England captain says team won’t veer from aggressive style despite chastening defeat at Wankhede

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2025

Abhishek Sharma launches one down the ground•Getty Images

Jos Buttler, England’s captain, hailed Abhishek Sharma for producing some of the “cleanest ball-striking I’ve ever seen”, but insisted his team would not veer from the aggressive strategies they’ve brought to bear in their first series since Brendon McCullum took over as white-ball head coach.Abhishek’s stunning innings of 135 from 54 balls, the highest score ever made by an Indian batter in T20Is, proved to be 38 more runs than England’s entire line-up could muster in reply, as they were routed for 97 in 10.3 overs, to succumb to a 4-1 series loss.England’s eventual 150-run defeat was their biggest in the format, and a crushing end to an intermittently competitive series. Though Buttler acknowledged his team had had their chances to turn the campaign in their favour, he was happy to bow down to one of the mightiest batting displays imaginable.”We’re obviously disappointed,” Buttler said. “I’ve played quite a lot of cricket, and credit to Abhishek Sharma. That’s as clean a ball-striking as I’ve seen. He played fantastically well. We always sit down and think what more could we have done. But some days, you have to give a lot of credit to the opposition. I thought he played brilliantly well.”Buttler said that Abhishek’s display was a continuation of the full-blooded form he showed alongside Travis Head for Sunrisers Hyderabad in last year’s IPL. In such run-laden displays, he added, contests tend to go one of two ways.”I’ve played in a few games like this,” he said. “You either get somewhere near, or you fall in a heap, and today was that day. It can be difficult when a player gets on a roll, and plays as well as he did. Credit to us for sticking in there and fighting back, and keeping them down to 240, after the start they got.”England’s reply got off to a misleadingly flying start, with Phil Salt cracking 17 runs off Mohammad Shami’s first over, en route to a 21-ball fifty. But his was a lone hand as wickets continued to tumble at the other end, with the entire team being bowled out just after the halfway mark of their chase.”The way Phil Salt went out there and struck the ball, it was obviously a really good wicket,” Buttler said. “He needed someone to go with him, and for one or two guys to catch fire. That’s the way you’re going to chase that down. You either get quite close in games like this and surprise yourselves, or it doesn’t work.Related

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“But we certainly won’t change the way we want to play. We need to keep backing that, and be even more committed.”The final match got underway just 48 hours after the controversy at Pune, where fast bowler Harshit Rana stepped in as a concussion sub after a blow to the helmet for Shivam Dube. Dube declared himself “good to go” before the toss in Mumbai, despite the ICC’s protocols stating that a seven-day lay-off should be mandatory in such situations, and Buttler hinted at his continued annoyance by describing his four non-selected players as “impact subs”.Speaking after the defeat, however, he struck a more conciliatory tone. “He’s pulled up pretty well from a nasty blow on the head, hopefully he’s okay,” Buttler said, after Dube had scored 30 from 13 balls and claimed 2 for 11 in his two overs. “I’m sure he must have been happy with the risk he took or their medical staff were. Maybe a question for them.”Legspinner Varun Chakravarthy also played a key role in derailing England’s chase with figures of 2 for 25, and was named player of the series for his 14 wickets at 9.85. England’s struggles against spin have been a feature of all five matches, but Buttler said his players would be stronger for the experience.”Playing against India, you know you’re going to be faced with a lot of spin, but I’m not worried,” Buttler said. “There’s some really good players there and some guys having their first experiences in these conditions. Every day, you’re learning, improving, working things out as you go along and gaining more experience and trying to accelerate that process.”We certainly won’t change the way we want to play, we need to keep backing that, be even more committed and be desperate to do well and execute that,” he added. “If we’re going to fall, I’d rather fall on the proactive side. Hopefully, over time you get more comfortable with that and play better.”

He said it wouldn’t be “fair on the team” if he had to take breaks during long series as captain owing to workload

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-20250:28

Watch – Gill faces Bumrah at the nets

Jasprit Bumrah has said that he didn’t want to become India’s Test captain because of workload management and that he had communicated the same to the BCCI, who were looking at him as a leadership candidate at the time.After Rohit Sharma had announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, Shubman Gill was picked as India’s new Test captain for the upcoming five-match series against England.”There’s no fancy stories to it [captaincy],” Bumrah told during an interview with Dinesh Karthik. “There is no controversy or there’s no headlining statements that I was sacked or I was not looked after. Before Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) retired during the IPL, I had spoken to BCCI that I have discussed about my workloads going forward in a five Test-match series. I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back. I’ve spoken to the surgeon as well, who’s always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads.Related

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“I did speak to him and then we came to a conclusion that I have to be a little more smart. I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won’t be able to give [it my] all Test matches coming a five Test-match series. So then, yes, the BCCI was looking at me at leadership. But then I had to say no. It’s not fair for the team as well that in a five Test-match series, someone is leading in three matches and someone else in two matches. It’s not fair on the team and I always wanted to put the team first.”During the final Border-Gavaskar Test in Sydney in January earlier this year, Bumrah had suffered a back injury. What was initially reported as back spasms then turned out to be a stress-related injury, which forced him to miss the Champions Trophy and the start of IPL 2025.Bumrah has been cautious about his workload since and is likely to play only three of the five Tests in England. Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who has also worked with Bumrah at MI in the IPL, had also suggested caution, saying another back injury for Bumrah in the same spot where he had surgery “could be a career-ender”.”[We will] plan on the go,” Bumrah said when asked about whether he would play the first, third and the fifth matches. “Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. Obviously that number is not decided. First [Test] is definitely on, that is going to happen. The rest we’ll see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. Three Test matches is what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario.Jasprit Bumrah’s all smiles during a practice session•Bipin Patel

“I cannot be dictating if I’d have been the captain that, ‘okay, I’ll only play three Test matches’. That doesn’t send a good message in the team as well. All of these things in mind, trying to give my best as a player and trying to contribute to the best of my capacity. Hopefully in the games that I play, I’ll give it my absolute best.”Bumrah had marked his return to action in IPL 2025, taking 18 wickets in 12 games at an average of 17.55 and economy rate of 6.67. His returns were vital to his team, Mumbai Indians (MI), making the knockouts after they had started the season with four defeats in their first five games.Bumrah, 31, said that he had “no complaints” about his body going into the Test series in England. “The body is feeling good. All good, no issues,” Bumrah said. “I played an IPL, a hectic IPL. I always try my best to look after my body and do everything that is there in my power. The weather is good. It was hot in India. Now we are experiencing a different weather.”Bumrah has been cautious against big spikes in his workload and has steadily built it up to be ready for the first Test, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.14:58

Sai Sudharsan or Abhimanyu? Shardul or Nitish? What combination do India go with?

“So, it is all about workload. You don’t want to have a big spike,” Bumrah said. “So even during the IPL, we had spoken to the trainers and physios, what do we have to do, how do we slowly increase our weekly workload? We were doing that in IPL. We don’t just bowl four overs. We bowl six to eight overs. Then we have a weekly load and warm-ups. Even before the game, we try and squeeze in those overs.”So eventually by the time we reach here, we are at a decent level. From here, we still have some time, we keep building it up. So, by the time the Test matches come, you’re physically ready and the spike is not too much and the body is used to bowling a lot more overs.”There had been concerns around Bumrah’s workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He bowled 152.1 overs in nine innings in Australia, picking up 32 wickets at 13.06. Will he be able to shoulder similarly high workloads in England or will he shift his focus to shorter spells?”It all depends,” Bumrah said. “Even in Australia, I was the captain in the first game and a little bit in the last game. But for me, it doesn’t go that this is the plan going forward. Obviously, in Australia, there were certain scenarios that we had to push extra because the series was on the line.”I was doing really well. And you wanted to be in a scenario where you wanted to give yourself the best chance and the team the best chance because you would have won that series. WTC [final] was possible.”Having said that, whenever you play for India, you never think of, ‘I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to do that, I’m going to protect myself.’ But going further, you have to be smart. Sometimes the workload goes really high. There’s less time between Test matches. It takes a lot out of a fast bowler. So, coming to this series, I’ve prepared really well. But I have to be smart as well because I’m not becoming younger by the day.”

Captain needed treatment on the field after apparently experiencing discomfort to his groin

Valkerie Baynes10-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes receives treatment from the physio•Getty Images

England face an anxious wait on the fitness of their captain, Ben Stokes, after he pulled up sore while batting on the first day of the third Test against India at Lord’s.Stokes was unbeaten on 39 at the close, having faced 102 balls on a slow day in which the hosts ended on 251 for 4 with Joe Root on 99 overnight.On 32, Stokes took a step forward before leaving a Nitish Kumar Reddy delivery outside off and immediately winced in pain, clutching at his right groin.Related

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• Root holds the fort with 99* as India put brakes on Bazball

He called for the physio and after some on-field treatment returned to his crease. But he was still in visible discomfort, hobbling as he set off for a single and sitting on his haunches trying to loosen up between deliveries. Stokes was stretching again as the second new ball was brought out and Root eyed a century.Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah got the ball swinging again immediately – as it had at the start of the day, making the going tough.Root thought he could reach his milestone with a glance behind point on 98 but he only managed a single as Ravindra Jadeja swooped, then beckoned for Root to come back for a second as he held onto the ball, grinning. But there was no way he was risking it, especially with Stokes’ running a concern.Ollie Pope – who faced 104 balls for his 44 before falling to Jadeja on the first ball after tea – was hoping the as-yet-undiagnosed problem would improve overnight.”Fingers crossed he can do something magic and come back strong,” Pope said. “I’ve not seen him since, so fingers crossed there’s nothing too serious. But clearly we’ve got a big Test over the next four days and we’ve got a big two [at Old Trafford and The Oval] coming up as well, so it is important to try and manage him.”As vice-captain, Pope acknowledged he had a part to play in ensuring that Stokes didn’t push himself too hard in spite of the problem.”We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow, but for me, that is partially one of my roles, to make sure that he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place with whatever he’s dealing with at the moment,” Pope said. “I’m sure the physios, the medics will work with him to lay out a plan and then I’ll help push him in the right direction.”2:23

Pope: We’re constantly trying to get batting balance right

Stokes was England’s most effective bowler when they won the opening Test at Headingley, having finally been able to increase his bowling workload after two bouts of surgery to repair tears in his right hamstring in the space of six months.He bowled 19 overs in India’s first innings at Edgbaston and seven at an economy rate of 3.71 in their second before the tourists won by a massive 336 runs, levelling the five-match series 1-1.Stokes’ resurgence as a bowler follows painstaking work after he underwent knee surgery in late 2023. That threw a spotlight on his penchant for exerting himself through any discomfort for the good of the team.With plenty more runs needed before any thoughts turn to his bowling in this match, England will be carefully weighing up what is good for both heading into the second day.

George Balderson half-century, Arav Shetty three-for help overcome Somerset

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Aug-2025Lancashire 254 for 8 (Harris 95, Balderson 65) beat Somerset 250 for 7 (Goldsworthy 63, Vaughan 59, Hill 57) by two wicketsMarcus Harris led the way with 95 as Lancashire recorded a nerve-jangling two-wicket Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory over Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The home side posted 250 for seven after losing the toss, Lewis Goldsworthy top-scoring with 63, while Archie Vaughan contributed 59 and 19-year-old Devonian Fin Hill 57. Offspinner Arav Shetty marked his List A debut with 3 for 34 from ten overs.In reply, Lancashire reached 254 for eight with 8 balls to spare, Harris making his runs off 99 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes. George Balderson hit 65 and shared a match-winning fifth wicket stand of 101 with the former Australia Test player.A crowd of more than 5,000 at Somerset’s annual Family Fun Day saw the hosts suffer an early setback when Tom Lammonby was caught at backward point off George Balderson with the total on five.Goldsworthy and Vaughan had to exercise caution on a pitch lacking pace and were largely content to accumulate in ones and twos. Goldsworthy was first to fifty, off 70 balls, with 5 fours and the hundred partnership occupied 143 deliveries.Vaughan’s 81-ball half-century included only three boundaries and with 30 overs of their innings completed his side were becalmed on 129 for one.Goldsworthy provided 21-year-old Shetty with his maiden List A wicket, driving a catch to mid-off. With only
ten runs added, Vaughan was stumped advancing down the pitch to the graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy, who quickly followed up by dismissing James Rew in similar fashion.Seamer Luke Hands claimed his maiden List A wicket on debut, Thomas Rew edging through to wicketkeeper George Bell to make the score 146 for five. Sixteen-year-old Hands ended the innings with a creditable one for 32 from eight overs.Somerset required another meaningful partnership and it came from rookies Hill and Josh Thomas, who added 66 in good style before Thomas holed out to deep square off Balderson for 32 at a run a ball. Hill then hit the first two sixes of the innings in the same over from Charlie Barnard, both launched over the leg side.The youngster’s maiden List A fifty came off 49 balls and enabled his side to post what appeared a below par total in bright sunshin.. Lancashire’s reply began with Michael Jones striking a straight six off Josh Davey in the fourth over, Somerset’s experienced seamer taking quick revenge by having him caught at deep cover with the score on 18.It was 42 for two in the ninth over when Bell, on 21, pulled a catch to deep square off Alfie Ogborne and 51 for three as Bohannon was caught and bowled by off-spinner Vaughan attempting a back-foot forcing shot
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Harris responded with a six off Somerset 18-year-old Cornish seamer Kian Roberts, a third player making his List A debut, but lost another partner when Harry Singh inside-edged a wide ball from Vaughan onto his stumps.Harris went to fifty off 61 balls and at the halfway point in their innings Lancashire were 111 for four. The Australian looked to be winning the game as he accelerated with a six over long-off off Goldsworthy in a century stand with Balderson that appeared perfectly paced.With a century in sight, Harris fell to the left-arm spin of Goldsworthy, driving a catch to Roberts at mid-off. Lancashire still required 71, but Balderson was going well and moved to a well-crafted half-century off 62 balls, with 4 fours. Shetty gloved a catch behind off JT Langridge with 25 needed and the left-arm seamer struck again when Balderson top-edged a pull shot.Hands was then yorked by Davey to set up a tense finish, which saw Sutton dropped at cover by Vaughan off Davey before seeing side over the line.

West Indies chased down a paltry target of 123 with 46 balls to spare, and avoided a whitewash

Ekanth30-Sep-2025Nepal came into Sharjah eyeing a historic whitewash but ran into a revived West Indies side that put on the perfect game. However, that shouldn’t take away too much from their impressive feat of completing their first series win against a Full Member nation.Ramon Simmonds, one of the two changes they made, took a match-winning three-for after West Indies made the right call of bowling first on a pitch that was slow and offered regular sideways movement. Openers Amir Jangoo and Ackeem Auguste capitalised under easing conditions to take West Indies to their first ever ten-wicket win.Nepal’s start was sedate but secure with Kushal Malla and Bhurtel often in control of their shots. Bhurtel even whacked Mayers on the roof in the third over. The first sign of danger was Hosein getting turn and bounce in the third over to beat Bhurtel’s sweep, and the shot did connect the next ball for a six over square leg. Nonetheless, free-flowing strokeplay wasn’t to be seen.The effect of Nepal facing 20 dots in their 37-run powerplay was slightly mitigated by three fours and two sixes.Holder found success right after the powerplay using his high release and bounce. Malla was nearly caught behind trying to drive on the up through cover, Fabian Allen ran back from cover and dropped a tough chance off Bhurtel, and Malla’s edge was found the last ball.The spinners capitalised on the slowness and the sideways movement on offer. Hosein spun the ball away from around the wicket to beat the bat twice in the eighth over.Bhurtel and Paudel tried to break free after two quiet overs. After a first-ball six, both batters could’ve been out. Paudel survived an lbw as Hosein overstepped, but Bhurtel was caught at slip playing the reverse sweep. He wasn’t happy as the ball may have gone off just his forearm.Simmonds had a late introduction with Nepal needing to play within themselves. His lengths were often short or full and he bagged the wickets of Paudel – gloved pull to the keeper – and Aarif Sheikh – upper cut to deep third – in his first two overs. In between, Gulsan Jha was run out after taking a head start too far before running back. Nepal made 62 for 5 in the middle overs despite West Indies dropping two chances.Simmons and Blades took two wickets each in the death overs. A couple of boundaries from Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora took Nepal to 122.West Indies’ chase got off to a flier. In the first over, Auguste ensured that West Indies, too, hit a six on the roof. Karan KC was punished upon offering pace and missing his line. The openers peppered the leg-side boundary. With a four in each of the next four overs, West Indies bossed the 47-run powerplay.Paudel dropped a simple chance off Auguste, on 29, at cover. There were no further chances of a Nepal comeback, certainly not after Mohammad Aadil Alam was taken down for 18 in the ninth over. Jangoo losing his bottom hand but still driving over long-off showed just how well he timed the ball.Jangoo then went into top gear, smacking five sixes in his last nine balls. The back-to-back sixes off Paudel, that started the carnage, brought up his 38-ball fifty. Auguste played second fiddle as West Indies reached home with 46 balls to spare.

London is very much the focal point of England. The nation’s capital houses the biggest businesses, is home to the largest population and provides jobs not only for its residents, but for others further afield.

And in football it’s also the superpower of the nation, with, if we were to hypothetically put together a single side made up of players representing clubs within it’s boundaries, London likely to triumph over rivals every time.

Although this mythical XI would be made up of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and maybe even a few West Ham players, these individual sides may not be the strongest right now. Although it may raise some eyebrows, there’s an argument that Crystal Palace are the team to watch from London as things stand, with the group hailing from the south end of the city a very interesting proposition.

Okay, they’re unlikely to stay atop the London pile for the remainder of the campaign, but finishing position is not the only factor to judge a team on – albeit it is important. Right now the Eagles are a team on the up – excuse the pun – with Alan Pardew’s arrival having sparked a new era of fine football and results.

Since his arrival over the winter, ‘Pards’ has been a breath of fresh air at Selhurst Park, with 11 of his 19 league games in charge having been wins – the joint highest win tally of any Palace manager in the Premier League. Although he may be a somewhat unlikeable character, just ask Newcastle fans, there’s no denying the positive impact he has made, maintaining the Tony Pulis results while bringing in an easier on the eye style.

Further to this, his influence in the transfer market must be noted. Just a few years ago it would have been impossible to imagine a Palace side with Yohan Cabaye in the middle, but thanks, in part, to Pardew’s relationship with the playmaker, he’s now the creative hub of the team, and the statement made with his capture could signify a real change at the club. Add into the mix Bakary Sako and Wilfried Zaha, and things are genuinely exciting at Palace.

The Selhurst Park crowd should not go without mention, too. The Holmesdale Stand is one of the few blocks of genuine passion left in the Premier League, with the atmosphere electric on matchdays. Eagles fans have had lows to endure, but the highs are really being appreciated, and the noise created puts their opposite numbers at the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge to shame.

Yes, Palace will not finish at the top of a London mini-league come May, but as far as the whole experience goes, they do have a genuine claim to the title of the best team to be aligned with in the city right now.

Things are changing south of the River Thames, and who knows how far it could all go.

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Chelsea returned to winning ways in the fiery win over Arsenal, but the result has come at a price. Diego Costa is banned for three games following a violent conduct charge for his antics in the 2-0 win.

With the Brazilian born Spaniard now out, the Blues must rely on either Radamel Falcao or Loic Remy. Though the joined efforts of Eden Hazard and Pedro are likely to muster a few goals over the season, relying on Costa may be unwise.

Not only is he constantly in the news for his, let’s say, ‘lively’ approach to the game, he also struggles with injuries. Though when fit he is a striker fit to spearhead a Jose Mourinho side, the options after the 26-year old make for nervous reading.

Falcao’s struggles are well documented, and Remy has never truly been trusted by the Portuguese.

Here are six strikers Chelsea can turn to in the January window…

MAURO ICARDI

Inter Milan are currently on a 100% record in Serie A, with their signings over the summer looking to have settled in well. However, Mourinho can take heart in the face that his former club have previously shifted on big players.

Mateo Kovacic and Xherdan Shaqiri have been allowed to leave the San Siro, so a move for Inter’s star player is not out of the realms of possibility.

The Argentine plundered 31 goals last year, and is one of the hottest properties in Europe. He could be a viable alternative to Costa, able to provide similar industry.

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN

Though not an out and out centre-forward, the French star has proven himself to a potent attacker with Atletico Madrid. The former Real Sociedad man is perfect for the counter attacking style so associated with Jose Mourinho.

Able to operate across the front-line, a potential partnership with Eden Hazard is mouth-watering.

The 24-year-old continues to grow under the tutelage of Diego Simeone, and the Madrid outfit have previous when it comes to selling their star players to Chelsea.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

The Bayern Munich man famously netted 5 goals in 9 minutes against Wolfsburg recently, a testament to how lethal the Polish international is.

Linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, reports suggest he is not a ‘Guardiola style’ of player.

Jose Mourinho has previous with the ex-Dortmund star, having witnessed him score 4 goals in the Champions League semi-final clash between the Bundesliga giants and Real Madrid.

The ice-cool finishing, close control and clever movement so synonymous with the 27-year old would be a welcome addition to the Premier League.

ALVARO MORATA

The Juventus star has quite the CV despite his age, with the 22-year old having already played for the Old Lady and Real Madrid in his short career.

He battles with Costa for a place in the Spanish national side, and his arrival at Stamford Bridge could spark some healthy competition.

He’s a traditional centre-forward, likely to run the channels as well as poach inside the box. His goal against Manchester City proves he is capable of the spectacular.

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE

Struggling to replicate his stellar form shown last year, the Lyon man has that in common with the Blues.

However, he proved what a good player he is with 31 strikes last term, and is still learning at the highest level. As a backup to Costa, he would be a longer term solution to Falcao, with huge room for improvement.

Another who’s versatility could surely endear himself to Mourinho, the Frenchman could work wonders around the quality in Chelsea’s midfield.

GRAZIANO PELLE

A left field suggestion, but the Southampton star is proving he is no one season wonder. He’s far more refined than Costa, and has been lethal since arriving in England.

While he may not be as exciting as some of the younger names in this list, Mourinho could rely on a lot worse as a back-up. The Italian star instantly settled on the South Coast, and shows no sign of stopping.

Another two goals against Manchester United prove the 30-year-old is at times unplayable in the penalty area.

Make no mistake about it, the 1-1 draw in Sunday’s north London derby was an opportunity missed for Arsenal.

Pole position may belong to Manchester City but the Gunners are the Premier League’s team to beat at the moment, picking up five wins and 16 points from their last six games, and momentum was on their side ahead of the bragging rights clash with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs represent the last top six opposition Arsenal will face until a potentially season-defining clash with City in late December. So with Manuel Pellegrini’s side dropping points to Aston Villa earlier in the day, a win would have seen Arsene Wener’s boys claim top spot at just the right time – ahead of a four-game run in which they’ll expect to take maximum points against relegation battlers West Brom, Norwich City, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

A win on Sunday could have put Arsenal in the driving seat for December’s six-pointer at the Emirates, City needing the win more and resultantly forced into taking risks away from home. It could have been one of those games where everything spirals out of control and one side accumulates a rugby score. In prior seasons, Arsenal have usually been the victim during such affairs, but a two-point lead could have instigated a reversal in roles.

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Come the end of May, some might point back to last weekend as the difference between Arsenal breaking their decade-long title duck and finishing the season as also-rans once again. The psychological advantage would have shifted in their favour ahead of a tricky winter period for City, which sees them face Liverpool, Juventus, Southampton, Stoke City and Swansea City before their meet with the Gunners on December 21st – a significantly tougher run than Arsenal’s.

It’s a sign of Arsenal still lacking that killer instinct and nous required in any title bid, the kind Sir Alex Ferguson was famed for at Manchester United; sensing when his rivals were at their weakest and capitalising accordingly.

In no other top flight does momentum swing as quickly and violently as the Premier League and although we’re only twelve games into the new season, moving to the top of the table would have put pressure on City and particularly their manager – whose future at Eastlands seems ever-shrouded in doubt.

That being said, I found myself once again impressed with Arsenal on Sunday. The overall performance was less convincing than the result but under the given circumstances, the Gunners certainly made decent lemonade from dodgy lemons.

It seems illogical to blame Arsenal not beating their local on an injury crisis; the club’s record in that department is so dreadful that if you tried to count all the key games in which key Gunners personnel have been absent since their last title in 2004, you’d end up requiring the assistance of the fingers and toes of the entire first team squad and probably some of the reserves as well.

But right midfield is a crucial position in this current Arsenal side. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey both offer fantastic defensive protection whilst moving inside just enough to give the right-back room on the overlap – an increasingly prevalent feature in the Gunners’ attacking play.

For all his efforts, Joel Campbell failed to recreate those characteristics and ended up a rather isolated figure on the right wing, consequentially providing little assistance as Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla (who was apparently very unwell) struggled against Spurs’ enthusiastic and organised midfield three.

Resultantly, Arsenal were poor in the first half and more than deserving to go a goal down via Harry Kane. But their comeback after the interval showed confidence and conviction, inspired from incredibly unlikely sources in Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Kieran Gibbs, who managed to overturn Spurs’ momentum in the middle of the park.

All entered the fray due to a lack of viable alternatives – with Theo Walcott, Ramsey, Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Hector Bellerin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck all sidelined through injury – but proved they have the quality to make a difference in Arsenal’s season.

So with a late equaliser provided by a full-back playing on the left wing, in the absence of three players who were at the forefront of Wenger’s selections this time last month and another who was withdrawn at half-time due to illness, after an opening hour in which Arsenal looked almost dead and buried, a point in a local derby certainly isn’t to be sniffed at.

Whilst some lament Arsenal for not taking the chance to go top and will look back upon last weekend as a telling moment should their title bid fall short, that point also has the potential to become an invaluable one by the end of May.

Arsenal are unlikely to enter a tougher fixture under tougher circumstances and find themselves in a tougher position at half-time this season; taking something from the game and keeping the momentum alive may be a lesser prize than leapfrogging Manchester City, but it could be a crucial one nonetheless.

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Twitter has exploded after Chelsea star Willian launched an absolutely stunning strike to double the Blues’ lead against Crystal Palace on a raining afternoon in South London.

The Chelsea Number 22 then turned creator, setting up teammate Diego Costa.

While he’s not usually known for his goal scoring abilities, the Brazilian has emerged as the club’s top marksman this season in the wake of their failing frontline.

Having already notched seven goals across all competitions, many of them free-kicks, the Selecao star unleashed a rocket from outside the penalty area after picking up a loose ball.

Palace shot stopper Wayne Hennessey has been in imperious form this year, but the Welsh custodian could do very little to stop the ball blazing past him and into the top corner.

However, he spilled Willian’s shot minutes later right into the path of the baying Spaniard Costa.

It looks to have killed the game off at Selhurst Park as the fallen Premier League champions look to extend their unbeaten run since Jose Mourinho left the club.

Although the young Belgium international is yet to truly establish himself down at Anfield this season, Liverpool’s Divock Origi certainly looks like he could one day blossom into a truly meaningful talent for the Reds.

The current attacking options available to Jurgen Klopp have been limited throughout the 2015/16 campaign. Roberto Firmino is seemingly yet to find his feet in the ever testing English top-flight, each of Danny Ings, Philippe Coutinho and Christian Benteke have suffered with their own respective injury concerns this season and the once formidable Daniel Sturridge sadly spends more time in the treatment room than out on the pitch. Reds fans could be forgiven for partially losing hope over their recent situation.

However, as Origi has nonetheless begun his Anfield career in more than promising form, perhaps all Kopites really need at this particular stage is just a little bit of good old-fashioned faith. At 20-years-of-age, this young striker could very well help Jurgen Klopp out when it comes to scoring important goals across 2015/16 – which would only signal positive steps for the club as they look to re-establish their dominance in the English game

So then, have the Anfield faithful genuinely discovered a newfound hero in the shape of Divock Origi, or does the emerging talent ultimately represent little more than an average Premier League striker at best?

Well, as Origi only has one solitary league goal to his name so far this term, now is no time to be getting carried away with the striker’s potential talent. Liverpool fans have experienced many false dawns when it comes to ambitious transfer signings in the past – and as the 20-year-old Belgian was indeed signed under the supervision of Brendan Rodgers at Anfield – the context behind his recent move may not prove all that exciting in the cold light of day.

Yet as the up and coming striker successfully saved Liverpool’s blushes last time out against West Brom – after subsequently playing a huge role in his side’s 6-1 destruction of Southampton in the League Cup this month – Reds supporters do admittedly have reason to be excited over the future exploits of Origi, even if they must remain relatively muted at this current moment in time.

After arguably outshining Everton’s Romelu Lukaku throughout the duration of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Liverpool seemingly pulled off a great deal when they completed the initial move for Origi two summers ago. But after failing to impress whilst back on loan at Lille last season, a few testing question-marks were nonetheless pointed in the direction of the young Anfield man.

In the end, it remains yet to be seen whether or not the former Ligue 1 favourite has what it takes to make it in the Premier League. £10m was a rather significant amount to splash out on a largely untested talent of course, and if Origi consequently fails to adjust to the often gruelling nature of the English top-flight the Anfield faithful may be forced to accept yet another expensive calamity from their side in the transfer market.

As Jurgen Klopp is seemingly the perfect manager to help restore some much needed belief within the younger players down at Liverpool this season, however, it seems as if all the right components are in-fact in place to make Origi’s spell within the Premier League a rather successful one. We have already seen what the young Belgian striker is capable of when playing at full confidence this term, and although his outings have admittedly been relatively brief so far, the future looks positive for Origi.

It’s going to take a sustained period of time for the young star to really make a name for himself in England, however, and Reds fans would ultimately be naïve in expecting any immediate results from the Belgian centre-forward this season. But with a fair helping of well-measured patience from the collective Anfield faithful in general – maybe the good times are just waiting around the corner for Divock Origi at this specific stage.

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