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Also: how many women have scored World Cup centuries in a losing cause?

Steven Lynch08-Mar-2022Sakibul Gani followed his 341 on debut with 98 and 101 in the next match. Has anyone scored more runs after three first-class innings? asked Azweer from India, among many others
That astonishing start from Bihar’s Sakibul Gani has seen him score 341 against Mizoram in Kolkata (the record score for anyone on first-class debut), followed by 98 and 101 not out against Sikkim at Eden Gardens (the first match was at the Jadavpur University Campus).Gani’s 540 runs is a record for a player’s first three first-class innings, surpassing 494 (12, 290 and 194) by the New Zealander Bill Carson for Auckland in 1936-37. Gani made 38 and 23 in his next match, so did not pass the Australian Bill Ponsford’s records of 616 runs after four-class innings, and 724 after five. The records for six and seven innings – 831 and 900 runs – were set by the Afghanistan batter Bahir Shah in 2017-18. Ponsford reached 1000 runs in his eighth innings, the record at the moment.Sophie Devine scored 108 in the World Cup opener, but still lost – how many other women have scored a World Cup century but finished on the losing side? asked Deborah Mitchell from New Zealand
That hundred by New Zealand’s captain Sophie Devine in the opening match against West Indies in Mount Manganui last week was the sixth time that an individual century had not been enough to bring victory in a Women’s World Cup match. The seventh was not long coming: Nat Sciver scored an unbeaten 109 for England as they ran Australia close next day in Hamilton.Devine was the third New Zealander on the list, after her current team-mates Suzie Bates, with 102 against Australia in Cuttack in February 2013, and Amy Satterthwaite, who hit 103 a week later against England in Mumbai.There have also been two cases for India: Harmanpreet Kaur made an undefeated 107 in vain against England in Mumbai in 2013, and Punam Raut 106 against Australia in Bristol in 2017. The other instance – and the highest such score – was made by Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, with 178 not out against Australia, also in Bristol in 2017. Despite Athapaththu’s remarkable effort, Sri Lanka managed only 257 for 9 in their 50 overs, which Australia chased down with some ease; Meg Lanning hit 152 not out.In the men’s World Cups, it has happened on 40 occasions.I heard that Shakib Al Hasan is the only batter in ODI history whose average never fell below 30 in his entire career. Is this true? asked Fahim from Bangladesh
Well, it’s partly true: Shakib Al Hasan currently averages 37.62 in one-day internationals, and the lowest his average has ever been was 30.91. But, given a qualification of 30 innings, there are no fewer than 31 other men whose average has also never been below 30 (including Eoin Morgan, who once averaged exactly 30). Of these, three have never averaged below 40: Imam-ul-Haq of Pakistan, whose lowest to date is 49.18, and the retired Australian pair of Michael Hussey (47.89) and Michael Bevan (42.33). This record is perhaps overly dependent on someone making at least 30 in their first ODI innings.Shane Warne played 145 Tests without ever representing Australia in a T20I•Jack Atley/Fairfax Media/Getty ImagesWho has played the most Tests without ever playing a one-day international, and what’s the equivalent record for T20s? asked David Knight from England
Leaving aside players like Godfrey Evans, who won 91 Test caps but had retired before the first one-day international in 1971, the ODI record is held by England’s Mark Butcher, who won 71 Test caps without ever featuring in England’s one-day team (this always struck me as slightly odd, as he had a very respectable record in List A cricket). Next comes the New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner, who has so far played 58 Tests without a single white-ball appearance. The former England captain MJK Smith played 50 Tests, but no ODIs, although his international career only just stretched into the ODI era. Of players who made their Test debut after ODIs started, Butcher and Wagner lead the way, then come the Sri Lankans Kaushal Silva (39 Tests) and Tharanga Paranavitana (32), alongside England’s Rory Burns (32 Tests).Moving to T20Is, Shane Warne played 145 Tests without appearing in a 20-over international, which started towards the end of his great career. Considering only players who made their Test debut after the first official T20I early in 2005, the leader is Cheteshwar Pujara (95 Tests), ahead of Azhar Ali (91), Dimuth Karunaratne at 75 and Kraigg Brathwaite and Dean Elgar bracketed together on 74. All of these players did play some ODIs.What are the best bowling figures by a captain in ODIs and T20Is? asked Ramaswamy Gohel from India
The best by a captain in ODIs is 7 for 36, by Waqar Younis, for Pakistan against England at Headingley in 2001. Next, rather surprisingly perhaps, comes Viv Richards, with 6 for 41 for West Indies against India in Delhi in 1989-90. There have been three more six-fors, by Dwayne Bravo (2012-13), Gulbadin Naib (2019) and Waqar again, with 6 for 59 two days later in 2001 at Trent Bridge.There are a further 21 instances of a captain taking a five-for in a one-day international. Waqar did it three times in all, and Greg Chappell, Jason Holder, Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram twice.In T20Is the best figures by a captain are 6 for 18, by Argentina’s Hernan Fennell against Panama in a World Cup Americas Region qualifier in Antigua in November 2021. Next comes Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, with 5 for 6 against New Zealand in Pallekele in September 2019.There are four other cases of a captain talking a five-for in a T20I, by Moazzam Baig (Malawi), Charles Perchard (Jersey), Ahmed Raza (UAE) and Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

The New York Yankees have had a poor week, dropping their last four games. Getting back one of baseball's best players will help.

The Yankees are formally activating right fielder and designated hitter Aaron Judge from the 10-day injured list, they announced Tuesday afternoon. Judge has not played since July 25, when he went 0-for-3 in a 12–5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It’s Aaron Judge—we know what he means to our lineup, to the guys in the room,” New York manager Aaron Boone said via Dave Sessions of MLB.com. “So to get him back, we’re certainly excited about that. And then hopefully, shortly thereafter, he’s back out in the field, too.”

Judge's return comes amid a four-game losing streak that has left a bitter taste in Yankees' fans mouths. The team was swept by the Miami Marlins and dropped its series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday.

In 103 games this season, Judge is slashing .342/.449/.711—all three of which lead Major League Baseball—with 37 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Jasprit Bumrah was rested while Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya continue to recover from their injuries

Shashank Kishore23-Nov-20253:52

Rishabh Pant vs Tilak Varma for Shreyas Iyer’s middle-order spot

India batter KL Rahul will captain the side in the three ODIs against South Africa starting on November 30. Rahul steps in with regular captain Shubman Gill still recovering from the neck injury he suffered during the first Test in Kolkata earlier this month.Rishabh Pant was back in ODI mix as the second wicketkeeper, having last played the format in August 2024. Jasprit Bumrah was rested having featured in all four home Tests this season, the T20 Asia Cup as well as the ODIs in Australia over the past two months. Shreyas Iyer too wasn’t in the squad as he continues to recover from a lacerated spleen.With Shreyas unavailable, a middle-order spot opened up for Tilak Varma, the left-hand batter, who featured in a recent one-day series against South Africa A in Rajkot.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Tilak has so far played four ODIs with modest returns, but has established himself as a regular in the T20I set-up. He could compete with Pant for a spot in the middle order that also has Virat Kohli, Rahul as well as Ravindra Jadeja, who was rested for the Australia ODIs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are the other allrounders in the mix. There was no spot for Axar Patel.In Gill’s absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to open the batting with Rohit Sharma. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was in sparkling form for India A during the one-dayers against South Africa A is the reserve opener. Gaikwad, who last played in an ODI two years ago, made scores of 117, 68* and 25 during India A’s 2-1 series win.Mohammed Siraj has been rested, presumably to manage his workloads after he featured in each of the four home Tests, with Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana as the frontline pace bowlers. The squad also comprises Dhruv Jurel as the back-up middle order batter.Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, is undergoing the final phase of his rehab for a quadriceps injury at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He has been named in Baroda’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s that start on November 26, and could play the first three rounds of matches before the selectors take a call on him for the T20I series against South Africa. Hardik, who was part of the Champions Trophy wining squad in March, missed India’s previous ODI assignment due to the injury he picked up during September’s Asia Cup.The three ODIs against South Africa will be played on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur and on December 6 in Visakhapatnam.India’s ODI squad for South Africa seriesRohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (capt & wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

A significant update has now emerged regarding Raphael Wicky becoming Middlesbrough’s next manager, as the Championship side look to find the right replacement for Rob Edwards in the near future.

The exit of Edwards to Wolves has knocked Boro for six at an important point in the season, but it is vital that they don’t allow it to derail their Championship promotion push in the coming weeks and months.

A number of candidates have already been mentioned as potential options as the Englishman’s successor, including former Young Boys manager Wicky.

It has been claimed that Boro are serious about appointing the 48-year-old as their next boss after he impressed during talks, although he is far from the only candidate being mentioned for the job.

Former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a contender for the Championship side, with the Dutchman reportedly given Gareth Southgate’s endorsement, following their time working together with the England national team. Steven Gerrard, Gary O’Neill and Carlos Corberan are some of the other names to have been thrown around.

Wicky keen on taking Middlesbrough job

Now, according to a fresh claim from The Northern Echo, Wicky is keen on becoming Middlesbrough’s next manager, with the Swiss very much in the mix to come in.

He is said to be one of a host of overseas bosses who are “interested” in taking charge at the Riverside Stadium, following his exit from Young Boys last year, having spent two years at the club.

Wicky stands out as a strong option for Boro, with journalist Graeme Bailey describing him as an “impressive” individual, following a successful managerial career to date.

He won both the Swiss league title and Swiss Cup with Young Boys in the 2022/23 season, outlining his winning mentality, and at 48, he is still a relatively young manager who will bring fresh ideas to the Riverside.

It remains to be seen if the 4-4-2 diamond-playing Wicky will ultimately be Boro’s pick as their new boss, but the fact that the job appeals to him can only be a good thing, and his trophy-winning pedigree isn’t something that should be ignored.

Middlesbrough now considering move for ex-QPR manager recommended by Southgate

He’s been out of a managerial job since 2022.

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 14, 2025

It is vital that the club don’t rush into the decision, however, instead ensuring that they have the best possible choice of manager to hopefully spearhead their return to the Premier League, rather than making a quick call and bringing in the wrong man.

How Middlesbrough feel about Raphael Wicky as Swiss manager holds Riverside talks

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggests the Gunners could be without a key player until 2026 after a pre-Chelsea injury update.

Arsenal set for Premier League six-pointer against Chelsea

The Gunners face a brief period of assessment ahead of Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster at Stamford Bridge, with Arteta sweating over the fitness of a few key players following Wednesday’s triumphant Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Their commanding 3-1 victory over the German champions came at a cost, with Leandro Trossard forced off in the first half through injury.

The Belgian’s withdrawal was a fairly worrying sight given his excellent form this season, though substitute Noni Madueke stepped up brilliantly in Trossard’s stead to score his first goal for the club.

Arteta played down fears surrounding Trossard’s injury in his post-match press conference, suggesting the decision to withdraw him was precautionary rather than enforced by serious damage.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

However, the manager’s cautious approach means Trossard’s participation against Chelsea remains uncertain, with Arsenal’s medical staff set to analyse his condition ahead of Sunday.

Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are also doubts for this weekend, with Arteta refusing to confirm their involvement against Chelsea following their spells out through injury.

Havertz has been nursing a knee problem which required surgery, keeping him out since the very start of 2025/2026, while Mikel Merino has deputised well in place of Gyokeres, who hasn’t featured since their 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Related Arsenal hold 'initial talks' to sign Real Madrid target who Arteta thinks is 'ideal'

The Gunners are moving in ahead of January.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Gabriel Jesus continues to work his way back to full fitness after 11 months out with an ACL injury, with the Brazilian participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Jesus is actually set for an ‘earlier than expected’ return from injury, but uncertainty continues to surround his compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.

The star defender injured his thigh on international duty with Brazil and is set to miss the trip to Chelsea, with Arteta also asked if he’ll return before the end of 2025.

Mikel Arteta suggests Arsenal star Gabriel could be out until 2026

When asked by reporters if Gabriel would make a return to the field this year, Arteta’s answer cast doubt.

This suggests that the £100 million defender may not be back until 2026, thrusting summer signings Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera right into the spotlight.

Hincapie was given the nod for Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Spurs last weekend, and the Ecuadorian performed very well alongside William Saliba at the heart of Arteta’s backline.

Mosquera was then chosen to partner Saliba against Bayern, and again earned plaudits for his display, so Arsenal’s boss has a key selection decision to make against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Ex-Manchester United winger Antony has admitted that the decision to turn down Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window was driven by a desire to prioritise his family, with Real Betis and the life he had started to build in Spain ultimately the better choice in that respect. The Brazilian was on loan with Betis last season and made that move permanent in September.

• Kompan wanted Antony at Bayern

  Although his Manchester United form, barring a goalscoring run in his first few Premier League games, made him one of the club's worst ever signings when considering the enormous fee, Antony still managed to attract interest from perennial Bundesliga champions. It came after resurgent form during a half-season loan at Real Betis reminded the football world of his ability.

  Bayern lost Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman during the summer, to Galatasaray and Al-Nassr respectively, making a winger an area for the recruitment department to target. Antony's 14 goals and assists for Betis in 26 La Liga and Conference League appearances prompted Bayern boss Vincent Kompany to personally get in touch, which took the player by surprise.

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  Antony: Bayern interest really shook me up

  "I'm going to be completely honest. It really shook me up," Antony told during an interview which addressed the Bayern interest.

  "We're talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, where a coach with that kind of history, Kompany, calls me. And we have a conversation there, he was super polite to me, said he always really liked my football, and this was at 11pm, a little after 11.

  "Whether I wanted to or not, it really affected me. Because of the greatness of the club, the greatness of the coach, and the way he approached me, the way he talked to me."

• Family matters more to Brazil winger

  Antony got engaged to girlfriend Rosilene Silva towards the end of 2024, shortly after welcoming their daughter in to the world – the player already had a five-year-old son, Lorenzo. They made the move to Spain as a family when Manchester United agreed a short-term deal with Real Betis and they quickly fell in love with the city of Seville and a new life in southern Spain.

  It was clear from an early stage that Antony wanted to return to Betis when the initial loan ended, but it was far from guaranteed for a long time because the finances of a proposed deal threatened to price the La Liga club out of keeping him. Ultimately, he held out, turning down opportunities to head elsewhere – Bayern included.

  "What weighed heavily on my decision was also my family," Antony added. "It's about looking out for my children. Lorenzo loves this place, loves this city [Seville]. When we were on vacation in Brazil, without knowing anything, he always asked: 'Dad, when are we going back to Spain?'"

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  Real Betis could challenge for trophies

  Bayern could have offered virtually guaranteed silverware, already six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table only 10 games into the season. The Bavarian giants are also favourites to win Germany's DFB-Pokal and fancy their chances in the Champions League.

  A trophy with Betis will be much more of a challenge, owing to the club's smaller stature. But they have started well in La Liga – only Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid (1 each) have lost fewer games than Betis’ two through 12 games – and are well place to challenge for a Champions League place.

  Los Verdiblancos won the Copa del Rey as recently as 2021-22 and almost delivered a European trophy last season, reaching the Conference League and initially taking the lead against Chelsea. This season, they're unbeaten in the Europa League through four matchdays and look a good bet to reach the knockouts.

  Antony is clearly happy too, starting 2025-26 the way he finished 2024-25. In his first 11 games as a permanent Betis player, it's eight goals and assists across La Liga, the Europa League and Copa del Rey.

A surprise guest was introduced over the Oakland Coliseum loudspeakers on Thursday to sing the national anthem for the Oakland Athletics' final home game in the East Bay—former AL Cy Young winner Barry Zito.

Zito, who pitched for the A's from 2000 to '06 and rejoined the club for three appearances in '15, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" in front of a sold-out crowd of 46,889 fans.

After 57 years in the Oakland Coliseum, the A's will play their home games at Sutter Health Park, the home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, in California's capital city for the next three seasons as they attempt to relocate the franchise to Las Vegas by 2028.

"You can't prepare for something like this," Zito said of the final Coliseum game on the NBC Sports California broadcast. " … I had to be a part of this. This is just so special. I love seeing all the fans and all the green and gold, man."

Zito's singing talent didn't come out of nowhere. He has a long history as a musician, as he began playing guitar in the minor leagues and played with his sister Sally's band during each offseason from 2000 to '07. After he retired from baseball in 2015, Zito released his first EP in 2017 and appeared on season three of on Fox.

Although he has plenty of talent on the microphone, Zito was even better on the mound. Across 15 seasons, Zito was a three-time All-Star and logged a 165–143 record and 4.04 ERA. He was named the 2002 AL Cy Young winner after registering a 23–5 record, 2.75 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 35 starts, leading the "Moneyball A's" to an AL West division title.

By the second hour of the third day in Bulawayo, the outlook had turned bleak for Zimbabwe. South Africa’s third-wicket partnership between Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham had grown to 72 at over five runs an over. Zimbabwe’s spearhead, Blessing Muzarabani, was off the field due to illness. The field placements were defensive and the home side looked out of answers.Then came a lucky breakthrough. Wellington Masakadza, brought back for the 33rd over, banged one in short to Bedingham, who should have dispatched it to the boundary. Instead, he mistimed the pull straight to midwicket and fell for a brisk 35. That dismissal triggered a slide, with South Africa losing 3 for 19 in five overs; the only passage of play in Zimbabwe’s favour.It was otherwise a day of South African dominance. Mulder, who had added 63 with Tony de Zorzi for the second wicket, had a partnership of 104 with Kyle Verreynne for the sixth. South Africa’s No. 3 made a career-best 147 at a strike rate of 71.35 and put the match out of Zimbabwe’s reach. They were set a target of 537, after South Africa were bowled out for 369 in their second innings, and ended the day at 32 for 1.Mulder, who started the day patiently, lost his partner de Zorzi when the left-hander edged Tanaka Chivanga to second slip for 31. But each time the bowlers strayed in line or pitched too full, Mulder tried to drive to the boundary. Those occasional fours, and Bedingham’s quick start, kept South Africa going. Mulder brought up his fifty with a huge six over midwicket off Masakadza in the 24th over, by which time South Africa’s lead had passed 250.Zimbabwe resorted to spin at that point for nine consecutive overs but couldn’t prevent Mulder and Bedingham from scoring 44 runs in that phase. Bedingham’s miscue eventually gave Zimbabwe a window, and Vincent Masekesa exploited the rough outside off to turn one sharply into first-innings centurion Lhuan-dre Pretorius, bowling him for 4. Masekesa struck again in the 38th over, dismissing Dewald Brevis for 3 when he attempted an ambitious hoick.Wellington Masakadza picked up four wickets•Zimbabwe Cricket

With South Africa 155 for 5, Mulder capitalised on the hittable balls. He drove, flicked and glanced for three boundaries in the next two overs, and reached his second Test hundred in the 43rd over with another boundary. By lunch, South Africa were ahead by 352.Five overs into the second session, Mulder and Verreynne were scoring boundaries frequently as Masekesa and Chivanga lacked control. Zimbabwe’s energy and confidence dropped; although their spinners were getting turn, the two well-set batters were untroubled.The century partnership was eventually broken by a short ball, as Wessly Madhevere had Mulder caught at deep midwicket. Three balls later, Masakadza found just enough turn to induce Verreynne to edge to slip for 36. At 259 for 7 – just as when they were 155 for 5 – Zimbabwe hoped to end South Africa’s innings quickly. But it wasn’t to be.South Africa’s captain Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch deepened Zimbabwe’s woes, extending the lead beyond 425 with a quick 92-run stand. Maharaj began cautiously with three dots, but from the 61st over, the pair added 47 runs in eight overs.With the lead nearly 500, Zimbabwe suffered another blow in the last over before tea. Muzarabani, eligible to bowl after making up for his time off the field, had Bosch caught at first slip off a no-ball. Maharaj got to a half-century off 64 balls in the 77th over, but in the next one, Masakadza bowled Bosch for 36 by turning one from the rough outside leg.Masakadza had his fourth wicket soon after, removing Maharaj, who missed one after skipping down the pitch. Muzarabani then cleaned up Kwena Maphaka to finally bring Zimbabwe’s ordeal to an end.Set a daunting target of 537 and with stumps approaching, openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure adopted a defensive approach. Only eight runs were scored in the first seven overs, as Codi Yusuf and Mulder bowled with discipline. When the final over of the day began, Zimbabwe had reached 32, and 15 of those runs were extras. The second ball of that over turned out to be the last of the day, as Kaitano edged Bosch to second slip, giving South Africa their first breakthrough in their pursuit of victory.

Liverpool bounced back from their four successive defeats in style as they came from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai all got on the scoresheet for the Reds in Germany while Florian Wirtz finally registered his first assists since his big-money arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.

Arne Slot made five changes to his side from Sunday's loss to Manchester United, and Alexander Isak twice went close to putting them ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, only to be denied by Michael Zetterer in the Eintracht goal. Instead it was the hosts who broke the deadlock, as Rasmus Kristensen finished off a sweeping move from back to front after Wirtz surrendered possession.

Zetterer had to be at his best to keep out a point-blank Conor Bradley header, but he was powerless to stop Ekitike from equalising against his former club as the forward ran onto Andrew Robertson's fine through-ball and slotted home 10 minutes before half-time. By the break the visitors were 3-1 up as first Van Dijk and then Konate both powered home close-range headers from corners.

Suddenly in confident mood, Liverpool went close to adding to their lead as Federico Chiesa volleyed wide and Bradley had a powerful effort pushed onto the post before Gakpo tapped into an empty net after Szoboszlai and Wirtz combined to cut through the hosts. Szoboszlai then grabbed his goal with an arrowed drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Deutsche Bank Park…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Giorgi Marmadashvili (6/10):

Couldn't do much to keep out Kristensen's strike but wasn't called upon all that often thereafter.

Jeremie Frimpong (5/10):

Couldn't make much impact on the game before an injury forced him off inside the opening 20 minutes.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Had an easier night from a defensive point of view than in recent weeks and showed good strength to wrestle free of his marker and head in Liverpool's third.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

Wild that he was given so much room in the box to head Liverpool in front, but he made no mistake. Held things together pretty well at the back, too.

Andrew Robertson (6/10):

Perhaps could have done more to stop Kristensen from shooting for the opener, but redeemed himself with a superb first-time pass to set Ekitike free to equalise. Does look more dependable than Kerkez right now.

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Florian Wirtz (6/10):

Shrugged off the ball far too easily by Nathaniel Brown which led to Eintracht's goal. Did show some nice touches both out wide and when moved centrally after the break, but nothing came off for the big-money signing before he finally provided his first assists for the club with a nicely weighted ball into Gakpo and an easy pass into Szoboszlai.

Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):

Had to cover a lot of ground in the first half as attempted to shield the defence almost on his own at times. Grew in stature as the game wore on and produced some excellent defensive interventions before starting the move for Gakpo's goal and netting a fine long-range strike of his own.

Curtis Jones (7/10):

Given the task of driving Liverpool forward from midfield, the England international performed admirably in a tough role.

Cody Gakpo (7/10):

Provided a couple of fine crosses into the box, including for Van Dijk's goal, and got himself on the scoresheet in the second half with a tap-in. Continues to be the most consistent of Liverpool's forwards right now.

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Alexander Isak (4/10):

Denied twice by Zetterer in the opening 10 minutes, but faded badly after that bright start before being replaced at half-time.

Hugo Ekitike (7/10):

Spent the first half-hour with his back to goal, but showed what he can do when going the other way with his composed equaliser. So silky when he picks up possession, he looks a much better bet than Isak at the moment.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Conor Bradley (7/10):

Could have had a couple of goals if not for Zetterer and produced a fine block to deny Bahoya at 2-1 in a typically gritty display.

Federico Chiesa (5/10):

Wasted a couple of good chances but showed good energy after replacing Isak at half-time.

Mohamed Salah (5/10):

Tried all he could to get on the scoresheet in the final 20 minutes but couldn't find the net

Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

Replaced Gakpo for the final 20 minutes.

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Gave Konate the final minutes off.

Arne Slot (7/10):

Opting for a 4-4-2 didn't quite work even if Liverpool went 3-1 up before half-time, and did the right thing taking Isak off at the break to ensure his side could control the second half.