Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane propelled Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League success under Jurgen Klopp, though where do the star duo rank as Football FanCast goes through the Reds’ greatest goalscorers?

15 Ian St John Appearances: 425 Goals: 118

The late Ian St John, who passed away in 2021, stands as Liverpool’s 15th-highest goalscorer, having netted 118 times across 425 appearances for the club between 1961 and 1971.

The club’s record signing, he formed a formidable partnership with the great Roger Hunt, spearheading Liverpool’s return to the pinnacle of English football in the 1960s. Indeed, in Liverpool’s title-winning 1963/64 campaign, St John scored 21 goals.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: St John’s most significant moment for Liverpool came in the 1965 FA Cup final, with a diving header securing an extra-time victory over Leeds United, marking the Reds’ first success in the competition.

14 Sadio Mane Appearances: 269 Goals: 120

Mane outperformed his xG in all but one of his seasons at Liverpool between 2017 and 2022, when FBref tracked such data, proving just what a clinical finisher the Reds had on their hands.

Mane’s absence has been felt since he left for Bayern Munich, with the Senegal forward having established himself as one of the Premier League’s best all-round forwards after joining Liverpool from Southampton in 2016. Along with Salah and Roberto Firmino, he formed one of the most formidable attacks in European football.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Mane’s double in a win over Wolves on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign saw him share the Premier League’s Golden Boot award with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

13 Dick Forshaw Appearances: 288 Goals: 123

Dixie Dean has been in the headlines due to Erling Haaland’s sensational form this season, though the Everton icon was not the only striker thriving on Merseyside in the 1920s.

Dick Forshaw, who also played for Everton (he is the only player to win league titles with both of the biggest Merseyside teams), netted 123 times for the Reds between 1921 and 1927.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Forshaw scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Manchester United during the 1926/27 season, when he netted 29 times in 35 league games.

12 Jack Parkinson Appearances: 219 Goals: 128

Five goals ahead of Forshaw is Jack Parkinson, who played for the Reds from 1903 up until 1914.

Parkinson, a two-cap England international, netted 128 times in 219 games before leaving for Bury, where he spent one season before retiring to become a newsagent.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Parkinson finished as the league’s top goalscorer, with 31 strikes in 30 matches, in the 1909/10 season.

11 Sam Raybould Appearances: 226 Goals: 130

Next on the list is Sam Raybould, who clocked up 20,340 minutes (according to LFCHistory.net) for Liverpool between 1900 and 1907.

A prolific forward, Raybould courted controversy when he was suspended for seven months for agreeing to sign for Portsmouth, who were adjudged to have made an illegal approach. However, his tally of 67 goals in 100 games was a club record until it was broken by Salah in 2020.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Raybould scored 32 goals in 34 games in 1902/03, a league record that stood until 1931.

10 Harry Chambers Appearances: 339 Goals: 151

Nicknamed ‘Smiler’, Harry Chambers was one of the most proficient strikers of the post-First World War era of the 1920s. He helped Liverpool to back-to-back league titles in 1922 and 1923.

Due to the war, in which he served, Chambers had to wait four years for his Liverpool debut, yet went on to etch his name into the club’s history books nevertheless.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: In a 5-1 demolition of rivals Everton in 1922, Chambers scored a hat-trick. Across the 1921/22 and 1922/23 seasons, he scored 41 times in 72 games.

9 Michael Owen Appearances: 297 Goals: 158

Michael Owen burst onto the scene in sensational style in the late 1990s. By 2001, he had a Ballon d’Or to his name.

Owen became Liverpool’s goalscorer on his Premier League debut in May 1997. The following season, he shared the competition’s Golden Boot, and was the Reds’ top goalscorer in every campaign between 1997/98 and 2003/04, when he left for Real Madrid.

A hamstring injury blighted his time at Anfield, and he would go on to suffer more issues across his career, but he truly had it all in his youth, with explosive pace, quick feet and finishing prowess.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Owen’s quickfire double secured Liverpool a superb comeback victory against Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup final as the Reds took home the second of three cups in a memorable campaign.

8 Sir Kenny Dalglish Appearances: 515 Goals: 172

Sir Kenny Dalglish might be eighth on this list, but not many players are more synonymous with Liverpool than the Scotsman.

Signed to replace another club great – Kevin Keegan – in 1977, Dalglish scored on his league debut and went on to win six First Division titles and three European Cups as a player and then manager, leading Liverpool’s attack during their dominant period decade in the 1980s.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: As player-manager, Dalglish only selected himself for 21 league games in the 1985-86 season. The Reds won the double that campaign, with Dalglish fittingly scoring the winner against Chelsea to secure the title on the final day of the season.

7 Robbie Fowler Appearances: 369 Goals: 183

Robbie Fowler had two spells at Liverpool, though his best form came in his first stint between 1993 and 2001.

Fowler holds a record for being the only player to score 30-plus goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons, while he played in every single match of the 1994/95 campaign.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Fowler scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history when he netted three times in four minutes and 33 seconds against Arsenal in 1994, before it was broken by future Reds forward Sadio Mane while he was at Southampton.

6 Steven Gerrard Appearances: 710 Goals: 186

One of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders, Steven Gerrard features high on this list despite not playing as a striker – showing just how good he was.

Gerrard spent the vast majority of his playing career at Anfield and won two FA Cups, three League Cups and, of course, the Champions League in 2005.

ANFIELD HIGHLIGHT: Gerrard scored one of Liverpool’s goals as they came from behind to force Milan to penalties in that famous Champions League final in Istanbul. He was named Man of the Match and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.

The Chelsea star was inexplicably sent off before the European champions came through the last 16 by the skin of their teeth

England made it through to the Women's World Cup quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth on Monday, beating Nigeria on penalties after being second-best to the Super Falcons all evening in Brisbane. A stupid red card from Lauren James made their task even harder, but nerves of steel were shown in the shootout to avoid an embarrassing last-16 exit.

Nigeria settled well in the first half and were incredibly close to breaking the deadlock when Ashleigh Plumptre hit the woodwork with a fierce strike, with her forcing a good stop out of Mary Earps moments later, too.

But England had chances, too, most notably when Alessia Russo forced a great save out of Chiamaka Nnadozie, who needed to deny Rachel Daly from a corner not long after. The Lionesses thought they had their biggest chance yet to break the deadlock when a penalty was given against Rasheedat Ajibade for a push on Daly, but it was overturned.

It was the African side that always looked the more likely to win it, though, with England regularly riding their luck until a moment of madness from James reduced them to 10. The Chelsea star stupidly stepped on Michelle Alozie and was dismissed in the 87th minute. Fortunately for them, Nigeria could not capitalise and it was Chloe Kelly who was the hero in the penalty shootout, smashing home her spot-kick to send the Lionesses through.

GOAL rates England's players from Lang Park in Brisbane…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Mary Earps (6/10):

  Made a great stop to deny Plumptre in the first half. Was the only thing she had to do, really.

  Jess Carter (4/10):

  Struggled to play out from the back, often hitting hopeless long balls.

  Millie Bright (6/10):

  Kept the ball well and was strong in her duels.

  Alex Greenwood (6/10):

  Did her defensive work well but wasn't as influential on the ball as usual. Scored her penalty.

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  Midfield

  Lucy Bronze (5/10):

  Some poor touches meant she gave the ball away a lot more than usual.

  Keira Walsh (4/10):

  Had good moments in possession when she got on the ball but wasn't allowed to be influential by Nigeria's pressure. Completely marked out of the game.

  Georgia Stanway (4/10):

  Battled well in midfield but lacked incision on the attack. Missed her penalty.

  Lauren James (1/10):

  What on earth was she thinking?! Couldn't get involved in the game and then had a moment of madness that saw her sent off. Incredible.

  Rachel Daly (4/10):

  Decision-making going forward was slow and poor. Had a couple of chances she could've done better with. Took a great penalty.

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  Attack

  Alessia Russo (4/10):

  Made a good defensive intervention to block an Alozie header but was very ineffective in the final third, unable to put away a great early chance after a defensive error.

  Lauren Hemp (4/10):

  Couldn't get anything going in the final third.

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  Subs & Manager

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Replaced Russo in the final moments of regulation time but couldn't get involved at all with England down to 10 players. Showed absolute nerves of steel to win it in the shootout though with a superb penalty.

  Beth England (N/A):

  Came on for the final 15 minutes of extra-time. Showed good energy and desire to make things happen, even if it was tough to do so when England were down to 10. Scored her penalty.

  Katie Zelem (N/A):

  Came on in the final moments for Walsh.

  Sarina Wiegman (3/10):

  In-game management was really poor. Did little to combat how well Nigeria's press was working and the fact that players like James and Walsh were being marked out of the game, while her substitutions were also incredibly late. Got away with one, here.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has brushed aside suggestions that the one-off Test has historic relevance, saying that their focus is on putting up a strong performance against a good team instead

Mohammad Isam01-Feb-2017Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has brushed aside the portrayal of their maiden Test in India next week as a “historic” one, saying that he feels it is more important to treat the game as an opportunity to show Bangladesh’s measure in world cricket. He also hopes that a good performance in the one-off game will prompt the BCCI to invite them frequently.The team leaves Dhaka on February 2, to play a two-day practice match against India A and the Test in Hyderabad, which will be Bangladesh’s first in India since gaining ICC Full Member status in 2000. Interestingly, it was the BCCI’s push that was vital in their ascent from Associate Member, and India played against them in their inaugural Test on November 10, 2000. India toured Bangladesh four more times to play Tests thereafter.”I’m a little surprised, I don’t believe that this is a historic Test,” Mushfiqur said. “Take for example when we play against Zimbabwe. The pressure is more because if we lose against them then there is nothing more shameful than that. I will say that it is better that we are going there now and not five years ago.”We want to tell world cricket what we can do in India. I don’t think about how many years later we are going to play in India. We want to play in such a way that India invites again and again. This to me is just another Test match.”Mushfiqur, who has returned to the Test squad after missing Bangladesh’s last game in New Zealand due to a finger injury, said that he hopes the team puts together a collective performance. Bangladesh lost both Tests in New Zealand but gave the home side some tough sessions.”I hope that the recent performers will hold on to their form and put together a team performance. And to those who haven’t done well in the recent past, you have a chance to give a good account of yourself.”A team effort will give us a good result. They have a strong squad, and are always really good in their home conditions. We want to do well against them over five days, and not just two or three days,” he said.Mushfiqur said Bangladesh’s squad is balanced, with four pace bowlers and three specialist spinners and depth in the batting department.The return of Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur himself means that Bangladesh have their full batting strength back. Soumya Sarkar and Imrul are likely to be in competition for the role of Tamim Iqbal’s opening partner, while Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman will be expected to make runs in the middle order.”No matter what conditions they offer, we have a balanced side. We have enough pacers and spinners and depth in batting.”I think our batsmen will have a challenge in their hands against their world-class attack. As a bowling unit we are inexperienced, but one or two bowlers did do well in New Zealand. If we can perform as a team we can do well against any other good team.”

Marco Asensio has been a revelation in a central role for Paris Saint-Germain, keeping big-money signing Goncalo Ramos out of the side

Marco Asensio is not a striker. At least, that's what we were told.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, at various points last year, had a hole to fill through the middle. First, Karim Benzema was injured. Then, Rodrygo picked up a knock. Meanwhile Alvaro Rodriguez, despite scoring a memorable last-minute header to equalise in the Madrid derby, wasn't trusted to play 90 minutes as a pure No.9.

Asensio, for his part, never really had the chance to prove himself leading the line. Instead, Ancelotti favoured the Spaniard as an occasional right-winger, an emergency presence who has never quite reached the heights of his early, pre-knee-injury career. It made sense, then, that Asensio was allowed to leave without being handed a new deal. Ancelotti couldn't really fit him in the side, while the presumptive arrival of other key players would have made him an expensive backup.

Now, it appears, Ancelotti might have made the wrong call. Asensio, now of PSG, has been tasked with playing through the middle for Luis Enrique's side — and has done so with aplomb. The Spaniard has scored 2, set up 1, and been a constant source of chance creation in the role where Ancelotti simply would not play him. It has become clear, albeit in just a month of play, that Madrid might have let the wrong guy go.

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  A messy summer in Madrid

  Madrid, of course, weren't to know this at the time. Their whole summer, in fact, was a bit of a mess. Things started well with the pre-arranged arrival of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, but quickly took a turn. Karim Benzema was allured by the big money of the Saudi Pro League, while Kylian Mbappe, a potential target, elected to stay at PSG — and might even extend his stay if the Parisians enjoy a successful 2023-24 campaign.

  Los Blancos, in turn, went after a number of attacking players, but never signed a reliable striker. Joselu, brought in from Espanyol, is the kind of auxiliary option most mid-table sides would love to have. Arda Guler, snatched from under the nose of a complacent Barcelona, is more right-winger than out-and-out striker. Brahim Diaz, finally given a shot to impress after a two-year stint at AC Milan, has much the same problem.

  They reportedly made a massive bid for a yet-to-be-named top-tier striker. But no deal was ever agreed. Bellingham has been the unlikely provider in attack so far, with five in four games for Los Blancos. Still, despite his fine form, there are no guarantees that he can fill such a role long term. This is an elite, do-it-all centre-midfielder who can nick a goal, not a striker who has been used out of place for years. Madrid, then, have a problem.

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  A poor World Cup for Spain

  In a sense, it's hard to criticise them for not finding a solution. Ancelotti, 24 major trophies and all, is a reasonably good manager. When he elects not to deploy a player at any given position, he probably knows what he's talking about.

  Luis Enrique is perhaps deserving of the same tactical respect. Although he is not as accomplished of a coach as Ancelotti, this is still a Champions League winning manager who set up one of the most dominant attacking sides in recent memory in trophy-laden 2014-15 Barcelona. Trebles, contrary to popular belief, are not so easily won.

  But, ironically, Luis Enrique has been here before. He was an ardent supporter of an out-of-form Asensio during the World Cup, and deployed the player as a centre-forward for three out of four of Spain's games — and brought him off the bench in another. In those contests, Asensio had 10 shots, put two on goal, and scored just once.

  He was worryingly uninvolved in play, too. Spain routinely pinged the ball around their opponents, amassing over 60 percent possession in every game. Asensio still didn't see the ball much, amassing his most touches, 53, in a 7-0 battering of Costa Rica to open the tournament. Here was a right-winger awkwardly deployed as a centre-forward, and proving remarkably ineffective in the process. Spain's lack of finishing proved costly in their round of 16 exit, and Asensio was certainly among those to blame.

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  A turnaround for PSG

  Many were puzzled, then, when Luis Enrique once again called on Asensio to start through the middle when he took the PSG job in late June. The Spaniard was deployed as a centre-forward for each of his four preseason starts, and only found the back of the net once — an inconsequential finish during the 88th minute of a 3-0 rout of Jeonbuk FC. PSG, certainly, were short of striking options, but Hugo Ekitike had impressed in brief spells for the Parisians, and seemed more deserving of a look than his Spain counterpart.

  Luis Enrique changed his mind for the Parisians' drab draw to open the season, but moved Asensio back to a central role for their third fixture. The results were impressive. This time, Asensio was immensely influential. With Mbappe on his left and Ousmane Dembele on the right, Asensio roamed and linked play expertly. He wasn't expected to score as much as facilitate, find the right spaces and allow the legs and trickery of Mbappe and Dembele to do the hard work. He scored the opener against Lens — a fine curled effort — and provided two goal contributions a week later against Lyon.

  Asensio's numbers in possession were remarkably similar to those he recorded for Spain nine months before. He amassed 45 touches against Lens, and just 38 against Lyon. But he had space to operate in, and with PSG stretching opponents on the counter, Asensio was seldom forced to play away from goal. The result was the Spaniard at his best — influential when on the ball, and clinical in the right moments. It's exactly the kind of player Real Madrid need.

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  His long term future?

  This could all change rather quickly, though. PSG spent big this summer, and signed two No.9s to round out their squad. Goncalo Ramos — who disappointed on his PSG debut — was brought in from Benfica. Meanwhile, long-term target and friend of Mbappe's, Randal Kolo Muani arrived from Frankfurt. Both are young, proven goalscorers who would start through the middle for most teams in Europe. These are not the players that Asensio should be in the squad ahead of.

  But there's little room elsewhere. Dembele, although injury prone, is probably too talented to drop on the right. Mbappe isn't losing his place any time soon. And Enrique is likely too much of a 4-3-3 loyalist to try Asensio in a deeper role — one he wouldn't be an ideal fit for, anyway.

  Instead, then, Asensio might keep almost €150 million worth of strikers out of the team. Kolo Muani is just returning to fitness, while Ramos will need time to adjust to a new league. And perhaps there's something to be said for depth, too. Kolo Muani and Ramos could be expensive backups, but with Champions League and Coupe de France football — as well as what could be a surprisingly tough Ligue 1 slate — the Parisians will need legs.

  Until then, Asensio will likely be given his chance through the middle. And what seemed an unlikely experiment might just become a long-term solution, as well as a signal to the Spanish capital that they might have let the wrong player leave.

Leeds United are on the lookout for a new boss to replace Sam Allardyce and former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard would be open to taking over at Elland Road.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United and Steven Gerrard?

As per The Telegraph, Gerrard has emerged as a contender to become the next Leeds United manager as the Whites look to find their new boss to lead them into the Sky Bet Championship next term.

talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has backed the 43-year-old for the role, stating on the outlet's YouTube channel: "Gerrard to me, I don't see why he couldn't do the job if the lessons that needed to have been learned have been learned. "If he can sit in front of a chairman and walk him through what it is that he would bring to his football club and what he's learned from the lessons he's had previously and could then deploy them.

Nevertheless, The Daily Mail have revealed that Gerrard, whose organisation was hailed as "incredible" during his time at Rangers, is also in the running for the Leicester City job, potentially offering him a route back into football ahead of 2023/24.

Scott Parker and Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca have also been looked at by the Foxes as they prepare to rival Leeds United in the English second-tier.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that whoever Leeds United appoint will be determined by their ongoing ownership situation.

Jones told FFC: "It'll be really interesting to see what happens with Steven Gerrard, who is very open to taking both the Leeds and the Leicester job and is keen to get back into work as soon as possible. I think at this stage, Leeds still have due diligence to do on the managerial front and who they appoint will be impacted by the ownership situation."

Who else has been linked to the Leeds United job?

Leeds United look to have a lengthy list of candidates at Elland Road as they weigh up who would be the best fit for the club moving forward.

As per The Athletic, former Fulham boss Scott Parker has emerged as a candidate to take over at the club and has been discussed internally at Elland Road.

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan is also of interest to Leeds United and has been shortlisted as they do their due diligence within their hiring process, as per Football Insider.

The Daily Star claim that Brendan Rodgers is another name that has been mentioned in connection with the club, though Leeds United are likely to face competition from his former club Celtic to land the 50-year-old, as per Sky Sports.

Leeds United are set for huge changes at Elland Road after being relegated from the Premier League last month with a full takeover confirmed last week after Andrea Radrizzani was bought out by the 49ers who previously held a minority stakehold.

Now the American owners will be tasked with the challenge to find the right sporting director and right manager to lead the West Yorkshire side in their next chapter and will surely be wanting to follow in the footsteps of Burnley by making an instant return to the top flight, something that will be no easy feat for the coach they select.

As a result, bringing in a manager that can not only boost the confidence of the squad set to remain but also attract quality new additions who can make an instant impact at Elland Road will be essential if Leeds are to have any chance of competing for automatic promotion over their 46-game campaign.

Indeed, the Whites have been linked with several experienced Championship coaches including Scott Parker and Daniel Farke who both have led their second-tier teams to promotion, but if the 49ers are looking for a long-term prospect that can lead Leeds comfortably in the top flight beyond potential promotion, Brendan Rodgers could be their man.

Should Leeds appoint Brendan Rodgers?

The former Leicester City and Liverpool boss has been heavily linked with a move to the Yorkshire club but has also been touted to make a return to the Scottish Premiership to leading title winners Celtic once again next season.

There is no doubt that Rodgers would be a great fit for the 49ers as they set out on an ambitious project to bring success back to the club after a struggle in more recent times with Phil Hay claiming in an article written for The Athletic that the new owners are 'very keen' on the Irishman.

Just like Leeds, the 50-year-old manager – who was deemed to have "incredible quality" by Pep Guardiola – had struggles of his own in the Premier League this season with the Foxes finding it difficult to maintain their high standards which ultimately resulted in Rodgers being sacked after four years and Leicester being relegated too.

One of the biggest issues Rodgers found at the King Power Stadium was a lack of investment from the owners over the last 18 months which quickly reflected in the performances on the pitch, so full financial backing and a healthy budget in his next appointment will surely be an attractive prospect.

Hay further claimed in his article that under Radrizzani the plan was for Leeds to be self-sufficient which, without big-money departures in double figures, would have seen the club likely stagnate in the second-tier, however, the 49ers are planning quite the opposite with an injection of US funds to allow for an 'active and aggressive' transfer window.

With that being said, Rodgers can rebuild his reputation and prove his strong managerial skill set to those who doubted him by guiding Leeds out of the Championship and repairing the mistakes of the past to establish a Premier League quality squad that can compete comfortably in the top flight.

While the likes of Parker and Farke boast impressive CVs at the desired level, if the club's new American owners have ambition, they could strike immediate gold with a move for the former Liverpool boss. It feels farfetched but it would be a big coup for such a side to acquire his services.

Super Over
ScorecardStafanie Taylor struck her first fifty of the season•Getty Images

In the end, not even a Super Over could separate the Sydney Smash.Having elected to bat, the Sydney Sixers made 138. In reply, the Sydney Thunder managed the same. In the Super Over, the Thunder made eight, then the Sixers did too.Confusion reigned, but the Thunder had won – on the basis that they had hit more boundaries in the 40 overs (16) than the Sixers (14). So, in a game normally won by a number of runs or wickets, the Sydney Thunder had beaten the Sydney Sixers by two boundaries. Eh?The first 40 overs had been an undulating, exciting advert for the Women’s BBL, and the Super Over had the national news on Channel Ten delayed – who knows how many new fans will have stumbled across the game as a result – and as many as 17,000 people watching at the ground.The main event
The 40 overs that were unable to separate the two sides were dominated by fine innings from two top-order batsmen, and the timing of their wickets decided the outcome.First came Ashleigh Gardner, whose stellar competition continued. She came to the crease in the first over with Alyssa Healy gone, and scored a fine 54 from 41 balls, including sixes down the ground and to cow corner. She shared a stand of 65 with Sara McGlashan, who was scratchy early on but grew into her innings. When McGlashan was caught and bowled by Erin Osborne, though, they lost five for 30 from the final 21 balls. Gardner was stumped by Alex Blackwell – making a rare appearance as a wicketkeeper – off Stafanie Taylor (who had earlier taken another key wicket, Elysse Perry), and Sixers hopes of making 150 were over.Ashleigh Gardner continued her fine form•Getty Images

Taylor’s excellent game continued as she made 68, he first half-century of the season, to dominate the chase. Blackwell, who fell to the excellent Kim Garth, then Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in, but Taylor rode her luck (she was dropped three times) to keep her team in it and looked to be guiding them to victory. The late introduction of Lisa Sthalekar in the 15th over put the brakes on the Thunder as she picked up two wickets, then Taylor fell slogging Sarah Aley in the penultimate over. Naomi Stalenberg and Osborne could only manage seven of the eight they needed from the final over; Super Over it was.Super finishSo, how did that Super Over pan out, then? The Thunder batted first. Garth, an Associate rookie and replacement for the absent South African duo Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk, limited Taylor – who earlier made an excellent 68 before falling in the final over – and Rachael Haynes, who was run out off the last ball, to just eight. Garth, continuing the beautiful line and length she had bowled when taking 17 for 1 earlier) had denied them any boundaries, which was a superb effort.Knowing that they had fewer boundaries in regular tim, the Sixers knew they needed nine to win, but the Thunder knew eight would work for them. Healy smote Rene Farrell down the ground for four, but was then carelessly run out. Perry found two through cover, then was caught at long-on. Needing three off the last two, Angela Reakes was run out turning for a second. Gardner, so brilliant earlier, could only scramble her first ball for a single. No one really understood why, but it was not enough.What it all meansBefore the Sydney Smash, the Sixers had won three games (in a run of seven straight victories). The Sixers still sit four points clear at the top of the table, and need to win one of their two remaining fixtures to qualify for a semi-final. The Thunder are sixth, and their hopes of defending their title remain alive.

Sri Lanka need nothing less than a win to keep the three-match T20I series alive against South Africa while the hosts would look to continue their dominant run against the visitors

The Preview by Firdose Moonda21-Jan-2017Match factsJanuary 22, 2017
Start time 1430 local (1230 GMT)Theunis de Bruyn was one of five debutants for South Africa in the rain-hit first T20I match in Centurion•Gallo ImagesBig pictureA week ago, Sri Lanka were humiliated in Johannesburg, where they lost 16 wickets and succumbed to their biggest defeat of the three-Test series. It may be too soon for them to return but they will be pleasantly surprised at the transformation in conditions for limited-overs cricket. The green mamba will be tamed and should be far more batting-friendly, presenting the visitors a chance to exorcise the ghosts of the Test match. They need to take it because unless they win at the Wanderers, they will concede another cup before the final fixture. Considering that they regard the T20I series as their best chance of upsetting the hosts, this is their most important game of the tour.With such pressure on them, Sri Lanka will need to be calmly led by an increasingly frustrated-looking Angelo Mathews, who needs support from his team as much as he needs to step up. Mathews has tasked himself with the new ball and the No.3 spot in the batting line-up, and needs to deliver.South Africa do not seem to have the same problems. Rookie captain Farhaan Behardien took to the role well and, although it is difficult to analyse a team after a ten-over match, the new-look group has potential. In what was a hit-and-giggle jamboree, the batsmen relied on the experience of David Miller to build their total but all of the top six showed an ability to hit the ball hard and the bowling attack had plenty of young, exciting options. South Africa could have AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel back for the third match but if they win in Johannesburg, they will not need them to seal the series.Form guideSouth Africa: WWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: LLLLL
Angelo Mathews tasked himself with the No. 3 and the new ball in the first T20I•Associated PressIn the spotlightOf South Africa’s new batsmen Theunis de Bruyn was the most impressive at SuperSport Park. He is a clean hitter of the ball and showed off some innovative strokeplay. With Rilee Rossouw having signed a Kolpak deal, there is a spot open in South Africa’s limited-overs squads and de Bruyn can make a strong case to be considered depending on his performance in the next two matches. There is also the possibility of de Villiers’ return for the final fixture and this is de Bruyn’s chance to ensure he does not miss out if that happens.Asela Gunaratne gave Sri Lanka their best chance of keeping South Africa quiet and did not concede a boundary in his two overs in the first match. He also struck a six-ball 10 in the chase and was probably the biggest positive for a beleaguered Sri Lankan outfit. Their T20 side is laden with allrounders and Gunaratne has shown the advantage that he can give. If he has a big game, Sri Lanka could lean on him to level the series.Teams newsJohannesburg is not usually a venue for two specialist spinners so South Africa may bench Aaron Phangiso to give Dane Paterson a debut. Reeza Hendricks, the squad’s reserve batsman, may have to wait his turn after the incumbents all impressed at SuperSport Park.South Africa (probable) 1 Jon-Jon Smuts, 2 Heino Kuhn, 3 Theunis de Bruyn, 4 David Miller, 5 Farhaan Behardien (capt), 6 Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Aaron Phangiso/Dane Paterson 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Imran TahirHaving played only one spinner in Centurion, Sri Lanka may look to go in with a similar make-up in their attack at the Wanderers. They have another fast-bowling option in left-armer Isuru Udana and could bring him into the mix on a surface that should suit him. They could also look at Danushka Gunathilaka to prop up a fragile batting order.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Niroshan Dickwella 2 Dhananjaya de Silva, 3 Angelo Mathews (capt), 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Thikshila de Silva, 6 Kusal Mendis 7 Seekkuge Prasanna, 8 Asela Gunaratne, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Nuwan Pradeep, 11 Suranga LakmalPitch and conditionsThe Wanderers’ deck can be a batting paradise in limited-overs cricket and a run-fest can be expected if batsmen manage to cope with the bounce and carry. Without tempting fate, there is no rain forecast for Sunday afternoon but, as was evident from the first match, things change quickly on the Highveld.
Stats and triviaAngelo Mathews is seven runs away from 1,000 T20 international runs. He will become the fourth Sri Lanka batsman, after Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, to reach the milestone. Imran Tahir needs five more wickets to reach 50 T20 international scalps.Quotes”It’s a bit overwhelming because I have never had that many people ask for my autograph or to take pictures. Usually its the odd one or two but now there’s even more. It’s a bit overwhelming but I am going to get there eventually.”

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale is making moves in the summer transfer window to alter his playing squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland have all been confirmed to be joining the Gers next month and with new signings could come more departures.

One player who could be on his way out of Glasgow is winger Scott Wright, who is reportedly free to leave if an acceptable offer comes the club's way in the next few months.

Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?

Beale could ruthlessly ditch the forward by securing a deal to snap up Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose arrival would open up the space for the Scottish giants to sanction a transfer for the ex-Aberdeen man.

Turkish outlet Sporx recently claimed that the Light Blues have submitted an offer to sign the Fenerbahce gem, who is said to be keen on a move away from his current club.

The ace is reportedly available for a fee in the region of €10m (£8.5m) but it remains unclear as to how much Rangers have offered or how much they are willing to go to.

Osayi-Samuel has mainly played as a right-back this season for the Turkish side but his natural position is on the wing, like Wright, and his form as an attacker in England with Queens Park Rangers indicates that he has the potential to be a big upgrade.

He is an exciting player who could get supporters off their feet with his former boss, Mark Warburton, describing him as a winger who "terrifies defenders" with his "sheer pace" and is a "handful" to deal with.

The 25-year-old Nigerian caught the eye with his performances in the Championship in 19/20 and 20/21 with QPR. He racked up eight goals and ten assists and created 13 'big chances' for his teammates in 58 outings during that period, showcasing his creativity with five 'big chances' provided in the Super Lig from right-back in 21/22.

Wright, however, has struggled badly in the Scottish Premiership over the last two seasons. The attacker has scored four goals and assisted two from six 'big chances' created in 42 appearances in the division in that time.

As a result, Beale must ruthlessly jettison the dud as his lack of production in the top flight suggests that he does not have what it takes to have a big role in the squad next term.

He doesn't offer much in the way of goals or chance creation and Osayi-Samuel could come in and offer more on both fronts, whilst also having the versatility to be able to play at right-back if needed.

Liverpool new boy Ryan Gravenberch has turned down a call-up from the Netherlands Under-21 squad.

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Midfielder has moved to AnfieldEager to make a positive impressionWill not figure for country at U21 levelWHAT HAPPENED?

The 21-year-old midfielder has passed up the opportunity to form part of plans for 2025 Euro U21 qualifiers against Moldova and North Macedonia. He was included in the Dutch ranks for the European Championship that took place in Romania and Georgia over the summer.

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Gravenberch has also figured at senior level for his country in the recent past, earning 11 caps, but has opted to stay out of the Dutch camp entirely during the latest international break. That is because the youngster wants to focus on adjusting to life at Anfield following his £34 million ($43m) transfer from Bayern Munich.

WHAT THEY SAID

A statement from the Dutch national team confirming the absence read: “Ryan Gravenberch will not travel to Zeist this international break to join the Dutch Juniors. The Liverpool midfielder has indicated to KNVB coach Michael Reiziger that he wants to focus on his new club during the international matches in September and will therefore not make himself available.”

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Gravenberch was left out of Ronald Koeman’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He also endured a tough time at club level last season, as he made just three Bundesliga starts for Bayern, but he will have been cleared to make his debut for Liverpool by the time that they travel to Wolves on September 16.