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Liverpool are having more luck with injuries in comparison to last season, but one individual has suffered a setback in his fitness battle.

Who is injured for Liverpool currently?

Injuries are a huge part of football, and the Reds' 2022/23 season was hampered badly by having numerous players out of action for lengthy periods.

The likes of Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate and Naby Keita were high-profile absentees too often, while in 2020/21 it was even worse, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all missing many months of action.

Thankfully, those injury woes have eased in general at the moment, with Thiago continuing to be out since the summer, but the majority of the squad fit and firing.

One player has now picked up another issue, however, during what is a tough time for him.

Which Liverpool player has had a fitness setback?

According to the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle, youngster Kaide Gordon is now out for another two weeks, as his nightmare with injuries continues:

"Liverpool teenage winger Kaide Gordon has suffered another injury setback having made his long-awaited return to action earlier this month. But his latest issue is not related to the pelvic problem linked to his physical growth that sidelined the youngster for more than 18 months.

"While the issue is not regarded as serious, it is particularly untimely with Gordon having just finally started to regain match sharpness after his lengthy time out."

This is a cruel setback for Gordon, even if his absence should only be short-term, with the 18-year-old going through a dreadful period through injury in the past 18 months or so.

Having burst onto the scene as a prodigiously gifted 16-year-old, becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history after scoring in the FA Cup in January 2022, the attacker has seen his progress stunted significantly through some awful luck.

While others such as Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak have been able to kick on, he has had to sit and watch his chances of becoming a genuine part of Jurgen Klopp's squad slowly evaporate, having been hailed as "great" by Van Dijk in the past.

Time is still clearly on Gordon's side given his age, but he needs to hit the ground running when he does make his return, with the squad depth in attack arguably at an all-time high at Anfield, with some world-class faces to choose between.

The hope is that the teenage Englishman is back on the pitch as soon as possible, though, potentially getting some minutes at youth level and then making the step up over time. A loan move in January could even be beneficial, allowing him more regular time on the pitch.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their attacking options before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers has been able to add six new players to his squad; including Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Thiago Holm, and Marco Tilio.

According to The Scottish Sun, the Northern Irishman now has his eyes on another striker as he is weighing up a swoop for Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden.

The report claims that the Scottish giants could need to pay a fee within the region of £4m to sign the centre-forward, whose contract does not expire until 2027.

It does not, however, state how much the Bhoys are willing to pay for his services or whether they will make a firm offer for him before next month's deadline.

How good is Mathias Kvistgaarden?

Rodgers could unearth an exciting long-term heir to Kyogo Furuhashi by thrashing out a deal for the 21-year-old marksman over the coming days.

The superb youngster has burst onto the scene in recent months and showing himself to be a fantastic prospect with his ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis from a number nine position.

Since the start of the Superligaen Championship Round earlier this year, Kvistgaarden has plundered seven goals and six assists in 14 league appearances for Brondby. This means that he has been directly involved in a goal every 1.08 games on average.

He has emerged as a reliable option for the Danish outfit after his immense academy form for the club.

The 5 foot 7 finisher racked up a phenomenal 31 goals and 11 assists in 45 U19 outings prior to making the breakthrough at senior level.

Kvistgaarden, who scout Jacek Kulig hailed as being "on fire", averaged a goal contribution every 1.07 games on average for the U19 team and he is now starting to replicate that level of production on the big stage.

Kyogo, meanwhile, has registered 56 goals and 11 assists in 85 competitive games for Celtic since his move to the club in 2021, which is one goal involvement every 1.27 matches on average.

The Japan international scored 27 Scottish Premiership goals last season and 16 more than any of his teammates. He was Ange Postecoglou's outstanding attacking option and the player who was relied upon to score goals at the top end of the pitch.

Rodgers could now find a player to rival the ex-Vissel Kobe star whilst also landing an exciting eventual heir to his place in the team by signing Kvistgaarden.

At the age of 21, the Danish whiz is seven years younger than Kyogo and has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and improve over the years to come.

His sensational form for Brondby's first-team and academy suggests that he has the potential to eventually become an upgrade on the current Celtic star if he is able to translate those performances over to Scottish football.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Kvistgaarden will be able to replicate that outstanding level of production for the Hoops but his statistics indicate that it is an exciting £4m gamble that is worth taking for Rodgers.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Celtic board have backed Brendan Rodgers throughout the summer transfer window so far.

Who have Celtic signed?

The Hoops have made five new additions to the first-team squad; including Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm, Hyun-jun Yang, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, and Maik Nawrocki.

These moves may have been funded by the sale of Portuguese dynamo Jota. He moved to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad in a reported £25m deal last month.

There could be more signings on the way for the Scottish giants, though, after it was confirmed that Carl Starfelt has left the club to join Spanish outfit Celta Vigo on a permanent basis.

It was recently reported that the Bhoys have made an offer within the region of £2.9m for Elfsborg central defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, who could be a replacement for his compatriot.

How good is Gustaf Lagerbielke?

The 23-year-old titan's form in his home country over the last 18 months suggests that he has the potential to be an excellent defender for Rodgers and could be a dream partner for Nawrocki at the back.

Cameron Carter-Vickers is at least two years older than both of them and has been linked with Premier League interest this year, which could make Lagerbielke and Nawrocki the long-term central defensive pairing for the Hoops moving forward.

The £2.9m-rated centre-back, whose passing was hailed as "impressive" by journalist Ryan McGinlay, is a strong enforcer who is able to dominate opposition forwards and produce consistently brilliant performances at the back.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 across 15 Allsvenskan appearances in 2023 and caught the eye with 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game and a duel success rate of 62%.

In 2022, the 6 foot 3 titan averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 over 20 league outings and he made 3.2 tackles and interceptions per match, whilst the talented gem also came out on top in 64% of his individual battles.

Meanwhile, no current Celtic defender managed a score higher than 7.20 or produced more than 2.1 tackles and interceptions per clash in the Scottish Premiership last term.

These statistics suggest that Lagerbielke has the potential to be an outstanding performer at the back for Rodgers if he is able to translate his form from Sweden over to Scotland this season due to his ability to deliver a high standard of performance week-in-week-out.

He could, therefore, be a dream partner for Nawrocki as the Polish battler would have an excellent centre-back to play alongside, after his own impressive debut for the Hoops.

The 22-year-old ace recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.20 in the 4-2 win over Ross County on the opening day of the season last weekend. As per Sofascore, the former Legia Warsaw star won 100% (2/2) of his ground duels and made three tackles and interceptions combined, whilst the towering colossus also completed 93% of his attempted passes – including ten of his 11 long passes.

Nawrocki, who won 61% of his aerial duels in the Polish top-flight last term, was able to hit the ground running with an excellent performance at the back, on and off the ball, and he could form an exceptional partnership with Lagerbielke if they are able to bring the Swedish brute to Parkhead.

Matt Coles admitted he had a “heavy heart” about leaving Kent but felt the opportunity to play Division One cricket was too good an opportunity to miss

George Dobell19-Oct-2017
Matt Coles has swapped Kent for County Champions Essex on a two-year deal.Coles, something of an unfulfilled talent, admitted he had a “heavy heart” about leaving Kent but felt the opportunity to play Division One cricket and “push myself to be as good as I can be” made this too good an opportunity to miss.For Essex, his addition adds competition for places and depth in all formats.A former Lions allrounder, Coles emerged through the Kent youth system and academy. He made his first-team debut in 2009 and has represented the club more than 200 times across formats. He had a year remaining on his Kent contract.He did briefly leave Kent once before. At the end of 2013 he joined Hampshire on loan and subsequently signed with them. But despite a decent 2014 season, he struggled to settle away from home and returned to Kent.”It is with a heavy heart that I leave Kent,” Coles said. “It’s been my home and family for most of my life and career.”But I have a great opportunity to move and play Division One cricket with the County Champions. It feels right, and I want to push myself to be as good as I can be. Essex’s vision for the future is really exciting and I’m looking forward to playing a significant part.”Coles has flirted with notoriety for much of his career – he and Ben Stokes were sent home from a Lions tour in early 2013 after one too many nights out, while he was left out of Kent’s Championship fixture against Derbyshire in June 2016 following a drink-related incident and was suspended by the ECB for two further Championship matches after being found guilty of throwing the ball in a dangerous manner during their victory against Glamorgan in May. However, he is a well-respected player who performed well enough to earn selection for the first series of North-South matches at the start of the year.Aged 27 and with his chances of England recognition having receded sharply over recent years, the move might be considered a defining moment in his career.”It is important that we continue to improve the squad and not rest on our laurels,” Essex Head Coach Chris Silverwood said. “We feel Matt offers excellent attributes with both his batting and bowling across all formats. He will strengthen competition in red-ball cricket but also offer destructive batting and bowling in white-ball cricket so it is an excellent signing for the club.”The news leaves Kent’s seam-bowling resources looking a little thin ahead of the 2018 season. It is understood the club are among several keen to tempt Morne Morkel into a Kolpak deal and are also making enquiries about several other county seamers who either out of contract or out of favour at their current counties.

Manchester United won't just be trying to sign a host of players during the current transfer window, but also trying to move on some deadwood in order to free up the wage budget.

David de Gea and Phil Jones have already departed Old Trafford, leaving on the expiration of their contracts following 12 years in Manchester and Erik ten Hag will be keen on moving a few more players out the door.

Does Fred have a future at Manchester United?

The Brazilian has just one year left on his current deal at United and this summer could represent the final opportunity for Ten Hag to secure a decent fee for the midfielder.

Fellow Premier League side Fulham are interested in Fred and with the Dutchman looking at signing younger players, it could be the perfect time to offload the 30-year-old, who started just 23 games across all competitions last term.

With the Red Devils eyeing a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka during the transfer window, it could Ten Hag the licence to move Fred on and get some sort of transfer fee for him before potentially losing him for free next year.

Could Manchester United sign Leon Goretzka?

According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, United are still “monitoring” the Bayern star ahead of a potential move, despite him making it clear that he doesn’t want to leave the Bundesliga side this summer.

This could perhaps make any future swoop tricky to pull off and with the German giants valuing Goretzka at just €40m (£35m), it may be an opportunity missed.

Nevertheless, Ten Hag could still look to persuade him to make the move to England, and he’d be an instant upgrade on Fred.

Not only did the 28-year-old create more big chances (seven to four) in the league last season than Fred, but he also took more shots per game (1.5 to 0.7), demonstrating his attacking attributes from the centre of midfield.

It isn’t only his attacking qualities which allowed him to shine for Bayern. The midfielder also offers an aerial presence, ranking in the top 9% across Europe’s big five leagues for aerials won per 90 (2.04), while also making 2.04 blocks per 90, good enough to rank him in the top 3% as he demonstrated his defensive abilities.

Fred did make more blocks per 90 (2.53), yet he clearly doesn’t have as much of a presence in air compared to Goretzka, winning just 0.76 aerials per 90 and this ability to generate more chances for his teammates, alongside a strong physical presence suggests the 28-year-old would be a much better option for Ten Hag next season.

His fellow compatriot, Manuel Neuer, hailed the former Schalke gem “cold as ice” and given the fact he has scored 65 goals throughout his whole career for club and country, it indicates that the midfielder fails to buckle under pressure.

Signing Goretzka would be a shrewd move for Ten Hag, especially given his performances over the previous 12 months and in order to seriously challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title, continuing to play the likes of Fred simply won’t work.

Arsenal are set to take a break regarding incoming transfers following the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What has Arsenal's transfer window been like?

The Gunners have really attacked the transfer market as they look to take the next step forward following their success last campaign, finishing second after a title challenge with Manchester City and returning to the Champions League for the first time since Arsene Wenger was manager of the club.

The north London side's first move this window was completing the signing of German forward Kai Havertz from rivals Chelsea for a fee reported to be in the region of £65m. The 24-year-old spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge, with his greatest moment being scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against City.

The club have also agreed a fee of around £38m for Ajax defender Timber. The 22-year-old Dutch international has come through Ajax's youth system and last summer was the subject of heavy interest from Erik ten Hag and Manchester United before the club ultimately made the move for his former teammate Lisandro Martinez.

The defender has received praise from National team captain Virgil Van Dijk, who said that he "wasn't as far along as he [Timber] is (at the same age)".

The biggest move for Mikel Arteta this summer has undoubtedly been the move for Rice. The West Ham captain led his side to their first-ever European trophy and after weeks of tense negotiations, the two clubs finally reached an agreement on a £105m fee for the English international, who is set to undergo a medical soon. The 24-year-old also reportedly garnered interest from Manchester City, but he will play his football at the Emirates next season.

However, Jones has said on The Football Terrace's 'Done Deal' show that Arsenal will have to wait until the "second phase" of the window for any more incomings, especially in the wide areas, with the focus now on trimming down the squad with some outgoings.

"The focus has been so heavily on getting these first three guys through the door that there is no certainty over who they go for in that position [right wing] yet. So let's wait until the mini clearout starts to take place, the tidy up I should say, of the Arsenal squad takes place.

"And then we'll see, once that second phase is ready to be activated if Arsenal can go for those players in the wide areas."

Who will Arsenal sell this summer?

The club are set to listen to offers for a number of players this window as they look to recoup some of the £208m they have spent so far.

One player who has already left the Emirates is midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 30-year-old has joined German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £21.4m. The Swiss international spent six seasons with the Gunners, where he made 297 appearances across all competitions and had a spell as club captain.

Reports also state that his midfield partner from last season Thomas Partey could also be departing the club this summer, with Juventus interested in his signature. Partey enjoyed the best season of his Arsenal career last time out, making 45 appearances for club and country and recording WhoScored rating of 6.92. However, with the arrival of Rice and the reports that the club are looking at Southampton's Romeo Lavia, the Ghanaian could find his game time reduced.

A number of Arsenal defenders could also move on this summer, with Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney being most notably linked with a move to Newcastle United. The 26-year-old has struggled to beat out Oleksandr Zinchenko for the starting spot at left-back, making just six starts in the league last season, and is reportedly holding talks this week with the manager to figure out his future at the club.

Englishman Rob Holding is another player who could leave the club this summer, with journalist Ed Aarons reporting that the centre-back is expected to depart this summer, either permanently or via a loan switch. Holding make 24 appearances for the side last campaign and had an extended run of games following William Saliba's season-ending injury.

It is hard to guess how much Arsenal will make off these player sales, but the club will be hoping it is enough to fund the "second phase" of their already strong window.

Manchester United have had some legendary captains throughout their illustrious history. We're talking Sir Bobby Charlton, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville and Roy Keane. Unfortunately, Harry Maguire is far from becoming a member of that list of icons, with his spell as captain going in somewhat of the opposite direction.

As the designated leader, it helps when you're on the pitch. You're meant to be one of the first names on the team sheet. And Maguire is simply not that at Old Trafford. The £80m defender has lost his place under Erik ten Hag, and looks closer and closer to the exit door with every passing moment.

According to The Sun, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have shown interest in Maguire, but United do not want to loan the central defender.

Following the departure of the experienced David de Gea, too, the question comes to the fore as to who will step into the leadership roles at Manchester United on the pitch. It could be time for Ten Hag to pick a new player to take charge.

As per The Sun also, with reports linking Maguire with a move away, Ten Hag will likely have to pick a new captain.

With that in mind, Casemiro certainly believes he has the leadership qualities to fulfil that role and it appears he's thrown his name in the ring.

What did Casemiro say?

Speaking to Placar when asked about the leadership role, Casemiro said, via Goal: "I like having this role, yes, to be honest. Being a leader, caring, being like a father, going after things, I like to set an example, be the first to arrive, I like to play this role.

"The captain’s [armband] is nothing more than a symbol, but the players have the responsibility to talk to the referee, to the players – I like to be that example player."

The midfielder's experience likely plays a large role in that leadership, given the amount of major silverware he picked up during his time at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League in three consecutive seasons at one stage.

How much did Casemiro cost?

Even though many Manchester United fans will be quick to point out just how priceless a player of Casemiro's quality and experience is, the 31-year-old cost the Red Devils a reported £70m last summer.

The Brazilian has more than paid that price tag back, though, getting United back into the Premier League's top four, and helping them win their first trophy under Ten Hag – the Carabao Cup.

Next season could be even better, too. Those at Old Trafford are gearing up to go one step better than a top-four place next season, with a place in the Champions League handing them the chance to cause a few shocks on the European stage.

Meanwhile, sneaking their way into the Premier League title race wouldn't exactly go amiss. It will be difficult, given Arsenal's summer arrivals so far, and Manchester City's treble-winning squad. But, if the Red Devils can get their own summer plans right, then they could cause an upset come August.

Between now and then, however, Ten Hag may find himself choosing a new captain, should Maguire depart.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches that ended on June 2, 2017

Mohammad Isam02-Jun-2017

Gazi Group Cricketers regained the lead in the Super League after beating closest rivals Abahani Limited by six wickets, courtesy Nasir Hossain’s all-round show – a three-for coupled with a half-century – at the BKSP-3 Ground in Savar. The victory puts Gazi Group Cricketers only one win away from clinching the 2017 edition of the Dhaka Premier League, with the final round of matches to be held on June 5.Gazi Group’s decision to bowl received validation, with their spin contingent accounting for eight of Abahani’s batsmen and skittled the side out for 156 in 41.2 overs. Abahani’s innings, however, received its first jolt as left-arm pacer Abu Hider trapped Saif Hassan in front in the first over of the game. Hossain Ali inflicted the second dent to Abahani’s effort the very next over, cleaning up Shadman Islam. With both the openers having been removed for a duck, offspinners Mahedi Hasan and Nasir denied Abahani any real chance of a consolidation, as they chipped away at the middle and lower order to finish with a three-wicket haul each. Among the Abahani batsmen, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Afif Hossain and Shuvagata Hom all fell between 23 and 32, with a 40-run fourth-wicket stand between Mithun and Liton being the only partnership of note during the Abahani innings.In reply, Gazi Group stuttered intermittently during chase, despite Anamul Haque having set the platform with a 54-ball 41. While he lost his opening partner, Munim Shahriar, in the third over to Manan Sharma’s left-arm spin, Mominul Haque couldn’t sustain his innings beyond a 25-ball 21, as Hom had him caught by substitute Kazi Anik. Subsequently, Mohammad Saifuddin’s dismissal of Anamul and Manan’s removal of Jahurul Islam had Gazi Group struggling at 84 for 4 by the 21st over. Gazi Group captain, Nasir, however, took charge of his side’s chase thereafter, notching up an industrious 56 off 92 balls to overhaul the target with 13.2 overs to spare, in the company of Nadif Chowdhury (26), with whom he put on 73 unbroken runs for the fifth wicket.Mehedi Maruf’s 127 headlined Prime Bank Cricket Club’s five-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar, as he made short work of a 243-run chase.Maruf set the tone for Prime Bank’s innings, with an array of confident strokes, negating the impact of the early breakthrough that Dhanmondi Club had garnered through opener Shanaj Ahmed’s dismissal off Rubaiyat Haque in the fourth over. Maruf, whose marathon knock lasted nearly 47 overs, anchored the chase with three crucial partnerships, including a 44-run third-wicket stand with Rafatullah Mohmand (24) and another worth 64 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Asif Ahmed (26). The most significant, however, was his 115-run second-wicket partnership with Zakir Hasan, who fell one short of a half-century in the 24th over.Maruf clobbered ten fours and four sixes en route to his 143-ball knock, before he holed out to Tanbir Hayder off Sohag Gazi. Ariful Haque and Arifur Rahman then closed out the chase for Prime Bank with two overs to spare. Five out of the seven bowlers Dhanmondi Club used finished with one wicket apiece.Earlier, Prime Bank’s Al-Amin Hossain and Taibur Rahman forged a potent partnership with the ball to restrict Dhanmondi Club to 242 for 7 in 50 overs. The duo scalped five out of the opposition’s top six, after offspinner Nahidul Islam made the first strike in the sixth over of Dhanmondi Club’s innings. Having lost half their side inside 21 overs, with 100 runs on the board, Tanbir Hayder (58) resuscitated the innings with captain Elias Sunny (57) by means of a 104-run partnership for the fifth wicket. No. 8 batsman Mehedi Hasan Rana chipped in with a 21-ball 20 to help Dhanmondi Club near the 250-run mark.

The Uruguayan provided a crucial goal to cap a stellar display in a tricky home win as Bellingham failed to score for the first time this season.

Jude Bellingham can't run the show every game. It is good for Real Madrid, then, that they have a few other midfielders in their ranks. This week, it was Federico Valverde who ran things, with the Uruguayan scoring Madrid's equaliser and turning in his best showing of the season in a 2-1 comeback win over Real Sociedad.

But it wasn't a comfortable start at the Santiago Bernabeu. A former Madrid man got things going for La Real. Takefusa Kubo, who Los Blancos let go on a permanent deal last summer, played an incisive pass through the Madrid defence, which Ander Barrene bundled over the line — despite Kepa Arrizabalaga's best efforts. Kubo had the ball in the net again 10 minutes later, but saw his curled effort ruled out after it glanced the body of an offside Mikel Oyarzabal.

Joselu rattled the bar with the goal gaping shortly after, but Madrid created little for the remainder of the first half. They only needed 43 seconds after the break to change things, though. Valverde levelled the scoreline with a fine side-footed strike into the net from the edge of the box. The second came after an hour, as Joselu headed Fran Garcia's cross into the bottom corner.

There were further chances for Madrid. Toni Kroos curled a free-kick narrowly wide. Valverde saw a good opportunity for a second deflected past the post and Bellingham was denied late on. Still, although they were far from convincing in the first half, Madrid, led by Valverde, did enough to grab three big points and maintain their perfect start to the 2023-24 Liga season.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Santiago Bernabeu…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (7/10):

Almost made an excellent save to deny La Real's opener. Had little to do otherwise.

Dani Carvajal (7/10):

Involved in an exciting battle with Kieran Tierney — one he won most of the time. His attacking thrust was vital, especially given Carlo Ancelotti's injury woes.

Antonio Rudiger (6/10):

Completely lost his man on the opener. Redeemed himself after with an otherwise solid performance.

David Alaba (6/10):

Didn't offer much cover as Kubo ran rampant. Not his best showing.

Fran Garcia (6/10):

Had a rough go of things against Kubo, who ran rings round him. But he was excellent going forward, assisting Valverde and Joselu.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

Won his tackles, pressed well. But he failed to cover some key spaces in the defensive third, and gave Kubo time to work magic.

Federico Valverde (8/10):

The usual off-ball work was there, and he offered an injection of pace from the midfield. Scored a wonderful goal to equalise — his first of the season. Bellingham was surprisingly quiet, and Valverde took it upon himself to handle the creative load from the midfield.

Toni Kroos (7/10):

Gave away some silly free-kicks. Madrid's lack of width in the first half limited his creative tendencies. Better in the second as his side grew into the game.

Jude Bellingham (7/10):

Didn't get a goal or assist, but was involved in pretty much everything else. If this is Bellingham at his worst, Madrid won't have much to complain about.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty ImagesAttack

Rodrygo (6/10):

Tried to make everything a one-man show — such is his lack of understanding with Joselu up front. Worked for short stints, but he really needs support in the final third.

Joselu (6/10):

Missed a sitter shortly after La Real's opener. Scored Madrid's second out of nowhere. He causes problems with his energy and industry but doesn't have the pace or technical quality to be anything other than a reliable backup.

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Subs & Manager

Luka Modric (6/10):

Not a bad option off the bench. Lacking rhythm having fallen behind Bellingham and Valverde in the pecking order.

Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

Steadied things, and helped Madrid gain control when he came on.

Nacho (6/10):

Valuable legs for a tired Fran Garcia.

Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

Late defensive cover to shut it down.

Brahim Diaz (N/A):

Didn't have time to make an impact.

Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

Went for arguably his strongest side given the injury situation. Madrid weren't woeful, but certainly short of their best, and need to find an attacking rhythm. Still, he will take the three points against a tricky opponent.

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.”