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Left-arm spinner got eight wickets in the second unofficial Test against Australia A, and is now eyeing success in Irani Cup

Daya Sagar27-Sep-2025Before India A’s second unofficial Test against Australia A this week, Manav Suthar last played a competitive match at the senior level back in January, when he turned out for Rajasthan against Andhra in the Ranji Trophy. In that match, he followed a half-century with the bat with four wickets with the ball.Since then, Suthar has travelled with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, went on the England tour with India A and was part of the Central Zone squad in the Duleep Trophy. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder didn’t play a single game on any of those assignments.Even in the first unofficial Test against Australia A, Harsh Dubey was preferred over him. But in the second one, when he finally got his chance, Suthar grabbed it with both hands. He bagged his fifth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket on the first day of the match, and with that, got to 100 wickets in the format.In the second innings, Suthar picked up three more wickets, and helped bowl Australia A out for 185. Speaking to reporters after India A won by five wickets, he explained how he had used the time on the sidelines to improve himself.Related

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“I wasn’t getting chances in the playing XI,” Suthar said, “but that doesn’t mean I was disappointed or frustrated. I was continuously working behind the scenes on my skills. I was very focused and kept practicing regularly. In practice, my aim was to bowl as many deliveries as possible. Apart from that, I was focusing on my fitness too. I was doing hard strength and conditioning training. At that time, my only thought was that I had to put in all my effort. The more I focused on myself, the better it would be for me in the future.”On the first day of the India A game, when the other bowlers were expensive, Suthar pulled things back with his accurate line and length. It is often said that left-arm spinners are generally not effective against left-hand batters because the ball spins into them. But Suthar troubled Australia A’s left-handers with those very deliveries that came in.In the first innings, he bowled Oliver Peake, and the next ball, had Cooper Connolly caught at slip. In the second innings, Suthar dismissed Peake once again – this time caught at leg slip – and breached Todd Murphy’s defence. Out of the eight wickets Suthar took in the match, four were of left-handers.Manav Suthar says he’s “more comfortable” with a diagonal run-up against left-hand batters•Tanuj Pandey/UPCAAccording to Cricviz, in 2024, over six first-class matches for which ball-by-ball data is available, Suthar averaged 25 against left-handers and 64 against right-handers. These matches include three games from last year’s Duleep Trophy, the Irani Cup final, and two India A matches against England Lions and Australia A, highlighting the quality of opposition. Overall, he has 28 wickets of left-handers in his 103 first-class dismissals.This year, against Australia A, Suthar bowled to left-hand batters from around the wicket in order to angle the ball away from the bat. And he did this the old school way, running in diagonally from the left of the pitch to right, between the umpire and the stumps.”Since childhood, I’ve been coming with a diagonal run-up against left-handers – my coach also taught me that,” Suthar said. “Later, I tried to change it and bowl straight on, but I felt more comfortable this way. When I come in diagonally, my body moves better, and I can put in more effort. That’s why I still continue with it.”It was one of these deliveries that got Connolly caught at slip in the first innings.While Suthar used the around-the-wicket angle against left-hand batters, he bowled over the wicket against the right-handers to exploit the rough outside leg.”That was part of our planning,” he said, “Because there was some rough on the on-side for right-handers, and that angle was troubling them. I plan these things according to the match and conditions. I also got inputs from [KL] Rahul and Dhruv [Jurel]. They kept telling me from time to time what length could work against which batter, at what speed, and what variation to use. When you are in such a set-up, you get to learn something new every day from every player.”

“I come from Sri Ganganagar, where it gets even hotter. I practice there in 45-50 degrees Celsius. So you can say that handling such conditions is in-built in me”Manav Suthar on how hot it got against Australia A in Lucknow

While rain affected each day of the first unofficial Test against Australia A, the second one saw players struggling because of extreme heat and humidity. Drinks, which are usually taken on the hour, were taken every 45 minutes, with bench players also bringing in large umbrellas so that their team-mates could get additional relief.On the third day of the match, Rahul, who was batting well, had to retire due to fatigue. Josh Philippe, Australia A’s wicketkeeper-batter and Player of the Series, said this was the hottest weather he had experienced in his career, and that staying focused in these conditions was a challenge. The offspinner Murphy said even holding the ball was proving difficult with how sweaty his hands got. Suthar found ways to cope because he is used to a lot worse.”I come from Sri Ganganagar [in Rajasthan], where it gets even hotter. I practice there in 45-50 degrees Celsius,” he said. “So you can say that handling such conditions is inbuilt in me. Apart from that, fitness is very important to me. The hard work we put in, [and] the fitness training we do are all for such difficult days.”Suthar, who idolises R Ashwin, has not been included in the ODI leg of the A-team series, but has been picked for Rest of India in the Irani Cup. He is not disappointed that his opportunities seem limited to the longer formats at the domestic level.”I am working very hard on my batting. It is an important part of my game, and I am focused on it” – Manav Suthar•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket Stadium”My focus is that wherever I get an opportunity, I should perform well for the team and help win matches, no matter which format it is,” Suthar said.He is also not worried about the increasing competition among left-arm spinners in India. Rather, he considers it healthy for the growth of his career. To push himself ahead of his peers, Suthar wants to strengthen his batting. The Australia A game presented him with an unexpected chance to show those skills as well, when he was sent out as the night-watcher in the second innings, but he could only manage 5 off 29.”I am working very hard on my batting. It is an important part of my game, and I am focused on it,” Suthar said. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t score runs here, but whenever I get the opportunity, I work hard on my batting.”For now, Suthar hasn’t set any immediate or long-term goals. After this match, he has his sights set on the Irani Cup in Nagpur on October 1, where he will represent Rest of India for the second consecutive year.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians chegou contestado para a semifinal da Copa do Brasil, carregando quatro jogos sem vitória e após terminar o Brasileirão na 13ª colocação. Mesmo pressionado, o time surpreendeu: venceu o Cruzeiro por 1 a 0, nesta quarta-feira (10), no Mineirão, e abriu vantagem na briga por uma vaga na decisão. Para Dorival Júnior, o resultado representa a confirmação de um trabalho em construção.

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O treinador subiu o tom ao comparar a oscilação no Brasileirão e a campanha sólida na Copa do Brasil. Dorival Júnior contestou as críticas ao time, apontou que o Corinthians vive um período de reconstrução, e que isso é muitas vezes menosprezado nas análises.

– Não tem diferença. Nós tivemos um campeonato de longevidade, perdendo muitos elementos durante a competição. As pessoas não se dão conta: nós não tínhamos um elenco montado, a nossa equipe foi montada há um ano, ela está em um processo de aprendizagem, em desenvolvimento, e ninguém entende isso. Nós que estamos no futebol vivemos isso em todos os clubes quando iniciamos um trabalho. Eu estou pegando um trabalho na sequência de outro profissional que aqui estava, tentando dar o melhor. Tivemos muitas dificuldades, tentei explicar, muitos fingem entender, outros menosprezam. Então, para mim, tanto faz. O que me preocupo é em gerar resultados para o Corinthians – disse o treinador em entrevista coletiva no Mineirão.

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Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Trabalho no Corinthians

Dorival Júnior assumiu o Corinthians em abril, após a saída de Ramón Díaz. Desde então, comandou a equipe em 39 partidas, somando 17 vitórias, 11 empates e 12 derrotas. O treinador acumula aproveitamento de 52% no comando do Timão.

– É um trabalho sendo construído com dedicação, carinho e entrega. Resultados você não controla, nós controlamos o desenvolvimento de uma equipe. Você pega um time que terminou o Brasileiro na 13ª colocação, sendo a segunda equipe com mais posse de bola, é porque tem muita coisa boa. Não é qualquer equipe que consegue um percentual desse tipo, e olha que competimos com equipes que estão muito bem reforçadas, muito bem estruturadas, e mesmo assim a nossa equipe deu uma resposta positiva. Eu fico satisfeito com o que está acontecendo no Corinthians. Infelizmente, não aparece porque não condiz com os resultados, mas, de forma geral, tenho certeza que a equipe pode evoluir, crescer – falou o treinador.

continua após a publicidadePróximo jogo

Corinthians e Cruzeiro voltam a se enfrentar no domingo (14), às 18h (de Brasília), na Neo Química Arena. Com a vitória no Mineirão, o Timão joga pelo empate para chegar à final da Copa do Brasil. O rival da decisão será definido entre Fluminense e Vasco.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilCorinthiansDorivalDorival JúniorFutebol Nacional

يلتقي منتخبا الجزائر والسودان، اليوم الأربعاء، في المباراة التي تقام بينهما ضمن منافسات مرحلة المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

ويلعب منتخب الجزائر ضد السودان، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الأولى لمنافسات المجموعة الرابعة لبطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر.

ويتواجد منتخبا الجزائر والسودان، في المجموعة الرابعة لبطولة كأس العرب، بجانب كل من العراق والبحرين.

وكانت بطولة كأس العرب انطلقت مساء الأحد، حيث فاز منتخب سوريا على تونس بهدف دون رد وانتصر بنفس النتيجة منتخب فلسطين على قطر.

طالع.. فيديو | “سالم الدوسري مستر أسيست”.. السعودية تهزم عمان بصعوبة في افتتاح مشوارها بـ كأس العرب

وفي اليوم الثاني، تعادل منتخب مصر مع الكويت 1-1، وانتصر منتخب المغرب على جزر القمر 3-1 كما فازت السعودية على عمان 2-1. موعد مباراة الجزائر والسودان اليوم في كأس العرب 2025

تقام مباراة الجزائر والسودان اليوم الأربعاء 3 ديسمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 2 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة والسودان، 3 بتوقيت السعودية، 1 بتوقيت الجزائر. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الجزائر والسودان اليوم في كأس العرب 2025

– قناة بي إن سبورت المفتوحة.

– قناة الكأس 1.

– قناة أبو ظبي الرياضية 1.

– قناة دبي الرياضية.

– منصة شاشا.

– قناة الجزائرية.

– قناة إم بي سي مصر 2.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Head coach says failure to progress against West Indies has galvanised squad ahead of Ashes series

Valkerie Baynes23-Dec-20241:27

Jon Lewis: Playing Australia in Australia a ‘huge challenge’

England’s dramatic T20 World Cup exit was a “line-in-the-sand moment” which head coach Jon Lewis believes has galvanised his team ahead of next month’s Women’s Ashes in Australia.Asked to sum up 2024 just 10 days before flying to Australia for the multi-format series beginning on January 12, Lewis pointed to successful bilateral series home and away against New Zealand, against Pakistan during the English summer and most recently in South Africa, ending in last week’s 286-run Test match victory. But there was no escaping the disappointment of failing to reach the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup in the UAE in October after losing their last group game to West Indies.”We’ve been incredibly successful in terms of wins and incredibly frustrated at the same time with the way that we exited the World Cup,” Lewis told reporters after naming his three Ashes squads on Monday. “We’ve played brilliant cricket in bilateral series, in the World Cup we lost one game and we probably lost eight overs of one game, and then we got knocked out of the World Cup, which was really frustrating but I think a really nice line-in-the-sand moment for the team.Related

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“It’s brought the team closer together, that defeat in particular, they took it really hard and quite an emotional time for the group of players in the dressing room afterwards and a lot of reflecting after that and it feels like we’re a more connected team because of it. So I’m excited about what 2025 brings. It’s two massive competitions in a 50-over World Cup and an Ashes series away, so it’s a great challenge for us, but also a great opportunity.”Lewis believed his side was “even more connected as a group” now than when they boarded the plane to South Africa, after reflecting on that T20 World Cup campaign and maintaining regular discussions about dealing with pressure situations, a key factor in the defeat against West Indies when England became visibly rattled by a poor fielding performance and the loss of their captain, Heather Knight, to injury while batting.”We spent three or four days at the start of the tour in South Africa reflecting on how we operate as a group, how we operated as a group at the World Cup,” Lewis said. “There was some really honest discussions within the playing group about how we were on the field and off the field in and around the World Cup in terms of our preparation and how we did things and how we wanted to be on the field.”There were some really important discussions around how we were on the field in particular. And then the response to those discussions were about how we wanted to go and play our game and make sure that we were as fearless as we have been in the past and where we slightly drifted away from that as a group and I felt like the team responded really well to that.”England’s defeat to West Indies has galvanised the squad, according to Jon Lewis, their coach,•ICC/Getty ImagesEngland swept their T20 series against the World Cup runners-up 3-0 and won the ODIs 2-1. But a number of exciting individual performances stood out from the Test in South Africa with a view to the day-night Ashes fixture at the MCG, which will be played at the end of the multi-format series for the first time since it was introduced in 2015.Seamer Lauren Bell took eight wickets for the match – four in each innings – while Maia Bouchier scored the fastest century in women’s Tests – off 124 balls and on debut – before team-mate Nat Sciver-Brunt surpassed that feat with a 96-ball effort in England’s first innings. England also handed a debut to 20-year-old seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay, who had only played three white-ball games for her country, during September’s tour of Ireland. She impressed with two first-innings wickets and was only required to bowl one over in South Africa’s second as they were bowled out for just 64, earning a place in the Test squad for Australia.England have some injury concerns with bowler Kate Cross not yet fully fit after being struck down by back spasms during the third ODI in South Africa, Freya Kemp returning home from the tour after the T20 leg to manage her recovery from a long-term back problem and fellow allrounder Dani Gibson making her comeback from knee surgery. All three were named in the Ashes touring party, with Cross in the ODI and Test squads and Kemp and Gibson in the T20I squad.Australia, meanwhile, have unearthed more depth at the top of their batting order with Georgia Voll making an impressive debut in the recent ODI series with India in the absence of injured captain Alyssa Healy, who returned as a batter for the just-completed tour of New Zealand, where Beth Mooney retained the wicketkeeping gloves.But while Australia’s T20 World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of South Africa, coupled with the fact that England won both white-ball legs of the 2023 Ashes to draw the series on eight points each after losing the Test, has given the Australians a hint of vulnerability, Lewis remained wary.”I’d argue they’re more dangerous because of those experiences,” he said. “They’re a side that will be really determined to right those wrongs and they’ll be really well supported both at the grounds and through the media, it’ll be a real challenge for us.”They’re a really dangerous side at the moment. They’re a side that I suppose feel they’ve got points to prove, they haven’t won as much as they have done previously, but that’s a really, really high standard that they’re setting themselves in terms of wins in tournaments and Ashes series. So I think they’re a really dangerous side at the moment.”It’s important that we take confidence from what happened before, but it’s not something that we would rely on. We have to play the best cricket on the day and that’s a huge challenge that Australia will present.”

Less than two years after hoisting the World Series trophy, the Rangers and Bruce Bochy have "mutually agreed to end his managerial tenure with the organization," the team announced Monday. The Rangers also announced that they have offered Bochy a role in the front office in an advisory capacity.

The Rangers join the Giants and Twins as teams who parted ways with their managers on Monday after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season.

Bochy came out of retirement after the 2022 season to become the manager of the Rangers. In his first season with Texas in 2023, he led them to a 90-72 record and their franchise's first World Series victory. After the Rangers failed to make the playoffs in either of the last two seasons, they have decided to search for a new manager.

Bochy has been an MLB manager for 28 seasons with the Rangers, Padres and Giants. He's led every team he's managed to a World Series appearance, won four World Series, and has compiled a 2,252-2,266 (.498) career record.

Though offered a role in the Rangers' front office, the 70-year-old manager could be a contender for other vacancies, including the Giants, his old team. Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who played under Bochy in San Francisco simply said Monday, "I don’t know what his status is yet. I haven’t heard, so I can’t speak to that.”

Mohamed Salah has reportedly been given the chance to link up with the Egypt squad earlier than planned amid the furore around his uncertain Liverpool future. The 33-year-old grabbed the headlines when he accused the Reds of "throwing him under the bus" after being left out of the starting XI. While speculation has mounted about an Anfield exit, it seems a January departure is very unlikely.

Salah vents his frustration

Shortly after Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds on Saturday, a game where Salah was an unused substitute, the former Roma star said that someone at the Reds wanted him to "get all of the blame" and that he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot. The Dutchman later said that he had "no clue" whether the forward had played his last game for the Anfield outfit, while club legend Jamie Carragher branded Salah a "disgrace" and accused him of trying to get the former Feyenoord boss sacked.  

Salah told reporters after the Leeds game, "I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship. I don't know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. This club, I will always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I always will. It [the situation] is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don't get it. It's like I'm being thrown more under the bus. I don't think I'm the problem. I have done so much for this club. I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It's football. It is what it is."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah wants Liverpool stay

Despite Salah's outburst and being left out of Liverpool's Champions League clash away to Inter on Tuesday night, claims he has 'no intention' of leaving the club in the January transfer window. The veteran, who has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool's last three Premier League matches, is said to be 'disappointed' by this turn of events, especially as he hoped to retire at the Merseyside outfit. Salah feels someone at the club is trying to push him out, and he himself is aware he would not be short of suitors should he choose to leave the club next month. Incidentally, his comments came as 'no surprise' to some of his team-mates, who have noticed he has cut an 'unhappy figure' in recent weeks.

Salah gets Egypt FA's support

The report adds that Salah has held talks with Egypt's national team coach, Hossam Hassan, who assured him he would be happy to welcome the ex-Chelsea player into the Pharaohs' camp this week. The Egyptian international is available for selection for the Reds' Premier League clash against Brighton this weekend but Hassan has reportedly offered him a chance to get away from this intense situation ahead of their tournament opener against Zimbabwe on December 22.

Incidentally, Egyptian FA football director Ibrahim Hassan added, "Mohamed Salah is a great player and he will return stronger and better, as we have always known him to be, in the upcoming matches. Salah will continue to make history with Liverpool after becoming one of its legends. Mohamed Salah will also make history with the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, along with the coaching staff and his teammates, by winning the championship."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Salah?

adds that Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are monitoring Salah's situation ahead of the January window but are more hopeful of launching a successful bid next summer. Salah's ambition reportedly remains a 'far stronger' driving force than 'financial incentives', so he could stay at Liverpool for the foreseeable future. 

تحدث مروان حمدي مهاجم منتخب مصر الثاني، على تعادل المنتخب أمام الإمارات، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس العرب. 

وتعادل منتخب مصر مع الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق في الجولة الثانية من دور مجموعات بطولة كأس العرب. 

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب مصر يخطف تعادلًا مثيرًا من الإمارات في كأس العرب

وقال مروان حمدي في تصريحات لقناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “مباراة صعبة والبطولة أيضًا صعبة والمنتخبات كلها قريبة من بعض، بطولة مهمة وفيها تنافسية شديدة جدًا”.

وأضاف: “المباراة المقبلة أمام الأردن صعبة، ولكن قادرين على الفوز والتأهل للدور المقبل من بطولة كأس العرب”.

وتابع: “معظم اللاعبين حضرت معهم معسكرات من قبل، وجزئية الانسجام متواجدة لدي مع اللاعبين”. 

وواصل: “كنت نستحق أن نتعادل ولا نخرج من البطولة، ويوجد أمل أن نفوز ونتأهل، وهناك اتفاق أن أي 11 لاعبًا سيكونون متواجدين في الملعب ستكون لهم كل المساندة والدعم”.

واختتم: “الأمر كان صعبًا لحلمي طولان، لم يكن هناك وقت كافي، ولكن نحاول في التدريبات والمباريات أن يكون هناك انسجام وننفذ تعليمات المدير الفني”.

Both players were off the field for large portions of the second innings against Sri Lanka

Shashank Kishore26-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, has allayed concerns around the fitness of Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma leading into Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai.Hardik held his left hamstring and walked off the field after bowling the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings on Friday, in which he dismissed Kusal Mendis for a first-ball duck. Hardik didn’t return to take the field for the remainder of the innings.”Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said at the post-match press conference. India’s bowling coach was merely reiterating what India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.Meanwhile, Abhishek too spent the entire second half of Sri Lanka’s innings off the field. Abhishek showed signs of discomfort in the ninth over, when he clutched onto his right thigh while running. He eventually left the field in the 10th over, just before a Pathum Nissanka six was signalled dead ball because he hadn’t left the field before Varun Chakravarthy began to run in to bowl.Like Hardik, Abhishek too spent the rest of the innings being iced and treated with pickle juice to ease cramps. Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma came on as substitute fielders at different points. At one point, even Tilak Varma was briefly off the field, but he soon returned after a hydration break.With the Sri Lanka game stretching way beyond its scheduled close due to the Super Over finish, India are left with an even shorter turnaround time before they take the field on Sunday. Morkel stressed on the need for the players to recover, and stay away from training on Saturday.”The key for the boys is to rest,” he said. “They’re in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night’s sleep.”There will be individual pool sessions for the guys organised. Then some massages before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training.”‘Arshdeep, Harshit are X-factors’Morkel also touched upon the challenges players like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana face when being called upon to deliver at a crucial stage in the competition. On Friday against Sri Lanka, the pair returned combined figures of 2 for 100 of eight overs in India’s defence of 202, before a nerveless Arshdeep delivered in the Super Over to seal victory.”In our environment we want to move away from an excuse culture,” he said. “The effort they put in at training, we expect them to go out there and deliver. Yes, sometimes lack of game time is a factor. You can bowl as many overs as you like in the nets, but nothing beats game time.”The quality of work we put in, we expect the guys to deliver. At the moment, things aren’t happening for them but the team is winning, they’re all X-factor players and real match winners.”

Liverpool are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2026 after Michael Edwards sent scouts to watch the Frenchman in action in the Bundesliga.

A player that Hugo Ekitike knows well, Bahoya could help spark Arne Slot’s big-money attack into life. The Dutchman was handed a spending spree of more than £400m in the summer as the Reds broke their transfer record twice to welcome Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

So far, however, they’ve yet to see the fruits of their labour. Liverpool have been handed four defeats in their last four Premier League games and have looked a shadow of the champions that they became last season. Their crown hasn’t just slipped, it has disappeared entirely.

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Out of the big signings, only Ekitike has truly made his mark – scoring six goals in 13 games – while Isak and Wirtz have continued to struggle.

Having his say on his side’s recent struggles, Slot admitted that it’s not surprising that change has disrupted Liverpool, but he did not expect to lose four games in a row.

Nonetheless, Liverpool simply have to pick themselves up and go again on the pitch. Meanwhile, it’s up to Edwards and Richard Hughes to find some balance for Slot’s side, which could see Bahoya arrive from Frankfurt when 2026 arrives.

Liverpool scouts spot key Bahoya and Ekitike partnership

As reported by Anfield Watch, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Bahoya whilst also watching Ekitike last season – taking note of how impressive the duo were when working together. In the end, the Reds welcomed just Ekitike in the summer, but they could now return for his former teammate.

Whether it’s Cody Gakpo, Wirtz or Isak, so much of Liverpool’s attack centres around forwards who prefer the ball to feet rather than runners in behind. And that’s why Bahoya would make such a difference to Slot’s side.

After clocking a record speed of 37.16 km/h in the Bundesliga this season, it’s clear that the Frankfurt winger would add some much-needed directness to Liverpool’s frontline – the kind that Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane added in the past.

A record speedster would also be arriving just when Mohamed Salah begins to slow down. In comparison, the Egyptian’s average speed in the Champions League this season has been 34.29 km/h.

The 20-year-old isn’t just about speed, either. So far this season, he’s been involved in four goals in 12 games, with three goals and one assist in all competitions. A rapid, young winger, Bahoya stands out as another top talent emerging from Frankfurt.

Who Liverpool should drop after Brentford defeat

Vincent Kompany has fiercely rejected criticism of Manuel Neuer after Bayern Munich's 3-1 Champions League defeat to Arsenal, insisting the goalkeeper made no mistake despite two high-profile moments in London. With Bayern’s unbeaten run gone and pressure rising, the coach pushed back against growing scrutiny, while preparing his side to reset immediately in the Bundesliga.

• Bayern’s unbeaten run ends as Neuer faces spotlight

  Bayern's 18 game unbeaten streak came to a halt at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal exposed defensive gaps and capitalised on rare errors from Neuer. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring after the Bayern captain appeared blocked during a crowded corner sequence, and although Lennart Karl equalised, the Premier League leaders took control after the break.

  Noni Madueke restored Arsenal’s advantage before Gabriel Martinelli sealed the result with a calm finish past Neuer, who had rushed high off his line in an attempt to intervene. The moment triggered widespread debate in Germany, with pundits and fans questioning whether the 39-year-old should have approached the situation differently. That criticism quickly became the centre of Bayern’s media briefing setting up Kompany to deliver a firm defence of his goalkeeper.

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  Kompany rejects criticism of Neuer and insists no mistake was made

  Speaking ahead of the Bavarians' Bundesliga clash with St. Pauli, Kompany made it clear he would not entertain talk of a goalkeeping controversy, starting with a blunt dismissal of the claims. "Mistake, what mistake?," the Belgian said. "No. If you call that a mistake, then I have a different opinion."

  He then repeated his view, specifically addressing the Gunners' third goal: "What are you supposed to do as a goalkeeper? Either wait and then it's one-on-one, or you defend the space and try to help your teammate who's playing against a faster player. I have a different opinion on that."

  The Bayern coach also addressed the earlier corner incident and stressed that even if errors do happen, Neuer’s pedigree remains unquestioned. "Sure, mistakes can happen, he's made them before and will make them in the future. But he's an outstanding goalkeeper. This is the first I've heard of it, so I'm a bit surprised."

  Turning to the match as a whole, Kompany emphasised Bayern’s strong opening hour but admitted the final stretch was below standard: "The analysis is always clearer once you've rewatched the game. After a match like that, it's straight on to the next one. But of course, we have to learn from it. We were solid for the first hour and played on equal terms away in London. However, the last half hour wasn't up to our standard, and Arsenal deserved to win. Now we're seeing which players are ready… we're just looking at minor details."

• Neuer explains his decision and criticism intensifies

  While Kompany defended him, Neuer himself offered a more detailed breakdown of what happened during the crucial third goal, acknowledging the risk involved in his aggressive approach. "When you're behind, you simply have to take a bit more risk, and in that situation, the pass was initially good because it wasn't really going in deep. I could already see that Martinelli was running against [Joshua Kimmich] and was also a bit faster than Jo. I knew then that it would lead to a one-on-one situation and a great chance. I tried to clear it beforehand, and he took him down well. The touch was simply crucial, and then I couldn't reach it anymore, although I knew I was taking a big risk."

  Not everyone agreed with his decision. Former Die Roten and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack delivered a sharper assessment of the moment: “That wasn't necessary. Manuel made the wrong decision there. If he goes for the ball, he has to get it, he knows that himself. He decided to take the risk, and is being punished for it.”

  The contrasting views reflect a growing debate about Neuer’s form, especially as Bayern navigate a demanding season and weigh long-term choices around the goalkeeper position, though Kompany remains adamant that discussion is closed.

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  Bayern look to reset as St. Pauli test awaits

  Attention now shifts back to domestic action, with the Bavarians preparing for a potentially tricky meeting against St. Pauli. Despite their opponents’ run of eight straight defeats, Kompany warned that complacency cannot be allowed to creep in.

  "The most important thing is that we don't differentiate between St. Pauli and Arsenal in our preparations," he said. "When we look at them, we see that they're doing well and what they're capable of. We've played them twice, and against the same coach, and both matches were difficult. We deserved to win, but we fought hard. Even if they've lost eight times, maybe a game against Bayern will be different for them."

  All eyes now turn to Saturday, where Bayern will aim to rebound quickly, steady their form, and avoid further questions ahead of their next Champions League assignment.