اختتمت منافسات الجولة الخامسة من عمر منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي، بمواجهة نيوم أمام القادسية، مساء الأحد، حيث فاز الأخير بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.

وبتحقيق فريق القادسية الفوز، أرتقي إلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، برصيد 13 نقطة.

وكان فريق النصر واصل انتصارته في الدوري السعودي هذا الموسم، بالفوز على الفتح، بخماسية مقابل هدف، ليواصل صدراته لترتيب جدول الدوري، بدون خسارة ومحققًا الفوز الخامس على التوالي.

وكان نادي الهلال انتصر على نظيره الاتفاق، بخمسة أهداف دون رد، ضمن منافسات نفس الجولة، من بطولة الدوري السعودي.

طالع | الهلال يسحق الاتفاق بخماسية في الدوري السعودي

وكان الاتحاد بطل الدوري الموسم الماضي، تعادل إيجابيًا مساء الجمعة أمام الفيحاء 1-1، ليتراجع إلي المركز الرابع. جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي

1- النصر، 15 نقطة.

2- القادسة، 13 نقطة.

3- التعاون، 12 نقطة.

4- الهلال، 11 نقطة.

5- الاتحاد، 10 نقاط.

6- الخليج، 9 نقاط.

7- الخلود، 9 نقاط.

8- الأهلي، 9 نقاط.

9- نيوم، 9 نقاط.

10- الفيحاء، 8 نقاط.

11- الاتفاق، 7 نقاط.

12- الحزم، 5 نقاط.

13- الشباب، 5 نقاط.

14- الرياض، 3 نقاط.

15- الفتح، نقطة واحدة.

16- ضمك، نقطة واحدة.

17- الأخدود، بدون نقاط.

18- النجمة، بدون نقاط.

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب الدوري السعودي بشكل محدث باستمرار من هنا.

“When you have 18-19 runs to defend in the last two overs, you give the 19th over to your best bowler,” Anil Kumble says

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-20252:38

Can RCB and DC both finish in the top four?

Axar Patel has been getting positive reviews for his leadership in his debut season as captain in the IPL, but did he get it wrong against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday night? RCB had the upper hand against Delhi Capitals (DC) as the match neared its closing stages but, as Anil Kumble, Wasim Jaffer and Sanjay Bangar pointed out after the game, shuffling the order of the bowler Axar used at the death might have made a difference.When the 17th over started, RCB needed 38 runs from 24 balls. Quite simple, ordinarily, but this wasn’t a pitch where run-scoring was easy. Mukesh Kumar bowled, and Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli took 12 off him. Dushmantha Chameera gave away nine off the next. And then it was suddenly all over as Mukesh was hit for 6, 4, 4, 4 in the 19th by Tim David. Mitchell Starc had an over left. And Vipraj Nigam had bowled just one.”I don’t know [what DC were thinking]. When you have 18-19 runs [the requirement was 17 from two overs] to defend in the last two overs, you give the 19th over to your best bowler, to take it till the end,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “I was surprised that he gave the ball to Mukesh and not Starc. The result might have been the same, but the intent was wrong.”Related

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The intent was likely to give Starc eight-nine runs to defend off the last over, perhaps because of what he had achieved in that thriller against Rajasthan Royals (RR).”It must be the hangover from the [game against RR]. Axar must have thought that since Starc had defended nine runs in that last over, so let’s give this to Mukesh and see,” Bangar said. “It might have worked, but the thought process was wrong. Your best bowler should have bowled that over. Even if Starc had conceded, say, 12 runs, you have a legspinner [Nigam] for the last over if you don’t want to bowl Mukesh. Spinners sometimes create magical moments. It was a mistake on Axar’s part.”Was there a lack of faith in Nigam’s abilities, perhaps? Nigam is a newbie, but hasn’t done badly in his debut season for DC, with nine wickets so far at an economy rate of 9.34. But in nine games, he has bowled only 23 overs out of a possible 36. The left-handed and in-form Krunal’s presence in the middle might have forced Axar to ignore the legspinner.”I felt he [Axar] didn’t show enough trust in Vipraj,” Jaffer said. “Maybe he could have been given two-three overs too. Maybe it could have had an effect. Because at that stage [if a wicket had fallen], two overseas batters [David and Romario Shepherd] would have been there and they might have found it tough. Jitesh [Sharma] was the main batter left then.”Fortunately for DC, the loss hasn’t pushed them out of the race for the playoffs. They are still at No. 4 with six wins out of nine. Their next three games are against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) – the first two are among the bottom-four teams on the table, and PBKS have also been up and down, so DC would back themselves to win more often than they lose before their last two games, tough assignments against Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT).

After enduring the summer of all summers at Anfield, Liverpool could still miss out on their top target amid interest from Real Madrid, who beat the Reds to Jude Bellingham back in 2023.

Isak delivers emphatic Liverpool statement

Alexander Isak was made to wait, but eventually he got his move. Arriving on deadline day in a deal worth around £125m, the Swede finally got his wish and will now be looking to go from a player on strike to a player back in action at his very best.

Joining Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on Arne Slot’s list of attacking options, there’s a strong argument that Liverpool now have the strongest frontline in all of Europe. As such, it came as no surprise that Isak instantly set his sights on creating history in Merseyside.

Without their new star striker, Liverpool have not even got out of first gear but remain the only side in the Premier League with a 100% win record. Slot’s side needed late winners against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and, most recently, Arsenal as their rivals quickly became sick of the sight of the champions before the international break.

Now, those same rivals will be dreading the impact that Isak could make. It must be said, however, that he wasn’t the only top target on deadline day and after Liverpool hesitated, they’ve seemingly allowed Real Madrid to swoop in.

Real Madrid now eyeing Marc Guehi move

As relayed by reports in Spain, Real Madrid have now set their sights on signing Marc Guehi on a free deal when his current contract expires next summer. The defender looked destined for Anfield on deadline day after a deal was agreed and medical completed, before Crystal Palace pulled the plug in ruthless fashion.

Leaving the door for rivals to make their move when his contract expires, Liverpool could suffer an all too familiar hijack at the hands of Real Madrid. Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that the Spanish giants jumped ahead of the Reds to sign Jude Bellingham – who has thrived ever since – and pried Trent Alexander-Arnold away from Anfield this summer.

Isak can do the one thing for Liverpool that Haaland never did at Man City

The Swede could already hand the Reds one key advantage.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

Liverpool should be desperate to avoid a repeat and secure the arrival of Guehi once and for all, either in January or next summer. Described as “calm and composed” by former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, the Crystal Palace defender looks set to have a big decision to make when the time comes.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made a surprise decision ahead of this weekend’s trip to Brentford, by calling up a youngster who struggled in League Two to first-team training.

Man Utd set to travel to Brentford on Saturday

Man United will be looking to make it three wins from their last four Premier League games this weekend, when they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to take on a Brentford side that are without a win in their last three top-flight outings.

Amorim will be pleased his side managed to return to winning ways against Chelsea last time out, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford, but it wasn’t exactly a vintage performance, with United clinging on at the end, despite racing into a two-goal advantage after Robert Sanchez’s red card.

As such, it is probably too early to claim the victory against the Blues could be a turning point in the season, and Amorim is continuing to look at ways in which he can improve his side.

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As relayed by The Peoples Person, the Man United boss has called a youngster up to first-team training ahead of the trip to Brentford this weekend, with an official statement reading: “Young midfielder Sam Mather was also part of the group that worked in pleasant conditions on Tuesday, in stark contrast to the torrential rain that affected last weekend’s win.”

Mather is a natural winger, who is also able to play in attacking midfield, and with Amorim arguably lacking options in wide areas after Alejandro Garnacho’s departure, the 21-year-old is now training with the first-team, in what has to be considered a surprising development.

The winger came very close to leaving the Red Devils in the summer transfer window, after failing to make an impact on loan at League Two side Tranmere Rovers last season, but he now has a golden opportunity to prove himself ahead of the January transfer window.

Mather faces difficult path to save his Man Utd career

In all honesty, it seems very unlikely that the Salford-born ace will be able to save his Man United career at this stage, given that he struggled during a loan spell with Tranmere last season, appearing for just four minutes across two League Two appearances.

There are question marks over Amad Diallo’s performances this season, with YouTuber Stephen Howson calling the winger into question after the 2-1 victory against Chelsea last weekend.

However, Matheus Cunha is now back from injury, and Bryan Mbeumo has made a solid start to life at Old Trafford, starting all five Premier League games and opening his account in the 3-2 victory against Burnley earlier this month.

As a result, Mather is unlikely to be able to force his way into Amorim’s plans, and the call-up to first-team training is unlikely to be a sign the United academy product will be receiving minutes anytime soon.

GOAL US writers debate result against Ecuador and whether Mauricio Pochettino should make changes ahead of tricky Aussie match

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – So, 1-1. Not a bad result for the USMNT. They struggled in the opening stages, and could have few qualms in going down 1-0. But Mauricio Pochettino's men rallied. The shapes started to form, the players kicked into gear. Suddenly, there was a team here. The draw could have been a win with a couple fortunate bounces.

Still, this is less about the scoreline and more about the performance – if only because that's the positive to take from the game. Sure, Weston McKennie was excellent. Tim Weah, Malik Tillman and Tanner Tessmann all showed why they should be in with a shout every time the U.S. play. Christian Pulisic, dealing with an aggravated ankle, still came in as second-half sub.

And Folarin Balogun showed why he leads the race to be the starting striker. In short, these were mostly good things from a mostly good performance. And perhaps that's exactly what was required here. Australia are next, and they're pretty good, too – sitting in the top 25 of FIFA's world rankings and coming off a 1-0 victory over Canada.

GOAL US writers break down the USMNT friendlies in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

• Getty Images
  

  What’s the biggest takeaway from the Ecuador draw?

  Tom Hindle: That the USMNT are improving, but still need to avoid mental mistakes. They were truly excellent for some stretches, and probably, on balance, deserved more than the draw. But there were some clear errors – including giving up a fairly preventable goal. Still, these are what friendlies are for. Good signs, mostly. 

  Ryan Tolmich: There are plenty of big ones, but the usage of McKennie is probably the one with the biggest knock-on effect. After the match, both Pochettino and McKennie described his role as one with "freedom" and the USMNT boss hinted that he prefers McKennie in a more attacking role. If he is among the attacking midfielders, what does that mean for the World Cup squad? How does that change competition? And what does that mean for the defensive midfield? It's all very interesting as Pochettino looks to get the best out of a clearly talented player.

  Alex Labidou: Pochettino has found a system that works and that’s critical. When the U.S. were struggling earlier in the year, the biggest takeaway wasn't a given result but the fact Pochettino struggled to really make an imprint on this team. On Friday, his preferred way of play was on display and he created the system that best suits his ideology AND fits his players. And they performed well against one of the best defensive teams in the world. However, it was not perfect. For example, what happens with Weah – one of the team's best players – when Sergino Dest is healthy? He’s certainly not a No. 10, which Poch utilized two against Ecuador. Where does McKennie fit when Tyler Adams is back? Pochettino has nine months to figure it out.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Whose impact was missed most – Pulisic or Antonee Robinson?

  TH: Will all the love in the world to Max Arfsten, Antonee Robinson is simply a level above. That's not a massive criticism, per se, but Robinson, on his day, is one of the best left backs around. Arfsten just isn't up to the pace of the international game, and the drop off is clear there. Now, if the opponent had been, say, Brazil, then Pulisic is missed more. But the U.S. should have enough attacking quality to get it done against Ecuador. In the end, it was about balance. 

  RT: Robinson's impact on that left-hand side is massive, but this is Pulisic we're talking about here. The U.S. likely gets another goal or two if Pulisic is on the field against Ecuador, simply due to his ability to make things happen in tight spaces. When he is on the field, the U.S. is simply much better. And while that's also true for Robinson, Pulisic makes such a direct impact on winning and losing. It has to be him.

  AL: Pulisic is obviously the best player on the U.S., and despite not starting, he’s known commodity under Pochettino. So let’s go with Robinson. Jedi has only played three games under the Argentine and hasn’t featured in any match in 2025. Robinson, the U.S. Player of the Year in 2004, was one of the world’s best left backs last season. While the U.S. haven’t necessarily been at a disadvantage in his absence, he could be a game-changer if at full strength.

• Imagn
  

  Which player deserves a shot vs Australia?

  TH: Excluding Pulisic, who didn't start because of a minor injury, it's probably the right time to chuck Mark McKenzie in properly. Still not entirely sold by his on-ball ability, but the Toulouse man is certainly a better one-on-one defender than Miles Robinson, and has a valuable turn of pace, too. Let's face it, too, when a World Cup rolls around, McKenzie will likely be the man in the mix. 

  RT: Yes, it's McKenzie, largely because he's a player who could very well start next summer. He's had some ups and downs in a USMNT shirt, for sure, but McKenzie is a good centerback who continuously proves that fact in Ligue 1. It's important to see how he plays in the USMNT's three-back next to Tim Ream and Chris Richards, even if he plays in a similar system at the club level. McKenzie, more than anyone, should get that look to at least provide some clarity on where he stands in the centerback pool.

  AL: Diego Luna would be the easy answer, but again he falls into the known commodity category. How about Haji Wright and Patrick Schulte? While the U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper job seems to be Matt Freese’s to lose, his inability to make an important save against Ecuador should prompt Pochettino to at least take a look at another goalkeeper. Schulte has only played once under Pochettino. And for Wright, Pochettino knows what he has in the striker position with Balogun. So now, it’s time to firm up who is No. 2. Ricardo Pepi should be the shoo-in here, but his injury record should push Pochettino to take a lengthy look at his other forwards. Patrick Agyemang got an extended run at Gold Cup, so now its Wright’s turn.

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• Getty Images
  

  Does Poch finally have the right formation?

  TH: Sure? There's certainly more balance here, but we haven't seen either system with a full strength side yet. This seems a good fit, but until both are fully compared, then it's still a TBD.

  RT: Absolutely. Even without multiple key players, the U.S. was able to generate attacking chances against Ecuador. There was space to run into, options for attackers and, ultimately, good looks on goal. Were there some issues? Yes. The midfield was a bit too exposed, but that might get solved when Adams returns. This system is quite clearly the way forward, although there are still tweaks to be made to perfect it in time for the World Cup.

  AL: For the most part, yes. But it will create some selection headaches when Pochettino has his full contingent. Finding the right options at both right wing back and the center and attacking midfielder positions is going to be difficult.

Leeds United finally scored a goal from open play in the Premier League in their exciting 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home on Saturday.

The Whites had only scored one goal, a penalty against Everton, in their opening four matches of the top-flight campaign, which created concerns over the attacking quality within the group.

Daniel Farke’s side hit back at the critics with three goals in the first half at the Molineux, two coming from open play, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach, and Noah Okafor all got themselves on the scoresheet.

Stach’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The summer signing from Hoffenheim’s belting free-kick into the top corner was a beautiful goal, and he followed that up with an assist for Okafor’s strike.

That win does not put all concerns over the quality of the squad to bed, though, firstly because Wolves have lost all five of their matches in the division and appear to be one of the weaker teams in the league.

Secondly, because there are still some players in the team who are yet to reach lift-off in the Premier League, Brenden Aaronson is one of them.

Why Brenden Aaronson needs to step up for Leeds

To his credit, the USA international is a hard-working player who will always put in a shift and leave everything on the pitch with his relentless pressing and desire to win possession back.

Unfortunately, though, Aaronson’s lack of physicality often means that his hard work goes unrewarded at Premier League level, because opposition players are faster and stronger than him.

For example, the USNMT star has not won a single aerial duel in the division so far, across five appearances, per Sofascore, and he has already been dribbled past six times, ranking in the bottom 6% of wingers in the league in that statistic, per FotMob.

Aaronson showed flashes of quality in the Championship last season, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in 46 matches, but he has yet to prove that he is good enough for the Premier League.

His performances when the West Yorkshire outfit were last in the big time do not help the idea that he is not up to scratch at this level, as he was not up to the task in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

36

xG

3.86

Goals

1

xA

2.59

Assists

3

Ground duel success rate

43%

Aerial duel success rate

17%

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson hugely underperformed in front of goal and lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in that season, as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.

This is why the 24-year-old attacker has to step up in the present day and start to show that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, having failed to provide any goal contributions in five league games so far this term.

The lack of quality provided by Aaronson at the top end of the pitch should enhance the feeling of regret that the club should have for cashing in on a player who has gone on to be even better than the former RB Salzburg star.

Leeds had Polish attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz on their books before they decided to cash in on him in March 2023, for a fee of £874k, per Transfermarkt.

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What the versatile forward has achieved since moving on from Elland Road suggests that the Whites had a mare by allowing him to move on for a fee that was less than £1m.

Why Leeds United should have kept Mateusz Bogusz

Bogusz only played three times for the first-team, starting two of those matches, at Leeds before his move to LAFC in 2023, which means that the midfield star did not get many opportunities to shine in West Yorkshire.

The Poland international’s transfer to the MLS provided him with the chance to play regular football and showcase his quality at the top end of the pitch week-in-week-out, and he grasped that chance with both hands.

Bogusz, who was hailed as a “dangerous” player by reporter Greg Beacham, scored 24 goals and provided 19 assists in 90 matches for LAFC in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he provided goals and assists on a regular basis.

The 24-year-old star, who is the same age as Aaronson, proved that he could produce consistent performances in the final third, mostly playing as an attacking midfielder for the American outfit.

Appearances

36

46

xG

9.20

11.43

Goals

16

9

Big chances created

9

9

xA

6.11

6.05

Assists

8

2

As you can see in the table above, Bogusz’s performances in the MLS during the 2024 season were more impressive, particularly from a goalscoring perspective, than Aaronson’s were in the Championship for Farke’s dominant side.

These statistics suggest that the Whites would have been better off with the Poland international in the number ten position, because he could have offered more quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals at the top end of the pitch.

As well as missing out on a quality player, Leeds also missed out on a bigger payday. Cruz Azul swooped in to sign the attacking midfielder for a fee of £7.4m in January of this year, which is significantly more than the £874k that the Whites raked in for his services in 2023.

At the time of writing (23/09/2025), Bogusz is valued at £6.5m by Transfermarkt after a return of two goals and seven assists in 32 outings for the Mexican side. This means that his value has soared by 644% from the £874k that he was sold for less than three years ago.

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Therefore, Leeds must regret cashing in on Bogusz for multiple reasons, because he would be an upgrade on one of the club’s current attackers, Aaronson, and because they missed out on millions.

He is “out indefinitely” according to Punjab Kings’ fast-bowling coach James Hopes

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-20254:02

What are Punjab Kings’ options in Lockie Ferguson’s absence?

Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been all but ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025, their fast-bowling coach James Hopes has said.Ferguson had hobbled off the field in their previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday after bowling just two balls.”Ferguson is out indefinitely, and the chances of us getting him back by the end of the tournament are very slim, I would have thought,” Hopes said ahead of PBKS’ match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Mullanpur on Tuesday. “I think he has sustained a pretty serious injury.”Ferguson had pulled up after the second delivery of the sixth over against SRH and was seen holding the side of his left leg just below the hip. He had to leave the field after consultation with the physio and did not return to bowl again as SRH pulled off the second-highest successful chase in IPL history with eight wickets in hand.He had only just recovered from a hamstring injury that he had picked up in the ILT20 in the UAE, which forced him to miss the Champions Trophy in February. This is the third time since November 2024 that Ferguson has been injured. Before his hamstring issue in the ILT20, he had suffered a calf injury, which forced him to miss the ODIs against Sri Lanka late last year.In his three-and-a-bit games this season, Ferguson has five wickets at an economy rate of 9.17.

Wayne Rooney has revealed that he loves watching Manchester City star Erling Haaland, but the striker has one key flaw that “frustrates” him.

Rooney reveals he wants "more" from Haaland

Although Man City haven’t started the Premier League campaign in their usual dominant fashion, Haaland has been fantastic on a personal level, reminding everyone why he is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.

The Norwegian was at his best in the 3-0 victory in the Manchester derby, scoring a brace in what was a comfortable victory for City against their rivals, who simply couldn’t cope with the towering centre-forward, who has continued to set new records this season.

As such, it will come as no surprise to learn that Rooney is a keen admirer of the 25-year-old, with the former Manchester United striker naming him as the striker he loves watching, on a recent podcast with Rio Ferdinand.

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However, the 39-year-old was also quick to point out that he feels the Man City star has a key flaw, saying: “I do like watching Haaland, but also frustrates me as well. If you watch his movements in the six-yard box, it’s incredible, but then you just want a little bit more from him.

“I want him to be more commanding.”

Haaland can still make improvements to his game

The Leeds-born striker has been an absolute revelation in the Premier League, retaining an astounding goal record ever since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer of 2022.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

2022-23

35

36

2023-24

31

27

2024-25

31

22

2025-26

5

6

However, just like any player, the 45-time Norway international can still make improvements to his game, and at just 25-years-old, he still has plenty of time on his side.

City may not be at their best, but the former Borussia Dortmund man has proven he is still a big game player, who is at the top of his game, most recently reaching an insane top speed before opening the scoring in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Man City have proven time and time again that they are capable of hunting Liverpool down, so they certainly shouldn’t be too disheartened by the start they’ve made, but Haaland will be crucial to their chances of winning the Premier League title.

Ollie Price and Miles Hammond both made fifties as Gloucestershire produced a determined response to Lancashire’s first-innings 450 on the second day of the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.Replying to the home side’s formidable total, in which Marcus Harris made 167 and Ajeet Singh Dale took three for 67, the visitors were 184 for 2 at the close with Price on 54 not out and Hammond unbeaten on 57. The pair have so far put on an unbroken 110 for Gloucestershire’s third wicket.Two days are left in this evenly poised match but barring collapses, it is difficult to see either side being bowled out twice on an easy-paced wicket after three sessions on Saturday in which 94 overs were bowled, 292 runs were scored and only seven wickets fell.In the first session, the home side’s attempt to push on towards 400 and four batting points was seriously hampered by the dismissal of Harris, who had added only two runs to his overnight score when he was leg before wicket to Ajeet Singh Dale for 167 in the fifth over of the morning.Lancashire eventually needed 14 off the 110th over for that fourth point but after hitting a six off Josh Shaw’s first ball, Luke Wells was lbw for 38 to the second and his side had to settle for three points, which are as many as they had collected in their three previous games put together.George Balderson was trapped in front for six just four overs later but Tom Hartley and Tom Bailey took their side to 437 for 8 at lunch.Hartley and Bailey added only 13 runs in the afternoon session before Lancashire lost their last two wickets to successive balls from Tom Price. Hartley was caught behind by James Bracey for 32 and and John Turner collected his second successive golden duck when he was lbw.Cameron Bancroft and Ben Charlesworth launched Gloucestershire’s reply to their hosts’ formidable total with a serene stand of 47 and Lancashire had to wait over an hour for their first breakthrough, which came when Balderson jagged one back through Bancroft’s gate and bowled the Australian for 18 to claim his hundredth first-class wicket.The next wicket fell four overs before tea when Charlesworth was beaten in the flight by Tom Hartley’s seventh ball of the innings and chipped an easy return catch to the bowler. The opener’s dismissal for a polished 43 left Gloucestershire on 74 for 2 but Price and Hammond batted resolutely after tea to prevent Keaton Jennings’ attack making further breakthroughs.Hammond swept and reverse-swept Tom Hartley to the ropes but Price’s front foot drive through wide mid-on off John Turner was comfortably the shot of the session, if not the day, and it epitomised Gloucestershire’s dominance in the evening session. For Lancashire, Balderson finished with 1 for 35 and Hartley 1 for 37.

Manchester United have made some intriguing signings this summer as they look to improve under Ruben Amorim and could soon move for an exciting star who is set to be a free agent in 2026.

Manchester United's goalkeeper situation remains unresolved

Truthfully, Manchester United haven’t had an easy start to the campaign and their performances have delivered mixed results, albeit a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Burnley last weekend was a much-needed development at Old Trafford.

At the time, Amorim expressed sympathy for Altay Bayindir after his bumpy performance between the sticks, which may be his last for quite some time after Senne Lammens’ £18.2 million arrival at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp.

He said in his post-match press conference: “Guys, they are humans. Manchester United, everything is (huge). Everybody talks about the goalkeeper. And you can see, I can change the goalkeeper in the situations that happen. We are in that moment. I think it is hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment.

“But if you look at the first goal, we can defend it better. We suffered a quite similar goal against Fulham, because we don’t do the full rotation of the team when the ball is on the other side. All these small things have nothing to do with the goalkeeper.”

Andre Onana has opened talks over a move to the Saudi Pro League and could be set to move on to a new challenge, leaving the Red Devils to undergo a change of the guard in a key position at Old Trafford.

Neither Bayindir or Onana are in favour at the minute and reinforcements will be required should either leave the club, which could prompt the Red Devils to go all out for an elite stopper in 2026.

Manchester United plot showstopping move for Mike Maignan

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United will look to launch a showstopping move for Mike Maignan in 2026 once his contract expires at AC Milan, when his future will be one of the ‘headline’ deals of the next summer window.

With the Red Devils plotting to ‘kick out’ Onana, the France international is seen as a ‘masterstroke’ signing without the need to pay a transfer fee, evidenced by the fact he kept 61 clean sheets in 166 appearances for the Serie A giants.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

Sharing the same ESN agency as Manchester United winger Mbeumo, per Transfermarkt, the Cayenne-born stopper has retained a 60% save percentage in the Italian top-flight this term, though he could now be primed for a move to Old Trafford less than a year from now.

His current employers are said to be under pressure due to his contract situation and external interest from others in his services, something that is only likely to grow the longer he refuses to put pen to paper on new terms at San Siro.