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Stats – Stokes' maximums and Lord's bouncers go through the roof

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Extras were part of the main cast in a Test where 18 wickets fell to short balls

Sampath Bandarupalli02-Jul-20232001 The previous instance of England going 0-2 down after the first two matches of a home Test series was in the 2001 Ashes. The ongoing series is only the eighth for England at home, where they lost their first two Tests. Six of those eight home Test series have been the Ashes.2The number of Test matches lost by England since 1950 despite scoring 300-plus runs in both innings, including the Lord’s Test against Australia. The other instance was against India in 2008, where they made 316 and 311 for 9 in Chennai.0 No player had scored more than 150 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match while batting at No. 6 and lower, before Ben Stokes’ 155 at Lord’s on Sunday. The previous highest was an unbeaten 149 by Adam Gilchrist against Pakistan in the 1999 Hobart Test.Ben Stokes’ nine sixes are the most by a player in an Ashes innings•Getty Images1 Only one player has a highest fourth-innings score for England in the Ashes than Stokes’ 155. Mark Butcher, who scored an unbeaten 173 at Headingley in 2001, sits at the top.9 The number of sixes hit by Stokes during his 155 – the most by a player in an innings in the Ashes. He surpassed his record of eight sixes during his match-winning effort at Leeds, in 2019. Stokes is now also the leading six-hitter of the Ashes with 33 hits, going past Kevin Pietersen’s 24.5 The number of sixes hit by Andrew Flintoff against South Africa during his 142 in 2003. That was the most number of sixes in a Test innings at Lord’s until Stokes’ nine against Australia. The nine sixes by Stokes is also the most in a Test match at Lord’s, surpassing Graham Gooch’s seven sixes against India in 1990.Short balls accounted for 18 wickets in the Lord’s Test•Getty Images504 Short balls bowled by the pacers at Lord’s are the most for a Test match since 2015, as per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball logs. The previous highest was 426, during the 2017 Wellington Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh. The 18 wickets that fell off those 504 bouncers at Lord’s are the joint-most for a match, alongside the 2015 Hamilton Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.8 Player-of-the-match awards for Steven Smith across 34 Ashes Tests, the most for any player in the Ashes. Smith has a total of 13 of these awards in Test cricket, the joint-most for any player since his debut in 2010, alongside Joe Root.74 Extras conceded by England at Lord’s. Only once have England conceded more extras in an Ashes Test – 83 at The Oval in 1934. It is the sixth-highest among England’s tally in all Tests and the most by any team in a Test since England gave away 82 extras against New Zealand in 2015, also at Lord’s.

Kate Cross: 'We all get really excited when the whites come out'

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Seamer hoping her Test experience comes to the fore as England prepare to take on India

Andrew Miller14-Jun-2021With her ability to bang out a disciplined line and length for long spells at a time, Kate Cross is considered something of a Test match specialist when it comes to women’s cricket, although that is not quite the accolade that it really ought to be, given how infrequently the format ever comes around.Nevertheless, with 14 wickets at 14.92 in her three Test appearances, Cross has featured in half of the six
matches that England have played in the last decade, and she is hopeful that India’s renewed interest could help to revive the longer format, both internationally and at domestic level.”The format doesn’t come round often but it’s really special when it does,” Cross said on England’s first day of training at Bristol, two days out from the start of the Test. “We all get really excited when the whites come out, and we’re just looking forward to getting going on Wednesday now.”Obviously it’s very different to the white-ball game, but we try and embrace it as much as possible, because we know we’ve only got one opportunity to play a Test match this summer. We want it to be a good spectacle for people to watch, so that everyone buys into it, because we obviously wish we could play a bit more of it.”England’s last three Tests have all been against Australia, while India have not played the format since 2014. But Cross knows from past experience that a lack of familiarity need not hold back India’s talented line-up, having been on the losing end of their encounter at Wormsley that summer.Related

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  • Stats – India in sight of most consecutive wins in women's Tests

  • England wary of 'fearless' India ahead of Test learning curve

  • 'We may not have much practice, but mentally we're prepared' – Harmanpreet Kaur

Cross recalled that England “probably went into that game a bit naively”, as India outplayed them to win by six wickets, with Mithali Raj’s half-century sealing a dominant display that had begun with bowling their hosts out for 92 on the first day.”We’d played more Test cricket than India had in the four or five years leading up to that, so I think it was probably a good leveller for us,” Cross added. “They came out and played really hard-fought cricket and beat us quite convincingly, actually. It just goes to show that, even though we don’t play the format a lot, there’s still nothing that you can take for granted.”The India series is the start of a busy summer for England’s women – certainly compared to their Covid-ravaged summer of 2020, when West Indies’ belated arrival in September allowed them to get back on the field for the first time since the T20 World Cup in Australia in March.With the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy already in full swing, and the maiden season of the Hundred fast approaching next month, Cross recognises that now may not be the perfect moment for England’s women to push for more red-ball cricket in their itinerary. Nevertheless, a strong showing in Bristol this week can only help the cause, now that the women’s game is getting more exposure across the board.”I’m a big advocate for [domestic red-ball cricket],” Cross said. “The longer format is where you learn the real skill of cricket, how to defend good bowling, and how to bowl for longer periods of time and be relentless with your line and length.

“You can’t use your saliva so you’ve got to find the sweatiest member of the team and use their sweat as best as possible. And that’s me. It’s always me!”Kate Cross on shining the ball

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing to play a longer format, whether that’s two- or three-day cricket domestic level.”Obviously in the next 12 months, it’s really important that we establish what we’ve got now, with the 50-over competition and the T20, and obviously the Hundred as well. But I’m quite positive about the fact that that it could potentially happen. Maybe in the next five years, we might get to a point where we can do that.”But I’ve always said our ratio of training to playing has been quite heavily weighted towards the training side, so it’s nice that we’ve actually got a lot of cricket to play and a lot of look forward to.”As for whether Cross gets to add to her three Test caps, she admitted to some nervousness about the quality within England’s seam ranks – with the old guard of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole backed up by the likes of Tash Farrant’s left-arm angle, as well as the new kid on the block, Emily Arlott, whose four-wicket over for Sparks against Vipers last week propelled her into the reckoning.”It’s always a worry when you’ve got people working hard to take your spot,” Cross said. “But it’s great for the team, it’s great for our environment, and I think it just goes to show how important those regional contracts are now.”Both have been bowling really well,” she added. “Ems is a tall fast bowler, which you don’t see that often in the women’s game, so she hits a bit of a harder length than a lot of us do, which is exciting to see, she’s obviously got that extra bit of paceKate Cross runs in to bowl in the nets•ECB”Tash is very naturally good at swinging the ball, so that offers something different as well with the left-arm option, so it’s exciting to have those options in the squad.”I’m not sure what the team is going to be, but obviously to win a Test match you need the bowlers to stand up and take 20 wickets over four days, so hopefully we’ve got the depth in the squad to be able to do that.”Ultimately, though, Cross believes that her prior knowledge of red-ball bowling should give her an edge in selection – and jokes that the banning of the use of saliva means that she brings another important consideration to the team.”A good line and length in Test cricket is a good line and length in most cricket when you’ve got the new ball,” she said. “That’s where I’ve had success in Test cricket when I have played, because it’s about who cracks first basically. Who can be most boring for as long as possible, which is more often than not me.”The big skill with red-ball cricket is trying to get it to reverse from about 40 overs onwards, because nothing much happens with it after that,” she added. “You can’t use your saliva so you’ve got to find the sweatiest member of the team and use their sweat as best as possible. And that’s me. It’s always me!”

مورينيو يرد بشكل قاطع على عودته لتدريب ريال مدريد

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

أوضح المدير الفني لفريق بنفيكا، جوزيه مورينيو، موقفه من إمكانية العودة إلى نادي ريال مدريد من جديد، لتولي مسؤولية تدريب الفريق الملكي، خلفًا لـ تشابي ألونسو حال الإطاحة به من منصبه الحالي.

وتحوم الشكوك بقوة حول مستقبل تشابي ألونسو رفقة ريال مدريد، حيث انتشرت تكهنات مؤخرًا حول إمكانية الإطاحة به من منصبه كمدرب للفريق، بسبب تذبذب مستوى الفريق تحت قيادته، وعلاقته المتوترة مع العديد من اللاعبين.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية تربط أكثر من اسم بإمكانية خلافة تشابي ألونسو في تدريب ريال مدريد، مثل يورجن كلوب وزين الدين زيدان، وكالعادة ظهر اسم جوزيه مورينيو في هذا السياق.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد يتلقى صدمة قوية قبل مباراة مانشستر سيتي في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وسُئل مدرب بنفيكا الحالي عن الشائعات التي تربطه بالعودة إلى ريال مدريد، حيث كان رده واضحًا للغاية، حيث نفى كل تلك الشائعات وأغلق باب العودة إلى البرنابيو.

وسُئل مورينيو من جانب صحفي عن ذلك الأمر، حيث أوضح البرتغالي بإيماءات، أنه لا يريد سماع أي شيء عن تلك الشائعات.

وقال مورينيو، في تصريحاته التي نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “ليس الأمر أنني بحاجة إلى إغلاقه، بل إنه مُغلق بالفعل، إنه أمر مغلق، أنت من فتحه”، اختتم ضاحكًا.

An Italy player in the IPL? Thomas Draca could make it happen

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Draca, who took 11 wickets in the 2024 Global T20 Canada and is on MI Emirates’ roster, is in the longlist for the IPL mega auction

Deivarayan Muthu06-Nov-2024.

Who is Draca and what does he do?

A tall, nippy, right-arm fast bowler, Draca has the ability to hit the splice of the bat, and can also get the ball to skid off the pitch. These skills were on display during the 2024 Global T20 Canada, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Brampton Wolves, with 11 strikes in six games at an economy rate of 6.88. Only West Indies’ Romario Shepherd (14) and UAE’s Junaid Siddique (14) picked up more wickets than Draca in the tournament.Related

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  • IPL 2025 retentions: Pant, Rahul head to auction; Russell retained by KKR

  • IPL 2025 mega auction to be held on November 24, 25

Just a month before his breakout performance in Canada, Draca had made his T20I debut for Italy, in June earlier this year against Luxembourg in the Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier, where he bowled with the new ball and claimed figures of 4-0-15-2.

Where does Draca figure in the auction pool?

Draca has been listed at No. 325 and has set his base price at INR 30 lakh. This longlist of 1574 players will be trimmed further before the auction, so it’s uncertain whether he will make the final cut.

How about a little more about his GT20 Canada stint?

Draca had hit the ground running in Canada, taking 3 for 18 in his first game against Surrey Jaguars. His victims included allrounders Sunil Narine and Terrance Hinds, who was recently called up to West Indies’ T20I squad in Sri Lanka.

Then, against Bangla Tigers Mississauga, he cut through their middle order with figures of 3 for 10 in two overs. His first-ball wicket of David Wiese, bounced out by a sharp lifter, highlighted his ability to hustle batters with both pace and bounce. His 11 wickets helped Wolves get into the playoffs, where they lost to eventual champions Toronto Nationals in Qualifier 2.

Has Draca been in any other leagues?

He has. MI Emirates, the affiliate of Mumbai Indians in the IPL, have picked Draca for the upcoming season of the UAE’s ILT20. He was among their new signings along with Shepherd.Draca was also part of the Caribbean Tigers squad, led by Chris Lynn, during the inaugural MAX60 Caribbean in the Cayman Islands earlier this year.

Has anyone from Italy ever been picked in the IPL before?

Nope. Draca will be the first if he gets a bid.The Durban-born Wayne Madsen is the most-high profile player from Italy on the T20 circuit, having featured in the PSL (Multan Sultans), Joburg Super Kings (SA20) and Manchester Originals (Hundred). Madsen, who will turn 41 next January, will also turn out for Rangpur Riders in the upcoming Global Super League in Guyana.

MLB Insider Shares Juan Soto, Scott Boras's Explanation for Mets Star's Slow Start

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The beginning to Juan Soto's tenure with the New York Mets has been a bumpy road. Currently, he's in the midst of a 3-for-25 skid at the plate, coming off an 0-for-5 night against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field Friday.

MLB insider Jon Heyman of MLB Network and the had an exclusive interview with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, to discuss the reasons behind the slow start after signing a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets.

"They both say that there's an adjustment period," Heyman said via . "They don't think that it's about the contract, the record $765 million deal, they believe it's an adjustment that would come with any situation whether he's making $765 million or $765,000."

Here's Heyman's full response about his conversation with Soto and Boras:

The good news is, Soto has plenty of time to adjust to his new situation, just 50 games into the first season of the long 15-year deal. But at that amount of money, there's certainly pressure to perform immediately. While Soto just moved across New York from the Bronx to Queens, he's getting used to a new manager, a new team and new surroundings. In reality, the reason for Soto's slow start is likely a mixture of all the factors at play—a new situation, backlash from leaving the Yankees for the Mets and of course, the pressure of all that money.

Thus far in 2025, Soto has posted a .236/.369/.418 slash line with eight home runs, 21 RBIs and 33 runs scored.

Diogo Jota's wife Rute Cardoso posts touching tribute to late Liverpool star on daughter's first birthday

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Diogo Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, has shared a moving message on Instagram as the couple’s youngest child celebrated her first birthday. It was the family’s first without the former Liverpool forward, whose life was cut short in a devastating car crash last summer.

  • A heartbreaking milestone for a family still in mourning

    Jota and Cardoso were childhood sweethearts and married in a stunning ceremony in Porto on June 22, 2025, but their life together as newlyweds lasted only days. Less than two weeks later, the 28-year-old forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a horrific accident. Their daughter, born on 26 November last year, turned one this week. Cardoso marked the moment by posting a collection of photographs featuring Jota cradling and smiling with his baby girl. The caption contained only three words: “A whole year.”

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    Portugal still reeling from the loss of a star

    The tragedy struck just weeks after Jota had helped Portugal defeat Spain in the Nations League final. Instead of becoming a platform for the next chapter of his flourishing international career, the victory became one of the final images of Jota in a Portugal shirt. Tributes poured in that day, with skipper Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way.

    Writing on X, he said: "It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together, you had only just got married… To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them."

    According to Portuguese outlet Sic Noticias Ronaldo has collaborated with luxury watchmakers Jacob & Co to design customised timepieces commemorating Portugal’s Nations League triumph. Each watch features a skeleton dial and a Portuguese coat of arms. The report adds that Ronaldo arranged for these watches to be sent to his international teammates ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Armenia, but crucially, he also ensured one was sent directly to Jota’s family. 

    Portuguese journalist Nuno Luz highlighted the gesture, saying: "These are details that are done without advertising and that show the genuine way that Cristiano Ronaldo is. Often, people from outside have an image of him that does not correspond." 

    On social media, Jacob & Co wrote of the design: "A skeleton dial, custom design and the Portuguese coat of arms, a watch as exceptional as the champions themselves."

  • Liverpool continue to honour Jota

    Jota’s death has left an irreplaceable void at Liverpool. Speaking ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest, manager Arne Slot reflected emotionally on the impact of the tragedy.

    Slot said: "We are always judged, sometimes fair, sometimes not fair. But I saw the interview (with Robertson) live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal. At this moment in time, I always think how must it feel for his wife and his children? Because it is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear. Now we play Nottingham Forest, last season there we were 1-0 down and it only took him (Jota) one minute to score the equaliser. So now I am talking about the player that we miss for sure. That we also miss him as a person is also clear."

    He added: "It is good for us to remember him at all times. It is possible because of the person and player he was. It is impossible to measure what it does to the players and to our results. The last thing I would do is use it as an excuse. I don't know. What I do know is that we miss the player, that is 100 per cent sure, and we miss the person, but I cannot measure the impact that has on our results. That is impossible for me to say, and we will never use it as an excuse."

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    Liverpool retire Jota’s No. 20 shirt

    Liverpool have confirmed that Jota’s No. 20 shirt has been permanently retired across the entire club, including Liverpool Women and all academy age groups.

    A statement from Liverpool read: "It was the number he wore with pride and distinction, leading us to countless victories in the process – and Diogo Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20. After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy.

    "The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them."

    Jota’s number might have been retired, but his memory remains vividly alive in every corner of Anfield.

فيديو | مراوغة وتسديدة.. إستيفاو يسجل هدف تشيلسي الثاني أمام برشلونة

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

تقدم فريق تشيلسي الإنجليزي بهدف ثانٍ في مباراته أمام برشلونة، حيث يلتقي الفريقين ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء اليوم الثلاثاء.

ويستقبل تشيلسي خصمه برشلونة على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا موسم 2025-2026.

ونجح تشيلسي في تسجيل هدف ثانٍ أمام برشلونة وذلك بالدقيقة 55 من عمر المباراة، عن طريق لاعبه إستيفاو.

الهدف جاء بعد تمريرة من جيمس وصلت إلى إستيفاو الذي تجاوز لاعبي برشلونة ببراعة وسدد في شباك خوان جارسيا بنجاح.

وكان تشيلسي تقدم بهدف عكسي سجله جول كوندي بالخطأ في مرماه، ويلعب برشلونة بـ 10 لاعبين بعد طرد رونالد أراوخو قبل نهاية شوط اللقاء الأول. هدف إستيفاو في مباراة برشلونة وتشيلسي

Kate Cross struggling to get her head around 'savage' World Cup snub

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

“It’s hard to take, because I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to deserve not being on that plane”

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2025

Kate Cross was dropped during England’s ODI series against India last month•Getty Images

Kate Cross has revealed that she is “struggling to get [her] head around” her “savage” omission from England’s squad for the 50-over World Cup in India.Cross, 33, has been a regular in England’s ODI side since the last World Cup and took her 100th career wicket in the format earlier this summer. But she was dropped during their series against India last month and was left out of the squad altogether on Thursday as a result of England’s decision to pick an extra spinner for subcontinent conditions.”It’s hard to take, because I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to deserve not being on that plane,” Cross said on , her podcast with Alex Hartley. “Everyone that is a current player who doesn’t get selected is going to disagree with selections and going to think that they should be there.Related

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Knight set for World Cup return

“But what I’m really struggling to get my head around is it all feels like it’s happened so quickly that I’ve just clearly fallen out of favour with Lot [England coach Charlotte Edwards]. That’s a hard bit to get my head [around]. If I’d had 14-18 months of being pretty average at cricket and not performing in an England shirt, then I think I’d understand it a bit more.”I guess to an extent I have, because I didn’t have the best summer in an England shirt and I had a really tough winter and missed out a lot through the back injury. But I think leading into that, I definitely didn’t feel like I wouldn’t be on the plane. Being in the best XI [is] a different conversation, but [not even] being on the plane… It feels savage.”Cross was first left out by Edwards for a rain-reduced game against India at Lord’s – she is not involved in England’s T20I set-up – and did not regain her place for the series finale in Durham. “There’s so much for me to get my head around, and I haven’t processed it,” she said. “It’s still really raw.”England have only picked three frontline seamers for the World Cup in Em Arlott, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer, with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on track to recover from injury in time to offer another option.”It’s what you sign up for,” Cross said. “You don’t get to have those amazing highs without having these real lows, but it doesn’t make the lows any easier knowing that they’re going to be there. I probably had a good indication that I wasn’t going to be in this, or it would be tough to come back from being dropped in that last game… But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

'An addicting feeling' – Match-winner Robinson is hungry for more

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Robinson was also impressed by the composure showed by Jacobs in his maiden international game

Firdose Moonda16-Jul-2025Tim Robinson has only done it once (maybe twice if you consider this game) but already, he can tell he won’t be able to get enough of being the player that seals the deal for his team.”It’s a great feeling contributing to a win for your country and it’s an addicting feeling and one that I hope to replicate later on,” Robinson said after his career-best 75 not out contributed to New Zealand’s 21-run win in the Zimbabwe T20I tri-series.Related

Robinson, Duffy, Henry step up as NZ subdue South Africa

Robinson and debutant Bevon Jacobs shared a sixth-wicket stand of 103 – New Zealand’s second highest in that position – and took the innings from a stuttering 70 for 5 for a competitive 173 for 5. While the Harare Sports Club is known for being fairly flat and conducive to run-scoring, Robinson credited South Africa’s four-seam attack with making things difficult for New Zealand upfront.”The Proteas bowling was exceptional,” he said. “Their lengths and the use of the long side was really impressive and they bowled really well with the newer ball. It was hard to find momentum when we were continuing to lose wickets but as we got on and took it deeper and deeper, we could capitalise.”Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson gave New Zealand late impetus•Zimbabwe CricketIt was, in fact, against South Africa’s seamers that Robinson and Jacobs found runs. Robinson took 27 runs off 20 balls he faced from Corbin Bosch, including five fours, and 23 off 15 balls from Gerald Coetzee, off whom he hit both sixes, but that was only once they were together for some time and had worked out their run-scoring strategy.”The way we thought about it was that the longer we spent at the crease, the easier runs would come,” Robinson said, “and we couldn’t quite afford to lose many more wickets. We tried to take it as deep as we possibly could and then run hard to the long side.”New Zealand ran 29 singles and six twos to what Robinson referred to as the longer side, compared to South Africa’s 21 singles and three twos, which was ultimately the difference between the two sides. They both hit 13 fours and six sixes but New Zealand’s fielding kept South Africa quieter than they would have liked when they needed to counterattack with quick singles. New Zealand also managed to finish their innings strongly, with 95 runs from the last nine overs and 43 from the final three.The composure shown by Jacobs, in his first match, was a highlight and Robinson was full of praise for his batting partner. “He’s an amazing guy. You look at him and he’s quite the big guy and you think he should hit a big ball and he sure does,” Robinson said. “It was fantastic batting with him. What stood out for me was when he came out he was very calm and looked to really enjoy it. He looked completely comfortable out there and played a really really good knock. He’s going to play a lot of cricket and it’s very exciting watching him bat.”New Zealand will next play hosts Zimbabwe, who lost to South Africa in the series opener on Monday, in two days’ time and expect they will have to change their approach slightly.”Zimbabwe are going to pose a different challenge on Friday and we pride ourselves on trying to adapt as quick as we possibly can,” Robinson said.

Jamie Carragher accused of playing games by Roy Keane as Liverpool legend piles pressure on Arsenal with Premier League favourites tag

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Roy Keane has accused Jamie Carragher of playing “games” with Arsenal after billing the Gunners as Premier League title favourites. Mikel Arteta’s side are trying to wrestle that crown away from Carragher’s former employers at Liverpool. Manchester United legend Keane expects the north London outfit to go well, but is wary of making too many bold predictions so early in the 2025-26 campaign.

Arsenal chasing down Premier League & Champions League titles

Carragher has never been shy when it comes to offering an opinion and has stated that he considers Arsenal to be front of the queue when it comes to a title coronation. Arteta’s troops have moved to the top of the table, opening up a three-point lead on the chasing pack and pulling four clear of defending champions Liverpool.

The Gunners have also been faring admirably in Europe, picking up maximum points from three Champions League fixtures. Carragher is tipping them to be serious contenders in that competition as well, with major honours being chased down on domestic and continental fronts.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportKeane responds to Carragher & prediction from Lionesses' legend

Ex-Lionesses star Jill Scott told the podcast after hearing Carragher talk up Arsenal again while appearing on CBS Sports’ coverage of elite European competition: “Jamie said last night that Arsenal are favourites for the Champions League, well he put them as favourites.”

Keane chipped back with: “Jamie plays games like that, doesn't he? He puts them favourites to put the pressure off Liverpool, a little bit, there's a little bit of that. But we all sit here and say, who's going to win the league and we're all going to say Arsenal now and that's putting pressure on them.”

Scott responded by saying: “I'm still sticking with Chelsea.” That statement drew a puzzled response from Keane, who said: “Jill I'm serious now, do you drink alcohol in the morning? How do you think Chelsea can win the league, they gave up about 10 chances against Nottingham Forest by playing out from the back. You think they're better than Arsenal?” Scott retorted with: “You change your mind all the time.”

Keane was not having that and reminded his fellow panelists of his pre-season prediction: “When did I change my mind, who did I say at the start of the season for the title? I said Arsenal.”

Scary depth: Arsenal backed by Neville to pull clear

Paul Scholes said when offering his assessment of Arsenal so far: “I don't think we've seen one great team this year. Arsenal are very good team but I've not seen one performance where I've thought, they're going to win the league this year, other than maybe Newcastle away.”

Another United great with multiple Premier League titles to his name, Gary Neville, added when suggesting that Arsenal should be expecting to pull clear at the summit: “They've played United away, Man City, Liverpool away. They've played nearly everybody already and they're where they are. It is wrong to say this because it is ridiculous and we've all been in title races. If they don't win it from here… we've all predicted Arsenal to win the league right, we know it can go wrong.

“If they don't win it from where the other teams are and the confident position they're in now… a lot can change but they're in a good place. It feels like the Newcastle game turned the corner.

“It's not a putting pressure on them statement, they just must be thinking, ‘this is us, this year, we've got to win it’. When you can bring in [Myles] Lewis-Skelly for [Riccardo] Calafiori and Ben White, [Cristhian] Mosquera coming in with no drop off, it's looking scary.”

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Getty ImagesArsenal fixtures: Next up for high-flying Gunners

Keane ended the debate by saying: “We've got to be careful. We've got a responsibility saying stuff, two or three weeks ago, we see what happened to Liverpool. If Arsenal got a few injuries, things could change very quickly.”

Arsenal are on a six-match winning run across all competitions, with their only defeat this season coming away at Liverpool in August. They will be back in action on Sunday when taking in a testing derby date with London neighbours Crystal Palace.

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