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Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted that he was forced to field an unusual line-up against Real Betis as he had "no one available".

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Liverpool started without a typical strikerInstead, Slot had two No.10sThe manager explained his choice after winningWHAT HAPPENED?

Earlier this month, Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End in a behind-closed-doors friendly at their training ground. However, the victory against Real Betis signalled a positive start to their US tour and the new phase under Slot's leadership. Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the 34th minute, capitalising on a precise pass from Mohamed Salah, which proved to be enough to seal a friendly victory over the La Liga outfit. Despite getting over the line, questions were raised about the formation used by the Dutch manager.

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Slot introduced a fluid 4-2-4 formation, reflecting his preference for a slower, possession-based approach, which was a notable shift from Klopp's high-intensity gegenpressing style. The absence of regular strikers Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, who are on extended breaks after participating in Copa America and Euro 2024 respectively, and the late return of Diogo Jota to pre-season training, left Slot with limited options. Young forward Jayden Danns was also sidelined due to injury, further reducing attacking choices. As a result, Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott alternated in the attacking midfielder role, leaving Liverpool effectively without a traditional striker for much of the game.

WHAT SLOT SAID

Slot justified this decision by highlighting the necessity due to current circumstances and emphasised that it was a stop-gap measure to cover the current limitations.

"I think during the season you will see us play with a real striker," he told reporters after the match. "But at this moment we have no one available and then with Dom and Harvey [Elliott] we've got two No.10s, so we put them in the position they will play during the season as well. So that was one of the reasons why we played with a double 10 instead of with a striker. That is maybe out of necessity. But for the rest of the style of play with trying to build up from the back, that is our style – to control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks. That will hopefully be our style during the season. There are also, of course, many things we can improve but that's normal after two weeks."

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Liverpool's pre-season preparations continue as they will face Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal next in their US tour on August 1 and August 4, respectively.

Led country to first global Physical Disability title in 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2019Iain Nairn, captain of the England Physical Disability team, has announced his retirement from international cricket after a seven-year career.Nairn, 39, who plays with a prosthetic right leg, led England to victory in the T20 World Series in 2015, which was organised by the Red Cross as the first global Physical Disability Cricket tournament ever staged.In 2019, he guided England to the final of the Physical Disability World Series in Worcester – a tournament that showed the extent to which PD cricket has grown since Nairn’s first involvement seven years ago.”I’m so fortunate to have experienced everything I have for England and I’m also jealous of the lads who will continue to do it, but the time is right for me to go out while still being a valued member of the team and knowing I’ve got an exciting future at home,” Nairn said.”We’ve now got four people under the age of 20 who are mainstays in the team, but even now the ‘old hands’ are only reaching their mid-20s. If they can get towards my age and still be playing, they’re going to have another 13 years left of playing for England and it’s exciting to think where disability cricket will be in 13 years’ time given the steps we’ve made in the last seven.”The biggest part of it, for me, is seeing the development of their interpersonal skills and their personalities outside of the game. A lot of disabled people don’t have high self-worth or self-confidence, and we’ve seen those things really develop in this group over the last seven years.”Seeing individuals achieving personal success is as much part of the game as it is them scoring 50s and taking wickets. I would encourage anyone with a disability to have a look at disability sport as a way to improving their lives and health.”Ian Salisbury, Head Coach of the England Physical Disability team, said: “Iain has been a fantastic servant to English cricket and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with him over the past few years.”The phrase ‘model professional’ springs to mind, but let’s remember that Iain, like all of our disability cricketers, has balanced a full-time job and his family commitments throughout his England career.”His attitude towards sport, captaincy and life is exemplary and he has been an incredible role model. He is not only a fantastic cricketer, but also a fantastic human being who is the epitome of ‘anything is possible’, and I’m lucky to have a friend for life.Ian Martin, ECB Head of Disability Cricket, said: “I want to express my huge gratitude to Iain and congratulate him on such a fantastic international career.”While we work to provide our England Disability Cricket teams with the best possible opportunities, it’s really down to people like Iain performing to a high standard on the pitch that we’re able to grow the game in the UK and around the world.”His passion for the sport and for the team is remarkable and the work he does to promote awareness of disability cricket is inspirational. Iain has led from the front in his five years of captaincy, during which the standard of physical disability cricket has raised immensely.”I’m sure that even in retirement, Iain will continue to be a positive force for cricket in this country and our PD players will continue to build on the foundations he has laid.”

A new report has now shared a concerning update on Leeds United star Archie Gray.

Gray’s breakthrough season at Leeds

The 18-year-old has played an important part in Leeds’ season so far under Daniel Farke, turning out mainly as a right-back instead of his favoured midfield role.

Archie Gray's best Leeds performances in the Championship

WhoScored rating

Swansea City 0-4 Leeds United

7.76/10

Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

7.34/10

Leeds United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers

7.28/10

Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Leeds United

7.25/10

Leeds United 2-1 Bristol City

7.22/10

Gray is hoping to take his boyhood club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, with the Whites having six Championship games remaining and battling Ipswich Town and Leicester City for automatic promotion.

Former Leeds boss Simon Grayson has also recently hailed the player, exclusively telling Football FanCast: “But you never know how they're going to adapt to playing in the first-team. Can they handle the pressure?

“It's been a remarkable period for him and it'll just show that he's going to go on to have a wonderful career. And who knows where that's going to take him but yeah, fantastic and brilliant for him and the Academy and the Gray family in general, because there's obviously an iconic name there.”

Due to his eye-catching rise, Leeds are braced to receive offers for Gray from a number of Premier League sides this summer, however, Gray is also being looked at by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich eyeing Archie Gray

According to a new concerning report from HITC, both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are now also watching Gray ahead of a potential move.

In fact, representatives from Madrid and Munich were actually at Elland Road on Easter Monday for Leeds’ 3-1 win over Hull City. The Whites are hoping that by winning promotion back to the top flight, they can keep hold of Gray, making the run-in even more crucial to those in Yorkshire.

Gray has actually only just signed a new deal through to 2028 with Leeds, but due to the sheer amount of interest, there has been speculation that the Whites could offer him another new contract.

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You’d expect Gray will continue to be a regular in the final six Championship fixtures, and hopefully, Leeds won’t need the playoffs and the club can prepare for life in the Premier League with their star teenager.

Mary Earps has enjoyed her first day as a Paris Saint-Germain player, with the England goalkeeper displaying impressing footwork in training.

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England star severed ties with Manchester UnitedFinished contract and left as a free agentReady to embrace a new challenge in FranceWHAT HAPPENED?

The Euro 2022 winner is taking on a new challenge in France after bidding farewell to Manchester United as a free agent. Earps has spent much of her senior career to date turning out in the WSL, but also has a stint in Germany with Wolfsburg on her CV.

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She is now back in continental Europe, with the brave decision taken to step out of her professional comfort zone. Two-time FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper Earps is eager to add to a medal collection at club level that includes an FA Cup triumph from 2023-24.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Earps’ shot-stopping ability will be put to the test at PSG, but she has been showing useful ability with her feet. The 31-year-old did not need to don a pair of gloves when being put through her paces in Paris, with the Lionesses star posting on Instagram: “First day, and it was well ‘ot mate.”

Instagram

Batting meltdown and Kookaburra shortcomings leave England faced with another overseas defeat

George Dobell at Centurion27-Dec-2019As England’s bowlers hit back in the final session, as the Barmy Army found their voice and South African batsmen were forced to jerk their heads out of the way of some hostile bouncers – and the odd non-bouncer – it was tempting to believe that England were right back in this match.And it’s true, England could still win this game. We have already seen this year, at Leeds and Lord’s, games where England have won despite being dismissed for under 90 in their first innings. This is a side with the ability to come back from apparently hopeless positions. When you have a player like Ben Stokes in your side, miracles become possibles and hope never dies.But the best teams don’t rely on miracles. And despite all the drama of the last session in Centurion, the unsettling thought persisted that England – English cricket, even – has already hit the iceberg. The ship is going down. All that matters now is the number of survivors.If that sounds over the top, you probably need to look at the statistics from previous games on this ground. The highest score ever made in the fourth innings of a Test here is England’s 251 for 8 in 1999-2000. And that only happened because two innings were forfeited – so it wasn’t really a fourth innings at all – and only one captain was entirely occupied with trying to win. It also remains the only Test played on the ground where the final innings of the match was the biggest. The next highest fourth-innings score made here is England’s 228 for 9 to draw in 2009-10. South Africa’s lead at this point is 175. They have six wickets in hand. England need to strike early and often on day three.If that doesn’t sound so bad, we must also acknowledge that this pitch is deteriorating. The variable bounce has already caused a couple of balls to scuttle and a few others rear and it is most unlikely to get any better. England, meanwhile, are a side that have been bowled out for under 100 three times this year, under 200 nine times (they have had 22 innings in all) and made 400 only once. As a result, it’s hard to be wildly optimistic for them.More than that, though, England should be frank about the longer-term problems facing them. The spin-bowling cupboard has never been so bare; the lack of openers has never been so obvious; the batsmen keep getting rolled and the bowlers keep looking toothless. You look around the world and other teams – certainly India, Australia, West Indies and South Africa – have fast bowlers who seem to hit the pitch harder and extract more life as a consequence. Kookaburra balls that seem dead in English hands come alive for the likes of Neil Wagner or Josh Hazlewood. And it keeps happening; to deny it is absurd and impossible.Joe Root rallies his team before the start of play•Getty ImagesThere are issues wherever you look, really: Jos Buttler has been living on potential for years – he has one Test century from 37-and-a-half Tests and is now averaging 34.44 since his recall in May 2018 – while Jonny Bairstow’s habit of being bowled continues. More than a quarter of his dismissals in Test cricket (28.69 percent to be accurate) are coming in such a fashion, which places him fifth in Test history of those who have been dismissed a minimum of 100 times. Quite what he is supposed to have proved since he was dropped at the end of the English summer is unclear: he hasn’t played a first-class game in the interim.And while Bairstow can count himself a bit unfortunate to receive one that kept a bit low – yes, it hit the top of off stump, but the impressively sharp Anrich Nortje had been making the ball rear horribly – he might reflect that it was his captain who sentenced England to batting last on this surface. Centurion’s pitches have long had a well-deserved reputation for deteriorating. This scenario was far from unpredictable.Which takes us to the captain. The decision to bowl first here will do nothing to quieten the voices calling for a change. And it’s true, Joe Root’s modest form with the bat – apart from at Hamilton – combined with his underwhelming tactical choices might render him somewhat vulnerable in circumstances where there was a viable alternative.But Root – loved by his team and keen to learn in the role – is the wrong target here. You can suggest anyone you like for captain – Mike Brearley; Winston Churchill; Gavin and Stacey – the issues will remain. It is not the England captaincy that is hindering the development of fast bowlers, spinners or batsman with the attitude and technique to bat for a long time. It is the structure of the domestic system which has been ruined over the last decade or so by a board with more interest in the bank balance than the scorecard.ALSO READ: South Africa incensed as Jofra Archer escapes beamer suspensionTalk of trying to persuade Simon Harmer – whatever his qualities as a bowler might be – to qualify for England only betrays the poverty of the situation. England may, as a result of their history and relative financial wealth, manage to attract players developed overseas to join them. But it only masks the holes. If they really want to improve, they should acknowledge them.Consistent improvement will only come when the County Championship is valued and nurtured. When it is moved to the prime weeks of the season. When pitches rewards the best and when there is a requirement for the same skills so essential at Test level.For that to happen, sacrifices will have to be made. White-ball windows will have to be closed; humble pie will have to be eaten. The World Cup triumph, welcome and wonderful though it was, may have enabled the current administration to continue upon a path that prioritised white-ball cricket to the exclusion of red-ball.So yes, England can win this match. They can win other matches, too. They really do have some hugely talented individuals. They have, in most conditions, what might be referred to as “a puncher’s chance” in boxing.But whatever happens, we must not ignore the growing evidence. The defeats in New Zealand or the Caribbean; the statistics reflecting the problems in the batting or bowling; the first year without a Test series victory this century. Eden is burning; we either have the courage to change things or accept a place – in Test cricket, at least – among the also-rans.

A Premier League rule change could force Arsenal to alter their set-piece tactics which had been a massive success last season.

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Premier League to change officiating rulesWill clamp down on 'holding' during set-piecesArsenal need to come up with an alternate planWHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners might have to revisit their set-piece strategies following a significant shake-up in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which appears to target 'holding' tactics – which has largely been developed by set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover. These involve players strategically blocking or obstructing opponents during set-pieces, creating opportunities for attackers to capitalise on the chaos in the box.

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According to the Premier League's latest rule amendments, designed to help video technology operate more smoothly, appear to be clamping down on the kind of 'holding' tactics that have become Arsenal's trademark. The new regulations are set to focus on eliminating blocking and obstructing during set-pieces, or at the very least, refereeing these actions more stringently.

For the 2024-25 season, officials are expected to pay closer attention to sustained and impactful holding, non-footballing impacts on an opponent's movement, and any clear interference with an opponent's ability to play the ball. These changes are likely to put Arsenal's set-piece strategies under the microscope, potentially forcing them to adapt quickly if they want to maintain their edge in this area.

DID YOU KNOW?

Last season, Jover's influence was evident not only in the team's success but also in the way players like Declan Rice were utilised in new roles, such as putting in the deliveries during dead-ball situations during the Dubai winter camp. His innovative method has led to Arsenal scoring the most set-piece goals excluding penalties (22), the most goals from corners (16), and conceding the second-fewest set-piece goals excluding penalties (six) in the previous season.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

As Arsenal aim to go one better than their previous two seasons and finally clinch the Premier League title by beating Manchester City, the pressure is on to adapt their set-piece tactics to the new regulations. With the VAR system set to scrutinise holding and blocking more closely, the Gunners may need to develop a plan B to maintain their effectiveness from set-pieces.

Tim Southee, the Player of the Match in Wellington, has moved up to No. 6 among bowlers

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2020Virat Kohli’s match aggregate of 21 runs in the Wellington Test against New Zealand, which went the way of the home team by 10 wickets, has allowed Steven Smith to reclaim the top spot in the Test rankings for batsmen, the Australian getting to No. 1 for the eighth time in his career.The top spot has changed hands between Smith and Kohli for the longest time, with only Kane Williamson occupying the position for a brief eight-day period in December 2015, and the New Zealand captain has returned to No. 3 on the table by jumping past Marnus Labuschagne after scoring 89 in his only innings at Basin Reserve.Among the Indian batsmen who were part of the action in Wellington, Ajinkya Rahane’s 46 and 29 have taken him up by a spot to No. 8 and Mayank Agarwal has gone up to No. 10 following scores of 34 and 58, but Cheteshwar Pujara has slipped two spots to ninth after identical scores of 11 in the two innings. From the New Zealand side, Ross Taylor, who was playing his 100th Test, has gone up three spots to No. 13 after scoring 44 the only time he got to bat.Over to the bowlers, and there were big gains for Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who picked up nine and five wickets in the match, respectively. Southee has moved up eight positions to sixth, his best since being No. 5 in June 2014, while Boult has moved up four spots to joint-13th with Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas. Neil Wagner, who missed the first Test against India because of the birth of his first child, remains the top-ranked New Zealand bowler at No. 2 behind Pat Cummins.The Bangladesh v Zimbabwe Test in Dhaka, meanwhile, was a great one for the home side, which won by an innings and 106 runs.Their stars were Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque with the bat and Nayeem Hasan and Abu Jayed with the ball, and they too gained in the rankings. Mushfiqur’s unbeaten 203 lifted him five places to No. 20, while Haque’s 132 helped him go up to No. 39, a rise of five spots. Hasan’s nine wickets for the match took him up 29 places to 38th, while Jayed, who picked up four wickets in the Zimbabwe first innings, got to No. 46, up by 11.Craig Ervine, the stand-in captain in Sean Williams’ absence, played his part for Zimbabwe with 107 and 43, the best for his team in either innings, and moved up 15 places to 40th place.

Manchester United fans have been handed an update on their managerial search as the season approaches its climax.

Time up for Erik ten Hag?

It has been a disappointing second campaign for Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford technical area. His side finished bottom of their Champions League group and sit sixth in the Premier League, almost certain to miss out on Champions League football next season.

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Meanwhile, his tactics and transfers have both been questioned and speculation remains that he may be let go this summer as part of the INEOS shake-up since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took charge in February.

That could depend on the FA Cup, where they face Coventry City in the semi-final before a potential final against one of Chelsea or Manchester City. Failure to lift silverware could well cost him his job. Now, a fresh update has been provided on one of his potential successors.

Romano shares Man Utd update on Graham Potter

Now, an update on Graham Potter's potential arrival at Old Trafford should Ten Hag be let go has emerged. The Englishman is out of work and recently turned down the Ajax role as he waits for the right opportunity, which he may perceive Manchester United as. It would certainly be a drastic change from previous Red Devils bosses tactically.

During his spells at both Brighton and Chelsea, Potter tended to opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation, with two creative forwards behind the striker which he used to good effect on the south coast, though his spell in west London was one to forget.

Despite that, he still had the support of his players, with defender Kalidou Koulibaly dishing out high praise for the Englishman.

“Graham Potter is very good at communicating with everyone. And he doesn’t care if you cost £100m or £20m, he will treat you in the same way. That’s the mark of a great manager.”

Potter vs Ten Hag in the Premier League

Potter

Ten Hag

Games

141

70

Wins

41

38

Points per game

1.23

1.79

Win %

29.2%

54%

Goals scored

152

105

Potter's spell at Stamford Bridge in particular may leave Manchester United fans wary of any potential appointment though, and thus the latest update from Fabrizio Romano could come as music to their ears.

That is because, despite previous reports claiming that talks for Potter to take the helm at Old Trafford this summer had taken place, the transfer guru claims that no such talks have been held and that United have opted against approaching him so far.

"At the moment, they haven't made contact with Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate or Julian Nagelsmann, from what I understand", Romano told GiveMeSport.

"INEOS know Graham Porter very well because they wanted him at Nice. For sure, he is a manager who is appreciated, but it doesn't mean that they appreciate the same manager for Nice and Manchester United.

"They didn't make recent contact with Graham Potter for the Manchester United job, from what I understand, so that's the situation around him."

Though liked by INEOS, at the moment it appears to be business as usual at Old Trafford, at least until the end of the season.

One Leeds United transfer target is set to leave his current club for nothing, coming as a boost for the 49ers Enterprises as they build their summer plans at Elland Road.

Leeds transfer rumours

The Whites, now back in the Championship's automatic promotion spots following Monday’s win over Middlesbrough, appear to be planning behind the scenes at Elland Road. Daniel Farke’s side can increase the pressure on Ipswich Town with another win on the road against Queens Park Rangers on Friday, and there have been a number of players linked with a move to Yorkshire.

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For example, former midfielder Kalvin Phillips is wanted back on a loan move from Manchester City, whereas talks have been held with the agents of former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi. Those two targets appear to be on the basis that Leeds will be back in the Premier League at the first time of asking, and another player who has been linked is West Ham United right-back Ben Johnson.

Leeds held talks with the defender over a move to Yorkshire in January and rumours in recent weeks have claimed that they could revisit their interest to replace loanee Connor Roberts. Now, everyone at Elland Road have been given a boost in their attempts to seal a deal for Johnson.

Ben Johnson transfer update

According to Football Insider, Johnson will now leave West Ham on a free transfer this summer after rejecting several offers from the Hammers. It is said that the 24-year-old, who has made more than 100 appearances for the Irons, ‘wants to take advantage of his free-agent status in the upcoming window upon the expiry of his contract’.

The report also adds that Johnson’s versatility is ‘highly valued by clubs in the Premier League and clubs at the top end of the Championship’. The £20,000-a-week defender has played as a right-back, centre-back, left-back, right midfielder and left midfielder this season.

Johnson has also come in for praise from David Moyes in the past, who said in 2021: “I’m really pleased for Ben. He’s a bit of utility player for us, he’s been here for a while. He’s a really important player for us. In the squad and the group he’s really important. Quite often we’ve brought him on and used him in different roles and he’s had a chance to have some games under his belt, he’s not let us down and scored a good goal in midweek.”

Alongside Leeds, Aston Villa, Everton, Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur are also thought to be eyeing a move for Johnson, whereas Crystal Palace have been confident of signing the defender and Rangers have been mentioned in the latest update from Football Insider.

The Whites could therefore find it tough to secure a transfer, but it is a boost knowing that Johnson will be available for free this summer, possibly coming in as first-choice right-back at Elland Road, allowing Archie Gray to feature more in his favoured midfield role going forward.

Robert Lewandowski gets snubbed again for leadership role as Barcelona name five captains for new La Liga season after Sergi Roberto's exit.

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Hansi Flick chooses new leadership groupTer Stegen takes the first spot followed by AraujoLewandowski failed to make the cutWHAT HAPPENED?

With the departure of Sergi Roberto earlier this summer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been promoted to the role of Barcelona's first captain. Whereas, Ronald Araujo, who served as the third captain last season, has been elevated to the second captain's role. The Uruguayan defender's rise in the ranks reflects his growing influence within the squad. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong, who was also part of the leadership group last season, moves up to the third captain's position.

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Adding a touch of youth to the leadership group, Barcelona has appointed 21-year-old Pedri as the fourth captain. The Spaniard is a fan favourite and his appointment as a captain is a testament to his maturity and influence despite his young age. Rounding out the leadership group is Brazilian winger Raphinha, who has been named the fifth captain.

DID YOU KNOW?

La Liga has introduced a new rule this season, limiting on-field discussions with referees to team captains only. This rule places significant responsibility on Ter Stegen who will be between the sticks. But given his position at one end of the pitch, the responsibility might fall on Araujo and De Jong respectively, although both are currently out injured.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LEWANDOWSKI?

Despite being one of the most experienced and high-profile players at Barcelona, Lewandowski has been overlooked for a captaincy role for the second consecutive season. The Polish striker, who also captains his national team, was expected by many to be included in the leadership group, especially after a season where he played a key role in Barcelona's attack. Nonetheless, he will look to fire on all cylinders when Barcelona host Athletic Club on Saturday.