شهدت مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وإيفرتون ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، مساء اليوم الإثنين، واقعة غريبة في ملاعب كرة القدم.
ويحل إيفرتون ضيفًا على مانشستر يونايتد بملعب “أولد ترافورد” ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.
وخلال المباراة، دخل إدريسا جاي في جدال مع زميله مايكل كين، بعد تراجع إيفرتون للدفاع لإيقاف هجمة مرتدة لمانشستر يونايتد.
وعقب ذلك تبادل إدريسا جاي وكين الكلمات ودفعا بعضهما البعض قبل أن يصفع اللاعب السنغالي الدولي وجه زميله بوضوح.
وتوجه الحكم توني هارينجتون إلى جاي ليُشهر البطاقة الحمراء، بينما حاول حارس مرمى إيفرتون، جوردان بيكفورد، وزميله إيليمان ندياي تهدئة جاي، والذي غادر الملعب في الدقيقة 13.
اقرأ أيضًا | أبو تريكة: ليفربول في وضع صعب جدًا.. وأشفق على سلوت
ونشر مركز مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على منصة “إكس”: “تم التحقق من قرار الحكم بطرد غاي بسبب سلوكه العنيف، وتم تأكيده بواسطة تقنية الفيديو المساعد (فار)، واعتُبر الفعل ضربة واضحة في وجه كين”.
وسبق وحدثت واقعة مشابهة في الدوري الإنجليزي موسم 2004-2005، بين ثنائي نيوكاسل، لي بوير وكيرون داير في المباراة أمام أستون فيلا. طرد إدريسا جاي بعد صفع زميله في مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وإيفرتون
إيفرتون في ورطة…📌
🟥إدريسا غانا غي يطرد إثر ضرب زميله مايكل كين #الدوري_الإنجليزي_الممتاز | #مانشستر_يونايتد_إيفرتون#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/n41JYVOTXq — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 24, 2025
O MetrôRio anunciou o esquema de funcionamento para a noite desta quinta-feira (11/12), quando Vasco da Gama e Fluminense se enfrentam no Maracanã, às 20h (de Brasília), pelo jogo de ida da semifinal da Copa do Brasil. A concessionária informou que o sistema operará em horário regular de dia útil, das 5h à meia-noite, com reforço no efetivo de segurança e de operadores em estações estratégicas para garantir maior fluidez no acesso dos torcedores.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoMuito trabalho: Vasco tenta ajustar defesa e ataque antes de clássico com o FluminenseVasco10/12/2025FluminenseFluminense tem tabu a quebrar contra o Vasco na Copa do Brasil; relembre os confrontosFluminense10/12/2025Futebol NacionalPolícia frustra planos de organizada do Vasco antes de clássico contra o Fluminense na Copa do BrasilFutebol Nacional09/12/2025
➡️ Vasco x Fluminense: onde assistir, horário e prováveis escalações do jogo pela Copa do Brasil
Operação das linhas para a partida entre Vasco X Fluminense
A Linha 2 vai circular normalmente entre Pavuna e Botafogo, permitindo que os passageiros façam a transferência para a Linha 1 no trecho compartilhado entre as estações Central do Brasil/Centro e Botafogo. Segundo o MetrôRio, esse esquema oferece deslocamento contínuo para quem se dirige ao estádio e também para quem retorna após a partida.
Estações indicadas para cada setor do Maracanã
A concessionária orienta que os torcedores planejem o deslocamento com antecedência e verifiquem qual é a estação mais próxima de seu setor no estádio.
continua após a publicidadePortões A, B e C (Oeste e Sul): desembarque recomendado na Estação Maracanã (Linha 2).Portões D, E e F (Leste e Norte): desembarque ideal na Estação São Cristóvão (Linha 2).
➡️Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance!
Formas de pagamento e organização
Para evitar filas, o MetrôRio solicita que os clientes recarreguem seus cartões com antecedência ou utilizem pagamento por aproximação diretamente nas catracas, opção que tem se tornado cada vez mais prática em dias de grande movimento.
➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Fluminense
Serviço – Funcionamento do Metrô nesta quinta (11/12)
Linhas 1, 2 e 4: funcionamento das 5h à meia-noiteTransferência entre as linhas 1 e 2: disponível no trecho compartilhado entre Central do Brasil/Centro e Botafogo
After two All-Star seasons with the Braves, Atlanta chose to pick up pitcher Chris Sale’s $18 million club option on Wednesday, ’s Jon Heyman reported. He will remain in Atlanta for the 2026 season.
Next offseason, when Sale is 37 years old, he will become a free agent.
The 2024 Cy Young award winner started in 20 games this past season. Sale posted a 2.58 ERA and a 1.066 WHIP—His ERA was the best amongst his fellow Braves starting pitchers this past season. He threw 165 strikeouts (a team-high) over 125.2 innings pitched, while giving up 102 hits, 36 earned runs and 11 home runs.
Atlanta is believed to be in the market for another starting pitcher this offseason, so we’ll see who the team shows interest in to possibly join Sale in the rotation in 2026.
The Braves went 76–86 this past season and missed the playoffs after going to seven consecutive postseasons.
Tasmania allrounder set for a middle-order role in ODIs after being called into Australia’s squad to face South Africa following his successful debut T20I series
Alex Malcolm04-Aug-2025Mitchell Owen says he will not change anything about his batting approach as he prepares to make his ODI debut for Australia later this month following a stunning debut T20I series in the Caribbean.Owen, 23, was an eye-catching inclusion in Australia’s new-look ODI squad for the three home ODIs against South Africa to be played in the northern Queensland towns of Cairns and Mackay starting on August 19. The ODI series follows a three-match T20I series against the same opponents in Darwin and Cairns starting next week, with Owen remaining in the squad following a successful debut series against West Indies where he made scores of 50, 36 not out, 2 and 37, striking at a phenomenal 192.30 batting at No. 6 across the series.Despite his BBL success opening the batting, Owen’s power and poise in the middle and death overs in the Caribbean, as well as his ability to chip in with some medium pace, saw him added to the ODI squad as Australia begins their build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa in the aftermath of the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis following the Champions Trophy.Related
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Nerves with the ball, calm with the bat, Owen happy with dream debut
Owen revealed he had not been given any indication of where he will bat in the ODI team if he gets a chance, but he said his approach won’t differ from what he showcased in the Caribbean.”If I am opening the batting or if I’m batting down the order, not much will change,” Owen said in Hobart on Monday. “Not much really changes in any form of my cricket. I just try and hit the ball and I feel like if I sort of think ‘defend’, I go into my shell a little bit and it just doesn’t work. So yeah, I’ll be keeping that same mindset.”Owen has only played 17 List A matches for Tasmania. He batted at No. 7 in his first 10 with a highest score of just 16. Tasmania, with the same coaching staff as Hobart Hurricanes, shifted him to open in the Dean Jones Trophy (Australia’s domestic one-day cup) last summer, partly in preparation for him making the same move in the BBL.It was post his BBL success where he really found another gear in 50-over cricket, smashing 48 off 19 and 149 off 69 to set up two winning chases against eventual finalists Victoria and South Australia respectively to end the season.
“You’ve got to be ready to play every couple of days”Own on his recent T20 matches played across IPL, PSL, MLC and in the Caribbean
However, as was the case with his T20I debut, Owen is highly likely to get his ODI opportunity in the middle order despite his domestic success at the top. The loss of Maxwell in particular robs Australia of finishing power given Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey are set to retain their middle-order roles. Australia will need to re-jig their top four with ODI acting captain Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green returning after missing the Champions Trophy through injury. Matthew Short also returns to the squad after missing the semi-final against India through injury having made a vital 63 off 66 while opening alongside Travis Head in Australia’s record chase against England in Lahore. Cooper Connolly opened the batting in the semi-final but has not been retained in either the T20I or ODI squads for the South Africa series.There will be a squeeze on for spots in Australia’s T20I side with Head and Short returning after missing the Caribbean series. Australia will likely start to bed their best available top seven against South Africa ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. It means Maxwell, who opened in four of the five T20Is in the Caribbean will return to the middle order as he forecast, with Head likely to partner Marsh at the top while Josh Inglis looks set to remain locked at No. 3 unless Short is trialed there which would change the balance of the middle order.Mitchell Owen has a strike rate of 145.53 in his 17 List A matches•AFP via Getty ImagesGreen was the Player of the Series at No. 4 while Tim David made a century at No. 5 in St Kitts and Owen looked a ready-made T20I No. 6. With Maxwell being added into the mix, Australia look primed to have a power-packed middle order but who bats where in their first-choice combination remains to be seen. Stoinis is not in the squad for the South Africa T20Is just as he wasn’t in the Caribbean, in part due to his Hundred commitments, but he too is understood to still be in consideration heading towards the T20 World Cup with Australia set to play two more T20I series in October against New Zealand and India where some Test batters like Head and Green might be rested at different stages.Owen will join the squad in Darwin on Wednesday after a rare few days in his own bed. Since the start of April, Owen has played 26 T20s in five different countries across the PSL, IPL, MLC and his international debut.He said he has learned a lot about his own game after experiencing the T20 franchise merry-go-round for the first time in his career.”What I learned was that I have to find my own process and my own training methods to get ready for each game, because you don’t have those chunks of training time to upskill your game, or try new things,” Owen said. “You’ve got to be ready to play every couple of days. So for me, I learned a lot about that and a lot about what I need to get ready. And then obviously, on the different wickets, sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get, but I think going to the subcontinent for Pakistan and India that held me in good stead for some of the wickets in the MLC and some of the wickets in the West Indies. It’s all just experience and knowledge that I’ve been able to sort of bank.”
A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.
On a night that was supposed to be a procession for the Group D winners, Azerbaijan had other ideas and took the lead in the fourth minute when Renat Dadashov swept in Rahman Dasdamirov's pass across the six-yard box following some slack marking. For 16 minutes, it was bedlam in Baku, but Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta powered in a close-range header from Malo Gusto's cross to level proceedings.
It looked like the Chelsea full-back had then put France ahead when his deflected shot nestled in the corner, only for the goal to be chalked off as the ball struck Christopher Nkunku's arm on the way in. It was 2-1 on the half-hour mark, though, when Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal for his country as he tucked in Gusto's neat cutback following a lovely floated pass from Khephren Thuram.
Juventus midfielder Thuram thought he had opened his own goal-scoring account for France, only for his effort to be ruled out after Hugo Ekitike handled in the box. But the visitors got the breathing room they were seeking just before half-time when goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev, who was later taken off after being dazed from a collision, pushed the ball into his own net from Thuram's strike on goal.
If the first half was a rollercoaster ride, the second was anything but. Azerbaijan, ranked 123rd in the world, began to tire around the hour mark, and had it not been for substitute keeper Aydin Bayramov, it could have been more one-sided.
GOAL rates France's players from Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Lucas Chevalier (6/10):
On his long-awaited debut, after 16 call-ups, his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following a well-worked goal from the hosts. Didn't have much to do otherwise, in truth.
Malo Gusto (8/10):
The Chelsea man was caught out by a lovely through ball and moments later France were 1-0 down. However, he made up for it with two assists and was a huge attacking threat. Was unlucky to have a goal of his own wiped out.
Ibrahima Konate (7/10):
Despite not having a particularly good season for Liverpool, the big defender looked calm and assured at the back.
Lucas Hernandez (7/10):
Very little seemed to fluster the defender, who linked up well with his younger brother.
Theo Hernandez (7/10):
While he wasn't as adventurous or as effective in attack as fellow full-back Gusto, he still fired in some good crosses and was more defensively sound.
AdvertisementAFPMidfield
Khéphren Thuram (8/10):
Was unlucky not to score any goals but got into some good positions to give himself a chance to do so. His pace and power were self-evident, and some of his passing was delightful, too.
Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):
His quick feet and athleticism got his team out of a hole on a couple of occasions, but he didn't have the licence to roam.
Christopher Nkunku (6/10):
The former Chelsea man had a stop-start performance, sometimes showing off some real quality but he also made some bad decisions and got tackled frequently.
AFPAttack
Maghnes Akliouche (7/10):
The youngster had an encouraging outing, he beat defenders with regularity, and he got his goal as well. A good night for him.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (8/10):
Took his goal with aplomb, held the ball up well, brought others into play and had a very good all-round display. He could be heading to the World Cup at this rate.
Hugo Ekitike (5/10):
The Liverpool forward has been excellent so far for his new team but he seemed all at sea at times. Seems to be better when leading the line.
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AFPSubs & Manager
Rayan Cherki (5/10):
The Manchester City summer signing struggled to make an impact.
Florian Thauvin (6/10):
Tracked back well but didn't do a huge amount.
Bradley Barcola (6/10):
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was repelled well by the Azerbaijan defence.
Didier Deschamps (7/10):
Fielded an experimental side without some of his heavy hitters, and while he would have been concerned with how they started the game, they slowly turned the screw before asserting their dominance. Some players shined, others did not.
Pakistan also have an outside chance, although it’s very remote
S Rajesh18-Dec-2024ESPNcricinfo LtdIndiaThe Brisbane draw means India need to win both their remaining matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be sure of qualification, regardless of other results. Two wins will take them to 60.53, while Australia will only end up on 57.02 even if they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in their last series. On the other hand, if India win one Test and draw the other, they’ll finish on 57.02, and can be overtaken by Australia (58.77) if they win 2-0 in Sri Lanka.Here are the requirements for India to qualify in each result scenario in the current series: If India win the series 2-1: Australia should beat Sri Lanka by no more than 1-0 margin, or South Africa lose at least 1-0 to Pakistan If the series is drawn 2-2: India will finish on 55.26; Australia will need to lose to Sri Lanka by at least a 1-0 margin, or South Africa lose 2-0 to Pakistan If the series is drawn 1-1: India will finish on 53.51; South Africa will have to lose both Tests, or Australia lose 1-0 in Sri Lanka or draw 0-0; a 0-0 draw will leave Australia and India level on 53.51%, but India will finish ahead on the basis of more series wins in this cycle (three to two). If Sri Lanka win 2-0, they will finish ahead of India If India lose the series 1-2: India will finish on 51.75 and will be out of the final as Australia and South Africa will finish higher even if they lose all their remaining Tests; also, Sri Lanka will finish on 53.85 if they beat Australia 2-0AustraliaAustralia need two wins and a draw to be sure of qualification, but that’s if they manage only a draw in their two remaining Tests against India – in that case, they’ll need full points against Sri Lanka so that they finish on 58.77, ahead of India (57.02); else they will need South Africa to lose at least 1-0 to Pakistan.With two home games to go, though, Australia will want to ensure they finish ahead of India regardless of what happens in Sri Lanka. For that, they need a win and a draw in the two remaining Tests, so that they finish on 53.51 even if they lose 2-0 in Sri Lanka, with India on 51.75. However, a 2-0 win will leave Sri Lanka marginally ahead of Australia, on 53.85, so Australia need at least a draw in one of those two Tests in Sri Lanka (assuming South Africa qualify).If Australia win these two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, they will qualify regardless of other results.Just one more win and South Africa will be through•Getty ImagesSouth AfricaSouth Africa need to win one of their two Tests against Pakistan to be assured of qualification for the final. If they lose the series 1-0 and manage only four points to finish on 55.56, then Australia and India can both go past that mark: India need a draw and a win in Australia, while Australia need the same in Sri Lanka. If either team doesn’t manage that, then even 55.56 could be enough for South Africa.If South Africa lose both Tests to Pakistan, they’ll drop to 52.78. At least one of India or Australia will surely go past that mark in their remaining matches, but if India get only four points from their last two Tests and Sri Lanka don’t sweep the home series, then Australia and South Africa could still qualify. On the other hand, if India win and draw their two Tests, and Sri Lanka win 1-0, then India and South Africa will qualify.Sri LankaSri Lanka can reach a maximum of 53.85 with a 2-0 series win against Australia. For each of Australia, India and South Africa to stay under that mark, Australia should get no more than a win and a draw in the two Tests against India, who should in turn get no more than a draw, while South Africa need to lose 2-0 to Pakistan. Sri Lanka can qualify in second place as long as only one of those three teams goes past 53.85.PakistanPakistan only have a very remote, mathematical chance, which also depends on South Africa dropping an over-rate point. Even with four wins out of four, Pakistan will finish on 52.38, marginally below South Africa’s 52.78 if they lose 2-0 to Pakistan. If South Africa lose a further point, they will drop to 52.08. Then, with several results going in their favour, it’s still mathematically possible for Pakistan to go second to either Australia or India. In all likelihood, though, Pakistan are out.
He has moved around the batting order of late, but being a finisher looks like Maxwell’s role in India and Sri Lanka next year
Andrew McGlashan17-Aug-2025
Glenn Maxwell reverse sweeps over short third•Getty Images
Ahead of the deciding T20I against South Africa in Cairns, Glenn Maxwell was asked whether having retired from ODIs had given him pause to consider an overall end date for his international career. The answer, delivered in good spirits, was a succinct “No.”If he so desires, next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka would be a fitting stepping-off point for one of the format’s great players. It’s difficult to believe he could go for two more years even though the 2028 edition will be co-hosted by Australia, alongside New Zealand.Related
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On Saturday evening he showed what he can still bring with the bat, expertly guiding an uncertain chase over the line with a masterful unbeaten 62 off 36 balls, having earlier snaffled a match-changing catch at long-on to cut off Dewald Brevis’ destructive innings. When calling time on ODIs, Maxwell cited being unable to sustain 50 overs on the field but, as a couple of recent parried boundary catches have reinforced, he remains capable of spectacular moments.Australia are shaping up well ahead of the World Cup and Maxwell will be a vital component of their bid to win the title for just the second time, in all three facets of the game. His offspin is a crucial cog in the balance of the side and could well be a powerplay option at the World Cup.With Australia tweaking their batting order in the last two series against South Africa and West Indies, Maxwell has moved around the line-up. He made 47 off 18 balls opening in St Kitts last month and was used in three different spots in this latest series. There will likely always be a degree of situational flexibility, but No. 6 and 7 looks like his home for the World Cup tilt.There are times with the bat when Maxwell looks uncomfortable and there will, as ever, continue to be moments that exasperate: the “oh, why did you do that, Maxi?” shot. But then there are the times, such as the decider against South Africa, when he gets it spot on and everything comes off.Glenn Maxwell has produced some spectacular pieces of fielding in the last few weeks•AFP/Getty ImagesThe way he backed himself to finish the chase was a window into a brilliant mind. Declining singles – even, briefly, when a very capable No. 8 in Ben Dwarshuis was with him – and trying to read what Lungi Ngidi would bowl in the final over as he won the game by reversing a full toss over short third having turned down runs off the previous two deliveries to leave four from needed two.”I was thinking about doing it probably the ball before,” Maxwell said. “[But] I just felt like he was going to bowl a slower ball the ball before so I could knock it into midwicket for two. As soon as it was pace on, I realised I’d probably made a mistake in not going. I hit it too well to get back for two so I was like, that’s fine, I’ll hit one of the last two balls, hopefully for four. I just felt like he wasn’t going to go to the slower ball.”Even though I was able to get one off him earlier, I didn’t think it was going to be as easy. I think the point was just a little bit finer. I thought I needed pace on to get it there. As soon as I saw it coming out of his hand, I was just like, get any bat on it and it’s going to travel. Got the ball I wanted and was able to execute.”Explaining his tactics when Dwarshuis came in during the 14th over, with Australia needing 51 off 37 balls, Maxwell said it was so he could take advantage of the shorter boundary with the wind.”I wanted to control that over as well as I could and then trust [Dwarshuis] from the other end where he had a few more options,” he said. “I think if I had taken a single the first ball [with him] just starting his innings, it might have been tough for him to get going or get off strike straight away.”I thought it might have been a bit of a risk if I was at the non-striker’s end for five balls of that over hitting to the shorter side as a right-hander. In the end, I think I got 11 off it, which is a win. It kept the momentum going. From then on, I trusted him basically [at] both ends.”When Maxwell took 15 off Kagiso Rabada’s final over – launching a six from a free hit after a huge beamer had slipped out of Rabada’s grip – the game looked decided with Australia needing 12 off 12. However, Corbin Bosch provided a twist with a double-wicket maiden in the 19th over. But Adam Zampa had done his part by surviving two deliveries and Maxwell had the strike. He knew exactly what he needed to do.
What to make of Everton? In the first half at the Stadium of Light, David Moyes’ tactics worked a treat, with Sunderland unable to match the visitors’ intensity and, crucially, unable to prevent Iliman Ndiaye’s brilliance.
This was a display of resilience and grit, though it was reduced to that samey standard by Everton’s own unravelling of their progressive play. Moyes’ side reverted to type, you could say, not quite shelling up but releasing their hold on the fluency that had played the Black Cats off the park in the early rounds of the fight.
As it is, the point gained on Monday night moves the Toffees a point ahead of Fulham and into 14th place in the Premier League, though one win in seven fixtures is admittedly a concern.
Moreover, Everton have now gone six matches without a clean sheet. Jarrad Branthwaite’s continued absence is affecting the Blues, of course, but inviting pressure will invite goals, and that’s something Moyes’ side have been guilty of doing.
There’s a real chance to take this season by the scruff of the neck and push for a place in the top half of the table. After all, with Ndiaye (and Jack Grealish) in the side, such dreams are achievable.
Iliman Ndiaye strikes again
Everton made their pressure count after 15 minutes in Sunderland, with Ndiaye collecting from the right and shimmying his way down into the box and sending a perfectly-placed shot past Robin Roefs.
Presenter Jamie O’Hara described the 25-year-old as “one of the best players in the Premier League”, and the division is indeed waking up to the fact that this might be true. There is so much good about Ndiaye’s game; so often he is the difference-maker for Moyes’ team.
This season, he has scored four times from ten outings in the Premier League, assisting one goal too.
In fact, the Senegalese’s sumptuous finish has seen him peel away from Beto as the top goalscorer at the club since Moyes returned in January.
Iliman Ndiaye
27
10
Beto
31
9
Abdoulaye Doucoure
17
3
Charly Alcaraz
26
3
Michael Keane
16
2
Jake O’Brien
20
2
Ndiaye’s ability has been widened this term, though. Last year, the electric-paced winger was something of a direct force. You might even say he was a touch one-dimensional.
No longer. Grealish’s arrival has prompted a shift to the right, and while Ndiaye’s striker’s instinct remains, he has now added creativity to his game, averaging 1.3 key passes per match, as per Sofascore, and opening up dimensions from which the centre-forwards are not taking advantage.
Everton have attacking problems, alright, but we’ve perhaps forgotten how a blow Branthwaite’s absence might have been. Last season, for example, the Three Lions defender’s early-season unavailability sparked a four-match losing run that laid the foundation of Dyche’s demise.
But this time around, the Merseysiders are stronger at the back, and much is owed to one man in particular.
The Everton star thriving under Moyes
Everton need to improve under Moyes this season. There is enough quality to challenge higher up the standings, even with the strikers proving so wasteful in front of goal.
But some players have stepped up, and Michael Keane epitomises this, having come within a whisker of leaving the club at the end of his contract last season, instead adding one more year to his stay.
Everton defender Michael Keane
As Branthwaite languishes in the infirmary, Keane has stepped up and emerged as one of the key pillars of the campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, starting all ten of Everton’s Premier League fixtures and playing every minute save for the win over Crystal Palace, when he was withdrawn after the hour mark.
Something of an aerial monster, the 32-year-old has been resourceful alongside the skipper James Tarkowski, who in truth has not been at his best over the past several months.
Keane, conversely, has shone, still limited technically and on the ball, but coming out on top across 62% of his ground battles. Furthermore, his 85% pass success rate suggests he is keeping things cool when playing out of defence.
And, of course, Keane has something of an unnatural instinct for goal, having scored twice under Moyes’ wing despite limited game time.
A contentious handball scare aside, Keane produced a rather faultless performance against Sunderland, standing strong against the second-half onslaught and winning five of seven contested duels, also blocking three shots and, incredibly, making 13 clearances (as per Sofascore), that final metric perhaps underscoring how deep Everton had sunk as the hosts cranked up the pressure.
Liverpool World actually awarded the 12-cap England international a 9/10 match rating, hailing his beast-like display in defence as he swept up the danger and made one brave header to prevent a certain goal during one frenzied scramble.
Everton pulled off a lot of business this summer. Moyes knew he’d enjoyed a successful window of wheeler-dealing, but the shrewdest deal of them all might have been extending Keane’s contract by an additional year.
The veteran defender has arguably outplayed Tarkowski beside him, and for a player whose career on Merseyside looked done and dusted, this is quite the resurgence for a side who, in hindsight, desperately needed someone of his ilk to steer them past the latest Branthwaite blow that has not derailed Moyes’ season so far.
In 2022, talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves said that the Toffees defender was “always struggling” for the club, so awkward on the ball that he looked like he was “not in control of his own body.”
Now, he has been revived, owing much, no doubt, to Moyes’ deep-rooted defensive principles. This is a player who is becoming every bit as undroppable as the flashy and fantastic Ndiaye this season.
Worse than Barry: Everton star cannot start again in his current position
Everton laboured to a draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
They might not have got the win, but Sunday evening’s game against Arsenal was a success for Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s side utterly outplayed the Premier League leaders in the first half, and despite losing Moises Caicedo for over half the match, came away with a point.
There were sensational performances across the pitch from the hosts, with the most impressive undoubtedly being Reece James’.
The club captain has been unreal all season for Chelsea, and now it looks like Cobham could already be brewing his heir.
James' performance against Arsenal
Now, James putting in a strong performance for Chelsea is really nothing new; he is the captain after all.
However, against Arsenal, the Englishman truly stepped it up to a whole other level and did so from the middle of the park, not right-back.
In a game that was billed as a midfield showdown between Caicedo and Declan Rice, it was the full-back who came out as comfortably the best player on the whole pitch, let alone the middle of it.
That might sound hyperbolic, but his man-of-the-match award would suggest otherwise.
On top of doing all the defensive work you would expect of him, the “gargantuan” presence, as dubbed by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, was a serious attacking threat and provided the assist for his side’s opener.
Moreover, he completed three of his four crosses, played two key passes, was successful in 100% of his dribbles and generally didn’t let up for the entire encounter.
In all, it was perhaps one of James’ best performances in a Chelsea shirt and a shining example of why so many people rate him so highly.
Therefore, fans should be ecstatic about the fact that Cobham may already be producing another version of the international monster.
Chelsea's next James
When it comes to producing top-quality Premier League talent, few academies can match Chelsea’s Cobham.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
As always seems to be the case, there is another cohort of incredible youngsters coming up at the moment, like Reggie Watson and Shim Mhueka.
However, there is another, perhaps slightly lesser-known prospect fans should start taking more notice of, someone who could be the next James: Lewi Richards.
The 17-year-old has been with the Blues since the under-8s level and became a scholar at the start of the season.
However, the youngster has made such an impression this year that he put pen to paper on his first professional paper just a couple of months later, at the end of October.
With that said, what makes him like James?
Well, the first thing is that, like the club captain, he has shown an impressive level of positional versatility, playing at right-back, left-back and centre-back for the u18 and u21 sides.
Right-Back
9
3
0
Centre-Back
5
0
1
Left-Back
2
0
0
Moreover, he even spent time playing in the middle of the park when he was playing for the lower levels of the academy.
On top of this ability to be deployed all over the pitch, the teen phenom has already shown an ability to marry technical quality with physicality.
For example, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Felix Johnston has described him as a “technically strong” prospect who is “monstrous in the tackle” as well as “fearless in the air” and blessed with “bags of pace.”
Ultimately, Richards still has plenty of development to do, but he looks to be an extraordinary academy prospect and one whose versatility, technical ability, and power mean he could be another James in a few years.
Man Utd lining up January move for "powerful" £53m Liverpool & Chelsea target
The Red Devils are looking to sign a 22-year-old, who is being targeted by some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Danny Rohl has now personally ordered the Rangers board make three new signings in the January transfer window, with the manager’s top transfer priority named.
Rohl is off to a solid start in the Scottish Premiership, recording victories in his opening two matches as manager, which means he already has more league wins to his name than Russell Martin, who left the Gers in nothing short of a terrible position.
Indeed, as a result of Martin’s awful start, the Teddy Bears have a lot of ground to make up if they are going to be serious contenders for the league title, with Hearts currently setting the pace at the top, opening up a 14-point lead.
As bad as the former Southampton boss was, the players must also take their share of the blame, however, and the Heart & Hand Podcast recently singled out a number of first-team stars for heavy criticism.
Consequently, the new manager may feel the need to strengthen his squad this winter, and his number one priority has now been revealed…
Rohl orders Rangers board to make three January signings
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Rohl has now ordered the Rangers board to make three signings in the January transfer window, with the club’s hierarchy ready to back their manager.
Top of the list is a ‘commanding’ new centre-back, given that doubts remain over Nasser Djiga, Clinton Nsiala, Emmanuel Fernandes, John Souttar and Derek Cornelius.
However, signing a new centre-back is not the only task on the agenda, with the 36-year-old making it clear he wants to bring in an energetic midfielder and a prolific striker.
It is clear to see why bolstering the backline is of the utmost importance, with the Gers looking shocking from a defensive point of view on multiple occasions this season, the most recent example of which being the display against SK Brann last month.
That result, in particular, will have underlined the size of the task at hand to Rohl, with James Tavernier being left disgusted by the performance.
Having also conceded nine goals across two legs against Club Brugge, the Gers should undoubtedly sign a new centre-back this winter, but a new striker wouldn’t go amiss either.
Tavenier is the only Rangers player to have scored more than two Scottish Premiership goals this season, despite being a right-back, highlighting the scale of the issues at both ends of the pitch.
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