The New York Yankees pulled out all the appropriate lines for their situation. In a quiet clubhouse, suddenly down, 3–0, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, they said they just need to focus on tomorrow. They need to go one game at a time, shut out any outside noise, take care of business. They need to get back to playing their brand of baseball. And there was one more thing, one they did not say very much about, presumably because it was so painfully obvious to everyone in the room after their performance in Game 3.

They need to hit.

The final score on Monday was Dodgers 4, Yankees 2, but that painted a mistakenly flattering picture of their play. They were at risk of being kept scoreless down to their very last out: A two-run home run from left fielder Alex Verdugo with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth was the only meaningful offense all night for the Yankees. His shot to right field saved them from an embarrassing shutout. But there was still plenty of embarrassment to go around. This is one of the best lineups in baseball. Its power has all but vanished over the last few days.

BACCELLIERI:World Series Game 3 Takeaways: Buehler, Dodgers Bullpen Keep Yankees’ Bats Quiet

“We’ve got to find a way to grab one,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “We’ve got to find a way to hopefully try to get a lead.”

If finding a way to hopefully try to get a lead sounds like a laughably modest, far-too-caveated goal for a team playing in the World Series, it’s appropriate in this case. New York never held the lead in Game 2 or Game 3. Those deficits have not been especially large: The Dodgers have never been up by more than four runs in this series. They have grabbed early leads, and they have done just enough to win, but they have not been exceptionally dominant. Yet the Yankees’ bats have looked so inept that even a two- or three-run lead can feel impossible to overcome.  

The problems have been clear all up and down the lineup. New York has a collective batting average of .186 in this World Series. A group known in the regular season for exceptional plate discipline and its ability to control the strike zone is now chasing all kinds of pitches that it should not: The Yankees have recorded 31 strikeouts. (The Dodgers have 17.) That is partially a product of L.A.’s pitching: Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler, in particular, delivered their best performances of the year when they were needed most. “They’ve got some good pitchers over there,” said Yankees catcher Jose Trevino. “You’ve got to give them some credit.” But this lineup was supposed to be able to produce against even the best competition. That is precisely what it was built to do. It has instead wilted.

While there is blame to go around—plenty of mistakes and missed chances—no one finds himself in a position to absorb so much of it as Aaron Judge. The superstar slugger had struggled in the postseason in years past. But he’s never quite looked quite so lost, under quite such bright lights, as has been the case this October. For the series’s first game in New York, fans tried a gentle, motivational approach with him: They greeted Judge in his first plate appearance with a rousing ovation and M-V-P chants. But he was hearing boos at the end of the night. 

Judge finished 0-for-3. There were silver linings present for those inclined to look for them: He struck out just once, compared to three times in Game 2, he drew his first walk of the series and he made solid contact on a flyout to left field that had the potential to be a hit. But that sort of exercise is ridiculous on its face. When a team gets in the position of looking for silver linings in an 0-for-3 performance from its MVP, its hopes are already far, far gone. 

VERDUCCI: Hang Freddie Freeman’s Swing in the Louvre (or the Hall of Fame)

For his part, Judge refused to entertain any notion of bright spots in his performance. “I didn’t get any hits and didn’t drive anybody in,” he said flatly when asked to evaluate his night. “I’ve got to get something done up there.” He is now 1-for-12 in this World Series. The man who posted the highest walk percentage in baseball in the regular season (18.9%) has managed to walk just once in three games.

Judge spoke with the media until half an hour past midnight. “We all know what’s at stake,” he said. “We all know our backs are against the wall. We’ve got to get going.” He talked about how good this group knows it can be, and how they’re focused just on winning this next game, and how they understand they have a job to do. But all of this was a way of speaking around just one question, really, that had just one answer.

They need to hit.

تحدث حسام حسن، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول، عن الخسارة أمام أوزبكستان بهدفين نظيفين، ضمن منافسات دورة العين الودية.

وقال حسام حسن، عبر المؤتمر الصحفي: “أحب المكسب، وكرة القدم فيها مكسب وخسارة، الشوط الثاني قدمنا أداء بشكل أفضل، وهذا طبيعي، المباريات الودية الأهم أننا نستفيد منها ونجرب ونرى الأخطاء”.

وتابع: “واجهنا منتخبًا يقدم كرة جميلة، ونعلم قدراتهم تمامًا وتأهلوا لكأس العالم، ويؤدون بشكل جيد، كان لدي 8 لاعبين أساسيين غائبين ومؤثرين ما بين عبد المنعم وإمام عاشور وتريزيجيه ومهند لاشين ومرموش وإبراهيم عادل، لاعبون أصحاب قدرات عالية كانوا ستيفرقون معنا كثيرًا في الناحية الهجومية”.

طالع.. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد الخسارة أمام أوزبكستان

وواصل: “دائمًا منتخب مصر لا يقف على أحد، وكانت فرصة أننا نجرب وجوهًا جديدة، مثل مروان عثمان ومحمود صابر وأسامة فيصل، المباريات الودية فرصة لمشاركة اللاعبين الجدد وفرصة أن نعرف أين وصلنا، ودون القوام الأساسي”.

واستكمل: “أنا سعيد بأداء الشوط الثاني قلت للاعبين إن الفترة المقبلة سنلعب على مستوى عالٍ من ناحية التجارب الودية، تجعلنا نلعب في كأس أمم إفريقيا بشكل قوي، ونذهب بأفضل العناصر المتواجدة، تجربة إيجابية جدًا واستفدت منها جدًا، السلبية الوحيدة هي الخسارة التي لا بحبها”.

وأضاف حسام حسن: “الشوط الثاني كان الأداء جيدًا، الشوط الأول كان به أخطاء فردية غريبة، نوع من عدم الجدية في الضغط في الهدف الأول، والهدف الثاني التغطية خلف محمد هاني كانت غير جيدة في قلب الدفاع”.

وأتم: “سعيد بأداء أحمد فتوح وطاهر محمد طاهر وزيزو، قدموا أداءً جيدًا، وهم المستقبل في الفترة المقبلة وتُجْعِلنا نشكل قوامًا جيدًا في كأس أمم إفريقيا”.

Ben Cliff’s maiden five-wicket haul in first-team cricket – a superb 5 for 46 from 8.3 overs – set Yorkshire up for an opening day Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over last year’s semi-finalists Warwickshire at Scarborough, by five wickets chasing 138.New-ball quick Cliff, aged 22, was playing his first first-team game since the summer’s opening week following a side injury, and he was the chief tormenter as the Bears were bowled out for 137 inside 37 overs at the start of Group B.Cliff struck four times in a devastating opening spell, with Warwickshire slipping to 38 for 7 before Vaansh Jani’s brilliant 82 off 92 balls. It was the 20-year-old’s maiden first-team fifty in his second game.Yorkshire, for whom Adam Lyth took four catches in the slips – equalling a club record for outfield catches in a List A innings – didn’t chase with ease on a tricky pitch. But Pakistani international opener Imam-ul-Haq held things together with 55 off 83 balls.Cliff struck twice in three balls in his opening over and four times in all as the Bears crumbled to 24 for 5 in the 10th having been inserted. He had both Rob Yates and Zen Malik caught at cover by James Wharton in the second over, the former via a leading edge as he looked to play to leg and the latter off a miscued drive.Cliff’s new-ball partner Jack White clipped Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard’s off bail with a beauty before Cliff struck again to get a driving Hamza Shaikh caught at second slip by Lyth. And when extra bounce forced Kai Smith to loop a catch to backward point, the Bears were five down and in serious strife.Things got worse before getting better. Alex Davies fell to Matthew Revis’s first ball for 15, the seam-bowling allrounder getting him and Jake Lintott caught by Lyth at slip. When Lintott fell to the third ball of the 14th over, Warwickshire were 38 for 7.Batting at No. 7, Jani’s first of six boundaries was a lovely on-drive against George Hill as Warwickshire strove for respectability.Hill’s seam accounted for Michael Booth caught at slip by Lyth – 63 for 8 in the 21st. Hill added a second wicket when Ethan Bamber drilled to mid-off, though Jani counterattacked.He hoisted Hill over long-on and scooped White over fine-leg for his first two of five sixes, reaching a 67-ball fifty, by which time the visitors were 101 for 9 in the 31st over.Right-handed Jani smashed Revis out of the ground over long-on before miscuing Cliff to mid-on to end the innings.Jani and Oliver Hannon-Dalby added 64, a Warwickshire List A record stand for the 10th wicket and comfortably the best of the innings. Last man Hannon-Dalby contributed one run.Yorkshire were cautious in reply. They lost Lyth and Will Luxton, the latter for 25, to the seam of Hannon-Dalby and Bamber – 47 for 2 in the 14th over.Booth’s pace then accounted for James Wharton and Revis in successive deliveries, caught behind off the inside-edge and caught low down at second slip, as the score fell to 72 for four in the 21st.But left-handed Imam anchored things. His first five scoring shots were boundaries, strong on the pull and drive, and he shared a calming fifth-wicket stand of 56 with Hill, 20 not out. Imam fell caught at deep square-leg with 10 to win, but it was a consolatory third wicket for Booth. Yorkshire won with 17.1 overs remaining.

Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz admitted he would love to make a switch to Manchester United despite playing for their Premier League rivals. The 29-year-old has been nothing short of transformative since arriving at Selhurst Park from Genk in January 2024. His first full season in England saw him score six goals and provide eight assists in all competitions. It was a level of productivity that caught the attention of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and several elite clubs across the continent.

• The rise of Palace's defensive star

  Munoz’s journey to the top of European football has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Medellín, a city once synonymous with cartel violence and some of Colombia’s most dangerous neighbourhoods, he had little margin for error. 

  "I come from a difficult neighbourhood," he told Belgian newspaper . "One of the toughest in Colombia. There are few options. I don’t think you know that in Belgium. Young people don’t have the chance to just become what they want to become.

  “It was difficult for me and my family. There have been certain moments that have shaped me, such as the death of several friends. You see a lot of things: death, hooliganism, robbery… it is a different world, one where everything does not always end well. At one point, I had to make a choice. Which way do I want to go? Do I choose the path that ends as it ended with one of my friends? Or do I walk a different path and make the best of it? I chose the latter."

  Those experiences hardened him and shaped him into a player and person who understands adversity far better than most. Before he ever stepped onto a professional pitch, Munoz was part of the ultras at Atletico Nacional, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Los del Sur, as he sang and chanted for the club he adored. And at 16, he walked away from the terraces to pursue the game full-time.

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  From South America to the Premier League

  Munoz’s early professional years with Aguilas Doradas saw him play nearly 100 matches in Colombia’s top flight before he fulfilled his childhood dream of joining Atletico Nacional in 2019. In less than two seasons, he became the captain of his team.

  His performances drew the eye of European scouts, and Genk paid €4.5 million to bring him to Belgium. There, he blossomed into the Jupiler League’s standout right-back, and Palace did not hesitate when the opportunity arrived, signing him on a four-year deal. Since then, Munoz has become an indispensable piece of Glasner’s high-intensity system. He assisted the goal that helped the Eagles clinch the FA Cup last season and his consistent performances reportedly drew interest from Barcelona and Champions League winners PSG.

• A dream to represent the continent's best

  Munoz spoke candidly to Colombian outlet about the long-standing rumours linking him to major European powers.

  "First of all, I think there’s a lot of talk about one club or another," Munoz said. "If you ask me, it would be a dream come true to play for one of these clubs, whether it’s Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid, or Manchester United."

  Munoz did not disguise the ambition that has fuelled his rise: "I think I’m working towards that; I strive every day to one day attract the attention of one of these clubs, because it’s a dream of mine to get there."

  However, the defender quickly brushed aside those rumours and insisted that he remains focussed on his job at Palace. 

  "Right now I’m focused on my club, on doing things well at Crystal Palace," he said. "If you ask me, I don’t have any concrete information that any of these clubs are interested in me. My focus is on Crystal Palace; we’ll see when the winter transfer window gets closer. Right now, I’m fully focused on these two matches with the national team."

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  What comes next?

  For Palace supporters, his words might provoke mixed emotions. On the one hand, his desire to reach the highest level and play for the European heavyweights is very natural. On the other hand, his presence has been vital to their transformation under Glasner. However, he has a contract with the Eagles until 2028, and any suitor will have to fork out a significant transfer fee to whisk him away from the English capital. In the short term, Munoz will complete Colombia’s upcoming internationals against New Zealand and Australia during the November break. After returning to London, he will shift focus to Palace’s next Premier League fixture against Wolves on November 22.

A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.

On a night that was supposed to be a procession for the Group D winners, Azerbaijan had other ideas and took the lead in the fourth minute when Renat Dadashov swept in Rahman Dasdamirov's pass across the six-yard box following some slack marking. For 16 minutes, it was bedlam in Baku, but Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta powered in a close-range header from Malo Gusto's cross to level proceedings.

It looked like the Chelsea full-back had then put France ahead when his deflected shot nestled in the corner, only for the goal to be chalked off as the ball struck Christopher Nkunku's arm on the way in. It was 2-1 on the half-hour mark, though, when Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal for his country as he tucked in Gusto's neat cutback following a lovely floated pass from Khephren Thuram.

Juventus midfielder Thuram thought he had opened his own goal-scoring account for France, only for his effort to be ruled out after Hugo Ekitike handled in the box. But the visitors got the breathing room they were seeking just before half-time when goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev, who was later taken off after being dazed from a collision, pushed the ball into his own net from Thuram's strike on goal.

If the first half was a rollercoaster ride, the second was anything but. Azerbaijan, ranked 123rd in the world, began to tire around the hour mark, and had it not been for substitute keeper Aydin Bayramov, it could have been more one-sided.

GOAL rates France's players from Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Lucas Chevalier (6/10):

On his long-awaited debut, after 16 call-ups, his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following a well-worked goal from the hosts. Didn't have much to do otherwise, in truth.

Malo Gusto (8/10):

The Chelsea man was caught out by a lovely through ball and moments later France were 1-0 down. However, he made up for it with two assists and was a huge attacking threat. Was unlucky to have a goal of his own wiped out.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Despite not having a particularly good season for Liverpool, the big defender looked calm and assured at the back.

Lucas Hernandez (7/10):

Very little seemed to fluster the defender, who linked up well with his younger brother. 

Theo Hernandez (7/10):

While he wasn't as adventurous or as effective in attack as fellow full-back Gusto, he still fired in some good crosses and was more defensively sound.

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Khéphren Thuram (8/10):

Was unlucky not to score any goals but got into some good positions to give himself a chance to do so. His pace and power were self-evident, and some of his passing was delightful, too.

Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):

His quick feet and athleticism got his team out of a hole on a couple of occasions, but he didn't have the licence to roam.

Christopher Nkunku (6/10):

The former Chelsea man had a stop-start performance, sometimes showing off some real quality but he also made some bad decisions and got tackled frequently.

AFPAttack

Maghnes Akliouche (7/10):

The youngster had an encouraging outing, he beat defenders with regularity, and he got his goal as well. A good night for him.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (8/10):

Took his goal with aplomb, held the ball up well, brought others into play and had a very good all-round display. He could be heading to the World Cup at this rate.

Hugo Ekitike (5/10):

The Liverpool forward has been excellent so far for his new team but he seemed all at sea at times. Seems to be better when leading the line.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Rayan Cherki (5/10):

The Manchester City summer signing struggled to make an impact.

Florian Thauvin (6/10):

Tracked back well but didn't do a huge amount.

Bradley Barcola (6/10):

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was repelled well by the Azerbaijan defence.

Didier Deschamps (7/10):

Fielded an experimental side without some of his heavy hitters, and while he would have been concerned with how they started the game, they slowly turned the screw before asserting their dominance. Some players shined, others did not. 

Warwickshire bowlers made to toil as home batters cash in on good mood following Hove win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Essex 350 for 4 (Westley 124*, Walter 86) vs Warwickshire Tom Westley’s rich vein of form in the Rothesay County Championship continued as he notched his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire at Chelmsford.In addition to hitting his 32nd first-class hundred in an innings of sublime stroke-play, the Essex captain also passed 14,000 career runs in red-ball cricket. With Paul Walter, who hit 86 from 160 balls, Westley put on 132 for the second wicket and 81 for the third with Jordan Cox. At stumps, Westley was unbeaten on 124 from 234 balls with Essex 350 for 4.Walter, posting his fifth score above fifty this season, two of them centuries, launched two sixes and nine fours. It enabled Essex to build on the euphoria of only their second Championship win of the season last week at Hove, a win that lifted them out of the relegation places.The only redeeming feature for Warwickshire on a gloomy day that matched their deteriorating mood, was arguably the first career wicket for part-time legspinner Zen Malik. Brought on to eat up an over before the arrival of the second new-ball, Malik had Cox attempting to hit his fifth delivery out of the park, but instead the batter ended up on his backside with his stumps akimbo.Before the start of the play, Essex’s own bowling plans had twice been thrown into disarray in the space of 24 hours. They had already lost one member of their attack when Indian international pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed pulled out of a contract due to run to the end of the season, citing “personal reasons”. Then, less than quarter-of-an-hour before the start of the match, offspinner Simon Harmer, who had taken part in all the warm-up routines, withdrew also offering “personal reasons” for his absence.Those problems were shelved for the time being as Essex were put into bat on a hybrid pitch with plenty of grass left on to help encourage greater carry for the bowlers. In fact, it encouraged the batters and a flurry of straight-driven fours enabled the Essex openers to compile 68 runs without undue alarm in 19 overs.Dean Elgar, overcoming a torrid first over from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, brought up the fifty partnership with an uncharacteristic slash at Beau Webster that cleared the slip cordon. However, he departed soon after to his second rash shot of the innings, pulling the Australian low to midwicket.On one occasion Walter, so strong off the back foot, came down the wicket to waft Corey Rocchiccioli for six over extra cover and post Essex’s first hundred. He reached his half-century from 79 balls with a well-placed push into the off-side for two. Walter took a liking to the Australian offspinner with another six, this time over long-on.At the other end, some of Westley’s strokes were exquisite. He produced a classically-executed cover drive for four off Ethan Bamber and later essayed a textbook straight-drive off Webster. Another off-drive for four by Westley off Webster took the stand with Walter to three-figures, of which both batsmen contributed 49. Three balls later Westley reached a 107-ball fifty.Westley had just taken Essex past 200 with only one wicket down when, next ball, Walter’s four-hour innings came to an end. He got an outside edge to a delivery from Rocchiccioli, the ball ricocheting off wicketkeeper Kai Smith’s thigh and ballooning up for a diving Alex Davies to claim at slip.Bamber switched ends straight after tea and immediately extracted some rare bounce and lift that had Westley groping at thin air. Normal service was quickly resumed, though, and soon Westley was angling Ed Barnard to third man for the boundary that took him to his century from 185 balls.Bamber finally gained some reward late on when he had Matt Critchley swinging and bottom-edging through to the wicketkeeper.

Leeds United decided to revamp their options in the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window after they won promotion from the Championship.

The Whites swooped to sign experienced striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice number nine for the Premier League season.

So far, though, the former England international has scored one goal and missed nine ‘big chances’ in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, for Leeds, with five ‘big chances’ missed in the top-flight.

Because of his struggles in front of goal for his new club, Calvert-Lewin may be worried and looking over his shoulder at emerging academy talent Harry Gray.

Why Harry Gray will have Leeds strikers worried

The 17-year-old centre-forward, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last season, has been on fire for the club’s academy, and could be a future star for Farke.

Gray has scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches for the U21s side this season, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.

This means that the teenage forward has plundered seven goals in all competitions for the young Whites, whilst Calvert-Lewin has scored one goal for the first-team.

Gray also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s before making the step up to the U21s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been a regular goalscorer for several seasons.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

His impressive goalscoring form will have the current Leeds strikers worried because he appears to be on course to crash into the senior side to take one of their spots in the squad, if he can translate his academy form over to the first-team.

The Leeds striker on borrowed time because of Harry Gray

Despite his struggles in front of goal in the Premier League this season, it is not Calvert-Lewin who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s potential. It is Lukas Nmecha.

The former Germany international joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, as the first signing of the summer, and scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Everton.

Since that debut goal, Nmecha has rarely been seen by supporters, despite featuring in every match, as he has been used as a late substitute in almost every game.

Everton

12

Arsenal

32

Fulham

70

Newcastle United

21

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1

Bournemouth

1

Tottenham Hotspur

11

Burnley

24

West Ham United

3

No Leeds player who has featured in all eight games has played fewer minutes than Nmecha, per WhoScored, as he is the only player to have played in every match without hitting at least 242 minutes.

Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, has started six of his seven appearances in the Premier League, playing 534 minutes in total, which suggests that his place in the squad is not under as much threat as Nmecha’s is.

Unlike the former Toffees man, Farke does not seem to trust the German centre-forward to play significant minutes in games, which does not bode well for his future at Elland Road.

Nmecha’s return of five goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Sofascore, does not suggest that he is likely to catch fire in front of goal and establish himself as a regular starter.

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Therefore, it may be the former Wolfsburg number nine who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s emergence as an incredibly exciting striker prospect at U21 level, as the 17-year-old could break through and take his place to compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting berth in the not-too-distant future.

MatériaMais Notícias

Flamengo e Corinthians estão em conversas para realizar troca tripla de jogadores. Os atletas envolvidos são Thiago Maia e Matheuzinho, ambos do Rubro-Negro, e Fausto Vera, do Timão.

➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

A negociação não envolve o atacante Gabigol, alvo de especulações entre os clubes. A informação da troca do trio foi divulgada inicialmente pelo jornalista Carlos Cereto.

Thiago Maia perdeu espaço com a ascensão de Erick Pulgar, que foi um dos melhores volantes do Brasileirão. Com o técnico Tite, Gerson assumiu a vaga de segundo volante, formando dupla com o chileno.

O clube carioca tinha intenção de negociar Matheuzinho em 2024. A análise no Flamengo é que o garoto Wesley, outra cria da base rubro-negra, tem margem para evolução e pode dar conta da posição. O uruguaio Varela é outra opção para o setor.

FAUSTO VERA CONSIDERADO MOEDA DE TROCA

Fausto Vera ganhou “atenção especial” nos primeiros dias de trabalho de Mano Menezes no Corinthians. O treinador teve diversas conversas com o argentino sobre questões táticas, mas o rendimento em campo não foi o esperado, e o camisa 5 perdeu prestígio.

A nova diretoria, liderada pelo presidente Augusto Melo, entende que o volante pode funcionar como moeda de troca. Ao longo da temporada, o Racing, da Argentina, e equipes italianas demostraram interesse no atleta de 23 anos.

O Corinthians investiu R$ 35 milhões por 70% dos direitos de Fausto Vera, que deixou boa impressão sob o comando de Vítor Pereira. Contudo, o argentino perdeu espaço em 2023, especialmente após a chegada de Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has ruthlessly snubbed one of his most influential former Blues teammates when naming his all-time Premier League XI.

Football FanCast ranks Premier League's greatest-ever players

Football FanCast have now ranked the greatest players in Premier League history, and there is certainly no shortage of Chelsea players among them, with former captain John Terry named as the best centre-back to have ever played in the top flight.

Petr Cech also tops the list of goalkeepers, while Didier Drogba is regarded as the ninth-best striker in Premier League history, having maintained a fantastic record in front of goal throughout his time at Stamford Bridge, culminating in the Blues winning the 2012 Champions League final.

Season

Drogba PL appearances

Goal contributions

2004-05

26

15

2005-06

29

26

2006-07

36

24

2007-08

19

14

2008-09

24

9

2009-10

32

40

2010-11

36

24

2011-12

24

6

As such, it will come as no surprise to learn that Terry, Cech and Drogba all feature in Obi Mikel’s all-time Premier League XI, but the former central midfielder has ruthlessly snubbed one of his former teammates.

As reported by talkSPORT, the Nigerian named N’Golo Kante and Paul Scholes as his two central midfielders, leaving out Frank Lampard, and he even went on to clarify that the ex-England international wouldn’t have featured in a three-man midfield either.

Lampard undoubtedly one of the greatest Premier League midfielders

It is a little strange that the 38-year-old opted to omit his former teammate, given that the Englishman is without doubt one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time, particularly impressing on the front foot.

Club 'ready to accept' potential £52m Chelsea bid for defender wanted by Real Madrid

The Blues and Todd Boehly could make a sizeable saving in the market.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 11, 2025

The Coventry City manager chipped in with a remarkable 211 goals and 149 assists in 648 professional appearances for Chelsea, cementing his place in the Premier League Hall of Fame in the process.

That said, Kante is also a fantastic choice from a more defensive point of view, given what the Frenchman achieved at Leicester City and Stamford Bridge, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the 2020-21 Champions League and the 2018-19 Europa League.

Lampard played in a golden era of midfielders, sharing the stage with the likes of Scholes and Gerrard, and a number of other former Chelsea stars, who also feature in our list of the best Premier League midfielders of all-time.

Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.

Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

1

Goals

0

2.51

Expected goals (xG)

0.45

17 (9)

Shots (on target)

8 (2)

4

Big chances

1

111.4km

Distance covered

112.7km

38.8%

Possession

61.2%

4

Corners

2

45%

Duels won

55%

This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool searching for a centre-back

Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.

The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.

It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.

What Bastoni would offer Liverpool

Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.

And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.

He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).

A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.

Goals

0.05

0.06

Assists

0.05

0.09

Touches

89.54

60.67

Pass completion (%)

86.5

83.5

Progressive passes

5.29

4.09

Shot-creating actions

2.36

1.53

Progressive carries

1.88

0.77

Successful take-ons

0.31

0.26

Ball recoveries

3.53

4.12

Tackles + interceptions

2.62

3.12

Clearances

2.85

4.56

Aerial duels won

1.53

1.91

As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.

Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.

Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.

He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.

Not Bradley: Liverpool have found the new Trent & he's not even a defender

Arne Slot has now uncovered Liverpool’s next Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it’s not Conor Bradley.

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