All posts by h716a5.icu

The England squad and management are all safe, as confirmed by the ECB, following an incident in which a car drove into a crowd close to Flinders Street Station in Melbourne on Thursday evening

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2017Australia and England’s players are safe and accounted for, after a car drove into a crowd close to Flinders Street Station in Melbourne on Thursday evening. According to reports, between 14 and 16 people were injured as a result of what police are calling a “deliberate act”. The incident took place around 4.45pm local time and local police have since arrested two men, including the driver, for the incident.”Following the Flinders Street incident in Melbourne, all players and management have been accounted for and are safe,” an ECB statement said. Cricket Australia (CA) have not released a statement but all Australian players are understood to have been accounted for and safe.According to police, the car “collided with a number of pedestrians” on Flinders Street and a number of people were injured as a result, with several in a critical condition. Flinders Street is a busy junction in the city centre and less than two kilometres from the MCG, which is scheduled to host the Boxing Day Ashes Test five days from now.Last year, ahead of the Boxing Day Test with Pakistan, security had to be enhanced at the MCG after Victorian police made several arrests days before the Test was due to begin.At the time seven people were arrested over what Victoria’s Police chief commissioner said were potential attacks at Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and St Paul’s Cathedral, believed to be planned for Christmas Day.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to bolster the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

Daniel Farke has already been able to sign Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow, and Sam Byram, and is now looking to secure his fifth addition.

According to Argentine journalist Victor Bilsky, the Whites have opened talks with Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion over a deal to sign attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

The reporter claims that the Seagulls are prepared to allow the Argentina international to depart on loan before next month's deadline.

He also states that Leeds are pursuing a move that would include a purchase option for them to sign him on a permanent basis at the end of the season, although it remains to be seen what the fee would be.

How good is Facundo Buonanotte?

The 18-year-old prodigy, who was signed by Brighton for a fee of up to £10m, is a talented young player who could have the potential to be the club's next Pablo Hernandez if he explodes onto the scene this term.

Farke has a history of developing exciting talents and the German tactician could use his coaching ability to turn the teenage ace, who was dubbed a "huge talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, into a star for the Whites.

AllLeedsTV presenter Oscar Marrio claimed that Buonanotte has a "similar" profile to Hernandez – as well as former Norwich star Emiliano Buendia – as a player who can play in a hybrid role as a right winger and attacking midfielder.

Farke helped to develop the likes of Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey, James Maddison, Buendia, and Jamal Lewis during his time at Carrow Road.

Godfrey (£20m), Maddison (£20m), and Buendia (£38m) went on to be sold for a combined £78m.

This suggests that the Leeds boss knows how to get the best out of up-and-coming prospects, which is why Buonanotte could thrive up at Elland Road this season.

The 18-year-old talent has already been capped once by Argentina and was given 13 Premier League appearances by Roberto De Zerbi last term, which shows how highly he is rated by club and country at such a young age.

Prior to his move to Brighton, Buonanotte scored four goals and provided two assists in 19 league starts for Rosario Central as he created 1.2 chances per game, whilst no current Leeds player managed more than 0.9 per outing last season.

The Argentine gem, who scored one goal and provided one assist in six top-flight starts for the Seagulls, could now take the next step in his career and start to deliver quality at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis.

Stepping down to the Championship could provide him with the opportunity to showcase his ability against lesser opposition after showing flashes, with two goal contributions, in the Premier League.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to replicate Hernandez's return of 36 goals and 41 assists in 175 matches, but Buonanotte is an exciting prospect who can play in the Spanish wizard's attacking midfield role and has the potential to score goals and create chances from that position.

Referee John Brooks had a busy afternoon at St James' Park as he sent off Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk but also made another big call on the day which he probably got wrong.

What's the latest on Liverpool and VAR?

In the Premier League this weekend, Newcastle United played host to the Reds in what turned out to be a fantastic, yet chaotic, spectacle. Indeed, things were going so well for the Magpies, but ended in complete disaster.

Just 25 minutes into the affair, Trent Alexander-Arnold made a big mistake as he failed to control a pass, allowing Anthony Gordon to run through on goal and make it 1-0 to the home team.

Only three minutes later, club captain Van Dijk was handed a straight red card when his foul on Alexander Isak was adjudged to have prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Despite having to play well over an hour with just ten men, Liverpool managed to keep the score at 1-0 right up until the 81st minute when substitute Darwin Nunez struck a fine equaliser.

Incredibly, the same man then netted again in the 93rd minute of the game as the Reds completed an unlikely turnaround to pick up all three points on the day, leaving Eddie Howe and his side stunned.

However, one incident early on in the game suggests that Liverpool were actually fortunate to be down to ten men even before Van Dijk's red card. Indeed, as you can see in the image below, Alexander-Arnold cynically raised an arm to prevent Gordon from running away from him.

You can see the incident here via Sky Sports as manager Howe vented his anger on the call after the game, saying: "For me, yes [he should have been sent off]. You don't want to see players sent off but for me, that's a clear red card."

Did Trent Alexander-Arnold deserve a red card vs Newcastle?

The referee spotted the clear foul and gave Newcastle a free-kick but seeing as the English right-back had already been booked, it should have resulted in a red card – and yet, for some reason, Brooks kept his card in his pocket – and VAR couldn't intervene as it wasn't ever going to be a straight red card.

Alexander-Arnold's first yellow card, could be viewed as a little harsh as he was punished for throwing the ball away, but new PGMOL rules want referees to stamp down on behaviour like this so it's no shock that he was booked.

But the second offence was almost certainly a yellow card and it shouldn't matter about what happened on the first booking. We saw a similar incident in a recent Arsenal game when Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off for picking up a first card for time-wasting, and then a second for a foul not dissimilar to Alexander-Arnold's challenge.

Pundit Jamie Carragher slammed referee Brookes for his decision after the game on Sky Sports (via Metro), saying: "Listen, Trent deserves a yellow card. We know the rules, he throws the ball away, but it’s a really poor decision and the referee makes a rod for his own back."

At the time, Gary Neville added: "He’s lucky. Would Klopp think about substituting him? It’s a cauldron out there. He has sent out Joe Gomez to warm up. I’m not surprised at all. It must be a serious consideration."

Trent Boult has been rested from the final ODI against Pakistan on Friday as well as the first T20I that follows next week

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2018New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult has been rested from the final ODI against Pakistan on Friday as well as the first T20I that follows next week. To ensure the team has left-arm cover, the selectors have brought in Ben Wheeler, who last played international cricket in February 2017.New Zealand T20I squad v Pakistan

Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult (2nd & 3rd T20I only), Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (2nd & 3rd T20I only), Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (1st & 3rd T20I only), Ross Taylor (1st T20I only), Ben Wheeler

Seth Rance, the seamer who made his debut against Ireland last year, will join the ODI squad in Wellington for the final game and stay back for the first T20I as well. New Zealand’s selectors continued their policy of rotating many of their first choice players with Tim Southee being given the second T20I off. Ross Taylor will be available for the first T20I only, while Lockie Ferguson will take that day off.”Ben’s ability to swing the ball makes him a threatening bowler and his batting power and athleticism in the field compliments that nicely,” selector Gavin Larsen said. “It will be nice to see more of Ben and Seth while we manage the workloads of Tim and Trent.”Tom Bruce retained his spot in the squad to deny Mark Chapman, who has played two ODIs and 19 T20Is for Hong Kong, a maiden call up to the New Zealand squad. Chapman has been in sizzling form in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, tied for second place with 300 runs at an average of 37.50, including an innings of 101 off 58 balls three matches ago against Canterbury.Bruce made 28 runs in three T20Is against West Indies earlier this year. His best score of 59 not out came in his second T20I against Bangladesh last January and, since then, has only crossed 30 once in eight innings.”We have three guys who were seriously considered for that specialist batsman spot at number five, however we’ve backed the incumbents who have performed so well of us in recent times,” Larsen said. “Mark has been really impressive for Auckland, but with the form that Tom and Ross have been in we felt they deserved to continue getting opportunities. We’d like to see Mark continue to work on his bowling, which could open up other opportunities for him outside of just that number five spot.”Chapman’s non-selection for New Zealand means he remains eligible to represent Hong Kong. He has not played for the country of his birth since a loss to Scotland at Nagpur in the opening round of the 2016 World T20, though there remains faint hope in Hong Kong circles that he may make himself available to play the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe this March.New Zealand Cricket also announced that players who are not part of the ODI squad for the ongoing series against Pakistan but have been named in the T20I squad – Wheeler, Bruce, Anaru Kitchen, Glenn Phillips and Ish Sodhi – will be free to play in the Super Smash T20 final on January 20 in Hamilton but would be unavailable should the match be pushed to a reserve day.

The 2022/23 season ended up being one of the most memorable in West Ham United’s history after they won the Europa Conference League – their first trophy since 1980.

It is safe to say a lot of things are going right at the club.

Despite the departure of club captain Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal over the summer for a club-record £105m fee, David Moyes’ side were able to reinvest the money wisely.

Two of the new signings arrive with plenty of Champions League and International experience in Mexican midfielder Edson Alvarez, and Ghanaian forward Mohammed Kudus, both signing from Dutch giants Ajax.

While the future certainly looks bright for the Hammers, the recent years have arguably had fewer ups than downs since the January 2010 takeover where David Sullivan and the late David Gold gained co-ownership of the club.

What happened in Sullivan and Gold’s first season?

After completing the takeover midway through the 2009/10 campaign, West Ham found themselves struggling in the relegation zone in the Premier League table.

After making a handful of winter signings, the Hammers were able to narrowly avoid the drop.

In the summer of 2010, West Ham and their new owners were looking to make a statement signing ahead of the new season.

Following a loan move for then-AC Milan and Brazil star Ronaldinho broke down over fitness concerns, the Hammers turned their attention to a talented youngster playing in Brazil, Neymar Jr.

Did Neymar almost join West Ham?

At the time, then-18-year-old Neymar Jr was already making headlines for Brazilian side Santos for his incredible natural talent and a move to Europe was looking inevitable.

West Ham were willing to smash their transfer record for the teenage sensation – which at the time was Craig Bellamy who joined in 2007 for £7.5m.

The Irons had offered Santos an extraordinary £16m bid for the player, although the Brazilian side were refusing to sell for anything less than Neymar’s £28.4m release clause, according to The Athletic.

The deal was made even more difficult due to the structure of Neymar’s contract, as Santos only owned 60% of the wingers’ rights, with the rest being owned by investment groups who had to sanction any sale less than the release clause.

With Neymar’s father also hesitant to let his son make the move to Europe so soon in his career, the deal was off and West Ham instead settled on the signing of Nigerian forward Victor Obinna on a season-long loan from Italian champions Inter Milan.

Obinna would play 32 times for West Ham during the 2010/11 season, where he would score eight goals as the Hammers were relegated to the Championship for the first time since the 2002/03 season.

Neymar on the other hand, would remain in Brazil for the time being, before going down a very different path to that of West Ham.

What was Neymar’s next move?

After remaining at Santos, Neymar would continue to impress and would receive praise from all over the world.

A report in 2011 labelled Neymar 'the next Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho rolled into one,' which highlights just how appreciated his talent was.

In fact, the aforementioned Ronaldinho himself would seemingly confirm this later in his career, saying:

“Neymar is already my heir. He will be the face of Brazil for many seasons to come. Neymar is a phenomenon. It’s nice to see a Brazilian continuing to make history and I think he can be the greatest in the world.”

In 2013, Spanish champions Barcelona completed the signing of Neymar for a fee of around £49m. At the time of his arrival, the 21-year-old had already been capped 33 times for the Brazilian national team, scoring 20 goals in that time.

How did Neymar’s career pan out?

Neymar’s first season in Barcelona was no less than impressive, as the Brazilian had himself admitted that adjusting to European football would be “difficult,” before scoring 15 goals and 15 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions.

It was the 2014/15 season, however, when Neymar would truly announce himself in European football. The forward would help form an iconic front-three partnership with Lionel Messi and the newly signed Luis Suarez, better known as ‘MSN’.

Neymar played 51 games in all competitions, scoring an incredible 39 goals and getting 10 assists for his teammates, as Barcelona would win the continental treble, completed with the Champions League win where Neymar himself scored the third and final goal in injury time as they beat Italian champions Juventus 3-1.

Over the next two seasons, he would feature a total of 94 more times for Barcelona, and his impressive numbers didn’t slow down, as he scored another 51 goals and earned 51 assists.

In the summer of 2017, Paris Saint-Germain made a sensational £200m bid for the Brazilian which Barcelona were forced to accept, leaving the decision to the player. Neymar, who wanted to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow in Spain, accepted the world record move which still stands today.

After spending six years in the French capital, Neymar went through mixed times at the club. Although it was never possible to doubt the talent at his disposal, he left PSG in 2023 having failed to win their main goal of a Champions League title, while on a personal level, still couldn’t get close to his desired Ballon d’Or trophy ahead of his rivals.

The forward still managed to register 77 goals and 52 assists in 173 games for PSG, before leaving for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for a £73m fee, which reportedly earns him a whopping £2.65m-per-week in wages.

Club

Matches

Goals

Assists

Santos (2009-2013)

139

72

37

Barcelona (2013-2017)

186

105

76

Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2023)

173

118

77

Was the failed move best for both sides?

While there are no doubts that Neymar would have certainly starred in east London, the downsides of the move could have been damaging in terms of the financial weight that the Brazilian would have carried with him.

With Neymar being able to fulfil his stardom at some of the biggest clubs in the world, West Ham have gone through several rebuilding periods which have recently resulted in appearances in a number of European competitions, which of course led to their success in the 2022/23 Europa Conference League run.

Following his move to Saudi Arabia, the 31-year-old still has plenty of time left in his career, while the future is looking promising for Moyes and his side, who look forward to competing in the Europa League this season.

The two captains outline how their approaches differ, but both agree that conversation on the field of play is fine so long as it does not veer into hurtful territory

Daniel Brettig in Port Elizabeth08-Mar-2018Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis have been reminded of their responsibilities, as captains of Australia and South Africa, to work with the umpires to stop their players from getting out of control – thereby ensuring no repeat of the ugly scenes that marred the Durban Test.In a meeting at St George’s Park on the eve of the second Test, the match referee Jeff Crowe and the umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Chris Gaffaney stated that they would be keeping ears peeled for any potential flash points, following criticism by both du Plessis and the former Australian opener Simon Katich that the umpires needed to be more proactive.”It was nice to just have a chat and just ensure that we’re playing within the spirit of the game, and that cricket is what’s written about and talked about after this game,” Smith said after the meeting. “[After the first Test] it has all been about the indiscretions of the last fixture and it’s not what we want for the game. It’s about staying in line; there’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter out on the field, just making sure that we’re not getting personal.”That [umpires monitoring behaviour] was also talked about. More with the fact that if they hear something going on, it’s about going to either myself or Faf and ensuring that we have our troops in line and playing within the guidelines. That was basically the conversation.”The two captains outlined how their approaches differ, though both agreed that conversation on the field of play was fine so long as it did not veer into hurtful territory. Du Plessis said that his team was not as vocal as Australia, concentrating more on strong body language.”I have a lot of respect for every team that we play against. The style of play that that team comes with is probably the style of play that they feel they need,” du Plessis said. “If you play New Zealand, they are the nice guys. They’re really friendly.”Us as a team, and me as a captain, we are very similar in that I don’t see much value in what you say on the field having an impact on the performance you have as a team. For me it’s about focusing on what sort of presence you have, what sort of body language.”Smith said that he left it up to each individual player to decide how best to get themselves “in the battle”, whether it was by keeping their own counsel or engaging with the opposition.”I think for us, as an Australian team, we play our best when we play good, hard, aggressive cricket and find a way to get in the battle on the field.” he said. “Whatever way you have to get the best out of yourself… If that’s by having a bit of banter with someone then so be it, if that gets you motivated and up for the challenge then go for it. It’s pretty simple, it’s just about not crossing that line to go into that personal sort of space.”By the same token, du Plessis said he was not looking for Australia to change their style of play, but only for the umpires to regulate it a little more firmly than was the case in Durban. “I’m not expecting Australia to change their style of play. They are a team that have always done it and they will always do it. They are not going to change overnight,” he said. “They’ve always had characters in their team. It’s not even the whole team. There are just two or three guys that you can see it’s almost their job in the team, to go that route.”For me it will just be a case where if you have guys in your team who are pushing that line, as a captain, you make sure you keep them calm, and that things don’t get to a stage where it did in the previous game. If the captain is not close by, that role will fall to the umpires. I don’t have a problem with chirping, I think chirping is good for the game. It’s just… about that line.”It remains to be seen how much pressure the St George’s Park peace pact can withstand.

The Australian batsman admitted his cool facade was broken by his dismissal late on day three in Port Elizabeth, but that is a sign of his growing responsibility in the team

Daniel Brettig15-Mar-2018Australian batsman Usman Khawaja admits his usually cool facade was broken by his damaging dismissal late on day three of the Port Elizabeth Test, as he continues his struggle to reach the heights of his contemporaries Steven Smith and David Warner, in a team where he no longer feels like a junior member.After a quiet start to the series, Khawaja had got into rhythm early with a volley of boundaries through the cover point region at St George’s Park, and seemed the man most likely to help Australia set South Africa a testing target on a deteriorating pitch. But in the shadows of stumps, he was pinned lbw by a Kagiso Rabada reverse swinger, and said he had seldom been more frustrated when walking off the field.”I don’t really get angry at myself if I make a mistake or things happen, but if I feel that I am in a position to win games for my team or to make a difference in the game, that’s probably when it annoys me the most and gets me to the most,” Khawaja told . “So it did trigger a little response.”It is a pretty bad feeling getting out right at the end. But, in my mind, I was making sure it was going to be a decent ball that was going to get me out. I wasn’t trying to go out there and do something extravagant. I was going to grind as long as I could, whether that could be for another half a day. Unfortunately, Rabada bowled a good ball and got me.”The frustration of the dismissal provided insight into how Khawaja has evolved as a cricketer. He admits that it took him time both to feel comfortable in the Australian dressing room and also to invest fully in team success. “Over the last couple of years I’ve really enjoyed playing cricket and found ways to enjoy it – and one of the ways I’ve found it is really enjoying team success when we win.”I probably feel a bit more comfortable now in this team than I did when I first came back a few years ago. I’ve been around for three years now so I don’t go out of my way and try to speak up for any reason, but if I think there needs to be something said I say it. I’ve got a pretty good relationship with Smudge (Smith) and with Davey (Warner) too, which always makes it better.”We have all grown up playing together so there is no sort of older player/younger player at the moment. There are no egos going around. Smudge is an excellent leader but there are always people coming around and saying what about this and what about that, and he’s good at thinking about that, which is nice.”

“It was important just to get my story out there, so people can relate and understand that if you want to achieve something, play for Australia or have goals – there’s always going to be things that hamper you.”

As Smith and Warner have taken flight as international batsmen and leaders, Khawaja has remained a subject of some conjecture – brilliant in home conditions but less so abroad. The 75 in Port Elizabeth was Khawaja’s highest score in an overseas Test apart from New Zealand in 2016, and while prickly about addressing his away record, he said the familiarity of conditions in South Africa was useful in terms of starting an innings.”I felt that first wicket in Durban was very SCG-ish. There wasn’t too much swing, it reversed, it spun a little,” Khawaja said. “So, I think South African wickets are very similar to back home. This PE wicket was a little bit different because it played tricks the whole way through. But that’s the beauty of going outside Australia in different conditions. As batsmen, if the wicket is hard it is hard for everyone. If the wicket is easy, or is is a nice wicket, it is nice for everyone.One measure of Khawaja’s level of comfort with himself as an Australian cricketer is how late last year he penned a column about his experiences dealing with discrimination as a young player of an Asian background. In sticking his head above the parapet, in contrast to his earlier years when advised by his management to simply stick to the cricket, he faced criticism. But for all the barbs there was the knowledge that telling his story would also inspire others.”It’s probably not something I would have said or talked about a few years ago,” Khawaja said. “I think it’s important. It’s one of those things where Australia is growing – both in a sense of the cricketing country but who is playing. And where cricketers are coming from. And Australia as a whole. So for me it was important just to get my story out there, so people can relate and understand that if you want to achieve something, play for Australia or have goals – there’s always going to be things that hamper you.”I felt like if I wrote that story and it helped even one person to relate to where I came from, or where they are right now – to help them achieve what they want then it was a good enough reason to do it. I got a lot of good feedback, some negative feedback too. I’m fine with that, it doesn’t really bother me too much. The good far outweighs the bad.”

Liverpool could look for new signings in the January transfer window, and they are reportedly in "very advanced" talks with one player, according to a fresh claim.

Do Liverpool need to sign a centre-back?

The Reds had a busy time of things during the summer, completely revamping their midfield after many issues in that area of the pitch last season, playing a big part in them finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Ageing individuals such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson departed for Saudi Arabia, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already replaced them impressively since arriving. Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have also come in, as Jurgen Klopp looks to build his next great team at Anfield.

It was only the midfield that was focused on during the summer window in the end, however, which was a decision that ultimately left some fans feeling a little perplexed. Many felt that a new centre-back was also needed, in order to bring a freshness there, not to mention more depth.

Virgil van Dijk is now 32 years of age and has shown signs of creaking in recent times, while Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez find themselves sidelined through injury too often.

While no central defender was added in the summer, a new update suggests that one could be on his way to Merseyside in the near future.

Will Liverpool sign Piero Hincapie?

According to Ecuadorian outlet Marca 90 [via LFC Transfer Room on X], Liverpool's talks with Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie are at a "very advanced" stage, suggesting a move could come to fruition. The deal could be worth £48m, although it isn't specified if a January or summer switch is the more likely option.

This could be an absolutely wonderful piece of business by Liverpool is they manage to get a transfer over the line, with Hincapie arguable one of Europe's most highly-rated young centre-backs at the moment.

The 21-year-old has already made 77 appearances for his current club side and won 27 caps for Ecuador, while former Leverkusen manager Gerardo Seoane has described him as "really impressive".

Liverpool are crying out for a left-sided central defender who can also do a job at left-back if required, and Hincapie ticks all the boxes, in that respect. He could come in as both as a strong option to compete with Van Dijk and Andy Robertson for minutes, and at just 21, he could be a mainstay of the defence for many years to come.

To already be such a key player for club and country at his age, in a position where experience can often be vital, says so much about the Ecuadorian's potential as a footballer, and the Reds could be acquiring a special talent if this strong interest turns into an eventual move.

Hincapie has averaged three clearances and 2.3 tackles per game in the Bundesliga so far this season, outlining his defensive qualities, but he has also completed 85.1% of his passes, showing that he can be impressive in and out of possession, which is something that Klopp demands in all of his defenders.

Manchester City play host to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League. The two sides are rich in history and were both founded in the 18th century, so naturally, they've played each other a fair few times…

Today at Football FanCast, we've decided to take a look at the history of this fixture and any key stats that stand out heading into this weekend's clash.

Man City v Nottingham Forest: What's their head-to-head record?

Unsurprisingly, the reigning Premier League champions have racked up more wins in this fixture than their opposition, but it's perhaps closer than you'd imagine.

It's easy to forget, prior to City's 2008 takeover, the club wasn't regarded as one of the big boys like they are today, so they haven't dominated this fixture like you'd imagine.

Forest have had their fair share of victories against the Citizens and based on the overall head-to-head data, this weekend's clash shouldn't be seen as a complete shutout for Pep Guardiola's side.

Man City wins

41

Draws

28

Nottingham Forest wins

32

Man City v Nottingham Forest: Who has more wins at the Etihad Stadium?

City's record against the East Midlanders, at home, paints a far more dominant picture, having only conceded defeat on ten occasions across 52 meetings.

Forest have found it tricky on their away travels in Manchester and Saturday's fixture will be expected to produce another defeat to add to the tally.

Guardiola will be hopeful of picking up the club's 25th home victory against Forest to extend their 100% record this season. City are the only club in the professional English pyramid to have not dropped points.

Man City wins

24

Draws

18

Nottingham Forest wins

10

Note: This data is across City's time at Maine Road and the Etihad Stadium.

Man City v Nottingham Forest: Who has the more wins at the City Ground?

Nottingham Forest win this head-to-head battle. These two sides have produced a much more even affair at the City Ground but it is the Tricky Trees who have reigned victorious over their opposition on 22 occasions.

Interestingly, this fixture has played out far fewer draws.

Nottingham Forest wins

22

Draws

10

Man City

17

Man City v Nottingham Forest: Who has the better cup record?

Again, it's the East Midlanders who win a second successive head-to-head battle, yet this time it's in cup competitions. Four of Forest's five wins against the Citizens have come in the FA Cup.

On the other hand, City have had much more fortuitous times against Saturday's opposition in the League Cup, a competition they've won eight times, with six of those coming in the last nine years.

The pair haven't met in a cup competition since January 2009, when Forest, who were in the Championship, defeated City 3-0 at the Etihad.

Man City

3

Draws

1

Nottingham Forest

5

Man City v Nottingham Forest: What were the match results in the last five meetings?

18th February 2023 – Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City: The last fixture between the pair produced a shock score draw at the City Ground as Man City's title charge was dealt a knock.

Bernardo Silva scored the opener in the first half and it looked set to be the winner until Chris Wood scored an equaliser with six minutes of the scheduled 90 left to play.

The crucial points for the hosts moved them five points clear of the relegation zone.

31st August 2022 – Manchester City 6-0 Nottingham Forest: The reverse fixture last season produced a completely different outcome as the Citizens thrashed the division's new boys.

Steve Cooper's side were dealt a harsh welcome to the Premier League in their first month back in the top-flight since 1999. Summer signing Erling Haaland netted a hattrick, Julián Álvarez scored a brace and full-back João Cancelo found himself on the scoresheet

3rd January 2009 – Manchester City 0-3 Nottingham Forest: The last meeting prior to the fixture in August 2022 came all the way back in 2009 in the third round of the FA Cup.

Forest were hovering above the Championship relegation zone heading into this clash against Premier League opposition and were huge underdogs.

But Nathan Tyson, Robert Earnshaw and Joe Garner all scored for the away side to complete a memorable 3-0 victory away at the Etihad.

30th March 2002 – Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest: This meeting came in the second tier of English Football which is remarkable when you think about how far City have come.

Darren Huckerby, the Nottingham-born winger, scored a hattrick to seal a comfortable three points for the hosts, who gained promotion that year as champions under the stewardship of Kevin Keegan.

Forest, on the other hand, finished in 16th under Paul Hart.

28th October 2001 – Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City: The reverse fixture saw the eventual title-winners held to a draw at the City Ground.

Chris Bart-Williams put the home side 1-0 up before Shaun Goater levelled the score just a minute later after a goalkeeping howler from Darren Ward.

Who has played for both Man City and Nottingham Forest?

Stuart Pearce (Forest 1985-1997; City 2001-2002): 78-cap England international Pearce was a 12-year servant for the East Midlanders. He made a whopping 327 appearances and scored 54 goals despite playing as a defender.

Pearce's one-season stay at City saw him make 43 appearances, helping the club gain promotion to the Premier League. He retired at the end of the campaign.

Ishmael Miller (City 2006-2007; Forest 2011-2014): Miller graduated through the Manchester City youth set-up but only went on to make 20 appearances for the club before being sold on a permanent deal to West Bromwich Albion.Four years after making the move to the West Midlands, Miller was picked up by Forest, who signed him for £1.2m as a 24-year-old. The forward only made 30 appearances for the club, despite being on their books for four years, scoring four goals.He spent time away on loan with Middlesbrough and Yeovil Town during that period before Blackpool signed him on a free transfer.Darren Huckerby (City 2001-2003; Forest 2003): Huckerby was a vital part of City's promotion-winning campaign to the top-flight in 2001/02, scoring 20 league goals in 40 appearances.His time at Forest was short, but sweet, making nine appearances and scoring five goals, on loan from the Citizens. Huckerby was set to join the East Midlands club on a permanent deal in the summer, had they gained promotion to the Premier League, but a playoff final defeat to Sheffield United scuppered those plans. What is Man City's biggest win over Nottingham Forest?

31st August 2022 – Manchester City 6-0 Nottingham Forest: Manchester City's biggest win over Forest was the aforementioned 6-0 drubbing at the Etihad last August.

Haaland scored a hat-trick, his second in as many games.

What is Nottingham Forest's biggest win over Manchester City?

23rd February 1980 – Nottingham Forest 4-0 Manchester City: Forest's biggest win over City came over 40 years ago in the top flight. In February 1958, they also recorded a 4-0 home victory.

Though, it's unlikely they'll record a result similar to that over Saturday's opposition whilst Pep Guardiola is at the reigns.

Man City v Nottingham Forest: When is it?

Manchester City host Nottinham Forest on Saturday 23rd September at 3pm UK time. City will head into this fixture as the favourites, as they do in almost every game.

After all, they are trebble-winners and are currently at the summit of the Premier League table. They are being widely tipped to win yet another league title and it's hard to disagree.

The Citzens have scored 14 goals and only conceded three which is a remarkable return but something we've come to expect from Pep Guardiola's men.

Erling Haaland has already netted seven goals and sits top of the goal scoring charts whilst summer signing Jeremy Doku got off the mark in a 3-1 away victory against West Ham United last weekend.

Forest, meanwhile, have enjoyed a steady start to their campaign. Two wins, one draw and two losses leave them in eighth place which is certainly a position they'd love to be in come May.

The East Midlanders narrowly avoided the drop last season and will be eager to avoid a second successive relegation battle this time around. With the exciting additions of young forwards Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudon-Odoi, they look well-placed to do so.

City will head into this fixture coming off the back of a midweek clash against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League and could suffer the typical European hangover. They'll need to be wary of the Forest's pace in transition that they used to exploit Arsenal last month.

The away side will need to be defensively resilient throughout the entirety of the match in order to keep the plethora of attacking talent at bay. Keeping Haaland quiet is something not a lot of sides have been able to do, so the centre-back pairing will certainly have their work cut out.

Thakur’s career-best restricted Sri Lanka after Kusal’s half-century; Pandey and Karthik’s unbroken 68-run stand steered India home after a top order wobble

The Report by Mohammad Isam12-Mar-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsManish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik calmly negotiated a tricky middle period to get India their second win in a truncated 19-overs a side Nidahas Trophy fixture in Colombo. They beat Sri Lanka by six wickets, with 10 balls to spare, and go atop of the points table with one game to play.The win was earlier fashioned by Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, who bowled tight spells on the face of a proper Sri Lanka counter-attack that could’ve so easily left India chasing close to 200. Sundar bowled four tight overs with his offspin and gave away just 21 runs, while Thakur finished with career-best T20I figures: 4 for 27 off four overs, during the course of which he showed tremendous variations, particularly the knuckleball.When the winning runs were hit, Pandey was unbeaten on 42 off 31 balls with three fours and a six with Karthik supporting him to make a sparkling 25-ball 39 not out. The pair added 68 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket, after India had slipped to 85 for four in the 10th over to help complete a challenging chase into a cruise.Suresh Raina injected momentum into India’s innings with two fierce sixes in his 15-ball 27 after Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma fell early. KL Rahul, playing his first game of the tournament, was then out hit wicket to leave India reeling. The pressure was on, but Pandey batted with a sense of nonchalance that rubbed off on Karthik.With the ball too, India fought back from a difficult position. They took three Sri Lanka wickets in the space of 13 balls after they had reached 113 for 3. The mini-collapse also coincided with a boundary draught that was broken after 30 deliveries when Dasun Shanaka edged Thakur to third-man for four. Shanaka struck the only six in the slog overs, before he, Akila Dananjaya and Suranga Lakmal fell in the last seven balls.Sri Lanka lost Danushka Gunathilaka to a fine catch by Suresh Raina at midwicket and Kusal Perera, undone by Sundar in the fourth over. The rampant Mendis then added 62 runs for the third wicket with a scratchy-looking Upul Tharanga. The pair ensured Sri Lanka finished the Powerplay overs.Mendis, who was audacious in his footwork and shot selection, often walking across to pull and whip, hit three fours in his 38-ball 55. Briefly, Perera and Shanaka threatened to take the game away from India, but were out looking to hit out. This stalled Sri Lanka’s momentum, thereby leaving them a good 20-25 runs short.