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The international break is often an unwelcome distraction for Premier League fans, but Arsenal supporters had something to celebrate last night.

England boss Thomas Tuchel started Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, and then brought on Eberechi Eze midway through the second half of the World Cup qualifier against Serbia.

It wasn’t the most memorable of games, but the Gunners’ trio of stars all played brilliantly, especially Saka and Eze.

Yet, so far this season, the pair of them are being outperformed by another former Hale Ender who left the club as a youngster.

Saka & Eze's England performances

Alongside Rice, Saka started for England on Thursday night, and once again reminded everyone why he should, and will, be one of the first names on the teamsheet come the summer.

The Hale End icon was a constant threat for the Three Lions, and opened the scoring just 28 minutes in with a sensational volley from a fair distance out.

It was the kind of goal that a lesser player would be wholly incapable of replicating, as proven in the second half when a Serbian player attempted and failed to do just that.

He didn’t just score the goal and then fade into the background, though, as in his 94 minutes of action, the 24-year-old played one key pass, took three shots, completed 100% of his dribbles, made one clearance, won 66% of his ground duels and recovered the ball five times.

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Eze entered the fray in the 64th minute and was an instant threat, hitting the woodwork and then scoring a goal of his own in the 90th minute.

It wasn’t just any goal, though, as it was another superb strike that nestled in the top corner, giving the Serbian keeper no chance of saving it.

In all, it wasn’t a great night for England, but an excellent one for the Arsenal contingent, who continue to perform for both club and country.

With that said, both Saka and Eze are being outperformed by another former Hale Ender who left the North Londoners as a child.

The former Arsenal gem outplaying Saka & Eze

The unfortunate reality is that every club, let alone one as large as Arsenal, will inevitably miss out on more than a few incredibly talented youngsters over time.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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It is notoriously difficult to predict how good a prospect will really be, and even if a team wants to keep them, they aren’t always able to.

That is what seems to have happened in the case of Michael Olise, who opted to join Chelsea’s youth setup and leave the Gunners’ as a youngster.

However, he wouldn’t make an appearance for the Blues, and after moving a couple more times, would find himself at Reading, where he’d make his senior debut and eventually secure an £8m move to Crystal Palace.

It was at Selhurst Park where the young Frenchman would make his name, as in 90 appearances he’d racked up a tally of 16 goals and 25 assists, which was enough to tempt Bayern Munich to splash £50m on him last summer.

To describe the Hammersmith-born star’s first season in Germany as a success would be a colossal understatement, as in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes, he scored 20 goals and provided 23 assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down this year.

For example, he has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 17 appearances, totalling 1358 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 97 minutes.

With outrageous numbers like these, it’s easy to understand why Oliver Glasner described the Frenchman as being “one of the best talents in the world.”

Olise vs Saka vs Eze

Player

Olise

Saka

Eze

Games

17

14

15

Starts

15

11

11

Minutes

1358′

963′

973′

Goals

7

6

2

Assists

7

0

3

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For comparison’s sake, Saka has scored six goals in 14 appearances this season, and Eze has produced five goal involvements in 15 games so far.

Ultimately, Arsenal fans understandably wouldn’t want to swap their talismanic number seven for anyone in the world, and the former Crystal Palace star is starting to pick up steam. However, a team with them and Olise in it would surely be almost unstoppable.

Related Carragher gave Arsenal star a grilling last season, now he's undroppable

The international star has rediscovered his form for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal this season.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 14, 2025

A report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters, has stated that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings had the case been handled properly. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report has detailed how "fundamental failures" and "concerted efforts" to blame fans led to justice never being served.

• Why no legal action can be taken

  Former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) chief constable Peter Wright and Ch Supt David Duckenfield are among the officers who would have had a case to answer had they been brought before the courts.

  The latest report has also upheld or unearthed new misconduct cases in 92 complaints. Those at the centre of said findings will not face any legal action as they had all retired by the time that investigations were opened again in 2012. Regulations were changed in 2017 and retired officers can now face misconduct charges, although laws cannot be applied retrospectively.

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  Revealed: Findings of IOPC report

  Representatives of the families that lost loved ones at Hillsborough have stated that it is a “bitter injustice” that nobody can be held to account for what happened on that fateful day in Sheffield.

  Lauren Poultney, the current South Yorkshire Police chief constable, said she was “deeply sorry for the pain and heartbreak caused” by the “litany of failures” that rumbled on for over two decades. She added: “There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead.”

  The IOPC report is said to have exposed “a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect”.

  Key findings from the 366-page document, as covered by the , include how the late Mr Wright “would have faced a case over 10 alleged breaches of the Police Disciplinary Code regarding his actions in the aftermath of the disaster”.

  Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was match commander, would also have faced 10 alleged breaches for “failures in decision making and communication in relation to managing the build-up to the game” as well as “key failings” relating to crowd control.

  Eight other SYP officers would have had cases to answer, while former WMP Assistant Chief Constable Mervyn Jones and Det Ch Supt Michael Foster would have needed to explain their roles in leading the initial investigation carried out into the disaster, with it claimed that they showed “alleged bias towards police and against supporters”.

• Victims and their families were failed by the system

  IOPC deputy director general Kathie Cashell admits that those hit hardest by the tragedy, which saw 97 lives lost, have been repeatedly let down. She said: “What they have had to endure over more than 36 years is a source of national shame.”

  Ms Cashell revealed a watchdog investigation has ended up costing £88 million ($116m), while Operation Resolve will add a further £65m ($86m) to that tally. Only six people have faced criminal charges in the wake of the disaster, with only former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Graham Mackrell, being convicted.

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  Changes to the law as a result of Hillsborough disaster

  Ms Cashell added: "The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, survivors of the disaster and all those so deeply affected, have been repeatedly let down – before, during and after the horrific events of that day.

  "First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force's concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades.

  "They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner."

  As changes are made to the legal system, in the wake of what happened on the terraces at Leppings Lane, the Public Office Accountability Bill – known as the Hillsborough Law – will introduce a legal duty of candour for all public officials.

Ten New Zealand internationals have been named and will hope to further their credentials under coach Daniel Flynn

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2025

Nick Kelly and Joe Carter will captain a young New Zealand A squad touring South Africa this month, with the team set to play three one-dayers and two four-day matches.Kelly, who will take charge of the white-ball side, and Carter, set to lead in the red-ball fixtures, head a 15-player squad with an average age of just 25. The squad includes ten New Zealand internationals.Among the most notable names are Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Bevon Jacobs, and Rhys Mariu – all of whom have impressed on the international stage over the past six months.Related

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Hay, Abbas among fresh faces on New Zealand contract list

'Outstanding' Foulkes savours record debut performance

Foulkes starred on Test debut in Zimbabwe, taking a record-breaking 9 for 75 – the best figures by a New Zealander on debut. Abbas set a record in March for the fastest half-century on ODI debut, smashing one in 26 balls against Pakistan.Wicketkeeper-batter Hay was a regular feature in New Zealand’s white-ball squads last summer, setting a T20I world record with six dismissals in a single innings and rescuing New Zealand with an unbeaten 99 in an ODI against Pakistan in Hamilton.Jacobs and Mariu have both impressed in limited international appearances, with Jacobs hitting an unbeaten 44 on T20I debut and Mariu scoring an ODI fifty in just his second game.Two changes have been made from the New Zealand A squad that toured Bangladesh earlier this year, with Jacobs and Test quick Matt Fisher coming in. Auckland pacer Simon Keene and Jacobs are the only players in the squad yet to appear for New Zealand A.Joe Carter will lead in the red-ball fixtures•Mallikarjuna/KSCA

Keene, 22, has impressed in domestic cricket with a first-class century and three five-wicket hauls in just 21 matches for Auckland.One player missing from the squad is Northern Districts allrounder Kristian Clarke, who was unavailable for selection after suffering a side strain during a recent New Zealand A camp.The team will be coached by Northern Districts assistant coach Daniel Flynn, who takes on the head coach role for the first time. He will be supported by NZC high-performance coaches Bob Carter and Graeme Aldridge.Flynn, a former international himself, is relishing the opportunity to lead a side filled with both emerging and established talent.”It’s an exciting blend,” Flynn said. “We have guys who’ve already had a taste of international cricket, and experienced domestic cricketers who are trying to push their case for that next level. “While development is a key focus, Flynn stressed that the team is also heading to South Africa with a strong emphasis on performance. “We’re obviously going there to perform and win games of cricket,” he said. “But we’re also conscious of balancing that with the development of the guys and the opportunity the tour presents for them.”The squad departs for South Africa on August 24, with the tour set to begin on Saturday, August 30.New Zealand A squad: Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Joe Carter (red-ball captain), Josh Clarkson, Matt Fisher, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Curtis Heaphy, Bevon Jacobs, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly (white-ball captain), Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Dale Phillips.

Cole Palmer is set to miss Chelsea’s Champions League trip to Atalanta despite only just returning from injury, with the Blues opting for a carefully controlled recovery plan after his long spell on the sidelines. The midfielder was absent from training at Cobham ahead of the flight to Italy, but his omission is precautionary rather than due to any new physical setback.

Palmer misses Chelsea training ahead of Atalanta

Chelsea finalised their preparations for Tuesday night’s Champions League meeting with Atalanta during an open training session, but Palmer was notably absent. His exclusion from the squad travelling to Bergamo is not related to a fresh issue, but instead part of a pre-planned recovery schedule after weeks out with a recurring groin problem and a fractured toe, as per various reports. Having only just made his first start since September in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, the medical staff opted to ease his workload to prevent aggravation.

The England attacker's recent return has been closely monitored, beginning with a 30-minute cameo in last week’s defeat to Leeds before starting against Bournemouth at the weekend. Chelsea want to avoid overloading him, especially given the two-month gap between competitive starts, and viewed the Atalanta fixture as one that could be safely skipped. Palmer is expected to resume full involvement ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

With Palmer not featuring in training, the door opens for alternative No.10 options, including Facundo Buonanotte, who did take part in the session. The Brighton loanee has played only sporadically under Enzo Maresca but represents the most natural fit to replace Palmer behind the striker. Other creative attackers, such as Joao Pedro or Estevao Willian, may also be considered as Maresca reshuffles his forward structure.

AdvertisementAFPChelsea already contending with numerous injuries

Chelsea enter the Atalanta clash on 10 points, level with the Italian side, and know victory would go some way to helping them secure automatic qualification from the Champions League league phase. The Blues have shown signs of improvement in Europe, particularly during their convincing 3-0 win over Barcelona, but they remain inconsistent domestically as injuries continue to disrupt momentum.

The list of absentees is already significant, with Liam Delap out after sustaining a shoulder injury against Bournemouth and long-term casualties including Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill, and Dario Essugo. Reece James may also be rested given Moises Caicedo’s return from suspension increases tactical flexibility.

Maresca has emphasised that building physical rhythm is essential for Palmer after missing more than two months of action. The Chelsea boss recently explained that the midfielder’s gradual increase in minutes is intended to stabilise his condition before restoring him as a permanent starter. With the Premier League schedule intensifying, the club’s sports science department is adamant that short-term caution will lead to long-term gain.

Palmer's disrupted season post Club World Cup

Palmer’s stop-start season has been defined by two separate injuries: the groin issue that first sidelined him in September and the fractured toe sustained in a freak accident at home. The latter setback delayed his planned comeback, leaving Chelsea without their chief creative outlet during a congested part of the calendar. His absence was felt sharply as the Blues struggled for goals and consistency, making his eventual return even more significant.

Despite missing 19 matches across competitions, Palmer remains central to Maresca’s tactical vision as the side’s primary playmaker. His performance in the No.10 role offers a unique blend of threat and creativity that few in the squad can replicate. That is precisely why the Blues are determined not to jeopardise his recovery by rushing him into high-intensity European matches too quickly.

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GettyPalmer to be ready for the Everton game

Palmer is expected to resume training in the coming days and is being prepared to start against Everton on Saturday. The Premier League fixture is viewed internally as the more important game for maintaining Chelsea’s domestic trajectory.

Looking further ahead, Palmer’s reintegration will be pivotal to Chelsea’s hopes in both Europe and the Premier League. If the club’s phased recovery plan succeeds, he should be able to return to the consistent match rhythm that makes him one of the most dangerous players on the planet on his day. A fully fit Palmer remains essential to Chelsea’s ambitions, and that is why missing Atalanta is seen as a necessary sacrifice rather than a setback.

Former captains Mohammad Ashraful and Akram Khan point at systemic issues around team selection, lack of batting plans, and players not adapting to the modern way

Mohammad Isam16-Oct-2025Bangladesh’s seemingly never-ending issues in the batting department remains in focus as they head into another ODI series – this time against West Indies at home – within three days of their 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Afghanistan.There is a confidence problem within the batting group, with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz conceding after their 200-run defeat in the third ODI that they wanted to bat 50 overs but were struggling to.Fans are irate too. On Wednesday, one group gave the Bangladesh players an unsavoury welcome, including inflicting damage on some players’ vehicles. Another group urged people to stay away from the Shere Bangla National Stadium for the first ODI against West Indies on Saturday.Related

Bangladesh, West Indies prepare to do battle with puzzles to solve

Simmons wants Bangladesh players to stay off social media following unsavoury episode

What it means for Mymensingh to have its own first-class team

Mehidy: We have to target playing 50 overs

Bangladesh call up Soumya and Mahidul for West Indies ODIs

Former Bangladesh captains Mohammad Ashraful and Akram Khan have both said that Bangladesh’s batting approach and overall strategy in the last 12 months have left them baffled.Ashraful, who has recently started his coaching career, said that the problems begin at the top, with Bangladesh’s top-order. Only Saif Hassan, playing his maiden ODI series, played the lead in whatever starts Bangladesh got against Afghanistan. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 22 runs in five innings between them. Mohammad Naim scratched around for seven in his only appearance.The situation was slightly better against Sri Lanka in July, although Tanzid and Parvez Hossain Emon scoring a fifty each hardly made a difference to the team’s performances. Shanto made 37 runs in three innings back then.”I think the biggest concern is the lack of runs from the top order,” Ashraful told ESPNcricinfo. “It has been going on for a while now. Shanto isn’t scoring runs, so that’s becoming a problem. In fact, the lack of runs from the top order goes back quite a long way. During the West Indies series last year, it was Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bailing us out every time. We did put up reasonable totals but I kept feeling that we were at least 50 runs short in those three matches. Even before that, in the previous Afghanistan series last year, we couldn’t get good starts because of poor strike rates.”Ashraful said that the lack of runs from Shanto and Litton Das, and Mehidy’s lukewarm batting tempo through the middle-overs, have dented Bangladesh severely. Among the batters around the national side these days, Mehidy is the most experienced with 113 ODIs, while Litton is on 95 and Shanto 55.Litton Das has been in and out of the ODI team•AFP/Getty ImagesLitton’s ODI career has stalled after a prolonged batting drought in the format. He has scored only 35 runs in his last nine innings going back to December 2023. He has been dropped twice from ODIs, although he is a Test regular and the T20I captain.”Whenever the team’s established batters don’t score runs, it makes life difficult for the rest,” Ashraful said. “Litton has been in and out of the ODI team for a while now. He is sometimes out of the squad, and then they bring him in on the back of some runs in another format. He returns, and then he fails again.”I also feel that since Mehidy began batting at No. 5, he is scoring runs but not how modern batters go about it. We are going back to our time when a batter would score 65-70 off 100 balls.”

“The ODI team hasn’t settled down. There’s too much chopping and changing. I think many of these decisions are being taken due to pressure from media and social media”Mohammad Ashraful

Bangladesh have been going through a batting transition in the last 24 months. Those who exited the format – Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah – possessed vast ODI experience. Tanzid, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy and Jaker have since taken over those batting positions and the swaps haven’t been smooth.Tanzid no longer enjoys a blanket backing from the management. Hridoy’s honeymoon period is long gone – he has failed to make meaningful contributions since the century against India in the Champions Trophy. Jaker is struggling, too, in the last few months.Akram, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman across two terms in the last ten years, is sympathetic.”I think there’s too much pressure on the players,” Akram told ESPNcricinfo. “They are not a bad team. These are not bad players. Generally, however, I am not seeing the ability to play big knocks. I don’t see the batters planning their innings, or at least breaking them down to phases of 15 balls each. Batting like this was possible in Abu Dhabi where we saw that only one innings got close to the 300-run mark. But we didn’t plan well.ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been among the runs, but his strike rate has been a concern•AFP/Getty Images”I think the coaches should be held accountable. Losing one in ten matches is okay, but when you lose most games, there will be questions. It is high time we understand the importance of the men’s cricket team. Their level of performance reflects the overall health of cricket in the country. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement.”Ashraful also feels there should be better decision-making in the selection of the side. Apart from what he said about Litton, he pointed to the selection policy when it came to Soumya Sarkar.”The ODI team hasn’t settled down. There’s too much chopping and changing,” Ashraful said. “I think many of these decisions are being taken due to pressure from media and social media.”It will be a tough series against the West Indies. It won’t be like the ODI series in the past few years. West Indies are fresh from a Test series in India where two of their batters struck centuries in the second Test. I think that makes them a team with more confidence.”In home conditions, however, “we can always hope to do well,” Ashraful said. Which, of course, might only serve to paper over the cracks.

The duo shared an unbeaten 212-run stand at Adelaide Oval after the defending champions slumped to 58 for 3

AAP04-Oct-2025Centuries to Henry Hunt and Jake Lehmann have defending champions South Australia early control of their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval.Victoria captain Peter Handscomb’s decision to bowl looked the right call when Mitchell Perry took his third wicket in the morning session, leaving the home side in trouble at 58 for 3.That brought together Hunt and Lehmann, who steadily took the game away from Victoria and at stumps SA were 270 for 3. Hunt carried his bat through the day and scored a grinding 121 from 300 balls, with 10 fours and one six. Lehmann’s 107 from 180 balls, featuring only seven fours on a slow outfield, was his fourth century in as many Shield games going back to last season.Victoria could have had South Australia in even bigger early trouble. Hunt had reached 33 and the score was 114 when he drove at a wide delivery from pacer David Moody and edged straight to Blake Macdonald at first slip. But the chance was grassed and it proved costly for Victoria.It was the slowest of Hunt’s 11 Shield centuries and he said Lehmann’s innings had been pivotal.”The momentum shifted when he came out – his presence at the crease, to put some pressure back on [Victoria],” Hunt said. “To be 270 for 3, that’s almost a perfect day for us.”Perry finished with 3 for 61 from 20 overs while Test quick Scott Boland went wicketless from 18 overs and Fergus O’Neill also failed to a scalp from his 21 overs.

Sri Lanka were unable to chase down a target of 242

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2025

Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by the narrowest of margins – one run – in the Women’s World Cup warm-up match in Colombo on Saturday.Sri Lanka stumbled early in a chase of 243, slipping from 56 for 1 to 86 for 4, but Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings, both scoring half-centuries. Dilhari’s 63 came to an unfortunate end when her bat slipped off her hand and hit the stumps after a shot over midwicket. Nilakshika continued the fight, making 75 off 78 before falling in the penultimate over.At 218 for 5 with 46 overs gone, Sri Lanka seemed in control, needing 25 from 24 balls. However, a collapse followed, left-arm spinner Nahida Akter triggering the slide, dismissing Piumi Wathsala and Anushka Sanjeewani in the 47th over before removing Nilakshika in the 49th. In the final over, Marufa Akter defended nine runs as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, including a run out, and fell short.Earlier, Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough with Udeshika Prabodhani dismissing Fargana Haque in the second over. Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter rebuilt with a 90-run stand, but Dilhari struck twice to remove both. Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Dilhari all took two wickets as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 242 for 8, with Sharmin’s 71 being the highlight.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras venceu a Portuguesa por 2 a 0 e assumiu a liderança geral do Paulistão 2024. Ao final da partida, Abel Ferreira e explicou a ideia de escalar o time titular para o jogo, e também da disputa acirrada por uma vaga no meio campo do Verdão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel Ferreira define Palmeiras para pegar a Portuguesa; veja provável escalaçãoPalmeiras28/02/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras ‘acorda’ no segundo tempo, vence a Portuguesa e assume melhor campanha do PaulistãoPalmeiras28/02/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras reduz dívida milionária com a Crefisa; veja valoresPalmeiras28/02/2024

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

– Temos a questão do calendário apertado, muitos jogos seguidos, requer tempo pra gente achar o rendimento ideal, mas gostei de ver as duplas ali no meio campo, de fato temos quatro jogadores muito competitivos. É uma posição que de fato vai me dar muita dor de cabeça, sempre bom ter opções de fora para entrar, Zé e Anibal jogaram bem, e os outros dois (Rios e Menino) entraram com muita intensidade, tanto que criaram a jogada do segundo gol – disse Abel Ferreira.

O técnico do Verdão também revelou ter conversado com Endrick após a passagem do jogador pela seleção e elogiou a energia e entrega da joia que já está negociada com o Real Madrid.

continua após a publicidade

– Ele mal chegou, nem tinha treinado ainda e já veio falar comigo. Queremos ele com essa alegria dentro de campo, essa energia e a audácia de além de fazer o que a gente pede sobre os comportamentos coletivos, a qualidade e sem tirar o pé, se fizer isso vai nos ajudar muito – finalizou o treinador.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão➡️

O Palmeiras se reapresenta nesta quinta-feira (29) e já inicia a preparação para o Choque-Rei de domingo, no Estádio do Morumbi.

Tudo sobre

Abel FerreiraEndrickPalmeiras

Mary Earps has posted a message to her personal Instagram account following her return to Old Trafford, thanking the Manchester United fans for their "warm welcome", despite receiving a mixed response from the home fans during her PSG side's 2-1 defeat. The former Sports Personality of the Year was booed throughout, however, some fans continued to cheer for the shot stopper.

• Miserable Manchester United return for Earps

  Earps' return to Old Trafford came amidst the ongoing reaction to the contents of her recently released autobiography. Along with the revelations around her relationship with her Lionesses replacement Hannah Hampton, the 32-year-old also expressed her displeasure with how her tenure at United came to an end. 

  It's likely the furore contributed to her reception at the Theatre of Dreams. While Earps was applauded by the fans that came to watch the two teams warm up, she was jeered by a section of the Old Trafford faithful throughout. The majority of the crowd counteracted with cheers, with the keeper receiving applause as she left the pitch after her side's third defeat in the Champions League this season. 

  Earps twice had to pick the ball out of her own net, with Melvine Malard opening the scoring and Fridolina Rolfo bagging the winner on the hour mark. 

  Despite the mixed return to her former employers, the former Lionesses hero still put out an upbeat message on her personal Instagram account. She posted: "Not the result we wanted but it was truly special to be back at Old Trafford last night. Thank you for the warm welcome back, it meant more than you know. Good luck for the rest of the season." 

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  Earps' comments on her United departure

  Earps wrote that she hoped to finish her career at Manchester United. She joined the club from Wolfsburg in 2019, before leaving on a free transfer in 2024. 

  It seems her issues with the Red Devils leadership stems from their failure to invest properly in the women's side. After Euro 2022, the club promised to relocate the women's side to their Carrington base, alongside the men's squad. However, Earps and her colleagues were only moved into their new women's and academy building on the campus in the summer of 2023. She said the unfulfilled commitment made the players feel like the announcement had been little more than a "publicity exercise." 

  After the 2023 World Cup, in which Earps won the Golden Glove award and England lost in the final, Arsenal reportedly made a bid of £100,000 for her services. United turned down the offer without contacting her. She described the situation as "dizzying". 

  Despite receiving an initial contract extension in 2023, the club did not pick up talks with Earps until the end of the 2023/2024 season. Despite tabling a significant offer, she said United were no closer to their goal of winning the Champions League, while the club had also failed to tell her the women would be required to move out of their base to accommodate the men's side during renovations at Carrington. She would eventually sign a two-year deal with Les Parisiens. 

• Skinner tells Earps to take care of herself

  Despite her comments over her time with the club, United boss Mark Skinner complimented Earps. He also shared the words of advice he imparted on her when they spoke after the final whistle. 

  "I said to her at the end I said, 'Look after yourself', because we have already spoken about mental health and how people can be affected," he explained.

  "Mary is a really intelligent woman and she has been the world's best. She understands the world she is playing in, but I thought it was a lovely atmosphere and she got a cheer as she walked down the side at the end of the game. Hopefully that will help her in her situation and how she feels. After the game, it was always going to be friendly with Mary, because she has been a big part of what we do and we shall never forget that."

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  Will United return mark an end to Earps scrutiny?

  The last month has been a firestorm of media reaction for Earps. Perhaps the return to her former employer can form a natural bookend, as news cycles move on and the eye of the media look elsewhere. She has spoken of how overwhelming the response to her book has been. 

  The 32-year-old needs to be on top form and with full concentration on her game if Les Parisiens are to save their Champions League campaign. They face a daunting trip to Bayern Munich on November 20. A defeat would likely spell the end of their time in the competition for this season. 

Neser and Bartlett impress with the ball on a day when Abbott was withdrawn from the Ashes squad

Tristan Lavalette12-Nov-2025
Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett bowled with trademark accuracy on a day where Australia’s fringe quicks were in the spotlight. But wickets were hard to produce on a relatively sedate WACA surface as Cameron Green batted fluently to keep Western Australia afloat against Queensland.On a dramatic day in Australian cricket, Sean Abbott was withdrawn from the Ashes squad after scans on his left hamstring confirmed a moderate grade strain. If a replacement for Abbott is needed for the first Test squad, Neser would likely head the queue while Bartlett might also come under consideration.Neser probed away outside the off stump and was finally rewarded when he had Hilton Cartwright plumb lbw for 37. He finished with 1 for 37 from 15 overs. Even though he was wicketless, Bartlett similarly nagged away in his Shield season debut having played in the white-ball series against India.”You can’t look at those things too much,” Bartlett said about a potential Ashes squad call-up. “Hopefully perform for Queensland over the next couple of days and that’s all you can really do.”Related

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WA were held together by opener Cameron Bancroft’s 76 and then Green, who finished 49 not out, until losing three late wickets.Josh Inglis, the reserve wicketkeeper in the Ashes squad, fell for 4 just before stumps after edging quick Gurinder Sandhu to second slip in a reckless dismissal having slashed hard at a delivery well outside off stump. It was a disappointment for Inglis in his first red-ball match since the West Indies Test series.Queensland’s late rally has them slightly in the ascendancy in a match that has see-sawed over two days.After a hard-fought opening day, Queensland resumed on 323 for 6 and faced a WA attack without the services of Green, who bowled two four-over spells on day one in his return to bowling following a side injury that ruled him out of the India ODI series.With a target of bowling 15-20 overs across the match, Green kept the powder dry until Queensland’s second innings but he was in the action after holding on to a stinging blow from Bartlett at midwicket.It was a relief for Green, who had uncharacteristically dropped a relatively straightforward chance in the gully late on day one. It was a desperately needed wicket for WA after Bartlett and Lachlan Hearne counterattacked to great effect to lift Queensland to a solid first-innings total.A cavalier Hearne appeared to be powering to a second century in as many Shield matches until being the last batter to fall for 87 off 134 balls.Michael Neser trapped Hilton Cartwright lbw for 37•Getty Images

Bancroft and skipper Sam Whiteman had to survive a testing period before lunch as Neser and Bartlett bowled an unnerving length outside the off stump. A confidence-boosting century against South Australia in the last match has rejuvenated Bancroft, who was again proactive and cleverly rotated the strike with quick singles.The openers were again under pressure after lunch, but Neser and Bartlett were left frustrated and could not create any clear cut opportunities as Whiteman and Bancroft notched a half-century stand.Skipper Marnus Labuschagne needed a spark and he turned to emerging quick Tom Whitney, playing in his fourth first-class match, who responded by trapping Whiteman for 26.Whitney on the next delivery had a big lbw shout against Cartwright turned down, but Bancroft steadied WA with calm batting punctuated by the occasional sweet drive through the off side.Bancroft had started the season slowly with just 21 runs from his first four innings, falling out of the Ashes selection race. But he has turned back the clock since and soon lifted his bat after notching a classy half-century.Neser’s luck changed after tea when he dismissed Cartwright before Bancroft uncharacteristically threw his wicket away after smashing a full toss from legspinner Mitchell Swepson straight to a jubilant Labuschagne at midwicket.But Green rattled along at swift pace. He was ruthless against Swepson, smashing a rank long hop that landed on the vacant grassbanks.Disaster struck for WA late in the day when Cooper Connolly was run-out at the bowler’s end after a mix-up with Green. Connolly had turned for the second run only to be sent back as a hustling Labuschagne fired a quick throw to Sandhu who effected the run-out.