Darwin Nunez scored a first-half hat-trick as Liverpool put Stoke to the sword in a 5-0 pre-season victory at Kirkby as Florian Wirtz made his debut.

Nunez hits hat-trick against StokeWirtz makes highly anticipated debutChiesa and 16-year-old Ngumoha also scoreFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As reported by The Athletic, the Uruguayan struck a quick-fire treble against the Championship side, playing in a front three which included Mohamed Salah and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha. British record £116m signing Wirtz started behind them wearing the Red of Liverpool for the first time. A goal from teenage sensation Ngumoha saw Arne Slot's side race into a 4-0 half-time lead, before 10 changes were made at the break and substitute Federico Chiesa added a fifth goal.

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Nunez has been the subject of much transfer talk throughout the summer, but he has now scored four goals in just two halves of football in pre-season so far. He paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota with his celebration after a goal against Preston North End last week. Liverpool are reportedly set to bring in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, so the Uruguayan's future at Anfield remains up in the air.

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool will soon head off for their pre-season tour of Asia, which begins with a fixture against AC Milan at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium. A clash against J1 League side Yokohama F Marinos then follows in Tokyo, in the Reds' first trip to Japan in 20 years since they lost to Sao Paolo in the Club World Championship final.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NUNEZ AND LIVERPOOL?

Whether or not Nunez remains at Anfield come their opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on August 15 remains to be seen. The Reds have a tough challenge on their hands in defending their league title, but their transfer business this summer has shown the club's ambition to create a new dynasty.

Real Betis are considering walking away from a deal to sign Manchester United outcast Antony on a permanent deal with the club still unable to find a breakthrough in negotiations for the winger.

• Betis keen to retain Antony
• Must find compromise with Man Utd
• Will walk away if no breakthrough

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a successful loan spell in Spain last season, Real Betis are keen to sign Antony permanently, but are struggling to find a breakthrough in negotiations with Manchester United. As a result, the La Liga side are now threatening to walk away from a potential deal.

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  Antony is part of the club's 'bomb squad' left behind from the pre-season tour to find transfers away this summer. But after raising their asking price to £30million, Betis are becoming frustrated with the situation and have threatened to move on to other targets if United refuse to lower their valuation of the Brazilian.

• WHAT HARO SAID

  Speaking on the situation, Betis president Angel Haro said: "From an economic standpoint, it has to fit within our parameters. A purchase depends on United’s price.

  "A loan rather than a purchase is more feasible, given what Manchester wants to ask for. We’re assuming, and Betis is making efforts, that he can arrive, but if he doesn’t, I don’t want it to be seen as a failure. It’s difficult to bring in a player of this quality and such a high financial compensation."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

  The ex-Ajax star would reportedly be keen on a move back to Betis, but Atletico Madrid are rivalling the club for his signature. A move to Spain looks on the cards for Antony, one way or the other.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has indicated that uncapped quick William O’Rourke has “a good chance” to make his Test debut on Tuesday, when they host South Africa for the second Test in Hamilton.In the opening Test in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand fielded a three-man pace attack instead of their usual four, featuring Southee, Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson. With Hamilton expected to offer a little bit more pace and bounce, and seam-bowling all-round option Daryl Mitchell ruled out, it will be a toss-up between Neil Wagner and O’Rourke for the fourth quick’s spot.”There’s a good chance, he’s in the 13,” Southee said of O’Rourke. “Neil’s been around the group as well and been a great performer for us for a long period of time.”It’s great to have those decisions to be made. Will’s an exciting talent and has had a little taste of international cricket, and I’m sure he has a bright future in the highest level as well.”Related

• Mitchell ruled out of second South Africa Test and Australia T20Is

O’Rourke made his international debut during the home ODI series against Bangladesh last December. He picked up five wickets in three matches. Southee said that at 6’4, O’Rourke is a “big and tall guy” very much like Jamieson.”His strengths are obviously his height and ability to extract bounce,” Southee said. “Being a big, tall guy he’s not too dissimilar to KJ [Jamieson]. He’s got skills with the ball as well. He’s got the tools to be a very good bowler and someone who I’m sure will thrive at this level.””Will’s probably played a bit more cricket than I had [at his age],” he added. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders.Will O’Rourke has the ability to generate steep bounce•Getty Images

“He’s a pretty mature guy from what I’ve seen of him. He’s had a little taste already, so he knows what to expect, but you just enjoy it and stick to what you’ve done that has got you here.”Wagner played his previous Test almost a year ago, in Christchurch against Sri Lanka. The 37-year-old has featured in 63 Tests and taken 258 wickets.”It’s not just Neil, it’s any guy who misses out, it’s not a nice place to be,” Southee said. “You want to be out there, representing your country, but the reality is it’s professional sport, and there’s only 11 guys that can go out and play the game.”Usually, [coach] Gary [Stead] will break the news and then I’ll follow up with a bit of chat as well. It’s not the nicest part of the job, but the guys are pretty understanding.”That apart, Southee also confirmed that Will Young will start in place of Mitchell, who is recovering from a longstanding foot injury. Young has played 13 Tests and scored 582 runs, including six half-centuries.”We will have another look tomorrow, but with Daryl Mitchell not being here, Will Young will slip into the middle order. We’ll decide on the final make-up of the bowling attack in the morning, after one final look at the wicket.”You look at the balance you need across the five days and make a decision according to that.”New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0, after beating South Africa by 281 runs in the opener.

The allrounder tweaked his back during against West Indies and will miss the final series before the World Cup

Alex Malcolm17-Feb-2024

Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out of Australia’s three-match T20I series in New Zealand due to a back issue with fellow West Australian allrounder Aaron Hardie called in for Australia’s last series before the T20 World Cup in June.Australia vice-captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is also set to miss game one of the series on Wednesday in Wellington due to the impending birth of his third child but is expected to be available for the final two games in Auckland on Friday and Sunday.Stoinis tweaked his back in the warm-up of the second T20I against West Indies in Adelaide last Sunday but was still able to play. He made 16 off 15 with the bat but played a role in feeding the strike to Glenn Maxwell in an 80-run stand before picking up 3 for 36 to continue his excellent bowling form.Related

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But after the long flight to Perth, he missed Tuesday’s third match against West Indies and has subsequently been ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand having not fully resolved the back complaint. Stoinis is expected to be fit for the IPL which begins in late March.Hardie is currently playing for Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart and did not travel with the squad on Saturday but will join the squad before the opening match.Stoinis remains a key figure in Australia’s T20I set-up despite losing his place in the ODI side for the World Cup semi and final last year. He was one of Australia’s most important players in the T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, playing match-winning hands against South Africa and then Pakistan in the semi-final. He also made a stunning half-century against Sri Lanka in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. His bowling has been important for Australia as well, having become a key wicket-taker over the past year in both the powerplay and middle overs.But his injury issues remain a concern for both he and Australia’s hierarchy. Australia have been reluctant to bowl him in back-to-back games due to his history and he missed games in the lead-up to and during the ODI World Cup because of several different soft tissue injuries.Australia’s other allrounders also have their bespoke injury concerns with captain Mitchell Marsh’s ankle requiring ongoing management as does Maxwell’s previously broken leg.Spin bowling allrounder Matthew Short also has an injury cloud heading to New Zealand after suffering a low-grade hamstring injury in the ODI series against West Indies which forced him to miss the T20Is.Hardie gets his chance to put forth a case for the T20 World Cup as a back-up allrounder who can bat in the middle-order if Stoinis has more injury trouble at the tournament proper. Cameron Green was not considered to be called into the New Zealand series with Australia’s selectors preferring him to remain red-ball focussed ahead of the New Zealand Test tour. Green will then play a full IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore to push his case for the World Cup squad.Fast bowler Nathan Ellis returns from a rib injury and looms as Australia’s preferred back-up quick behind Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who will all play in the New Zealand series.Sean Abbott and Jason Behrendorff are on standby for the New Zealand series although Abbott is still managing a shoulder issue that ruled him out of the final two T20Is against West Indies.Steven Smith and Travis Head both return to the T20 side for the New Zealand tour after resting from the West Indies series and look likely to be given several opportunities each in the top three as Australia tries to bed down their best side for the World Cup.

Ruben Amorim has unveiled Manchester United’s new "leadership group", with five senior stars included in that alongside captain Bruno Fernandes.

Portuguese midfielder remains talismanic captainMaguire & Martinez among those in leadership groupAmorim confident he has full support of his playersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils lost their way somewhat in 2024-25, stumbling to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League and defeat in the Europa League final. Something clearly had to be done in order to get a fallen giant back on its feet.

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Portuguese coach Amorim, despite early struggles at Old Trafford, is convinced that he remains the right man to deliver a reversal in fortune. He does, however, need everybody to pull in the same direction.

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Fernandes is the man charged with the task of leading by example on the field, as he fills the skipper’s armband, but he will be ably assisted by a group of team-mates that now includes Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui. Amorim has told that they are in charge of "small things" in the dressing room.

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Getty Images SportWHAT AMORIM SAID

United boss Amorim went on to say of rebuilding the Red Devils: "Sometimes, when you are losing, you might think let's change the standards a little bit for them [the players] to be with me. I didn't – and they saw it. Now they understand when I say something, I will do it.

"I don't treat the players as babies. But they have rules now and that can change the way you train. I'm always on top. If you don't train in the right way, I have footage to show you. And I show you in front of everybody."

Amorim is convinced that he boasts the full support of his players and a demanding board at Old Trafford, adding on the challenges that he has faced: "Try to remember one team, one big team that lost so many games and the manager kept their job. You will not find it. That shows more than words that they support me."

Alana King helped herself to a career-best haul after a rain delay as the home side produced a strong performance

Andrew McGlashan10-Feb-2024Standout performances from Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath enabled Australia to recover their composure after the heavy defeat three days ago to secure the ODI series in convincing style. It means they are 8-4 ahead in the multi-format contest leading into the Test match, and can’t be overtaken.Mooney anchored Australia’s innings with an unbeaten 82 off 91 balls without ever finding top gear after Alyssa Healy had struck a crisp half-century. South Africa kept themselves in the game by removing McGrath and Ash Gardner in quick succession, but Annabel Sutherland and Alana King played handy innings down the order alongside Mooney.McGrath and Kim Garth then did the significant damage with the ball. Garth’s swing accounted for Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, while McGrath had Tazmin Brits and the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp both held in the deep in the space of four balls.Beth Mooney was unstoppable and finished 82 not out•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesRain interrupted South Africa’s chase after 14 overs and for a while looked like it may not relent to allow the game to be completed, but it resumed as a 31-over contest. South Africa immediately needed ten an over, which proved way beyond them and wickets fell in a rush including three in an over for King, who was a whisker away from a hat-trick.South Africa had made an encouraging start after Healy won another toss. Phoebe Litchfield’s lean series continued when she found cover, and after seven overs Australia had been held to 21 for 1 with Kapp producing an opening spell of 4-2-5-0.But Healy, who was given a life on 27 when a very tough chance was spilled at deep square-leg, started to increase the tempo alongside Ellyse Perry as the pair added 82 for the second wicket. Masabata Klaas produced a brilliant inswinger to remove Perry, and after passing fifty from 61 balls, Healy somewhat carelessly flicked to deep square-leg.Mooney, who took 13 balls to get off the mark, and McGrath built another important stand, although progress was often hard work. McGrath broke the shackles with five consecutive boundaries off Ayanda Hlubi but was beaten by one that skidded through from Chloe Tryon in the next over. Gardner was then pinned lbw by Kapp to leave Australia 187 for 5 in the 37th over.Alana King knocked her stumps over while hitting a waist-high no-ball for six, and then hit the free hit for six as well•Getty ImagesMooney brought up her fifty from 71 balls and would go on to add 32 from her next 20 deliveries as Australia accelerated in the final ten overs. A brace of superb catches – one by Wolvaardt at cover and another by Nadine de Klerk in her follow through – dented Australia’s ambitions a little, but their total was given a boost when 13 runs effectively came from one delivery. King swung a huge full toss from Klaas for six (demolishing her stumps in the process) and then dispatched the free hit as well.Wolvaardt has not managed to get going in the ODIs and soon edged Garth to first slip. At the other end, Darcie Brown, who replaced a rested Megan Schutt, was bowling with good pace and struck Brits a nasty blow on the wrist.Brits fought through the pain before finding deep midwicket and South Africa’s best hope then vanished when Kapp, who had been so inspirational in the second game, helped McGrath into the hands of deep-backward square-leg.Either side of the rain delay, de Klerk and Sune Luus added 50 but Australia had plenty of breathing space.

Rasmus Hojlund has made it clear to Manchester United officials that he has no intention of leaving Old Trafford for RB Leipzig, according to reports from talkSPORT. Despite interest from the Bundesliga club, the Danish striker has informed the Red Devils that a move to Germany is not on his agenda.

• Man Utd eager to offload Hojlund
• Was tipped to join Leipzig
• The Dane has no interest in the transfer  

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leipzig had been exploring the possibility of signing Hojlund, potentially as part of a deal that would see United bring Benjamin Sesko to the Premier League. However, the 21-year-old Dane’s refusal to consider the switch could complicate United's efforts to land the Slovenian frontman.  

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  A delegation from United was reportedly sent to Germany earlier this week to open discussions with RB Leipzig regarding Sesko. The striker had also attracted strong interest from Arsenal earlier in the window. However, the Gunners backed away after Leipzig stood firm on their valuation, which exceeded €80 million (£70m/$93m). 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Newcastle United have also entered the chase for Sesko and have reportedly tabled an offer of €75 million (£65m/$87m), with an additional €5m (£4.3 million) in potential bonuses. Despite the significant bid, it is understood that Sesko would prefer a move to Old Trafford over a switch to St James' Park. This preference could tilt the negotiation in United's favour, especially if they can reach a compromise on Leipzig’s asking price. Sources suggest that both clubs are hopeful that a deal could be struck closer to the €70m (£61m/$81m) mark. 

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  WHAT NEXT?

  One of the proposals floated to facilitate the transfer was to offer Hojlund in exchange for Sesko, either as a direct swap or part of a package deal. This option was seen as a potential solution to help United manage their financial constraints under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).    

  By offloading Hojlund and acquiring Sesko in return, United could theoretically balance the books and strengthen their squad at the same time. But with Hojlund now firmly opposing any move away from Manchester, the feasibility of that arrangement has been thrown into doubt.

Jason Roy has revealed that he opted out of the ongoing IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to put his “mindset and body” first.Roy had joined KKR in 2023 for INR 2.8 crore (US$341,000 approx.) as an injury replacement. After scoring 285 runs at an average of 35.62 and strike rate of 151.59, he was due to return this season until he pulled out at the start of March citing personal reasons. He was subsequently replaced by England and Lancashire batter Phil Salt.It has been a challenging 18 months for Roy. Having missed out on selection for England’s T20 World Cup squad in 2022, he endured the same fate last October when he did not make the squad for the defence of the 50-over title he was integral to in 2019. He also went undrafted for this year’s Hundred following his release from 2023 champions Oval Invincibles. Last May, Roy had terminated his ECB incremental contract to play the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC).After finishing the year in the T10 for Chennai Braves, Roy started 2024 in the SA20 for Durban’s Super Giants before playing two ILT20 games for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Five days later, he embarked on a ten-match stint with Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.Speaking on the latest podcast, Roy explained that a taxing second half of the winter and a desire to spend quality time at home with his family led to the decision to sit out this edition of the IPL.”Missing this year’s IPL was a huge decision, I think,” Roy said. “KKR put so much trust in me by retaining me after a decent year last year and being available for them throughout the year and all the other competitions, you know, I felt like I owe them a huge amount. It was a very big decision, but a decision I came to just because it was my daughter’s fifth birthday as soon as our first game was, there were a few things going on, I was quite tired after the start of my year.”I’ve come off the back of not a huge amount of cricket, so the last couple of months have really taken it out of me. And so I was very honest to KKR and we’ve got a fantastic relationship, so we were able to come to an agreement and stuff like that on why I wasn’t coming. They completely understood so I’m very grateful to them for that. But I just had to put myself first, you know, just mindset and body.”Roy’s withdrawal was also informed by a period two years ago in which he found himself “in a dark place”, which resulted in him taking an indefinite break from the game and missing IPL 2022 with Gujarat Titans. It was around this time – in March of that year – that the 33-year-old was reprimanded by the ECB for “conducting himself in a manner which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the game of cricket, the ECB and himself into disrepute”. Roy, who admitted to the charge, was fined £2,500 and handed a suspended two-match ban.Jason Roy wasn’t selected by England for the defence of the 50-over title he was integral to in 2019•Getty Images

“A couple of years ago, I went through an extremely bad patch with my mindset,” he said. “With my mental health and stuff, and I pulled out of the IPL when I was signed with Gujarat, and you know that was for a completely different reason. That was because I was in a dark place, I was in a shocking headspace, and it was sort of my own doing.”I kind of said to myself, ‘I’m okay, I’m okay’, and I kept going, and I kept playing, and I stayed away from home. And you know, I ended up just shooting myself in the foot. This year and from that point, I basically said to myself, I’m just going to listen to my head, listen to my heart and figure it out from there on in.”That was a huge learning curve for me, to be able to make decisions like I have this year, you know, and it can look a certain way. But it’s nothing to do with anyone else, it’s absolutely nothing to do with anyone else.”It’s your decision – I’ve got a young family, I’m a grown man and I’ve made the decision off the back of a lot of thoughts. I’ve not just woken up one morning and thought, ‘You know what – I actually don’t feel like getting on that flight to India’. A lot of thought has gone into it, and yeah, it’s become far easier to talk about and a far easier decision, just because you know, especially from past experiences, what that can do to you.”

سخر محمد صلاح، نجم نادي ليفربول، من أحد لاعبي آرسنال بشكل طريف، وذلك خلال حفل رابطة اللاعبين المحترفين الإنجليزيين والتي أقيمت يوم أمس الثلاثاء.

وتوج محمد صلاح بجائزة أفضل لاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث تمنح الجائزة من قبل رابطة اللاعبين المحترفين بالفعل.

اقرأ أيضًا .. محمد صلاح يكتب التاريخ ويعادل رونالدو بعد التتويج بجائزة لاعب الموسم في الدوري الإنجليزي

وضحك محمد صلاح بالضحك على نجم آرسنال ديكلان رايس، وذلك بعدما تحدث الأخير عقب اختياره في تشكيلة الموسم بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز عن موسم 2025.

وتحدث رايس عن تنافس آرسنال عن الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز وذكر أن الجانرز احتل المركز الثاني في المسابقة المحلية لثلاث سنوات متتالية.

وقوبلت تصريحات رايس بابتسامة من محمد صلاح الذي نظر إلى زميله في ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، ليضحك الثنائي في موقف كوميدي بعض الشيء.

mo immediately looking at virg when rice said they’ve come 2nd three years in a row 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/acwIV5RbHZ — ً (@salahive) August 19, 2025

آرسنال تنافس بقوة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز طوال السنوات الثلاث الماضية، حيث كان قريبًا من الحصول على لقب المسابقة المحلية في أكثر من مناسبة دون النجاح في تحقيقها في نهاية المطاف.

وحقق آرسنال وصافة الدوري الإنجليزي موسم 2022/23 خلف مانشستر سيتي، وهو ما تكرر الموسم التالي 2023/24، في حين كان في المركز الثاني خلف ليفربول الموسم الماضي 2024/25.

وبدأ ليفربول موسمه بشكل جيد وحقق الانتصار على بورنموث بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين على ملعب أنفيلد، في حين عاد آرسنال بانتصار ثمين من ملعب أولد ترافورد، عقب فوزه على مانشستر يونايتد بهدف دون رد.

MatériaMais Notícias

Pelé, o Rei do Futebol, morreu nesta quinta-feira, 29 de dezembro, de 2022, mas o seu legado será eterno e começou a ser construído no dia 7 de setembro de 1956. Na ocasião, o então menino de 15 anos, ainda chamado de Gasolina, marcou o primeiro dos1.282 gols de sua carreira. O adversário foi o Corinthians de Santo André e a primeira vítima, foi o goleiro Zaluar. A partida terminou 7 a 1 para o Peixe.

+Morre Pelé, Rei do Futebol e tricampeão do mundo, aos 82 anos

O primeiro gol de Pelé foi marcado no Estádio Américo Guazzelli, mas o local não existe mais porque foi demolido. O Rei iniciou a partida no banco de reservas, mas entrou na segunda etapa no lugar de Del Vecchio para marcar o sexto gol da goleada.

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