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With three defeats on the spin heading into the international break, it’s safe to say Arne Slot’s Liverpool were experiencing a mini crisis in confidence.

Now, after a 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday evening, it’s clear that the Reds are engulfed in a major crisis, with 17 shots at the Red Devils’ goal not enough to nick a win, as the reigning Premier League champions went empty-handed for a fourth game in a row.

Mohamed Salah, again, showed signs of rust against Ruben Amorim’s visitors, as another big game passed the declining Egyptian by.

Salah's performance in numbers vs Manchester United

The 33-year-old attacker was seen as one of the world’s best last season as Liverpool romped home to the top-flight title.

Times have changed, however, with the once untouchable number 11 no longer his usual clinical self, with a total of three shots failing to beat Senne Lammens in goal for Amorim’s challengers.

Staggeringly, for a star that scored a blistering 29 goals last season in the Premier League, Salah is now without a non-penalty strike for seven straight top-flight games, with one big chance also agonisingly missed, as Harry Maguire broke Reds hearts late on.

With zero successful dribbles completed as well, on top of possession being carelessly given away 16 times, it’s clear that Salah is no longer the “top class” version of himself he has previously been – as he was once branded by Jurgen Klopp – with Slot perhaps ready to axe his usually undroppable number 11 for games to follow.

The Dutchman could well axe quite a few underperformers after the alarming defeat at the hands of their arch rivals, with one summer recruit once again struggling to get to grips with his new environment against the Red Devils.

3/10 Liverpool star was even worse than Salah

Salah wasn’t alone in letting his team down during the 2-1 defeat, with his attacking teammate in Alexander Isak, only managing 19 touches of the ball when leading the line for the lacklustre Reds.

Having cost a mind-blowing £125m to obtain from Newcastle, Isak must get up and running fast to dodge claims that he’s an expensive flop.

Milos Kerkez wasn’t purchased on the cheap, either, with the former AFC Bournemouth defender costing a mighty £40m to bring into the building this summer.

Unfortunately, despite being labelled as “one of the most explosive LBs in Europe” by one analyst ib social media shortly after leaving the South Coast behind for Anfield, Kerkez had a night to forget against the visitors from Manchester, as his Liverpool woes go on.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

62

Accurate passes

34/39 (87%)

Big chances created

1

Accurate crosses

1/8

Possession lost

15x

Total duels won

4/6

Indeed, when analysing the numbers, there are some positives for Kerkez to latch onto, with the Hungarian creating one big chance to try and steer his new employers back into the contest.

However, the negatives do start to pile up quickly on further inspection, with the 21-year-old only managing to register one accurate cross from eight attempted, which also led to the defender giving up possession a haphazard 15 times in total.

His unassured nature on the ball even led to Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp labelling him as a “nervous wreck” at half-time of the 2-1 defeat, with fellow pundit Gary Neville also once noting that Kerkez looks “naive” when donning Liverpool red, as opposed to excelling for the Cherries.

It could be time for Slot to bring back in the experienced head of Andrew Robertson for some calm, therefore, with London Evening Standard journalist Sam Tabuteau agreeing with the verdict on the young defender when brandishing a disappointing 3/10 rating his way at the close of the match, with Amad given “acres of space” down the left channel courtesy of the 21-year-old.

Kerkez will hope he can push on from this torrid start at Anfield in the games to come, but if Slot is potentially willing to drop Salah, he won’t bat an eyelid in getting rid of the promising full-back if needs be, as a drastic change of lineup could be needed to get the Reds out of their sophomore slump.

Major League Soccer has announced the finalists for its 2025 Year-End Awards, with Lionel Messi headlining a five-player shortlist for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. Bradley Carnell, Jesper Sørensen, and Mikey Varas are finalists for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year honor, with winners to be revealed during the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

AFPChasing MVP

The MVP race features a group of prolific attacking players who defined the 2025 regular season. Messi, aiming to become the first player in MLS history to win the award in consecutive years, led the league in goals to claim the Golden Boot. He finished the season with 29 goals and 19 assists. LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, last year’s runner-up, returns as a finalist after another strong campaign at the heart of LAFC’s attack with 24 goals and nine assists. 

San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer also earned a place among the finalists after an impressive debut season, becoming just the fourth player in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single campaign at 19 goals and 19 assists. FC Cincinnati’s Evander and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge round out the list, each playing pivotal roles in guiding their clubs to playoff contention.

MVP candidates

Player Club

Denis BouangaLAFCAnders DreyerSan Diego FCEvanderFC CincinnatiLionel MessiInter Miami CFSam SurridgeNashville SCAdvertisementGetty Images SportCoach of the Year candidates

The Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award features three finalists who led remarkable turnarounds. San Diego FC's Varas guided the expansion side to the most points ever by a first-year club, building a dynamic attacking team that set numerous offensive records. Philadelphia Union's Carnell transformed a struggling side into Eastern Conference contenders after taking over ahead of the season, implementing an aggressive pressing style that revitalized the club. The Vancouver Whitecaps' hire of Sørensen also proved impactful, with the Dane steering the club to second place this year in the Western Conference. 

Coach of the Year candidates

Coach Club

Bradley CarnellPhiladelphia UnionJesper SørensenVancouver Whitecaps FCMikey VarasSan Diego FCGetty Images SportOther awards

MLS also announced several other leading award finalists. Here is the full list:

Comeback Player of the Year

Player Club

Lawrence EnnaliHouston Dynamo FCNick HagglundFC CincinnatiRichie LaryeaToronto FCDefender of the Year

Player Club

Tristan BlackmonVancouver Whitecaps FCJakob GlesnesPhiladelphia UnionKai WagnerPhiladelphia UnionGoalkeeper of the Year

Player Club

Matt FreeseNew York City FCDayne St. ClairMinnesota United FCYohei TakaokaVancouver Whitecaps FCENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images SportAwards schedule

The finalists for each award category were determined through a comprehensive voting process involving MLS club technical staff, first-team players, and select media members, with each group accounting for one-third of the final results. As the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs progress, the league will announce winners across all categories, adding another layer of intrigue to the postseason competition.

Sterre Kalis drove the agenda for Yorkshire with 83 not out to beat their Tier 1 opponents Essex by 11 runs and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Vitality County T20 Cup.Kalis, the Netherlands international, was in imperious touch, hitting 14 fours and one leg-side six in Yorkshire’s total of 188 for 4 in 20 overs.Maddy Ward chipped in with a senior-best score of 43, as the pair shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 113 in the last 10.4 overs of the home innings.Essex’s bowlers failed to build any pressure, and their batters rarely looked like reeling in the target as Yorkshire made it six wins from six matches across all competitions.The Eagles finished on 177 for 8, with Beth Langston successfully defending 20 runs off the last over.Yorkshire will host either Devon or Warwickshire at Weetwood next Saturday afternoon in the last eight of a competition billed as the FA Cup of county cricket.Durham secured their own place in the last eight in thrilling style at Exmouth on Friday evening, beating Somerset in a Super Over after both teams posted 124 for 9 in their original 20 overs.Going into the final over of the contest, Somerset needed three runs with one wicket in hand. Katherine Fraser served up five dot-balls before Alex Griffiths scrambled two from the final ball to level the scores.Heather Knight then cracked the first ball of the Super Over for four off Mady Villiers, but after taking a single, Rebecca Odgers was stumped third ball, and when Knight went the same way, the final target was nine. Charlie Dean’s first two balls in reply were thumped for four by Bess Heath, and there was no way back from there.Surrey got the better of Hampshire in a compelling tussle at Beckenham, with Kira Chathli making 95 from 47 balls and Alice Capsey an unbeaten 89 from 45 in Surrey’s imposing 237 for 7. In reply, Maia Bouchier – newly dropped by England – made 53 from 29 balls but lacked support as Hampshire finished on 180 for 9.Kent continued their determined march through the draw, beating Cambridgeshire by 80 runs after posting 193 for 2 in their 20 overs, while The Blaze crushed Oxfordshire by ten wickets after bowling them out for 97.In Saturday’s other tie, Leicestershire had the better of a Midlands tussle with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, winning by 41 runs after a key innings of 52 from 39 balls by Francesca Sweet.On Sunday, Warwickshire confirmed their place in the last eight by holding off Devon at Budleigh Salterton. After opting to bat first, the Tier 1 side were kept to 136 for 8, Bethan Ellis top-scoring with 37 off 35 balls. In reply, Devon could only muster 98 for 4, despite an unbeaten 51 off 60 from opener Elle Golsworthy.

Celtic supporters have been lucky enough to enjoy plenty of top-quality centre-forwards in recent years.

Henrik Larsson will forever remain the gold standard, given that he scored 242 goals in 313 appearances for the club between 1997 and 2004, winning eight major honours, firing them to the UEFA Cup Final of 2003 and picking up the European Golden Shoe in 2001.

In more recent times, Odsonne Édouard, Moussa Dembélé and Kyōgo Furuhashi have all racked up plenty of goals and trophies as Celtic’s centre-forward.

Supporters may argue they do not have a striker of the requisite quality right now, although that opinion could soon be changing, while a player you’ve probably completely forgotten ever played for Celtic is tearing it up in one of the world’s strongest leagues.

Kelechi Iheanacho's start to life at Celtic

Fair to say, not a lot was expected of Kelechi Iheanacho when he arrived at Celtic, considering he joined after the transfer window had closed as an archetypal panic buy.

Well, so far, the Nigerian international is proving the doubters wrong, converting a stoppage time penalty to snatch victory at Kilmarnock on debut, before breaking the deadlock during Wednesday night’s Europa League draw with Crvena zvezda in Belgrade.

During his time at Leicester City, Iheanacho was known as a “deadly finisher”, his best campaign coming in 2020/21, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, four of which came in the FA Cup, a key figure as the Foxes won that competition for the first time ever.

Since then though, he’s not managed more than eight goals in a single campaign, scoring zero times in La Liga during his brief time at Sevilla, hence why los Nervionenses jumped at the chance to cut ties with him.

Nevertheless, reunited with Brendan Rodgers, his manager in the East Midlands of course, Iheanacho looks revitalised and reinvigorated, back to his clinical best in front of goal.

Nevertheless, there is a forward, who made almost no impact at all at Celtic, who actually has more goals to his name at this early stage of the season.

Forgotten Celtic flop on fire in the Bundesliga

We all have that one player who, when they first burst onto the scene, you are certain they’re going to be a future Ballon d’Or winner one day.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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Well, for many in Scotland, that player was Oliver Burke.

Back in 2016, having made just 31 appearances for Nottingham Forest, Burke was sold to recently promoted RB Leipzig for £13m, a then-record for a Scottish player, but fair to say he never lived up to this hype.

The table below documents the still only 28-year-old’s manic career so far.

​​​​​​​

Burke career record

Club

Games

Goals

Bradford City

2

Zero

Nottingham Forest

31

6

RB Leipzig

26

1

West Bromwich Albion

24

1

Celtic

19

4

Deportivo Alavés

32

1

Sheffield United

36

2

Millwall

31

4

Werder Bremen

46

8

Birmingham City

23

Zero

Union Berlin

5

3

Stats via Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, Burke has played for 12 different clubs in four different countries, yet to score double figures in terms of goals for any of them, which is honestly mind-blowing, with the four he managed during a six-month loan spell at Celtic Park from West Brom in 2019 among his higher tallies.

In hoops, he bagged a brace during his Premiership debut against St Mirren, before also netting during home wins over Hibernian and Motherwell, often deployed as a centre-forward by Neil Lennon, who succeeded Rodgers during this period.

This summer, having previously played for RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen, Burke returned to Germany, joining Union Berlin, and perhaps he could finally fulfil his potential at Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

On Sunday, during die Eisernen’s crazy 4-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion, Burke scored a 24-minute hat-trick, becoming the first Scotsman to ever bag a treble in the Bundesliga – and bettering Iheanacho’s own 2025/26 tally in the process.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Andy Brassell labelled them “ice-cold finishes”, noting that Union Berlin are playing to Burke’s strengths, which is utilising his pace in-behind, given that he has always been lightning quick.

Burke has remained such an enigma throughout his career; his raw and physical attributes are seemingly what ensures that clubs keep signing him, but as far back as his Leipzig days there were concerns over his tactical awareness, with then manager Ralph Hasenhüttl comparing him to an “empty hard drive” who had a lot to learn.

The most recent of Burke’s 13 Scotland caps came against Israel in Netanya back in November 2020 but, if he continues to score Bundesliga hat-tricks, Steve Clarke will have to pay attention.

Who knows, he could have been an even better emergency centre-forward option for Celtic than Iheanacho will prove to be.

Related 100% dribbles: "Fearless" Celtic star was even better than Iheanacho

Celtic drew 1-1 with Crvena zvezda in the Europa League, Kelechi Iheanacho scoring in Belgrade, but a “fearless” attacker was even more impressive.

Posts ByBen Gray Sep 25, 2025

It’s been a spectacular summer for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side might not be favourites for the Premier League, but the club have backed them in a big way in the transfer market.

The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, and even Noni Madueke could all be incredible signings, but perhaps the most exciting of them all is Eberechi Eze.

The Englishman feels like just the player the Gunners have needed, although he’s still worth less than someone the club lost years ago.

Eze's return to Arsenal

Apart from being an outstanding player, one of the primary reasons Eze’s move to Arsenal feels so momentous is that the club released him as a youngster.

Over the following years, he would be released by Millwall, Fulham and Reading, rejected by Bristol City and Sunderland, and face the very real possibility of not making it in professional football.

Fortunately, he finally got his break with Queens Park Rangers, and following a successful loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers, he enjoyed a full campaign in the first team in the 18/19 season.

A couple of years later, he moved to Crystal Palace for around £8m, and over the following five years would amass a stellar haul of 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 games, despite suffering several injury setbacks, including an ACL injury.

So, when it was announced that Arsenal had signed him for £68m last month, it was more than a normal transfer; it was a homecoming and a righting of the wrong that saw him leave North London all those years ago.

Appearances

169

Minutes

12089′

Goals

40

Assists

28

Goal Involvements per Match

0.40

Minutes per Goal Involvements

177.77′

Unfortunately, though, the Gunners do not get to correct every mistake they make, as another youngster who was let go is now worth even more than Eze.

The former Arsenal gem now worth more than Eze

Even though Arsenal have a brilliant record of producing and bringing through young talents, they’ve also been guilty of losing a host of future superstars.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

This is the case with Michael Olise, as before he moved to Chelsea’s academy, he spent time in the Gunners’ youth setup, and to say the club missed out on a great player would be an understatement.

After being released by the Blues in 2016 and spending time with Manchester City’s youth setup, he joined Reading in 2017, followed by Crystal Palace in 2021.

While he suffered from his fair share of injuries in South London, the young Frenchman more than proved himself, scoring 16 goals and providing 25 assists in 90 appearances, more than validating Oliver Glasner’s claim that he’s “one of the best talents in the world.”

After impressing south of the river for a few years, Bayern Munich came calling and paid the Eagles £50m for his services last summer.

Since moving to the German giants, the game-changing winger has more than lived up to his price tag, winning the league and scoring 24 goals and providing 23 assists in 54 appearances.

With such a brilliant start to life in Germany, it’s hardly a surprise to see that the CIES Football Observatory has valued him at 102m, which is about £88m, or £20m more than Eze cost the Gunners.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be delighted with signing the former Crystal Palace star this summer, but we can’t help but wonder how much more dangerous they’d be with Olise in the side as well.

He's "England's future LB": Arsenal sold Hale End's own Hincapie last year

The promising full-back looked brilliant in Arsenal’s academy.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 4, 2025

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is currently assessing the remainder of his squad that haven’t gone out on international duty, and the Italian has promised one thing to a highly-rated youngster who’s now looking to turn heads at Cobham.

The Blues take on Brentford in their first game back from the break, four days before a blockbuster opening Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on September 17.

After a summer of trimming down Maresca’s squad, partly to comply with UEFA as Chelsea looked to register a ‘positive transfer balance’, Maresca named a 23-man squad for his European A-list — notably missing out summer signing Facundo Buonanotte.

Chelsea’s 23-man Champions League squad

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen

Defenders: Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah,

Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato,

Reece James.

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernández, Andrey Santos.

Forwards: Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto,

Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao.

Bomb squad members Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling were unsurprisingly omitted, with reports still suggesting the pair could leave soon, even after the UK transfer window shut its doors at 7pm on Monday.

Disasi has been subject to an approach from Saudi side Neom SC, while former Man United chief scout Mick Brown believes Chelsea could terminate Raheem Sterling’s deal in a bid to rid the club of his £325,000-per-week wages.

As we’ve seen from the last window, you can never rule anything out at Chelsea, with Liam Delap’s injury prompting BlueCo to both re-negotiate a more favourable exit for Nicolas Jackson whilst recalling Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland.

The teenager was also named in Maresca’s Champions League A-list squad, so the intention to play him is crystal clear, and Guiu is believed to have received the Chelsea boss’ word on a key issue.

The former Barcelona gem was set to further his development with more guaranteed game time at Sunderland, and had already made his mark by scoring for Regis Le Bris’ side in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield Town.

Marc Guiu desperate to impress in Chelsea training after Maresca promise

Now back in west London, Guiu is desperate to impress in Chelsea training, with Maresca promising the 19-year-old that he will be handed game time in the coming weeks.

That is according to GiveMeSport, who state that the Spaniard has set his sights on dazzling Maresca behind-the-scenes as he looks to stake his claim in the Chelsea squad.

It is also noted that, if Guiu can prove to be a constant threat in the final third, then there will be a chance for him to become a prominent figure in the club’s plans moving forward.

The youngster scored six goals in seven Conference League appearances last term, playing a major role in the group stages before missing out on nearly every knockout game with a hamstring injury — bar a three-minute cameo in the final.

Bayern Munich icon Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed Thomas Muller's MLS move, suggesting it's the perfect preparation for a future leadership role at the German club. The board member believes Muller "did the right thing" by signing for Vancouver Whitecaps in the summer and hinted that the door is open for the 36-year-old to return to Munich in an off-field capacity.

• Will Muller join the Bayern board after he retires?

  Bayern legend Rummenigge and former CEO has endorsed Muller's move to the Vancouver Whitecaps, suggesting the experience could prepare the veteran forward for a future leadership role back at the Bundesliga club. In an interview with , the supervisory board member stated that Muller "did the right thing" by moving to MLS.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Muller's bright start in North America

  Muller, 36, left Bayern on a free transfer in August 2025 after the club did not offer him a new contract, ending a legendary spell that included 756 first-team appearances. He has made an immediate impact in North America, scoring four goals and providing one assist in his first three MLS matches for Vancouver, contributing to a total of six goals in eight appearances across all competitions for his new club.

• 'Broadening his horizons' – What Rummenigge said

  Rummenigge believes the move will be beneficial for Muller's post-playing career prospects. 

  "He's gaining new experiences in North America, broadening his horizons, perfecting another language, and getting to know a new culture," Rummenigge said. "He could prepare himself there to some extent for a possible job afterward."

  The former CEO also noted the club's tradition of bringing back former stars, stating: "It is the wish of the fans and the club that former players take on a leadership role at Bayern Munich." 

  However, he issued a note of caution, adding: "He has played football at the highest level, which would undoubtedly help him. And he knows the club very well. But it is also clear: a board or managerial position is a completely different job than the one on the pitch."

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• The bigger picture at Bayern

  Rummenigge also commented on the current leadership dynamic at Bayern, staunchly defending honorary president Uli Hoeness amid recent public criticism of sporting director Max Eberl. Dismissing the dispute as "no big deal," Rummenigge insisted. "FC Bayern doesn't need less Uli Hoeness, it needs more Uli Hoeness." 

  He described heated disagreements as "cleansing storms" and part of the club's "Bavarian culture of debate."

The left hander was closing in on his career best after he and Jake Doran left the home side without ideas

AAP15-Nov-2024Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald was closing in on his highest first-class score after dominating the Queensland bowlers on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.The 31-year-old sent another reminder of the quality top-order batters in the Australian domestic scene, although after making an unbeaten 185 he said he had probably left his run too late to be in the Test equation.Related

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Bancroft's nightmare continues as Western Australia endured tough day

Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson won the toss and sent Tasmania in under heavy cloud cover at Allan Border Field on Friday but Weatherald and fellow left-hander Jake Doran were in complete control when bad light stopped play an hour after tea with Tasmania 358 for 3 off 76 overs.Weatherald and Doran added 161 off 177 deliveries in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand after Tim Ward had played a fine hand at No. 3.Weatherald’s highest Shield score is the 198 he made while playing for South Australia against Tasmania in 2019. He had made a couple of 40s in the opening Shield rounds this season but had been unable to make the most of the starts.After the day’s play he spoke of the welcome focus opening batters have had domestically this season after David Warner’s retirement.”It has been a bit of a circus going on in Australia trying to find an opener but it has been awesome to watch,” Weatherald said. “I’m very happy for Nathan [McSweeney] getting a gig. I think he’s deserved that spot.”I definitely left my run too late but I think there are some good openers around. Sam Whiteman is playing very well and Caleb Jewel has been very good for a long time. Hopefully we can keep putting the pressure on the Australian boys.”Tasmania had been bowled out for 98 in the second innings of their previous Shield clash against Western Australia but none of that fragility was on show.Queensland had themselves to blame with poor line and length from the bowlers and occasional shoddy fielding not helping their cause. Swepson appeared to run out of ideas as none of the six bowlers used troubled the visitors. They were missing strike bowler Michael Neser with a hamstring injury and his absence was felt.Weatherald went after the bowling from the get-go as his strike-rate of 91.58 suggests.”It probably felt in the last game that I was hanging back a bit so in this game there was impetus to come out and meet the ball and I thought that worked well on that wicket,” he said. “It was nipping around a bit early but they gave us some opportunities to score which was good. It is a great venue to bat on and you get good reward.”

The BCB is confident that Shakib Al Hasan won’t have any problems returning to Bangladesh – for the first time since the fall of the Awami League government, of which he was a part – for the Test series against South Africa next month.Shakib, Bangladesh’s most celebrated cricketer, was among 147 people named in a murder case in Dhaka last month. He had become a member of parliament in January this year. When Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister on August 5 following massive anti-government protests in Bangladesh and fled the country, Shakib was playing in the Global T20 League in Canada. After that, he has travelled to Pakistan for a Test series, then played a county match for Surrey, and is now in India for another Test series. He was not in Bangladesh at any point during the protests or since. The case in question relates to the death of Mohammed Rubel, who was wounded in the firing during the protests on August 5 and died two days later.Shahriar Nafees, in charge of the BCB’s cricket operations, said on Monday that the country’s caretaker government had clarified that Shakib would not be “harassed”.Related

• Shakib on Bangladesh protests: 'To those of you who were hurt by my silence, I sincerely apologise'

• Official says govt will provide Shakib with security on Dhaka return

• 'Shakib's security is not in the board's hand,' says BCB chief

• Shakib trials strap around neck as head-positioning tool in Chennai

• Spotlight on off-colour Shakib amid injury murmurs

“I think the honourable chief adviser, law adviser and sports adviser have spoken very clearly regarding Shakib Al Hasan,” Nafees said. “There is a clear message from the Bangladesh government that no one will be harassed unfairly in the cases that have been filed. We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib. Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don’t see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series.”Last month, Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, had also said that he hoped Shakib would not be arrested in connection with the case. “There’s only a case filed against Shakib. I hope he will not be arrested. I have come to know that the police forces have been asked to show as much restraint as possible in case something incredible happens.”Soon after the news about him being named in the case surfaced, Shakib had received support from his Bangladesh team-mates, who had posted messages on their respective social-media accounts. But his silence during the student-led mass protests in July and August has also led to criticism. Many of his national team-mates have, at various points, spoken about the protests and the loss of lives, especially of students, but Shakib hasn’t.Bangladesh, who are currently in India to play Tests and T20Is, are scheduled to play two home Tests against South Africa in October. CSA’s security team completed its evaluation of Dhaka and Chattogram, where the Tests will be played, on Monday and is expected to inform the BCB about its decision later this week.

أثنى راؤول أسينسيو، مدافع ريال مدريد، على قدرات إسبانيول، وذلك عقب المواجهة التي جمعت بين الفريقين اليوم السبت بالدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

أسينسيو لعب بشكل أساسي خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد أمام إسبانيول، في ظل غياب دين هويسن بسبب الايقاف.

ولم يخيب أسينسيو ثقة مدرب ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، به وقدم مباراة متميزة للغاية مساهمًا في انتصار الميرنجي على إسبانيول بهدفين مقابل لا شيء.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ألونسو بعد فوز ريال مدريد على إسبانيول: قدمنا مباراة قوية وهذه خطتي بشأن بيلينجهام

وقال أسينسيو في حديثه مع قناة ريال مدريد عقب نهاية المباراة: “إسبانيول فريق قوي حقًا، نريد مواصلة حصد النقاط الثلاث ونجحنا في الحفاظ على نظافة شباكنا على أرضنا وأمام جماهيرنا، وهذا أمر جيد بكل تأكيد”.

وعن تحقيق ريال مدريد الانتصار في جميع مبارياته هذا الموسم، أضاف: “هذا أمر مميز، كما قال تشابي ألونسو كان من المهم أن نعمل بروح جماعية ونحقق ذلك على أكمل وجه، أتمنى استمرار هذا الأداء في بقية هذا الموسم”.

وحول مستقبله مع ريال مدريد: “أعيش كل يوم على حدة في ريال مدريد، تواجدي مع هذا النادي لهو شرف كبير وأعرف قيمة هذا النادي حقًا”.

وبشأن تسجيل ريال مدريد هدفين من خارج منطقة الجزاء، أردف: “كل مباراة ولها ظروفها، علينا أن نجهز أنفسنا لأي سيناريو في اللقاء”.

وعن الهدف المفضل له في لقاء اليوم بين كيليان مبابي وإيدير ميلياتاو، أجاب راؤول: “سوف أختار هدف ميليتاو، ألعب معه في نفس المركز وأعلم صعوبة تسجيل هذا الهدف من تلك الوضعية”.

واختتم: ”ميليتاو لاعب استثنائي حقًا، أعرف قيمة مبابي جيدًا لكنني اعتدت على ما يقدمه على أرض الملعب”.