Maiden List A fifties for Joe Pocklington, Rob Lord put Notts in contention after centuries for Jake Libby, Kashif Ali

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 07-Aug-2025Notts Outlaws conjured up an astonishing comeback to grab a share of the points in a tie with Worcestershire Rapids in a dramatic Metro Bank One-Day Cup encounter at Welbeck Cricket Club.Chasing a target of 327 from 47 overs after centuries from Jake Libby and Kashif Ali, who shared a 180-run fourth-wicket partnership, had put Worcestershire Rapids in the ascendancy, the Outlaws looked out of contention as they slipped to 145 for 7 in reply.But then Joe Pocklington (54) and Rob Lord, who hit four sixes in a brilliant 83, responded with maiden List A half-centuries, Lord putting on 71 with the former for the eighth wicket and 92 with Brett Hutton for the ninth, taking the home side within sight of an unlikely win.Lord was out with 19 needed from 20 balls, which came down to four off the final six deliveries. But Worcestershire’s Pakistan international Khurram Shahzad kept his nerve and with Hutton on strike and two required off the last ball, the Outlaws man could only scramble a bye, leaving the scores level. Ethan Brookes finished with 3 for 51.Rapids had totalled an impressive 312 for 7 before rain curtailed their innings after 47.1 overs, skipper Libby finishing on 112 not out after Kashif had made 101 after being dropped on 51, James Hayes taking a career-best four for 63 for the Outlaws.The Rapids slipped to 44 for 3 after being asked to bat first at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex at Sookholme, near Mansfield.But Kashif and Libby turned the innings on its head, the former hitting eight fours and a six, his escape on 51 coming when Haseeb Hameed, battling a swirling wind, failed to make a catch at long-on. The 27-year-old batter, registering his second List A hundred in only his 14th match, was eventually caught behind down the leg side off Daniel Sams.Libby, who began his career at Trent Bridge before moving to New Road in 2020, reached his hundred from 86 deliveries in an innings that contained nine fours and a couple of wind-assisted sixes off Sams and Lord.Hayes had been instrumental in giving Notts the start they wanted with the ball. He had Isaac Mohammed, the 17-year-old opener making his List A debut, caught behind down the leg side before holding on to a leading edge to remove Brett D’Oliveira. Hutton had Rob Jones leg before.After Kashif and Libby were parted, Lyndon James produced a fine delivery to remove the dangerous Brookes, who edged behind for just a single. Wicketkeeper Henry Cullen (27 from 20 balls) looked sharp but he and Matthew Waite were both caught at midwicket off Hayes.In reply, Outlaws lost skipper Hameed cheaply when he was bowled swinging vigorously at Waite. Ben Slater (41) and Haynes put on 45 before Slater’s mistimed pull saw him caught at midwicket.Haynes completed a 49-ball half-century but, from 121 for 2, Notts lost three wickets for eight runs in the space of six balls. Haynes cut straight to backward point, before Brookes took two in two, bowling 18-year-old Sam Seecharan and then Tom Moores, who followed his 148 in the win over Essex here on Tuesday with a first-ball duck.James survived the hat-trick ball but was caught behind by Cullen, standing up, as Brookes claimed his third wicket, by which time Sams was also back in the pavilion, holing out to wide long off, leaving the Outlaws 145 for seven.The impressive Pocklington, a 24-year-old all-rounder who joined Notts last week after playing for National Counties side Lincolnshire and took three wickets with his left-arm spin on his debut against Essex responded by making 54 from 41 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, before finding long-on off former Notts spinner Fateh Singh.He added 71 with Lord, who completed his maiden List A fifty from 44 balls, also with two sixes as he led Hutton in a 92-run ninth-wicket stand, but Lord dragged on to Waite with 19 still needed and Hutton and Hayes couldn’t quite do enough to clinch the win.

Ed Barnard rewarded for saving follow-on with unbeaten century

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025

Warwickshire 485 (Barnard 108*, Bamber 107, Mousley 75, Davies 52, Critchley 5-171) drew with Essex 602 for 6 dec (Westley 134, Allison 133, Pepper 107*, Walter 86) and 96 for 1 Tom Westley passed fifty for the fifth time in eight Rothesay County Championship innings before rain arrived at Chelmsford to confirm the inevitable draw between Essex and Warwickshire.The rejuvenated Essex captain was 51 not out, with seven fours in his 103-ball innings, to follow his 148 first time round. He had put on 86 in 28 overs with Paul Walter for the second wicket before umbrellas went up and the players scampered for shelter. Walter had contributed 35 to a stand that took Essex’s lead to a nominal 213.The match was effectively over as a contest late on the third evening when Ed Barnard struck the boundary that took Warwickshire past their follow-on target of 453, despite having just one wicket in hand. What had become a damp squib was officially called off at 3.25pm.The 14 points Essex gained kept them just ahead of the relegation places in Division One, while Warwickshire’s dozen points mean they are safely in mid-table.Barnard, meanwhile, gained reward for his overnight effort the morning after when he was left unbeaten on 108 in Warwickshire’s first-innings 485, 117 behind Essex’s 602-6 declared. The remarkably consistent all-rounder’s 123-ball knock took his season’s tally to 815 runs with three centuries. Matt Critchley’s marathon spell of 40 overs for Essex returned figures of 5 for 171.With Dean Elgar absent from the field since day one with a calf injury, Essex promoted Noah Thain to open their second innings. But Essex’s faith in the up-and-coming all-rounder was not fulfilled as Ethan Bamber got one to lift off the pitch and take the outside edge with only two against his name.Westley drove his first ball for four, but was fortunate when he reached 19 that a diving Kai Smith could not cling on to a catch in Beau Webster’s first over.Westley reached his fifty from 103 balls, clipping Hannon-Dalby past an unusual legside field comprising six fielders in a semi-circle between short mid-on and square leg. It turned out to be the last meaningful action before rain set in a 2.24pm.Walter had been comparatively subdued at the other end, though he did strike two boundaries in the last over before lunch that brought up the fifty partnership from a leisurely 18 overs.Barnard, 90 not out overnight, had become the game’s fifth century-maker when he swept Critchley for four from the 114th ball he faced. He had already launched the leg-spinner over midwicket for six during the 23 minutes that Warwickshire’s first innings extended into the fourth morning.Oliver Hannon-Dalby had kept Barnard company the previous evening when the ninth-wicket pair ensured Warwickshire moved safely beyond the follow-on mark. He remained unfazed for 27 balls in total, 15 in the morning, before Westley introduced his occasional off-breaks and had the No11 lbw with his fourth delivery.

MatériaMais Notícias

O duelo entre Nova Iguaçu e Vasco, pelo jogo de volta da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca, já tem local definido. A Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Ferj) oficializou, na tarde desta quarta-feira (13), o Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda, como palco da partida de domingo, às 16h (de Brasília).

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Mandante, o Nova Iguaçu havia solicitado ao consórcio administrado por Flamengo e Fluminense para levar a partida para o Maracanã. No entanto, não houve resposta por parte dos administradores do estádio, e a Ferj aguardou “até o limite máximo operacional” para dar um veredito.

No jogo de ida, disputada no Maracanã, Nova Iguaçu e Vasco empataram em 1 a 1. Xandinho abriu o placar para o Laranjão, e Lucas Pitón deixou tudo igual para o Cruz-Maltino. Para o duelo decisivo, a equipe da Baixada Fluminense tem a vantagem do empate para alcançar a grande final, por ter se classificado à frente do Gigante na Taça Ganabara.

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➡️ Autor de gol sobre o Vasco, Xandinho comenta momento do Nova Iguaçu: ‘Coragem sempre’

Confira a nota da Ferj sobre o local de Nova Iguaçu x Vasco:

A Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro aguardou até o limite máximo operacional a indicação do estádio para a realização da semifinal Nova Iguaçu x Vasco.
O Laranjão da Baixada, clube mandante, indicou o Estádio Raulino de Oliveira.

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Campeonato CariocaNova IguaçuVasco

All the gains from a year of positivity came crashing down in 13.5 overs of witheringly poor judgement

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Nov-2024When Sri Lanka’s men were about to begin their first innings in Durban, there was a sense that something unusual was happening. It was happening in many little ways. It was happening in some difficult big ones.On the smaller end of the scale, Sri Lanka had sent the Test specialists to Durban two weeks early. Someone in the coaching staff, or perhaps at the High Performance Centre, had noticed this golden chance to get the guys acclimatised and facing hundreds of balls on bouncy South African pitches ahead of schedule. Emails were sent. Meetings were called. Managers were looped in. Operational staff booked flights, hotels, transport.Yet more stones were being turned, and bright ideas had. Neil McKenzie, a dour South Africa batter who could stroke his metaphorical beard and call upon timeless South Africa batting wisdom, was hired as consultant. When the ODI team took an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka immediately released four Test players from that squad to give these players an extra day to recover from white-ball labours.Related

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In the medium term, they’d won five Tests this year. Three of those wins had come away from home. One of those victories had featured a four-man seam attack, and only four overs of spin – remarkable for a Sri Lanka side of any era.Their broader achievements are even more impressive. Since 2018, a National Super League domestic competition had significantly improved the standard of cricket at the first-class level. To raise that tournament up, a group of Sri Lanka’s former players, and administrators, had had to wrangle the support of a fractious club system, solve substantial facilities-related dilemmas, and work out quibbles such as player transfers.Improvements such as this have led to 2024’s advances, and why Sri Lanka now have a pace battery, for example, that can deck an opposition in two sessions. It is improvements such as this that have inspired in fans the sense that for once Sri Lankan cricket is doing that thing it almost never does: systematically building to something.When South Africa were all out for 191, you could almost see the path to the World Test Championship final. A decent lead. A good second innings. Sri Lanka being regarded as one of the best teams in the world again.But not if Sri Lanka’s batters were to have anything to do with it. In 13.5 overs of witheringly poor judgement, they crashed like they’ve never crashed before. They hit the snooze button on destiny.Dimuth Karunaratne was out in single digits for the fourth time in his last six Test innings•Associated PressSo much of this innings was an affront. It was an affront to all wisdom of batting on spicy pitches – wisdom accrued over hundreds of years. “Play close to the body when the ball is moving off the surface”, say the batting manuals. “Wait till the ball gets older before venturing the big shots.” Here, instead, Sri Lanka were pushing out to feel ball on bat, driving at deliveries that were both seaming and bouncing, and poking like a drunk camper at a bear.From among the top seven Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva all got out to balls they could have left. Angelo Mathews steered a ball well outside off stump beautifully to second slip. It’s not as if they had been pinned. It’s not as if they’d hunkered down, defended, shown fight, and only then run out of patience and fight. The longest of these innings lasted 20 balls.The tail, taking cues from the top order, went down in a hail of big shots themselves. At one point in the innings, it felt as if Sri Lanka had decided they were only going to play shots that sent the ball in the general direction of the slip cordon.This 42 not out was not just record-making in its incompetence, but looks like it will define this match, and has the potential to define the series. It’s like Sri Lanka had built the rocket that would take them to the moon, and on morning of the launch, the chief astronaut got his arm permanently stuck in a vending machine. It’s like they’d just finished replanting an entire forest, then lit up a cigar and set the whole thing ablaze. They’d studied all term and prepared meticulously, and on the day of the exam, got drunk and fell down some stairs.If this 42 all out was the result of Sri Lanka’s batters getting a little ahead of themselves, then it was a reminder to fans that they shouldn’t either. There is a sense that although so many things in Sri Lanka have changed over the last three years, Sri Lanka batters can still unite the nation in bringing palms to faces.In 78 minutes of madness, Sri Lanka’s batters went some way to undoing so much of what they had worked towards.

Continuing their search for their next manager, Celtic have already been hit with a problem in pursuit of Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen, who has impressed the Bhoys during his time in Belgium.

The last thing Celtic need is a managerial saga, but they may have no choice. The Scottish Premiership champions must get their next appointment right and silencing the noise to do exactly that will be key.

That is, of course, easier said than done with several candidates already shortlisted and the likes of Chris Sutton already having their say on the vacant position.

The former Celtic star believes that Ange Postecoglou is the “obvious” choice and it’s easy to see why. The Australian won five trophies out of a possible six during his last spell at the club and is currently a free agent after lasting just 39 days at Nottingham Forest.

There will be some concerns about his recent performances in the dugout, but the Bhoys know more than anyone just how quickly Postecoglou can create success.

Another name on the reported shortlist is Kieran McKenna. The Ipswich manager took the Tractor Boys from League one all the way to the Premier League in back-to-back promotions, before suffering relegation from England’s top flight last season.

Although he has endured a tough year at Portman Road, his reputation remains intact and managerial ability clear for all to see. Whether Celtic would be able to lure him away from Ipswich remains to be seen, however, and that’s a problem they face with another candidate.

Celtic already facing Nicky Hayen problem

According to Sky Sports, Celtic are now tracking Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen, who held Brendan Rodgers’ side to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League last November.

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The 45-year-old has impressed in Belgium and would have no trouble convincing those at Celtic Park that he’s the right man for the job after smashing Rangers 9-1 on aggregate in the Champions League qualifiers back in August. Alas, there still lies one problem.

Luring Hayen away from Brugge could yet prove to be a difficult task and that instantly hands Celtic an obstacle that they’ll have to overcome if he emerges as their top choice.

Celtic already watched on as Rangers endured managerial chaos and may choose to avoid taking a similar path. If that does prove to be the case, then Hayen could become an unlikely candidate.

It’s clear why Brugge will be so desperate to keep their young manager, too. Speaking to The Guardian in January, the owner of Haverfordwest, Rob Edwards, who worked with Hayen at the Welsh club before he set off for Belgium said: “He’s a workaholic and that rubs off on players, it rubs off on staff and it gets everyone behind you if you lead from the front.

“I always knew he was going to go off somewhere else. We didn’t have him that long, but to see what he’s achieved since then makes us all really proud.”

Celtic readying first move for Ange Postecoglou

Chelsea got back to winning ways against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t the perfect performance from the Blues, far from it, but they were certainly the better team and scored some wonderful goals.

Moreover, had Liam Delap not got himself sent off, Enzo Maresca’s side would likely have had a far easier time of things.

The former Ipswich Town star hasn’t had an easy start to life at Chelsea, and now it looks like he could soon have more competition coming from Cobham.

Liam Delap's Premier League record

Chelsea paid Ipswich Town around £30m for Delap in the summer, and while his stock isn’t exactly high at the moment, that was still a brilliant deal.

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After all, during his time at Manchester City, he was regarded as one of the next big things, scoring 35 goals and providing nine assists in 36 appearances for their Under-23 side.

Moreover, once he got his first move to the Tractor Boys last summer, he quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in the Premier League.

For example, despite playing for a team destined for relegation, the Winchester-born poacher was still able to rack up an impressive tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2616 minutes.

In other words, the Englishman was able to average a goal involvement every 2.64 games, or every 186.85 minutes for the Suffolk side, which is not bad going considering he’d made just ten appearances in the competition for City in the years before.

Appearances

10

37

3

Minutes

47′

2616′

93′

Goals

0

12

0

Assists

0

2

0

However, he has not been so lucky this season.

Prior to his hamstring injury, the summer signing made just three appearances in the competition for the Blues, two of which came off the bench, in which he failed to score or assist a goal.

He won’t even have the chance to open his account this weekend either, as his second yellow against Wolves means he’s suspended for the game against Tottenham Hotspur.

In all, Delap is a player with plenty of promise, but at a club like Chelsea, forwards aren’t always allowed a great deal of time, especially when there is a particularly exciting forward making his way through the academy at the moment.

The Cobham star who could replace Delap

As is the case every season, Chelsea have an abundance of incredibly exciting players at Cobham this season, with Chizaram Ezenwata being one of the most notable.

The 17-year-old phenom, whom U23 scout Antonio Mango claims fans should “get excited for”, joined the Blues from Charlton Athletic and has already become one of the star players for the club’s U18 side.

For example, in 20 appearances last season, totalling just 1279 minutes, the dynamic gem managed to score 12 goals and provide three assists, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.33 games, or every 91.93 minutes.

Impressively, the youngster has become even more of an attacking threat this season.

In just six appearances for the U18s, totalling 534 minutes, he has scored seven goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 66.75 minutes.

Appearances

26

Minutes

1913′

Goals

19

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.88

Minutes per Goal Involvement

83.17′

In fact, the teenage goal machine has done such an incredible job in the U18s, that he has now made six appearances for the U21s.

It’s not just the output that should excite fans, though, as he looks to be a complete package.

According to one analyst, he “has a strong physique that allows him to shield and hold up the ball effectively”, and his “off-ball movement is outstanding.”

Ultimately, it is still very early in his career, but Ezenwata appears to be a seriously impressive prospect and someone who could rival Delap for gametime in the coming years.

Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus approach as Chelsea demand mammoth compensation fee

The Old Lady are searching for a new boss after sacking Igor Tudor.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 30, 2025

Bobby Witt Jr. is a ninja.

The Kansas City Royals shortstop pulled a magical slide out of his bag of tricks to score a key run in his club's 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.

First, Witt singled in the tying run in the top of the seventh inning. Then, the talented shortstop got himself into scoring position by stealing second, putting runners on second and third for the Royals with first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino at the plate. Pasquantino singled, scoring Royals second baseman Jonathan India with Witt behind him, intent on also crossing home plate. The throw home from Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone beat Witt by a fair margin.

It looked like the Royals shortstop was going to be a sitting duck. But Witt had a trick up his sleeve. As he hit the dirt for a feet-first slide, he lifted both arms in the air and hit what looked like a swim move in football, avoiding Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh's tag with his left elbow.

Amazing.

Even Royals manager Matt Quatraro admitted to MLB.com after the game that he thought Witt was out. And as for Witt himself? He was just "trying to make something happen."

And make something happen, he did, while also creating one of the coolest highlight reel plays you'll see on a baseball diamond.

سلطت شبكة “بي بي سي سبورت” البريطانية، الضوء على قرار المدرب آرني سلوت بإبقاء المصري محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء خلال مباراة الفريق أمام وست هام.

وتغلب ليفربول على وست هام بهدفين دون مقابل، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وافتتحت “بي بي سي سبورت” تقريرها بالحديث عن تاريخ محمد صلاح العريق في ملعب لندن، والخطوة الأولى للمدرب سلوت بكتابة فصل جديد بالانتقال إلى الجيل الجديد لليفربول دون الاعتماد على صلاح.

وأشارت إلى تواجد محمد صلاح بديلاً للمرة الأولى في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، منذ مباراة ليفربول أمام وست هام في إبريل 2024، وكان بقرار من المدرب السابق للريدز، يورجن كلوب.

وتصدر محمد صلاح حينها عناوين الصحف، عندما تورط في مشادة على خط الملعب مع كلوب أثناء تسجيل وست هام هدفًا بينما كان ينتظر نزوله كبديل في مباراة انتهت بالتعادل 2-2، ثم عندما تجاوز الصحفيين بعد المباراة وأعلن: “إذا تكلمت ستشتعل النيران”.

وبشأن قرار سلوت اليوم، أوضح التقرير أن الأمر كان يحمل دلالة أوسع، ليس في إنهاء مسيرة صلاح الرائعة مع ليفربول، بل في الإشارة إلى كيفية تشكيل تطور الفريق مستقبلاً مع الصفقات البالغ قيمتها 450 مليون جنيه إسترليني، دون النجم المصري الكبير.

اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت: أتلقى نفس السؤال عن محمد صلاح.. وخاطرت مع لاعب ليفربول

ولفت التقرير النظر إلى تصريحات واين روني لاعب مانشستر يونايتد وإنجلترا السابق، والذي شجع سلوت مرارًا وتكرارًا على إبقاء صلاح بديلاً.

وتابعت موضحة أن هذه هي الخطوة السهلة، أما الأصعب تتمثل في كيفية تعويض واستبدال موهبة عالمية كصلاح والذي يحتل المركز الثالث في قائمة هدافي النادي التاريخيين خلف إيان راش وروجر هانت.

وتمثلت الإجابة على إمكانية استبدال صلاح وتعويضه، في أن أول ظهور لليفربول بمظهره المعاد تشكيله، أسفر عن النتيجة التي كان هو وفريقه بحاجة ماسة إليها، بعد سلسلة من تسع هزائم في آخر 12 مباراة، وست هزائم من أصل سبع مباريات في الدوري.

وأشارت إلى أن ما زاد من سعادة سلوت، أن هذا الفوز جاء بعد أن سجّل ألكسندر إيزاك هدفه الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز منذ انتقاله القياسي من نيوكاسل يونايتد مقابل 125 مليون جنيه إسترليني، ومع فلوريان فيرتز، الذي بلغت قيمته 116 مليون جنيه إسترليني، ساهم في تحقيق هذا الفوز الحاسم.

ووفقًا لما أشار إليه التقرير، اختيارات سلوت جنت الثمار المستحقة، مع إعفاء دومينيك سوبوسلاي من مهام الظهير الأيمن، حيث لا يناسبه الدور، ليتحرك على الجهة اليمنى في الهجوم، مع وجود كودي جاكبو على اليسار وإيزاك كرأس حربة أساسي.

كما ساهم الهولندي جاكبو في تمرير الكرة العرضية التي أهدت إيزاك هدفه، ثمّ سجّل هدفه الثاني بتسديدة قوية في الوقت بدل الضائع.

استخدم سلوت أيضًا جو جوميز في مركز الظهير الأيمن – وهي مشاركته الأولى كأساسي في الدوري منذ 11 شهرًا – ما خفف الضغط على سوبوسلاي، وعزز دفاع ليفربول، محققًا شباكًا نظيفة بعد تلقيه 10 أهداف في ثلاث مباريات.

أما صلاح، الذي سيغيب قريبًا عن ليفربول بسبب المشاركة في كأس الأمم الإفريقية، مع منتخب مصر، فقد حرص على متابعة المباراة من على مقاعد البدلاء.

ولفت التقرير النظر إلى تصريحات سلوت عن صلاح، حيث حرص على الإشارة إلى أن المهاجم المصري “سيحظى بمستقبل باهر في هذا النادي لأنه لاعب مميز”. (طالع تصريحاته).

ولكن بالنظر إلى مستواه هذا الموسم، يُواجه صلاح خطر الاستبعاد، كما ذكر التقرير، ورصد أيضًا تصريحات آلان شيرر الذي دعم قرار سلوت بإبقاء المصري بديلاً، ووصفه بأنه صائبًا.

وانتقل التقرير لرصد أرقام صلاح، حيث شارك في 419 مباراة مع ليفربول، منها 383 مباراة كأساسي، مسجلاً 250 هدفاً، وشارك في 300 مباراة في الدوري، منها 288 مباراة كأساسي، منذ انتقاله من روما في صيف 2017، مسجلاً 188 هدفاً بنسبة فوز بلغت 64%.

وفي جميع المسابقات، فاز ليفربول بـ 263 مباراة شارك فيها صلاح، بنسبة فوز بلغت 63%، وأكدت “بي بي سي” أن هذا لا يمكن الاستهانة به وهذه موهبة لا يمكن تجاهلها، ولكن بالمثل، ما كان سلوت ليؤدي وظيفته لو لم ينظر إلى مستقبل ليفربول بعد صلاح، وقد قدم الفوز على وست هام بعض الدلائل.

ونبقى أن ننتظر لنرى هل سيتواجد محمد صلاح أساسيًا في المباراة القادمة لليفربول أمام سندرلاند أم لا.

There were emotional scenes at Hampden Park after Scotland secured their qualification for next year's World Cup and it was a particularly poignant moment for Andy Robertson, who took time after the match to pay tribute to late Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota, who lost his life in a tragic car accident in Spain earlier this year.

Historic scenes in Glasgow

Scotland dramatically secured a 4-2 win over Denmark to qualify for their first World Cup since France 1998. Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a brilliant overhead kick, but Denmark's Rasmus Hojlund equalised from the penalty spot. The match's turning point saw Rasmus Kristensen sent off and substitute Lawrence Shankland restored the hosts’ lead before Denmark leveled again. However, in a thrilling finale, late goals from Kieran Tierney and a stunning long-range strike from Kenny McLean secured the historic victory for the Tartan Army. 

Following the final whistle, Robertson was overcome by the memories of Liverpool and Portugal forward Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain just weeks after celebrating the 2024-25 Premier League title and his wedding, leaving behind his wife and three young children.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRobertson: 'I couldn't get him out of my head'

A clearly emotional Robertson said: "I've hid it well, but today I've been in bits. I know the age I'm at, this could be my last chance to go to the World Cup. I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much together about the World Cup. He missed out on Qatar because of injury, and I missed out because Scotland weren't in it. I know he will be somewhere smiling over me tonight. I couldn't get him out of my head the whole day. I was in a bit of trouble in my room earlier. I think I hid it well from the boys and I'm so glad it ended up this way."

Scotland's heroes celebrate long into the night

There were scenes of wild celebration after the final whistle at Hampden and Robertson revealed the huge pressure he and his team-mates felt to end the 28-year wait to make it back onto the world’s biggest stage. 

Robertson said: "I'm so glad it's ended up this way. This group of boys, this group of staff – it's the best group I've been involved in. The manager's (Steve Clarke) speech before the game was unbelievable. He went through the big moments we've had. Qualifying for the Euros – he couldn't quite remember – we were in Wunderbar. He said 'let's make it another one'. We were quite emotional. To do it for him, the staff and all our families, it'll go down as one of the greatest nights of my life. That just sums up this squad. Never say die. We just keep going right to the end and one of the craziest games. We put the country through it, but I'm sure it's worth it. We're going to the World Cup."

Addressing Kelly Cates (daughter of Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish), Robertson added: "I can't wait to get back down to Liverpool to have a red wine with yer da."

Midfielder John McGinn added: "I thought we were pretty rubbish to be honest, but who cares? To get over the line was such an amazing feeling. The gaffer's team talk was exceptional. It's a privilege every time we meet up. It's just humble guys wanting to do well for their country. We left everything out there. You think that's it – glorious failure, another blow. I was thinking about the play-offs in the 91st minute. But then what a hit from Kieran Tierney – I will never feel like that in a football stadium ever again."

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Getty Images SportEager wait for World Cup draw

With Scotland's qualifying campaign now concluded, their schedule before the 2026 World Cup is not yet finalised, but will consist of friendly matches. They will discover their group stage opponents when the official draw takes place on Friday, December 5, at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The World Cup itself runs from June 11 to July 19 next year across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Angry Ginge has named a Manchester United legend as the one person he “would love” to join him in the I’m A Celebrity jungle if he could choose anyone.

The Twitch streamer has now touched down in Australia, having been confirmed as part of the line-up for the latest series of I’m A Celeb, which is due to start this Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

The 23-year-old is not the only Mancunian taking part either, with his close friend, Aitch, also being revealed as one of the new contestants on Monday evening.

Having a friend in the camp will no doubt make it easier to settle into life in the jungle, but Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, has now revealed he wishes a Man United legend was also heading down under this winter.

Angry Ginge "would love" Wayne Rooney to join him on I'm A Celeb

Speaking about the type of contestant he plans to be in a recent interview with ITV, Burtwistle said: “I will try to be the motivator in camp and make sure everyone is chatty and happy. I’m not argumentative either.

“And if I could pick anyone, I would love it if Wayne Rooney was in camp with me. We would have a laugh.”

The 40-year-old making an appearance may not be completely out of the question, having recently revealed he would be open to one day being a part of the ITV show, saying: “Would I? I think I would, at the right time.

“I’d struggle with some of the trials, though. You know the worst one, you know where they walk into a room…and there’s like a big ostrich looking at you. I didn’t [know he was scared of ostriches] but I’m just picturing them being there.”

The former Man United star also knows Angry Ginge well, having bizarrely joined his Pro Clubs team ‘Girth N Turf’ on EA Sports FC 24.

However, should he one day jet out to Australia, Rooney will have big shoes to fill, given that his wife Coleen finished as runner-up in the 2024 edition, behind only McFly singer Danny Jones.

With Angry Ginge, who has 1.4m Twitch followers, due to take part, this year’s I’m A Celeb is shaping up nicely regardless, but maybe 2026 will be the year we finally see Wazza taking part in a Bushtucker Trial…

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ByDominic Lund Oct 21, 2025