Kohli stayed unbeaten on 73 to register his 67th fifty-plus score, the most by any batter in IPL history

Ashish Pant20-Apr-20257:26

Pujara: Kohli is the best when it comes to chases

Another away game, another Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win in IPL 2025; it was their fifth in five matches and this one has taken them to ten points and third on the points table. Less than 48 hours after going down at home, RCB went up north to Mullanpur and exacted revenge from Punjab Kings (PBKS) in comprehensive fashion.The RCB bowlers hardly gave away anything as PBKS were restricted to 156 for 7. In reply, the chasemaster Virat Kohli was at it again as he recorded his 67th fifty-plus score in the IPL, the most for any batter. Devdutt Padikkal also recorded his first IPL fifty of the season as RCB romped home with seven balls to spare and by seven wickets.RCB had no hesitation in bowling on what Rajat Patidar called a “decent” surface. For the first six overs, it seemed that it was more than just decent as PBKS smashed 62 in the powerplay with Prabhsimran Singh going big.Related

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Then the RCB spinners came to the fore, and it was one-way traffic thereon. Krunal Pandya picked 2 for 25 in his four overs, Suyash Sharma returned 2 for 26 as RCB put a lid on the scoring in the middle overs. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar then put on a death-bowling masterclass, hardly giving PBKS an inch.In the chase, Arshdeep Singh got Phil Salt for the fourth time in T20s, but Kohli and Padikkal added 103 off 69 balls for the second wicket to keep RCB on track. Even as Padikkal and Patidar fell, Kohli held his own to remain unbeaten on 73 off 54 as RCB kept their 100% away record intact.The chasemasterThere is an inevitability when it comes to Kohli and chasing middling totals. He seems to have the scoring all mapped out. How many runs to get, the required rate, when to attack, when to hold himself back. A 158-chase gave him all those liberties. He hit five fours in his first 20 balls, all inside the powerplay. Then for the next 24 balls, he hit none. He was content with taking the ones and the twos, handing back the strike to the more aggressive Padikkal, but ensured he stayed put. He struck two fours and a six after recording his fifty off 43 balls, and stayed unbeaten till the end to take RCB over the line with plenty to spare.Kohli’s 73* was his 67th fifty-plus score in the IPL, which is the most for any batter in the history of the league. That it came in an RCB win will please Kohli to no end.Devdutt Padikkal hit his first IPL fifty since May 2023•Getty Images

Padikkal’s welcome return to formIt’s been a patchy IPL 2025 for Padikkal. In fact, it’s been a patchy couple of years in the IPL. His last fifty in the league came in IPL 2023, incidentally against PBKS when he was playing for Rajasthan Royals. But when it mattered, he’s come good.Padikkal was beaten on the upper-cut first ball. That didn’t deter him, and he went again the next ball and carved Arshdeep over the keeper for four. With Kohli going strong, he took the aggressive route. There was an all-run four before he thumped Xavier Bartlett across the line for six. Harpreet Brar was spanked for four before Yuzvendra Chahal was whacked across the line for six. Padikkal raced to his fifty off 30 balls.He got a high-five from Kohli, and as he raised his bat, for the first time in 14 IPL innings and the first time since May 2023, there was a certain amount of relief on Padikkal’s face.He celebrated by going 4 and 6 against Marcus Stoinis before finally holding out to long-on for a 35-ball 61 but not before giving RCB a certain amount of cruise control in the chase.Virat Kohli was in a driving mood•AFP/Getty Images

PBKS’ powerplay to rememberThe story, however, looked quite different six overs into the match. Bhuvneshwar, who has a good match-up against Prabhsimran, started with a two-run first over. The next five, though, belonged to PBKS. Priyansh Arya’s pick-up pull off Yash Dayal got the hosts’ six counter running. He drove Dayal through covers again before Prabhsimran smashed Bhuvneshwar for three fours in the third over: a guide past short third, a slap through point and pull through midwicket.Arya and Prabhsimran took 23 off Hazlewood’s first two overs. Arya fell to Krunal, his top-edge going as far as mid-off but at 62 for 1 after six, the powerplay was PBKS’ all the way through.The middle-over squeezeRCB have often relied on their pacers for the wickets so far this season. On Sunday, it was the RCB spinners coming to the fore. Prabhsimran failed to clear long-on first ball after the powerplay and was caught by David at long-on. Shreyas Iyer then fell soon after for 6 caught splendidly by Krunal moving to his left from long-on with Romario Shepherd picking his first wicket for the season. It’s been an all-or-nothing season for Iyer. In eight innings, he’s had three fifty-plus and five sub-ten scores.A needless run out had Nehal Wadhera walking back before Suyash sent back Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis in a single over as PBKS slipped to 114 for 6 after 14. PBKS managed only 67 runs and lost five wickets in the middle overs (between seven to 17), and that was always going to hurt them.A death-overs masterclassBy the time the 17th over arrived, Marco Jansen and Shashank Singh were relatively set. Both these batters have an impressive death-overs strike rate and can hit a long ball. Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood though had other ideas.The duo put in a proper masterclass in death bowling and left PBKS nowhere. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, the duo landed eight yorkers in the last four overs, and gave away just one boundary – a six off the final ball of the innings. PBKS did not lose a wicket in these four overs but could only manage 28 runs, and that was never going to be enough.

SRH have never won against CSK in Chennai. Will the jinx end on Friday?

Alagappan Muthu24-Apr-20252:38

How SRH could get off the mark against CSK in Chennai

Big picture: Former champions’ fading campaignsIPL 2025 is officially just over a month old. Teams are just about starting their return legs. So it is still far too early to rule any team out. Even the two at the bottom. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) can still make the playoffs if they win each of their remaining six matches starting Friday.Everything has to go right for something like that to happen and that’s really not how the CSK or the SRH campaign has gone this season. With only two wins so far, CSK have equalled their worst start to an IPL. They had two wins from eight games in 2022 as well, when they finished ninth on the table. Both sides have the same problem. Batting.Related

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SRH’s struggles are perplexing because this is the same line-up that made 250s for fun less than a year ago. They even strengthened it by adding Ishan Kishan. Somehow all that firepower keeps failing collectively, which is something CSK might be able to sympathise with. None of their auction picks have worked – barring Noor Ahmad – and even some of their established stars are tracking in the wrong direction.Form guideChennai Super Kings: LWLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: LLWLLIn the spotlight: Ayush Mhatre and Pat CumminsCSK’s batting line-up used to have a shock absorber. Someone MS Dhoni called a luxury player, who would bat only in case of collapses. Like S Badrinath or Ajinkya Rahane. Experienced hands capable of navigating tricky situations. This year, CSK’s tried and tested have failed, forcing them to look outside the system for solutions. Ayush Mhatre provided the glimpse of one in the last game against Mumbai Indians and on Friday, has another chance to show off his skills.As proof that T20 cricket really does hate bowlers, Pat Cummins, one of the finest of this generation, is the leader of a bowling attack that has been ineffective and expensive. SRH have the fewest wickets (38) and the highest run-rate (10.59) of all 10 teams. Cummins has put himself front and centre to try and find a solution to this, bowling more overs than anybody else in the team, but it hasn’t quite worked. He is their second highest wicket taker, but those wickets are coming at 40 runs apiece.Team news and probable XIIs: SRH could choose an extra spinnerCSK have used 20 of 27 players this season, which makes predicting their XIIs a bit of a lottery. Many of the younger players in the squad were involved in match simulation training at their High Performance Academy on Wednesday. It is learnt new recruit Dewald Brevis batted at No. 4.Chennai Super Kings: 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Shaik Rasheed, 3 Ayush Mhatre, 4 Ravindra Jadeja, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Vijay Shankar, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Jamie Overton, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmad, 11 Matheesha PathiranaSRH might want to bring in an extra spinner in Chennai, Rahul Chahar or Kamindu Mendis.Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Rahul Chahar/Zeeshan Ansari, 12 Kamindu Mendis/Eshan Malinga0:42

Knight: Klaasen batting far too low for SRH

The big questionHeinrich Klaasen is SRH’s best batter with 281 runs at an average of 40.14 and strike rate of 159.65. Should he come up the order and shape the game, especially against CSK who are likely to attack with spin, or stay in the middle as the designated finisher?Pitch and conditions: CSK’s struggles against spinSpinners have taken 27 out of the 50 wickets that have fallen at Chepauk this year. But CSK haven’t been in a position to exploit that because their own batting has struggled against spin, including in their most recent home game against Kolkata Knight Riders where they gave up six wickets for 55 runs in 12 overs.Stats and trivia: Dhoni’s 400th T20 match SRH have never won against CSK in Chennai. Will it be their turn to breach the fortress, after Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals did the same earlier? CSK’s usual win-loss ratio at home (68%) has fallen to 25% this IPL Dhoni will be playing his 400th T20, joining the ranks of Rohit Sharma (456), Dinesh Karthik (412) and Virat Kohli (407) as the most experienced Indians in the format. Shivam Dube rose to prominence as a spin-hitter. This season he has the second-lowest strike rate against spin – 114.86 – among those who have faced at least 50 deliveries. Top of the list is another CSK player, Ravindra Jadeja (87.93). Rahul Chahar has picked up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 6.2, which is only bettered by Sunil Narine’s 5.9 among bowlers who’ve bowled at least 25 overs at Chepauk. He also keeps Dhoni (strike rate 56), Jadeja (SR 88) and Dube (SR 114) quiet. That’s a strong case for SRH to put him in the XI. CSK might save Matheesha Pathirana’s overs for whenever Klaasen comes in to bat. Their head to head in T20 cricket reads 26 runs in 22 balls for three dismissals There are five batters who have faced at least 30 balls in the powerplay and haven’t hit any sixes this IPL. Four of them are in this match: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ishan Kishan and Shaik Rasheed.

Liverpool have had some extraordinary players throughout their history, but who are the most underrated Reds individuals of the Premier League era?

So many players have become legends at Anfield, from Kenny Dalglish to Steven Gerrard in the past, to present icons Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

While Liverpool fans love a club legend, they also admire those players who go under the radar, not always receiving the acclaim they deserve.

Here are our choices for the Reds’ 10 most underrated footballers in the Premier League.

10. Didi Hamann

Didi Hamann was a superb and consistent midfielder for Liverpool in the 2000s, not least because of his game-changing cameo in the 2005 Champions League final.

The German was introduced at half-time when the Reds were 3-0 down to AC Milan, bringing more balance to the team and helping inspire one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football.

Hamann was an unflappable figure who never did anything too spectacular, but he was a shield in front of the defence and possessed underrated quality on the ball. He was also the last player to score at the old Wembley, coming in a 1-0 win for Germany over England.

9. Fabio Aurelio

Had it not been for injuries, Fabio Aurelio could be seen as Liverpool’s best left-back in the Premier League era, perhaps barring Andy Robertson.

The Brazilian had a wonderful left foot, as displayed when he scored an inch-perfect free-kick in the 4-1 win away to Manchester United back in 2009, and there was an intelligence about him that stood out, too.

John Arne Riise often received more acclaim, due to his penchant for scoring long-range stunners, but Aurelio was the more competent player overall, and he was sadly robbed of playing time too often because of fitness issues.

8. Steve Finnan

There was nothing flamboyant about Steve Finnan, but what a safe pair of hands he proved to be after joining Liverpool from Fulham in 2003.

The former Republic of Ireland international was rarely below a seven-out-of-10 in his performance level, combining solid defensive work with sporadic overlapping quality in the attacking third. He may have been sacrificed for Hamann in the aforementioned Champions League final, but his reliability was vital en route to glory that season.

7. Yossi Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun played for Liverpool at a time when Gerrard and Fernando Torres were purring alongside one another, so it’s only natural that he didn’t earn as many column inches.

That said, he was an influential figure in his own right, possessing trickery in tight areas and providing a good level of end product from his wide or attacking midfield role.

Most famously, Benayoun scored the only goal of the game away to Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2009, as well as a vital last-gasp winner at Fulham in the same year, and 47 goal contributions in 134 appearances is a good return for the Reds.

6. Jordan Henderson

Few players have divided opinion at Liverpool more in the past 30 years than Jordan Henderson, but what he achieved at the club now speaks for itself.

Never the most gifted of footballers, Henderson got every ounce out of his ability, but most importantly, he grew into a wonderful captain who skippered the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory.

The Englishman was a better technician than he was given credit for, and his industry and ability to cover endless ground made him a vital player for Liverpool during both the Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp years.

5. Dirk Kuyt

Barring Gerrard, has there been a better big-game player for Liverpool in the Premier League than Dirk Kuyt?

Like Henderson, the Dutchman wasn’t always the most aesthetically-pleasing player, but his ability to pop up in key moments was invaluable, and he was a hugely intelligent footballer in a tactical sense.

Kuyt scored a late winning penalty at Everton, as well as goals against the likes of United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan down the years, and he excelled on the right wing after being changed from a striker by Rafa Benitez, netting 71 times in 285 matches.

4. Alexis Mac Allister

Of the current crop of Liverpool players, Alexis Mac Allister is the most underrated, even though he is still rated highly by many Reds supporters.

The Argentine World Cup winner has been a magnificent signing since arriving in the summer of 2023, knitting everything together in midfield, and his brilliance is arguably noticed more when he isn’t playing.

Mac Allister is elite in possession, works his socks off out of it and possesses a winning mentality, and while he deserves to be regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, he arguably isn’t.

3. Joel Matip

Joel Matip has a strong argument for being Liverpool’s greatest free transfer in history, having enjoyed eight trophy-laden years at Anfield.

An incredibly likeable player with that rare ability to be funny without trying to be, Matip was bordering on world-class when he was fully fit and not injury-plagued, thriving alongside Van Dijk.

He was Liverpool’s best player in the 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham, and he was a lovely mix of calm and class, bringing the ball out from the back and getting stuck in defensively when he had to.

2. James Milner

Like Matip, James Milner is among Liverpool’s greatest free pieces of business, becoming one of the most versatile and dependable figures in the club’s recent history.

A perfect professional whose dedication and leadership rubbed off on those around him, Milner wasn’t always a regular starter under Klopp, but he was worth his weight in gold so often.

Nerveless from the penalty spot, capable of shining in four or five positions and highly intelligent, Liverpool’s former vice-captain played a massive role in the Reds’ past success. The fact that he is still playing in the Premier League at the age of 39 speaks volumes about him.

1. Gini Wijnaldum

Picking a No.1 was tough – Liverpool fans will always have their own choice and many above are worthy of topping this list – but we’ve gone for Gini Wijnaldum.

Klopp’s Champions League and Premier League-winning teams were full of players who got constant attention, whether it be Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino, but Wijnaldum was a more unnoticed but vital cog in the machine.

The Dutchman never stopped running in midfield, had superb positional sense and was so difficult to shrug off the ball, and he was a huge reason for that Liverpool team being so dominant.

Then there was the famous double against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019, allowing Wijnaldum his moment in the sun, but more often than not, he was underrated beyond belief.

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has praised Lamine Yamal’s meteoric rise from La Masia to the first team, revealing the winger’s potential was obvious from a young age. Despite recent injuries and criticism, Yamal continues to show maturity beyond his years as Barcelona prepare for a crucial stretch after the international break.

Cubarsi reflects on Yamal’s journey from La Masia to stardom

Cubarsi has shared glowing praise for Barcelona and Spain teammate Yamal, recalling their early days together at the club’s famed La Masia academy. Both players are integral parts of Hansi Flick's first-team setup, representing a new generation of homegrown stars carrying Barca’s future.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBarcelona defender praises Yamal’s rise and resilience

Speaking to , the 18-year-old centre-back said that Yamal’s talent was evident long before his senior debut and that his success comes down to years of unseen hard work and resilience.

“When I arrived, Lamine was already at Barca. From a young age, you could see he was going to make it. I’m very happy about everything he’s been through, which hasn’t been easy,” the defender said. "People think it's easy to get there, but you don't see the work that goes into it. I'm very happy for him."

He also addressed the criticism surrounding Yamal, stressing the teenager’s ability to remain unfazed by outside noise.

"Being so good and having so many people against him, there are always people who say things to discourage him, but he's tough. He doesn't have to play those games; he has to keep doing what he does: playing and being a good person."

Barcelona’s struggles and Yamal’s recovery

The Blaugrana’s recent dip in form has been a concern, with consecutive defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla before the international break. While Yamal’s recurring pubic injury has limited his minutes, the 18-year-old is working tirelessly at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to regain full fitness.

The plan is to have him ready for the high-stakes clash against Real Madrid on October 26. Early signs from training have been promising, with the winger expected to return for limited minutes against Girona later this month if recovery stays on track.

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AFPWhat’s next for Cubarsi, Yamal and Barca?

Cubarsi, meanwhile, is with the Spanish national team as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria. After the 4-1 defeat to Sevilla, he criticised his team’s lack of intensity and urged Barcelona to “step up” as they look to regain form. Both players will play vital roles in the Catalan giants' push to regain momentum once club football resumes. For Yamal, the focus remains on returning stronger from injury, while for Cubarsi, it’s about leading by example in defence as two of La Masia’s brightest products aim to guide Barca back to winning ways when they face Girona on October 18.

Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, has resumed batting following a recovery from a finger injury on his right hand that needed ten days to heel. He had picked up the injury while fielding against Chennai Super Kings on May 3.Patidar started with mild throwdowns before testing his entire range of batting movements as RCB resumed training on Thursday evening, two days ahead of their clash against KKR. With a little bit of taping, he strode out to the nets and batted for over 30 minutes, seemingly unhindered by the right hand. Patidar didn’t, however, field or take catches.If Patidar is deemed fit to play, it will come as a massive boost for RCB in their quest to finish in the top-two. RCB are currently second on the points table with eight wins in 11 games, and need at least two wins to assure themselves of a top-two finish – something they’ve never achieved since 2016.Related

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Patidar’s availability will also somewhat cover up for Devdutt Padikkal’s absence at No. 3. The left-hander has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury, with the franchise bringing in Mayank Agarwal, primarily an opener, as his replacement. They also won’t have the services of Jacob Bethell for the playoffs due to international commitments.Patidar’s form has somewhat tailed off after a sensational start – 23 is his highest score across his last five innings. So far this season, his first as captain, Patidar has hit 239 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 140.58. His most-recent half-century, a 32-ball 64 in a winning cause against Mumbai Indians, came more than a month ago.

Liverpool are considering making an offer for a “huge talent” in the near future, having sent scouts to watch him alongside interest from some of their biggest rivals.

Neville calls Liverpool underdogs in title race

The Reds’ 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon was a tough one to take for the Premier League champions, but it was a result that had been coming, following too many unconvincing performances.

Speaking on Sunday after Arsenal’s late 2-1 win at Newcastle United, Gary Neville hinted that the Gunners are now already favourites after just six games, despite Liverpool beginning the campaign as the front-runners, and still being two points clear at the top.

“Only two teams can win this league: Liverpool or Arsenal. When the first goal went in, I said, ‘big’, and I thought the second one was coming, I genuinely did. I thought I could feel something happening in the ground. Those Arsenal players did too and it did happen.

“I think it’s a big moment. Look, it’s September, it’s ridiculous… it [the title race] doesn’t start until March. But what you’ve got to do along the way is send out some calling cards. You’ve got to send out some clear messages that we’re here and we’re proper, and that’s what I think Arsenal have done today.”

Away from the current on-field action, Liverpool continue to be linked with possible new signings, including one big talent with a huge future in the game.

Liverpool send scouts to watch "huge talent"

According to a fresh claim from journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Genk starlet Konstantinos Karetsas in action, with an offer potentially being tabled for him soon. The £20m-rated 17-year-old could be sold in January or next summer, with Everton, Sunderland, Newcastle United and Bournemouth eyeing a move for him, too.

Karetsas is a massive talent who is already impressing so much at the age of just 17, scoring three goals and bagging six assists in 53 appearances for Genk.

The attacking midfielder also has two goals in five caps for Greece, having switched his allegiances from Belgium, as well as being hailed as a “huge talent” by scout Jacek Kulig.

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Karetsas would surely love the idea of moving to Liverpool over the other clubs mentioned, with all due respect to them, and he has the talent to be a long-term star at Anfield.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fluminense está classificado às quartas de final da Copa do Brasil Sub-20. O Tricolor garantiu a vaga após golear o Vasco da Gama por 4 a 0 na noite desta segunda-feira (4), no Estádio Luso-Brasileiro, e fechar o confronto com 7 a 3 no placar agregado.

RelacionadasFora de CampoMP solicita banimento de organizada do Fluminense em todo território nacionalFora de Campo04/09/2023FluminenseConfira o planejamento do Fluminense para o período da Data FifaFluminense04/09/2023FluminenseSaiba todas as chances do Fluminense no BrasileirãoFluminense04/09/2023

O clássico desta segunda-feira (4) seguiu o manual do confronto de ida e começou bastante movimentado, com chances para os dois lados e indícios de um novo empate. O roteiro só ganhou novos contrastes a partir dos 49 minutos da primeira etapa, quando Lucas Eduardo, do Vasco, recebeu o segundo amarelo e foi expulso.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

O Fluminense soube aproveitar a vantagem numérica para ser soberano por toda etapa final da partida. A goleada tricolor começou a ser construída com Kauã Elias aos 15 minutos, após um vacilo na saída de bola do goleiro Lecce. Aos 17′, Arthur aproveitou outra falha cruz-maltina para ampliar o resultado para o time das Laranjeiras. A classificação foi sacramentada com gols de Agner, aos 32′, e Isaac nos últimos instantes do clássico no Luso-Brasileiro.

Sem perder para o Vasco há quatro jogos, o Fluminense não só ampliou a vantagem no retrospecto do clássico na categoria, mas também encerrou a sequência invicta do Cruz-maltino – que não era derrotado há quatro partidas.

Tottenham Hotspur dropped points for just the second time this season on home soil last night, with their meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers ending 1-1.

Santiago Bueno looked as though he had secured Vitor Pereira’s side their first league win of the Premier League campaign, but Thomas Frank’s side managed to stage a late fightback.

Joao Palhinha’s effort deep into stoppage time saw the Lilywhites claim a late point, extending the side’s unbeaten run to five games across all competitions.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage showing in North London, but it’s certainly a sign of a good side if they can avoid defeat even when not producing one of their best displays.

However, if Frank’s side are to be a success in the near future, the Dane desperately needs to address one issue that arose in the meeting with the West Midlands outfit.

Spurs’ biggest issue against Wolves last night

In front of goal this season, Spurs have been largely impressive, scoring 11 times in their six league outings – averaging nearly two goals per game in 2025/26.

However, their showing against Pereira’s side last night was a somewhat toothless one, subsequently being unable to break down the opposition, who have failed to win a single top-flight outing.

Whilst the Lilywhites had 51% of the play, completing 111 passes into the final third, but could only muster a total of three shots on target during the 90 minutes.

Even when managing to get a shot off, Frank’s men struggled with their accuracy, only managing to get 30% of their shots on target – undoubtedly leading to their inability to secure all three points.

Their subsequent chances only accrued an xG of just 0.87, with the visitors achieving a higher total of 1.15 – subsequently doing so despite managing fewer efforts on goal.

The Lilywhites’ attack was made up of over £150m worth of talent last night, but numerous of such players failed to make the desired impact in forward areas.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Wolves

Xavi Simons joined Spurs in a £52m transfer from RB Leipzig late in the summer window, but as of yet, the Dutchman has struggled to hit the ground running in North London.

The 22-year-old has made five appearances in all competitions, but has only registered one goal contribution, with his assist for Pape Sarr against West Ham United his only tangible reward.

In his showing against Wolves yesterday, Simons only managed a 25% dribble success rate, whilst only completing 27% of the crosses he attempted – highlighting his lack of impact in North London.

In the majority of his matches to date, the youngster has operated in an unnatural role off the left-hand side, which has no doubt contributed to his lack of success since his big-money move.

However, the same can’t be said for Richarlison, with the Brazilian striker being Frank’s first choice number nine in the absence of Dominic Solanke since the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Whilst the 28-year-old started the season in superb fashion, netting two goals in the opening day triumph over Burnley, he’s ultimately struggled to hit such heights in recent weeks.

He’s now only managed to find the back of the net once in his last seven outings across all competitions, hitting a blank against Wolves once again last night.

Minutes played

90

Touches

20

Passes completed

5

Possession lost

8x

Duels won

33%

Dribbles completed

0

Shots on target

0

Chances created

0

Despite not scoring, Richarlison may have been able to save himself with his all-round showing, but it was an evening to forget for the talisman in North London as he looked way off the pace throughout the draw.

His lack of impact was highlighted by his tally of just 20 touches, a figure lower than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 29 throughout the contest.

Richarlison’s dismal showing was further reflected in his tally of just five passes completed, at a success rate of just 56%, whilst also losing possession eight times – losing the ball 40% of the time he touched it.

His further tallies of 0% dribbles completed and 33% duel success rate also indicate how alien he was during the meeting with Pereira’s men, often being dominated by the opposition backline.

As a result of his showing, the £50m forward was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Football London journalist Alasdair Gold – topping off what was a disappointing performance from the Brazilian.

After such a showing, boss Frank has no choice but to make a change at the top end of the pitch, with such a position becoming an issue given the lack of tangible rewards produced in recent games.

The Champions League clash at Bodo Glimt could present an excellent opportunity to try something slightly left field in an attempt to try and rectify the problem currently apparent at the top end of the pitch.

Saved by Palhinha: Frank must instantly drop Spurs star who dropped a 6/10

Tottenham salvaged a point against Wolves in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 28, 2025

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including a Premier League matchup of USMNT stars

Though Christian Pulisic's injured hamstring was an unfortunate headline for the USMNT, Mauricio Pochettino's October camp, overall, was a success. The team dictated the run of play against two World Cup-bound opponents, Ecuador and Australia, and are unbeaten in three straight games.

There is more clarity on who Pochettino views as his core group. With the international break now over, those key players will want to continue their momentum with their clubs.

Weston McKennie, for example, was one of those players who had an uncertain standing with Pochettino. The Juventus midfielder said during camp that he's taken a new approach that appears to be benefiting both club and country. He'll hope to continue his progression when his team travels to Serie A upstarts Como.

Then there's Crystal Palace's Chris Richards, who will want to get back to his best after two uneven performances. His side hosts Tyler Adams' Bournemouth in a battle between two surprise teams vying for a Champions League spot.

And Tim Weah and Olympique Marseille continue to show they just might be the team to take PSG off its perch. OM sit just one point back on the French giants and play 14th-placed Le Havre on Saturday. 

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad this weekend.

AFPAll eyes on Pulisic's injury

AC Milan confirmed on Friday Pulisic will miss at least 10 days with a low-grade injury to his hamstring. After returning to Italy, tests indicated a low-grade lesion, with the club saying he would be reexamined in 10 days. play Fiorentina on Sunday.

Milan hope to have the current Serie A joint-top scorer back for the match against Roma on Nov. 2 at San Siro. Failing that, they would target the away match against Parma six days later. The club do not expect him to be in danger of missing the Milan derby against Inter on Nov. 23.

The USMNT, meanwhile, will play friendlies against Paraguay on Nov. 15 and Uruguay on Nov. 18.

All of that is unfortunate for the 27-year-old, who was having the best start to a club season in his career with four goals and two assists. Pulisic has shown in the past that recovery can adversely affect his performance.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMcKennie on the upswing?

One of the biggest benefactors of Pochettino's new tactical approach was McKennie, who played in a new role as an attacking midfielder alongside Malik Tillman and Pulisic. While the traditional central midfielder isn't penciled in as a lock for that role just yet, it did offer a glimpse into how McKennie could be effective under Pochettino.

As a result of his solid tackling, relentless running, and typically strong work rate, he often gets miscast as a defensive midfielder – a role that requires players to sit back and kill attacks from the opposition.

But against both Ecuador and Australia, McKennie was effective in playing more like Yaya Toure during his Manchester City days. Toure used to serve as City's No. 10, but he was more combative in the role than being a facilitator. And McKennie, although not as dominant as the Ivorian, did many of the same things. 

He was pressing up high and capitalizing on the team's mistakes at a higher on-pitch position to create attacks for the U.S. on the break. And playing such a role requires top fitness, which the midfielder – at times – has come under criticism for. Those issues didn't appear to hold him back during national team duty, with McKennie saying it came down to a challenge issued by Juventus manager Igor Tudor. 

"My coach back at Juventus, Tudor, really put pressure on me and said, 'Hey, you're getting older, and your body's not gonna be able to bounce back from games the way that you used to be able to, and you need to cut down some weight, and that's the only way you're gonna be involved with this team,'" McKennie told TNT. "So I put my head down and worked like I usually do. Got on a diet. Don't snack as much anymore. If I do, it's healthy snacks, and I work out more often.

"So that's what I've been doing, a lot of running. This summer was the first summer I didn't mind taking my shirt off at the pool." 

McKennie's renewed fitness helped him on the club level. After having an inconsistent role at the start of the season, McKennie played 90 minutes in draws against Villarreal in the Champions League and Milan in league action. They face Cesc Fabregas' surprising Como on Sunday.

The former Arsenal star is a shareholder at the side, but he's more than proved his merit as a manager with the tight-budgeted Como sitting eighth in the league. Juventus have slipped to fifth, but have a chance to get back on track. Both sides are stout defensively, tied on goals allowed with five – good for third in Serie A. But Como have struggled scoring, sitting mid-table in goals scored with seven.

Getty Images SportAmericans clash in London

Bournemouth are fourth in the Premier League table, while Palace sit sixth. Both clubs have rising managers in Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner, and have already picked up results against top sides. It’s still early, with just seven matches played, but Saturday’s meeting offers a chance to spark their challenges for Champions League spots.

Adams didn’t feature for the USMNT during the international break, excused for the birth of his child. Richards played, but endured two mixed outings for Pochettino’s side. The 25-year-old was beaten badly on the goal conceded to Ecuador and didn’t help when Australia scored, despite being in a position to do so.

If there’s one area in which Richards continues to show progress, though, it’s his leadership. He was furious with Australia’s physical play on Pulisic that led to the forward’s injury and publicly issued a warning to the Socceroos and other opponents.

“They’re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go,” Richards said after the match. “And if [the referee] didn’t give me a sh*t yellow in the corner, I probably would’ve killed somebody.”

Richards was understandably emotional, but the reality is the U.S. could use more of that edge. The team has been labeled soft at times, and every good side needs an enforcer. Richards seems ready to embrace that role, with some even suggesting he should be considered for the captain’s armband – an intriguing thought given that he’ll be facing the team’s 2022 World Cup captain, Adams, this weekend.

This is an opportunity for Palace to rediscover their sizzling September form after a surprising loss to Everton. If last season’s meetings are any indication, this one could be tight – both matches ended goalless.

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AFPReintroducing Weah, USMNT fullback

There were some early struggles, but Weah is slowly starting to demonstrate why he is ideally placed as a wingback. He's got good strength and pace, tracks back decently enough, and has just enough attacking prowess to be a threat to opposing defenses. More impressively, he can play on either the left or the right – crucial for Pochettino. 

With Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest dealing with injuries, Weah can slot in for either and provide more than solid play. While he likely wouldn't replace either when fully fit, having that option – especially on Robinson's end – ensures the Americans won't miss a beat. Weah's versatility has also been a boost for Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille. 

After flirting with Ligue 1 contention last season, OM are fully in it this season, and the American has played his part. His stats aren't jaw-dropping, with zero goal contributions in seven games, but the ability to line up on any part of either flank has allowed De Zerbi to have tactical flexibility, creating hassles for opposing managers in their preparations.

This is a big weekend for OM, one that could potentially see them leapfrog PSG into first. Le Parisiens face Strasbourg, who are a surprising third in the table, while Marseille host relegation-battling Le Havre. If PSG drop points and OM play as expected, there might be a new leader in France's top flight Monday.