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The pair added 116 for the fourth wicket after a brief wobble to secure a comfortable win for India in Rajkot

Shashank Kishore10-Jan-2025Pratika Rawal continued her impressive initiation into international cricket, hitting her second half-century in four innings at the top of the order, as India secured a comfortable six-wicket over Ireland in the first ODI in Rajkot.Rawal’s partner was another rookie, Tejal Hasabnis, who notched up a maiden half-century in her fourth ODI. The pair added 116 for the fourth wicket after India briefly wobbled when they lost Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues in quick succession.While Rawal steadily shifted gears after playing second fiddle to Smriti Mandhana in a robust 70-run opening stand, Hasabnis displayed an attacking game and a penchant for the big shots from get-go.Hasabnis couldn’t break into the XI in any of the three ODIs against West Indies late last month, and only got the opportunity here because Harmanpreet Kaur was rested. She repaid the faith, getting to a half-century off just 43 balls and remaining unbeaten on 53.As India’s chase entered its home stretch, Rawal’s impending century became a matter of great interest. Rawal showed keenness to go for the runs as she raced through the 80s. With Rawal needing 25 and India just 21, she tore into left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire, hitting her for two fours and a six.The first of those fours was an aesthetically pleasing inside-out drive over extra cover against the turn. She followed that with two big hits straight down the ground. On 89, an attempt to loft the ball down the ground for six led to her holing out inches from the boundary as Orla Prendergast took an excellent catch.Tejal Hasabnis played a counterattacking knock•BCCI

Rawal walked off to a standing ovation. That she was even remotely in with a chance to score her maiden ODI century was down to her sensational strokeplay once she crossed fifty. Richa Ghosh came in to hit her first two balls to the boundary to seal India’s win in the 35th over.While Rawal couldn’t remain unbeaten, Hasabnis did her reputation no harm, showing the ability to be a big-hitting middle-order batter India would love to have. She got going very early on, when she smashed Laura Delany for two back-to-back fours in the 24th over that went for 22.When Delany pulled out midway through the over, Prendergast came under Hasabnis’ hammer as she hit a third four by slapping a length ball through extra cover. The enterprising nature of the Rawal-Hasabnis partnership allowed India to charge towards the target.Despite the nature of the defeat, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Ireland. They challenged an inexperienced Indian attack with Gaby Lewis, the captain, leading the fight with 92 in a total of 238 for 7 after electing to bat. Lewis, who narrowly missed out on a maiden ODI century with cramps eventually leading to her downfall, was supported by Leah Paul, who made an industrious 59 from No. 5.Gaby Lewis led the Ireland batting effort with 92 from 129 balls•BCCI

The pair shared a stand of 117 to rescue an innings that appeared to be heading towards a free-fall when rookie legspinner Priya Mishra sent back Prendergast and Delany, two of Ireland’s most-experienced batters, off successive deliveries in the 14th over to leave them 56 for 4.India were off the boil on the field though, dropping four catches in all that played a role in them allowing Ireland to bat the entire 50 overs. Lewis was the first to be reprieved on 59 when Richa Ghosh bailed out of a catch to stop the healthy edge with her boot. Paul was let off in back-to-back overs, off Titas Sadhu at deep midwicket and by Mishra off her own bowling, after the batter had crossed her seventh ODI half-century.Then with Ireland looking for end-overs acceleration, Harleen reprieved Arlene Kelly at extra cover. Ireland batting out the entire 50 overs should count as a mini-victory of sorts given only two players – Lewis and Delany – had prior experience of having played in India.Cameos from Kelly and Christina Coulter Reilly helped Ireland pick up some crucial runs in the death overs, but it became evident very early on, as Mandhana turbocharged her way to a succession of pull shots in her breezy 41, that it wouldn’t be enough.

India batter suffered a knee injury on the eve of the match

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2025Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the first ODI against England in Nagpur due to a knee injury he suffered on the eve of the game. He was replaced in India’s XI by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was making his ODI debut along with bowling-allrounder Harshit Rana.India captain Rohit Sharma said at the toss that Kohli had injured his right knee on Wednesday night.Jaiswal was slotted to open with Rohit on the BCCI’s team sheet with vice-captain Shubman Gill, who would have opened if Kohli was fit, listed at No. 4, though it remains to be seen if that order remains. India lost the toss and were bowling first in Nagpur.The three matches against England are India’s last ODIs before the Champions Trophy begins on February 19. They haven’t played ODI cricket since August last year, when they lost a three-match bilateral series 2-0 in Sri Lanka, with one match tied.Kohli’s form has been under scrutiny in recent months, and after a poor tour of Australia where all of his dismissals were edges to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon, he spent a week working with former India and RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar. He then played one Ranji Trophy match for Delhi – his first appearance in the competition since 2012 – where he was bowled for 6 against Railways.ODI cricket, however, is Kohli’s strongest format, and he is 94 runs away from becoming only the third batter to reach 14,000 runs in the format. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have got there before, but Kohli is certain to become the fastest to the milestone.

Senior pro takes the reins as Somerset prepares for new era of women’s cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2025Sophie Luff has been named as Somerset Women’s first professional captain, for the inaugural season of the new Women’s County competition.Luff, 31, played for Somerset’s age groups before making her debut for the senior women’s team in 2009. She has featured in 74 List A matches for the club, scoring 2330 runs at 43.14 with a highest score of 138 not out. She has also played in 68 T20 matches, scoring 1675 runs at 35.63.She previously captained the county side between 2017 and 2022, and was also an ever-present for the Taunton-based Western Storm, having been named captain in 2020.She was the first player to make 100 appearances for Storm and during that time scored over 1760 runs in List A cricket at 50.54 with a best of 157 not out. Her T20 record for Storm included 850 runs at 25.90 and a best of 78.The former England Academy, Development and Under-19 international has also represented Welsh Fire, London Spirit and Southern Brave in the Hundred.”It feels like I’ve really come home this winter,” Luff said. “I’m excited to be leading such a great group of girls, and to be able to do this at my home club and to become the first-ever professional captain gives me an unbelievable sense of achievement and fills me with pride.”Somerset County Cricket Club means an awful lot to me. I used to come here when I was young and watch the likes of Marcus Trescothick, and it’s where I fell in love with the game. I’ve been involved with the club for a very long time and this group has got the opportunity to set the standards for how we want Somerset Women to play.”This club has a tremendous history and has had some incredible captains over the years. To have my name on that list is incredibly special and is a real privilege.”Somerset Women Head Coach, Trevor Griffin, added: “Sophie has proved during the course of her career that she is a genuine leader both on and off the field. She has the respect of everyone in the dressing room and is a model professional. Her wealth of experience will prove invaluable alongside her outstanding understanding of the game.”Sophie is passionate about cricket and passionate about this club. Her genuine understanding of what it means to represent Somerset means that she will lead by example every time she takes to the field.”SCCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry added: “Sophie is very much a part of the DNA of women’s cricket in the region. She is an inspiration to her teammates and a role model for young cricketers across the South West. Her tenacity and will to win are second to none, and she possess an abundance of the necessary traits required to be a successful captain and leader.”

Chris Jordan left the field apparently concussed after a heavy fall attempting a catch

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Will Jacks’ scintillating 97 led Surrey to a fifth win in a row as they thrashed London neighbours Middlesex by 75 runs at the Kia Oval.The England allrounder, not required for Test duty against India, nevertheless reminded the selectors of his batting prowess, pummelling five sixes and 10 fours in a 56-ball masterclass. Noah Cornwell and Ryan Higgins were the pick of the Middlesex attack with two wickets apiece.Middlesex were never in it in reply, subsiding to 119 all out, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner taking 3-25.It was a sobering watch for new Seaxes head coach Dane Vilas, who will officially take charge ahead of the County Championship clash with Northamptonshire on Sunday.The one concern for the hosts was the loss of Chris Jordan, who left the field apparently concussed after a heavy fall attempting a catch.Jacks sent the opening ball of the match to the fence before the first of his five sixes came from a clip over long leg.That was the prelude to 22 off the last over of the powerplay bowled by youngster Naavya Sharma which took Jacks to 50 in only 24 balls.There was a brief pause for breath before an audacious golf-swing shot into the crowd at long-off and after being given a life when dropped by Cornwell at deep fine leg, another vicious pull over square leg off Tom Helm took him into the 90s.There would be no hundred as he holed out going for the century in the grand manner, one of three wickets in four balls for Helm but this was scintillating stuff.To Middlesex’s credit others came and went as the hosts didn’t make the most of being 66 without loss after the powerplay and 95 for 2 at halfway.Dom Sibley, dropped on 8 by Shah, reached 27 and Sam Curran 26 before both being caught and bowled by Cornwell, as the visitors chipped away, Ryan Higgins hitting the stumps twice in the final over.Kane Williamson, fresh from his 50 against Essex 24 hours earlier, ramped, paddled drove and cut Reece Topley for four boundaries in his second over to launch the chase, but the former New Zealand Test skipper fell in the next over, slapping Tom Curran straight to Jason Roy at cover.Max Holden picked up the baton with fours to long leg and third, but perished attempting to sweep Mitchell Santner over the long boundary, while Ben Geddes, returning to face his former county, survived two vehement appeals for catches behind later in the same over, but left without scoring in the next trying to go over extra cover.Stephen Eskinazi’s torturous innings of less than a run a ball ended when he was bowled by Santner and Joe Cracknell in his first game in the tournament this season quickly came and went.With the rate required now 14 an over Santner then bowled the dangerous Luke Hollman to claim his third wicket as Middlesex folded.

The BCCI medical team has told him that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind

Nagraj Gollapudi29-Jul-20251:31

What attack should India pick at The Oval?

Jasprit Bumrah will not play the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval starting Thursday. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCCI medical team has told Bumrah that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind.The development is not entirely a surprise, considering the medical team in coordination with Bumrah, the Indian team management, and the selectors had decided he would play only three of the five Tests during the England tour. Bumrah played in the first Test at Headingley, sat out in the second Test at Edgbaston, which India won, and played in the following two Tests at Lord’s and last week at Old Trafford.With Bumrah having not bowled since the fourth morning at Old Trafford, coupled with a three-day break between the final two Tests, India might have toyed with the idea of changing the original plan, especially with a possibility of levelling the series 2-2 with a win at The Oval.Related

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However, a combination of a slowish, flat surface and the workload had impacted Bumrah’s pace in the fourth Test. He picked two wickets in 33 overs, which was the most he has bowled in an innings, and for the first time, his runs column had breached 100. As the series progressed, the number of balls he bowled above 140kph in the first innings of each Test also reduced from 42.7% at Headingley to 22.3% at Lord’s to 0.5% at Old Trafford.Bumrah is currently the joint-second-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in the series alongside Mohammed Siraj. After the draw in Manchester, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had said Bumrah was available for the final Test, but two days later, India have decided to rest him.Gautam Gambhir chats with Akash Deep during India’s practice session•PTI

Akash Deep likely to replace Bumrah

Who will replace Bumrah was evident at India’s optional training session on Tuesday. Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test with a groin niggle, found his rhythm easily as he seamed the ball appreciably on the greenish practice pitches. In the second Test at Edgbaston, which was his first Test since Melbourne in December, Akash Deep picked up a ten-wicket match haul, including a career-best 6 for 99 in England’s second innings, extracting movement from a benign surface.In the following Test at Lord’s, though, Akash struggled for consistency, especially bowling down the slope from the Pavilion End. He picked up just one wicket in the Test, but the seamer-friendly conditions at The Oval could help Akash get back in the saddle quickly.Still, Gill and Gambhir will have to deal with finding the right balance in the bowling attack. That it is a challenge is primarily because of the below-par performances from three other fast bowlers who have featured so far in the series: Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj. Prasidh has not played since the win in the second Test, while Thakur and Kamboj barely got to bowl after their first spells at Old Trafford.In the absence of Bumrah, Siraj, the only fast bowler to play all the Tests, will once again lead the pace attack. Siraj has bowled the fourth-most overs among seamers this series – 139 – but hasn’t let his intensity down. India will be worried about his workload and fitness but they have little choice other than playing Siraj. Even then, India will have to make a call regarding the third seamer.1:20

Manjrekar: Kuldeep has to come in for the Oval Test

It is likely to be one of Prasidh and Arshdeep Singh, who bowled and batted without any discomfort, showing he had recovered completely from the freak injury he picked up on his bowling hand in the days leading to the fourth Test while trying to intercept a ball on follow-through.With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the Oval Test, Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets and bat in the middle order. Despite the boldness of his batting, which can turn eyes, Jurel’s inexperience, especially of playing in England, might tilt India to focus on retaining Thakur to provide the batting depth. That would mean there will be no room once again for Kuldeep Yadav.India might also believe Kuldeep could be surplus to the requirement, especially keeping in mind the pitch and the cloudy conditions that are likely to play a role during the Test. Two days ahead of the match, the pitch had enough greenish patches, so India could continue with the spin pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.Apart from that, the bowling numbers at The Oval this domestic season are predominantly favourable to the seamers: fast bowlers have picked up 131 of the 150 wickets in five matches. Surrey have won twice at home with three draws, including the last round against Durham, where the fourth-highest score in county cricket was registered. Surrey made 820 for 9 declared on the back of Dom Sibley’s triple-hundred, but that match was played with Kookaburra balls as part of the ECB’s drive since last year to upgrade the bowlers’ skills.

Home side make a game of it having been 55 for 8 but Bouchier, Devine steer successful chase

ECB Media16-Aug-2025Southern Brave 109 for 4 (Bouchier 42, Devine 41*) beat Trent Rockets 106 (Gordon 32, Corteen-Coleman 4-13) by six wicketsA dominant bowling performance followed by a measured if not nervy run chase saw the Southern Brave to a six-wicket win over Trent Rockets in The Hundred women’s competition at Trent Bridge.Electing to bowl first, Georgia Adams’ decision was justified almost immediately when 17-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman struck two huge blows in her opening set, removing Bryony Smith caught off a leading-edge and Nat Sciver-Brunt brilliantly stumped by Rhianna Southby.Despite a 16-ball 25 from captain Ash Gardner, the Rockets top order faltered miserably. From 36 for 2 at the conclusion of the powerplay, it was complete Brave dominance as Rockets collapsed to 55 for 8.Left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman bowled brilliantly, also dismissing Heather Graham and Emma Jones – the former another stumping by the impressive Southby – on the way to brilliant figures of 4 for 13. Lauren Bell returned to strike twice in three balls, becoming the first woman to take 50 wickets in the Hundred in the process, finishing her 20 balls with 3 for 16.Alana King and Kirstie Gordon then staged a recovery to keep their side in the game. They shared a record tenth-wicket stand of 50 from 44 deliveries to help the Rockets to 106 and give them something to bowl at.In the run chase, Rockets struck early – Danni Wyatt-Hodge run out by King after a miscommunication with Maia Bouchier. Laura Wolvaardt was then caught by Sciver-Brunt off Gordon to see the score 10 for 2 with two in-form batters back in the shed.Bouchier and Sophie Devine played cautiously against probing bowling from King and Gardner, steadily chipping away at the target as the Brave reached 52 for 2 at halfway with 55 runs still required.Bouchier began to open her shoulders as Brave approached their target, but she targeted King one time too many, running past a wide one to be stumped for 43.Devine was joined by Freya Kemp who, after cracking a huge six off Gordon, went caught on the boundary with eight still required from seven balls. But Devine stayed calm, striking a crucial boundary off Graham as the Brave got home with two balls to spare.Meerkat Match Hero, Corteen-Coleman, said: “It’s been fantastic, such a great team performance. Good to get another win on the board. There’s a bit of a track record of Trent Bridge being a bit slow and having a bit of turn so I thought I might be in the game.”I can’t complain, it’s been a great day. We’re a great group. We’ve been working really hard and obviously off the back of last year I feel like we’ve got a lot to prove and we’re on our way to doing that.”

“All what we ask for, we deserve,” says the West Indies coach

Karthik Krishnaswamy08-Oct-20253:31

Sammy: ‘Our problems are rooted deep into our system’

Strained finances, infrastructural issues, the skewed economics of world cricket, the pressures of franchise cricket, and the effect of all these things on the talent pipeline that leads from the grassroots to the West Indies Test team. Last week’s innings defeat to India in Ahmedabad brought all these topics back into the spotlight.Various voices have called for financial support to help West Indies cricket address these issues. It has led others, in turn, to question why the ICC and other boards must step in to help. West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has a simple answer: West Indies helped the game grow immensely when they dominated world cricket from the 1970s to the 1990s but did not reap the financial rewards for it in the way that India, for example, have done over recent decades when the game has become far more lucrative.”Look, [it’s] the history we bring, or the history we have, and the legacy we have left on this game in all formats,” Sammy said, when posed this question two days out from the second Test in Delhi. “Obviously the way we play now, everybody will lean towards that. But if we take that aside, and understand the impact that the West Indies team have had in international cricket, I think all what we ask for, we deserve.Related

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“You know you speak to so many other teams. The inspiration that Vivian Richards’ team had, or the impact it had, even here in India, the impact these guys had on the next generation, West Indies contributed to that. I remember watching [West Indies playing] five Test-match series [around the world]. It’s like India now. Everybody wants India to tour, because that’s where the financial gains are. India brings that to the home territory. That was West Indies in the past.”But we did not reap those financial rewards. We were playing five Test matches, three-four months in one place, entertaining the world, where other parts benefited. So for now, when we, over the years, whether it be through lack of management, whatever it is, we are in need of those financial resources to help us grow and move forward, I think we deserve that. Because of the impact we’ve had.”West Indies lost the first Test against India by an innings•AFP/Getty Images

In the present moment, Sammy is aware he can only work with what is available to him in terms of the talent that’s ready to play Test cricket for the West Indies, and the facilities they presently have. He knows it’s unlikely that young players in the Caribbean will react to being picked for the West Indies team as he did back in 2004 when he learned of his selection to the ODI team when he was in the UK playing for an MCC Young Cricketers team.But Sammy feels there’s one area in which West Indies can and should still match other teams in: working hard and smart on their preparation.”For me as a coach, when I call a player and I tell him that he has been selected for West Indies, and I’m hoping that he accepts the selection, that tells us where our cricket is,” he said. “As a kid, I remember in 2004, me being at Lord’s, MCC Young Cricketers, and getting a call. Once I saw the area code 1268, I knew it was from Antigua, I was hoping it was a call from the West Indies Cricket Board, and how excited I was.”Times have changed. We [can] only work with what we have, and who’s willing. And the inability to match some of the franchises across the world [financially], it has been an issue.”But what I always tell these guys [is], if we complain about not having the best facilities, not having enough manpower like the other teams, not having the best technology, all these things which the other teams are superior to us [in], then why the hell are they still outworking us? The only way we could match up [and] compete at a consistent level is if we as the coaches and the players are prepared to outwork the opposition, and we’re not doing that.”So that’s where I’ve actually challenged them. When you practise, when you train, when you strategise, to be more precise, more purposeful. And I must say, again today, I’ve seen them starting to understand what we’re trying to do.”When Sammy, who had previously only been West Indies’ white-ball head coach, took over the Test team in April, the next three series they had lined up were against Australia at home, India away, and New Zealand away — all immensely challenging assignments. It has put in sharp focus the difficulty he has had as a coach in trying to establish a process-driven approach in the backdrop of constant external pressure stemming from results.”When I took on this Test job, I wanted to change the way we played, the results that we have,” Sammy said. “What we did was look at, especially from the batsmen, look at our most consistent batters in international cricket, whether it be T20, whether it be ODIs, whether it be Test matches, and put it together and see how best we could get a batting group. And that’s what we’ve done. It’s been, I think this will be the fifth Test match with that regime, and it’s not worked.”Mind you, when I look at the job I had, I saw Australia in the Caribbean, India in India, and New Zealand in New Zealand. I knew it was going to be very difficult. It will be probably the three most challenging series that we’ll have, whether it be home or away.”And I understand what we try to build. The director of cricket, the vision that we have, and also the players that we want to play. So I take all that into consideration. But what we cannot have, like I said is, against all the odds, the opposition is still outworking us. And that’s the biggest issue for me.”When I took on this Test job, I wanted to change the way we played, the results that we have”•Getty Images

“You don’t need talent to work hard. You don’t need talent to be motivated. It’s not a skill. The skill you need is to go and play. But the mindset. That’s what it takes. And I’m trying to continue to instil that in the guys.”Hopefully the guys who’ve gotten the opportunities [will start performing]. If it doesn’t work, obviously I’ve got to go back and see what’s there in the Caribbean. But again for me, dealing with all of that is just trusting the process. And don’t look at the result before the process has been executed.”West Indies’ long-running issues in Test cricket at a time when they have continually produced top-tier T20 talent, Sammy felt, had contributed to something like a self-perpetuating cycle of talent production in the Caribbean.”Growing up, we had heroes,” Sammy said. “[Brian] Lara, Sir Viv, [Curtly] Ambrose, [Courtney] Walsh, [Richie] Richardson. We had so many different heroes. Ian Bishop. So many, that me watching cricket with my father, I would say, ‘Oh, I want to be like this guy.'”There’s a challenge here now. I always challenge the guys [in the team], which kid in the Caribbean is watching you, and you are inspiring? If you notice, we’ve been, over the last decade, the format where the heroes come from has been the T20 format. And that’s why you see some of the direction in which the younger players are heading. That’s where the heroes are. That’s where they see people they want to be like from the Caribbean.”So it’s hard, but we will not stop trying, because winning builds and shows that it could be done, and we’ve not been able to do that for a long time.”The problems in West Indies cricket are so deep-rooted, and have taken root over so many years, Sammy felt, that he turned to a distressing metaphor for it: cancer.”I mean, the last time we won a series here in India, I was just born. My mom had just had me, in 1983. So the troubles that we have didn’t start now. In 1983, some great players were playing. So I know now I’m under the microscope, I’m in the middle, and we’re open to being criticised by everybody. But the root of the problem didn’t start two years ago. Something way back.”It’s like a cancer that’s already in the system. And you know, if you don’t beat cancer, you know what happens. And again, I think it’s Breast Cancer [Awareness] Month, so it’s a good way to put it, that our problems don’t lie on the surface. It’s rooted deep into our system. And that is something we will continue to change. The immediate thing is, try and encourage the guys, train better, better mindset and all these things. And hopefully steps could be taken in the right direction.”

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Craig Beattie believes that Celtic will remain top of the heap for as long as Brendan Rodgers is in charge.

During his time in charge of Swansea, the Hoops boss brought Beattie to the Welsh side as he guided them into the Premier League and the most successful period in their history.

Rodgers’ future as Celtic manager has come into some doubt recently, after the former Liverpool manager was linked with a return to the English game in January through the Leicester City job.

Asked about the reaction to Rodgers potentially departing, Beattie said as quoted by The Evening Times: “Well, they will be celebrating in one – the Rangers boardroom – when Brendan is no longer there.

“The rest of them, I don’t think they will be overly fussed. I don’t think he has any real bearing on any other team, they are getting their money just the same, because Celtic will always bring huge gates. But over in Govan they will be celebrating. Because as long as Brendan Rodgers is there I think it [Celtic] is a winning machine.”

Rodgers is under contract with Celtic until 2021 and appears perfectly happy with the club, delighted by a return of seven consecutive domestic trophies.

Last summer he did express some frustrations about Celtic’s transfer dealings but during January he appeared to be in sync with the boardroom as three loan signings were brought in as well as the arrival of Vakoun Issouf Bayo.

Over the last year Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, James Forrest, Scott Bain, Tom Rogic and Kris Ajer have signed long-term deals, with Scott Brown signing up for two more seasons last week.

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Lyon captain Nabil Fekir was on the scoresheet in his team’s 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday night.

The result ended PSG’s unbeaten league campaign and the Liverpool fans were again closely watching the performance of Fekir. The 25-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in last summer’s transfer window, but ultimately remained at Lyon.

The 5 foot 8 attacker has put up some strong numbers once again this season, managing 10 goals in 24 appearances for his French club in all competitions.

The Mirror claimed that Fekir’s expected move to Liverpool last summer fell through due to the English club having concerns over the attacker’s knees.

However, some Liverpool fans have once again called for the club to secure a deal for the France international, while others have simply been raving about his performance against the Ligue 1 giants.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from Liverpool supporters can be seen below:

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

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Everton’s recent form has been woeful and now manager Marco Silva finds his position at Goodison Park under threat. The fact that the Toffees have only managed three goals in their last five Premier League games indicates where they’re going wrong.

Silva’s side lack creativity and cutting edge. Summer signing Richarlison has gone off the boil, as has playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson. However, in Ademola Lookman, Silva has a promising young attacker who he is seemingly reluctant to turn to.

The 21-year-old winger has started only three league games all season and has made the field in the Premier League only once since Everton’s loss to Southampton in mid-January. More often than not, Theo Walcott has made Silva’s starting XI ahead of Lookman.

However, the 29-year-old is in poor form, and has only scored one goal in his last nineteen league outings. Lookman demonstrated in a loan spell with RB Leipzig last season that he has end product, bagging five goals and four assists in eleven league games – he must now be given a fair chance to prove his worth on Merseyside.