Two West Brom players are "in contention to start" the Championship clash with high-flying Ipswich Town this weekend, according to an update from reliable journalist Lewis Cox.

West Brom injury news

The Baggies return to action after the international break with a huge game on Saturday evening, as Ipswich make the trip to the Hawthorns for an eye-catching meeting. Carlos Corberan's side find themselves sitting in seventh place and just outside the playoff positions going into the game, and they will be tested up against one of the most impressive teams in the division, with Ipswich currently second on goal difference behind leaders Leicester City.

It hasn't been plain sailing in the fitness department for West Brom of late, however, with Corberan having to make do without a number of key players. John Swift and Josh Maja are two individuals who have been unavailable – the latter has been absent for a number of months – while Jeremy Sarmiento is another who has been out injured.

With kickoff on Saturday now fast approaching, a key update has now emerged for the Baggies regarding the involvement of certain players in the weekend action.

West Brom's double injury boost

Taking to X, reporter Cox claimed that both Swift and Maja could start for West Brom' against Ipswich on Saturday, acting as a major boost for Corberan.

"John Swift and Josh Maja in contention to start, Carlos Corberan reveals. Certainly available to feature on Saturday. Diangana fine after DR Congo fear."

This is great news for West Brom, who will need as many key players as possible available this weekend, in what is one of the biggest tests of their season to date. Ipswich may only have been promoted from League One last season, with few expecting them to be near the top of the table, but they continue to excel under Kieran McKenna, who previously managed Manchester United's Under-18s and was an assistant at Old Trafford after that.

It remains to be seen if Corberan will put Swift and Maja straight back into the starting lineup, but it could be a surprise if that was the case, given their lack of football and the calibre of their opponents on Saturday.

The importance of Swift to this West Brom side cannot be downplayed, though, which could give the manager a reason to start him. The 28-year-old scored in both Baggies matches before his injury in October, against Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City.

John Swift

6

Brandon Thomas-Asante

5

Matt Phillips

3

Grady Diangana

2

Jed Wallace

2

Semi Ajayi

2

Kyle Bartley

2

Meanwhile, Maja is someone who is still waiting for his Hawthorns career to ignite, with the 24-year-old only managing five appearances for West Brom to date, seeing injuries stunting his progress. He is someone whose end product could end up being vital to his side's promotion hopes as the season goes on, whether that be from the start or the substitutes' bench. It will be fascinating to see how the Baggies fare against Ipswich, with a win suggesting that promotion to the Premier League could be very possible this season.

Liverpool proved in their 1-1 draw against Manchester City that they are more than capable of going stride for stride with the Premier League champions once more, having endured a campaign to forget last time out. With a rebuilt midfield and backline far closer to its best, Jurgen Klopp has got the Reds back among English football's top table to ease any fears that last season could be the beginning of a frustrating period of struggle.

It doesn't look as though those at Anfield are resting on their laurels, either, with reported interest in signing one particular star who has already enjoyed an excellent campaign in Germany.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool proved their transfer genius once again during the summer transfer window by replacing Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and others with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo, who have all made solid starts to live in Merseyside. That younger midfield has seen the Reds go from a side struggling to reach Champions League football to possible title challengers yet again in the space of just one summer. Now, those at Anfield seemingly want to add another piece of firepower

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According to Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are interested in signing Lois Openda, who scored twice in RB Leipzig's 3-2 loss against Manchester City, including one incredible solo effort. Tavolieri posted on X: "What an amazing performance of Loïs Openda during this first half. Belgian striker’s adapting perfectly with the type of play that fits with RBLeipzig…The transfer market in Premier League already very hot on him – LFC. Wonderful talent."

The Belgian has certainly proved his ability to perform against Premier League sides, ripping City to shreds in the first half, having also scored against Pep Guardiola's side in Leipzig's last game against the Cityzens to make it three goals in two meetings. Now, Openda could get the chance to square off against the Manchester club every season.

"Very special" Openda could be game-changer for Liverpool

Earning a move from RC Lens to Leipzig in the summer, Openda instantly hit the ground running in Germany, making Liverpool's interest little surprise. Openda's stats show that he has even outperformed Mohamed Salah's total so far this season, with 13 goals in 20 games to his name one more than the current Liverpool star has managed this term.

Former Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl was well aware of Openda's ability when he signed in the summer. Eberl told the club's official website: "Lois is a very direct player, who always looks to attack the goal, whether as a centre forward or on the wings. In addition to his pace, his ability to score goals with both feet and his head only adds to the quality he brings. At just 23 years of age, he still has plenty of potential to grow and he will only get better over the coming years with us. Our fans can look forward to a very special player!”

At just 23-years-old, Openda is likely to get better and better, handing Leipzig the toughest task when it comes to keeping hold of their summer signing, who has quickly caught the attention of the Premier League.

Liverpool are in a tremendous position as the festive period consumes English football, with matches coming thick and fast and tensions high with so much on the line.

In the coming weeks, Jurgen Klopp's side will conclude their Europa League group phase campaign, complete successive Anfield fixtures in the Premier League against Manchester United and Arsenal, and clash against West Ham United for a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Also first-placed in the Premier League after 15 matches, the Reds are flying if not quite clicking into full gear, and while the strides taken over the past months have been impressive, there is much more to be done, with an exciting new forward understood to have been earmarked.

Liverpool transfer news – Maximilian Beier

According to Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are "interested" in signing Hoffenheim centre-forward Maximilian Beier, who holds a €30m (£26m) release clause in his contract.

While the journalist's delineation notes that many English outfits are attentive to the 21-year-old's situation, Liverpool are the only team explicitly mentioned, implying that Klopp's side perhaps currently lead the race.

The German has been in fine form this season and is vying to earn a place in his nation's European Championship 2024 squad, which will be held in his homeland.

Maximilian Beier's season in numbers

Graduating from Hoffenheim's academy, Beier has honed his craft over the past few years on loan with Bundesliga 2. side Hannover 04, scoring 15 goals and supplying seven assists across 68 appearances.

Provided with the opportunity to shine back with Die Kraichgauer this term, he has plundered six goals and four assists across just 13 appearances in the German top-flight, leading journalist Antonio Mango to remark on his "exceptional" displays.

As per Sofascore, he has also averaged 2.4 shots per game and has missed just two big chances in the Bundesliga – for reference, Darwin Nunez has missed 15 in the 2023/24 Premier League.

While Liverpool need to complete their midfield transfer work and bolster the backline, Beier's release clause makes for an enticing chance to sign a star in the making, and Klopp is evidently enamoured by his skill set.

How Maximilian Beier compares to Roberto Firmino

Deployed as either a left flanker or as the central focal point, Beier would add a sense of dynamism to the Anfield side's frontline and could be the missing piece to ensure that Klopp boasts a formidable frontline for many years to come.

As per FBref, the 6-foot striker ranks among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 22% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting a natural eye for goal and ease in progressing the play.

He could even be Liverpool's next Roberto Firmino, with the lionised Brazilian signing for the club from Hoffenheim for £29m in 2015, months before Klopp's appointment.

Firmino, aged 32, left the club for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia in the summer upon the conclusion of his contract, drawing the curtain on an illustrious and revolutionary stay on Merseyside that saw him chalk up 111 goals and 79 assists over 362 displays, integral in every piece of silverware won over the past years.

Heralded as a Liverpool "legend" by talkSPORT's Darren Ambrose, Firmino was silky and smooth, gliding across the pitch and baffling defenders with his deft touches – they say that while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane wreaked prolific havoc, it was Firmino who was the true string-puller.

Beier, who is already showing signs of effectiveness across both his direct threat and his creativity, could be the dream heir – notably potentially signing from the same club – and with Plettenberg noting that there are multiple clubs in line, a January swoop may well be a stellar idea.

Arsenal fans were left impressed after seeing Ben White tangle with Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the North London derby.

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Arsenal hosted Spurs in the Premier LeagueBen White tried to unsettle Tottenham goalkeeperMikel Arteta's side scored three times in first halfWHAT HAPPENED?

White was spotted pinching Vicario's sleeve at a corner just before Arsenal took a 1-0 lead over Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League. An own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojberg subsequently gave the Gunners an early lead before Bukayao Saka and Kai Havertz also scored to ensure the teams went in at half-time with Arsenal leading 3-0.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Arsenal fans were impressed with White's gamesmanship's and hailed the defender's contribution on social media.

Supporter @rsnick33 wrote: "I f***ing love Ben White. Pinching the keeper's sleeve."

There was a similar sentiment from @anneeeafc who added: "Nothing is more entertaining than watching Ben White when there's a corner lol."

Meanwhile, @GiantCalGunner was planning on trying White's trick out: "Going to add the Ben White sleeve punch to my repertoire."

And @Bunduqiyyah said: "Ben White knows how to mess with people."

(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

White is not the first player to target Vicario this season. Tottenham boss Angel Postecoglou has revealed the club have spoken to the PGMOL about protection for their goalkeeper after claiming he was obstructed against Manchester City in the FA Cup and Everton in the Premier League.

The Arsenal defender's fondness for gamesmanship was also on show earlier this season when he angered some fans by collapsing to the ground, holding his throat, following a nudge from Brighton's Pervis Estupinan.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Arsenal have scored 16 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, the most by a team in a single campaign since West Bromwich Albion under Tony Pulis in 2016-17 (16).

After winning the treble last season, it was always going to be difficult for Manchester City to match such high standards for a second consecutive campaign under Pep Guardiola. That said, the Spaniard may not have expected his side to endure the difficult run that they've recently found themselves, which has included a tricky period in the Premier League.

With Liverpool, Arsenal and surprise contenders Aston Villa all vying to steal England's crown and prevent the Citizens from becoming the first side in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles, Manchester City are reportedly eyeing one particular January addition that could change their fortunes.

Man City transfer news

City were active in the summer transfer window, welcoming reinforcements in the form of Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, but have since paid the price for their departures rather than reap the rewards of spending big. Without Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, Guardiola's side have struggled to get back to their blistering best of the last campaign and could now look towards January to replace one specific departure.

According to The Daily Star, Manchester City want to sign Club Brugge winger Tajon Buchanan in the January transfer window and have identified the Canada international as a replacement for Mahrez, who left in the summer. The deal won't be cheap, however, with Buchanan reportedly valued at £50m by Club Brugge ahead of the winter window.

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Guardiola is reportedly desperate to reinforce his right-hand side, having played both Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in the role this season instead of welcoming a direct Mahrez replacement in the summer. When January arrives, Buchanan could solve the manager's problem to boost City's title chances once again.

Buchanan can match Doku's Man City rise

Buchanan and Doku are easy to compare prior to the latter's move to Manchester City in the summer. Doku's stats before life at The Etihad didn't make for brilliant reading, with just 12 goals and 10 assists in 92 appearances for Stade Rennais highlighting his struggle for end product. Since making the move to City, however, Doku has already been involved in nine goals in all competitions. In similar fashion to the City winger's Rennes days, Buchanan's stats show that he hasn't been involved in an incredible number of goals at Club Brugge this season, with four involvements in the Belgium Pro League.

Buchanan has already earned plenty of praise throughout his career too, including from former coach Bruce Arena, who told The Athletic:

"Although theoretically he was positioned as a right back he wasn’t really playing right back in those games. He’s more I would say a midfielder because he was attacking up the field. Tajon has qualities to play in a variety of positions out wide. You saw the other night with Canada he played probably as a second forward, attacking midfielder. He’s a player with a lot of qualities, both attacking and defending, and it certainly spells for a great future for the player.”

أكد حارس مرمى فريق برينتفورد، مارك فليكين، أن مباراة ليفربول، يوم الأحد في الدوري الإنجليزي، قد انتهت بالنسبة لهم بعد الهدف الذي سجله النجم محمد صلاح.

وتلاقى الفريقان في ختام منافسات الجولة الثانية من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب “الأنفيلد”.

وتمكن ليفربول من تحقيق الفوز بهدفين دون رد، حيث سجل لويس دياز الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 13، في حين سجل محمد صلاح الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 70.

وقال مارك فليكين في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “كانت مباراة صعبة، أعتقد أننا قدمنا ​​أداءً جيدًا في الشوط الأول، كان علينا أن نجد طريقنا في أول 15 دقيقة لكننا وجدنا إيقاعنا وكان يجب أن نؤدي بشكل أفضل عندما استقبلنا الهدف الأول”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رجل مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد في الدوري الإنجليزي

وأضاف: “بدا الأمر وكأنهم طوروا من مستواهم في الشوط الثاني ومنذ هدفهم الثاني (سجله محمد صلاح) بدا الأمر وكأن المباراة انتهت”.

وواصل: “تعلم أن تلك المباراة ستكون صعبة في كل مرة تأتي فيها إلى هنا، بالنظر إلى مهاجميهم، عليك أن تعد نفسك للصمود قدر الإمكان، لقد تصديت لبعض الفرص، ولم أنقذ ما يكفي وخسرنا”.

وأكد: “هناك الكثير من الأشياء الإيجابية، لقد مررنا ببعض اللحظات الجيدة مع الكرة، ربما يجب أن نؤدي بشكل أفضل من حيث الربط مع مهاجمينا، هذا شيء يجب تحليله، لدينا مباراة يوم الأربعاء لذا لدينا فرصة للفوز”.

Premier League clubs have often been known to splash the cash like there’s no tomorrow – even during the mid-season transfer window. January deals have a reputation of their own for requiring inflated transfer fees, chiefly down to the short turnarounds required to bid, sell and replace players before the deadline arrives.

The money has gone bonkers in recent years, with the English top flight’s biggest January moves all taking place in the past decade.

Whether selling or buying, English clubs have been able to exchange funds freely despite the looming threats of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, which both purport to limit the amount of spending by even the richest in the land.

But who have been the Premier League’s most expensive winter movers? Here are the top 12 January window deals…

The 12 most expensive PL January transfers
#	Player	Date	Left	Joined	Fee
1	Philippe Coutinho	Jan 2018	Liverpool	Barcelona	£146m
2	Enzo Fernández	Feb 2023	Benfica	Chelsea	£107m
3	Mykhailo Mudryk	Jan 2023	Shakhtar Donetsk	Chelsea	£89m
4	Virgil van Dijk	Jan 2018	Southampton	Liverpool	£75m
5	Jhon Duran	Jan 2025	Aston Villa	Al-Nassr	£71m
6	Bruno Fernandes	Jan 2020	Sporting CP	Manchester United	£67.7m
7	Omar Marmoush	Jan 2025	Eintracht Frankfurt	Manchester City	£63m
8	Oscar	Jan 2017	Chelsea	Shanghai Port	£60m
9	Christian Pulisic	Jan 2019	Borussia Dortmund	Chelsea	£58m
10	Aymeric Laporte	Jan 2018	Athletic Bilbao	Manchester City	£57m
11	Diego Costa	Jan 2018	Chelsea	Atletico Madrid	£57m
12	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Jan 2018	Borussia Dortmund	Arsenal	£56m

12

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal

£56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018

Arsenal outlaid a whopping £56m to sign Borussia Dortmund’s prolific frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January transfer window.

The north Londoners had only just signed Alexandre Lacazette the previous summer for a club-record £46.6m but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was clearly keen to add further firepower to his ranks.

Aubameyang enjoyed a fruitful four-year spell with Arsenal, netting just shy of a century of goals across 163 appearances, though his time did come to a sour ending.

Arsenal released a statement just weeks before he would eventually leave for Barcelona, which read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.

“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed.”

11

Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid

£57m from Chelsea, 2018

Diego Costa completed a mega-money move away from Stamford Bridge in favour of a move back to former club Atletico Madrid in January 2018.

After netting 20 league goals during the 2016/17 campaign, helping Chelsea to win their sixth Premier League title, Costa was frozen out over the summer.

Atleti’s transfer ban meant they couldn’t sign the Spaniard until the new year, but he eventually made his long-awaited second debut for the Madrid-based club on 3rd January 2018, scoring in a Copa del Rey last-16 tie against Lleida Esportiu.

The forward endured a difficult second spell with Los Colchoneros, managing a league-best of five goals, before cancelling his contract six months early in January 2021 due to personal reasons.

10

Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City

£57m from Athletic Bilbao, 2018

Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign the classy left-footed centre-half in January 2018, paying Athletic Bilbao £57m.

Aymeric Laporte quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during his trophy-laden spell in England but ultimately lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side towards the end, to the surprise of many.

Manuel Akanji’s arrival from Dortmund in 2022 appeared to be the turning point for Laporte’s City career, with the Switzerland international often the preferred defender in Guardiola’s system.

And that led to an exit in the summer just gone, signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – where Cristiano Ronaldo resides – in a deal worth £23.6m.

Nonetheless, City fans will remember his time at the Etihad fondly.

9

Christian Pulisic to Chelsea

£58m from Borussia Dortmund, 2019

Chelsea forked out £58m to sign then-20-year-old Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019.

The west Londoners loaned him back to the German outfit for the remainder of the season and he ended the campaign with seven goals and six assists across 30 appearances.

Whilst he did have his moments, his spell as a whole at Stamford Bridge was rather underwhelming, netting 26 times across 145 outings.

Having made just eight league starts last term, Pulisic’s Chelsea days looked numbered, and so it turned out to be, as he completed a permanent move to AC Milan in the summer.

Top 5 most expensive American players
#	Player	Left	Joined	Transfer fee
1	Christian Pulisic	Borussia Dortmund	Chelsea	£58m
2	Folarin Balogun	Arsenal	Monaco	£35m
3	Brendan Aaronson	Red Bull Salzburg	Leeds United	£24.8m
4	Tyler Adams	RB Leipzig	Leeds United	£20m
5	Sergino Dest	Ajax	Barcelona	£19m

8

Oscar to Shanghai Port

£60m from Chelsea, 2017

Eyebrows were raised when Oscar departed Europe for the Chinese Super League in 2017, having just won the Premier League title earlier that year.

The Brazilian playmaker completed a colossal £60m move to Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port, which at the time ranked as the seventh-highest transfer fee in history.

Oscar, speaking in 2017, gave his reasoning for leaving Chelsea: “When I made the decision to come here, I was thinking more of my family than of my career. I had other very good offers from big teams in Europe. But I thought a little more of my family, and after that – I am still young – I can return.”

It had been claimed he would earn £400,000 a week.

7

Omar Marmoush to Manchester City

£63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025

Manchester City went big on signing a challenger for Erling Haaland’s starting spot by bringing in Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.

After dazzling in the first half of the 2024/25 season in Germany, Marmoush made the move to the Premier League after the clubs agreed on a £63m package, with £4m of that fee in add-ons.

He became the biggest Premier League incoming that winter and was one of four mid-season City arrivals.

6

Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United

£47m (potentially rising to £67.7m) from Sporting CP, 2020

Manchester United landed the signature of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 for an initial fee worth £47m that could rise to £67.7m with add-ons.

The Portugal international has been a revelation for the Red Devils and is widely regarded as their best player, having scored 69 goals whilst laying on 59 assists across 207 appearances.

Erik ten Hag appointed the 29-year-old club captain at the start of the season, evincing just how highly thought of he is around Carrington.

Fernandes penned a new deal in 2022, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026, with the option of a further year.

5

Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr

£71m from Aston Villa, 2025

The biggest deal of the January 2025 winter window from a Premier League perspective was Jhon Duran’s exit from Aston Villa as he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

The Colombian linked up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after an eye-watering £71m move – not bad for an £18m move from two years prior.

4

Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool

£75m from Southampton, 2018

Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he completed a £75m move to Liverpool in January 2018.

The towering Dutch defender quickly established himself as one of the best players across the continent and even finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings.

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He was a central figure in Liverpool’s first Premier League title triumph during the 2019/20 season and famously went a reported 50 games without being dribbled past.

Previous Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson departed the Merseysiders in the summer and Van Dijk assumed the armband, evidencing his glowing status around the changing room.

The 64-cap Netherlands international has already cemented himself in conversations regarding the best centre-back in Premier League history.

3

Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea

£89m from Shakhtar Donetsk, 2023

Chelsea continued their heavy spending under new owner Todd Boehly when they shelled out £89m for Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising star Mykhailo Mudryk earlier this year.

The fleet-footed wide player is still in the early stages of his Premier League career, but many would admit, perhaps including himself, that it’s been a pretty disappointing start to life in west London.

Mudryk has found the net just twice in 31 outings and looks to be pretty bereft of confidence, though, he has looked a real threat at times.

The 2001-born Ukraine international is still a fledgling professional footballer and has plenty of time to develop under the experienced wings of Mauricio Pochettino, so only time will tell how successful of signing he’ll be.

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The New Zealand captain had put her team on course for victory but they couldn’t hold their nerve in the final ten overs

Andrew McGlashan22-Feb-2019

Amy Satterthwaite sweeps•Getty Images

Australia clung on for a five-run victory in the opening match of the Rose Bowl series as New Zealand let slip a golden opportunity despite Amy Satterthwaite’s 92.Jess Jonassen enjoyed an impressive return to the Australia side with crucial lower-oder runs and then returns of 4 for 43 as she helped close out the game at the death when New Zealand failed to hold their nerve.A stand of 99 between Satterthwaite and Katie Perkins had put New Zealand well on track to chase 242, but after Perkins gave Jonassen a return catch they lost their way with Australia smartly taking the pace off the ball.Satterthwaite, who lost her fluency during the closing stages, could only watch from the non-striker’s end as the match slipped away. That will have been a relief to Alyssa Healy, who missed a stumping chance Satterthwaite had offered on 85 before she became Jonassen’s fourth wicket when she lofted to cover in the penultimate over.Australia did well to claim the contest in the end – their depth and belief coming to the fore – but they were short of their best for significant parts of the match.Rachael Haynes top-scored with a well-compiled 67 after the trio of Healy, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry fell for a combined score of 16. New Zealand, whose seamers were especially impressive, chipped away throughout and it needed useful innings from Ash Gardner and Jonassen to haul Australia over 200.Jess Jonassen claimed four wickets•Getty Images

On a well-grassed surface, there was considerable assistance early on after New Zealand had put Australia in to bat. Healy has carried all before her this season, recently collecting a bag of honours at the Australian Cricket Awards, but there was little she could do against a terrific delivery from Lea Tahuhu, which straightened to take off stump.Rosemary Mair, making her ODI debut, then claimed a maiden scalp to remember, but had her captain to thank for it – Lanning aimed to force a shot off the back foot and Satterthwaite pulled off a stunning one-handed grab, diving full length at slip.When Perry played a loose drive at Sophie Devine, Australia were 3 for 58 in the 15th over and in need of some significant stabilising. Haynes, filling the opening position created by Nicole Bolton’s absence, and Beth Mooney went about it calmly, Haynes bringing up her half-century from 61 balls in an innings highlighted by some strong off-side shots, before a googly from Amelia Kerr took Mooney’s outside edge.Haynes became Mair’s second wicket and when Elyse Villani departed to Kerr, Australia were 6 for 154 with more than 16 overs remaining. Gardner and Jonassen responded positively, Gardner striking the one six of the innings, before Devine claimed two well-deserved wickets to finish with 3 for 32.New Zealand’s chase started in rocky fashion, however, when Devine cut Perry’s first delivery to backward point and Suzie Bates was lbw to Megan Schutt. Then came a classy piece of bowling from Perry, who followed two outswingers against Lauren Down with the nip-backer which beat the inside edge and took off stump.For a side twice bowled out for 200 in the recent ODIs against India, the target looked a considerable way off for New Zealand, but Satterthwaite and Katie Martin started the fightback. Australia’s bowling was starting to be milked reasonably comfortably when legspinner Georgie Wareham bowled Martin round her legs sweeping.The chase shifted in the 32nd over when Perry was taken for 13 including a no-ball and a wide, and all appeared under control as Satterthwaite and Perkins collected boundaries to keep the asking rate under a run-a-ball, but the game changed when Perkins bunted the ball back to Jonassen.Kerr was intent on hitting out when something more measured might have been wise as she and Leigh Kasperek were bowled in consecutive deliveries by Jonassen. The final over started with 18 needed, and the two boundaries they scored only made the loss even more agonising for New Zealand.

The batsman hasn’t played a 50-over game for India in over a year, and has been overlooked for their last series before the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2019Ajinkya Rahane has asked for more and consistent chances in limited-overs internationals for India. Rahane, India’s vice-captain in Tests, last played an ODI in February 2018, when captain Virat Kohli said the team management was looking at him as a prospective No. 4, but has been out of favour since that tour of South Africa.”As a batsman, I am aggressive but, by nature, I am quite shy,” Rahane told the . “I prefer to let my bat speak but sometimes it’s important to speak the truth. I have always believed the team comes first and respected the management and the selectors’ decision. I will continue to do that.”The point is that if as a player I have always played for the team, then I deserve chances more consistently. That’s the least I am asking.”Rahane said that confidence from the management and a consistent run were important for a player to think of the team and not securing his own place for the next game. He pointed to his moving down the order to suit the needs of the team. “Frankly, I have never thought about my personal achievements. I did well as an opener against West Indies and Australia but in South Africa, the management thought I would be suitable at No. 4. I said ‘whatever you prefer’ because the team wanted it.”But every individual needs confidence and positive vibes like ‘yes, you are there and you are doing it for the team’. I think everyone knows that if someone is backing you, the player gets the confidence to play fearless and positive cricket.”Rahane has played 90 ODIs, averaging 35.26 and striking at 78.63 runs per 100 balls. On his ODI comeback in South Africa in early 2018, when India won 5-1, he played all the matches, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 76.92. He scored a 79 and an unbeaten 34 in two of the matches, where he batted at No. 4 because India’s first-choice openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, were both available.

I keep negative thoughts away and you never know, things can change any time

Since then, with much of the planning centred on the World Cup in 2019, India have tried out various other options for the middle order. The impression from the days of MS Dhoni as captain has been that Rahane is good against the hard new ball, but struggles to maintain a high strike rate when the ball goes soft in the middle overs.”If I feel let down, my mindset will turn negative and so, I don’t really think that way,” Rahane said of his approach. “I leave that decision to the selectors because they are the best judges. I also believe that my performances were really good. If you see the last three-four series, my average was around 45 to 50. After I was dropped, I went back to domestic cricket and feel I have done reasonably well.”Rahane has averaged 41.38 in the last three years, higher than his career average. He has batted at different positions in this period, even opening the innings in the Caribbean in mid-2017 and scoring 62, 103, 72, 60 and 39 as India won 3-1.According to chief selector MSK Prasad, Rahane isn’t out of the running for a spot in the World Cup squad, but his name doesn’t figure in the squads for the last ODI series India play before the IPL, which will be followed immediately by the World Cup.”It feels good that I am being considered. But at the same time, you need to get a chance,” Rahane said. “Playing the World Cup is a dream every cricketer cherishes. I do respect the selectors and team management’s performances, and I think I deserve a chance.”I am very much hopeful. I keep negative thoughts away and you never know, things can change any time. It’s important to believe in yourself and keep good people around you rather than those who will say ‘ [Why is this happening only to me?’] I keep my distance from such people and am comfortable with a closed group of four or five people who have believed in me all along.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O torcedor do Corinthians mais atento deve ter notado que Luan não tem sido uma presença constante no time. Nem mesmo com o desfalque de Cazares ele foi utilizado por Vagner Mancini quando esteve disponível. Em resumo, o camisa 7 perdeu mesmo espaço e acabou virando terceira opção na posição.

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TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui

GALERIA
>Veja os jogadores que participaram dos gols do Corinthians na Era Mancini

Ao todo, nos últimos oito jogos em que esteve à disposição do treinador, Luan entrou em campo em apenas quatro, todos saindo do banco de reservas, somando 78 minutos de acordo com as súmulas das partidas, ou seja, atuou em média 20 minutos nos duelos em que foi utilizado nesse período.

Apesar do pouco tempo em campo, ele marcou um gol na goleada sobre o Fluminense, por 5 a 0, na Neo Química Arena. Foi do meia o tento que fechou o placar naquele dia 13 de janeiro, a primeira partida do Timão em 2021.

No último dia 2 de fevereiro, Luan completou dois meses sem ser titular do Corinthians. A última vez em que ele saiu jogando foi no empate em 0 a 0 com o Fortaleza, no Castelão. Naquela ocasião, ele acabou substituído aos 18 minutos da segunda etapa por Cazares, que ainda não havia se consolidado.

No meio do caminho, mais precisamente às vésperas do duelo com o Bahia, pelo Brasileirão, Luan e outros companheiros tiveram um diagnóstico de Covid-19 e ficaram fora da partida. Depois de novos exames, no entanto, foi apontado que houve um falso positivo e os atletas foram liberados para jogar.

Para atuar na Fonte Nova, já sem Cazares, com estiramento na coxa esquerda, a opção natural seria Luan, que acabou sendo desfalque. Assim, o escolhido foi Araos, que vinha sendo ausência inclusive no banco de reservas e sua última vez como titular havia sido em setembro de 2020. O chileno agradou e continuou como titular no compromisso seguinte, contra o Ceará.

Diante do Athletico-PR, ainda sem o meia equatoriano, Araos deve continuar como titular pelo terceiro jogo seguido, enquanto Luan deve seguir no banco de reservas. A expectativa é de receber nova chance, uma vez que contra o Vozão, ele não foi colocado em campo por Vagner Mancini. Quando o chileno saiu por cansaço, quem entrou foi Mateus Vital, que vinha sendo titular.

Como foi possível notar, Luan é a terceira opção para a função de meia armador no Corinthians e, dependendo do contexto, tende a ser até a quarta, como ocorreu no último jogo. Por enquanto, nos bastidores, o clube continua apostando numa volta por cima do camisa 7, que chegou no início de 2020. No entanto, em caso de uma proposta interessante, não haverá oposição para a saída. Aos 27 anos, ele tem contrato com o Timão até dezembro de 2023.

Participações de Luan nos últimos dez jogos do Corinthians

3/2/2021 – Ceará – não foi utilizado
28/1/2021 – Bahia – desfalque por falso positivo para Covid-19
​25/1/2021 – Red Bull Bragantino – jogou por 33 minutos no 2º tempo
​21/1/2021 – Sport – não foi utilizado
18/1/2021 – Palmeiras – não foi utilizado
13/1/2021 – Fluminense – jogou por 13 minutos no 2º tempo e marcou um gol
​27/12/2020 – Botafogo – não foi utilizado
21/12/2020 – Goiás – jogou por 16 minutos no 2º tempo
13/12/2020 – São Paulo – jogou por 16 minutos no 2º tempo
2/12/2020 – Fortaleza – foi titular e jogou por 63 minutos

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