A Manchester United star who Ruben Amorim called “top” is now close to sealing a January exit, with talks advancing.
Amorim looking to reshuffle squad in January
After a shaky start to the campaign, Amorim has managed to buy himself some more time courtesy of a recent uptick in results, with Man United winning four out of their last six matches in the Premier League.
The United boss has settled on Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as his preferred options in the middle of the park, and the midfield duo certainly played their part in the recent 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield.
Casemiro made three tackles to keep the Reds at bay, the joint-second highest number of any player, while Fernandes was a constant threat, hitting the woodwork and assisting Harry Maguire’s late winner.
However, there have been suggestions that Amorim is less convinced by his back-up options in midfield, with Teddy Sheringham claiming the 40-year-old isn’t a fan of Kobbie Mainoo: “He has a certain style that Amorim obviously doesn’t appreciate.
“He obviously wants more from Mainoo; it’s up to him to try and change his game a little bit to fit in with what Amorim wants.”
According to a report from Spain, Mainoo is now very close to sealing a January exit from Old Trafford, with talks over a move to Napoli recently advancing, amid very limited game time so far this season.
The 20-year-old is determined to make it to the 2026 World Cup, which means he needs to be receiving regular minutes, and Napoli are now in the strongest position to get a deal done, with the youngster potentially in line to follow Scott McTominay to Italy.
The report doesn’t make it clear what sort of fee the Red Devils could receive for their academy graduate, but a £70m asking price has been touted in the past.
Carragher said Man Utd star was "awful" in 24/25, now he's their best player
Manchester United appear to have conducted incredible business with the addition of one star.
ByEthan Lamb Oct 21, 2025 Mainoo needs regular first-team football
It would be completely understandable if the youngster were to push for a move this January, given that he is at serious risk of not going to the World Cup, having not played for England since a 2-0 victory over Ireland over one year ago.
Amorim has previously made it clear he is a fan of the central midfielder, describing him as a “top player”, but the United boss clearly isn’t totally convinced, with the 10-time England international still yet to make a Premier League start this season.
Given that Amorim has staved off the pressure with two wins on the bounce, Mainoo may not be reintroduced into the starting XI anytime soon, but it would be a real shame to see the 2024 FA Cup final star leave, with the display against Manchester City proving he has the talent to succeed at Old Trafford.
خاض النجم المصري عمر مرموش، مباراة فريق مانشستر سيتي ضد خصمه ليفربول، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26.
واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي بين مانشستر سيتي وليفربول، حيث حقق السكاي بلو فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.
ودخل عمر مرموش كبديل في تلك المباراة، حيث نزل بقرار من المدرب بيب جوارديولا في الدقيقة 73، بدلًا من جيريمي دوكو الذي قدم أداءً رائعًا. ملخص لمسات عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول
وكاد عمر مرموش أن يكلف فريقه هدفًا، بعدما اُقتطعت الكرة منه، وشن ليفربول هجمة في الدقيقة 74، ولكن لم تكتمل.
وبعد ذلك بلحظات، حاول مرموش تسديد كرة من على حدود منطقة جزاء ليفربول، ولكنها اصطدمت بدفاع كتيبة آرني سلوت.
وتحصل عمر مرموش على خطأ في الدقيقة 85، بعد تدخل من لاعب ليفربول، وبعد ذلك انطلق بالكرة من الناحية اليمنى وقوبل بدفاع قوي من جانب الريدز، ومررها ناحية نيكو أوريلي، ولكن الأخير أهدرها.
وسنحت فرصة لـ عمر مرموش في اللحظات الأخيرة من المباراة ولكنه تردد وفكر مرتين، وضاعت الهجمة في النهاية مع ضغط من جانب ليفربول.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told his players to bring the aggression to their latest attempt to ruffle the feathers of Premier League title contenders Arsenal.
The Gunners finished as runners-up to Liverpool last season and currently lead the pack chasing the champions this time around.
However, they lost to the Magpies on three occasions last season, including both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final, and have not scored a single goal in their last three visits to St James’ Park with Howe’s men having turned up the heat to get the better of them.
Asked about that edge they appear to have against Mikel Arteta’s side, their 47-year-old head coach said: “I think we play better when there is that edge in our game. Many times, I say that to the players themselves.
“If we’re not in that sweet spot of aggression and competitiveness, we don’t play the same way. I think we have players that really respond to that type of game.
“Of course there’s a balance depending on what style of game we’re in. I’d like to think we can navigate our way through a game and utilise all the skills we have in our psychological framework to help us win.”
Howe could silence Nwaneri by unleashing £40m Newcastle "machine"
Newcastle host Arsenal in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, leading 2-0.
By
Angus Sinclair
Feb 5, 2025
Newcastle's season waiting for a jump start
Newcastle’s start to the season has been hampered by the Alexander Isak saga and while they have largely played well, results have not necessarily followed.
Their recent record against Arsenal – they have won four of the last six encounters in all competitions – is a source of satisfaction but Howe knows it will count for little once the first whistle sounds.
He said: “You don’t think about that going into the game, you think, ‘This is a fresh game and a fresh opportunity to impress’, so we’ve always had that line that you draw under the past.
“The past isn’t relevant, but you need to take whatever confidence you can positively and take that with you, so we’ll look to do that. But this is a fresh game and Arsenal are a new team.”
Howe will celebrate four years at St James’ in November, and a great deal has changed since he took to the dugout for the first time against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium – he had been prevented from doing so for Brentford’s visit to Tyneside a week earlier by Covid-19 – and presided over a 2-0 defeat.
He said: “That was a proud day because it was my first day in the dugout, but it was a tough day as well and it, I think looking back, paved the way for how tough it was going to be to stay in the league because at that stage, we were a long way from the team that we are today.
“I think we’ve come a long way in a relatively short period of time, although four years in footballing terms is a lifetime, really. But we’re still here and we’re still fighting.”
“If we should go back and look at the Punjab game, when we got 112 to make, that game really hurt us”
Sreshth Shah03-May-20251:21
Ganga: KKR need to maximise Russell and Powell’s impact
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have lost five of their nine completed games, failed to stitch together even two wins in a row, and now need four wins from as many matches to reach 17 points, which would give them a realistic chance of qualifying for the IPL 2025 playoffs.Ahead of KKR’s home game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, Rovman Powell said that they have moved on from the first half of their season, and wants to build on their 14-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) to get on a run that could see them stay alive in the tournament. After all, it has been done for: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their last four must-win games in IPL 2009 and 2016, both times when they reached the final, and also won their last six must-win games in IPL 2024 to secure qualification.”At the start of the season, it’s a position that we wouldn’t want to find ourselves in, but our destiny is still in our own hands, and that’s a good place to be,” Powell told reporters in Kolkata on Saturday. “We have four games that we need to win, and we can’t look at the holistic picture right now. We have to look at it one game at a time, and our opponent for the next one.Related
KKR back to home discomforts with playoffs chances on the line
“You can’t get too desperate; you still have to trust the process. It’s not just an important phase for us as a team, but it’s an important phase for all the teams – even the teams that are leading, or [are] in the top-four spots at the moment. It’s [about] who, at this point, plays the better cricket. Whatever happened before in the first half of the competition is history. We all know that the IPL is won by a team that finds momentum at the back-end of the competition. And if we can do that, we give ourselves the best chance of being back champions.”Powell said that the collective experience of the overseas players in the KKR line-up, having played in leagues around the world and found themselves in similar situations in the past, allows them to guide the team through this difficult phase. And despite suggesting earlier that the team has put the past behind them, Powell rued the two points they missed out on against Punjab Kings, when they failed to chase 112, and felt that game really disrupted the momentum the team was building.”There’s a lot of players from India who have just gotten a little taste of international cricket, so for us as overseas guys who have played more cricket around the world, [and] who have been in these positions a lot more, it’s important for us now to guide them,” Powell said. “It’s important for us now to keep teaching them and showing them that it’s still normal cricket.”If we should go back and look at the Punjab game, when we got 112 to make, that game really hurt us, and it really affected our standing in the table. If we had gotten those two points, we would be sitting here with more smiles on our face. That was down to poor batting at that point, but I think we had conversations, and the guys have made incredible strides [since].”As for the RR challenge – who, despite being eliminated, could spoil KKR’s run with a win – Powell said the team looked closely at Mumbai Indians’ 100-run win over RR. He said the team has picked up on some of the tactical plans to trouble RR’s batters, and wants to do the same to neutralise them – especially the opening pair of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Powell added that he expects to bat at No. 8, and not higher – even if that means very little batting time for him – since it allows the Indian batters to shine in their best positions.”I think it’s more tactical than ever,” Powell said. “When you look at the team and how the team is built, it’s built around strong Indian batters in the middle. So we have those guys to get us through the middle, and then you try to add a little bit of Caribbean power in the last five or four overs.”
No replacement will be flown in for the last match of the tour where the visitors lead 2-0
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-2025Australia fast bowler Darcie Brown will miss the third and final T20I against New Zealand in Wellington after flying home for family reasons.Brown bowled superbly in the first two matches of the series, claiming 1 for 22 from four overs in Auckland and 2 for 23 from four in Mount Maunganui, to help Australia close out the series 2-0 will one game remaining.But Brown has departed the tour ahead of the final game. Cricket Australia confirmed that no replacement would come into the squad. Megan Schutt was rested from the second T20I and appears likely to come back into the side.Australia have already lost vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner to a broken finger after suffering a blow while attempting to take a return catch in the first game in Auckland.Queensland offspinning allrounder Charli Knott flew in ahead of the second match in Mount Maunganui but is yet to make her international debut.
Cody Gakpo was honest in his reflection of Liverpool's performance at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Chelsea grabbing a late winner through Estevao Willian in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The defeat was "hard to take" for the Dutchman, who believes that the visitors played "better" football than the hosts and deserved to come away with a more positive result.
Chelsea earn three points through dramatic late Estevao winner
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 14th minute after a screamer from Moises Caicedo. Gakpo pulled one back for the Reds in the 63th minute after an assist from Alexander Isak, but his efforts were in vain as substitute Estevao's dramatic winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time further compounded Arne Slot's misery.
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Liverpool find themselves stuck in a rut
The defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was Liverpool's third successive defeat across all competitions. After recording five wins from their opening five league games, they slipped to defeat against a resilient Crystal Palace side last weekend. Further chinks in their armour were exposed in the drab defeat to Turkish giants Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this week. The result on Saturday will have officially rung alarm bells at Anfield, with Arsenal knocking the defending champions off their perch in the Premier League standings.
'Losing three games in a row not good enough' – Gakpo
The scorer for Slot's side reflected on the loss to Chelsea after the game. "It's difficult [to take]. I think obviously we play against a really good team," he told Sky Sports. "First half they scored an amazing goal but I think it was level. Second half we fight really hard for the equaliser and we played a little better than them but they were dangerous on counter. To concede last minute is hard to take."
He shared his thoughts on the reigning champions' concerning form. "I don't want to say low on confidence. I understand what you mean," Gakpo stated. "In this time the things don't fall our way. Maybe five games ago they did fall our way. This is part of football. we have to take it on our chests and keep on fighting. we have to keep pushing.
"When you play at a club this big it's normal when you lose three games in a row that it's not good enough. We know that as players. We are very much aware of the situation. We know what to do, which is going back to the winning ways."
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Win against Man Utd paramount for Liverpool
Slot's troops will be desperate to turn things around after the upcoming international break. They couldn't have hoped for a better game to get out of their rut. Indeed, they will take on Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, with the Merseyside outfit enjoying a fantastic recent record against their rivals.
It would be fair to say that Chelsea have had a good summer so far when it comes to transfers.
While they didn’t look great in the first Premier League game of the season, the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens are all incredibly talented.
Moreover, even though he’s young, Jorrel Hato has been talked about as one of the game’s next great defenders for years now, and at this point, the club look increasingly likely to sign Alejandro Garnacho.
Yet, while the Argentine is a promising player who has shown flashes of brilliance here and there, Chelsea are also being linked with another international, someone who would be a big upgrade.
Chelsea chase Garnacho upgrade
Chelsea’s interest in Garnacho is nothing new, as the club were reliably linked with him back in the January window.
Transfer Focus
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However, the West Londoners have really stepped up their pursuit of the 21-year-old this summer, and as things stand, they appear to be in direct talks with Manchester United over a transfer.
However, while it’s been made clear Garnacho wants the move, the West Londoners have been linked with another international attacker, someone who would be a significant upgrade.
At least that is according to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, who has claimed that Chelsea are in the picture for Ademola Lookman.
The journalist has revealed that following the collapse of his move to Inter Milan, the Nigerian international’s representatives have been in talks with several clubs, including the Blues.
According to other reports from earlier this summer, an offer of around £43m could be enough to tempt Atalanta into selling this summer.
While that is a sizable sum of money, it may prove to be a bargain for someone of Lookman’s quality, especially as he would be an upgrade on Lookman.
How Lookman compares to Garnacho
So, while Garnacho is a talented player and someone who could go on to do great things in the game, Lookman would undoubtedly be the better signing for Chelsea this summer, and the first reason comes down to his versatility.
Atalanta's Davide Zappacosta celebrates scoring their fifth goal with AdemolaLookman
For example, while the United ace can play in a few positions, he is primarily a left-winger, with 110 appearances coming there, 33 off the right and 27 in attacking midfield.
In contrast, the Atalanta star is far more versatile and can play practically anywhere in the attack, with 100 appearances off the left, 83 as a second striker, 62 off the right, 38 up top and 16 in attacking midfield.
In other words, the Nigerian game-changer could be played wherever he is needed, which in turn gives the manager far more tactical options ahead of and during matches.
The second reason Lookman would be a massive upgrade on the Argentine is his output.
Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.
That means the former Everton flop has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes since the start of the 22/23 campaign, which is frankly outstanding.
Appearances
33
34
Minutes
1858′
1205′
Goals
15
5
Assists
8
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
120.5′
Appearances
45
50
Minutes
2809′
3574′
Goals
17
10
Assists
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.60
0.34
Minutes per Goal Involvement
104.03′
210.23′
Appearances
40
58
Minutes
2871′
3568′
Goals
20
11
Assists
7
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.67
0.36
Minutes per Goal Involvement
106.33
169.90′
In contrast, the Madrid-born gem star has scored 26 goals and provided 22 assists in 142 appearances, totalling 8347 minutes, across the same period, which comes out to a great, but still less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.95 games, or every 173.89 minutes.
Finally, the Wandsworth-born dynamo proved that he can do it on the biggest stages when he scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final, so there he should be able to come right into Maresca’s side and be a difference-maker from the word go.
Ultimately, Garnacho is a talented player, but from practically every way you look at it, it’s clear Lookman would be a massive upgrade.
£50m ex-Atletico Madrid sensation has told friends he's joining Chelsea
Stamford Bridge officials have given the player has instruction during talks.
Além da necessidade de buscar a classificação para as oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, o São Paulo tem outra questão em mente: garantir a premiação milionária. A partida contra o Ituano acontecerá nesta terça-feira (25), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio Novelli Júnior.
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Válida pela terceira fase da competição, o jogo de ida aconteceu no estádio do Morumbi e terminou em um empate sem gols. Para o Tricolor se classificar, precisa de uma vitória ou permanecer no empate e decidir em uma disputa de pênaltis.
ATUAÇÕES: Rafael tem noite de “paredão” e salva São Paulo na estreia de Dorival
Veja tabela da Copa do Brasil
Só pela participação na terceira etapa, a equipe já lucrou R$2,1 milhões. Entretanto, a classificação para as oitavas arrecadaria mais R$3,3 milhões em premiação. Ou seja, sem contar bilheteria, ir para as oitavas de final daria, ao todo, praticamente R$ 5,4 milhões.
Se esta classificação não existir, o São Paulo deixará de receber este valor de R$ 3,3 milhões – e todos os outros correspondentes às próximas fases do campeonato. A premiação da Copa do Brasil deste ano será maior que a de 2022.Ao todo, a CBF vai distribuir R$ 416,9 milhões entre os 92 clubes participantes.
Como o Tricolor estreou somente na terceira fase, se for campeão – além do título inédito -,o prêmio total chegaria a R$ 88,7 milhões. Inclusive, nas metas orçamentárias para este ano, o São Paulo espera chegar pelo menos até as quartas de final da competição. Assim, a intenção seria lucrar cerca de R$ 9,7 milhões.
continua após a publicidade
Veja a premiação de casa fase da Copa do Brasil:
1ª fase: R$ 1,4 milhão (grupo I), R$ 1,25 milhão (grupo II) e R$ 750 mil (grupo III) 2ª fase: R$ 1,7 milhão (grupo I), R$ 1,4 milhão (grupo II) e R$ 900 mil (grupo III) 3ª fase: R$ 2,1 milhões Oitavas de final: R$ 3,3 milhões Quartas de final: R$ 4,3 milhões Semifinal: R$ 9 milhões Vice-campeão: R$ 30 milhões Campeão: R$ 70 milhões
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that the Reds will not hesitate to strike with further additions in the summer transfer market.
Never in the Anfield side’s history has there been such a cascade of first-team signings across a single summer window, but then Liverpool won the Premier League last season and have the financial means to package Slot’s squad with exciting additions.
The thought of Mohamed Salah combining with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, previously two of the German Bundesliga’s brightest talents, over the next few years is quite a thing.
And more may yet be added to the ranks.
However, Luis Diaz has been sold to Bayern Munich for a £65.5m fee, and that’s a departure which will be felt on Merseyside next season.
Liverpool's decision to sell Luis Diaz
Liverpool sold Diaz, 28, due to the fact he had entered the penultimate year of his contract and wanted to leave, earning a comparatively meagre amount compared to many of Liverpool’s best-paid stars.
Luis Diaz
Bayern presented the Reds with a pretty few pennies, and his sale felt like a no-brainer, although it has now left the Anfield side lacking the versatile forward’s electric-paced energy.
Following the announcement of Diaz’s sale, Salah said this: “Your energy, drive, and passion on the pitch have left a mark that won’t be forgotten.”
And he only improved over the past year, shifting from Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpress to the more methodical ‘Slotball’.
Matches (starts)
37 (32)
36 (28)
Goals
8
13
Assists
5
5
Shots (on target)*
2.5 (0.9)
2.0 (0.8)
Big chances missed
13
11
Pass completion
85%
86%
Big chances created
5
8
Key passes*
1.8
1.6
Dribbles*
1.8
1.5
Ball recoveries*
3.4
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.0
1.3
Duels won*
4.6
3.8
Diaz’s sale does, of course, hand Cody Gakpo something of a window to grasp over the coming weeks and months, for he is – as things stand – Liverpool’s leading left-sided forward.
But the Colombian, now part of the Die Roten squad, played a fair share of football as a makeshift number nine, and when Liverpool replace him, they might have their sights set at a central player.
Liverpool target wants to join them
As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Liverpool have seen an opening offer for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak knocked back. It fell into the ballpark of British-record territory, in excess of £120m.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated the report, revealing that the 25-year-old is “pushing to join” Slot’s side. The Magpies, it’s important to stress, are adamant they will only cash in should they find a suitable replacement.
Careful planning and handling of finances have allowed Liverpool to shift into this enviable position, and Isak really would be the icing on the cake this summer.
What Liverpool would get with Alexander Isak
Isak has been with Newcastle for three years now, having joined them from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022. Pundit Ally McCoist hailed him as “the best all-round centre-forward” in the Premier League for his efforts across the 2024/25 season, and it’s hardly an outrageous take.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland may be a more clinical ball-striking machine, but Isak’s rounded style, merging strength with style, suggests he could slot right into the way of things at Anfield.
It’s the kind of offensive game that would play right into Salah’s strengths, prominently, but also Gakpo’s too. Liverpool’s Netherlands ace scored 18 goals and provided seven assists last season, instrumental in winning the Premier League.
He’s not averse to creating and drawing defenders away, of course, and so in this way, Liverpool could find a new high-class partnership developing between Isak and Gakpo, with the Newcastle number nine so elegant and suitable for the prolific wide forward’s skill set.
Matches (starts)
30 (27)
34 (34)
Goals
21
23
Assists
2
6
Touches*
26.8
33.3
Shots (on target)*
2.4 (1.4)
2.9 (1.4)
Big chances missed
21
18
Pass completion
80%
77%
Big chances created
5
11
Key passes*
0.9
1.2
Dribbles*
1.4
1.2
Ball recoveries*
1.3
1.6
Tackles + interceptions*
0.4
0.5
Duels (won)*
2.4
2.8
The £120k-per-week Isak has a lot in his locker, but he has almost simplified his game at Newcastle, relinquishing some of the more athletic and mobile elements to refine his world-class shooting. It worked to an emphatic effect, for Newcastle restored their place in the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup (against Liverpool in the final) besides.
He was only outscored by Salah, but his roundedness suggests that he could be an exciting dance partner for Gakpo, whose responsibilities may well increase with Diaz now gone.
Gakpo isn’t a one-trick pony by any stretch, but he does put an emphasis on his goalscoring, cutting inside and clinically striking on goal.
Since Isak created 11 big chances in the top flight last season, it seems like he would be a tailor-made addition to combine with Gakpo, who ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last year for non-penalty goals (0.47) per 90, as per FBref.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpongand Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios
The Dutchman was praised by pundit Peter Crouch for having “gone up a level” since Slot replaced Klopp in the dugout, and you can only imagine the kind of heights that the 25-year-old could reach alongside a cultured and confident superstar such as Isak, who has been described by teammate Nick Pope as being “like a wizard” for the playmaking side to his arsenal.
Once again, Liverpool know that their hopes of signing Isak hinge on Newcastle’s ability to find a replacement. They want RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but he’s also being pursued by Manchester United, who are readying a formal bid.
However, the Magpies will be cautious about keeping Isak on the books after his desperate efforts to force a move to Liverpool, and this is – without a doubt – one to keep a close eye on.
Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m
Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.
Oval Invincibles missed the chance to confirm their spot in Sunday’s final at Lord’s at Trent Bridge, losing to Trent Rockets thanks to Rovman Powell’s spectacular hitting.The Invincibles are still clear favourites to progress directly to the final as group winners, but Birmingham Phoenix could leapfrog them on net run-rate with a huge win over rock-bottom Manchester Originals on Thursday night. The Phoenix would need to win by around 92 runs batting first, or to chase down a target with around 62 balls to spare.”They’re a very good side,” Sam Billings, the Invincibles’ captain, said. “Their season could have been very different, and we knew it would be a tough match tonight at Trent Bridge, which is a great place to play.”As for us, a lot of positives tonight, we’ve played a lot of very, very good cricket in this tournament and one defeat doesn’t change that. It’s all about adapting to conditions. The Oval has played very different to Lord’s, but there’s a lot of clarity amongst the group regarding their own roles.”Tom Alsop swings hard over midwicket•Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images
Coming to the crease with 95 needed from 52 balls and the Rockets three wickets down, Powell joined Tom Alsop to post an 80-run stand from just 32 balls to take the Rockets careening towards the Invincibles total of 150.Powell’s pyrotechnics delivered four sixes, with one hit off Sam Curran going 101 metres, before Curran induced Powell to miscue a lofted drive to long-on. The Jamaican’s dismissal left the Rockets needing 15 from 10 balls, but Alsop and Chris Green took the home side to victory with six balls to spare.The last two winners of the Hundred men’s competition have experienced contrasting fortunes this term with the Rockets, 2022 champions, suffering four defeats and already eliminated before Wednesday’s fixture, while the Invincibles have been relentless, winning six of their first seven.But in front of 12,000 fans at Trent Bridge, there was little between the teams. Choosing to bat first on a pitch taking turn, Invincibles opener Dawid Malan made a composed half-century against his old side, batting through the innings for an unbeaten 53 off 43 balls to allow the hitters to open up around him.Will Jacks’ quickfire 30 came from 17 balls ensured that the Invincibles dominated the powerplay, before Jordan Cox smashed a 30-ball 39 in a 71-run partnership with Malan.Cox succumbed to Sam Cook, whose figures of 2 for 23 were the most economical of the Rockets’ bowlers, giving Donovan Ferreira free rein to boss the latter stages. Ferreira’s unbeaten 27 occupied just 10 balls and featured three successive sixes to haul the Invincibles up to 150 for 3.Saqib Mahmood, bowling 15 of the first 20 balls of the Rockets innings, was fast and hostile, regularly touching 88mph and accounting for Tom Banton in his opening spell.Saqib Mahmood struck early to remove Tom Banton•Nathan Stirk/ECB via Getty Images
A recovery took place between Alex Hales and Joe Root but when Hales, on 35, misjudged a pull to give Jacks his first wicket, followed by Root lofting a Nathan Sowter leg-break to Curran at long-on, the Invincibles were strong favourites. Step forward Powell and Alsop, who gave Rockets fans a reminder of their quality.