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Sunday's Major League Baseball action gets kicked off at 10:10 a.m. EST between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, and it concludes with two of the best teams in baseball — the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers — facing off on Sunday night.

With every team in the league in action, bettors can wager on 15 different games on Sunday.

Here's a moneyline pick for each of the, along with a short breakdown of each game:

New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies Prediction and Pick

We've got a pair of pitchers with over 5.00 ERAs squaring off in this game, although Jose Quintana has led the Mets to a win over the Phillies once this season.

Philly is top five in MLB in OPS this season, and it comes into this game on a four-game winning streak. I'll ride with the hot team at home as a slight favorite.

San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers Prediction and Pick

The defending World Series champs should have an advantage on Sunday with Nathan Eovaldi (2.70 ERA) on the mound against Keaton Winn (3-6, 6.17 ERA).

The Giants are just 3-6 straight up in Winn's starts, and Eovaldi has been decent since returning from the IL, allowing just three runs across 8.2 innings of work. I lean with him to get the win on Sunday.

Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Prediction and Pick

The Atlanta Braves are starting 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep on Sunday — his MLB debut — against Washington's DJ Herz, who allowed four runs in four innings in his debut against the New York Mets.

Atlanta's offense, even without Ronald Acuna Jr., is better than this Washington group, and the Braves outrank the Nats in bullpen ERA. With both 'pens likely getting heavy usage in this one, I'll lay the juice with the Braves.

Minnesota Twins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Pick

Pirates starter Jared Jones has just one start all season where he's allowed over three earned runs, and he should have the edge against Minnesota's Bailey Ober (4.94 ERA).

Both of these teams are 5-7 in these starters respective outings, but Jones has beenb lights out at home, posting a 1.95 ERA in six starts. Trust him in this afternoon matchup.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Pick

Zack Littell led the Rays to a win over the Orioles in his last start, but it wasn't pretty. He gave up 11 hits across six innings (only three runs), pushing his WHIP up to 1.28 on the season.

He takes on Grayson Rodriguez (6-2, 3.28 ERA), who has led the O's to a 7-3 record in his 10 starts. Given the Rays struggles at home (17-20 straight up), I don't mind the Orioles (20-10 on the road) as slight favorites in this game.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Prediction and Pick

There isn't much to love betwene Miami's Trevor Rogers (5.68 ERA) and Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco (5.66 ERA), but there is one stat that stands out to me.

Miami is just in Rogers' outings this season. I can't back this struggling Marlins team to get the win today.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Pick

Cubs rookie Shota Imanaga appears to be coming back to earth, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) over his last two starts to shoot his ERA up to 1.88 on the season.

Meanwhile, Reds starter Frankie Montas is coming off his best outing of the season — seven innings of one-hit ball against the Colorado Rockies.

The Reds actually outrank the Cubs in OPS this season, so don't be shocked if they still one at home today.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Detroit Tigers Prediction and Pick

AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal has been money for the Tigers all season, posting a 1.97 ERA and leading the team to a 9-3 record across 12 starts.

He takes on Milwaukee's Bryse Wilson, who has pitched decently in 2024 but could be due for some regression due to his 4.77 expected ERA. I'll take Detroit here.

Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction and Pick

Kansas City Royals starter Cole Ragans has just two starts this season where he's allowed more than three earned runs, and I give him the slight edge over Mariners youngster George Kirby.

Seattle ranks just 24th in MLB in OPS, so I'm worried about it scoring enough against a Royals team that has thrived at home, going 24-10 straight up.

Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction and Pick

I can't bet on the awful Chicago White Sox, especially with Chris Flexen (5.19 ERA) on the moound. Chicago is just 2-11 straight up in his 13 starts this season.

Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction and Pick

I don't love either starter in this matchup, as Andre Pallante was rocked for St. Louis in his last outing, pushing his ERA over 6.00 on the season, and Ty Blach has been subpar (4.54 ERA) for Colorado.

These teams are both in last place with ugly run differentials, so why not take a shot on a road dog in this matchup?

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction and Pick

Justin Verlander hasn't been his best in 2024, but Houston is starting to play better, going 6-4 in its last 10 games to move just half a game back of second in the AL West.

The Angels (last in the AL West) are sending Patrick Sandoval (5.00 ERA) to the mound, and he may struggle against a Houston offense that ranks 10th in MLB in OPS against lefties.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland A's Prediction and Pick

Oakland has been decent at home (15-19 straight up) this season, and it may have the pitching advantage with Mitch Spence (3.86 ERA) taking on Bowden Francis (9.00 ERA) in a battle of young arms.

The Jays also rank 29th in MLB in bullpen ERA, so I don't have much faith in the arms after Francis being trustworthy enough to back the Jays as favorites.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Pick

The D-Backs are going with an opener in this game, which makes them an automatic fade in my eyes. Arizona will have to use a lot of its bullpen, which ranks 25th in MLB in ERA this season.

That puts the Padres and Adam Mazur (1.50 ERA), who is making his second career start, in a good spot to grab a win at home.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Pick

Los Angeles' Tyler Glasnow and New York's Luis Gil have been two of the best pitchers in baseball this season, but I think the Dodgers pull off the series sweep of the Yanks on Sunday.

New York's offense has sputtered without Juan Soto, and the Dodgers hung 11 runs on New York on Saturday. If we're trusting an offense to get to a bullpen, I think the Dodgers have the slight edge right now.

Established by FIFPRO in 2005, the World 11 is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers

The FIFPRO Men's World 11 is voted upon annually by the best players in the modern game. Dating back to 2005, the award celebrates footballing excellence on the global level.

The 2025 awards will mark the 21st edition, and will be announced on Nov. 3. The 11 players who receive the most votes at their position are selected for the FIFPRO World 11. Players from 70 countries have voted for the 2025 Men’s World 11 and Women’s World 11.

Here is a look back at every previous squad, with global superstars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Didier Drogba, Gianluigi Buffon and more all taking centerstage.

FIFPRO2024

Goalkeeper: Ederson (Manchester City)

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

AdvertisementFIFPRO World 112023

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

Defenders: Ruben Dias (Portugal), John Stones (England), Kyle Walker (England)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (England), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Bernardo Silva (Portugal);

Forwards: Vinicius Jr (Brazil), Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

FIFPRO World 112022

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Casemiro (Brazil), Luka Modric (Croatia)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Karim Benzema (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

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FIFPRO World 112021

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Defenders: David Alaba (Austria), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Ruben Dias (Portugal)

Midfielders: Jorginho (Italy), N’Golo Kante (France), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Erling Haaland (Norway), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Tournament chief Arun Dhumal says they are working with the government on how to move forward

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2025IPL 2025 will continue for the moment despite mounting tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of missile strikes carried out by the Indian army in the early hours of Wednesday on sites across the border. The Indian government said Operation was its response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, in April.While the BCCI has not issued any public statement yet, doubts had surfaced over whether the two IPL matches scheduled this week in the north Indian town of Dharamshala, the second home venue of Punjab Kings (PBKS), will go ahead. PBKS are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 8 and then Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11.MI, who lost a last-ball thriller at home against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday, were scheduled to land in Dharamshala by Thursday, but it is understood their travel plans have been put on hold owing to the Kangra airport shutting down. Even the Chandigarh airport, which is the nearest to Dharamsala, has been closed according to which has reported that the Indian government has temporarily shut down at least 18 airports in the north and west of the country including Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla and Jamnagar.According to Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, the Thursday evening fixture between PBKS and DC is currently scheduled to go ahead.”We will abide by the Indian government advisory,” Dhumal told ESPNcricinfo. He confirmed that as of Wednesday morning there had been no directive issued by the government. Dhumal said the IPL operations team was coordinating with the concerned government agencies to figure out how to get teams in and out of Dharamshala. PBKS have been based in Dharamshala since last week and won their most recent home game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday.Asked whether there was a possibility of shifting the May 11 match between PBKS and MI elsewhere, Dhumal said the IPL team was “working on the logistics” and if there was any “alternate planning” needed, they would be prepared.

Another European away trip ends in frustration for Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers’ side held to a 1-1 draw by Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening to mark a mixed start to their latest Europa League adventure.

There were no doubt echoes of Kairat about the first-half in Belgrade, with the visitors left with little to show for their dominance in possession, having also been forced to rely on the brilliance of Kasper Schmeichel to keep the home side at bay.

A rather uneventful opening 45 – excluding that stunning save from the veteran Dane – was subsequently followed by a far more exciting second period, with the introduction of summer signing, Kelechi Iheanacho, finally sparking the Hoops into life.

It was to be the experienced Nigerian who ultimately broke the deadlock for the Scottish champions with a tidy close range finish, albeit with another man of Premier League years past – Marko Arnautovic – reducing the arrears just ten minutes later.

There was to be no further breakthrough from either side, ensuring Rodgers will be left to ponder what he could have done differently following a Jekyll and Hyde display from his Glasgow outfit.

Iheanacho provides solution to Maeda problem

It isn’t exactly a new opinion to suggest that Celtic’s summer business was far from perfect. Indeed, even the positives – such as the arrival of Sebastian Tounekti – need to be scrutinised, particularly amid the stockpiling of talent on the left flank.

With the injured Jota already onboard, Rodgers and co have since added two players who predominantly operate off the left, in the form of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Tounekti, the latter of whom opened his account against Partick Thistle at the weekend.

Such reinforcements have left the Celtic boss with a headache to solve regarding last season’s talisman, Daizen Maeda, with the 33-goal star subsequently relocated into the vacant number nine berth on Wednesday night.

Maeda vs Iheanacho

Stat

Maeda

Iheanacho

Minutes

45

45

Touches

7

14

Goals

0

1

Pass accuracy

75%

88%

Key passes

0

0

Shots

0

3

Total duels won

0

0

Possession lost

2

3

Offside

2

0

Stats via Sofascore

While no stranger to that role, the Japanese speedster almost had an air of a player who didn’t want to be there, having regularly been too slow in getting himself back onside. In all, he made just seven touches, and failed to win a single duel, as per Sofascore, in what was a simply anonymous 45-minute outing.

For all the talk of desperation surrounding the addition of Iheanacho, the one-time Leicester City looked like an instant upgrade following his entrance at the break, having linked play so effectively again, as he did on Sunday.

Despite seeing two efforts denied by the impressive figure of Matheus in the opposing goal, the 28-year-old’s eventual goal was one of pure poise and composure, expertly receiving Benjamin Nygren’s pass before curling the ball home with ease.

It is still early days, although the free transfer signing already looks like he could have forced his way into Rodgers’ starting lineup. Elsewhere, however, his new teammate Reo Hatate looks to have played his way out of it…

One Celtic star's dismal display in numbers

There’s no getting away from what was a forgettable performance from Maeda in Belgrade, albeit with the makeshift striker getting little in the way of support from his teammates, with chances at a premium in that uninspiring first half.

Among those toiling behind him was his compatriot, Hatate, with the 27-year-old looking bizarrely lax and laboured in the centre of the park, prior to his withdrawal just after the hour mark.

As ever, there was purpose to Callum McGregor’s play at the base of the midfield, while new man Nygren was an effective link between that central trio and the attacking unit, creating three ‘big chances’ and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.

The elegant Swede was the creative hub in the second half, in particular, although on the opposite side, Hatate’s influence continued to wane, having been unable to provide a single key pass all night.

Not only did he lose 50% of his total duels, but the former Kawasaki Frontale star also lost possession on 13 occasions, at a rate of once every 3.3 touches.

Wasteful and slack on the ball, it was no surprise to see Celtic’s number 41 eventually hooked heading into the closing stages, with perhaps now the time for Rodgers to hand a regular role to Arne Engels – or Paulo Bernardo – instead in that central role.

Yes, as he showcased with his August stunner against Aberdeen, Hatate is capable of a magic moment when at his best. Sadly, however, those moments appear to now be few and far between, with just one goal and no assists from his eight outings in 2025/26 thus far.

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With Engels and Bernardo waiting in the wings, it begs the question as to why Rodgers hasn’t been tempted to alter that midfield pecking order in recent weeks. Perhaps after last night’s showing, that situation might well have changed…

Related "Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise

This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.

Posts ByDan Emery Sep 23, 2025

It’s been a bumpy ride for Aston Villa so far during the chaotic summer transfer window.

PSR-related issues have hindered the number of incoming signings the Premier League outfit has been able to make, with their worrying financial state resulting in the sale of homegrown prodigy Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £43m.

Morgan Rogers could soon be the next devastating exit as Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur wait in the wings for his £100m signature.

However, all the doom and gloom enveloping Villa Park would surely be lifted by some exciting additions to the building, before the dramatic window shuts.

Aston Villa very keen on last-minute signing

Losing a player of Rogers’ spellbinding quality would be a crushing blow to Villa’s already fragile confidence, considering the recent recipient of the PFA Young Player of the Year – who has also been looked at persistently by Chelsea – collected an astounding 30 goals and assists in all competitions last campaign.

Unai Emery and Co. won’t want to be bogged down too much by the anxiety of losing another of their star assets, though, as last-ditch incomings are also in the pipeline.

Adrien Rabiot is reportedly on their radar as he attempts to leave Marseille behind after a public falling out. On top of that development, Nicolas Jackson is also being regularly spoken about as another potential arrival, with the ex-Villarreal attacker being eyed up by Bayern Munich, alongside the Villans.

Jackson’s teammate at Stamford Bridge in Christopher Nkunku is another interesting name on the Villa shortlist, with journalist Fabrizio Romano now delivering an update as to whether a move could soon whir into motion.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Indeed, Romano – while chatting on DAZN – stated that Emery’s men remain “very keen” about striking up a last-ditch deal for the hot-and-cold Frenchman, with a speculated £35m price tag already in the air.

While the ex-RB Leipzig attacker hasn’t always been full guns blazing in West London, he could well prove to be a smart buy, particularly as Villa attempt to finally land a Jhon Duran replacement.

How Nkunku can finally replace Duran

This might well be viewed as a wild initial shout, considering Nkunku has largely struggled to get going donning Chelsea blue.

From 38 mainly unmemorable Premier League outings, the £35m-rated forward has only collected six strikes, but there is a method behind the madness here.

Nkunku vs Duran – PL record

Stat

Nkunku

Duran

Games

38

55

Starts

11

7

Goals

6

12

Assists

2

0

Stats via Premier League

Indeed, as can be seen when glancing at the table above, Nkunku has managed to collect a majority of these strikes when being utilised as an impact substitute in West London, with precisely four of those six goals coming when he’s been launched into action mid-contest.

Of course, his lightning-quick numbers do pale in comparison somewhat to Duran’s blistering output – with Emery even going out of his way to label the Colombian as “very clinical” for his 12 goals from just seven top-flight starts – but there are positive signs that he could be the Spaniard’s next iteration of the South American.

After all, if Emery can get the very best out of Nkunku daily, landing the Frenchman will surely be seen as a similarly golden steal to Duran’s £18m entry fee, with the Chelsea number 18 once branded as “unstoppable” by journalist Zach Lowy when sensationally notching up 70 goals and 56 assists on the books of Leipzig.

It will be a tough ask to get this instantly back out of an attacker bruised by his injury-strewn Chelsea experience.

But, it could be a worthwhile gamble, if he goes on to excite and tantalise Villa fans in a similar electric manner to that of Duran.

Related Aston Villa send late bid to seal a better signing than Nkunku & Jackson

Aston Villa could win a better signing than both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson joining with this last-ditch move.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Aug 26, 2025

BCB’s media committee chairman says the board has given the franchise “enough chances” but they have “crossed all limits”

Mohammad Isam27-Jan-2025The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is preparing to take legal steps against BPL side Durbar Rajshahi after they missed payment deadlines with overseas players and the team hotel. BCB media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman said on Sunday that the board had given the franchise enough time and consideration and could no longer afford to keep doing so. The situation came to a head this weekend when the unpaid Rajshahi players made themselves unavailable for the match against Rangpur Riders in Mirpur.BPL rules stipulate a team to field a minimum of two and a maximum of four overseas players in a playing XI. When it became clear that the Rajshahi foreigners wouldn’t be playing on Sunday evening, the BPL governing council allowed the side to break the rule. It is the first time in the competition’s history that a team has gone out without a single overseas player in the XI. It is being considered the BPL’s lowest point this season, which has irked the BCB.”We have to take legal action by any means now,” Iftekhar told . “The money has to be paid. Otherwise, BPL’s reputation will be ruined. The violation of contractual obligations like cheque dishonour and other issues will be addressed and we will file cases for all matters, as per the merit of the breaches. The board has given them enough chances. But they have crossed all limits. They were given a contract. There are breach of contract clauses. Until today, we didn’t take any action but now, we will take all the legal actions against them.”Rajshahi captain Taskin Ahmed led the side to a surprising two-run win against table-toppers Rangpur. There was a smile on his face during the post-match press conference. A long and difficult day had come to a nice little end.”It was certainly a new experience,” Taskin said. “I heard that there was a problem with our hotel booking. There was probably a mix-up between the Sheraton and the Westin. We changed hotels [on Sunday morning] and then two hours before heading to the stadium, we heard that the foreign players won’t go [to the match]. We got a call from the board, telling us that at least you [local] guys play. They called the foreign players, telling them that the payment will be cleared. Still [they] didn’t come.”When I asked [the overseas players], they said they won’t play without money. I just said it’s their call. What can I say, I am also a player. We really felt bad playing without the foreign players. We requested the board to play with local players. They allowed it, and then winning the game gave us some respite.”Taskin confirmed that Rajshahi paid the local players some money on Sunday. “We were given the cheque today. We will place it today. One can hope [it goes through]. If the cheque bounces like this wicket, we are in trouble.”Everyone expects to play the BPL in a peaceful environment, so when these things happen, we get disappointed. BPL is quite popular this season, but our team is having problems. I tried to boost up the team by telling them that this is our stage to perform, regardless of what’s happening elsewhere. The feeling is certainly not nice, but we are trying our best.”

After being dropped from the national side last November, she has been piling on the runs in the domestic circuit

Srinidhi Ramanujam14-Jan-2025

Shafali Verma was dropped from the Indian team last November•AFP/Getty Images

Shafali Verma has been churning out runs with remarkable consistency in domestic cricket as she tries to make a comeback to the national side after being dropped from India’s white-ball squads last November. With a home ODI World Cup scheduled later this year, among other things, Shafali said that she has been working on playing long innings.Shafali is currently taking part in the Senior Women’s One-Day Challenger Trophy in Chennai, where she has led Team A to the final. She is the leading scorer in the competition after accumulating 388 runs in four matches at an average of 97.00 and a strike rate of 146.96. This includes scores of 115 off 70 balls, 87 off 58, 95 off 65 and 91 off 71.”Feeling very good,” Shafali said after smashing a hundred at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. “First of all, the team is winning, that is a very big thing. So yes, all I am thinking is how much more I can build on and play [the] long innings.Related

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Shafali's 197 in vain as Bengal chase down 390 against Haryana

“As a player, it is our job to give our best for the team and fulfill the needs. That is what I try, to contribute and help the team win. And yes, if I play long innings, as you can see, team is winning.”Shafali is coming off a terrific run at the domestic one-day trophy played in December, where she scored 527 runs at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31 for Haryana. This was after she was dropped from the ODI squad for the Australia tour, having scored only 108 runs in six ODIs at an average of 18.00 last year. Subsequently, she was also left out of the ODIs against West Indies and the ongoing series against Ireland. In her absence, opener Pratika Rawal has grabbed the opportunity, hitting 290 runs in five matches at an average of 58.Shafali conceded that she hasn’t changed her approach or technique heading into the domestic tournaments, but has focused on converting her starts and building her innings. She also revealed that the message from the India team management was clear: “Believe in your batting”.”As you all know, my starts are good but building an innings has been an issue,” Shafali said. “But now, I am focusing on how to get those singles, how to build the innings, how to do well for the team. That is what I am trying to do.Shafali Verma managed just 108 runs in six ODIs in 2024•ICC/Getty Images

“I think this is my job, to do well for the team. I know I am dropped from the [India] team, but it is my job to play well for the team [whichever I play for]. And now, my focus is on the Challengers and I want to do well in the final and win the trophy [on Wednesday].”They [India team management] just said ‘believe in your batting, believe in your strength’. They are very chill, very good. They are backing me, so yes. Every innings starts from zero. For the final also, the innings will begin on zero and, as I know, the team needs me a lot in the batting. So that is what I am trying, to try and build the innings well and win the trophy.”Both the one-day Challenger Trophy and the Ireland series will conclude on Wednesday with the focus soon shifting to WPL 2025. As of now, India’s next international assignment will be the tour of England in June-July. Will Shafali’s glorious domestic run be enough to get her back into the scheme of things when the white-ball squads for that series are picked?

Thomas Tuchel has handed an England debut to Elliot Anderson against Andorra, while Marcus Rashford has been recalled to the starting XI.

Forest midfielder Anderson startsRashford also in starting XIWorld Cup qualifier kicks off at 17:00 BSTFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson earnt his first senior England call-up for September's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia and will take his place in Tuchel's starting XI at Villa Park.

Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford is also in the XI and will start out wide alongside Noni Madueke, while Anderson will partner Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze in midfield.

Dan Burn and Marc Guehi are the two centre-backs, while Reece James and Myles Lewis-Skelly are handed the nod at full-back. Captain and all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane starts as striker.

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Anderson earnt his first call-up following a stand-out first season at the City Ground after a £35 million ($47m) move from Newcastle United in 2024. The 22-year-old shone for Lee Carsley's England Under-21s as they won the European Championship for the second consecutive time this summer and has now earnt his promotion to the senior side, with a full debut set to arrive sooner than anticipated.

Rashford, meanwhile, has made a slow start to life in Barcelona but saw a recall to the international fold by Tuchel. The 27-year-old has an important year ahead of him as he aims to reach the final World Cup squad, having not been selected for Euro 2024.

DID YOU KNOW?

Anderson had the opportunity to play for Scotland due to heritage on his father's side, in fact representing the Tartan Army at all youth levels from U16 through to U21. He was called up to Steve Clarke's senior squad in 2023 but pulled out before making his debut, soon switching his allegiance to England and making his U21 debut a year later. Now, he is set to pull on the Three Lions shirt for the senior side for the first time.

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Tuchel evidently is looking to use his whole squad across the international break and has named a side which gives an opportunity for further experience to rising stars within the set-up including Anderson and Lewis-Skelly. With several big names not within the squad due to injury, this international break could prove a great opportunity for many to stake their claim to being on the plane to the USA, Canada & Mexico next summer.

Glasgow Rangers’ transfer model over the years has been remarkably inconsistent, with players arriving from various leagues and countries to different degrees of success.

One area tends to stand out, however, and that is south of the border. Since the Light Blues secured promotion in 2016, very few players have arrived from England and shone.

Of course, there have been a few exceptions, such as Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Connor Goldson, but the overwhelming majority failed to shine.

Joey Barton, Jordan Rossiter and Matt Crooks arrived in the summer of 2016, but they all struggled in Glasgow. As did Graham Dorrans and Declan John, who signed the following season.

Elsewhere, Ben Davies, Tom Lawrence and George Edmundson failed to transition well from English football, never quite living up to expectations north of the border.

While there have been a few successes, Martin must tread carefully in English waters, especially if he wishes to sign players who will improve the squad.

Emmanuel Fernandez has been signed from Peterborough, but first impressions suggest he could turn out to be like Bassey rather than another Davies.

One of the worst signings made by Rangers in recent years is Kieran Dowell. The midfielder was brought to Glasgow by Michael Beale in the summer of 2023, but he turned out to be a waste of a wage.

Kieran Dowell's dismal Rangers record

On the surface, securing Dowell’s signature on a free transfer appeared to be a decent bit of business for the club.

The midfielder made his breakthrough with Everton, playing twice in the Premier League during the 2015/16 season.

Loan spells with Nottingham Forest, Derby, Wigan and Sheffield United saw him prove his worth in the second tier and he eventually made the move to Norwich City in 2020.

He made 75 appearances for the Canaries between 2020 and 2023, which included 19 games in the top flight, before swapping East Anglia for Glasgow.

The attacking midfielder won the U20 World Cup with England in 2017, before making 16 appearances for the U21s, but a senior cap never came.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

2

0

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

1

3

Touches per game

33.8

16.6

Key passes per game

0.7

0.7

A move to Rangers was the chance for Dowell to reinvent himself, but he didn’t get the chance. Indeed, the 27-year-old played just 16 times for the club during the 2023/24 campaign.

The first half of 2024/25 saw Dowell feature 17 times for the Ibrox side, yet only three of those came in the starting XI, and he was loaned to Birmingham City for the second half of the season.

Across his 12 Premiership matches last term, he created just three big chances, while winning less than 50% of his total duels per game and averaging 16.6 touches per match.

Dowell spent the second half of last season out on loan at Birmingham City, helping them return to the Championship.

With Martin needing to move players on this summer, the former Everton starlet must surely be offloaded in order to raise funds and free up the wage bill.

In the future, the Gers must be wary of the English market, but it looks as though they have been linked with another midfielder from down south recently…

Rangers eyeing up move for former West Brom midfielder

Both Joe Rothwell and Fernandez have secured moves to Rangers over the previous few days, as Martin seeks to bolster his first-team squad.

Transfer Focus

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He won’t be finished there, however, especially with major surgery required this summer.

Luton Town’s Norwegian midfielder Thelo Aasgaard is reportedly in talks with a move to Ibrox according to the Scotsman, while Nasser Djiga of Wolves is also another transfer target.

A new name has appeared, according to Sports Boom, with former West Bromwich Albion midfielder John Swift reportedly being eyed for a move north of the border in the coming weeks.

The Englishman – who is also attracting interest from a raft of EFL clubs – is out of contract and wouldn’t cost the club a penny should he move to Glasgow.

Given the fact Martin has already signed Rothwell, plus is looking to bring Aasgaard to Scotland, a swoop for Swift certainly appears unnecessary.

Indeed, he could turn out to be another Dowell-like signing. A player who fails to truly showcase his true class if he made the move to Rangers.

Why Rangers should avoid a move for John Swift

Swift did impress significantly at Reading, having made the move from Chelsea in 2016. Across 202 games for the club, he scored 34 goals and grabbed 37 assists in all competitions.

His form saw Leeds prepare a bid for the midfielder in 2019 and journalist Billy Meyers even said that Swift is the “perfect type of player that Bielsa should be targeting” upon the link. Former Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has also hailed him as an “amazing footballer” at his best.

While his numbers in the second tier have been decent – 15 goal contributions in 2022/23 and ten during 2023/24 – the midfielder is now 30 and isn’t exactly at his peak.

Last season, he only managed three goals and one assist for the Baggies in 36 league matches. Furthermore, he only created one big chance last term for the club, while averaging just 0.3 dribbles and one key pass per game in the second tier.

He even ranked in the lowest 30% for progressive carries (1.55) and successful take-ons (0.62) per 90 when compared to his positional peers in the Championship last term.

Additionally, Swift also ranked in the lowest 23% for assists (0.05) and in the lowest 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area (1.6) per 90 for West Brom.

Considering he spent the campaign playing as an attacking midfielder, these figures are worrying, to say the least. As such, avoiding a move for Swift, despite the fact he is available for free, is perhaps the best course of action.

Martin will be able to use that sort of wage on a player or two who are not only younger, but who could potentially make the Gers a profit in the years to come.

Swift could turn into Dowell 2.0, that’s for sure.

Perfect for Rothwell: Rangers in advanced talks to sign £3m "machine"

Following Joe Rothwell’s arrival at Rangers, could the Glasgow giants sign another midfielder, labelled a “machine” by a former Scotland star?

Jul 3, 2025

Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season

Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.

However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.

The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.

"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need

Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”

As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.

Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.28 (96th percentile)

Assists

0.17 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.98 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.10 (93rd percentile)

Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.