha at the heart of the defence, the side have still managed to thrive without the ball.

Frank’s arrival has certainly added the needed defensive solidity that has been greatly missed in recent years – hopefully allowing the club to compete for more trophies in the months ahead.

In the attacking third, Richarlison has been one of the side’s leading talismen, scoring three times to date, but the Brazilian was handed a needed rest in the win last night.

Such a decision gave Mathys Tel the chance to start just his second outing of the new campaign, but it was one that he failed to take – ultimately enduring a night to forget.

The Frenchman featured for 87 minutes and failed to get himself on the scoresheet, but it was his underlying stats which highlighted his lack of impact in Frank’s side.

The 20-year-old registered two shots on goal, only one of which was on target, whilst also missing one big chance – showcasing his wasteful nature when in possession.

He also failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst losing 60% of the duels he entered – often being dominated by the side two divisions below the Lilywhites.

Tel could only register a total of 29 touches during his time on the pitch, a total fewer than that of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who registered 35 – further highlighting his lack of positive impact.

To top off his dismal showing, the former Bayern Munich talent was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold – the lowest of any player who started the encounter.

As a result of his showing, Frank desperately needs to drop the youngster from his starting eleven, with the Dane currently having numerous better alternatives already at his disposal.

The decision to leave Tel out of the Champions League squad now appears somewhat respectable, with the player evidently lacking huge confidence after his summer transfer.

Forget Solanke: Spurs can soon unleash Kane 2.0 in "relentless" 18-year-old

Tottenham Hotspur could have their next Harry Kane on their hands under Thomas Frank.

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Ethan Lamb

Sep 24, 2025

His unbeaten 106 rescued Freedom from 68 for 4 to an imposing 208 for 5

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2025

Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 49-ball 106 to set up Washington Freedom’s comfortable 113-run win over Los Angeles Knight Riders. His innings from No. 6 helped Freedom post 208 for 5, after which their bowlers skittled LAKR for only 95.With a second win in three outings, Freedom are third on the MLC 2025 points table. LAKR are fifth with three defeats in three games, with only net run rate keeping them away from last spot.Maxwell walked in at 68 for 4 after Freedom opted to bat and pumped 13 sixes and two fours to score his eighth T20 century. It gave momentum to the Freedom innings with Mark Chapman (17 off 21) and Obus Pienaar (14* off 15) playing second-fiddle to the seventh T20 century in the tournament’s short history. Freedom scored 124 in the final ten on the back of Maxwell’s six-hitting.Freedom opener Mitchell Owen, who scored an 11-ball 32, produced a three-wicket haul in the chase to wreck LAKR’s middle order, which only compounded their woes after they lost their top three of Alex Hales, Sunil Narine and Unmukt Chand all for ducks. It was only the fourth time in franchise T20 history for the openers and the No. 3 to all be out without scoring.Middle-order batter Saif Badar scored 32 and captain Jason Holder scored 23, but they couldn’t bring the margin of defeat to under 100. Jack Edwards – who dismissed Chand, Rovman Powell and Holder – collected a three-for too, while Saurabh Netravalkar took the first and last LAKR wickets to finish the game in the 17th over.

Son Heung-Min shone in his MLS playoff debut, impressing throughout despite no goal contribution, as LAFC opened their pursuit of the MLS Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Austin FC. An own goal from Brendan Hines-Ike and a strike from Nathan Ordaz sealed it for the Black and Gold, who will aim to close out the best-of-three series next Sunday at Q2 Stadium.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ordaz seals it

  LAFC took a 1-0 lead into halftime of their MLS playoff clash with Austin FC after a largely cagey opening 45 minutes. Clear chances were scarce, but the hosts looked more dangerous and went ahead in the 20th minute when Brendan Hines-Ike diverted a Ryan Hollingshead cross into his own net. Austin stayed compact defensively and showed little urgency to respond, failing to record a single shot while LAFC tallied six attempts, two on target. It was a physical first half, with 17 fouls between the sides.

  Austin eventually found a way back in the 63rd minute when Jon Gallagher struck to make it 1-1, their first real threat of the night against Hugo Lloris’ goal.

  But LAFC regained control late on. In the 79th minute, the Son–Denis Bouanga partnership helped create the winner, with Nathan Ordaz getting the final touch after Bouanga’s effort to restore the lead. The 2-1 victory gives the Black and Gold the upper hand heading into next Sunday’s return leg at Q2 Stadium.

  Son finished the match with two shots on target, one successful dribble and connected on 86 percent of his passes. 

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• Did you know

  Since the current playoff format began, LAFC is 4-0-0 (4 wins, 0 losses) in Game 1 of Round One series. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The MVP

  Nathan Ordaz earned MVP honors after scoring the game-winning goal. The young forward came on in the 74th minute and needed just five minutes to find the back of the net, sealing a crucial victory for the Black and Gold. Son Heung-Min also delivered a standout performance, helping create the 2-1 goal and consistently posing the biggest threat for the home side. LAFC will now head to Q2 Stadium next Sunday looking to close out the series and advance to the next round of the playoffs.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  The big loser

  Austin manager Nico Estévez will leave BMO Stadium as the night’s biggest loser. His cautious setup offered little attacking spark, and while Austin FC nearly dragged the match to penalties, their lack of ambition ultimately cost them. Despite briefly finding life through Jon Gallagher’s equalizer, Austin never looked fully in control.

  A more assertive LAFC responded well after conceding, with Nathan Ordaz restoring the lead to seal a deserved 2-1 victory for Steve Cherundolo’s side — one that now puts the Black and Gold firmly in command heading into next Sunday’s return leg at Q2 Stadium.

Lazio forward Pedro has announced that he will leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The former Barcelona and Chelsea star expressed his desire to help Lazio return to European competitions, aiming to finish his time at the club on a high. Pedro, however, hinted that he could consider continuing his playing career even after his contract concludes.

Pedro nearing end of glittering career

Pedro rose through the ranks of Barcelona’s youth system, representing the C and B teams before making his senior debut under Frank Rijkaard in January 2008, coming on as a substitute for Samuel Eto’o. Pedro became a regular at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola from the 2009-10 season and went on to enjoy a highly decorated spell at the club, playing alongside legends such as Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

With the Catalan giants, Pedro won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies and three Champions League titles before departing in 2015 to join Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge, he played a crucial role under Antonio Conte, helping the club win the 2016-17 Premier League title. He later added the 2018-19 Europa League trophy to his collection under Maurizio Sarri before moving to Roma in the summer of 2020.

After just one season at Roma, Pedro reunited with Sarri by joining city rivals Lazio in 2021. On the international stage, Pedro was part of Spain’s golden generation, winning the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesEx-Barca star announces imminent Lazio exit

Pedro has now confirmed that the current season will be his last with Lazio, saying: “This is definitely my last year at Lazio. I want to leave this team where it deserves to be, in Europe. We can still grow and aim for the top of the table.”

Reflecting on his future, Pedro admitted that he is uncertain how much longer he will continue playing, acknowledging that retirement is drawing closer with each passing day. “How many more years will I play? It's hard for me to say, I'm always training, but every day that passes brings me closer to retirement,” he said.

Lazio's frustrating draw at Pisa

Lazio travelled to the Arena Garibaldi to face Pisa in a late Thursday fixture. The visitors came close to taking the lead around the half-hour mark when they launched a swift attack, with Mattia Zaccagni squaring the ball to Gustav Isaksen, whose low shot was kept out by Pisa goalkeeper Adrian Semper. Pisa nearly struck at the other end when Stefano Moreo’s powerful header from a corner seemed destined for goal, but Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel produced a fine reflex save to deny him.

Neither side managed to create any decisive chances thereafter, and the match ended in a goalless draw, with both teams settling for a point. The result meant Lazio failed to build on the momentum from their 1-0 victory over Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico.

Pedro lamented his team’s lack of finishing, admitting they paid the price for not converting their chances, though he was pleased with Lazio’s defensive solidity. “We're not taking advantage of the chances we create, and we pay for that. If we'd scored in the first half, we would have changed the game. We're doing well defensively, and that's also important,” he said.

When asked about his role in Sarri’s system, the veteran forward explained that he now feels more comfortable playing behind the striker than as a false nine. “As a false 9? Right now, I'm better off playing behind the striker. It's a position I know well, having played there in the past, although obviously it's different playing there now than it was when I was 22,” he added.

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Getty Images SportLazio aim to bounce back in Serie A

Pedro will hope to help Lazio secure all three points when Cagliari visit the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. A win would provide a great platform for Lazio to climb back up the table and move closer to the European qualification places. Once the season concludes, Pedro will reassess his options and decide whether to continue playing or retire.

كشف مصدر بنادي الزمالك، سبب عدم قيام الجهاز الإداري للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، بإجراء تغيير سادس بعد إصابة أحمد فتوح في الرأس خلال مباراة طلائع الجيش التي أقيمت اليوم في مسابقة الدوري المصري.

وفاز فريق الزمالك على طلائع الجيش بثلاثية مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما على ستاد القاهرة الدولي في الجولة الثالثة عشرة لمسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، ليرفع الأبيض رصيده إلى 22 نقطة.

طالع | الزمالك يعلن تشخيص إصابة بيزيرا وفتوح وصبحي أمام طلائع الجيش

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “الجهاز الطبي اطمأن على سلامة اللاعب ولم يتم اللجوء للتغيير السادس لأن ذلك كان سيتطلب خضوع أحمد فتوح لبروتوكول طبي خاص بإصابات الرأس والاشتباه بالارتجاج، وغيابه لفترة تتراوح ما بين أسبوع إلى 10 أيام إذا كان الارتجاج خفيفًا وهو ما كان سيبعده عن مباريات الزمالك المقبلة”.

وأكمل: “الارتجاج الخفيف يحتاج وفقا للبروتوكول لمدة غياب من 7 إلى 10 أيام، في حين يحتاج الارتجاج المتوسط من 10 إلى 21 يوم راحة، وفي حالة الارتجاج الشديد أو فقدان الوعي يحدد الطبيب مدة الغياب وغالبًا لا تقل عن 21 يومًا”.

وأتم: “الجهاز الطبي اتفق مع الجهاز الفني على خروج اللاعب وعدم استكمال المباراة دون الحاجة لإجراء تبديل سادس”.

Despite yet another season filled with turmoil under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United went into the international break on the back of a win. The Red Devils ran out 2-0 winners over Sunderland last time out, thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.

United supporters will be hoping this can be a catalyst for their season to get underway. Things have still never really got going under Amorim, who has struggled to make an impact in almost a year in charge.

With Liverpool their next opponent after the international break, United will be looking to win back-to-back games under their Portuguese boss for the first time.

As is so often the case, Bruno Fernandes will be someone they will heavily rely on.

Fernandes’ biggest moments under Amorim

As you might expect, United’s talismanic midfielder has been one of Amoirm’s key players during the 11 months or so he’s been at Old Trafford.

Often deploying Fernandes in a pivot in midfield has meant he is further away from goal, causing some controversy, with Paul Scholes claiming “he’s not got the discipline” to play there.

Yet, the United number eight has still managed to put up some impressive goal and assist numbers under his countryman, despite the deeper role.

In 43 games with Amorim as United’s boss, their captain has 17 goals and 12 assists to his name.

It’s hard to pinpoint his best contribution during Amoirm’s tenure. In European football, he scored and assisted ten goals in 11 games as United reached the Europa League final last term.

That included a magnificent hat-trick against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, to guide United into the quarter-final.

He was one of the best creators in that competition last season, too. Fernandes’ 3.09 key passes and expected assist tally of 0.36xA saw him rank in the top 2% of attacking midfielders in the Europa League.

United will need someone to share that goalscoring and creative burden with Fernandes, but they signed someone of the same ilk this summer.

The new United star who's looking like Fernandes

It was certainly an expensive summer for the Red Devils, with INEOS willing to splash the cash. They spent roughly £200m to improve their front three.

Sesko has already scored twice, and Matheus Cunha has suffered an injury, but impressed when he’s played.

However, the most exciting of United’s new forwards this season would surely have to be Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian star joined the Red Devils from Brentford for a fee reportedly worth £65m up front.

It has been a fast start to life in Red for the attacker. Playing as one of Amorim’s number 10s in the infamous 3-4-2-1 system he deploys, the 26-year-old has scored twice and assisted once in eight appearances so far.

His first Premier League strike for the Red Devils was against Burnley before the last international break.

It is easy to see how the former Brentford star can shoulder the burden of creativity and goals at United and become the new Bruno-style player in Amorim’s side.

As Statman Dave said, he is the “complete package” going forward, and offers so much to the Mancunian giants in attacking areas. Like Fernandes, he is an “output machine”, in the words of content creator Ronaldo Brown.

The other way to tell just how similar Mbeumo will be to his captain is by looking at his underlying stats from the 2024/25 Premier League.

For example, last term he averaged 1.85 key passes for the Bees, which put him in the top 6% of Premier League forwards.

Mbeumo key stats vs. PL forwards 24/25

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile vs. PL forwards

Key passes

1.85

94th

Progressive passes

3.72

92nd

Shot-creating actions

3.8

94th

Goal-creating actions

0.53

90th

Carries into penalty area

1.98

97th

Stats from FBref

It has been hugely important for United to assess the lack of attacking prowess in the squad, aside from Fernandes’ contribution.

Loaning Marcus Rashford to Barcelona drastically reduced their threat in the final third, especially with how well he’s performing in La Liga.

Yet, the addition of Mbeumo has been a huge benefit. The United number 19 can help shoulder some of Fernandes’ attacking, and has already hit the ground running in that famous Red shirt.

Related The new Yorke & Cole: Man Utd's "superb double-act" could save Amorim's job

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke famously scored 53 goals as Manchester United won the treble in 1998/99, but has Rúben Amorim found a new “electric” duo?

Posts ByBen Gray Oct 7, 2025

A manager who Jurgen Klopp once described as “incredible” is now the leading contender to replace Graham Potter at West Ham United.

Potter under serious pressure after Crystal Palace defeat

Potter would’ve been hoping the 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest could be a turning point in the season, but there has been a return to the mean since the end of the international break, with West Ham suffering defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed that the West Ham hierarchy have started looking at new managers, saying: “Internal talks are taking place with eventual replacements being assessed. Decision could follow soon.”

A number of managers with Premier League experience have been identified as potential targets, including Gary O’Neil, Slaven Bilic, and Sean Dyche, but it has since emerged that a different manager is now the frontrunner for the job.

West Ham now weigh up concrete approach to sign £17m England international

West Ham now weighing up concrete approach for £17m England international.

ByDominic Lund Sep 21, 2025

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who reveal that West Ham are seriously considering parting ways with Potter, following their terrible start to the Premier League season, collecting just three points from their opening five games.

Nuno Espirito Santo is named as the leading contender to replace Potter, with the former Nottingham Forest boss being dismissed by Evangelos Marinakis earlier this month, despite leading the Tricky Trees to Europe for the first time in 30 years.

The upcoming fixture against Everton is likely to be crucial in deciding Potter’s future, with the Toffees set to travel to the London Stadium next Monday night.

"Incredible" Nuno could be major upgrade on Potter

Potter has experienced success in the Premier League in the past, impressing enough at Brighton & Hove Albion to get the Chelsea job, but the 50-year-old’s performance in his last two roles leaves a lot to be desired.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman averaged just 1.42 points per match, lasting less than seven months, before going on to struggle considerably at West Ham, receiving widespread criticism from the fans after the recent defeat against Spurs.

Nuno, on the other hand, is vastly more experienced in the Premier League, with Klopp once praising the Portuguese manager for the work he did at Wolverhampton Wanderers, saying: “Nuno’s doing an incredible job. They are a talented team, the quality is big. It’s really rare, but apart from two or three games they played exactly the same three players in the last line the whole year, that’s unbelievable.”

The Sao Tome-born manager, who favours a 4-2-3-1 system, subsequently went on to be a success at Forest, averaging 1.48 points per match and guiding the Tricky Trees to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

West Ham have spent a number of seasons in Europe in recent times, winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023, and there are clear indications Nuno could be capable of bringing European nights back to the London Stadium.

A loaded Saturday of baseball is ahead of us, and we got you covered with all the action all day long.

Below, you'll find our favorite bets for Saturday's card that features a stud pitcher hiding in plain sight. Pablo Lopez had a slow start to 2023, but is starting to finally find his form as we hit the halfway point for the surging Twins. Can Lopez keep it up in a measuring stick matchup against the Mariners? I'm banking on it.

Below, you'll find our favorite bets for Saturday's MLB card.

Best MLB Bets Today, June 29thMets ML (+110) vs. AstrosRoyals ML (-110) vs. GuardiansTwins ML (-120) vs. MarinersAstros vs. Mets Astros Prediction and Pick

The Mets should be able to stay hot against the Astros, who are top five in the big leagues against left handed pitching. 

Southpaw Framber Valdez has struggled to stay healthy this season and pitch to his Cy Young expectation. Valdez has a fourth percentile hard-hit percentage and has lost his ability to find his strikeout prowess, right at the big league average. 

Ride the streaking Mets.

Guardians vs. Royals Prediction and Pick

The Royals, one of the best home teams in baseball, have arguably its best pitcher on the mound in Cole Ragans. Ragans is the superior pitcher with a nasty fastball that strikes out nearly 30% of the batters he has faced this season, and will have the Royals’ bats playing at home to back him up. 

Kansas City is the second best hitting team at home this season, a big reason why the club is 29-15 on the year at Kauffman Stadium. It also helps that the team gets to face Tanner Bibee, who has had a weak fastball and a high flyball rate that can cause issues at Kauffan stadium.

I’ll take the home team in a matchup that is lined like a coin flip. 

Twins vs. Mariners Prediction and Pick

Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez continues to erase a slow start to the season, and his underlying metrics make him a worthwhile bet against a Mariners team that is only hitting .210 in the month of June, the lowest in the big leagues. 

Lopez has been a victim of poor variance, his 3.27 xERA is far lower than his 5.11 ERA with an elite strikeout rate of 27%. 

I’m counting on the Twins’ starter to roll through the overrated Seattle lineup. 

Meanwhile, I'm happy to fade Bryce Miller, the Mariners starter on Saturday night. Miller has a 3.90 ERA that is supported by a 4.34 xERA. I'm confident the Twins, who are third in OPS this month, can knock around the regression bound Miller.

It feels like an absolute age since Thomas Tuchel was first announced as the England manager.

Truth be told, it is an age. On October 16th 2024, a year ago now, he was unveiled in front of the press.

This has been something entirely different for the German. He’s never managed at international level and since he began the job, he has still only managed eight games. It really is a struggle to gather any momentum or know truly what his Three Lions are capable of until the World Cup kicks off next summer.

Things started off pretty slowly in all honesty. Tuchel’s England laboured to a 2-0 win over Albania in his first game before beating Latvia 3-0.

His second international break at the beginning of the summer was even worse. They secured just a 1-0 victory over Andorra and then lost 3-1 to Senegal.

Fortunately, things have got better since then, putting five past Serbia in September and demolishing Wales 3-0 inside 20 minutes in October’s break.

Regardless of those results, England were always going to be one of the favourites in America next summer. But, the age-old question, who will be on the plane?

We asked AI to put together what they think Tuchel’s 26-man squad will look like and here was the outcome…

1

The goalkeepers

There are no prizes for guessing who AI reckons will be Tuchel’s no.1 next summer. That honour goes to Jordan Pickford who has cemented himself as one of his country’s finest goalkeepers in recent years.

The Everton man has been to every major tournament (4) since the World Cup in 2018 and according to AI, will be joined by Newcastle duo Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope. Ramsdale hasn’t appeared in any of Tuchel’s squad lists yet so will need to find a way to play some football before the tournament kicks off next summer.

At the moment, he is behind Pope in the pecking order but there’s no doubting that he’s a fine ‘keeper, someone who was seen as the future no.1 when at Arsenal.

Full list of goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale & Pope.

2

The defenders

AI anticipates that Tuchel will take four out-and-out centre-backs to the USA next year with John Stones set to partner Marc Guehi at the back, just as they did during Euro 2024.

While denied his move to Liverpool during the summer, Guehi has begun the season in fine form at Crystal Palace and really does look like England’s standout defender.

AI also thinks that AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori could be on the plane, set to earn his first minutes for his country since 2023. Note there is no place for Dan Burn who has been a regular in Tuchel’s first few England camps.

Levi Colwill is currently out with an ACL problem but is expected to be back for the latter stages of the season, potentially giving him the opportunity to make the squad.

At full-back, England are blessed with options. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento and Reece James have been picked on the right-hand side. James offers strong versatility and could be fielded at centre-back if required.

At left-back, there are places on the plane for Manchester City’s Rico Lewis and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. The England boss recently hinted that Lewis-Skelly would need to start playing more to earn his place in America.

Full list of defenders: Guehi, Stones, Tomori, Colwill, Alexander-Arnold, Livramento, James, Lewis-Skelly, Lewis.

3

The midfielders

To the joy of most supporters around the country, AI thinks that Jordan Henderson will miss out on this occasion. The Brentford midfielder has been recalled to the fray under Tuchel but despite his experience and leadership, could actually miss out.

There is also no place for Elliot Anderson who has impressed so much since earning his first England caps during the September international break. Perhaps he is going to pay the price for Nottingham Forest’s poor run of form.

Regulars such as Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze are included while there is a place for Jude Bellingham who was left out of the camp in October, allegedly due to fitness concerns and a lack of minutes for Real Madrid.

They are joined by some wildcard options in the form of Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton who gets in ahead of Anderson to fill the no.6 spot.

Kobbie Mainoo also makes the cut. Has Ruben Amorim been sacked? It’s likely if the youngster is playing enough minutes to be in the reckoning. The last name is arguably the biggest surprise of the lot with Everton’s James Garner on the plane. To his credit, he has started the season well under David Moyes, registering a goal and an assist in his first seven outings.

Full list of midfielders: Rice, Bellingham, Gallagher, Mainoo, Eze, Wharton, Jones, Garner.

4

The forwards

To the surprise of nobody, Harry Kane is the first name on the squad list. The England skipper is one of the best in the world after taking his game to a new level in 2025/26, putting his name firmly in the conversation to win the Ballon d’Or. Why? Well, in his first ten games of the ongoing campaign, he had scored a mind-boggling 18 goals.

Joining him will be Ollie Watkins, who netted against the Welsh in October and Marcus Rashford who has rediscovered himself at Barcelona this season.

Further options include Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon.

Remarkably, there is no place for Chelsea star Cole Palmer. Currently injured at the moment, will he still be feeling the effects of that come next summer? There’s no room for Man City superstar Phil Foden either.

Full list of forwards: Kane, Watkins, Rashford, Saka, Gordon, Bowen.

Chelsea's players were criticised by Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov for being "inattentive" in their 2-2 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday. What was expected to be a routine night for the Premier League giants quickly descended into chaos as the travelling Blues clung on to secure only one point on their travels to Azerbaijan.

Chelsea falter despite early dominance

For the opening 20 minutes, Chelsea looked every inch the Champions League heavyweight. After just 16 minutes, Estevao showed why he’s being talked about as the future of Stamford Bridge as he put his side in front with a sleek finish. But as the Blues’ intensity dipped and complacency crept in, Qarabag sensed blood. In the 29th minute, Camilo Duran sliced through Chelsea’s flimsy midfield and tried his luck from distance, but his effort cannoned off the post. Nonetheless, the rebound fell kindly for Leandro Andrade and he levelled the score. Six minutes before the break, Jorrel Hato conceded a penalty and Marko Jankovic converted from the spot to put the hosts in front. 

By the interval, Maresca had seen enough. The Italian rang the changes, making three substitutions. Among those introduced was Alejandro Garnacho, and the Argentine made an instant impact. Just 12 minutes into the second half, Garnacho took matters into his own hands, driving into the box and unleashing a thunderous left-footed strike that arrowed into the bottom corner, making it 2-2. But rather than building on the equaliser, Chelsea again drifted into sloppiness. The match became wide open, paving the way to a chaotic end-to-end battle that bore no resemblance to the slick, organised football Maresca preaches.

AdvertisementAFPGurbanov takes a dig at Chelsea players

After the match, Qarabag boss Gurbanov couldn’t hide his pride for his own player. 

"First of all, I would like to congratulate our supporters," he began. "It was a magnificent day, with Victory Day (a public holiday) in several days. My players struggled and are fighters. My team showed determination until the final minutes against the champions of the world. My team were not afraid and demonstrated Azerbaijani character. They earned their first point against an English team. Of course, this result boosts confidence and our profile. This is what makes our supporters love football. Maybe Chelsea players were inattentive and didn't expect us to attack."

Maresca unsurprised by hosts' performance

Chelsea's starting XI, with an average age of just 23 years and 97 days, was the second youngest ever fielded by an English club in a Champions League away match. And the inexperience almost cost them the match. Maresca tried to keep his cool in the post-match press conference, but there was no hiding his frustration.

"The big difference today for me was inside the box," he said. "The goal we conceded, they are silly goals for me. In their box, for the amount of times that we arrived, we have not been clinical enough. So this is the big difference for me."

Maresca also gave credit to Qarabag, adding: "They are a good team, I said already a few days ago, they are a good team, they are doing well. And especially at home, it's difficult."

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AFPA wake-up call in Baku

Level on points with Qarabag – seven from four games – the Blues are in real danger of being forced into a knockout play-off instead of automatic progression to the Champions League last 16. They are currently 12th in the standings with the top eight assured of a last-16 berth. And tougher tests are on the horizon. Barcelona visit Stamford Bridge later this month, while away trips to Atalanta and Napoli loom ominously.