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Tottenham Hotspur have been told to sack Ange Postecoglou with a “special” former Spurs boss, in what would be seen as a very bold and left-field move by chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs perform due-diligence on replacements for Ange Postecoglou

As Postecoglou readies his side for their all-important Europa League second-leg tie with AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, a game which could end up making or breaking their campaign, Spurs are believed to be doing due-diligence on potential replacements for their current head coach.

Tottenham set to bid £34m for Richarlison replacement who is keen on moving

The Brazilian’s exit is a very real possibility this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 9, 2025

Tottenham’s links with a new boss are nothing new, with the Lilywhites reported to have drawn up a list of possible heirs to Postecoglou as far back as January (TEAMtalk).

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzić, Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Brentford boss Thomas Frank are all managers under consideration by Spurs, according to reports, with all the aforementioned tacticians mentioned as possible targets.

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Italian news outlet Tutto Juve even reported this week that Tottenham are “ready” to make a managerial change, with Inzaghi high on their agenda, but this is yet to gain traction among national media outlets closer to home.

In any case, the north Londoners do appear to have targets in mind if they decide to part company with Postecoglou, following a dismal campaign where almost all of his key Tottenham players have been sidelined through injury for long periods.

Spurs currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, with only the division’s bottom four sides tasting more defeats than Postecoglou’s side this season. Even with the injuries, supporters and critics have been making the credible case that the results just haven’t been good enough.

Tottenham told to axe Ange Postecoglou and re-appoint Harry Redknapp

Now, talkSPORT pundit Majestic has advised the north Londoners to re-appoint retired former manager Harry Redknapp as Postecoglou’s heir.

The 78-year-old called time on his coaching career after a failed stint at Birmingham City in 2017, but Majestic has urged Tottenham to re-hire Redknapp and “get rid” of Postecoglou.

“What I’m saying is, for Spurs to move forward, because next year there’s no European football for us, unless we win the Europa League,” said the pundit live on air (via GiveMeSport).

“But with that manager, they can’t win that, in my opinion, because where is the rousing of the team, and we’re together, we’re a unit.

“There’s nothing from him. I personally tomorrow morning, get rid of him. Bring back Harry Redknapp, for one last hurrah. I’ll bring Harry back.”

Redknapp is fondly remembered as a real fan favourite from his time as Spurs boss, taking charge of the club from 2008 to 2012, where he guided them to the Champions League quarter-finals.

The tactician was also hugely respected by members of the Tottenham squad, like star ex-midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

“Harry is a very special man, that’s why I already feel at home at Spurs. It feels like I’m back on the street,” said van der Vaart on Redknapp when the pair worked together at White Hart Lane.

“There are no long and boring speeches about tactics, like I was used to at Real Madrid.

“There is a clipboard in our dressing room but Harry doesn’t write anything on it.”

Manchester United may not have secured victory against Arsenal on Sunday but it was progress.

It may sound harsh but simply not losing a game of football should be a positive for Ruben Amorim’s men at the moment.

This has not been a rosy start to his tenure, to say the least, occupying 14th position, but time must be given.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, however controversial the new owner is, will surely know this isn’t an overnight fix. Amorim should be a project manager and they must give him a couple of seasons to reshape the squad.

As Gary Neville suggested on Sky Sports on Sunday, “it’s a really poor squad” and now “needs ripping up”.

That squad building should include three of the club’s brightest young stars, one of which shone during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Coincidentally, he came from the Gunners too…

Ayden Heaven’s performance in numbers

More injury woe for Amorim and Man United. Already missing Amad Diallo for the season and Lisandro Martinez, young centre-back Leny Yoro had to be withdrawn at half time with United leading 1-0.

On in his place came Ayden Heaven who was handed a Premier League debut against his former employers.

Heaven only signed for the Red Devils in February, leaving Arsenal behind after failing to agree new terms with the Londoners.

Well, it’s safe to say that he’s already come back to haunt them. He didn’t score but his second half display was remarkably composed, with the Express’ Alex Turk suggesting that he “already looks built for senior minutes” despite being just 18 years of age.

Minutes played

45

Touches

18

Accurate passes

4/8 (50%)

Clearances

3

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

1/2

Fouls

1

Arsenal may not have had a natural striker on the pitch but he dealt with the interlinking play of Martin Odegaard and Co very nicely.

The teenage centre-back played just the second 45 but was excellent nonetheless, winning two of three ground duels and making three clearances. He also successfully ensured he wasn’t dribbled past a single time.

Yet, for all the hype he and fellow new signing from Arsenal, Chido Obi, are getting, let us not forget about the club’s homegrown Carrington stars.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Toby Collyer certainly caught the eye on Sunday…

Toby Collyer’s performance in numbers

This time last year a midfielder by the name of Kobbie Mainoo was making waves in the United first team.

The teen was a regular starter and ultimately won his first England caps despite having played just half a season of senior football.

Well, in 2025, it could be the year of another central midfielder in the form of Toby Collyer.

The 21-year-old has only been seen in five Premier League matches this season due to injury but like Heaven, showcased what he’s all about with a late cameo at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Replacing Christian Eriksen with around 15 minutes to go, the young Englishman was brilliant, completing 100% of his passes and winning both of his ground duels.

Just for good measure, he didn’t let a single Arsenal player dribble past him and nearly became a match winner too.

A late Bruno Fernandes chance from close range was kept out by David Raya and Collyer came charging in to score the rebound, only for the Spanish stopper to react brilliantly to claw the ball off the line.

Had Collyer – whose contributions were supremely valuable – been a little quicker than he may have been darting off towards the crowd celebrating a famous win.

Despite that, he will no doubt be pleased to have looked so promising with United journalist Tom McDermott saying that “Heaven impressed when introduced and Collyer gained confidence.”

As it happens, this isn’t the first time the academy graduate has delivered a “statement performance” in the words of Statman Dave, with the young midfielder having “averaged a defensive action every 6.5 minutes” during the FA Cup win over Mikel Arteta’s team back in the winter.

With Casemiro back to his best during the win and Manuel Ugarte to return from injury, it remains to be seen whether Collyer will start. Either way, alongside Heaven, Obi and Co, Amorim has a brilliant trio who could form the spine of the team for many years to come.

9 tackles, 12 duels won: Man Utd "monster" is now as undroppable as Bruno

Man United battled to a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 9, 2025

كشف أحد لاعبي فريق نادي سيراميكا كليوباترا، حقيقة رحيله إلى صفوف النادي الأهلي، بعد انتهاء المارد الأحمر من مشاركته في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.

ومن المقرر أن يستهل النادي الأهلي بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، فجر الأحد 15 يونيو، أمام إنتر ميامي الأمريكي، ثم يواجه بالميراس 19 يونيو ويختتم دور المجموعات بمواجهة بورتو يوم 24، على أن ينتهي مونديال الأندية يوم 13 يوليو المقبل.

وقال محمد شكري الظهير الأيسر لنادي سيراميكا كليوباترا خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “لا يوجد شيء رسمي من النادي الأهلي حتى الآن، ولم يتواصل أحد معي شخصيًا”.

وأضاف: “أنا متواجد مع فريق سيراميكا كليوباترا، وتركيزي مع الفريق خلال الفترة القادمة، وأتمنى أن يكون الموسم المقبل الأفضل لي”.

وكان بطولات قد كشف أن النادي الأهلي دخل في مفاوضات جادة مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، من أجل التعاقد مع الظهير الأيسر محمد شكري، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، خاصة بعد رحيل الدولي التونسي علي معلول.

وحصد محمد شكري لقب كأس الرابطة المصرية أمس الخيمس، مع فريقه سيراميكا كليوباترا، بعد الفوز على البنك الأهلي بهدفين دون رد.

محمد شكري يعد أحد ناشئي النادي الأهلي، وقضى موسمين بداية من 2020 حتى 2022، داخل صفوف القلعة الحمراء، قبل أن يخرج للإعارة إلى سموحة ثم البيع إلى سيراميكا كليوباترا.

Inter star Marcus Thuram directed a savage social media post to Lamine Yamal hours after comforting the Barcelona youngster on the pitch.

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• Yamal's Barca defeated in UCL semis
• Thuram comforted opponent
• Later turned on Yamal on social media

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Thuram received praise for going over to comfort Yamal after Inter's Champions League semi final win over Barcelona but, as per , he soon changed his tune by posting on Instagram "On a mission ehh!!" with two laughter emojis, in a reference to his opponent's pre-match post stating that he was "On a mission" to get to the final. The Inter star then swiftly deleted the post.

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  Thuram made history for Inter in the first leg against Barcelona, scoring the fastest goal in Champions League semi-final history in an entertaining 3-3 draw. He then helped guide his club into the final following a dramatic 4-3 second-leg victory after the extra time, before rubbing salt in Barca's wounds by mocking Yamal on Instagram.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Thuram joined Inter just weeks after the club's defeat at the hands of Man City in the 2022-23 Champions League final. Since then, he's regularly shone for the Serie A side in the Champions League, scoring four goals in the competition en route to this year's final.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

  Yamal has suffered a difficult couple of days, with Barca's Champions League exit sparking a backlash online. The 17-year-old Barca forward has understandably been hyped up massively over the last year, but ex-France star Florent Malouda recently warned against putting too much pressure on the teenage winger. Right now, he needs to keep his head down and focus on delivering Barcelona the La Liga title for 2024-25, with a huge Clasico encounter against Real Madrid up next.

Already closing in on their first signing of the summer, Newcastle United are reportedly on the verge of beating Real Madrid in the race to welcome a young Spanish talent.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have been forced to hold back in the last two transfer windows thanks to profit and sustainability rules, but will be desperate to make up for lost time when the summer arrives. Having already sold both Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly last month, those at St James’ Park may well finally have the space to welcome some fresh faces.

Just who those fresh faces are remains to be seen, but the rumours have certainly been coming thick and fast. Names such as Johan Bakayoko have threatened to steal the headlines this week in a move that would complete Newcastle’s frontline once and for all.

The PSV Eindhoven winger is a rising star and recently showed exactly what he’s capable of against Premier League opposition, scoring an impressive solo goal in a 3-2 victory against Liverpool in the Champions League.

He’s not the only winger on the Magpies’ list of potential reinforcements though. According to The Boot Room, Newcastle are now on the verge of signing Antonio Cordero from Malaga, having reportedly reached an agreement with the young Spaniard.

Newcastle now chasing bargain deal to sign "decisive" in-demand midfielder

He’s a man in demand…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 13, 2025

A player who will be arriving on a free deal in the summer if that agreement has been reached, Newcastle may well get the chance to celebrate victory against the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal in the transfer market.

Cordero, meanwhile, will be eager to make his mark on Eddie Howe’s side in pre-season if St James’ Park is to be his next destination. At just 18 years old, the Spaniard will have the chance to lay down an early marker for a place in Newcastle’s senior squad.

"Exciting" Cordero is an impressive coup

Given the interest of both Real Madrid and Arsenal, among others, Newcastle deserve credit for how they’ve swooped in and reportedly landed Cordero’s signature ahead of the summer.

The Malaga star has already been making his mark in senior football in Spain, scoring four goals and assisting another six in La Liga2 and seemingly in no mood to slow down any time soon. Earning plenty of praise as a result, analyst Ben Mattinson described Cordero as “direct” and “exciting” at the beginning of the year.

Following Almiron’s January exit, there’s certainly room for another winger at St James’ Park alongside Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon, which opens the door for a young prospect to arrive.

On a free deal, Newcastle also have the chance to welcome a future star without thinking about PSR concerns ahead of the summer transfer window – highlighting an intelligent move.

Aston Villa had a fantastic transfer window which saw Unai Emery sign Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia and Axel Disasi.

Jhon Duran and Jaden Philogene were notable departures, but the Villa supporters certainly appear happy with the business conducted during the winter window.

The arrival of Rashford was arguably the most hyped move, and if he can return to his best form, the Englishman may just be one of the finest signings of the transfer window.

Marcus Rashford could start against Tottenham Hotspur

Villa face Spurs in the FA Cup this weekend, and there isn’t a better time to take on the north Londoners. Despite holding a 1-0 advantage from their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten 4-0 in the second leg, meaning they failed to reach the final.

Villa lost against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, but Emery will be able to call upon the likes of Rashford and Asensio for the cup clash.

The Englishman has scored seven times for Manchester United this season, but only three of those came under Ruben Amorim as he was soon exiled from the squad.

Despite starting just 12 times in the Premier League, the winger has still created four big chances while averaging one key pass per game.

He will be keen to make a solid first impression at Villa, and given how poor Spurs are defensively, Rashford could enjoy a productive debut should he get the nod.

The question is, who will be dropped from the starting XI if Emery unleashes the 60-cap star?

Emery could drop Jacob Ramsey for Aston Villa

Against Wolves last week, Jacob Ramsey started the game on the left flank, but failed to contribute effectively in the final third throughout the tie.

Indeed, he lasted only 45 minutes as Villa went down 2-0 against the relegation battlers. In that time, he completed eight passes, managed to take just 20 touches and lost possession seven times.

Jacob Ramsey’s PL stats for Aston Villa since August 2023

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

1

1

Assists

1

2

Key passes per game

0.7

0.8

Big chances created

1

4

Successful dribbles per game

0.5

1.1

Via Sofascore

It was the perfect chance for Ramsey to stake his claim as a regular in the side, but now with the signings of Asensio and Rashford, he could very well find himself on the bench for the FA Cup match.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke praised Ramsey a couple of years ago when speaking to Football FanCast, saying: “Villa are lucky they’ve got such a top young player on their hands and they won’t want to even consider selling him.”

A lot can change in just two years. This season, the 23-year-old has started just 14 games under Emery in all competitions, scoring twice in the process.

A chance of progress in the FA Cup should be something the manager is taking seriously. With this in mind, dropping Ramsey to the bench in order to unleash Rashford on the left wing must be the thought that is running through his mind.

Related Emery already has his own Rashford in "magnificent" Aston Villa superstar

Villa secured a coup in Marcus Rashford, but Emery actually has his own version already.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 4, 2025

Marseille thrashed Montpellier 5-1 on Saturday, and French media named Mason Greenwood as their man of the match following the forward's brace.

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• Marseille win 5-1 against Montpellier
• Greenwood scores brace
• French media praise forward

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Greenwood started life at Marseille in fine form at the start of the season following his transfer from Manchester United. However, his performances have been falling off over the last few months, and he has seen a lot of criticism from the media. Part of the critique has also stemmed from reports of a clash with manager Roberto De Zerbi.

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  However, Greenwood turned up with a big performance in Marseille's 5-1 win over Montpellier on Saturday as the former United star scored twice, including once from the penalty spot. Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot were also on the scoresheet, while Wilfried Ndollo Bille scored an own goal. French media praised Greenwood for his man of the match performance.

• HOW DID THE FRENCH MEDIA RATE GREENWOOD'S PERFORMANCE?

  rated Greenwood as a 7.5 out of 10 and wrote: "He was the best [Marseille] attacker in the match. Having been little-known recently, the Englishman was the source of all the dangerous opportunities for Roberto De Zerbi's men. A penalty scorer in the 9th minute, he scored his 18th goal of the season with a shot into the side of the net, which was unstoppable for Lecomte."

  gave Greenwood an 8 and said: "This is a match that will do the Englishman a world of good, having started his match with a first close-range shot that missed the crossbar. The ex-Mancunian then started his match with a well-converted penalty, before another clear opportunity was stopped by Lecomte. Always in the right place, he also showed his technique to confuse the Herault defence, before a beautiful cross shot to give himself the double."

  only scored Greenwood a 7, with France's top sports media outlet commenting: "When OM wins, the Englishman is usually not indifferent. After hitting the bar, he relieved the Velodrome by converting his penalty and he scored the third goal with a cross shot. Between these two flashes, a beautiful bridge on Rabby Nzingoula."

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• WHAT ARE THE FANS SAYING ON SOCIAL?

  While Greenwood took home the man of the match award, not everyone was in agreement, with some believing defender Michael Murillo was worthy instead.

  A fan with the X handle @zedinhoo31 wrote: "The real man of the match is Murillo, but the people are not ready for this debate."

  After going missing over the last few games, @Massilia_1899_ called out Greenwood for his inconsistency: "Finally he wakes up, it's nice."

  @NeverFin77 added: "It will do him good on a personal level. On the other hand, Montpellier will be complicated to rebuild."

Liverpool are an efficient club. Some would say circumspect, but FSG operate within their parameters and know that their formula perpetuates success.

It can be frustrating, at times, but you need only look back at the Premier League’s winding road over the past decade to note the fragilities and dysfunctions of some of Anfield’s biggest rivals, and how Jurgen Klopp’s side have been perched in the ascendency for the lion’s share of this time-frame.

Arne Slot was met with a lack of first-team investment after taking on the impossible task of succeeding his larger-than-life predecessor, but Liverpool are flying at the top of the Premier League and in confident positions in the Champions League and Carabao Cup too.

Whatever FSG are doing, it’s working. And this is why Liverpool’s willingness to let Ben Doak leave – for the right price – isn’t a disaster, but a calculated decision.

Why Liverpool may sell Doak

As per The Times’ Paul Joyce, Liverpool have rejected bids from Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace for Doak this month, worth £16m and £15m respectively.

Liverpool would welcome their talented winger back to the club at the end of the season but the fact that they have responded to bids with their £30m valuation makes a convincing comment on their selling stance.

For £30m, Liverpool would hit the jackpot and then some, for he has only played half a term of Championship football, and talented he may be, the Scotland international is not so unexpendable that any tentative raised hands are shot down instantly.

This is conjecture, but it’s curious that Liverpool should be open to cashing in given that Mohamed Salah is out of contract at the end of the season and Federico Chiesa has also been linked with a move away. Might this portend Salah’s renewal?

In any case, it’s a shining endorsement of Liverpool’s academy scene. Doak might be the cream of the current Kirkby crop after signing from Celtic several years ago, but some existing homegrown stars are actually worth more than him.

Of course, Trent Alexander-Arnold is the cream of the crop, but Curtis Jones is also flying after years of on-off flashes of prominence in the first team.

Jones' Liverpool career

Jones made his senior debut back in 2019 as a 17-year-old, though it was a year later that he decried his quality across Merseyside, scoring a sumptuous curling strike as Liverpool beat Everton in the FA Cup.

Said to have “all the attributes of a top player” by former captain Jordan Henderson, the 23-year-old is now proving that support with his dynamic performances, capable across a range of midfield roles.

He’s also been praised for his “truly special” quality on the ball by one analyst, and will be delighted to note that consistency has entered his game this season, on course for his best individual campaign yet in the English top flight.

Curtis Jones’ Premier League Stats by Season
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	15 (9)	3	3
23/24	23 (14)	1	1
22/23	18 (12)	3	1
21/22	24 (13)	1	2
20/21	6 (1)	1	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

He’s flying this term, backing his potency up with a 95% pass completion rate in the Premier League, also averaging 1.3 tackles per game and winning 53% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

The sky’s the limit, with Jones proving that he can play a fundamental part in Liverpool’s future under Slot. Doak is the talk of the academy at the moment and touted for big things, but Jones has always slipped under the radar somewhat – now, he’s shining, with a market value that reflects his gains.

Why Slot has hit gold with Jones

Jones’ improvements over the past couple of years do provide food for thought: Doak is already performing at a high level and has not even bid farewell to his teenage years.

But Jones’ good fortunes have been a product of hard work and tenacity, overcoming obstacles to play a key part in Slot’s system this year.

Pundit Micah Richards praised the Liverpool star’s “extraordinary” England debut in November after he earned the call-up due to his presence in Slot’s team. Jones has featured 22 times this season, scoring five goals, adding three assists and starting nine times in the Premier League.

His intelligence off the ball is astounding, shifting through the lines to latch onto Trent’s exquisite postage, Salah’s sublime through ball, underlines his happy marriage in this newlook Liverpool team, for Slot is a pedant in the best sense of the word, driven toward fine-tuning tactical wiring to ensure that Liverpool stay ahead of the curve.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of Premier League central midfielders this season for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 11% for progressive passes and the top 14% for tackles per 90, perfectly illustrating his passing prowess and the security that he provides.

It’s no surprise that Jones’ market value has risen exponentially over the past few years, with Transfermarkt recording his market value to sit at £37m. Only in March 2023, Jones’s reported price tag totalled £14m.

Doak might be worth £30m, but he’s not yet eclipsed Jones, and if Liverpool were to cash in on the latter this year, you can be sure that Richard Hughes would balk at that £37m, demand much more.

Jones has so much scope for growth and has actually proven under Slot’s wing this season that he can adopt clinical patterns and weave them into the fabric of his mechanics.

Liverpool’s Dutch coach has inherited a brilliant team. Though fans generally wouldn’t put Jones in the top bracket, he’s proving that Alexander-Arnold doesn’t stand alone as Anfield’s academy superstar, with his best days still, perhaps, to come.

Suarez repeat: La Liga giants want Liverpool star in next Trent disaster

Liverpool are battling to keep some of their prized players at Anfield this year.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 3, 2025

Arne Slot defended Mohamed Salah amid goal drought as Liverpool went down 3-2 at Fulham on Sunday.

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• Slot defended Salah's poor form
• Salah has failed to score in his last five matches
• Liverpool went down 3-2 against Fulham

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool talisman Salah's goal drought continued as the Egyptian has now failed to score in his last five outings across all competitions. The 32-year-old missed a big chance in the second half as the Premier League title favourites went down 3-2 against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

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  Salah, who at one point in the 2024-25 campaign was being touted as a strong contender to win the Ballon d'Or this year, has seen a sudden dip in his form. Reds boss Arne Slot, however, came to the attacker's defence as he showed his trust in the player.

• WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID

  Speaking on BBC MOTD, the Dutch coach said, "Maybe he should see it as a compliment [that people are talking about it] because his numbers were not normal [when he was scoring]. The good thing about Mo is he knows what kind of player he is. Mo will show up again, I don't worry about that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Despite the defeat on Sunday, the Merseyside club continue to enjoy an 11-point lead at the top of the table and will be back in action in the Premier League on April 13 as they face West Ham at Anfield.

Close New Zealand 329 (Mitchell 109, Blundell 55, Leach 5-100) and 168 for 6 (Latham 76, Williamson 48) lead England 360 (Bairstow 162, Overton 97) by 137 runsIt’s a question that teams over the world will be asking themselves at this early juncture of the Bazball revolution. What’s the best means to fight England’s current mood? Someone at some stage will come at them head-on – maybe as soon as next Friday, when India rock up at Edgbaston for their postponed fifth Test, and then we’ll have a bunfight and a half. But for the time being at Headingley, it’s over to a familiar pairing, yet again, to do the needful to give New Zealand a puncher’s chance.Sure enough, by the close of another engrossing day at Headingley, it was Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell back in harness for their team, unbeaten at the close of a rain-interrupted final hour on 4 and 5 respectively, having now taken their total partnership runs for the series to a towering 618 in six innings. But not for the first time, New Zealand’s key pairing arrived to an innings in the throes of crisis, after an untimely rain break had triggered a middle-innings meltdown that has given England every reason to believe a 3-0 clean sweep is there for the taking.From the relative security of 125 for 1 at tea, a lead of 94, New Zealand limped to 168 for 5 at stumps, as England finished the day with the ball as they had begun it with the bat – with a rowdy home crowd revelling in every microscopic detail of the play, and with Jonny Bairstow once again the orchestrator, this time in a literal sense, as Ben Stokes used Yorkshire’s favourite son as the conduit for the fans’ affections, as the bowlers found themselves running into a wall of noise.It’s not all about vibes, though. There was some solid tactical nous on display from Stokes in particular, not least in a series of exemplary bowling changes that hastened New Zealand’s slide from security to renewed jeopardy. From the moment that Jamie Overton dislodged the well-set Tom Latham with his first ball after tea, Stokes swarmed onto the offensive with attacking fields and targeted match-ups, particularly the use of Matt Potts to lure Kane Williamson outside off for the third innings out of four, and the re-introduction of Jack Leach to target Henry Nicholls’ woeful record against left-arm spin.There was some fortune in England’s approach too – notably for Joe Root, whose one-off over had only come about because of the impending rain shower that interrupted it halfway through. His first ball back after a 15-minute delay was perfectly pitched outside Devon Conway’s off stump, and Ollie Pope at short leg stooped with outstanding reactions to scoop up the inside-edge in his left hand, and prise another vital opening.It was a cathartic wicket for Root, too, who had gone into the tea break believing he had dropped a game-changing clanger. After the high-octane frolics of England’s own innings, New Zealand’s response had been one of commendable self-absorption, as their senior pairing of Latham and Williamson made light of the early loss of Will Young for 8 to grind out a second-wicket stand of 97, their first significant alliance of the series.The policy of both men was to block out all the vibes. In the series to date, neither man had made a higher score than Williamson’s 31 in the first innings of this match, and Williamson’s struggles with a long-term elbow problem had been compounded by the Covid diagnosis that caused him to miss the Trent Bridge Test. And so both men set themselves for the long haul, in an old-school passage of play that challenged England to stay patient.Jamie Overton celebrates with Ben Stokes after dismissing Tom Latham•Getty Images

For Latham in particular, the policy seemed to be paying off as he eased along to a 70-ball half-century, with a notable willingness to wait for the ball to come to him, as evidenced by the first five of his 12 fours, all punched compactly off the full length. But, having seemingly ridden out his struggles to that round-the-wicket line from the seamers, back came the arch-exponent Broad with ten minutes to go until tea. Snick went the edge, but splat went the catch at first slip, as Root banged the turf in frustration.It was a bad miss, but thanks to Overton’s pinpoint first ball after tea, it cost England just six runs. And, suddenly fuelled by adrenalin, having earlier missed out by just three runs on a debut Test century, Overton fired in a savage bouncer to the new man, Conway, who wore it on the badge and needed a lengthy time-out for both a concussion protocol and a repaired helmet. Overton didn’t add another wicket in a fiery spell from round the wicket, but the signs were promising as began to settle into his primary role.Williamson was a silent witness to all of this – content to bide his time as he used this early part of his innings as an extended net. His first nine runs came from a leisurely 43 balls, with a solitary flick for four through square leg, though he picked up his pace in the second hour of the session, not least thanks to a wayward first spell from Stokes, who had been a notable absentee from England’s attack in the first innings, and looked short of a gallop as he was picked off for six fours in his first four overs.But just when it seemed that an innings of substance was inevitable, Williamson fell victim in that post-rain-delay mini-session to the indefatigable Potts. After an excellent but under-rewarded spell of 1 for 34 in 26 first-over innings, Potts had already doubled his tally by inducing Young’s drive to third slip. Now, his aggressive full length and ability to bang movement out of even the most reluctant of balls landed New Zealand’s biggest fish. As at Lord’s, Williamson was lured by the back-of-a-length delivery just outside his eye line, and flung his head back in dismay as he followed the movement to feather an edge to Bairstow, standing in as keeper after Ben Foakes sat out the day with a stiff back.The thrill of England’s evening chase mirrored another free-wheeling morning from their batters, who completed a remarkable comeback from the depths of 55 for 6 by adding a further 96 runs in 18 overs to finish on 360 all out. The one crushing disappointing for another rapt Headingley crowd, however, was the failure of Overton to push on from his overnight 89, and become the first England player – and only the 11th in Test history – to make a century on debut from No. 8 or lower.All the positive mental attitude in the world could not quite prepare Overton for the scenario he faced this morning, after what must surely have been a fretful night’s sleep, and with history winking at him with every delivery. Despite the best endeavours of his partner Bairstow, who kept the strike rotating to offer him every chance to find his fluency, Overton’s resumption was a comparatively tentative affair, and one that was ultimately ended – three runs shy of nirvana – by New Zealand’s most constant menace, Trent Boult.After throwing his hands through one cathartic square drive for his first boundary of the day, Overton chanced his arm once too often as Boult followed up with one of his classically tight-lined outswingers. A thin edge flew low to Daryl Mitchell at first slip, and as he turned to trudge back to the dressing-room, Bairstow sprinted up behind him to put an arm around his shoulder. No matter what those three runs may have meant personally, his contribution to a desperate team situation had already been invaluable.Bairstow himself added 32 more runs to his overnight 130, but was content to play second fiddle to both Overton and Broad, who emerged – one day after his 36th birthday – in a mood for mayhem after suffering pad-rash for the entirety of that record-breaking seventh-wicket stand of 241. He belted a quickfire 42 from 36 balls, with six fours and two sixes, all of them courtesy of his trademark front-leg-clearing style, before Tim Southee ended the fun with a fine bail-trimmer.Bairstow followed soon afterwards, caught at long-off sprawling Boult, having earlier reached his 150 from 144 balls, the second-fastest in England’s Test history. Southee duly wrapped up England’s innings after Jack Leach had picked off two more boundaries, but both Bairstow and Leach were back in harness far sooner than might have been anticipated – the former standing up to the latter, as Leach was handed the new ball in a two-over experiment before lunch. It was the first time a spinner had taken the new ball in England since Graeme Swann at Lord’s in 2009, and though it was not an immediate success, it was another sign of Stokes’ fertile mind. He’s willing to think as well as tonk in his new incarnation as England’s vibesman-in-chief. And on his watch, England are a team transformed.