The series will also mark the first time Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad hosts international cricket in 17 years, with all three ODIs between the sides set to take place there

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2025The Gaddafi Stadium is set to host its first Test match in over three years – and the first since it was rebuilt ahead of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. It will be the venue for the first of two Test matches when South Africa visit Pakistan for an all-format series next month.That game, starting on October 12, will kick off the series, South Africa’s first in a World Test Championship campaign since they became champions in June this year. It will be the first series of the next two-year Test cycle for both teams. The second game will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which also underwent some renovation work over the past year.The series will also mark the first time Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad hosts international cricket in 17 years, with all three ODIs between the sides set to take place there. Faisalabad was initially a venue for two T20Is against Bangladesh in May, but amid a reschedule due to an India-Pakistan border tension, the games in Faisalabad were scrapped.South Africa became the World Test Champions in June this year•ICC/Getty ImagesThe series also features three T20Is which precede the ODIs, with the first in Rawalpindi and the next two in Lahore.Lahore’s return as a Test venue is notable, with this being just the second Test at the Gaddafi since Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019. In the years since, Pindi, Karachi and latterly Multan became favoured venues for red-ball games, primarily because smog in the winter months affects Lahore more than the other cities, and restricted the window for Test cricket in the city. The one game it hosted was in March 2022 against Australia at the back end of the cricket season in the country.It will also be the first red-ball series against South Africa with full crowd involvement since the return of international cricket to Pakistan. The sides played a two-match series in 2021 behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”We are looking forward to welcome South Africa for the opening series of our ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign,” PCB COO Sumair Ahmed said. “Starting the new cycle against the current Test champions will provide quality cricket for our players and fans.”The ODIs begin on 28 October, with the final T20I on 8 November in Faisalabad.South Africa tour to Pakistan scheduleOctober 12-16 – First Test, Lahore
October 20-24 – Second Test, Rawalpindi
October 28 – First T20I, Rawalpindi
October 31 – Second T20I, Lahore
November 1 -Third T20I, Lahore
November 4 – First ODI, Faisalabad
November 6 – Second ODI, Faisalabad
November 8 – Third ODI, Faisalabad

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles was playing for the team's Triple-A affiliates in Tacoma during a rehab assignment over the weekend, when he was hit by a pitch that ran up and inside on him.

Robles was irate, and in retaliation he launched his bat in the direction of the pitcher's mound and had to be held back by teammates and the home plate umpire as he attempted to escalate the situation further. Robles then threw some snacks from the dugout onto the field before making his way to the locker room.

As a result of his bonkers outburst, MLB issued a 10-game suspension to the veteran outfielder on Tuesday. Robles is expected to appeal the suspension. The suspension will be served in MLB, so he'll be docked 10 games once he's eligible to return from IL.

Robles has since issued an apology for his actions.

There's some history behind his irate response, however. The pitcher on the mound was Joey Estes, and he'd already plunked Robles with a pitch earlier in the series. In fact, Robles was hit twice in his first game of the rehab appearance, though only once by Estes. He was then hit again in the first plate appearance of the very next game. Finally, in the third game of the series, Robles was once again hit by Estes, though it was ruled a swing because his bat came around. He lined out in that at-bat, and then came to the plate again in the third inning. For the fifth time in three games––and the third time by Estes in that span––Robles was hit by a pitch from Estes.

All of that, is what sparked his incredibly frustrated and aggressive response to being hit, again, by Estes.

Robles has just been trying to work his way back to Seattle after missing most of the season with an injury. Finally on his rehab assignment after being out since April, the last thing he wants is to suffer an injury at the plate. It's not hard to see why he was so enraged, though his response was certainly still extreme.

MatériaMais Notícias

A contratação de James Rodríguez pelo São Paulo valeu o investimento? Novamente fora dos relacionados por opção do técnico Luis Zubeldía, o meia entrou em campo 22 vezes entre 51 partidas disputadas pelo Tricolor desde sua chegada. Existe a chance dele deixar o clube na próxima janela de transferências.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

➡️Aposte R$100 no Lance! Betting e ganhe R$384 se o São Paulo vencer os dois tempos contra o Cobresal

Isso significa 43,14% de presença nos compromissos são-paulinos desde 2023, menos da metade. Para comparar, Lucas Moura tem 54% de presença nas partidas (sem considerar jogo contra o San Lorenzo, em 3 de agosto, um dia após o anúncio do camisa 7). O ídolo foi oficializado em período semelhante ao de James e enfrenta uma lesão muscular que o deixou fora de combate por longo período em 2024.

No início desta temporada, James Rodríguez conviveu com imbróglio junto ao São Paulo, teve permanência incerta e, por essa razão, já perdeu algumas partidas. Além disso, enfrentou problemas físicos e não convenceu os dois técnicos que trabalharam no Tricolor, Thiago Carpini e Zubeldía.

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Dos 23 confrontos são-paulinos em 2024, o colombiano participou de oito. Ele foi titular em apenas dois e, nos outros seis, saiu do banco de reservas. O jogo contra o Cobresal, nesta quarta-feira (8), marca o segundo consecutivo em que o meia não está entre os relacionados por mera opção do técnico.

E EM 2023?

O São Paulo fez 28 partidas no ano passado desde a chegada oficial de James Rodríguez, em 29 de julho. Sem contar o jogo contra o Bahia, que aconteceu no dia seguinte ao anúncio oficial da contratação, o meia participou de apenas 14. Exatamente a metade, como titular ou saindo do banco. Os motivos foram lesões, não inscrição (ida e volta contra o San Lorenzo, na Sul-Americana) ou opção do então técnico Dorival Júnior. 

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Nas três partidas em que James esteve disponível durante a campanha vitoriosa do São Paulo na Copa do Brasil, contra Corinthians e as finais diante do Flamengo, o meia não saiu da reserva. Isso aconteceu por opção de Dorival Júnior.

RESUMO

James Rodríguez soma 22 partidas em 51 possíveis pelo São Paulo, tendo dois gols e quatro assistências.

Tudo sobre

James RodríguezSão Paulo

أجريت منذ قليل، مراسم قرعة كأس العالم 2026، نسخة 2026، والتي ستنطلق الصيف المقبل، في مركز “جون كينيدي”.

وتستضيف كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

طالع.. مباشر | قرعة كأس العالم 2026.. بدء المراسم

وتُعد تلك النسخة الأولى من نوعها التي تشهد فيها بطولة كأس العالم بمشاركة 48 منتخبًا، حيث سيتم تقسيمها على 12 مجموعة.

وأسفرت قرعة كأس العالم 2026، عن مجموعة منتخب العراق المحتملة في بطولة كأس العالم حال تأهله رسميًا إلى المونديال، وتحديدًا المجموعة التاسعة. 

وتحدد مواجهة منتخب العراق للفائز من بوليفيا أمام سورينام المقررة في نصف نهائي الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم 2026.

وكان قد تأهل منتخب العراق إلى نهائيات الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم 2026، على حساب الإمارات، بالفوز بنتيجة 3-2 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب، حيث انتهت مواجهة الذهاب في الإمارات 1-1، ولقاء الإياب 2-1 للعراق.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي العراق مع الفائز من بوليفيا وسورينام يوم 1 أبريل العام الجاري 2026 على ملعب “أومنيلايف” أو ملعب “بي بي في إيه” في تمام الخامسة صباحًا بتوقيت مصر، السادسة بتوقيت السعودية والعراق. حال التأهل.. مجموعة العراق في كأس العالم 2026 

وجاءت مجموعة العراق المحتملة في بطولة كأس العالم 2026، حال التأهل على النحو التالي 

1- فرنسا

2- السنغال 

3- النرويج

4- الفائز من العراق أمام كل من بوليفيا وسورينام.

Baseball is all about the atmosphere. The crack of the bat at the ballpark, the peanuts, the Cracker Jack, the hot dogs.

Sure, there are the diehard baseball purists who can rattle off anything about each player on their favorite team. But, there are plenty of fans that head to the ballpark solely to take in that atmosphere. The Marlins’ broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network aimed to challenge those fans Friday as the team took on the Tigers.

“Somebody, name a Marlin, get a hot dog. Name a Marlin, free hot dog for a Marlin,” team reporter Jeremy Taché exclaimed as he power walked through the concourse at LoanDepot park.

“Sammy Alcántara,” he first fan he stopped for responded. That's not quite right, as righthander Alcántara toed the rubber for the Marlins Friday, but the answer was still good enough for the prize.

Taché continued to quickly speed through the concourse and stopped for two other fans who correctly answered the question as they both named second baseman Xavier Edwards. Maybe the challenge wasn’t as difficult as he initially thought as no fan shown got stumped, but it was hilarious entertainment from the local broadcast for the 69–79 Marlins.

“We got two Xavier Edwards, one Sammy Alcántara,” he said as he ended the segment. "That’ll do.”

Close enough.

Outside of the funny bit, Friday was a good night for the Marlins as they defeated the Tigers 8–2, although Detroit’s starter and AL Cy Young Award frontrunner Tarik Skubal left the game in the fourth inning with an apparent injury.

He has taken his time to come up the ranks, but at 28, Patil might be hitting his peak as a white-ball allrounder

Deivarayan Muthu03-Sep-2025He has the potential to become the next big white-ball allrounder from Mumbai after Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge. Like his better-known team-mates, he can launch mighty sixes from the middle order and also bowl handy seam-ups. His all-round skills earned him three Player-of-the-Match awards in six games and eventually the Player-of-the-Tournament award from Rohit Sharma at the T20 Mumbai league earlier this year. Meet 28-year-old Sairaj Patil, who is now on the radar of IPL teams as well.In the 2025 T20 Mumbai league, Patil scored 233 runs in six innings at a strike rate of over 150 to go with seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.35 for Eagle Thane Strikers. Despite state-run leagues mushrooming across India, allrounders who can clear the boundary and also bowl are still rare, which is why Patil has piqued the interest of scouts ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.Patil has been bossing the local and corporate tournaments in Mumbai for a while, but the recent success in the relaunched state league was proof that he could do the job at a higher level.Related

Mhatre breaks records for Mumbai, Shaw shines on captaincy debut

Abdul Samad expects new approach to take him where he hasn't gone before

Rahane steps down as Mumbai's Ranji Trophy captain

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Suryansh Shedge, clear thinker and ace T20 finisher

“Yeah, I had a great Mumbai T20 league and I am grateful for everything,” Patil told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of the pre-season Buchi Babu Tournament in Chennai. “I had prepped very well before the start of the tournament and I was dominating Mumbai cricket for the last two years and I was part of the Mumbai white-ball squad for [the 50-over] Vijay Hazare [Trophy] and Syed Mushtaq Ali [T20 tournament], but I was not getting chances.”So the past two seasons I was sitting outside… but by sitting outside I got to learn a lot of things. I built up a lot of patience, perseverance, and the grit to do well in every game I get and while I was playing in Mumbai cricket, I had the hunger to score in each and every game and dominate in all groups.”The most striking aspect of Patil’s T20 game is his six-hitting prowess – he smashed a chart-topping 16 in six innings in the T20 Mumbai league. He can even hit sixes off yorkers and low full tosses, thanks to his ability to play the helicopter shot. He said that his six-hitting wasn’t natural and put it down to hours of training and range-hitting with his childhood coach Bharat Chambre.”I hit 500-1000 balls a day along with my coach and so it has helped me now,” Patil said. “I didn’t have much power and strength when I was a kid but I’ve built it up with good coaching, diet and training. Even now, when I go to my practice sessions, I try and hit around 50-200 sixes and I try to get better every day.”With the ball, Patil is capable of hitting hard lengths at 130kph and also has some slower cutters in his repertoire. He has been working closely with former Mumbai and India bowlers Dhawal Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule to add to his variations and skills.

“Yeah, when you play in a country like India, everyone aspires to play the IPL and eventually for the country. So, like everyone else, I would like to be part of any of the franchises and showcase my talent in the tournaments”Sairaj Patil

“I’ve been bowling at 130-132 [kph] and Dhawal Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule have been my bowling mentors,” Patil said. “I enjoy contributing with both ball and bat. In the Mumbai T20 League, we had a tight schedule. It was quite difficult to manage the [bowling] load, but thanks to my trainers and S&Cs [strength and conditioning coaches] for managing me well.”Patil cherishes his all-round effort – 61 off 37 from No. 4 followed by four wickets – against SoBo Mumbai Falcons – at the Wankhede Stadium in June. Having come in to bat at 10 for 2, Patil watched Strikers slip further to 10 for 3, but he counterattacked with a boundary-laden fifty. He then fired with the ball too, the highlight being his dismissal of Shreyas Iyer with a 98kph cutter in his team’s successful defence of 151.”The game against SoBo Mumbai Falcons was special because we were three down [early],” Patil recalled. “I did dominate with the bat and it was special to get Shreyas’ wicket. So to score and take wickets in the pressure situation, I felt it was a turning point.”Patil, who hails from Palghar, where his father Bipin runs a club called Palghar Dahanu Taluka Sports Association, which has provided the platform for the likes of Shardul Thakur, Hardik Tamore and Sylvester D’Souza, idolises Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes, and has been bouncing ideas off Mumbai team-mates that have enjoyed success at the top level.”I share a good camaraderie with Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] , Shardul and Shreyas. Sarfaraz [Khan] and Prithvi [Shaw] are also my good friends and I learn from them. So they share a lot of insights on how I should go about with the game and how I can develop more to do better in the coming matches.”Sairaj Patil was named Player of the Tournament in the latest edition of the T20 Mumbai league•T20 Mumbai LeagueIt may not be too long before Patil joins some of those big names in the IPL. He had a stint with Mumbai Indians during their tour of the UK in 2022 and has been part of camps of quite a few franchises since, including Delhi Capitals’ most recently.”Yeah, when you play in a country like India, everyone aspires to play the IPL and eventually for the country,” he said. “So, like everyone else, I would like to be part of any of the franchises and showcase my talent in the tournaments.”Patil had been impressive with his big-hitting in the second season of the T20 Mumbai league in 2019 and now, with more experience and exposure, he believes that he is better equipped to deal with pressure.”Yes, experience comes as you play more and more games,” Patil said. “In 2019, when we [North Mumbai Panthers] won the T20 Mumbai league, I was the top six-hitter, but this year I did exceptionally well. From the previous experiences I had the motivation to become the best with bat and ball. I did that this season, so I am glad. I want to do the same things in all formats – whether it be red ball, whether it be white ball, and replicate it wherever I play.”While Patil is a work in progress in red-ball cricket – he is yet to make his Ranji Trophy debut – he has turned himself into an attractive T20 package, and though not exactly young, could yet have a career at the higher levels.

Cole Campbell has formally requested to leave Borussia Dortmund during the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg. The 19-year-old American winger is seeking a move in order to find regular first-team playing time and continue his development. Campbell featured for the U.S's U20 side and has made five senior appearances for BVB.

Desire for more playing time.

Plettenberg reported that Campbell has officially submitted his transfer request to Borussia Dortmund's management, citing concerns about his pathway to meaningful minutes with the senior squad. The U.S. youth international has struggled to break into Niko Kovac's plans this season despite showing promise in limited appearances last campaign.

Campbell's representatives have communicated that a winter move would best serve his development.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMultiple European clubs express interest

According to Plettenberg’s report, several European clubs have expressed interest in Campbell. Belgian sides Club Brugge and Anderlecht are among the potential destinations. Danish club FC Midtjylland is also reported to be monitoring the situation, while German second-division team SV Elversberg has been identified as another option.

Transfer saga follows summer standoff

Campbell's transfer request comes just months after Borussia Dortmund rejected a $4.6 million (€4 million) offer from VfB Stuttgart for the American winger. Reports from German outlet Bild indicated that Dortmund was holding out for approximately $9.3 million (€8 million) for Campbell during the summer window, despite the player having already agreed to personal terms with Stuttgart. This standoff ultimately prevented Campbell from securing a move.

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Getty Images SportWhat's next for Dortmund?

Dortmund have a rematch with Leverkusen, the side they beat 2-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, in the German Cup on Dec. 2. 

Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.

The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.

Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.

During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.

Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United

After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.

The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.

However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.

Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.

His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.

Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim

In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.

Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.

The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.

Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.

However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.

The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.

He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.

The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.

Luke Shaw – stats against Everton
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	90
Touches	110
Passes completed	83
Aerials lost	50%
Dribbled past	2x
Interceptions	1
Clearances	1
Crosses completed	0
Stats via FotMob

He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.

Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.

The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.

His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.

Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

By
Robbie Walls

Nov 25, 2025

Currently, it feels like Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract last year and sign for Real Madrid has benefitted nobody.

The Spanish giants have yet to find a starring role for the right-back in Xabi Alonso’s system; Trent is out in the cold vis-à-vis Thomas Tuchel’s England; Liverpool keenly miss their starboy’s creativity and flair.

All of this is premature. Much can change, and it has only been three months since the 2025/26 campaign kicked off. But Arne Slot’s Liverpool are lacking ideas at the moment; and just as importantly, they cannot find the answers to their opponents’ tactics.

Slot sought to reorient Liverpool’s creative focus to a more typical area, working with Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for what stood as a record-breaking £116m fee for a few months.

Now, Liverpool are looking into new attacking midfielders to rival Wirtz for a place in the Reds’ starting line-up.

Why Liverpool are looking to sign Wirtz rival

Liverpool have landed a generational talent in Wirtz. The 22-year-old proved across years of age-defying quality in his homeland that he is destined for greatness.

However, we cannot deny it’s been a rocky road since the start of the season.

Wirtz is yet to register a goal involvement in the Premier League and he has not scored in any competition. However, his struggles stand against the backdrop of Liverpool’s wider issues this season. Slot’s side are worryingly imbalanced and sapped of confidence, having lost five of their past six top-flight fixtures.

But Wirtz has demonstrated his skill for Germany during the current international break, with analyst Raj Chohan saying his “creative passing has been insane”.

Minutes played

90′

77′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

2

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

2 (0)

Accurate passes

46/56 (82%)

72/77 (94%)

Chances created

1

6

Crosses

0/5

2/5

Dribbles

5/6

1/3

Recoveries

5

9

Ground duels

8/10

3/5

But, with Harvey Elliott struggling out on loan with Aston Villa and bound to depart for good in the near future, Liverpool have lined up 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit as a potential rival for Wirtz in Slot’s system.

According to Soccer News, the AZ Alkmaar talent is emerging as a serious candidate for a transfer to Liverpool, and FSG are further drawn to the player after Slot’s personal advocacy, having worked with the young prospect during his stint with AZ back in 2019/20.

The teenager is valued at around £22.5m, and Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the circling sharks.

What Kees Smit would offer Liverpool

Smit is young and inexperienced, but the word on the Dutch streets is that he is one of the nation’s most exciting up-and-comers. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has acknowledged Smit for his “superstar potential”, not just naturally gifted but intelligent, industrious and strong in defensive phases.

The Netherlands U21 star has made 50 senior showings already, scoring four goals and supplying six assists. Increasingly important in the Eredivisie, he’s started all 11 matches this term, notching two goals and two assists apiece while completing 88% of his passes, creating two chances on average each game and recovering six balls a match.

He’s so energetic, mobile and athletic while bearing the shrewdness to apply himself in the correct phases, never over-exerting. This is a rare trait for one so young, and emphasises the midfielder’s potential for success in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Smit ranks among the top 14% of midfielders in the Dutch top flight this season for pass completion and successful take-ons, and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Should Wirtz be worried for his starting berth? While all of the above is true, stepping into the harsh English footballing climate is no easy task. Wirtz would testify for that argument.

But Smit is less of an out-and-out attacking midfielder than his older counterpart, and in this, he could be a glove-tight tactical fit under Slot’s management, instilling more creativity while adding to the steel and compactability of the engine room.

His more balanced approach differs from Wirtz’s own. The new Merseyside recruit has faced criticism for a perceived lack of physicality in the Premier League. Some pointed fingers regarding this matter have been unfair, but there’s no question that Wirtz needs to be more active in the duel, more combative when pitted against defenders.

The aforementioned Mattinson has singled Smit out as a “duel monster”, further underlining his potential in Slot’s Liverpool set-up.

The Reds have options in midfield, and they have creative players too. But it doesn’t take someone with Slot’s football-tuned mind to conclude that something isn’t working for the Premier League champions, who need to find a way out of this present rut, else a concerning start will devolve into a disastrous campaign with far-reaching ramifications.

If Liverpool succeed in sealing Smit’s signature this winter, there’s every chance that the perfect dimension would be added to ease the offensive issues at the club.

Who knows, perhaps the competition would help Wirtz grow into his Liverpool skin and begin to show that ability that was promised when Liverpool spent a staggering sum on bringing him over from Germany.

But if not, Smit has the potential to stand proud as one of the world’s best, and this could give Liverpool’s German maverick cause for concern.

Forget Ngumoha: 19-year-old star is Liverpool's new Luis Diaz in the making

Liverpool could now be brewing their next Luis Diaz in this rising 19-year-old star.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 18, 2025

Leeds United return to action in the Premier League this weekend after the international break with a clash against Aston Villa at Elland Road on Sunday.

The Whites have lost their last two matches in the top-flight, conceding six goals in the process, and their most recent outing was a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the break.

Whilst this shows that there needs to be improvement on the defensive side of the game, Daniel Farke also needs to find a way to get more out of his players at the top end of the pitch.

The Championship champions have only scored 11 goals in their 11 Premier League games so far this season, with several members of the squad underperforming in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

2.89

1

-1.89

Jayden Bogle

0.88

0

-0.88

Brenden Aaronson

1.79

1

-0.79

Joel Piroe

0.73

0

-0.73

Pascal Struijk

0.65

0

-0.65

Dan James

0.47

0

-0.47

Jack Harrison

0.41

0

-0.41

As you can see in the table above, too many of the team’s top attackers have underperformed against their xG in the top-flight, which shows that Farke does not have many reliable finishers.

With the January transfer window around five weeks away from opening for business, the Whites may already be starting to think about what they could do to improve their attack.

Why Leeds need to sign a winger in January

The West Yorkshire-based outfit need to go out and sign another wide option in the January window to bolster their options on the flank, because they have not had enough productivity in those positions this season.

As aforementioned, the Whites have only scored 11 times in 11 Premier League games, which shows that goalscoring is a clear area for improvement, and their lack of goals from wide players has been one of the causes of that particular struggle.

Noah Okafor

8

2 + 0

Brenden Aaronson

11

1 + 1

Dan James

8

0 + 0

Jack Harrison

10

0 + 0

Wilfried Gnonto

4

0 + 0

As you can see in the table above, Noah Okafor is the only winger in the squad who has scored more than one league goal for the club this season, despite December being just over a week away.

The Switzerland international, who scored goals against Wolves and Spurs, has been the only wide attacker who has carried a fairly consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

Farke will surely be frustrated with the lack of output from the majority of his wide options, which is why the club need to go out and splash the cash on a new option in those two positions at the turn of the year.

Leeds backed to sign Premier League forward

On that very topic, a former scout has backed the Premier League strugglers to sign one of their former players when the January transfer window opens for business.

Former Tottenham scout Bryan King has suggested that a move to Elland Road could be on the cards for Manor Solomon if Spurs decide to recall him from his loan spell with Villarreal.

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Speaking to MOTLeedsNews, King said: “If he (Solomon) isn’t going to stay at Villarreal, then I could certainly see him being sold in January. He definitely won’t get a game for Tottenham, there’s three or four people in front of him in his position.

“He did well at Leeds; he was a key part of their team that got promoted. I would have thought he’d be a very good option for Leeds. They haven’t exactly set the Premier League alight, and it looks as though they need more options.”

If Solomon, who has only started one LaLiga match with Villarreal, does get recalled in January, Leeds should pursue a deal to bring the forward back to West Yorkshire.

Why Leeds should sign Manor Solomon

The Whites should push to land another deal for the Israel international because he could arrive at Elland Road in the winter window as a huge upgrade on Brenden Aaronson.

As aforementioned, the USA international has produced one goal and one assist in the Premier League so far this season, as the first-choice right wing option, due to the change in formation that took away his favoured number ten role.

Solomon, meanwhile, has one goal and one assist in LaLiga, despite playing just four matches, and delivered three assists in his one appearance in the Copa del Rey, per Sofascore.

On top of providing more quality for Villarreal than Aaronson has for Leeds in all competitions this season, the right-footed winger also outperformed the American in the Championship last season.

The former Fulham attacker, of course, spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road from Spurs and caught the eye with his consistent performances at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

46

39

xG

11.43

8.15

Goals

9

10

Minutes per goal

396

261

Big chances created

9

21

Key passes per game

1.6

1.7

xA

6.05

10.30

Assists

2

12

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs loanee offered significantly more to the team at the top end of the pitch than Aaronson did in the second tier last term, with more goals from less xG and more than twice as many ‘big chances’ created.

Solomon, who was hailed by former Leeds boss Neil Redfearn for being an “unplayable” star who is “like tackling smoke” for defenders, has proven that he can excel in front of goal in a Farke team, even more so than the USA international.

The Villarreal forward also has experience in the Premier League, with Fulham and Spurs, which means that it would not be a culture shock for him to be thrown into the division in the second half of the campaign.

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Therefore, Leeds should explore the possibility of a reunion with Solomon because he could be an ideal signing to upgrade on Aaronson on the wing in the January window.