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Mohamed Salah has, as he generates plenty of headlines at Liverpool, been nominated for a top award that has previously been won by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland. The Egyptian superstar, who is facing questions of his future at Anfield, is one of the nominees for a prize that will be handed out at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year gala.

Past winners of BBC World Sport Star award

Salah is one of six shortlisted athletes for the World Sport Star award. Footballers figure prominently on that roll of honour, with all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo having previously seen their exploits recognised. Manchester City striker Haaland also landed the gong in 2023 after helping to deliver a historic Treble to the Etihad Stadium.

Other former victors include tennis greats Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt, gymnastics icon Simone Biles, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, golf superstar Tiger Woods and boxing GOAT Muhammad Ali.

AdvertisementContenders for 2025 World Sport Star award

Salah is among the contenders in 2025 after helping Liverpool to Premier League title glory last season. He plundered 34 goals across all competitions, with 29 of those landing him a fourth top-flight Golden Boot in English football.

Competition for the prestigious World Sport Star prize is provided by Swedish pole vault world champion Armand Duplantis – the current holder of the award – athletics star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Spanish footballer Mariona Caldentey, American boxer Terence Crawford and Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani.

Should he take first place, Salah would become the first Egyptian to claim the BBC award. The trophy will be handed out at the Sports Personality of the Year show on December 18. Salah will not be in attendance regardless of the outcome of a public vote, with the 33-year-old forward preparing to head off with his country on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

What Salah said in explosive Liverpool rant

It remains to be seen whether he will figure for Liverpool again before and after another major tournament is graced at international level. Questions are being asked of Salah’s future following an explosive outburst.

Speaking after being benched for a third successive Premier League game, with no minutes seen in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds, Salah told reporters that he is being thrown under the bus by Liverpool during an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign. He also revealed that his relationship with Reds boss Arne Slot has broken down.

Salah said during a remarkable rant: “I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. I don't know why this is happening to me. I don't get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player.

“How I see it now is like you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now. But I don't think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club. The respect, I want to get. 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.”

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Getty ImagesSalah contract: Will transfer break Liverpool agreement?

Reds legend Jamie Carragher is among those to have reacted to Salah’s comments. He has told : “I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game. Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst, I do not think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he's done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it is choreographed by him and his agent to cause maximum damage and to strengthen his own position.”

Salah signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April, but may not get the chance to see that agreement through. A January transfer is already being mooted, amid talk of renewed interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Slot taking to leaving the 250-goal forward out of his plans for a Champions League clash with Serie A giants Inter on Tuesday.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

This was, however, a weekend of mixed emotions for Britain's most high-profile footballing expats. Real Madrid's English duo endured a frustrating night against one of La Liga's most out-of-form teams, though Scotland's 2025 Ballon d'Or nominee played his part in a massive Serie A win for Napoli. There were also victories for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund's prized Englishmen, but neither was able to leave a lasting mark on proceedings.

Every Monday this season, GOAL has the definitive lowdown on British stars abroad, what they're getting up to, who is reaching the greatest heights and who appears to be suffering with homesickness. Let's get stuck into this week's edition… 

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  Kane takes backseat as Bayern leave it late

  Is it time to panic?! Harry Kane failed to find the back of the net for the second game in a row on Saturday as Bayern Munich ground out a dramatic 3-1 win over St Pauli in the Bundesliga. Kane played the full 90 minutes, but it was another subdued display from the England captain, who also failed to spark into life during Bayern's 3-1 Champions League defeat at Arsenal in midweek.

  Kane has scored only twice in his last seven games across those two competitions, well short of the standards he set earlier in the season. But the reality is, they were never going to be maintained across the campaign. Last term, Bayern suffered whenever Kane was slightly off his game, but the pressure on his shoulders is no longer so extreme. Natural dips in form are excusable because the Bundesliga leaders have more firepower elsewhere to hurt the opposition.

  Luis Diaz has been especially impressive during this quiet period for Kane. The former Liverpool winger is making a case for the title of best value signing of the summer, and notched two more goal involvements against St Pauli, taking his overall tally for the season to 18 in 19 appearances.

  St Pauli grabbed a surprise lead at Allianz Arena inside six minutes, and Bayern didn't find an equaliser until moments before the half-time whistle, when Diaz somehow produced a prodded assist for Raphael Guerreiro despite losing his footing in the box. The hosts laid siege to the St Pauli penalty area thereafter, but struggled to find a way through their stubborn rear-guard.

  A magical or superhuman moment was needed, and Diaz delivered in the third minute of stoppage time, busting a gut to get in behind enemy lines and head home a teasing Joshua Kimmich cross. Nicolas Jackson then added a third for good measure, but this was Diaz's night. Kane won't mind if the Colombian overshadows him as long as Bayern keep marching towards back-to-back Bundesliga successes, with Kompany's side now holding a healthy eight-point cushion over second-place RB Leipzig.

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  Alexander-Arnold still not convincing

  Real Madrid's impressive Clasico win over Barcelona on October 26 feels like a very long time ago. Los Blancos were five points clear at the top of La Liga after that result, but fast-forward just two months, and Barca have clawed their rivals back after reeling off four consecutive victories. 

  The reigning champions are now first by a point ahead of Madrid, who have drawn three in a row, with relegation-threatened Girona the latest team to inflict a damaging blow to the Xabi Alonso project. Los Blancos were made to pay for a dismal first-half showing at the Estadi Montilivi that saw them muster only one shot on target, with the hosts heading in at the break one up thanks to a lovely first-time finish from Azzedine Ounahi.

  Madrid improved in the second half, and secured a share of the spoils thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty, but on current form, they have little hope of dethroning Barca. One of Alonso's biggest concerns will be Trent Alexander-Arnold, who again failed to impose himself in attack and defence.

  The Liverpool academy graduate is enjoying an extended run in the team with Dani Carvajal out injured, but Real have looked far worse with the 27-year-old filling in at right-back. He was guilty of not tracking his man for Girona's goal, and almost gifted them another after misplacing a pass. 

  "It's his first year, and this adjustment period is normal," Alonso said when quizzed on Alexander-Arnold's poor form before the game. "He's also demanding of himself, and we have to support him through this significant change." But how long can Madrid afford to wait? The England international has to start proving his worth, or else Carvajal will instantly be reinstated to the starting XI when he returns to action in the New Year.

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  McTominay helps Napoli edge top-of-the-table clash

  November was a very mixed month for Napoli. The Serie A title holders opened with successive goalless draws against Como and Eintracht Frankfurt before losing 2-0 at Bologna, after which Antonio Conte sparked talk he may resign by declaring, "I don’t want to accompany a dead man".

  But Napoli have since come out fighting for their manager. A 3-1 win over Atalanta got them back on track domestically before they put Qarabag to the sword in the Champions League, which perfectly set up a meeting with Serie A leaders Roma on Sunday.

  As expected, it was a tight game at Stadio Olimpico with so much at stake. In the end, Napoli edged it courtesy of a superb goal from David Neres, who ran almost the entire length of the field to finish off a rapid counter-attack after good work from Rasmus Hojlund. 

  Usually, it's Scott McTominay who inspires Napoli in the biggest games, but the Scotland international didn't get the time or space to make a decisive impact in Rome. That is partly due to the fact he is being asked to play in a more withdrawn role as Conte deals with a mini-injury crisis and a change in formation.

  "Some said that McTominay is being sacrificed in this system, but in my view that is his role too, he is a box-to-box midfielder," the Italian coach said after the 1-0 win, which took Napoli back to second in the table, behind AC Milan on goal difference. "We couldn’t do anything else, as only [Eljif] Elmas is an alternative, and that’s not even his role. These lads are proving their enthusiasm, hunger and determination every day, it is what allowed us to win the Scudetto last season, something incredible."

  Indeed, McTominay's hunger shone through with his work off the ball. He posted four clearances and seven ball recoveries across the 90 minutes to help ensure Napoli kept Roma at bay. The former Manchester United midfielder always finds a way to lead by example, and Napoli will be there-or-thereabouts in the final title reckoning once again as long as he stays fit.

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  Jobe back to square one

  Borussia Dortmund have won six of their last nine matches across all competitions since losing to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker back in mid-October, and their latest triumph was undoubtedly their most important yet. It wasn't always pretty, but Niko Kovac's side leapfrogged Bayer Leverkusen into third in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Bay Arena on Saturday.

  Goals from Aaron Anselmino and Karim Adeyemi secured the three points as BVB gave up the lion's share of possession and hit Leverkusen on the break. The gritty, clinical performance pleased Kovac, who told reporters after the final whistle: "We played a really cool away game today. The team have shown that they can survive here as well. We made a lot of plans for this game. The team implemented them really well, and after this, hopefully the talk that we cannot win against big teams this season will stop."

  Unfortunately, though, Jobe Bellingham didn't really contribute to Dortmund's "cool game". The former Birmingham City wonderkid was restricted to a 10-minute cameo and managed only four touches, all of which came in his own half. 

  Bellingham seemed to have turned a corner after playing 90 minutes against Hamburg and Stuttgart, but it seems that Kovac still doesn't trust him in the most pivotal fixtures. He was also a late substitute in the 4-0 Champions League win over Villarreal last week, and it won't be a surprise if he's back on the bench when Dortmund face Leverkusen again in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday.

  There is growing speculation that Bellingham could seek a move away from Signal Iduna Park in January, with BVB reportedly open to a loan amid interest from Paris FC in Ligue 1. While that would be a backwards step, the 20-year-old needs regular football to rebuild his confidence; only then will he have any chance of emulating his brother Jude and break into the England senior set-up.

Newcastle United just cannot string together a consistent run of wins at the moment.

Indeed, Eddie Howe would have been hopeful that his side had turned over a new leaf when getting the better of Manchester City in Premier League action 2-1 last time out, but – again – home comforts clearly were in play, as the Toon have since succumbed to a 2-1 away defeat at Marseille in the Champions League.

On another night, however, Newcastle might well have walked away from the Orange Velodrome with another three points secured in Europe, with Harvey Barnes’ early opener suggesting that the Magpies would be successful on their travels.

Unfortunately for the away side, though, ex-Premier League goal machine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would have other ideas, as his quickfire second-half brace sealed the win for the Ligue 1 hosts.

While the former Arsenal striker was his instinctive self throughout, he was undoubtedly helped by Nick Pope dropping even more clangers in between the sticks.

Why Nick Pope has to finally be dropped

It’s now three away games on the spin where the ex-Burnley goalkeeper has looked ropey and unconvincing.

He gifted Marseille a route back into the even contest on Tuesday night when rushing out of his net, only for Aubameyang to utilise his pace to comfortably place an effort past Pope, who was stuck in no man’s land after the “inexplicable” error, as it was branded by the Athletic’s Chris Waugh.

The immediate inquest now centres on whether Howe should get rid of the 33-year-old or not, with Aaron Ramsdale certainly a capable replacement, having previously kept 32 clean sheets on the books of Arsenal.

Still, despite all the rampant criticism coming his ‘keeper’s way, Howe would publicly defend Pope at the full-time whistle, stating that he “certainly” backs him, having saved his side “many times” in the past.

Yet, even with this very public vote of confidence, Howe must be aware that his usually trusted number one is declining, with another well-established defensive presence for the Toon, who lined up against Marseille, now also fearful of his starting spot moving forward.

Howe must also bench another Newcastle hero

At this point in time, the 47-year-old could well find he’s on the chopping block sooner rather than later, if he doesn’t drop the likes of Pope, even if they have been regular fixtures of his reign so far.

Fabian Schar also falls into the category of a long-standing servant who likely isn’t the required standard of the first team anymore, even with 241 games under his belt at St James’ Park, and the label of being a “total one off” handed to him by his manager for what he provides for the club at his very best.

Minutes played

61

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

30

Accurate passes

13/16 (81%)

Possession lost

5x

Tackles won

0/0

Interceptions

1

Clearances

7

Blocked shots

0

Recoveries

1

Total duels won

0/3

Based on the table above, though, he is experiencing a swift decline akin to the Toon number one right now, with the Swiss international winning zero of his attempted duels, during his 61 minutes on the pitch.

On top of that, the ageing centre-back would only manage to complete 13 accurate passes all night long, with Aubameyang no doubt feeling even more confident in front of goal, knowing he had the shoddy duo of Schar and Pope to get the better of.

With only five Premier League starts next to his name this season, too, it’s clear that Schar is no longer a guaranteed first-teamer under his manager, with talk also centring on the ex-Deportivo defender being resigned to walking away from Tyneside when his contract expires next year.

As the new breed of Newcastle stars coming through in Malick Thiaw continue to shine, with the German completing 36 passes and winning four duels in France, it’s now very clear that the old guard at St James’ Park are rusty, and cannot be kept in the side long-term.

The obvious alteration to make is to drop Pope, after another “moment of madness” cost his side dear, as his rush out of the goal was branded by journalist Mark Douglas.

But, Schar isn’t above criticism, either, with both well-established Toon servants in very grave danger of dropping out of their manager’s XI for the upcoming away trip to Everton.

As bad as Pope: Howe must drop 4/10 Newcastle dud who made just 14 passes

Newcastle were defeated at Marseille in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 26, 2025

Afghanistan spinners Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have been handed a demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct during the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.Noor was found to have breached Article 2.8 which indicated “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match” while Mujeeb was charged with breaching Article 2.2, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.”Mujeeb had broken the stumps with his towel during the match. Noor had shown dissent in the 16th over of Sri Lanka’s innings when the umpire adjudged one of his deliveries to be a wide.On-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Virender Sharma, third umpire Faisal Afridi and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit levelled the charge. Both players admitted to their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, so there was no need for formal hearings.Afghanistan’s Asia Cup campaign came to an end after they lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets. Both Noor and Mujeeb picked up a wicket each in the game.

Rahul has not managed to convert his hundreds into big ones, with three of his last four tons ending at 100 or 101, though there’s no apparent weakness in his game

Karthik Krishnaswamy06-Oct-20252:05

Chopra: A chance for Rahul to ‘right the wrongs’

Exactly 100 at Lord’s, exactly 100 in Ahmedabad.An untimely and uncharacteristically loose drive against Shoaib Bashir, an untimely and uncharacteristically loose drive against Jomel Warrican.The Ahmedabad 100 lacked the other elements of cricketing tragedy and farce that characterised the Lord’s 100. KL Rahul was not involved in a partner getting run out. His dismissal did not change the complexion of the game.But it was the same number on the scorecard. 100. The same number of runs added to his career aggregate.Related

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Three of Rahul’s last four Test centuries have ended at 100 or 101. He was last man out when he made 101 at Centurion, so there’s no reason for anyone to hold that score against him. But if you’re among the growing band of well-wishers who wish his batting average would climb high enough to at least somewhat reflect his skill and Test-match accomplishments, the dismissals at Lord’s and Ahmedabad might have made you howl in anguish.And it may not just be one of those random things. Rahul has 11 Test hundreds now, and his average across those 11 innings – let’s call it his century average – is 128.54. It’s the worst century average of any of the 18 India batters who have scored at least ten Test hundreds. It’s the third-worst of the 146 batters, globally and across the full sweep of cricket’s history, to have scored ten Test hundreds.Hey, at least he isn’t as bad as Asad Shafiq and Tamim Iqbal in turning hundreds into big’uns.KL Rahul’s century against West Indies in the first Test was just his second at home•Associated PressThere are other factors that go into the century average – as an opener, Rahul will rarely score unbeaten hundreds – but nothing inflates that figure like big hundreds. That Rahul doesn’t have very many – he’s only crossed 150 twice, both times in 2016 – is one of the many reasons why he has a career average of 36.00 despite the many very good and great innings he has played all over the world. If you need reminding, he has six Test hundreds as an opener in Australia, England and South Africa – Sunil Gavaskar, with seven, is the only Asian opener with more – and another as a middle-order batter.There are, of course, other reasons for Rahul’s average being what it is and what it isn’t. He went through a horror run across 2018 and 2019, when his technique and judgment of his off stump fell apart, possibly because he was trying to be too many things – unshackled aggressor in T20s as well as Test opener in challenging conditions – at the same time. He has played much of his Test cricket in an era of bowler-friendly pitches, and he’s happened to miss Tests, for various reasons, just when India’s top order has flourished on flat pitches.Rahul was dropped, for example, after the 2019 tour of the West Indies. Over India’s next two series, against South Africa and Bangladesh at home, Rohit Sharma, opening for the first time in Test cricket, and Mayank Agarwal scored six hundreds, including three doubles, in five Tests.Rahul was next dropped in 2023, after a lean run that culminated with two Tests against Australia on dustbowls in Nagpur and Delhi. Shubman Gill replaced him for the next two Tests, on another dustbowl in Indore, followed by a highway in Ahmedabad where only 22 wickets fell over the five days of a dull draw. Gill made a hundred in that Test.Of course he did. Top Test batters have always filled their boots when given the chance to do so. That insatiable greed to maximise the good times is a thing Rahul hasn’t really shown through his career, as his century average suggests. Or as his average for 2025 so far suggests. He’s having an incredible year for all intents and purposes, and it’s brought him an average of 49.92.KL Rahul averages 49.92 in Tests this year•AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s vexing, because Rahul, for most of this year, has looked technically flawless, showing no sign of even a minor weakness that a bowler could hope to target. He’s gone hours and hours without being beaten by a ball that didn’t deserve to beat him. He’s been watchful, but he’s also been alert to scoring opportunities. And yet, 49.92. It’s the second-best year he’s had in Test cricket. His best year, 2016, brought him an average of 59.88.That sounds pretty good until you realise that Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara had three years each with 500-plus runs at 60-plus averages. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane did a 500-600 year once each. Rishabh Pant, Gill and Ravindra Jadeja – if their 2025 averages don’t drop below 60 – will have done it twice, once and once, respectively, by the end of the year.Rahul still has time to turn that 49.92 into something far more substantial and give the career needle a firm nudge in the direction of 40.The gap between Rahul’s numbers and the high ceiling he has demonstrated time and again makes his career one of the most fascinating of his time. But that gap also reflects the leap he hasn’t yet made, from batter of immense and proven quality to run-scorer of insatiable greed. Can he make that leap now, at 33?

Allrounder Shivam Dube has been pulled out of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy 2025-26 squad on the eve of their season opener against Jammu & Kashmir due to back stiffness. Dube flew home to Mumbai from Srinagar on Tuesday evening.The move is believed to be precautionary, given he’s also part of India’s T20I squad that is set to leave for Australia on October 23 for a five-match series.Dube had a prolific 2025 Asia Cup, where India captain Suryakumar Yadav regularly turned to him as a bowling option. In the final against Pakistan, he played a pivotal all-round role. Used as a new-ball option in Hardik Pandya’s absence, he bowled three tight overs for just 23 runs and later scored a crucial 22-ball 33 as India sealed a tense chase.While Dube will have to wait until after the Australia tour for a Ranji return, Mumbai will welcome back allrounder Musheer Khan, who missed the previous season due to a neck and collar-bone injury he suffered during a road accident.Also back from injury is older brother, Sarfaraz Khan, who was ruled out of contention for the just-completed Test series against West Indies due to a quadriceps injury.Mumbai will be captained by India allrounder Shardul Thakur, who takes over the mantle from Ajinkya Rahane, who is set to continue playing.Rahane has been training for the season from as early as July, when he said on a podcast that he’d even carried his trainers and kit to the UK – while on a media assignment during India’s Test tour – to be able to train for the upcoming season.Mumbai are in Group D alongside J&K, Hyderabad, Delhi, Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The opening round of the new season against J&K has been billed as a rematch of last season’s group fixture, which Mumbai lost by five wickets at the Bandra Kurla Complex grounds.

Very few players dig as deep as he does and over this India series and the Ashes coming up, he’ll need to

Sidharth Monga09-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes is an irrepressible presence•Getty Images

There are many compelling sights in our sport. Right up there is a batting team on the top, the conditions flat, the ball not doing anything at all for the other bowlers, and then Ben Stokes charging in and drawing life out of nowhere in a long spell.Stokes has the rare ability to take you along on the ride. You don’t need to be a cricket connoisseur to know something special is taking place in front of your eyes. You can almost feel the strain he puts himself through, the stretching of every sinew, the twisting away of the torso to create the unusual angle, the high pace eked out of a battered body, the unusualness he extracts from dead conditions, and the satisfaction of having achieved something when it hadn’t seemed possible.It is not magic. In this series, for example, Stokes has swung the ball more than any other fast bowler. His release is wider than most – only Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Tongue have gone wider in this series – and the swing creates problems coming from that angle.Related

• Death by a thousand cuts – how Stokes waited and baited Jaiswal

• Stokes' batting in focus as England count cost of Edgbaston errors

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When Stokes is nearing the top of his mark, it seems like he is dragging his feet and has no gas left. They hardly seem to leave the ground, and seem like they are being thrown forward by force. Then he picks up pace and leaves a piece of himself on the pitch. It is tempting to wonder how much better his numbers would have been had he just been a bowler.Every time you feel this must be it for him, he comes back for another over, against the wishes of the coaching staff as his workload needs to be managed. It just doesn’t seem possible for Stokes to have a measured go. Even at press conferences, he is not finishing a chore, but gives thoughtful answers. Despite all his injuries, only a small percentage of his spells is short. Among 27 fast bowlers who have bowled 100 or more spells since 2021, only James Anderson, Matt Henry, Kagiso Rabada and Ollie Robinson have bowled a lower percentage of spells of four overs or fewer.Ben Stokes has made 86 runs from four innings at an average of 21.50 in this series•Getty ImagesThis is also part of the reason why Stokes is rated highly as a captain. His tactics on the field can yo-yo between the astute and a random smokescreen, but he has the ability to drag his team-mates with him, much like Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff before him. He doesn’t take the new ball, still bowls long spells, and batted against nature just to get a buy-in into the style of play he and Brendon McCullum wanted England to adopt.Stokes batted at 57.07 per 100 balls before Bazball, and has gone at 66.83 since. At the start, he batted frantically just to drive the message home despite being the one batter in the line-up who was more at home playing traditionally. It is the fall in the batting average from 36.05 to 33 during Bazball era that is starting to hurt England. In matches that Stokes has played in the Bazball era, top seven batters have averaged 38.25 overall. Of course he could ease his own batting load a little by getting in a better batter than Zak Crawley, who averages only 31.79 on some of the flattest tracks of the last decade, but Stokes the captain is not one for half measures.In opting for this way of playing the game in the first place, Stokes has shown courage of conviction to go against the grain. Captains are known to design pitches to suit their bowlers to win matches; Stokes and McCullum saw a weakness in their batting and asked for surfaces that played to their strengths instead, asking batters to make up for it with quick scoring. It hasn’t turned them into world-beaters, and the surfaces haven’t all been the same, but it has improved the results.Stokes will continue to rouse us with those bowling spells and will keep inspiring his team, but eventually the game is won by runs and wickets. He is one of the players who can get away with some leeway because of the way he plays, but the next eight Tests that Stokes plays have the ability to overshadow even that reputation. Especially because it is quite plausible that Stokes retires at the end of the Ashes.A lot – disproportionately so – rides on the next eight Tests. Stokes could perhaps drop down a slot if he feels mentally spent. Jamie Smith has shown signs he can bat in the top six. Alternatively Stokes could perhaps reinforce the batting and drop Shoaib Bashir. A home series against India on the line and the Ashes at the end of the year, runs not coming, rest of the bowling struggling, a body to manage, this is going to be some ride that Stokes will surely take us along on.

As takeover talks continue, Sheffield Wednesday could reportedly get the chance to sign former Leeds United star Liam Cooper after holding fresh talks with the EFL.

Things are looking up for the Owls. Even as Norwich City rescued a point, there was a greater sense of positivity at Hillsborough than there has been in recent months. With controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri gone, they’ve been able to look towards a future which could involve an owner who has the club’s interests at heart.

Related BBC reporter shares latest £50m step that 3 Sheffield Wednesday candidates have just taken

Things are looking up for the Owls.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Oct 31, 2025

To that end, the likes of John McEvoy and other unnamed American parties have been mentioned as potential options in the last two weeks, with the amount of interest in the club coming as a positive surprise for co-administrator Kris Wigfield. In a statement, the Begbies managing partner praised fans for their support since arriving.

There could also be more positive steps to come. Wigfield told reporters that the administrators are in talks with the EFL over an alleviation of recruitment restrictions, which would allow the Owls to welcome some much-needed reinforcements.

Given that they currently sit on -4 points and with an impossible task ahead of them if they want to survive, any chance to recruit would be welcomed by everyone at Sheffield Wednesday. It could even open the door for a former Leeds star.

Sheffield Wednesday eyeing Liam Cooper move

According to The Star’s Alex Miller, Sheffield Wednesday are now eyeing a move to sign Liam Cooper after holding talks with the EFL in the hope of seeing their restrictions lifted. The former Leeds United defender has been out of a club since leaving CSKA Sofia in the summer, but could now get the chance to return to the Championship courtesy of the Owls.

It’s a move that he needs just as much as Sheffield Wednesday. At 34 years old, Cooper is not yet retired and could yet bow out back in English football. Having spent 10 years at Leeds in both the Championship and the Premier League, his experience would prove vital to the Owls whether they’re in the second tier or in League One next season.

After he played his final game for Leeds, manager Daniel Farke was full of praise for Cooper – telling reporters: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to be allowed to be his manager for the last 12 months.

“I’ve also played several times against him, also in his prime. So what can I say? A fantastic footballer, a fantastic human being, an unbelievable person. He’s a real club legend.”

John Textor makes Sheffield Wednesday contact

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that an injured Spurs star won’t be back in action for a ‘long time’, with the Dane currently minus a few key first-team players.

Tottenham battle Slavia Prague in the Champions League

Spurs welcome Slavia Prague to North London tonight seeking to reignite their automatic Champions League knockout round hopes with a victory that would edge them closer to securing a coveted top-eight finish.

Frank’s side need all three points against the struggling Czech outfit to maintain momentum after Saturday’s morale-boosting 2-0 win over Brentford ended their miserable six-match winless streak.

The Lilywhites currently sit 16th in the Champions League standings with eight points from five matches, sitting just two points behind the automatic qualification places.

Saturday’s Premier League victory will give Spurs more confidence following the chaotic 5-3 defeat to PSG in their previous European outing, with Richarlison and Xavi Simons securing all three points against Frank’s former employers last weekend.

Despite their lacklustre home form overall this year, the hosts actually boast a formidable home record in European competition, remaining unbeaten in 22 consecutive European games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Spurs have won both their Champions League home matches this campaign without conceding, defeating Villarreal and FC Copenhagen.

History also favours Frank’s side, having never lost to Slavia Prague in four previous European meetings, recording three victories and one draw.

Slavia arrive in desperate circumstances, languishing in 31st with just three points from five matches and facing the genuine prospect of early elimination.

The Czech champions have endured a torrid European campaign, failing to register a single victory while remarkably going four consecutive Champions League fixtures without scoring.

Their attacking struggles represent their most significant weakness, with just two goals across the entire league phase.

Despite domestic dominance — sitting five points clear atop the Czech First League following Friday’s 2-1 victory over Teplice — Jindrich Trpisovsky’s side have repeatedly failed to translate that form onto the continental stage.

Their 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal highlighted the gulf in quality when facing elite opposition, while goalless draws against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao demonstrated defensive resilience without much threat going forward.

Frank faces several selection concerns heading into the clash, though.

Destiny Udogie is sidelined with a hamstring injury which will keep him out until January, while Randal Kolo Muani is doubtful after limping through Saturday’s victory.

Brennan Johnson is also ‘touch and go’ for the encounter, according to Frank, but one significant positive looked to have emerged from Monday’s training session.

James Maddison was spotted working on the grass for the first time since rupturing his ACL during August’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle, with Frank providing an update on the Englishman.

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Regrettably, while the £170,000-per-week playmaker sparked excitement when he was clocked in training, Frank has confirmed in quotes relayed by The Press Association, that Maddison still won’t be back for a ‘long time’.

The 29-year-old, who bagged 22 goals contributions in all competitions last term (12 goals, 11 assists), has been a sore miss for Spurs as they heavily rely on the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Simons for their creativity.

Simons’ phenomenal solo run and goal against Brentford will have done the Dutchman a world of good for his confidence following real criticism since his marquee move from Leipzig in the summer.

The pressure is on him to deliver in the ongoing absence of both Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, with Frank also remaining vague about the latter’s recovery timeline.

After Slavia, Tottenham travel to struggling Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and only a win will do there too.

NZ have lost all their last 15 completed ODIs against Australia, but captain Devine believes this stat doesn’t matter in a World Cup

Vishal Dikshit30-Sep-20253:02

Devine: ‘The wicket looks incredibly flat’

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine started her media assignments for the 2025 World Cup just like how she wants her side to play their opening game against Australia on Wednesday: with a hiss and a roar.She waltzed into the press conference room donning a White Ferns jumper in the freezing air-conditioned room. She had brought some warmth with her, it would seem. Except when she started to face some hard-hitting questions.”You haven’t beaten Australia in eight years,” she was coldly reminded straightaway of their record against the reigning champions. New Zealand have lost all their last 15 completed ODIs against Australia.Related

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“Thanks for that stat,” she retorted before quashing away such historical records. “I think it’s a great opportunity. Those stats are there and we’re aware of them, but at World Cups, it doesn’t matter. I think records and previous results go out the window for us. It’s a really exciting opportunity to take on the reigning one-day champions first up. We love any opportunity that we get to play against Australia. It’s sort of like our big sister. We’re really excited about that. And come game day, both teams start on zero. So, again, really excited for the opportunity.”Another journalist then asked something that stumped her again. “How does it feel to come out of retirement to lead your country again?” (She hadn’t, she is retire from ODIs after this World Cup).As if Devine knew that was coming, she shot back saying, “I haven’t retired. I haven’t retired,” she repeated to sear it into his memory. “Are you saying I need to retire? Is that what you’re saying? That’s okay. It’s okay.”Devine meant it all in jest though and normalcy soon resumed even when she was asked about the weaknesses in New Zealand’s middle order, which she didn’t quite agree with.Sophie Devine wants New Zealand to play ‘strong and aggressive’ at the World Cup•AFP/Getty Images”…The middle order has been going considerably well,” she said. “Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze both scoring hundreds [in the warm-ups]. I know you’re probably talking about official one-day matches, but for us, we’ve built really nicely. We haven’t played a lot of cricket, especially one-day format, over the last six-nine months, but it’s certainly something that we’re aware of. We know that in this competition, especially on some of the wickets that we’re going to face over here in India, that run-scoring is going to be incredibly important. It’s up to everyone.”We can’t just rely on the top four, we need the middle order. There’s going to be crucial runs scored by the lower order as well at some stage during this tournament. I think if you look to the India-Australia series just before this, 400 nearly wasn’t enough. I think it’s really exciting. As batters, we certainly know that we want to take ownership and responsibility of being the ones that do the bulk of the work. We’re really excited to be able to play on wickets like this, which I think are really conducive for scoring runs.”New Zealand have the most unenviable task in this World Cup: starting their campaign against seven-time champions Australia. But even a win over them would not count for more than two points because each team plays seven league games and will need a consistent run of victories to make the semi-finals in the eight-team tournament.”I don’t think we can necessarily focus on one game,” she said about the clash on Wednesday. “I think for us, every match is going to be incredibly important. Absolutely, we want to start this tournament with a real hiss and a roar and make sure that we come out really strong and aggressive. And the fact that it’s Australia that we play first, I think for us, what we keep going back to is making sure that we play our style of cricket. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against.2:02

McGrath on playing NZ: ‘We know each other’s game really well’

“Absolutely, everyone wants to win their first game, but there’s still a lot of cricket. It’s over a month of cricket to be played. For us, our focus is on making sure that we can execute to our skills for long periods of time. Absolutely. We want to beat these Aussies first up and get some points on the board, but it’s probably more important for us on how we play that game.”If New Zealand look at their trans-Tasman rivals as their “big sister,” their opponents also look at it as a not-so-intense rivalry.”We’ve got a really nice rivalry with New Zealand. We call it the friendly rivalry,” Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath said. “We’ve played each other a lot over the last 12 months and sort of know each other’s game really well through franchise cricket as well. And we just finished our prep meeting and think we match up really nicely. So we go ahead into this clash really, really confident and really excited.”McGrath agreed with Devine in saying that such records of a 15-0 streak in ODIs between the two teams became “irrelevant” in World Cups where the pressure is different and every game becomes “crucial.”But there’s no denying that the team that ends up winning by the end of Wednesday night will have its job of making it to the last four much easier.