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India are more comfortable with chaos than the hosts, but they have a highly skilled batting line-up to contend with this time

Ian Chappell25-Oct-2020After much haggling Cricket Australia has finally cobbled together a schedule for the summer series against India. However, there are still lingering doubts over an MCG Test and the BCCI is yet to sign off on a proposed schedule that has the appearance of a first draft.In these weird pandemic times there is a heightened sense of chaos surrounding the upcoming tour. Which brings to mind the words of respected Indian broadcaster Harsha Bhogle: “Indians can navigate through chaos and thrive in it, while it unsettles Australians.”Harsha issued this warning in January 2008, following the Monkeygate drama and a devastating Indian loss at the SCG. The implication was that Australia had played into their opponents’ hands. What followed was the most unlikely of Indian victories at the pace-friendly WACA ground in Perth.On Harsha’s reading of the two rivals, Australia should be wary of the upcoming series with the probability of sudden last-minute disruption. In fact, uncertainty over the schedule at this late stage of preparations is reminiscent of what visiting teams have to contend with in the lead-up to an Indian tour. In other words, India will be right at home in this chaotic atmosphere.ALSO READ: India tour of Australia gets government green light; Sydney, Canberra to host white-ball legHowever, they shouldn’t rely totally on uncertainty to ensure they replicate the feat they pulled off last time, of a series victory. Australia possess a highly skilled pace attack ideally suited to home conditions. And this time round they won’t be missing the valuable services of Steve Smith and David Warner, and the batting has been further bolstered by the meteoric rise of Marnus Labuschagne. Even a diluted Australia were no pushovers last time – they won the Perth Test – and on paper at least, they are a far stronger combination this time.India’s chances for a repeat series victory will depend to a degree on Virat Kohli’s ability to take charge against the Australian pacemen and set an example for the other batsmen. On the last tour it was Cheteshwar Pujara who stubbornly resisted the Australians, eventually wearing them down so other Indian batsmen could prosper.In the intervening period India have blooded a number of fine young batsmen who have showcased their talents in different forms of the game. There will be no shortage of competent players for the Indian selectors to choose from.Nevertheless, key to another Indian success will be how quickly the less experienced batsmen adapt to the vastly different conditions in Australia. Producing worthwhile totals, especially in the first innings, is an important part of competing down under.The other half of the equation is producing a bowling attack capable of claiming 20 wickets on what, at times, can be soul-destroying pitches. On the last tour the Indian fast bowlers performed at a level above and beyond in achieving this feat. The challenge this time will be to replicate that performance with a similar attack but against a vastly improved Australian batting line-up.Recent battles between these two teams have provided riveting entertainment. They are currently the top two teams in the World Test championship and this aspect will add a further edge to the rivalry. For either team, a series loss to the other will be damaging to their prospects with the final of the World Test championship in June 2021.Adding to the intrigue, the border restrictions and isolation regulations brought about by the pandemic mean that the impregnable Gabba is not now the first but the last Test match. This will add to Australia’s frustration, especially as Adelaide – a venue better suited to India’s skill sets – is now slated for the opening Test.On the last tour India started with a victory in Adelaide but Australia will be slightly appeased by the knowledge that this time it will be a day-night Test, which will favour the home side.In light of the surrounding unpredictability it’ll be fascinating to see if the kings of chaos prevail.

The San Diego Padres made a huge move at the MLB trade deadline on Thursday, acquiring closer Mason Miller and southpaw starter JP Sears. It's a good pair of additions for the 60-49 Padres—but the cost they paid was enormous.

To land those two deadline targets San Diego gave up a huge haul of four prospects. Most shockingly, that haul is headlined by shortstop Leodalis De Vries, considered one of the best prospects in baseball and listed at No. 3 overall in the latest pipeline rankings. De Vries had been mentioned as a prospect potentially on the move in the lead-up to the deadline, but his inclusion in the deal for Miller and Spears was still a big surprise.

Miller, 26, has posted a 3.76 ERA and recorded 59 strikeouts in 38.1 innings so far this season. Sears has gone 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 starts.

The lengths the Padres were willing to go to get their guy left the MLB world reeling.

Liverpool could reportedly ask former manager Jurgen Klopp to make a sensational return to Anfield if they sack Arne Slot. The Dutchman replaced the 58-year-old in 2024 and led them to Premier League title success in his first season in charge. But amid a wretched run of form, Klopp has emerged as a candidate if Merseyside chiefs lose patience with his successor.

Slot under huge pressure

With Liverpool's heavy 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday, they have now lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions – a 71-year low. The former Feyenoord manager said that with the players they have, which include spending more than £400 million ($528m) on transfers this summer, this run "cannot continue". However, club legend Jamie Carragher thinks Slot may have just a week to save his job, with the former defender saying the games against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds United over the next week or so will decide his fate.

He wrote in The Telegraph: "Arne Slot has a week to save his job. It is hard to believe that sentence is being written, but Liverpool’s next three games are against West Ham United, Sunderland and Leeds United. Anything fewer than seven points will make an already unacceptable situation untenable. No matter how much goodwill the manager has, Liverpool Football Club cannot sustain the drop in standards witnessed over the past three months. No one knows better than me how much that reality will be hurting everyone connected with my old club. Liverpool do not willingly sack coaches, especially those that bring great success."

AdvertisementGetty/VoetbalzoneKlopp to make Liverpool return?

According to The Sun, Liverpool are considering reaching out to Klopp over possibly managing the defending English champions until the end of the season if Slot cannot turn the club's fortunes around. The German, who is now Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull, would be seen as a short-term option, with Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique their top long-term target. The report adds that conversations have taken place among Liverpool executives over worries Slot has 'lost the dressing room', with the board potentially waiting until the new year to see if he can arrest the club's slide. This comes shortly after German journalist Michael Reif claimed Liverpool aren't just in a "mess", but that they have been "practically burned to the ground", while warning that Slot should "watch out" over a potential Klopp return.

Slot speaks out on Liverpool future

After the PSV drubbing, Slot said he spoke with the club's owners about his Liverpool future. The Dutchman has vowed to fight on, saying his job is safe for now. 

He told reporters on Thursday: "We've had the same conversations that we've had since I got here. We fight on. We try to improve, but the conversations have been the same as they have been for the last one and a half years."

When pressed on what he can change to arrest the dreadful run of results, Slot added: "That's not so easy to say. It's normal to reflect on a game with decisions you have made. Maybe you do it a little bit more if you lose. In the end, it's about doing what this club is about. Keep fighting no matter how difficult it is I would be nice if we rewards ourselves in he moments we play well. People are focused on he parts we don't play well but there are large parts where we do play well."

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Getty Images SportSlot's Liverpool facing crunch fixtures

Liverpool's dire run of results has seen them drop to 12th in the Premier League, just a matter of months after they topped the division. Now they are a whopping 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal after 12 games and going by their current form, things could get even worse. For instance, Sunday's trip to West Ham looks quite daunting now, especially as the Hammers have picked up seven points from their last three games. Moreover, the Reds have lost six of their last seven league matches but fixtures against West Ham, Sunderland, and relegation-threatened Leeds are as good an opportunity as any to turn their fortunes around.

انتقد ديتمار هامان، أسطورة ليفربول السابق أداء النجم المصري محمد صلاح، بعد خسارة الريدز أمام بي إس في آيندهوفن الهولندي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستضاف ليفربول نظيره آيندهوفن، مساء الأربعاء، في المباراة التي جمعتهما في دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب آنفيلد”.

وخسر ليفربول بقيادة مدربه آرني سلوت برباعية مقابل هدف أمام آيندهوفن في مفاجأة كبيرة للغاية وسط جماهيرهم، والتي تعتبر أول هزيمة أوروبية على آنفيلد هذا الموسم.

وخاض محمد صلاح المباراة كاملة لكنه ما زال غائبًا عن زيارة الشباك كما أنه قدم أداءً متوسطًا أمام آيندهوفن.

وصنع صلاح فرصتين في المباراة، ومرر 5 تمريرات دقيقة من أصل 7، وبلغت دقة تمريراته 88% بواقع 35 من أصل 40 تمريرة.

اقرأ أيضًا | جرافنبيرخ بعد خسارة ليفربول أمام آيندهوفن: الوضع صعب للغاية..نستقبل الأهداف بمنتهى السهولة

وقال هامان، في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ليفربول إيكو”: “كان على سلوت أن يتخذ قرارًا، هل يُشرك صلاح أساسيًا وطرده من وظيفته أم يحتفظ بوظيفته بدونه؟”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن سلوت أتيحت له فرصة واحدة لاستبداله فورًا وهو عند هدف آيندهوفن الثاني، ما فعله صلاح هناك كان مشينًا بالنسبة للاعب بمستوى صلاح”.

وأتم: “يؤلمني أن أقول هذا على لاعب مثل صلاح لأنه الرجل الذي حمل الفريق على مدار السنوات السبع أو الثماني الماضية ولكن لا يصح أن تسمح للاعب بالمرور دون أن يفعل أي شيء لمساعدة الفريق”.

Tonda Eckert has been asked if he is hoping to become the next permanent manager of Southampton after guiding the club to a win over QPR on Wednesday evening.

It has hardly been the season that Southampton would have expected. In the 2024/25 campaign, they became the first team to be relegated from the Premier League with as many as seven games left to play. Even still, they were expected to be in contention for a swift return to the top flight.

Having established himself as a promising young coach in Ligue 1 with Reims and Lens, Will Still was appointed as Southampton’s new manager in May. Despite an influx of summer signings, however, Still struggled to have the impact he would have wanted at St Mary’s.

After just two wins in 13 Championship games, Still was dismissed following a loss to Preston, which was Southampton’s third successive defeat. In his place, Eckert was named interim boss as the club continue their search for a new manager.

Eckert answers questions about Saints future

Eckert’s first game in charge of the Saints was an away clash against Queens Park Rangers. The 32-year-old, picked out personally by sporting director Johannes Spors in the summer to take charge of their under-21s, guided Southampton to a 2-1 win at Loftus Road.

As reported by The Daily Echo, the young coach was then asked about his desire for the permanent job.

Evidently, Eckert is focused solely on guiding Southampton through their immediate future, with the club set to host Sheffield Wednesday in their next league game. Should they win, it would be the first time this season that they have won consecutive matches in the Championship.

Given their current position in the league, though, it would be a massive gamble for the Saints to hire a young and inexperienced manager, regardless of how much potential they may have.

Saints could turn to veteran to fill managerial vacancy

Thomas Tuchel has warned his England players to avoid a Cristiano Ronaldo situation and receive their marching orders against Albania on Sunday. Ronaldo was sent off in Portugal's 2-0 loss to Ireland earlier this week and will miss their final World Cup qualifying meeting with Armenia. The Al-Nassr forward will also sit out Portugal's World Cup opener should they make the 2026 showpiece.

Getty Images SportTuchel warns plays not to do anything silly

Portugal still top Group F despite defeat to Ireland last week, but are now just two points clear of Hungary in second ahead of the final group games. The Selecao take on Armenia in Porto today and need to win to guarantee top spot, a match that Ronaldo won't be in attendance for having been sent home from the national team.

England don't face the same problem having already guaranteed first in Group K ahead of their game against Albania this evening. The Three Lions have won all seven matches in World Cup qualifying and will fancy their chances of rounding off their own campaign with a 100% record.

However, Tuchel has revealed that he will warn his players not to do anything silly when they travel to Albania, who are guaranteed a play-off spot, for their final group game.

Advertisement'No red cards please'

Ahead of the game against Albania, Tuchel said: "It is important, I'm aware of it and we will talk about it. No red cards please. If we have a doubt then, because we are through and we are in a position with last man then the player holds the shirt he gets the red card. If there's a doubt then it would be smarter not to do it.

"If he goes in the last man example and if we can avoid it no red card of course but I don't want to make it too big a subject because then you have a cloud above you. But if you have the choice: don't do it."

Tuchel will be forced into at least one change for the game against Albania, with Ezri Konsa absent after suffering a calf strain against Serbia. The Aston Villa man may have played the full 90, but has since returned to his club side.

"Ezri is not with us, he has a tight calf and got assessed in the afternoon and didn’t take the risk so we didn't take him," Tuchel added. "Everyone else is ready to go. He has had a lot of matches for Aston Villa so was a candidate to have a rest."

Getty Images SportTuchel 'didn't like' Frank snub by Spence

Tuchel also revealed that he has scolded defender Djed Spence for his Tottenham behaviour. The full-back snubbed Thomas Frank after Spurs' recent 1-0 loss to rivals Chelsea, storming down the tunnel alongside Micky van de Ven as the north London side put in a poor showing against the Blues.

And while Tuchel didn't consider leaving Spence out of the England squad as a result, the German has made it clear that he did not like that the 25-year-old ignored his manager.

"Yeah, I didn't like it," the Three Lions boss said of the incident. "Because the players know they are not only national players when they are the 10 days in camp, they are always national players and the standard of behaviour is always important."

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Bellingham, Foden & Eze all pushing to start

With qualification wrapped up and just a 100% record to play for, Tuchel may make some changes to the side that started against Serbia. Spence is among those who could start at full-back, while Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah and Trevoh Chalobah are competing to deputise for Konsa at the back.

Adam Wharton, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze are also hoping to feature from the outset in Tirana, the latter trio all replacing Morgan Rogers, Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, respectively, on the hour mark against Serbia on Thursday.

And it was Bellingham, Foden and Eze who linked up well for the latter's late strike to wrap up the three points after Bukayo Saka had put England ahead in the first half.