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Tigers ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal left his start against the Marlins with a team athletic trainer Friday night.

He appeared to grab the left side of his upper body after a pitch in the fourth inning which caused manager A.J. Hinch and a member of the training staff to head out to the mound. After a brief discussion, Skubal exited the game. You can watch the unfortunate sequence below:

Per 's Cody Stavenhagen, the team said the Cy Young Award frontrunner left his 29th start of the season with tightness in his left side and is getting evaluated. Heading into the night, he is 13–4 with a 2.10 ERA and 222 strikeouts. He leads the AL in ERA, trailing only Paul Skenes (1.92) for the best mark in baseball. Only Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet has more punchouts with 228.

Something was off with Skubal from the start Friday as he gave up two home runs in his first two innings and ended the evening allowing four earned runs to two strikeouts. He pitched 14 innings of scoreless baseball over his two previous starts while striking out 10 batters along the way.

Javier Báez exited early for Detroit Friday also after he fouled a ball off his head earlier in the game.

Not long after India were unable to defend a massive score of 358 against South Africa in the second ODI, captain KL Rahul said the toss “plays a huge part” and makes a “huge difference” in matches where dew heavily skews the match in the favour of chasing sides. India lost their 20th toss in a row in ODIs, and South Africa opted to bowl and sealed a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare to level the series 1-1.”Not really, considering everything – how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul said at the presentation when asked if the defeat was a tough pill to swallow. “The last game, we did really well, considering everything. All the difficulties for bowlers bowling with a wet ball, and the umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still I think toss plays a huge part. So I’m kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row. It’s obviously making a huge difference.”India were asked to bat for a second game in a row under Rahul’s captaincy this series. While India managed a narrow 17-run win in the opening match in Ranchi after posting 349, this time a bigger target didn’t prove to be enough.Related

• Ruturaj Gaikwad: 'I was pretty much confident' of batting at No. 4

• When South Africa and India went off the scale

• Shadowing the king: When Gaikwad matched Kohli shot for shot

• Hardik back in India's T20I squad for South Africa, Gill to play subject to fitness

• Markram ton trumps Kohli, Gaikwad centuries for nervy win

“To reflect back there’s always things that we could have done better,” Rahul said. “With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that’s also been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game [about] how can we get that extra 20-25 runs, so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball.”Bowlers obviously are trying their heart out, but there are areas to improve. There are a few soft boundaries that we gave away, even in the field. If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way and we’ll be on the other side.”India’s tall total was built on the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. This was the 11th time Kohli hit hundreds in back-to-back ODIs, while it was Gaikwad’s maiden century in the format – the pair adding 195 runs in just 156 balls together for the third wicket.”It was beautiful to watch – Virat, the way he batted. Obviously, we have seen him do this for 53 times now,” Rahul said. “He goes on about doing his job, we’re used to seeing it. Just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. [He] took on the spinners, hit his gaps. Once he got past that 50, the tempo that he batted with is I think what gave us that extra 20 runs.”Despite the strong base, India could not finish strong: they added only 103 runs in the last 15 overs with eight wickets in hand; just 74 in the last ten overs. Rahul scored an enterprising 66 not out off 43 at No. 5 after being carded at No.6 in the team sheet at the toss. Washington Sundar made 1 off eight balls while Ravindra Jadeja batted 27 balls and scored an unbeaten 24 with just two fours.”Obviously batting at 5-6-7 [could be looked at],” Rahul said. “If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries, then maybe that’s the 20 runs that we would have been happy with.”Today is the first time I’ve been slotted at No. 6 and I’ve walked in at 5. Otherwise, it’s always a decision before the game. The way Rutu and Virat’s partnership was going on, they set a good tempo. So GG [Gautam Gambhir, head coach] and me felt like it would be the right time for me to walk in and keep that tempo going. Obviously [I] got a fifty last game, so, there’s a bit of confidence. Someone who’s batted in the middle, someone who’s high on confidence is probably the right person to go in and take on the bowling and keep that tempo going. That was the plan.

Manchester United believe they can sign Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson for a cut-price fee in 2026.

Man Utd linked with Anderson amid Tuchel praise

Since making the move to the City Ground from Newcastle in 2024, Anderson has gone from strength to strength and is now viewed as one of the best players in the Premier League.

He’s also now a regular on the international stage under Thomas Tuchel, and it looks as if Anderson and Declan Rice will be the Three Lions’ starting midfield duo at the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel has recently praised Anderson, calling him an elite player. “Anderson is a key player for us at the moment. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, that’s why he is with us and starting for us. He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent.”

Anderson’s displays have caught the eye of Man Utd, who have been heavily linked with a move for the midfielder, however, they aren’t the only Premier League side who are keen.

Former club Newcastle are thought to have an interest in bringing Anderson back to St James’ Park, whereas Chelsea have also been linked. Now, a new update has emerged over a transfer to Old Trafford and the potential fee involved.

Man Utd “confident” of signing Anderson for £60m

According to CaughtOffside, Man Utd think they can sign Anderson for a bargain fee of just £60m, which is £40m less than Forest’s initial £100m valuation that has been mooted in the media.

Anderson being under contract at the City Ground for another three-and-a-half years could complicate matters, so if Man Utd do snap him up for £60m as they feel they can, it may prove to be a shrewd deal.

Elliot Anderson’s best performances 25/26

WhoScored rating

Latvia 0-5 England

8.14/10

Nottingham Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

7.77/10

Real Betis 2-2 Nottingham Forest

7.66/10

England 2-0 Andorra

7.45/10

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford

7.40/10

The 23-year-old also shares the same agency as United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has actually been linked with the Old Trafford exit.

Casemiro’s contract is also set to expire in 2026, whereas Manuel Ugarte came in for criticism from Amorim after the Europa League final last season.

Related Man Utd now very keen on signing "amazing" midfielder likened to N'Golo Kante

Ruben Amorim’s side have identified another target in the middle of the park ahead of the January transfer window.

Posts ByDominic Lund Nov 20, 2025

All signs point towards a new marquee midfielder being required, and that could be Anderson if the Red Devils get their way.

Man Utd now racing Arsenal to sign "complete" £45m Bundesliga attacker

Chelsea's fine form under Enzo Maresca continued with a blockbuster win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Blues turned on the style against their Spanish rivals, coming away 3-0 winners, thanks to an own goal from Jules Kounde, a wonderful Estevao strike and Liam Delap's first goal at Stamford Bridge. But the Premier League side could have had six or seven, such was their dominance under the lights in the capital.

The home side saw two goals ruled out for offside inside the first 25 minutes, with Enzo Fernandez twice having his celebrations cut short thanks to first a Wesley Fofana handball and then the offside flag. In fact, the Blues almost saw themselves go behind after a rare Barca attack in the early stages, as some slick play from Lamine Yamal saw the La Masia wonderkid slip Ferran Torres through, only for the former Manchester City man to fire agonisingly wide of Robert Sanchez's goal.

Just over 20 minutes later, the visitors were punished. It was third time lucky for Maresca's men, who were finally allowed to celebrate with the Stamford Bridge faithful after Marc Cucurella – who was brilliant across the night – beat the high line of Barcelona and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. After a scrappy few seconds that saw Pedro Neto attempt a backheel into the net, the ball bounced off Jules Kounde and in, giving Chelsea a deserved lead.

With their backs now against the wall, Barca's misery was further compounded after captain Ronald Araujo was sent off just before half-time. A silly yellow card for dissent towards the referee was followed by a reckless tackle on Cucurella, giving the official no choice but to dismiss the Uruguay international.

With Chelsea in full control, it was plain sailing for most of the second half. The moment of the night came from the highly-rated Estevao, who weaved in and out of the Barcelona defence before blasting an effort into the roof of the net with his weaker right foot. It was another clear sign of the talent he possesses, outshining Yamal when the moment mattered most.

The pain did not stop there for Flick's side, who saw their defence breached for a third time before the final whistle. This time it was Delap who struck, firing home low from Fernandez's pass to put a seal on the game that was never really a contest.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Robert Sanchez (7/10):

  Another solid outing. He dealt with a few dangerous balls in behind his defenders but was barely stretched across the night. 

  Reece James (8/10):

  His extended period without picking up an injury is paying off in a big way. The Chelsea captain led by example as usual, even clipping in a fabulous ball in behind for Estevao's goal.

  Wesley Fofana (6/10):

  Looked comfortable on an evening where he had little to do.

  Trevoh Chalobah (7/10):

  Let out a few roars for the crowd across the night after making a number of crunching tackles. Dealt with the threat of Lewandowski incredibly well and looked determined to keep a clean sheet. Job done!

  Marc Cucurella (9/10):

  Locked up his international team-mate Yamal with ease, and proved once again why he is one of the best defenders in Europe.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Malo Gusto (7/10):

  Hounded down the Barca players from midfield and swept up everything not already covered by Caicedo. Replaced by Andrey Santos at half-time.

  Moises Caicedo (9/10):

  Another impeccable performance from the Blues' star midfielder. Every 30 seconds, Caicedo would pop up with a crucial tackle and keep Chelsea on the front foot. Relentless for every second he was on the pitch.

  Enzo Fernandez (8/10):

  Pulled the strings in a slightly more advanced role and could have had two goals of his own, were it not for marginal calls. Instead, the Argentine had to settle for a delightful assist, which he put on a plate for Delap.

• Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Estevao (8/10):

  The young Brazilian proved there is substance behind the comparisons between himself and Yamal. His magic moment in the second half stole the show, putting the home side in the driving seat and adding another fantastic goal to his growing Chelsea collection.

  Pedro Neto (6/10):

  He was less effective on the ball than his team-mates, but made plenty of piercing runs in behind the Barcelona backline. Had one big chance in the first half that he blazed over and another from a driving run in the second.

  Alejandro Garnacho (4/10):

  It was a quiet evening for the summer signing from Manchester United. Aside from a blocked shot in the opening 45, Garnacho was ineffective and subsequently hooked before the 60-minute mark.

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  Subs & Manager

  Andrey Santos (6/10):

  Was introduced at half-time and covered plenty of ground, albeit the midfielder rarely got his foot on the ball and opted to do the dirty work alongside Caicedo and Fernandez.

  Liam Delap (7/10):

  Came on and ran riot, bulldozing his way into dangerous positions and eventually being rewarded with his first goal at Stamford Bridge to put the game to bed at 3-0.

  Jamie Gittens (6/10):

  Looked sharp in the minutes he was given and gave Kounde a run for his money, albeit his legs were much fresher than the Frenchman's.

  Tyrique George (N/A):

  Introduced for the final few minutes in place of the outstanding Estevao.

  Josh Acheampong (N/A):

  Came on for captain Reece James, who received a standing ovation from the Chelsea faithful.

  Enzo Maresca (9/10):

  The head coach got his tactics spot on and completely outcoached Flick in the opposite dugout. The quick passing and runs in behind paid off, even if his players were still caught offside a number of times. Deserves a huge amount of credit for the win.

Hundreds from opener Priyansh Arya and captain Shreyas Iyer set up India A’s demolition of Australia A in the first unofficial ODI in Kanpur on Wednesday. After rain allowed no play on Tuesday, the weather cleared for the series to get underway on the reserve day.After being asked to bat, India A posted 413 for 6 on the back of Arya’s 101 and Iyer’s 110. In response, Australia A were dismissed for 242 in 33.1 overs.Each of India’s top six had a strike rate of over 100, and five of their top six scored at least 50. Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who had combined powerfully for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025, were reunited at the top for India A, putting on 135 for the opening stand in 20.3 overs. Iyer then took charge of the innings, hitting 12 fours and four sixes in his first List A match since the Champions Trophy in March earlier this year.Related

• Iyer to lead India A in one-dayers against Australia A

• BCCI okays Shreyas Iyer's request for six-month break from red-ball cricket

• After years in Chennai heat, Gurjapneet Singh is now in India A spotlight

Rajat Patidar was originally named captain for the 50-over series against Australia A but Iyer replaced him, with Patidar taking charge of the Rest of India side in the ongoing Irani Cup in Nagpur. Iyer is on a break from red-ball cricket due to concerns about his back, but continues to be available for white-ball cricket.Riyan Parag (67) and Ayush Badoni (50) also hit half-centuries to propel India A to a mammoth total. Iyer’s dismissal in the 47th over left India A at 380 for 4, but Badoni and allrounder Nishant Sindhu took them past 400.Australia A used seven bowlers, with only Liam Scott going at less than seven an over.Chasing 414, Australia A had a good start: they were 116 for 1 in the 13th over, but Cooper Connolly’s wicket triggered a slide. They lost their last nine wickets for 126 and left almost 17 overs unused in their chase.Opener McKenzie Harvey top-scored for the visitors with 68 off 62 balls while captain Sutherland made 50 off 33 balls. Spinners Sindhu, Bishnoi and Badoni shared seven wickets among them.Gurjapneet Singh, who was making his List A debut, having been fast-tracked into the India A side, came away with 1 for 40 in five overs.India A will be bolstered by the arrival of Asia Cup hero Tilak Varma for the remaining two one-dayers.

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen lashed out at being constantly asked about his fitness as the Denmark international claimed that he has been fit all season. After spending the majority of the 2024-25 campaign on the sidelines due to serious concerns, Christensen has managed to accumulate just 342 minutes on the in the 10 matches he has played for the Catalan giants this season.

Christensen's injury crisis

Until the 2024-25 season, Christensen was a key member of the Barcelona starting lineup, however, an Achilles tendon injury and muscle issues forced him to remain sidelined for the majority of the last campaign.  In the current campaign, the Danish defender has fallen down the pecking order behind Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo under Hansi Flick. He was ruled out for four games due to gastroenteritis but has otherwise been available for the Spanish champions.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChristensen frustrated with fitness queries

Speaking to reporters, the 29-year-old said: "Before last season, there were hardly any questions about my fitness. But since then, there have been many. Now I'm back in competition, without getting injured. In fact, apart from illnesses I've been fit all season. So it's annoying, but I have to accept it. I'll keep my head held high and play, as I always have, except when I've been sick."

He further claimed that he constantly keeps track of whatever is said about him in the media, as the centre-back added: "I think it's more difficult if you're a player and you follow a lot of news. But since I don't use social media and I almost never read the news in Denmark, luckily I don't see them. So for me it's not that difficult. But I imagine it must be incredibly stimulating and at the same time totally exhausting. Luckily, I don't mind staying out of it."

Ex-Chelsea defender wants new Barcelona deal

Speaking to earlier this month, Christensen admitted that Barcelona had not yet approached him about an extension, as he said: "No, not really. I don't think so. I think we're in a good situation, and there's not really anything that can change anything I do in my everyday life. Of course, you want to have it in place and know what's happening. But it's not something that changes our mood during the days, or something we talk about 

"Of course, we have desires, we all do, but it's not something I think about in my everyday life. I try to do what I can do on the pitch, and hopefully that's enough for me to stay there." Christensen also admitted that his agent will remain involved over future decisions. If there is something that needs to be done, he will, of course, do it. Of course, I would like to know what is happening, but I would rather focus on what I can do, and that is to do what I can do."

He added: "Oh, no, I have no idea. Not yet. I'm just choosing to focus on being part of the team and playing as much as I possibly can. Hopefully that's how it ends up, but I'll have to take it as it comes, right now. Not at all. No plan B."

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Getty Images SportWill Barcelona offer a new deal to Christensen?

As of now, there has been no indication that the Spanish champions would offer Christensen a new contract and with his limited role in the current campaign, it is possible that Barcelona could let him leave for free at the end of the season. Last month, Barca sporting director Deco had told : "We’re taking Andreas step by step. He had a spectacular first year. Then injuries have affected him quite a bit. We’ll see how he does this season and we’ll talk. He’s a great player. We don’t have to renew all the players in October either."

Flick's men will be back in action after the international break on November 22 when they take on Athletic Club in a La Liga fixture at home. 

Hosts record their fourth win in five games after chasing down Essex in tense contest

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Jun-2025Warwickshire continued their impressive Women’s Vitality Blast charge with a tense two-wicket win over Essex at Edgbaston.Georgia Davis’s side recorded their fourth win in five games after chasing down Essex’s 150 for 3. Cordelia Griffith, 47 not out off 36 balls, and Madeline Penna’s unbeaten 41 from 42 balls pulled the visitors round from 56 for 3 but never escaped the shackles of a disciplined attack.Warwickshire then slipped to 43 for 4 in reply but recovered to reach 154 for 8 with one ball to spare as Charis Pavely struck a dynamic unbeaten 68 from 40 balls with five fours and three sixes.Essex chose to bat and started solidly as openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Grace Scrivens added 44 in 35 balls before Scrivens fell to the antepenultimate ball of the powerplay when she skied a slog at Phoebe Graham to midwicket.Laura Harris took that catch and accepted another four balls later when Alice Macleod drove Hannah Baker to extra cover. Those two blows for Essex were quickly followed by a big self-inflicted one. Winfield-Hill, on 30 from 23 balls, was called for a quick single by Griffith, hesitated and was run out by bowler Davis who chased the ball down with the precision and purpose with which she used, as a police officer, to chase villains round Walsall.The loss of three wickets for 12 runs in 11 balls required some shoring up and Griffith and Penna stemmed the collapse before seeking to accelerate. Each hit six fours in an unbroken stand of 94 from 75 balls to assure a competitive, if less than imposing total.MacGregor, leading wicket-taker in the competition, inflicted brisk damage on Warwickshire’s reply with two wickets in her second over. Davina Perrin chipped a low full toss to mid on and Meg Austin top-edged a leg-side scoop to the wicketkeeper.Essex’s bowlers continued to exploit Warwickshire’s top-order carelessness as Natasha Wraith swung Eva Gray to deep midwicket and Sterre Kalis missed an attempted cut at Abtaha Maqsood’s first ball and was bowled.That left Warwickshire 43 for 4 which could have been worse had an early big hit to long on from Pavely off Sophia Smale not passed through the hands of Penna for six. Pavely survived to add 43 in 28 balls with Issy Wong (33, 25) who batted responsibly to rebuild the innings but then misjudged a second run and was beaten by Joanne Gardner’s throw.Harris swept Gray to short fine leg but Pavely pulled MacGregor into the Hollies Stand for six to leave Warwickshire needing 35 from five overs. Successive fours took her to a 31-ball half-century and another handsome six, off Jodi Grewcock, put the equation firmly into the home side’s hands with just three needed from the last over.Scrivens started it with a dot ball and a wicket – Davis caught at mid-on – but two singles followed to level the scores with two balls left and Baker struck the next to the midwicket boundary.

Liverpool bounced back from their four successive defeats in style as they came from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all got on the scoresheet for the Reds in Germany while Florian Wirtz finally registered his first assists since his big-money arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.

Arne Slot made five changes to his side from Sunday's loss to Manchester United, and Alexander Isak twice went close to putting them ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, only to be denied by Michael Zetterer in the Eintracht goal. Instead it was the hosts who broke the deadlock, as Rasmus Kristensen finished off a sweeping move from back to front after Wirtz surrendered possession.

Zetterer had to be at his best to keep out a point-blank Conor Bradley header, but he was powerless to stop Ekitike from equalising against his former club as the forward ran onto Andrew Robertson's fine through-ball and slotted home 10 minutes before half-time. By the break the visitors were 3-1 up as first Van Dijk and then Konate both powered home close-range headers from corners.

Suddenly in confident mood, Liverpool went close to adding to their lead as Federico Chiesa volleyed wide and Bradley had a powerful effort pushed onto the post before Gakpo tapped into an empty net after Szoboszlai and Wirtz combined to cut through the hosts. Szoboszlai then grabbed his goal with an arrowed drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Deutsche Bank Park…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Giorgi Marmadashvili (6/10):

  Couldn't do much to keep out Kristensen's strike but wasn't called upon all that often thereafter.

  Jeremie Frimpong (5/10):

  Couldn't make much impact on the game before an injury forced him off inside the opening 20 minutes.

  Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

  Had an easier night from a defensive point of view than in recent weeks and showed good strength to wrestle free of his marker and head in Liverpool's third.

  Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

  Wild that he was given so much room in the box to head Liverpool in front, but he made no mistake. Held things together pretty well at the back, too.

  Andrew Robertson (6/10):

  Perhaps could have done more to stop Kristensen from shooting for the opener, but redeemed himself with a superb first-time pass to set Ekitike free to equalise. Does look more dependable than Kerkez right now.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Florian Wirtz (6/10):

  Shrugged off the ball far too easily by Nathaniel Brown which led to Eintracht's goal. Did show some nice touches both out wide and when moved centrally after the break, but nothing came off for the big-money signing before he finally provided his first assists for the club with a nicely weighted ball into Gakpo and an easy pass into Szoboszlai.

  Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):

  Had to cover a lot of ground in the first half as attempted to shield the defence almost on his own at times. Grew in stature as the game wore on and produced some excellent defensive interventions before starting the move for Gakpo's goal and netting a fine long-range strike of his own.

  Curtis Jones (7/10):

  Given the task of driving Liverpool forward from midfield, the England international performed admirably in a tough role.

  Cody Gakpo (7/10):

  Provided a couple of fine crosses into the box, including for Van Dijk's goal, and got himself on the scoresheet in the second half with a tap-in. Continues to be the most consistent of Liverpool's forwards right now.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Alexander Isak (4/10):

  Denied twice by Zetterer in the opening 10 minutes, but faded badly after that bright start before being replaced at half-time.

  Hugo Ekitike (7/10):

  Spent the first half-hour with his back to goal, but showed what he can do when going the other way with his composed equaliser. So silky when he picks up possession, he looks a much better bet than Isak at the moment.

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  Subs & Manager

  Conor Bradley (7/10):

  Could have had a couple of goals if not for Zetterer and produced a fine block to deny Bahoya at 2-1 in a typically gritty display.

  Federico Chiesa (5/10):

  Wasted a couple of good chances but showed good energy after replacing Isak at half-time.

  Mohamed Salah (5/10):

  Tried all he could to get on the scoresheet in the final 20 minutes but couldn't find the net

  Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

  Replaced Gakpo for the final 20 minutes.

  Joe Gomez (6/10):

  Gave Konate the final minutes off.

  Arne Slot (7/10):

  Opting for a 4-4-2 didn't quite work even if Liverpool went 3-1 up before half-time, and did the right thing taking Isak off at the break to ensure his side could control the second half.

Newcastle United’s season has been a tale of mixed fortunes.

There had been questions over their attack in the opening weeks, with the team struggling to find fluency in front of goal.

They entered Sunday’s home fixture with one of the lowest expected goals tallies in the Premier League, a worrying sign for a side competing on multiple fronts this campaign.

Yet there have been positive signs of improvement. A 4-0 win against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek and a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend offered encouragement.

Across those two games, Newcastle scored six and conceded none, showcasing both attacking progress and defensive resilience.

Their defensive record, in particular, has been outstanding.

The clean sheet against Forest was their sixth of the season, built on the formidable partnership of Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.

Botman, finally free from the injuries that plagued him over the last 18 months, looks back to his dominant best.

With such a strong foundation at the back, Eddie Howe’s side have not had to rely on prolific attacking displays to keep pace in the league and Europe.

But injuries have caused problems. Both starting full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, are set for extended layoffs, and that has forced Howe into reshuffling his defence.

Dan Burn, a natural centre-back, has been deputising at left-back, and while his height and physicality bring certain advantages, the role exposes his weaknesses.

How Newcastle defeated Nottingham Forest

Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest was convincing in the scoreline, but the performance showed areas that still need work.

Offensively, Howe’s men created plenty. They registered an xG of 3.28 – their highest in a single Premier League game this season – and fashioned six big chances, firing 18 shots.

Possession

51%

Big Chances

6

Shots

18

Corners

8

Passes

464

Bruno Guimarães was exceptional, dictating the game and earning a 9.4 match rating, via Sofascore.

His curling strike in the 58th minute opened the scoring while he then won a penalty after being fouled. Man of the moment, new mega-money striker, Nick Woltemade confidently dispatched the resulting spot kick to seal all three points.

Defensively, Newcastle looked solid throughout. Forest mustered only five shots, four on target, but none that truly tested Nick Pope.

The only real scare came from former Magpies Chris Wood in the second half, though it was ruled offside.

For a side that has kept six clean sheets already, this was another example of their defensive discipline shining through.

Yet it wasn’t all perfect. While the centre-backs were imperious and Guimarães orchestrated midfield, the flanks were less convincing.

Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga both struggled to stamp their authority in wide areas, and Burn’s positioning at left-back behind Gordon became a notable concern.

Dan Burn's struggles against Nottingham Forest

Dan Burn has been described by one content creator as “the stuff of nightmares” at left-back.

Against Forest, that description rang true again.

Despite Newcastle controlling much of the game, Burn’s vulnerability in one-on-one situations was visible and will surely be noted by future opponents.

Statistically, Burn’s outing summed up the dilemma.

He registered a 6.9 match rating according to Sofascore, produced one assist, and made two clearances, one interception, and one tackle. But he was also dribbled past twice, highlighting his discomfort against quicker, more agile opponents.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

While his aerial dominance and strength are assets, at full-back, he is often exposed for pace and movement in behind.

This isn’t an isolated issue. In midweek, Union Saint-Gilloise repeatedly targeted Burn’s side in the Champions League, recognising it as a potential weakness.

More dangerous Premier League opponents than Forest are likely to do the same.

Newcastle’s next fixture away at Brighton could prove especially difficult, with Yankuba Minteh expected to test Burn’s defensive ability down the wing.

Burn’s situation is complicated by his England call-up, where he will likely feature as a centre-back.

While that suits his natural game, it denies him the opportunity to gain more rhythm at left-back, a role Newcastle increasingly need him to adapt to.

The positional adjustment could even influence the way Howe sets his team up, as Burn’s lack of mobility on the flank can alter Newcastle’s pressing and transition play.

The debate is already growing among fans about whether Newcastle should look into the free-agent market for a temporary left-back solution until Hall returns.

Burn has been a dependable servant and remains a strong squad option, but in this role, he is certainly on borrowed time in the starting lineup.

As Howe looks ahead to a congested autumn schedule, managing this weakness could be as important as Newcastle’s improving attacking play.

While the defence remains one of the most reliable in the league, the left-back situation is one clear that rivals will aim to exploit.

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After a few years away, Chelsea are finally back in Champions League action tonight.

It won’t be an easy reintroduction to Europe’s premier competition, though, as Enzo Maresca’s Conference League winners will be taking on Bayern Munich.

The German champions are stacked with incredible players in every position, but the one the Blues have to be most wary of is undoubtedly Harry Kane.

The England captain has the ability to take games away from teams, although Chelsea have a superstar of their own, someone who could well outshine Kane.

Chelsea's record against Bayern Munich

Despite both Bayern and Chelsea being two of the biggest clubs in European football and consistently competing for the top prizes in recent decades, they’ve only played one another in five competitive games.

The first was back in the 2004/05 season, in which the Baverians travelled to West London for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, a game the hosts won 4-2, which was then followed by a 3-2 win for the German giants in the second leg.

However, the most famous meeting between the two institutions came just over 13 years ago, when Roberto Di Matteo’s side managed to beat the odds and claim their first Champions League title by beating Jupp Heynckes’ men 4-3 on penalties.

It was in that game that Didier Drogba scored his most famous goal for the Blues, and Petr Čech played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time.

Unfortunately, FC Hollywood have had the upper hand in the two games since that incredible final.

They demolished Frank Lampard’s side 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in February 2020, and then completed the job with a 4-1 win when the competition resumed that August after the first lockdown.

In all, while Bayern have won most of their encounters, Chelsea fans wouldn’t swap their records thanks to that famous night in Munich. Although with that said, Maresca will be looking to improve that record tonight, and so long as he starts the player who could upstage Kane, then there is every chance he will.

Chelsea star could outshine Kane

While they’ve received plenty of criticism for their transfer strategy over the years, Chelsea now have a team packed with brilliant players.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernández could get into most top teams around Europe, but without a doubt, the Blues’ best player is Cole Palmer.

The former Manchester City gem is the definition of a game-changer, and should he be on song against Bayern, there is every chance he could outshine Kane.

While the England captain is that bit more prolific a goalscorer, almost everything good the West Londoners do goes through their dazzling number ten, so much so that GOAL’s Sean Walsh once suggested that he is “Lampard, Drogba & Hazard all in one”, combining the best attributes of three Stamford Bridge legends.

Rather unsurprising, Chelsea’s fortunes changed for the better when he came on at the weekend, entering the fray on Saturday in the 56th minute and just five minutes later scoring the equalising goal for his side.

It was hardly a surprise, though, as in 99 appearances for the Pensioners, totalling 7984 minutes, the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Scott Bradley, has scored 44 goals and provided 29 assists.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 109.36 minutes, which is frankly absurd.

Appearances

99

Minutes

7984′

Goals

44

Assists

29

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

Minutes per Goal Involvements

109.36′

Moreover, he proved himself to be a big-game player at the Club World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against a heavily favoured Paris Saint-Germain.

Ultimately, while Bayern will be the favourites, Chelsea have every chance of coming away with all three points tomorrow night, especially if Palmer starts and is on song.

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