Mirassol e Ceará se enfrentam nesta segunda-feira (29), no Estádio Campos Maia, pela segunda rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola rola a partir das 19h30 (de Brasília), com transmissão de SporTV e Premiere (pay-per-view). Os donos da casa vêm de derrota diante do Brusque, enquanto o Vozão ficou no empate com o Goiás.
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Mirassol e Ceará se enfrentaram apenas duas vezes na história, nos jogos de turno e returno da Série B de 2023. As equipes ficaram no empate em 1 a 1 no interior paulista, enquanto o Vozão levou a melhor por 2 a 0 jogando em casa. Apostando R$ 100 na vitória do Alvinegro, você pode faturar R$ 373 com as odds do Lance! Betting!
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Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Mirassol e Ceará (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).
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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA Mirassol x Ceará 2ª rodada – Série B
📅 Data e horário: segunda-feira, 29 de abril de 2024, às 19h30 (de Brasília) 🏟️ Local: Estádio Campos Maia, em Mirassol (SP) 🟨 Árbitro: Anderson Ribeiro Gonçalves (GO) 🚩 Assistentes: Fabrício Vilarinho da Silva (Fifa-GO) e Leone Carvalho Rocha (GO) 🖥️ VAR: Rafael Traci/SC
⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES MIRASSOL (Técnico: Mozart Santos) Alex Muralha; Lucas Ramon (Alex Silva), Lucas Gazal, Luiz Otávio, Artur; Danielzinho, Gabriel, Chico; Negueba, Dellatorre e Fernandinho.
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CEARÁ (Técnico: Vagner Mancini) Richard; Raí Ramos, Matheus Felipe, David Ricardo e Matheus Bahia; Richardson, Lourenço e Lucas Mugni; Facundo Castro, Barceló e Aylon.
O Corinthians segue interessado na contratação do meia Erik Lamela, mas se preocupa com a condição física do jogador, que possui histórico recente de lesões. Para buscar mais informações, o presidente corintiano Augusto Melo se reuniu na noite desta terça-feira (8) com José Maria del Nido Carrasco, presidente do Sevilla, clube no qual o atleta argentino tem contrato até junho deste ano e não irá permanecer.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansPaulinho detalha oferta do Corinthians por renovaçãoCorinthians08/05/2024Fora de CampoMovimentação da esposa de Cássio na web agita torcedores do Corinthians; entendaFora de Campo08/05/2024CorinthiansAntónio Oliveira busca substituto no Corinthians para ‘jogador mais inteligente que treinou’Corinthians08/05/2024
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O encontro aconteceu em um restaurante na zona sul de São Paulo. O representante do clube espanhol está no Brasil nesta semana, onde, nos últimos dias, realizou uma visita à Federação Paulista de Futebol e palestrou no Sports Summit, feira de esportes que acontece na capital paulista.
➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão
A ideia de Augusto também foi de estreitar relações com o dirigente do Sevilla. No entanto, o maior interesse foi obter mais informações sobre Lamela.
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O Timão está em contato com o estafe do jogador há algumas semanas e chegou até mesmo a oferecer um salário alto em relação a média do elenco, além de um contrato de três temporadas. Os representantes do argentino se mostraram satisfeitos com a oferta corintiana, mas deixaram claro que a preferência do jogador é permanecer na Europa.
➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos da Sul-Americana
Sem retorno nos dias seguintes ao contato inicial, a diretoria da equipe paulista recuou na possibilidade do negócio, até o encontro de Augusto Melo com o presidente do Sevilla, que foi motivado pelo interesse do dirigente do Corinthians em fazer um movimento de impacto no mercado. O presidente do clube alvinegro considera Lamela um atleta com essas credenciais e, também, capaz de elevar o nível técnico do elenco corintiano.
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Erik Lamela tem 32 anos e disputou duas Copas América pela seleção argentina. Ele foi revelado pelo River Plate, que também fez sondagens e está interessado no futebol do jogador. Na Europa desde 2011, o atleta tem passagens por: Roma, da Itália, e Tottenham, da Inglaterra, além do Sevilla, no Velho Continente.
Southampton return to action in the Championship this weekend as they prepare to travel to Charlton on Saturday, and they appear no closer to appointing a permanent successor to Will Still.
TalkSPORT recently claimed that Sport Republic are ‘seriously considering’ appointing current interim manager Tonda Eckert on a permanent basis, after his first two matches in the dugout.
The 32-year-old head coach is set to lead the team out for a third game against Charlton this weekend, and another win would do his chances of landing the role no harm.
Why Southampton should not appoint Tonda Eckert
Eckert deserves credit for providing the team with an instant boost after Still’s departure, as he masterminded a 2-1 win over QPR and a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.
However, it may not be the right time to appoint him as the permanent head coach because of his lack of experience in first-team management in his career so far.
Eckert had only ever been an assistant manager before his move to join the U21s as their head coach this summer, and he managed nine Premier League 2 matches before his two senior games as the current interim, per Transfermarkt.
Manager Focus
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This means that Southampton have no evidence available to judge what an Eckert team will look like in 15, 20, or 30 games, or if he has the first-team coaching ability to lead a promotion push.
Earlier this month, Michael Carrick was named as a reported contender for the job, and hiring the former Middlesbrough boss could end the Eckert experiment at St. Mary’s.
Why Southampton should hire Michael Carrick
Unlike the German interim, Carrick would arrive on the south coast with bundles of Championship experience as a manager, which may be what the Saints need right now.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who was hailed as an “insanely talented coach” by former Boro player Lukas Engel, has been out of work since moving on from Middlesbrough at the end of last season.
Carrick also has the specific experience of taking over a team in a similar position to the one that Southampton are in now and leading them to a play-off finish, as that is what he did with Boro in the 2022/23 campaign.
Matches
16
30
Wins
4
18
Draws
5
4
Losses
7
8
Points
17
58
Points per game
1.06
1.93
League position
18th
4th
As you can see in the table above, the 4-2-3-1 tactician took over with Middlesbrough after they had a dismal start to the season, in 18th place, and led them to fourth and the play-offs.
Southampton are currently 17th after 15 matches, with 18 points on the board, which means that Carrick would arrive in an incredibly similar situation at St. Mary’s. This could make him the ideal candidate for the job, as he has very specific experience for the job that is required.
Some supporters may see that he finished 10th and eighth in his last two seasons with Boro, but the underlying numbers behind those two campaigns suggest that he was let down by his squad.
League finish
8th
10th
xPTS (Expected league finish)
73 (5th)
71 (6th)
xG
69.5
67.4
xGA
55.0
56.4
xGD
+14.5
+11.3
As you can see in the table above, Boro ranked inside the top six for xPTS in both of those seasons, suggesting that their performances were of a play-off calibre, but the players did not make the most of those performances to pick up the results needed.
This is why Southampton should not be put off by Carrick’s ‘failure’ to get Boro in the play-offs in the last two seasons, and is further evidence that he could be a major upgrade on the inexperienced Eckert.
Southampton can land Still upgrade by hiring manager who's won 13 trophies
Southampton could land an upgrade on Will Still by hiring this 4-3-3 manager.
ByDan Emery Nov 12, 2025
Therefore, the out-of-work English manager could be the perfect hire for Southampton for the position that they currently find themselves in, as he has the coaching ability and experience to drive the team back up the table to fight for the play-offs.
Yan Diomande, the breakout star of the Bundesliga this season, has been sensational for RB Leipzig since making the switch from La Liga in the summer. His performances, per reports from Germany, have attracted the interest of Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. The teenager has been predicted to become as good as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Diomande taking the Bundesliga by storm
Diomande has been in astonishing form of late, registering three goals and as many assists in his previous three Bundesliga fixtures. Having made 10 appearances in the league, of which he has started in six, the Ivorian wonderkid has a direct goal involvement every 89 minutes, which are staggering figures for any player, especially someone who has spent less than a year in Europe and will only turn 19 on Friday.
Diomande's rise has been nothing short of spectacular. Having made his professional debut at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid in March 2025, while still on the books of Leganes, it was at the age of 15 that the talented youngster took his first steps towards becoming a professional footballer. In 2022, the Abidjan-born winger moved to the USA, joining the DME Academy in Florida. During his three-year stay in the States, he gained experience and honed his skills with the Yulee High School varsity team, as well as United Premier Soccer League side Frenzi. While being associated to the DME Academy, he even attended trials at Scottish Premiership side Celtic.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the youngster. “I went to the USA to study and play football,” Diomande told in October. “I tried out for a few [MLS] teams like the Colorado Rapids and Charlotte FC, but it didn’t work out. I eventually realised that [the USA] wasn’t quite right for me. Football doesn’t have the same status there as basketball or American football.”
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Europe's elite tracking Diomande
His ravishing displays and mighty impact in the final third for Leipzig have not gone unnoticed. According to , scouts from Europe's biggest clubs are regularly in attendance for the German outfit's matches. Diomande's videos have especially been requested to monitor and evaluate the teenage sensation. The report adds the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, City and PSG are keeping tabs on Diomande, with the unanimous belief that he has the potential to scale the same heights as Mbappe and Dembele.
It is likely that one of the top clubs will make a move for Diomande next summer, but Leipzig managing director Marcel Schafer is keen on ensuring the player remains at the club to continue his development.
"If that were to happen, it would be another validation of our work," Schafer toldrecently"However, we are firmly planning with our current squad beyond the summer and have always emphasized our intention to build a new core group after the restructuring. This core group is currently taking shape and will bring us a great deal of satisfaction.
“Yan has settled in very quickly with us in the Bundesliga. Especially considering he’s still in his first year as a professional and is very young. He’s on the right track, but like all our other players, he still has a lot of potential for development. We’re very much looking forward to realizing that potential together in the coming years.”
Vinicius Junior and Mbappe, Diomande's role models
Diomande, a left winger, will draw obvious comparisons to some of the biggest names who are playing or have played in the same position, such as Vinicius Junior and Mbappe. In the same interview with , Diomande confessed that he wants to model his game after the Real Madrid No.7, while also adding that he loves Mbappe's mentality.
“I think Vinicius Junior is the best player in comparison,” Diomande said. “When it comes to mindset, my role model is Kylian Mbappe. I think you must have a good mentality. I think if your heart and mind are okay, then you will be okay overall. I try to work on that the most.
“I like to model myself on many players. My country has many good examples. Players who played with power, such as Gervinho, Yaya Toure, and Max Gradel, but my dream player isn’t from my country. My favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo.”
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Leipzig have slapped an enormous €100m price tag on Diomande
Leipzig signed Diomande for just €20 million (£17m/$23m) over the summer. His contract, which runs until 2030, does not include a release clause. As such, Die Roten Bullen have slapped a gargantuan €100m (£88m/$116m) price tag on the player, according to
Mic'd Up: Shreeves discussed soccer in America, Premier League favorites, and who might win the Champions League
Geoff Shreeves, technically, got his start in America. His first proper job was in the early '90s, for CNN. He cut his teeth in an American place. And it only makes sense, then, that nearly 35 years later, he's back – albeit in a different capacity. Shreeves – the voice many recognize for his role in the EAFC video game series – is now an analyst for Morning Footy on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
And much has changed over the years. These days, he says, fans know the game.
"American soccer fans are so knowledgeable that actually, as an analyst or a pundit, you have to work doubly as hard because they know their stuff so well," he tells GOAL.
Shreeves will be talking Premier League, Champions League, even lower league stuff. It's a good season to do so, too. The Premier League title race, for one, could be a classic, Shreeves says.
"Look at the Premier League table right now," he said. "Look at Bournemouth, look at Sunderland. It's fantastic. I think we're in for a vintage Premier League this season. Last season, you have to admire what Arne Slot did at Liverpool. But they won it pretty much at a canter, and the bottom three were gone quite early. I said at the start of the season, I think we're seeing much greater competition at the top spot."
And that's just the Prem. Lower down, things could get even more interesting. Wrexham, after cruising to promotion last year, are going to have a far tougher go of things in the Championship.
"They wouldn't say it publicly, but the owners of Birmingham and Wrexham, if you offered them mid-table this season, at the start of season, they'd snatch your hand off," he said. "It's a massive leap."
Shreeves talked the changing role of soccer in America, Premier League title favorites, and who might win the Champions League in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of analysts, announcers and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
(C)Getty imagesON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
GOAL: You'll be covering the Champions League quite a lot this year. Who do you like to win it?
SHREEVES: Having been in Munich and seeing what PSG did last year, it was just astonishing. I don't think I've ever seen such a one-sided final. This is against a smart team, a wise team. They absolutely destroyed them. They decimated them, and ground them into the dirt. They haven't necessarily had the same flying start, but I don't think you can discount the holders, even if it is very difficult to retain the Champions League. You've also got to look at the top two teams in Spain.
And then if you look at the English clubs, I like Arsenal. You've got genuine competition for places, real competition for places. I mean, it's embarrassing that I think it was, 5,000 Arsenal fans started a petition that they didn't want Noni Madueke. That was just nonsense. And the start he made when they were missing Saka? The other one is Masquera. I thought he had a cigar and carpet slippers. It was ridiculous, the way he was so composed.
They've got competition all over the pitch, and that's before you start looking at the likes of the generational talent that is Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri. It's just staggering. You know, there's so much there. I think they can compete on all fronts. So I think they're well equipped to have a right good go.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportON ARSENAL'S TITLE HOPES
GOAL: Does that make them title favorites?
SHREEVES: Remember when Liverpool flew out the traps and they signed Wirtz? And there was the talk of getting Isak? And the amount of people who said "Let's not bother. Just give them the trophy." Arsenal started to falter a little bit, so it's all over. So no, I wouldn't say Arsenal win it. They've got a great chance. Would I say it's definitely going to happen? Not in a million years, because that's the beauty of the Premier League. Look at the Premier League table right now. Look at Bournemouth, look at Sunderland. It's fantastic.
I think we're in for a vintage Premier League this season. Last season, you have to admire what Arne Slot did at Liverpool. But they won it pretty much at a canter, and the bottom three were gone quite early. I said at the start of the season, I think we're seeing much greater competition at the top spot, and I think we'll we'll have far more teams involved in the relegation scrap. At the moment that's looking fairly prescient. It's a rare example of me actually being right.
Getty Images SportON LIVERPOOL'S RECENT STRUGGLES
GOAL: So what's going on with Liverpool then? They're doing a fair bit of losing at the moment.
SHREEVES: Well, Isak didn't have a proper preseason, did he? He's not come in in the condition that you would hope or expect. He's a racehorse, he's a thoroughbred, he's a fantastic footballer. Wirtz, where he's playing – has he played in that specific position before? Then you've got the Salah conundrum, Kerkez looks like he's struggling. So the balance of the team has changed. There's no question that things have changed there. I'll never forget Arsene Wenger said to me once – I was badgering about whether he's going to sign a player – and he said "Geoff, never forget, it's possible to subtract by adding."
And he's spot on. Now, I'm not saying Liverpool have gotten it wrong. They bought fantastic footballers, but you know, this is not like just putting players in and saying "There you go, get on with it." They have to find their feet. They have to find their way. So it's teething problems. But this, this Liverpool squad, is equally capable of going on a run and really challenging whoever sits at the top. People are saying "Yeah, it's Arsenal's." I would just remind people, they're saying the same thing about Liverpool less than six weeks ago.
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Getty Images SportON WREXHAM'S REALITY CHECK
GOAL: The fascination in the U.S. with Wrexham really can't be understated. But it seems like – not that the magic's over – but they're outsiders to get promoted. This seems like a mid-table season. Is the magic maybe a little bit over because of that?
SHREEVES: I said exactly that at the start of the season. They wouldn't say it publicly, but the owners of Birmingham and Wrexham, if you offered them mid-table this season, at the start of season, they'd snatch your hand off. It's a massive leap. You've brought players up from League One. That's a huge jump to the Championship, a huge jump. And then it's like anything that goes up a division. It's difficult for coaches.
You've got a team, you've also got a successful unit, which is cohesive, is happy, and functions as a group of people. But the players that bring you up aren't necessarily the players to get you to the next stage, or indeed, to keep you in your newly promoted position. So it's almost like you've got to completely reassess everything, all over again. You've got to go again. Of course, it's possible.
I never thought that either of them would romp it. Absolutely no chance. I'll try to recall from the start of the season. I think I said Wrexham, maybe, if they have the season of their lives – bear in mind what they've done – maybe a squeak off the playoff place. But that's about it.
The Braves will look to keep pace in the NL playoff picture while keeping another team out of it in the Giants.
The Giants had a successful trip to Los Angeles against the vaunted Dodgers, can the team keep it going against the Braves? The team will hope that rookie Hayden Birdsong can improve on his shaky first outing, but I'm banking on some optimism in his shaky start.
Keep reading to find out why I'm backing the Giants as big underdogs in Atlanta.
Giants vs. Braves Odds, Run Line and Total
Run Line
Giants: -1.5 (-118)
Braves: +1.5 (-102)
Moneyline
Giants: +168
Braves: -200
Total: 8.5 (Over 100/Under -122)
Giants vs. Braves Probable Pitchers
Giants: Hayden Birdsong (0-0, 5.79 ERA)
Braves: Raynaldo Lopez (6-2, 1.70 ERA)
Giants vs. Braves How to Watch
Date: Monday, July 1
Time: 9:40 p.m. EST
Venue: Truist Park
How to watch (TV): Bally Sports South, NBC Sports-Bay Area
Giants Record: 41-44
Braves Record: 46-36
Giants vs. Braves Key Players to Watch
San Francisco Giants
Heliot Ramos: Ramos appears to finally have a place to stay in the big leagues after going back and forth between the minor leagues in the prior two seasons. Ramos hit .304 in the month of June across 27 starts with eight home runs and 24 RBI’s, giving some life to the Giants mediocre lineup.
Atlanta Braves
Marcell Ozuna: Enjoying a career year, the 33-year-old Ozuna is in shouting distance of a triple crown bid. He is hitting .300 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI’s as he has done his best to mitigate the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. in the middle of the Atlanta lineup. While the Braves offense has fallen off as a whole, Ozuna has produced at a high level, which has helped keep Atlanta firmly in the postseason mix.
Giants vs. Braves Prediction and Pick
San Francisco will start Hayden Birdsong for the second time. While he struggled in his first start, he showcased some serious velocity (85th percentile fastball velocity) and generated swings and misses.
Against a free-swinging Braves team, Birdsong may be in line to put together a strong start with low expectations. Meanwhile, I’m interested in fading Reynaldo Lopez, who has a 1.70 ERA but an xERA of 3.98.
Lopez has been outperforming expectations all season long, but I expect regression to settle in as the season goes on. He still has an above average walk rate of more than three batters per nine innings and has been limited to about five innings per start this season.
With shaky control, Lopez will put a ton of pressure on a below average Braves bullpen, and I’ll side with the Giants group of relievers to do a better job backing up Birdsong and outperform this price.
Lastly, the Giants have been doing better than the Braves at the plate. San Francisco placed 12th in OPS last month while Atlanta was 17th in the same metric.
Brook’s first outing as white-ball captain comes after twin disasters at 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy
Alan Gardner28-May-2025
Jamie Smith will open for England in the first ODI against West Indies•Getty Images
Big picture: The road to 2027 begins in earnestWest Indies didn’t qualify for the last two ICC 50-over tournaments – the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy – but it is arguable whether that was any more embarrassing than the dismal campaigns England put together in India and Pakistan. With another failure at the T20 World Cup sandwiched in between, it did not require much deliberation for Jos Buttler to step down after less than three years as captain.His successor was picked from a very short shortlist, but while there is little doubt that Harry Brook has the minerals for captaincy, the question for England is whether a first-choice all-formats player can succeed in the job given the current schedule? With a calendar that includes series against West Indies (ODI and T20I), India (Tests), South Africa (ODI and T20I), Ireland (ODI), New Zealand (ODI and T20I), Australia (Test) and Sri Lanka (ODI and T20I) before he can even begin to think about the 2026 T20 World Cup in February, the odds are that something will have to give.Even Brook himself picked the Ashes as his priority when unveiled last month. But, for now, England have made a show of giving their ODI rebuild the attention it deserves by calling back Buttler, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks from the IPL, despite their teams’ involvement in the tournament’s pointy end. West Indies, by contrast, have allowed Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford to stay in India, even with potentially vital ranking points (which will determine World Cup qualification) at stake.West Indies currently sit ninth in the ICC rankings, three points behind England and five points ahead of Bangladesh, with the top eight aside from co-hosts South Africa (sixth) and Zimbabwe (11th) going straight to the World Cup rather than having to fight through a qualifying event. Bilateral ODI engagements are often seen as context-free, but there is real jeopardy for England – who have never missed out on the World Cup – if they don’t improve on a grim recent record that reads three series wins (one of them against Ireland) in their last 11 going back to mid-2022.Related
Harry Brook pulls out of IPL for second year running
Harry Brook to shelve franchise cricket as England captain
Jofra Archer ruled out of West Indies ODIs due to thumb injury
Atkinson out of WI ODIs, but could return in time for India Tests
Switch Hit: Zim sing while England win
Brook, at least, is well rested, with just one appearance for Yorkshire and last week’s three-day Test against Zimbabwe since the Champions Trophy in March (he is, of course, banned from the IPL after pulling out at late notice, but we won’t get into those weeds). Even with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood out injured, he will still be able to call on a trio of 2019 World Cup winners, with Buttler continuing in the ranks, Joe Root ready to anchor the top order and Adil Rashid undisputed as England’s all-time leading white-ball spinner.In fact, the revolution has been far from bloody, with Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt the main casualties following three defeats from three at the Champions Trophy. Brydon Carse is fit to restate his case, so too Bethell after being injured on the tour of India, while Jacks, Jamie Smith, Matthew Potts, Jamie Overton and Tom Hartley are all backed to keep learning the ropes in a format that quickly disappears from sight in between ICC events. Smith, who endured a tough time at No.3 last time out, is set to open alongside Duckett, in a further show of England’s belief in his immense potential.West Indies, as ever, will hope to disrupt England’s plans – as they did at home in 2023-24 and 2024-25, on both occasions winning the ODI encounters. A heavy defeat against Ireland last week was a reminder of some of their weaknesses, but they responded by piling up scores of 352 for 8 and 385 for 7. In Shai Hope (11th) and Gudakesh Motie (sixth) they have the highest-ranked batter and bowler on either side, and in Daren Sammy a coach who will squeeze every last drop out of the players at his disposal as they too seek an escape from the doldrums in 50-over cricket.Form guideEngland LLLLL West Indies WLWWWKeacy Carty scored back-to-back centuries against Ireland•Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images
In the spotlight: Harry Brook and Keacy CartyFrom the toss onwards, it will be all eyes on Harry Brook, who led England with aplomb against Australia in Buttler’s injury-enforced absence last summer and now gets to shape the side in his image. It was a mark of how England had neglected ODIs after their World Cup win that, when Brook made his debut in 2023, he hadn’t played the format in almost four years. Now, with just 26 caps and a single hundred to his name, he still has plenty to learn. Familiarity with Brendon McCullum’s Bazball methods in charge of the Test team is likely to shape his philosophy, as England look to run towards the danger in a format where they’re not looked comfortable for some time.Keacy Carty scored his maiden international hundred in a series-sealing win against England in Barbados six months ago, and has since added a 95 against Bangladesh, followed by back-to-back tons in Ireland – the latter of which, 170 off 142 balls, was the joint-sixth highest ODI score for West Indies. It is almost a decade since Carty top-scored in the final as West Indies lifted the 2015-16 Under-19 World Cup, but he now looks at home in the senior set-up. Picked as the man for West Indies to “invest” in at No. 3, he has been praised by Sammy for his dedication and hard work, and shapes as a key cog in their attempts to build a side that can return to World Cup contention in 2027.Team news: Smith to open, Carse to returnIt had been assumed that Jacks or Tom Banton would be the likely replacement for Salt at opener, but England have sprung a surprise by opting instead of Smith as Duckett’s new partner at the top of the order. Despite making scores of 15, 9 and 0 in a desperate stint at No.3 in the Champions Trophy, he is given the chance to set the team’s agenda from the get-go, with Jacks slotting into the middle-order. Smith won’t, however, be keeping as well. That duty falls to Buttler, now back in the ranks and inked in at No.5. Atkinson has joined Archer in withdrawing from the squad due to injury, but there’s a welcome return for Carse, who will play for the first time since mangling his toes in the line of Test duty over the winter. Overton and Mahmood complete the seam attack with Adil Rashid the sole specialist spinner in a team stacked with allround candidates. Hartley will have to wait to play his first ODI since a washed-out game against Ireland in Bristol in September 2023.England: 1 Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Saqib MahmoodWest Indies are missing the services of Shepherd and Rutherford until the conclusion of their IPL involvement, who were replaced by Jediah Blades and Shimron Hetmyer respectively. Jewel Andrew is the other spare batter, while it will likely come down to a choice between Shamar Joseph’s pace and Jayden Seales’ accuracy to complete the attack.West Indies: (possible) 1 Brandon King, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Amir Jangoo, 6 Justin Greaves, 7 Roston Chase, 8 Matthew Forde, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Shamar Joseph/Jayden SealesPitch and conditions: Runs if not sunEdgbaston hasn’t staged an ODI since 2021, but it usually offers up one of the truest surfaces for batting in the country – in 2015, it was the scene of England’s seminal 408 for 9 in Eoin Morgan’s first outing as permanent captain. The driest spring in recent memory has given way to more familiar English weather, with rain forcing West Indies to train indoors on Tuesday, but the forecast for Thursday suggests interruptions will be at a minimum.Stats and trivia West Indies haven’t won a bilateral ODI series in England since 2007. Their last such visit, in 2017, resulted in a 4-0 defeat. Root needs 99 runs to overtake Eoin Morgan as England’s leading scorer in ODIs. Another 141 will make him the first Englishman to 7000. Roston Chase is 56 runs short of 1000 in ODIs. Rashid is set to win his 150th cap in the format; Brandon King his 50th.Quotes”New era now, new leadership. Hopefully we can bring a lot of energy, competitiveness, and a lot of fun as well out out there, try and engage the fans as much as we can – and yeah, try and get some wins under our belt.” Harry Brook sets out his battle-plan on the eve of his captaincy tenure.“Ever since we started this journey with World Cup 2027 in mind, automatic qualification is the first goal. Climbing up the rankings is the only way we could do that. We’ve made some strides from when we started. Right now we’re No. 9, with England just ahead of us, by two or three points, and this series is very important.”
Already thinking about 2026 targets after a chaotic summer window, Newcastle United and PIF are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign a midfield star for Eddie Howe.
Newcastle's early 2026 targets
Now that they’ve solved their striker problem with the addition of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Newcastle have the chance to focus on other areas of their side in 2026.
The Magpies have already felt the full effect of balancing Champions League football with domestic action, having drawn at Bournemouth just days after defeat against Barcelona, and Howe has already reiterated that the depth of his squad will play a key part throughout the campaign.
The Newcastle boss also believes that he has a “strong squad” at his disposal this time around compared to the last time that Newcastle played Champions League football. But, on paper, it’s clear that the Magpies could still do with strengthening when 2026 arrives.
On that front, adding to their midfield seems to be one of a number of targets. Whilst Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton provide an impressive foundation, there is a drop in quality beyond them that the likes of Conor Gallagher would solve.
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The Magpies are reportedly keeping tabs on the Atletico Madrid midfielder ahead of a potential move. But he’s not the only former Premier League star on their radar. Reports are now suggesting that PIF could swoop in for a player that they already know well.
Newcastle eyeing Ruben Neves swoop
According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are now eyeing a move to sign Ruben Neves, who is keen to leave Al-Hilal amid “unfinished” business in the Premier League.
Of course, PIF already know all about the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, having welcomed him to the Saudi Pro League in 2023. Now, almost three years on, they could swoop in and welcome him back to English football. It almost goes without saying that Newcastle won’t be the only side interested, however.
Bailey told TBR: “I am told that Neves thinks there is ‘unfinished’ business in England – he had a wonderful time at Molineux and he is still highly respected.
“But it is not a given that he moves back to England. A return to Portugal would be considered whilst there is strong interest in Spain and Italy too – he is not going to be short of options.”
Dubbed “incredible” by former Wolves teammate Conor Coady, Neves is still a player capable of making an impressive impact at a Champions League club in the prime of his career. For the right price, Newcastle should go all in on the Portugal international.
Win at Turf Moor and Liverpool remain in pole position four matches into the Premier League campaign. While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, Arne Slot’s side have collected nine points from nine thus far.
Burnley might be newly promoted, but they gave Manchester United a tough game before the international break and won previously against Sunderland on home ground. But Slot’s Redmen are different beasts, and will expect to secure victory once again.
With an opening foray into the Champions League looming on Wednesday evening, when Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid, subtle rotation is to be expected, and Curtis Jones will play no part after picking up an injury in his last outing.
However, Jeremie Frimpong has returned to team training and will hope to challenge Dominik Szoboszlai, the hero two weeks back, for a starting berth at right-back.
There is also, of course, the anticipation of Alexander Isak’s arrival. Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a record-breaking deal on transfer deadline day, and many across the country will keep an eye on the striker’s potential debut.
However, the 25-year-old is likely to be benched, having played little football for several months. Hugo Ekitike will deputise in his stead, and Florian Wirtz will target the match as one which seems fit to get him up and running after his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.
Why Liverpool should relocate Wirtz
Wirtz has so far played in a central role for Liverpool, standing proud of the deeper-lying midfielders and looking to weave together the different lines for Slot’s side. It’s been a steady start, but not the barnstorming introduction many anticipated after his British record move from Germany.
However, the 22-year-old is clearly one of the most talented footballers in the world. You can see it in the way he deftly touches the ball, you can see it in his snappy, seamless movements, his vision and artistry in creation.
But the opening games of Wirtz’s Premier League career left plenty to be desired, and Liverpool might find that their expensive recruit has more success in a wider berth, taking on defenders and creating and cutting inside and shooting.
Stats via Sofascore
Against Arsenal, improvements were made. Especially in the second half, Wirtz started to loosen up, moving with an ease of gait that gave rise to his fleet-footedness and ability to take on and beat his man.
Such skills are transferable, of course, not just limited to a central attacking midfield role. And for that reason, perhaps Liverpool might want to unleash Wirtz from a left-sided position this term, with £45m man, Cody Gakpo, shifting into the number nine spot that will soon become Isak’s.
Slot should unleash Gakpo in the Isak role
With Isak unlikely to start from the beginning at Burnley, Slot might fancy solving his Wirtz problem by fielding Gakpo in a more advanced attacking position, alongside Ekitike.
Then the German playmaker could shift out to the left, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch working in the middle (should Szoboszlai reprise his right-back role, he could advance to the middle in possession, thus compacting the midfield).
Gakpo scored 18 goals across all competitions last season and is one of the most accurate shooters in the Premier League, with pundit Peter Crouch even remarking last year that he had “gone up a level” in Slot’s system.
Isak rocks the boat somewhat, and Liverpool’s forwards will be dished out varying degrees of match action across the season. Gakpo won’t start every match, but he should start here, against Burnley.
For much of August, Isak wandered across the cold tundra of footballing No Man’s Land, having rebelled at Newcastle and removed himself from Eddie Howe’s pre-season preparations. Many times did it seem that the Sweden international would be kept from his dream move to Merseyside.
But he’s here now, and Liverpool are much better for it. However, the fact that Slot has such strength in depth bears testament to FSG’s determination, and indeed the longer-spanning reach of their quiet tenacity, with Gakpo also a showcase in that regard.
Liverpool signed Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven in late December 2022 after his exceptional performances with the Netherlands at the Qatar World Cup. Man United thought they were signing him, but Liverpool swooped and landed their man.
And he’s improved by the season, with a goal and two assists from three Premier League appearances this term, further evidence that Slot has created a version of the player who is capable of getting better and better.
Early though the term is, Gakpo has been a menace, with data from Sofascore revealing him to have averaged an absurdly high 9.3 duels across his top-flight fixtures so far, also making six key passes and all the while through a heat map that highlights a deeper starting point than was typical last season.
And what does that mean? Well, Wirtz’s involvement is likely a defining factor. Last year, Szoboszlai played a more industrious role from number ten than the German, working overtime to pack energy and initiative into Slot’s hard-working team.
Wirtz is a more advanced player, flashier and full of flair. Liverpool are recalibrating. Lopsidedness and unfluent motions have been pinpoints of criticism for the Reds across their opening matches, and yet they have nine points from nine. They stand atop the pile and have beaten Arsenal and Newcastle and Bournemouth.
Perhaps moving Wirtz out wide, where he has played and starred before, would help this imperious outfit hit an even stronger stride. Gakpo, after all, is a natural goalscorer and would still be able to work from outside to in in a duel-striking role with Ekitike.
Attacking midfield
163
48 (55)
Centre-forward
15
7 (7)
Right winger
11
4 (3)
Left winger
9
2 (3)
Central midfield
5
0 (3)
Has Slot envisaged such a scenario? It certainly seems likely, else why would Liverpool have broken the bank for forwards such as Isak and Ekitike?
When fitness permits, Isak will play many matches from the number nine berth, leading the line for Liverpool. There he will score goals in their droves, adding not just goalscoring potency but a unique take on the centre-forward’s craft.
However, with Ekitike firing on all cylinders and Isak in need of soft integration for the time being, Liverpool might want to avoid throwing caution to the wind, especially when someone like Gakpo would be ready to stand in and help shape a new system.
The Dutchman is his own player; he is not Isak. Gakpo would not play Isak’s positional role in mimicry, but offer his own take, thus allowing Slot to create a new style from which multiple players can settle into the same seat and keep it all afloat.
To put it all in a nutshell: Liverpool are rather good, and have so many different ways to achieve their title-winning ambitions.
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It’s been a frustrating few weeks for Brendan Rodgers and matters have now only been made worse by the recent update on an injured Celtic player that he risked playing against Rangers before the international break.
Celtic sign Kelechi Iheanacho
Much of Rodgers’ frustration has surrounded Celtic’s transfer business. Their 0-0 draw against Old Firm rivals Rangers summed up the attacking problems that they still needed to address and, as such, Kelechi Iheanacho has since arrived. Joining back up with Rodgers for the first time since their Leicester City days, the forward desperately needs this move to go well.
The Nigerian was a free agent when Celtic turned his way, having been released after a disappointing spell at Sevilla. Now, at 28 years old, the Bhoys have handed him one final opportunity to get his career back on track.
Speaking to the club website after welcoming Iheanacho to his side, Rodgers told Celtic’s official website: “I know Kelechi so well and what he can bring to the team. He is such a talented player, with great ability, athleticism and work-rate.
“I am sure he will love being at Celtic and I believe our fans will love what he brings. He has great experience and he is right in his peak years so he can be a great signing for us. I am sure he will make a big contribution to the team.”
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The debate is ongoing as to whether the forward’s arrival will hand Celtic the boost that they were looking for, but whilst that rumbles on, the Scottish champions have been handed an undeniable blow on the injury front.
Anthony Ralston injury update after Rodgers risked him
After dropping out of the Scotland squad alongside Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston is now an early doubt to face Kilmarnock. The defender was thrown in the deep end and risked against Rangers despite appearing to take a knock just days before in Celtic’s Champions League tie against Kairat Almaty and Rodgers has since suffered the consequences of that decision.
Given that Alistair Johnston is already sidelined with a hamstring tear, Celtic now have themselves a mini injury crisis in the right-back spot. It begs the question as to why Rodgers would risk Ralston against Rangers in the first place.
The manager is certainly a fan of the defender, having told reporters at the end of last season: “Guys like Tony are really pivotal to the culture of this club. He doesn’t play every single game, but he is probably one of our most important players here because of his history at the club.”
Celtic now have just 10 days to get Ralston back fit and ready for the Kilmarnock game as they look to return to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership.