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Kevon Cooper and Arafat Sunny have been reported by the umpires for suspect bowling actions in the BPL

Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2016Kevon Cooper and Arafat Sunny have been reported by the umpires for suspect bowling actions in the BPL.In the case of Sunny, Rangpur Riders’ left-arm spinner, one delivery, the first ball of the 19th over in Rangpur’s match against Rajshahi Kings on November 28, raised suspicion.Video footage of Khulna Titan’s allrounder Cooper’s bowling has been sent to the WICB, the BPL technical committee chairman Jalal Yunus said.”Sunny was reported once, in their last game [on November 28],” Yunus said. “The next step would be for the BCB’s bowling action review committee to analyse video footage of the delivery, which we will do soon after the end of the tournament. We have sent Cooper’s footage to the WICB.”Sunny was suspended for an illegal action during this year’s World T20 in March but cleared to bowl by the ICC in international cricket on September 23.After Sunny and Taskin Ahmed were suspended by the ICC, the BCB formed a bowling action review committee which found five bowlers to have illegal bowling actions during last season’s Dhaka Premier League.Yunus, who is also the chairman of the bowling action review committee, said that they will be stricter on suspected bowling actions.West Indies’ Cooper, too, was reported for a suspected bowling action during this year’s Pakistan Super League. Yunus said the BPL wanted to cases such as Cooper’s in future.”In the next BPL, we hope to do the video analysis of suspected bowling action during the tournament itself,” Yunus said. “We will also have to be aware of foreign players who has been reported previously, so that we can inform our franchises beforehand. We don’t want to have such bowlers in future tournaments.”

Manchester United are expected to let go of fringe duo Eric Bailly and Alex Telles this summer at Old Trafford, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest news involving Eric Bailly and Alex Telles?

One report from Spain has claimed that La Liga side Valencia could line up a move for Manchester United outcast Bailly in the summer window to bolster their backline.

Bailly has been on loan at Ligue 1 outfit Marseille this campaign and managed to make 22 appearances in all competitions for the French giants, as per Transfermarkt. It is said that the £89k-a-week earner is unlikely to be part of Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag's plans for the 2023/24 season and any exit would be financially viable to negotiate.

In the case of Telles, who has been out on loan at Sevilla in 2022/23, AS via METRO detail that the 30-year-old could be on his way to Al Nassr to team up with former Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Brazil international earns around £100,000 per week at Old Trafford and the Saudi outfit would be willing to satisfy his wage demands to tempt him into moving to the Middle East.

Telles has featured regularly for Sevilla, playing on 36 occasions for the Spanish side and recording three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, renowned journalist Romano has stated that is is likely that Bailly and Telles will leave Manchester United.

Romano said: “Their agents are already informed [they are not needed at United] so they are looking for solutions on the market for their clients and so at the moment the expectation is for both players Alex Telles and Eric Bailly to leave Manchester United.”

Who else could leave Manchester United this summer?

Manchester United could be set for several changes to their playing squad this summer as Ten Hag looks to refine his side ahead of 2023/24.

The Daily Mail understand that loanees Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer will return to their respective clubs in the off-season despite being admired by the Dutchman.

Journalist Dean Jones has also spoken to GIVEMESPORT and issued an update on the future of central defender Harry Maguire and suggested that West Ham United could be 'sounded out' over a potential switch to the London Stadium.

Long-serving defender Phil Jones is someone Manchester United have confirmed is leaving the club due to his contract expiring in June, bringing an end to a 12-year association with the Red Devils.

The Delhi & District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) sports committee has decided to sack former India players Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra from the state’s senior selection panel, while removing Maninder Singh from the junior selection panel

PTI05-Nov-2016The Delhi & District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) sports committee has decided to sack former India players Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra from the state’s senior selection panel, while removing Maninder Singh from the junior selection panel.The sports committee included national selector Sarandeep Singh in the panel citing the general convention that national selectors are always made chairman of state selection committee, as it had been the case with Madan Lal, Kirti Azad and Chetan Chauhan to name a few.It also named former legspinner Rakesh Shukla in the panel, but this could be in violation of the norms of the BCCI, which had set an age-cap of 60 for being eligible for the role. Shukla is currently 68.In place of Maninder Singh, the committee named former wicketkeeper-batsman Vinay Kumar.There could be far-reaching legal implications of this decision, as Chopra and Wassan were appointed by a panel selected by Justice Mukul Mudgal, who is the Delhi High Court-appointed observer. Those in know of the legal ramifications feel that this could be a case of contempt of court by the sports committee, which has been sidelined since Mudgal started overseeing DDCA matters.A press release issued by the sports committee’s convenor, Vinod Tihara, stated the decision was taken “in the wake of the persistent complaints being received by the DDCA management regarding the alleged commercial engagements of three selectors namely: Maninder Singh, Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra.”Wassan, Chopra and Maninder all have media contracts, which the sports committee claimed was a case of conflict of interest.When Chopra’s comments were sought, he said: “This is news to me. I have been appointed by a committee that was formed by Delhi High Court-appointed observer Justice Mukul Mudgal. And what conflict of interest are they talking about? These are some vested interests at work.”When Tihara was asked if this decision amounted to contempt of court or trying to overrule the High Court-appointed observer, he told PTI: “I don’t think question of contempt arises as Justice Mudgal is an observer and not an administrator. As far as Shukla’s age and appointment is concerned, we will check if this violates the norms set by BCCI.”Asked if Delhi coach KP Bhaskar would also be removed as he was also appointed by the panel set by Mudgal, Tihara said: “No we are not going to remove Bhaskar as it would seem like having a vindictive attitude. We heard some complaints about some alleged misbehaviour with the boys. After an internal inquiry we found out that nothing of that sort has happened. Also he does not have any case of conflict of interest.”

Yorkshire, pressing for a hat-trick of Championship titles, completed a thumping 228-run defeat of Durham

David Hopps at Headingley09-Sep-2016
ScorecardRyan Sidebottom finished with 4 for 34•Getty ImagesAs Yorkshire, pressing for a hat-trick of Championship titles, completed a thumping 228-run defeat of Durham, Headingley briefly basked in the feeling that the normal order of things had been restored. They remained top of the table for all but 10 minutes, which was hardly long enough to exhale a satisfied smile, before Middlesex’s win at Trent Bridge reclaimed a one-point lead. But they had tasted the lead again and it felt good.Somerset, lying third and suspected by Yorkshire, among others, of chicanery when it comes to preparation of pitches, visit Headingley next week while Middlesex head for the other side of the Pennines to face a Lancashire side that still needs points to stay up. “Somerset are full of confidence and playing good cricket, but it won’t be a bunsen burner,” Gale said. Everything seems to be heading towards a grand climax between Middlesex and Yorkshire at Lord’s with the Championship at stake.This was an emphatic Yorkshire win. Like the Mountain Ash trees in the gardens of the red-brick houses around the ground, they are at their most resplendent as September takes hold. Their batsmen are in commanding form, the pace bowlers as fit and fresh as they have been all season. They walked off the field on a blustery Headingley day in the way that the best Yorkshire sides should, applauding each other and the crowd with stern and satisfied expressions.Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and David Willey are about to be released from England duties. Only Rashid can be confident of a game next week. Steve Patterson must contend with personal issues. He had left the match for much of the third day – his captain, Gale, confirmed – because his father is seriously ill.The final day belonged more than anybody to Ryan Sidebottom. He spent two months in pot in the first half of the season after suffering a hairline fracture of his ankle during a football keepy-uppy game. As far as cricket is concerned, his ambitions stretch more to winny-winny than keepy-uppy, and four cheap wickets, including a burst of 3 for 9 in 18 balls, swept aside Durham’s resistance.Durham were vulnerable when they resumed on 39 for 3, a target of 421 beyond the horizon. Less than nine overs into the day, they were 63 for 6 and Sidebottom had taken all of them, claiming the nightwatchman Graham Onions at cover, silencing Scott Borthwick with a stone-dead lbw and winning a second leg-before decision when Paul Collingwood fatally played no shot.Sidebottom’s impact has been limited this season to only seven Championship matches, but at 38 his threat remains as apparent as ever. It is more than six years since he called time on his England career, and returned to Yorkshire from Nottinghamshire. When he did he could not have imagined that in 2016 he might be as inspirational as ever, relishing the possibility of a third consecutive title, a possible benefit and another one-year contract for 2017.Durham lack the resilience of early season. The side that played with such character to overcome Lancashire at Southport and Warwickshire at Edgbaston has been weakened by the prospect that several top players might respond to a financial crisis by departing at the end of the season. Ben Stokes has signed up again, but he will be absent with England. It is the Borthwicks and the Burnhams whose futures remains uncertain.Graham Clark set Durham’s equal-highest T20 score at Headingley last season, but he had become the seventh wicket to fall by lunch when Bresnan had him caught at the wicket. Over lunch, in the gentleman’s barbers on St Michael’s Lane, £4.50 a cut, men of a certain age checked their watches in case they would be late for the resumption.When it came, the end soon followed: Michael Richardson’s defiance ended with a wild drive at Sidebottom, Adam Lyth’s neat slip catch accounted for Barry McCarthy and victory came in spectacular fashion when Jack Brooks left only one of Chris Rushworth’s stumps standing, leaving Ryan Pringle with an unbeaten, attacking half-century to his name. Five wins logged this season, all of them at home.Sidebottom remained forever grounded, and expressed the hope that Jason Gillespie, the coach who has been instrumental in Yorkshire’s rebirth could return to Australia in triumph. “In the last two or three years I don’t think we have always played great cricket as a team but when it has mattered we have stood up and been counted,” he said. “Over the last few games we have grown in confidence as a team and with Dizzy going at the end of the season it would be great to send him off on a winning note.”Three miles from where Sidebottom was born, in the village of Almondbury on the northern fringes of the Peak District, is the first hotbed of Yorkshire cricket. The village weavers who made up the bulk of Lascelles Hall CC in the 19th century fed not just Yorkshire but England, their hand-eye co-ordination enhanced by their work, their physical fitness improved by the long uphill walk to the ground, their love of the game unquestioned.Sidebottom, who took 89 wickets at 18 in Yorkshire’s last two Championship triumphs, is a product of the same soil. His season’s-best 4 for 34, his strops and curses, the sweat-stained brushes of his tangled hair, and his technical excellence are once again central to Yorkshire’s challenge and, even as his career enters the evening shadows, the county is all the stronger for that.

Manchester United ownership bidder Sheikh Jassim and his Nine Two Foundation may take optimism from the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS haven't gained an exclusivity agreement at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

Jamie Jackson, who is a journalist for The Guardian, has given an update regarding the state of play surrounding the ownership situation at Manchester United on Twitter, stating: "As I understand it, Sheikh Jassim is still waiting to hear back from Glazers regarding his last bid for Man Utd."

Sky Sports report that despite the ongoing takeover process, the Glazer family have yet to enter into a period of exclusivity with either Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation or Ratcliffe, who is fronting the bid from INEOS to assume control at Old Trafford.

As per The Mirror, Sheikh Jassim wants to assume 100% control of the Premier League side while Ratcliffe is keen to purchase a 69% stake in the club, which would allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay on as minority stakeholders.

BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone has claimed that Sheikh Jassim may even move to submit a fifth bid to try and win the bidding war for the Red Devils.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs echoes the sentiment that the Nine Two Foundation could offer a higher amount yet to try and seize control of Manchester United.

Jacobs told FFC: "On the flip side, Nine Two Foundation take confidence from the fact that despite that cautious optimism, INEOS have not been placed in a period of exclusivity or given the title of the preferred bidder. What that means is the door is always open. I think the Nine Two Foundation feel like INEOS is almost a stalking horse to try and drive up the price, so if Qatar are to succeed, then they're still likely to have to go higher, which would mean if we include the indicative offer, a fifth bid."

What now for Manchester United?

It remains to be seen off the pitch as this ownership scenario carries which that may deplete Erik Ten Hag's ability to enter into the transfer market this summer for reinforcements if the Glazer family haven't managed to help facilitate a deal before the window opens in June.

As per ESPN, Ten Hag has stated in a recent interview that he isn't sure what the state of play may be with regards to his potential to recruit players in the off-season, stating: "I think it's clear what I want, but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions. It's not up to me, so I do everything I can and I influence the processes I'm in charge of.

"I'm focusing on improving the squad, the team development, so I have to make sure the team is progressing and I'm focusing on that.

Manchester United are expected to be in for several additions and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is believed to have 'agreed' personal terms over a prospective move to Old Trafford, as per The Guardian.

Nevertheless, we will probably find out more about who's money Manchester United will be spending after this weekend, where the Red Devils face the task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final for another shot at silverware this term.

After playing awkwardly with the pink ball on day one, India Red, emboldened by centuries from Abhinav Mukund and Sudip Chatterjee, made purposeful strides in their second dig, and extended a 10-run first-innings lead to 354 runs by close of play

Arun Venugopal24-Aug-2016
ScorecardAbhinav Mukund followed up a fifty on the opening day with an unbeaten 162 in India Red’s second innings•PTI After playing awkwardly with the pink ball on day one, India Red, emboldened by centuries from Abhinav Mukund and Sudip Chatterjee, made purposeful strides in their second dig, and extended a 10-run first-innings lead to 354 runs by close of play. Thanks to Nathu Singh’s six-for, India Red needed only a little more than 10 overs to bowl out India Green in the afternoon, before going to stumps on 344 for 3. The centerpiece of their second innings was the 240-run alliance between Abhinav and Chatterjee.Abhinav Mukund on…

His innings: It’s been a long time since I scored such a big hundred, so I put my mind to it. I haven’t batted under lights so I was a bit more focused and I wanted to concentrate – I had worked a lot on my fitness – and I wanted to prove that. I have been on the field through both the days so definitely towards the end I was tiring a bit, but I wanted to push [myself] mentally and carry on.
Batting with Sudip Chatterjee: I have played with him for Vijay CC, so we have batted together before. We knew things would get easier if we gritted it out initially. I just told him to hang on because it takes a bit of time to get set with the new ball.
Behaviour of the pink ball: I think the ball came on to the bat much better in the evening session. There was a little bit of seam movement initially with the new ball, and it’s starting to turn a little bit. It is also skidding on a little bit so it is slightly harder to play the spinners. Shreyas Gopal was giving it a good rip. I think it (the pitch) is dry underneath, that is why it’s turning.

With Abhinav still at the crease, unbeaten on 162, and with recognised batsmen to follow, India Green’s bowlers and fielders might have to work overtime. In any event, the side’s misery was to a certain extent self-inflicted with some slipshod fielding – they dropped four catches – and profligate bowling.The narrative on day two was nothing like the first day: 379 runs were scored for the loss of six wickets, as opposed to 277 for 17 on Tuesday; bowlers 1- batsmen 1. Two factors, though, remained constant. First, the pink ball itself has not had a disproportionately heavy bearing on either outcome. The second factor was Abhinav.His effort was remarkable as much for its longevity – he batted for more than five hours – as its unhurried rhythm. There was no dulling of tempo, however, as his strike-rate constantly remained upwards of 75. While Abhinav might want to offer a quiet ‘thank you’ to India Green captain Suresh Raina, who dropped him on 66 and 92, the reprieves seemed little more than an incentive for his positive, risk-free approach.If Abhinav’s 22nd first-class hundred was the well-rehearsed jig of an accomplished dancer, Chatterjee’s was a laboured effort enhanced by improvisations. After having made only 5 in the first innings, Chatterjee took 18 balls to score his first run, but the longer he stayed the more irritated India Green’s bowlers became. By the time he scored his sixth first-class hundred, Chatterjee’s strike-rate had crossed 60. Chatterjee’s first false stroke in a long period – an ill-timed sweep – eventually saw him trapped lbw to Shreyas Gopal, but Abhinav, and later Gurkeerat Singh, ensured the show went on.India Red entered the afternoon needing three wickets to bowl out their opponents, and despite Saurabh Tiwary’s fifty and a rain interruption, Nathu made light work of the tail. When the second session began, it was, at least in parts, a re-run of the first afternoon’s play: Abhinav alternated between leaving and driving the ball with equal assurance, Ashok Dinda leap-charged his way to banging the ball on the shorter side of full length, and Sandeep Sharma did the un-Dinda thing by pitching the ball up to bring swing into play. The most conspicuous change from the first innings was the approach of the India Red batsmen. Sample this: Dinda went for Srikar Bharat’s throat, like on Tuesday, and Bharat responded with a pull – this time he was on top of the ball rather than the other way around – in front of square for six.Pink ball or not, Abhinav was not going to deviate from a formula fare. He left anything on a length around the off stump, especially with the new ball, while driving, punching and upper-cutting – his release shot in the first innings – errant deliveries. He made matters worse by pinching sharp singles to further throw India Green off gear. The most abiding visual of Chatterjee’s innings was his well stretched-out forward defence, but sneakily he worked his way towards a bigger score. As he grew in confidence, the cuts and the drives became a more regular occurrence.India Green’s fielding, particularly that of Ankit Rajpoot, was a throwback to the Indian fast bowler of the 1990s. While he offered a cheeky boot to halt cover drives, he was let balls slip through, or reacted late to a catch – one such somnolent attempt let Chatterjee off the hook when he was on 74.Raina himself appeared lost, and was intermittently off the field, leaving Parthiv Patel in charge. The wickets of Chatterjee and Yuvraj Singh late in the day offered India Green a sudden shot of enthusiasm, which they will need to build on over the next two days.

West Ham are believed to be interested in signing AC Milan forward Divock Origi in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer report from Italy.

Could Origi leave Milan this summer?

The Belgian left Liverpool to join Milan last year, having become something of a cult hero at Anfield, scoring some iconic Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona and Tottenham, not to mention big Premier League strikes along the way, too.

Origi hasn't quite managed to have the same impact in Italy, however, struggling to become a regular for Milan throughout the campaign and having been nothing more than a squad player. The £60,000-a-week attacker has only started 10 Serie A games in total, coming off the substitutes' bench 16 times, with only two goals coming his way in the competition.

While the 28-year-old is contracted to Milan until the summer of 2026, it could be that they decide to cut their losses at the end of this season and allow to him to move elsewhere, which is where West Ham come into play.

Could Origi join West Ham this summer?

According to MilanNews.it [via Sport Witness], the east Londoners and Aston Villa are "ready to believe" in Origi in the summer window, with both Premier League clubs eyeing a move for him. The report states that the ex-Liverpool man "could already leave" once the current campaign reaches its conclusion, and both teams have "asked for information" regarding his services.

While the 32-cap Belgium international has failed to repeat his past performances in a Milan shirt, he could still be a shrewd signing by the Hammers this summer, as they look to make key attacking reinforcements.

His big-game mentality stood out so often during his time at Anfield, with such nervelessness shown in key moments in massive games, and his pace and physicality could make him an effective part of West Ham's attack, not to mention his ability to play both out wide and centrally.

Jurgen Klopp once hailed Origi as "world-class", showing just how much he thought of him, and at 28, he would be coming in at a good point in his career, still remaining at a high level for the foreseeable future. A tally of 59 goal contributions (41 goals and 18 assists) for Liverpool shows the pedigree that he has, and he is a Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and EFL Cup winner.

An unbeaten 108 from Ajinkya Rahane pushed India’s lead to 304 on the third day of the second Test in Kingston, but rain made sure India didn’t have a go at the West Indies batsmen on day three

The Report by Alagappan Muthu01-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:21

Manjrekar: Rahane will be proud of his workman-like innings

A Test match can be a bit like a pup: great players can lead it wherever they want. This West Indian XI does not have great players. They have great triers. Captain Jason Holder and coach Phil Simmons put the men on defence – understandable considering the opposition had a fat lead. Their best efforts have taken the Test to a point where the weather can threaten what once looked a certain victory for India. A tropical storm has been forecast to hit the region on the fourth day with India declaring 304 runs ahead and West Indies yet to bat in the second innings.Ajinkya Rahane found himself part of a pattern, one that has been central to India’s success on this tour of the Caribbean. They have batted eleven-and-a-half sessions in this series. And a set batsman had been out there most of the time. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin began the trend in Antigua. It continued with KL Rahul on day two and Rahane on day three, who went on to score his seventh Test hundred. This is the eighth straight series that he has scored a score of at least 90 in.India were not panicking about the weather. The mountains on the horizon were obscured by heavy cloud. The rain break came 10 overs after lunch and spirited 52 minutes out of the game. Offspinning allrounder Roston Chase took two wickets in two balls and had them eight down soon after play resumed. The run-scoring stayed sedate.Virat Kohli, sipping a hot beverage in the dressing room, was still in his training gear. He was clearly not thinking about the declaration. Perhaps Rahane approaching a Test century away from home had something to do with that. And with only Nos. 10 and 11 for company, he began to farm the strike. This was where West Indies’ discipline paid off. They had given away only 142 runs in 46.1 overs. They made India bat long for a lead they liked.Rahane squirted an outside edge between slip and the wicketkeeper in the 170th over to reach his third hundred in four innings, captured on camera by the coach Anil Kumble and celebrated vigorously by his team-mates. The locals at Sabina Park had something to cheer too when Chase induced a top edge from Umesh Yadav to wrap up his first five-for in his second Test. With a high-arm action resembling Nathan Lyon, he got the ball to dip and bounce. Earlier, Amit Mishra failed to get to the pitch of one and was caught at short leg. Seconds later Mohammed Shami was bowled playing down the wrong line. Chase wore a sheepish grin on day two when he conceded he hadn’t liked going without a wicket on debut. Now he was leading his team off.While it will be debated if India needed to bat on after the first rain break, or if they batted on to let Rahane reach his hundred – he was 83 when the rain came down – the fact remains that India had now batted West Indies out of the match. It remained to be seen if India would give enough time to register their first set of consecutive wins outside Asia since 2006, but they were assured they were not going to lose this one.

Manchester City will have to try and claim a positive result against Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League fixture without Nathan Ake, as reported by CityXtra.

What is the Man City vs Real Madrid team news?

The Premier League outfit are tantalisingly close to another European final, with only Real Madrid in their path on the route to get there. Pep Guardiola’s outfit will have to overcome the La Liga giants before they can even begin to think about a potential place in the showcase fixture against Inter in Istanbul.

The club fared well in the first leg of the semi-final tie though, managing to come away with a 1-1 draw. It was Vinicius Jr who struck first, putting the Spanish team in front in the first half of the competition despite Erling Haaland having a couple of half-chances to give his own side the lead beforehand. However, the Premier League side kept on pushing and were rewarded in the 67th minute, as a fierce strike from Kevin De Bruyne flew into the back of the net and levelled the scores.

Karim Benzema had an excellent opportunity to give his side the lead again ten minutes from time, only for Ederson to produce a super save and with that, the match ended in a draw.

City gave a good account of themselves and will now fancy their chances, on an even keel, of pulling off a result in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. However, ahead of the fixture, Pep Guardiola has revealed a blow to the side in terms of injury news.

Speaking to the press this week, via CityXtra, the Catalan revealed that the club are set to be without Nathan Ake for the match against Madrid. The defender didn’t feature in the first leg of the fixture through injury and he will be sidelined for the return tie now too.

It will be a positive though for City supporters to hear that, aside from the former Bournemouth man, Guardiola has given the rest of his team a clean bill of health. Speaking about his squad’s fitness ahead of the game, Guardiola said: “Except Nathan [Ake], everyone is fit."

How will Man City lineup against Real Madrid?

It will be a blow to not have Ake available again considering how highly he is rated in the game. Virgil Van Dijk, who features in the same national team with the Netherlands, has called the player "fantastic" in the past for example and he has only got better at City. There is not a whole lot the club can do about his absence though and they will have to work with what they've got.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Pep Guardiola pick a very similar team to the one that claimed the initial draw against Madrid, although the boss has hinted that he may switch things up for this next clash.

His side dominated possession, with a 55% share over the La Liga outfit, and they also passed the ball around with aplomb managing a 91% pass success rate over the course of the match. The only issue was their inability to create and finish chances, with the side having less big chances than Madrid and also having less shots in general than their Spanish rivals.

If Guardiola can get his team to make possession count in this next fixture, then it could go a long way towards helping the team to book their place in the final of the Champions League.

Liverpool are interested in signing Ajax centre-back Jurrien Timber this summer, ahead of what is set to be a score of sweeping changes at Anfield.

What's the latest on Jurrien Timber to Liverpool?

Ex-Netherlands star Andy van der Meyde expects Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to complete a transfer for the dynamic defender (as relayed by TEAMtalk), who is said to be touted at €50m (£44m) by his Amsterdam outfit.

This follows previous seasonal reports from the likes of 90min, who credited Liverpool with a strong interest in the defender, alongside top European clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

The 21-year-old still has two years remaining on his current deal with De Godenzonen, but if the likes of Liverpool do put forth a compelling offer, it would appear his departure from his homeland's capital would be a formality.

Should Liverpool sign Jurrien Timber?

While the emphasis will be on bolstering the midfield this summer at Anfield, with the central issues highlighted all season and James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing upon the expiry of their respective contracts, the defence has not been as imperious as it once was.

Timber is one of the most robust defenders in world football; as per FBref, the 15-cap Netherlands international ranks among the top 12% of positional peers at a similar level of competition for rate of assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the top 1% for pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries.

These metrics illustrate an all-encompassing aura that leaves him in good stead to flourish at one of Europe's first-rate outfits.

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool's star £75m colossus, is a prime example for Timber to emulate, while Manchester City defender Rúben Dias could also be the perfect confrere, having soared into prominence since his £65m move to the Etihad Stadium in 2019.

The £180k-per-week Portuguese phenom ranks among the top 1% of defenders across Europe's top five leagues for passes attempted per 90 and the top 2% for pass completion, while he has been hailed as a "man mountain" by former Citizen Michael Ball.

Albeit not at the same level, Timber clearly boasts similar qualities, and has been dubbed "tenacious" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, which illustrates the unrelenting intensity that goes in tandem with Klopp's tactical vision.

Timber is a future "leader" – as praised by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag – and could cement the fluidity of the Reds' backline for years to come, enriching the club's prospects of clinching silverware in abundance over the next decade.