How the Royal Challengers Bangalore have miscalculated over the years

From contenders in the early years to bottom feeders in recent seasons – a look at how things have gone wrong for the team

Varun Shetty09-Sep-2020As the Royal Challengers Bangalore look to arrest their slump over the last three years, they have assembled a team that looks more balanced than the one from last season – when they finished eighth. But what came before? Here’s a look at some miscalculations they have made over the years.The first season squad
RCB’s first ever IPL squad was the last time they came close to being a truly representative team for Bangalore and Karnataka, complete with a local captain and coach. That happened to be the only positive for anyone in their fan base; because, while RCB had several big cricketing names in that squad, with experience and success in ODI cricket, you could have counted the T20 specialists on your fingers. Though T20 cricket itself hadn’t fully evolved by 2008, one must wonder what the plan was with Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jacques Kallis as the top order. Dravid and Kallis did grow into important IPL players over the next few years, but all of them together as Plan A? It was never going to work.Corey Anderson at the death…
…was a good idea. If it was a batting innings. In 2014.In 2008, RCB packed their side with players best known for their Test match skills, and got plenty of snark for it•Tom Shaw/Getty ImagesYet in 2018, the New Zealand allrounder – who had battled a few injuries since his 36-ball ODI hundred – found himself with the task of bowling overs 16, 18 and 20 to MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo. Chennai Super Kings had needed 71 off 30 and won with two balls to spare.The miscalculation wasn’t that particular choice by itself. Anderson had been brought in to replace Nathan Coulter-Nile, who had been withdrawn, and would ostensibly have been the strike bowler and death-overs specialist for them that season. Replacing him with an allrounder who hadn’t bowled in over a year before the season began was an error that led to many imbalances, and many painful slog-overs experiences that season.Before 2018, there was…2017
The year after they were runners-up, RCB spent Rs 12 crore (about US$1,650,000) to acquire English fast bowler Tymal Mills, who was rising quickly as a T20 freelancer at the time. While the choice itself wasn’t too bad, the money spent on him turned out to be an extravagance. This wasn’t entirely RCB’s fault – a new pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium proved so spinner-friendly that even Virat Kohli managed only 308 runs all season, after having made 973 in 2016. He was the only one to breach 300 runs in the season in a line-up that included Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav. Mills played only five games all season.RCB’s auction strategy hasn’t quite been the best over the years•Ritam Banerjee/Getty ImagesBut while circumstances that year might have been out of their control, the auction that followed was. And in that auction, RCB ended up losing KL Rahul, Jadhav, Watson and Chris Gayle.Kohli’s batting position
In the 2016 season, Kohli made a record four centuries and opened the batting during each of those innings. It was, arguably, RCB’s strongest batting line-up ever and showed that Kohli’s best batting position in the IPL is as an opener. All five of his centuries for RCB have come when he opened, and his average and strike rate when opening are vastly superior to his good returns at No. 3.Yet, because of all the different auction strategies that RCB have used in recent years, the middle order has ended up needing bolstering. This has meant that Kohli is not always a lock-in as opener, which he would have been in a balanced team. Subsequently, de Villiers is also never quite a lock-in at any of three, four or five in the order. To their credit, both players have still managed to be mainstays, regardless of batting positions. But the team’s recruitment strategies have not allowed them to be entirely at their best recently.

The coach carousel
RCB’s most successful phase came between 2009 and 2014: they made two IPL finals, finished third in 2010, and were runners-up in the Champions League T20. All of that happened under the leadership of Ray Jennings as coach, with Anil Kumble and Daniel Vettori as captains. Vettori succeeded Jennings as coach and had a sustained run as well, keeping the job till 2018. Since then, the only constant in the leadership has been Kohli. At the start of this season, RCB’s head coach will be Simon Katich, their third in as many seasons. Only Kings XI Punjab have changed coaches more often.The signings of Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik
RCB’s auction strategy generally has been to overspend on some players and leave little with which to achieve balance in the rest of the squad. The signing of Yuvraj Singh for Rs 14 crore in the 2014 auction, in what was then the record for the highest auction price (before Delhi Daredevils broke it for the same player the next year) was an example. In 2015, they fought the Daredevils all the way up to the Rs 16 crore mark for Singh again before losing out on the new record bid. They then splurged on Dinesh Karthik – Rs 10.5 crore. It remains one of the worst signings in IPL history, as Karthik made 141 runs in 16 matches before he was released.

Spurs' "generational talent" is now becoming their best teenager since Dele

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a shift in their recruitment strategy over the last few years – something which Fabio Paratici no doubt was at the centre of.

The Italian spent two years at the club between 2021 and 2023, subsequently turning the hierarchy’s attention to investing in younger talents for the immediate and long-term future.

In the summer of 2022 alone, the 53-year-old completed deals for full-backs Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence – that’s despite the latter being unwanted by then-boss Antonio Conte.

However, in the present day, both players have become key members of Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, showcasing the impressive work done in the transfer market.

The aforementioned duo will be hoping they achieve more sustained success than one player who demonstrated glimpses of quality during the early days of his career in North London.

The real reason behind Dele’s decline at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs forked out a reported £5m for the signature of attacking midfielder Dele – with many supporters unaware of the youngster.

At just 19, many anticipated the Englishman to join the youth setup in North London, but he would make himself an immediate fan-favourite as a result of his tremendous displays.

For the first three years of his stint at the Lilywhites, he was a regular starter – racking up 146 appearances, scoring on 46 occasions and laying on 35 assists for his teammates.

Such form saw Dele claim the PFA Young Player of the Year two years in a row, becoming just one of five players to achieve such a feat in the history of the Premier League.

However, in a remarkable interview with Gary Neville back in the summer of 2023, the former Lilywhites star opened up on his trauma from his younger years, which no doubt had an effect on his footballing career.

He was often called into question by José Mourinho for his attitude and laziness, also suffering numerous injuries, which plagued his progress in North London.

Dele suffered 11 separate injury setbacks in his seven-year period in North London, with such issues preventing his progress and seeing him miss 44 first-team matches.

His time with the Lilywhites came to a disappointing end back in January 2022, subsequently joining Everton on a free transfer – an unthinkable ending given his previous form.

The Spurs star who’s their best teenage star since Dele

Many supporters questioned Dele’s attitude during his time with Spurs, but after his courage to speak out about his mental health struggles, it’s safe to say many fans empathise with the midfielder.

Such issues have taken a huge toll on his professional career, with the former Lilywhites star now without a club at the age of 29 after leaving Como this summer.

However, there’s no denying he will forever be remembered by the fans for his countless moments of magic that gave everyone involved with the football club memories to last a lifetime.

From Goal of the Season strikes against Crystal Palace, to his memorable double against Chelsea that ended the Blues’ unbeaten 2016/17 record at White Hart Lane.

Such levels are rarely seen from such a young talent, but there’s current generation of supporters has their next remarkable youngster in the form of Lucas Bergvall.

Like Dele, he joined the Lilywhites for less than £10m, arriving as an unknown quantity to the majority of supporters after previously plying his trade for Djurgarden.

However, the Swedish youngster has rapidly developed into one of the club’s best players, a simply remarkable feat given he’s still just 19 years of age.

Despite his tender age, the midfielder has already racked up 56 appearances for the first-team and has subsequently featured in all but one game since Frank took the reins.

Bergvall even netted his first Premier League goal in the win over West Ham United last month, leading to head of scouting Rob Mackenzie labelling him as “a genuine generational talent”.

His underlying stats from 2025/26 highlight that the praise is certainly warranted, with the teenager completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted to date, whilst also ranking in the top 12% of all players in the league for assists registered.

However, out of possession, the Swede has been just as impressive, winning 2.6 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in a total of 5.5 duels per 90 – stats which make him the perfect box-to-box option.

Games played

7

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.6

Duels won

5.5

Recoveries made

3.8

Shots taken

1.2

Frank and Co will desperately be hoping Bergvall can continue on his current trajectory in North London, with the youngster having all the tools to be a key member of the squad in their hunt for added silverware.

There’s little doubt that he’s the best teenage star they’ve had on their hands since Dele’s emergence, but everyone will be hoping that the end to his story with the Lilywhites is a happier one.

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Bobby Witt Jr. Says He'll Represent United States in World Baseball Classic

The United States national baseball team will soon include one of the game's brightest young stars.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. intends to play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he told MLB Network Thursday morning. Witt, 25, won the American League batting title and was the league's MVP runner-up in 2024.

"Being a part of that team a couple years ago was amazing, now we want to bring home the gold," Witt said.

Witt played sparingly for the American squad in 2023—a team that made the final before losing to Japan in the consensus greatest international game ever played. He had better luck in the 2018 U-18 Pan-American championships in Panama, which saw him hit for the cycle in the final.

In 80 games this season, Witt is slashing .282/.338/.484 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. His 27 doubles and 197 assists lead all of baseball.

Witt will join a squad captained by reigning AL MVP and New York Yankees right fielder and designated hitter Aaron Judge.

Thomas Frank not worried about Tottenham sack as he backs 'intelligent' owners to be patient despite miserable run

Thomas Frank is not concerned about losing his job at Tottenham, expressing unwavering confidence that the club’s "intelligent" owners will remain patient amid the team's dismal run of form. The Spurs manager cut a composed figure in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham, even as frustration inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium boiled over and supporters turned on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

  • Vicario booed after crucial error sparks fury

    Fans lost their cool following a calamitous mistake by Vicario that led to Fulham's second goal. As Frank’s side struggled to recover from recent defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, they were stunned by two goals in a breathless opening six minutes that silenced the home crowd and turned nervousness into hostility. Kenny Tete’s early strike put Marco Silva’s team ahead after just four minutes. Moments later, Spurs were rocked again. Vicario raced off his line to close down Raul Jimenez, yet his attempt to control the ball with his weaker left foot went horribly wrong. His scuffed clearance rolled straight to Josh King, who calmly squared the ball for Harry Wilson to curl into an empty net. Vicario’s error became the focal point for simmering anger, with pockets of supporters jeering the Italian every time he touched the ball. Frank, visibly annoyed by the treatment of his goalkeeper, later described those leading the booing as "not true fans," arguing that loyalty matters most during moments of adversity.

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    Frank remains confident despite slippery form

    Saturday’s defeat added to an increasingly grim home record for Tottenham this season. Spurs have also suffered losses at their own stadium to Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Chelsea. Draws against Wolves and Manchester United have compounded the sense of crisis, leaving Frank’s men searching for answers in a stretch of the season that is becoming more punishing with each passing week.

    The sense of a team stuck in reverse has been exacerbated by November’s torrid sequence, in which Tottenham lost four matches and claimed a solitary draw from their five domestic fixtures. Their only moment of respite came in the Champions League, where a hard-fought win over Copenhagen briefly lifted the mood before the subsequent dip washed away any lingering optimism.

    Nonetheless, Frank believes that he still enjoys the backing of the ownership group, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. 

    "It seems like they’re good guys, intelligent people," Frank said. "They know how to run businesses and are learning about football, learning more now they’ve become owners.

    "When we’re dealing with intelligent people they can see every successful dynasty, every successful club has taken time. Yes, you have one where you maybe win one year or the second year, but you can’t sustain it if you don’t build something sustainable."

  • Frank challenges narrative of losing support

    When asked about whether he has lost the fans, Frank pushed back against the idea that supporter confidence has evaporated entirely. He questioned the premise itself, wondering aloud what proportion of the fanbase such claims even refer to and insisting that football crowds are never monolithic in their opinions.

    "I’m pretty sure every fan wants to win and wants to support," he said. "If you’re not going to plan, then maybe some get more frustrated than others. There’s always some that shout louder than others. When you say you lose the fans, how many is that? Five per cent, 10%, 15%, 20%? How much is it? I don’t know. We would like to get all 100% on board."

    Frank also addressed comments made by defender Pedro Porro on social media following the Fulham defeat. The Spurs full-back had publicly expressed his frustration at the abuse directed toward teammates, and Frank backed the player’s right to speak his mind. He noted: "The players, they are individual people that can have their own opinions. What he put out there was fair in every aspect."

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    Pivotal festive period for Frank & Spurs

    There is an acknowledgement that December could determine the trajectory of Spurs’ season. A demanding run of fixtures looms, with clashes against Newcastle, Liverpool and Crystal Palace approaching rapidly. Positive results would ease scrutiny on Frank and restore belief among players whose confidence has taken visible blows in recent weeks.

Bayern Munich the 'right environment' for Lennart Karl to become 'great player' as Germany legend accuses Julian Nagelsmann of being 'afraid' to call him up

Former Bayern Munich star and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes 17-year-old Lennart Karl is in the perfect environment for his growth. The World Cup winner is impressed by Karl's performances at the club level and has accused Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann of being afraid to call him up to the camp for the upcoming quadrennial event.

Karl in magnificent form at Bayern

Ever since his delicious outing against Club Brugge, where he scored a goal in his 69-minute appearance, Karl has turned himself into a fan favourite, impressing the Bavarians regularly with his mind-boggling skills and work ethic. Recently, on Saturday, he inspired Bayern to a furious comeback against Freiburg at the Allianz Arena. After going down 2-0 within the first 17 minutes, it was Karl who kick-started the resurgence. In the 22nd minute, he scored his second Bundesliga goal of the season, and then delivered an assist for Michael Olise's equaliser, paving the way for a 6-2 victory. The game was Karl's third start in the domestic league, and he has already recorded four goal contributions, making him a strong candidate to evaluate ahead of the upcoming Word Cup, prior to which he will have turned 18.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMatthaus believes Karl could be a German great

Former World Cup winner and German football legend Matthaus has claimed Karl has the potential to be a future great for German football. He said to : "He has every opportunity to become a great in German football. He has the right environment at FC Bayern, comes into a functioning team and has already scored important points with his dribbling and self-confidence – also in his interviews."

The 64-year-old wants the teenager to be given a chance in the senior national team setup and has urged Nagelsmann to consider his inclusion. 

"He's a very big candidate, because players like that, who have something special, are in demand at a tournament like this," he added. "These street footballers who don't just let themselves be forced into a system, but also do what they smell and feel at that moment – and that's Lennart Karl."

Matthaus rues on Germany's lack of promoting youngsters

Karl is yet to make his debut for the national team and was instead brought in to the Under 21s for the first time this month, scoring three goals across two matches against Georgia and Malta. Matthaus, who was 19 when he debuted for West Germany at the 1980 European Championship, feels Nagelsmann is being too cautious with Bayern's latest rising star.

"We are always afraid to promote young players and that is the problem in Germany. Let them go, let them go! There are no arguments at all [about calling Karl for the senior team]. There is never promotion too early and there is never a national team too early. If I can achieve something, I have to go straight on this path."

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Getty Images SportKarl to start against Arsenal?

After his heroics against Freiburg, Kompany might be concerned about Karl's status in the team. While he has experienced candidates, the 17-year-old's fiery form and attitude are what make him stand out. Bayern's next assignment emerges mid-week, when they travel to London to meet Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. After four rounds of continental action, there is nothing to separate the German and English league leaders. They sit atop the Champions League table with the same goal difference. While Bayern have fired 14 goals and conceded three, Arsenal have scored 11 but are yet to concede, tagging them as the best defensive unit of the campaign so far. The Gunners also have a head-to-head advantage over their German counterparts, as to date, they have met 14 times, and Arsenal have emerged victorious on eight occasions, compared to Bayern's three. Karl could be a difference maker in this game, as he has the maturity to take on tough and heavyweight opponents.

18-year-old Spurs gem is a "superstar" with more talent than Vuskovic

Tottenham Hotspur have long held a reputation for being a Premier League club that gets the maximum out of the up-and-coming talents at their disposal.

Indeed, Gareth Bale was transformed into a Real Madrid superstar thanks to the magic of the North Londoners, with the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Wilson Odobert all keen to follow in the Welshman’s footsteps in Thomas Frank’s first team picture right now, with the trio in question all 20 years of age and younger.

They have all been afforded for luxury of trying to win first team minutes while Luka Vuskovic attempts to make a name for himself out on loan with Hamburg, with the promising Croat another that could soon bear fruit off the impressive Spurs’ production line.

Why Luka Vuskovic is rated so highly

It’s been a long time in the making for Vuskovic to be the Premier League side’s property, having originally agreed a £12m deal with Hajduk Split for the teenage sensation back in 2023, with the defender then staying put in his native country to develop.

His ex-employers even loaned him out to Belgium for a season-long stint at Westerlo, but despite scoring seven times and picking up three assists on the books of the Pro League side, and already being capped by the senior Croatia national team, Frank and Co opted to send Vuskovic on another European adventure with the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

The Dane will be watching on from the Spurs’ dug-out, very pleased with Vuskovic’s start to life in the Bundesliga, with the Split-born teenager already the recipient of the league’s Rookie of the Month accolade for his assured showings across September.

His league numbers make for some wild reading, with the determined 18-year-old winning a crazy nine duels per Bundesliga game so far this season, having won a whopping 18 aerial duels against Union Berlin at the end of last month.

To apply context to just how remarkable that statistic is, no player has won more aerial duels in a single Bundesliga game across the last ten seasons. Furthermore, he is the first player to win 18 aerial duels in a single match in Europe’s big five leagues over the last five seasons.

It now appears that analyst Ben Mattinson wasn’t being that over-the-top when he claimed Vuskovic was a “freak talent” with a “high ceiling”, with his parent club already looking forward to bedding him into the first team picture when the time is right.

However, despite the brand-new Hamburg number 44 becoming the flavour of the month suddenly, other youngsters back at Spurs are equally as promising as Vuskovic.

Spurs gem is rivalling Vuskovic as their top youngster

While Vuskovic has had to wait for his moment in the senior spotlight, other youngsters of a similar ilk to the raw Croat have been bumped up to the Spurs’ senior fold without much hesitation in recent years.

Last season, in particular, saw Ange Postecoglou use the Europa League as a stage for some of Spurs’ homegrown prodigies to impress, with Dane Scarlett even scoring against Elfsborg in the European competition, despite only being 20.

That same match, Mikey Moore would got in on the goalscoring act, with this first-ever senior goal for the Lilywhites a long time in the making, despite the London-born starlet only being 17 at the time.

Amazingly, long before Vuskovic’s name would start to be uttered, Moore was scoring goals by the bucket load for the Spurs’ U18s, with 19 goals and 13 assists in total in the youth picture, seeing scout Jacek Kulig hail him as “one of the most talented players of his generation in Europe.”

Games played

45

Senior appearances

20

Youth appearances

25

Goals scored

22

Assists

18

A further 20 appearances in the Spurs’ first team fold have come the forward’s way which has resulted in a further two assists being collected. It really is unsurprising that analyst Ben Mattinson claimed he has “superstar potential.”

Still, much like Vuksovic’s fate, Moore was sent out on loan to Rangers this summer, with the new number 47 at Ibrox failing to settle amidst turbulent times at the Glasgow-based club.

Yet, he does at least have one assist next to his name to hang onto from ten appearances, and with a hat-trick just picked up for the England U19s, he will hopefully be able to kick on and get back to his best in the Russell-Martin-less reality awaiting him.

Therefore, while the former Split youngster is certainly raising eyebrows, Moore has shown with that hat-trick that he still has lots about him, too, with the 18-year-old no doubt still prepared to go to the very top, whether that’s with Vuskovic next to him or not in a future Spurs’ starting XI.

Move over Spence: Spurs must unleash "one of the best talents England have"

Frank manages at Tottenham some of England’s finest up-and-coming talent.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 12, 2025

Walker Buehler Took Out Frustrations On Dodgers' Dugout During Game 3 Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout felt the wrath of starting pitcher Walker Buehler on Tuesday night. Buehler, making just his eighth start since returning from a rehab assignment in August, cruised through a blemish-free first inning before hitting a big speed bump in the second frame.

After surrendering a leadoff single to Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Buehler got outfielder Jackson Merrill to hit a grounder to first in what looked like a surefire double play for the Dodgers. But first baseman Freddie Freeman’s throw hit Machado in the helmet after Machado appeared to intentionally angle his running lane to make the throw difficult, and everyone was safe.

In the next at-bat, another ground ball, this time to shortstop Miguel Rojas, failed to result in a double play, and the tying run scored. A two-run double, an infield single, a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer later, the Padres had spotted six runs on the scoreboard, and a frustrated Buehler took out his anger on the dugout.

It's hard to blame Buehler, given how the inning went. Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez belted a grand slam in the top of the third inning to cut the San Diego lead to just one run, but that proved not to be enough in San Diego’s 6–5 win. Buehler took the loss after exiting the game with five innings pitched and seven hits, six earned runs and a walk on his ledger.

Ibrahima Konate is miles off Real Madrid's level: Out-of-contract Liverpool defender is a liability who would cause Blancos' backline big problems

The build-up to Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Tuesday has unsurprisingly focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is returning to Anfield less than six months after bidding an emotional farewell. The right-back is not certain to start for the visitors – nor is it clear how he will be received by the hosts, given the acrimonious nature of his exit.

What every Red would agree on, though, is that Alexander-Arnold is missed on Merseyside, with both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong having struggled to fill the considerable void he left behind in Arne Slot's side. Indeed, multi-talented midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has arguably been Liverpool's top performer at right-back this season!

Still, while the pre-match narrative has been all about the fit-again Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate is likely to have a far more important role to play in the outcome of the game, with the defender under pressure to prove his worth – to both teams…

(C)Getty imagesNot the same situation

When Madrid last visited Anfield a year ago, speculation was already rife that Alexander-Arnold was bound for Santiago Bernabeu. It's an eerily similar story this time around, with Konate being heavily linked with a move to Madrid when his contract expires next summer.

The big difference between the two situations, though, is that whereas Liverpool fans were desperate for Alexander-Arnold to sign a new deal, there is nothing like the same clamour for the club to pull out all the stops to convince Konate to stay. The supporters would like him to extend his contract, of course. As well as starring in last season's Premier League title triumph, Konate is also a very likeable character who is considered a very positive presence, on and off the pitch.

Liverpool would also be loath to lose another player to Madrid – and this time for absolutely nothing after they managed to recoup €10 million (£8m/$11m) for Alexander-Arnold so he could represent Madrid at the Club World Cup. However, while missing out on a massive transfer fee would undoubtedly hit hard, there is a growing feeling at Anfield that Konate would be no great loss from a purely sporting perspective.

Indeed, one could easily argue that Liverpool are already paying a very heavy price for failing to pre-emptively replace Konate before the close of the summer transfer window.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'All over the place'

Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, were rightly lauded for loosening the purse strings during the summer and spending more than £400m ($525m) on strengthening the first-team squad. However, the champions are now counting the cost of failing to get a deal for Marc Guehi over the line long before Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the transfer on deadline day.

Remember, by that stage, Konate's form had already become a colossal cause for concern, with the Frenchman turning in two disastrous displays in the Premier League games against Bournemouth and Newcastle. As Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said on after Konate's horror-show at St. James Park, "He has been all over the place [this season]. He was not at the races at all tonight. I absolutely shudder to think where Liverpool would be without Virgil van Dijk."

Getty Images Sport'Some of you forget too quickly'

Konate, of course, has always argued that he doesn't get the credit he deserves because of Van Dijk's greatness, so it was no surprise to see him take aim at his critics after Liverpool kept consecutive clean sheets against Arsenal and Burnley.

"The problem is some of you forget too quickly," Konate wrote on social media on September 16, in what was a clear reference to his contribution to the 2024-25 title triumph. The problem for Konate, though, is that we're no longer talking about a couple of dodgy displays at the very start of the season. It's now November and he's performing more erratically than ever before.

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Getty Images SportAccident waiting to happen

Konate has always been error-prone, particularly in possession, but there was enough evidence last season to suggest that he was close to attaining the kind of dependability one expects from a truly world-class defender. However, he's become an absolute liability on the ball this season – and it's hurting Liverpool, quite literally in the case of Alisson Becker, who got injured against Galatasaray while pulling off a save that he was called upon to make after a calamitous Konate giveaway in midfield.

As any top manager would, Slot leapt to Konate's defence, pointing out that he wasn't the only Red making stupid mistakes. He is making more than most, though, and what's really worrying is that he's also being outmuscled and outpaced on a regular basis this season.

For example, in the 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace that sparked Liverpool's rotten run of six losses in seven games, Konate had no answer to Jean-Phillipe Mateta's physicality, while he was left trailing in Kevin Schade’s wake during the defeat at Brentford.

"Konate in the first half didn't know what he was doing," Michael Owen told after the Selhurst Park setback. "And I can't say that it was because of rustiness or tiredness because we've already seen one or two performances like that from him this season."

مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 28-10-2025 والقنوات الناقلة.. النصر ضد الاتحاد وأتالانتا يصطدم بـ ميلان

تتواصل المتعة الكروية اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 28-10-2025 بعدد من المواجهات القوية على مختلف المستويات، حيث تُقام مباريات مثيرة في كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، إلى جانب مواجهات مرتقبة في الدوري الإيطالي وكأس كاراباو الإنجليزي.

في السعودية، يترقّب الجمهور مباريات دور الـ16 من كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، حيث يسعى الكبار إلى مواصلة مشوارهم نحو اللقب الغالي، وسط منافسات لا تخلو من المفاجآت بين فرق دوري روشن والأندية الصاعدة حديثًا.

أما في إيطاليا، فتتجه الأنظار نحو مواجهة مثيرة في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإيطالي، عندما يلتقي أتالانتا مع ميلان في صدام ناري بين الطموح والخبرة، بينما يحلّ نابولي ضيفًا ثقيلًا على ليتشي في محاولة لاستعادة نغمة الانتصارات.

وفي إنجلترا، تُقام مباريات دور الـ16 من كأس كاراباو التي تشهد ظهور عدد من أندية البريميرليج أمام خصوم من الدرجات الأدنى، حيث تسعى الفرق الكبرى لتفادي المفاجآت المعتادة في هذه البطولة التي لا تعترف بالأسماء.

وعلى مستوى منافسات كرة اليد، يستعد منتخب مصر للناشئين، لخوض مباراة قوية أمام منافسه المغرب، في كأس العالم، حيث يلعب الفراعنة الصغار في مجموعة تصم أيضًا البرازيل وأمريكا.

طالع أيضًا | بعد ابتسامة خجولة.. ميسي يكشف اللاعب الأعظم في تاريخ كرة القدم مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 28-10-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين اليوم

القادسية ضد الحزم، الساعة 5:35 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “ثمانية 1”.

الشباب ضد الزلفي، الساعة 5:50 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “ثمانية 1”.

الأخدود ضد الهلال، الساعة 6:10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “ثمانية 1”.

النصر ضد الاتحاد، الساعة 9:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “ثمانية 1”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإيطالي اليوم

ليتشي ضد نابولي، الساعة 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق “Starz Play”.

أتالانتا ضد ميلان، الساعة 10:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق “Starz Play”. مواعيد مباريات كأس كاراباو (دور الـ16) اليوم

جريمسبي تاون ضد برينتفورد، الساعة 10:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورت 2 HD”.

ويكمب واندرز ضد فولهام، الساعة 10:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورت 3 HD”.

ريكسهام ضد كارديف سيتي، الساعة 11:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورت 1 HD”. موعد مباراة مصر والمغرب في كأس العالم لكرة اليد اليوم تحت 17 عامًا اليوم

مصر ضد المغرب، الساعة 10:55 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on sport 1”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Sem Dudu em campo, Palmeiras se reapresenta com foco no América-MG

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras se reapresentou na manhã desta terça-feira (25), na Academia de Futebol, após voltar a vencer depois de cinco rodadas do Brasileirão e respirar um pouco mais aliviado na parte cima da tabela.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Com foco na ‘tour mineira’ que o time terá nesta próxima semana, Abel comandou uma atividade técnica e tática com dois times completos na atividade de hoje

Pelas fotos da atividade, Dudu ainda não retornou aos trabalhos com bola e após ficar de fora das últimas duas partidas por conta de um incômodo na panturrilha, segue como dúvida será relacionado já diante do Coelho, ou se ele será preservado para retornar somente diante do Galo, pela Libertadores.

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Com a janela de transferências praticamente fechando, o Verdão inicia a semana com uma grande indefinicação se vai conseguir somar mais algum jogador para o elenco neste segundo semestre, e a comissão trabalha com o que tem para tentar seguir somando pontos no Brasileiro e passar pelo Atlético-MG na Libertadores.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O Palmeiras volta a treinar nesta próxima quarta-feira, a partir das 10h (horário de Brasília), na Academia de Futebol.

O Verdão viaja para Belo Horizonte somente no sábado e retorna para São Paulo logo após o duelo diante do América-MG, no domingo (30), no Independência.

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