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Only a few minutes before the screech of the full-time whistle, Liverpool’s fans were cheering. “We’ve won the league at Goodison Park,” they belted. Everton were heading toward defeat.

James Tarkowski said no. The skipper stepped up and rifled a howitzer of a shot into Alisson’s net. Cue the pandemonium.

It’s a credit to David Moyes’ impact that Iliman Ndiaye was forced off with an injury before 30 minutes had been clocked, and the Toffees still put in a performance for the ages.

Iliman Ndiaye's importance at Everton

Everton signed Ndiaye from Marseille in a deal worth £15m last summer. The Senegal winger has notched eight goals from 28 matches in all competitions, making him the club’s top scorer for the term.

BBC Sport’s Oluwashina Okeleji has hailed him as “Everton’s standout performer this season,” marrying goals with an intoxicating dribbling ability, ranking among the top 8% of Premier League wingers this year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Ndiaye’s injury only reinforced the new belief within Moyes’ system, for Everton continued to land the heavier blows against Liverpool before Mohamed Salah’s sucker punch.

Still, he’s been a force to be reckoned with since moving to Merseyside. However, believe it or not, there was a player under the Goodison Park lights on Wednesday who might have been performing in his stead. He was wearing red.

The Liverpool superstar who Everton wanted

Rafa Benitez’s short and sour stint in the Goodison Park dugout is long forgotten by those at Everton, but he wasn’t just unable to connect with the fanbase – he also made a huge mistake in the transfer market.

In 2023, former Everton sporting director Marcel Brands revealed to Dutch newspaper Sportwerald that he had pushed to sign Porto’s Luis Diaz but saw his attempts foiled by Benitez.

He said: “I wanted to install my philosophy and structure in the Club that would allow Everton to progress, but the decisions from above did not allow it. In the summer of 2021, we were looking to bring Luis Diaz from Porto.”

“I was working hard to get James Rodriguez to go to Porto as part of the deal that would bring Diaz to the Club, however, Rafa Benitez ruled against it because he was not sure about the player.”

This must be incredibly frustrating for those of a Blue persuasion when looking at who the Spanish tactician welcomed to the fold instead: Demarai Gray.

Diaz, 28, joined Liverpool for £39m months later in January 2022 and has since been a centrepiece of Anfield’s trophy-winning unit, with Barcelona known admirers for a winger who has been marked with a £67m price tag. Just think of what could have been.

Premier League 24/25 – Luis Diaz vs Iliman Ndiaye

Statistics (per 90)

Diaz

Ndiaye

Goals scored

0.47

0.29

xG (expected goals)

0.40

0.13

Assists

0.12

0.00

Shots taken

2.79

1.15

Shot-creating actions

4.27

2.54

Pass completion

84.6%

80.9%

Progressive passes

4.04

1.82

Progressive carries

3.68

3.40

Successful take-ons

1.96

2.78

Touches (att pen)

6.17

3.12

Stats via FBref

They are actually cut from the same stylistic cloth, with Ndiaye matching Diaz’s clinical output (in outperforming his xG) while maintaining a crisp pass completion rate that belies his role in Everton’s counter-attacking team. Moreover, he’s about as competent a ball-carrier.

However, he’s not as refined, intelligent or potent as Liverpool’s Colombian star yet, who has scored 12 goals and supplied three assists across all competitions this term.

One that got away

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Benitez’s blunder has been vindicated through the signing of Ndiaye, who is surfing the crest of a wave on Merseyside this season. However, Diaz and the financial security that could have come with his signing is something that will sting – and provide another layer to the resentment around a miserable managerial appointment.

Related His value has risen £35m: Everton will rue selling "monster" Ndiaye upgrade

This former Everton talent has turned into a superstar of a player.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 11, 2025

Nick Browne 49 sets visitors off well but Northamptonshire bowlers do some damage

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2022Northamptonshire’s seamers shared the spoils as they helped rout Essex’s batting line-up and hold the visitors to 220 for 8 on a rain-affected opening day of this LV= County Championship clash at Wantage Road.But despite wickets falling in clumps, a captain’s knock of 55 from Tom Westley helped keep Essex in the contest in a ninth-wicket stand of 68 in 20 overs with Ben Allison (37).Earlier, Ben Sanderson struck twice in two balls to arrest a lightning Essex start to the day which saw Nick Browne and Sir Alastair Cook plunder 68 runs off the first 13 overs.But when Cook fell for 31, it precipitated the first mini collapse of the day as four wickets went down in 45 balls, two of them to Sanderson and Essex went into lunch on 107 for 4 before rain prevented any play in the afternoon session.When play resumed after tea, Westley and Feroze Khushi looked fluent as they rebuilt in a stand of 47 before Essex collapsed again losing four wickets for nine runs in 32 balls. Tom Taylor picked up three wickets amid the carnage before Westley and Allison made sure honours were even at close of play.In the morning, Northamptonshire’s decision to insert Essex after winning the toss was called into question as opening pair Browne and Cook unfurled a string of boundaries.Cook found the ropes three times in Jack White’s fifth over, playing some trademark backfoot punches and cuts. Meanwhile Browne also hit a trio of boundaries off Tom Taylor’s first over, driving sweetly through the covers.Both batters had their share of luck though when Emilio Gay shelled two chances at second slip denying Gareth Berg a pair of wickets. First Gay put down a straightforward chance offered by Browne before missing a more difficult one to his left when Cook edged wide of the cordon.Taylor finally accounted for Cook when he got one to nip back and hit the stumps. The former England captain now needs 44 in the second innings to reach 1,000 runs for the season.Sanderson’s return to the attack soon reaped dividends when Browne chipped to midwicket and Dan Lawrence was bowled through the gate first ball. Gay could finally breathe a sigh of relief when he pouched a chance offered by Critchley who edged to the slips to give White his first wicket.In the evening session Khushi who hit 118 against Northamptonshire in the Royal London Cup last month looked to pick up where he had left off, driving pleasantly through extra cover and down the ground. His departure for 26, when he edged Taylor behind to keeper Ricardo Vasconcelos, sparked a further clatter of wickets.Michael Pepper was next to go when he played an extravagant shot to Berg which flew at a comfortable height to Will Young at first slip. Next Simon Harmer prodded at one from Taylor and was caught behind before White got one to nip back and castle Shane Snater to leave Essex reeling at 152 for 8.Westley though was in defiant mood, reaching his half-century off 122 balls and finding a willing partner in Allison. The Essex skipper struck six boundaries, slapping White through cover and whipping Sanderson and Berg through midwicket.Allison had a reprieve on 17 when he hooked Berg and was dropped in the deep by Sanderson but he and Westley have given Essex renewed hope after it seemed they would be bowled out well short of 200.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo divulgou, na tarde desta sexta-feira, a lista de 23 jogadores relacionados para a partida contra o América (MG), às 21h, no sábado, na Arena Independência. A principal ausência ficou por conta do meia-atacante Chay, que está gripado, e desfalcará a equipe.

+ Botafogo ultrapassa Fluminense: saiba os clubes do Brasil com mais sócios-torcedores

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Além do camisa 14, o lateral-esquerdo Carlinhos segue fora de combate em virtude do pós-operatório de lesão ligamentar e meniscal no joelho esquerdo. Rafael também se recupera de uma cirurgia cirurgia no tendão de Aquiles esquerdo e tem previsão de retorno em julho.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

O zagueiro Philipe Sampaio teve uma lesão colateral medial do joelho direito. Gustavo Sauer, por sua vez, também segue de fora da equipe comandada pelo português Luís Castro.

Depois de entrar no G4, o Glorioso tem a oportunidade de dormir na liderança da competição caso derrote o Coelho. O primeiro lugar só será confirmado caso o clássico entre Corinthians e São Paulo, que será disputado na Neo Química Arena, domingo, às 16h, termine empatado.

+Botafogo lança linha especial de quatro camisas em homenagem ao eterno ídolo Nilton Santos

A equipe vem de duas vitórias seguidas e está invicta como visitante, até o momento (em seis rodadas). Embalado, o Alvinegro busca se firmar no pelotão de frente da competição para almejar voos ainda maiores e disputar o título.

Confira a lista de relacionados do Botafogo

Goleiros
Diego Loureiro, Douglas Borges e Gatito Fernández

Laterais
Daniel Borges, Hugo e Saravia

Zagueiros
Joel Carli, Kanu, Klaus e Victor Cuesta

Volantes
Barreto, Del Piage, Kayque, Luís Oyama, Patrick de Paula e Tchê Tchê

Meias
Lucas Fernandes e Lucas Piazon

Atacantes
Diego Gonçalves, Erison, Matheus Nascimento, Victor Sá e Vinícius Lopes

Atletas relacionados para o jogo com o América-MG pelo Brasileirão 📄💪🏼 #VamosBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/y0eRudLSua

— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) May 20, 2022

England have handed a recall to Ollie Robinson for the upcoming home Test series with South Africa.Robinson, the right-arm seamer whose last Test appearance was against Australia in Hobart in January this year, has made the squad of 14 for the first two matches of the three-match series after a battle with an array of ailments that kept him out of action for almost two months. After coming through problems with his back, Covid-19, and dental issues, he will be in line to add to his nine caps so far.Related

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Robinson, 28, has had a mixed start to his Test cricketer, despite exemplary overall figures of 39 dismissals at an average of 21.28. His debut at Lord’s at the start of last summer was marred by the emergence of historic offensive tweets, before he put that behind him to emerge as England’s standout bowler of 2021 and earning a spot as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. However, he was publicly admonished for his fitness during the 4-0 Ashes defeat, something which came in for further scrutiny when he was unable to play a part in England’s tour of the Caribbean in March.He began the 2022 summer looking to put that problem behind him only for back spasms and other niggles to restrict him to just four first-class appearances by the middle of May. But 4 for 44 and 5 for 66 in his return to County Championship action for Sussex against Nottinghamshire last week, getting through 36.1 overs, showed Robinson was back on the right path. He will continue to prove his game-readiness by turning out for the England Lions in their four-day match against the South Africans at Canterbury, which begins on August 9. ESPNcricinfo understands batter Harry Brook, also a member of the 14-man squad, will play in this match too.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The finishing touches on the squad were made by the selection committee on Monday, with Brendon McCullum dialling in from New Zealand. He is due to be back in England by the start of next week.Robinson was expected to be part of the Lions squad, which is expected to be named on Friday. But an injury to Surrey quick Jamie Overton, who made his debut in the final Test against New Zealand at Headingley, saw them pick Robinson in the main group. Robinson was due to represent Manchester Originals in the Hundred, which starts on Wednesday, but opted to continue at Sussex and play in their Royal London Cup matches instead.Durham’s Matthew Potts, one of the beneficiaries of Robinson’s absence, retained his place in the squad after 18 dismissals from his four Tests this summer. Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings has dropped out now that Ben Foakes has recovered from his bout of Covid-19, which led to him being replaced during the Headingley Test.

England opener Tammy Beaumont has jumped three places and made a return to the top 10 of the ICC Women’s ODI rankings for batters, following her 107-ball 119 in the third ODI against South Africa. She is now in eighth place, ahead of Chamari Athapaththu, Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry.Having been “gutted” at being dropped from England’s T20I squad for the Commonwealth Games, Beaumont scored 178 runs at an average of 59.33 in the three ODIs against South Africa.England batter Emma Lamb also rose considerably – jumping 35 spots to 66th place – in the rankings, after making scores of 102, 67 and 65 to finish as the leading run-getter in the series.Related

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• Lisa Keightley defends England's youth policy after Tammy Beaumont's shock omission

• Alice Capsey named in England's Commonwealth Games squad, Tammy Beaumont omitted

Nat Sciver, who sat out of the final ODI with England already having won the series, lost one spot on the table. She moved to third place behind Beth Mooney, while Alyssa Healy continues to lead the ODI rankings.South Africa lost the series 3-0 to England, but Marizanne Kapp rose six places to 18th in the rankings, after scoring half-centuries in the second and third ODIs. Chloe Tryon also had a good series with the bat and rose two spots to 20th position.Kapp also jumped to third place in the allrounder rankings, but her bowling colleagues did not fare well. Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, who took just two wickets in the ODI series, lost her second spot to Australia’s Jess Jonassen and moved down to third place in the rankings for bowlers. Ayabonga Khaka dropped one place to sixth, while Kapp herself lost three places to move to 10th position on the list.

Sunrisers never recover after leaking 81 runs in wicketless powerplay

ECB Reporters Network05-Jun-2022

Bryony Smith struck a belligerent half-century as defending champions South East Stars headed into Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day on Saturday with a comfortable 56-run win over Sunrisers at Guildford.Smith pummelled exactly 50 from just 30 balls, sharing an opening stand of 87 with Aylish Cranstone as the hosts rattled up 183 for 9, their best score in the competition and just short of the overall record of 186 set by Thunder last season.The Stars’ skipper then returned 2 for 17 while Kalea Moore took 2 for 16 as Sunrisers were bowled out for 127 in reply despite 31 from Amara Carr for the visitors.Victory means Stars top the group ahead of Central Sparks who they will meet in the playoff game to start final’s day at Wantage Road.Smith chose to bat on winning the toss and the allrounder and the tournament’s leading run-scorer Cranstone gorged on some loose powerplay bowling from Sunrisers.Related

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Smith swept viciously and played the pull shot to great effect to clear the ropes four times, while Cranstone hit four fours off the second over bowled by Naomi Dattani.The hosts reached 81 without loss in the powerplay and Smith raced to 50 before spooning a catch to Scarlett Hughes off the bowling of Kelly Castle.It was the beginning of a frugal spell from Castle of 2 for 14, during which she also caught and bowled Kira Chathli and Sunrisers’ skipper was sharp in the field too, running out Alice Capsey for nought with a direct hit from mid-off.Cranstone perished when she mishit an attempted scoop off Dattani to wicketkeeper Carr, but Emma Jones hit one six clean out the ground in a whirlwind 33 from 17, as, despite a late flurry of wickets, Stars posted a huge total.Sunrisers made the worst possible start when Hughes hit the first ball of their reply from Moore to Cranstone at cover and the spinner struck again in her next over, trapping Grace Scrivens lbw.The in-form Dattani also didn’t detain for long, skying a ball from Alexa Stonehouse to Capsey, leaving the visitors 23 for 3.Carr cleared the ropes to top score, but neither her enterprise or Mady Villiers’ cameo of 22 were enough to redress the balance and when Mia Rogers holed out in the deep off Phoebe Franklin the game was up for Sunrisers.

Brazil icon Ronaldo has revealed that the Brazil national team's interest in Carlo Ancelotti was "not a fantasy" after the Italian turned them down.

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Ronaldo shed light on Brazil's interest in AncelottiRevealed that Madrid would have let him go in 2024Ancelotti signed new deal that will run until June 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Brazil legend and former striker Ronaldo provided the details regarding the Selecao's failed attempts to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as the national team's new head coach, adding that Real Madrid were ready to part ways with the legendary Italian in 2024.

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At the end of the 2022-23 season, rumours of Brazil's interest in Ancelotti began circulating in the media. At the time, the former Milan manager was into the final year of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Real Madrid secured his future with a new two-year contract in December 2023, keeping him at the helm until June 2026 and putting an end to all the speculation.

In January 2024, the Italian himself confessed that he was in talks with then-CBF (Brazil football federation) president Ednaldo Rodrigues: "The reality is what everyone knows. I had contact with the [now former] president of the Brazilian federation, Ednaldo Rodrigues. I want to thank him for his affection and interest, it made me very proud, but what's clear to everyone is it depends on my situation at Real Madrid. I'm grateful for the interest but in the end, it turned out how I wanted: staying here."

Eventually, Brazil acquired Dorival Junior and Ancelotti led Real Madrid to a league and Champions League double in 2024. However, Ronaldo stated that Los Blancos would have sacked Ancelotti for the second time had he failed to win any major silverware.

WHAT RONALDO SAID

Speaking on the (h/t MARCA), Ronaldo explained Brazil's pursuit of Ancelotti: “It was not a fantasy because I helped in the process by talking to Carlo, but he was not released. Real Madrid did not release him. After negotiating everything got stuck because he didn’t have Real Madrid’s release. If he hadn’t won anything, Real Madrid would have fired him and Ancelotti would have come, but he won the Champions League and stayed for another year.”

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CARLO ANCELOTTI?

Speculation has been rife with reports linking Real Madrid with Bayer Leverkusen boss and ex-player Xabi Alonso. Ancelotti, however, has admitted that he will stay at the Bernabeu as long as Real Madrid want him to. Indeed, earlier this year Ancelotti gave an assertive statement in regards to his future in Spain: "I want to be very clear: I will never decide the date of my departure from this club in my life. I know perfectly well that it will come one day, but I will not decide that day.

"It could be tomorrow or in one or five years. I have the advantage that Florentino [Perez] will be here for four more years and I have the objective of achieving them with him. We can say goodbye together."

Madrid are currently tied on points with Barcelona at the top of the Liga table, having played one game more than their rivals. They will take on Leganes on Saturday, March 29, followed by a match against Valencia on April 5 — both at home — before visiting Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on April 8.

Following a shock defeat against Blackburn Rovers, reports are now emerging that one Leeds United star who struggled against the Lancashire club could be heading for an Elland Road exit.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites have experienced the Championship at its best in the last week – though they wouldn’t have exactly enjoyed the swing in momentum. Going from sitting top of the league to third after defeat against Blackburn, Leeds simply couldn’t find a way past the playoff contenders, who held onto their 22nd minute lead which came courtesy of Todd Cantwell from the spot.

In pursuit of promotion, the January transfer window will certainly be an interesting one to watch at Elland Road. Daniel Farke’s side has been impacted by injuries throughout the current campaign and although they’ve coped well enough to compete at the very top of England’s second tier, reinforcements such as young starlet Lennon Miller could help secure promotion to the Premier League.

If the Yorkshire club fail to achieve promotion for a second time, however, then they could face yet more departures following a number of exits last summer. According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Junior Firpo is now expected to leave Leeds if they fail to earn promotion to the Premier League this season.

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The left-back is on course to become a free agent at the end of the campaign, with a new contract perhaps dependent on promotion. Meanwhile, if the £60,000-a-week defender does want to stay put, then he didn’t do a good job of convincing Leeds chiefs that they should renew his contract against Blackburn, with BBC Sport’s Adam Pope admitting that Firpo “struggled on his return”.

When the January transfer window arrives, Firpo will be able to begin negotiations over a pre-contract agreement with other clubs outside of England, as he potentially plots a summer exit away from Leeds.

Leeds cannot afford to fail twice in the Championship

Just ask Leeds players of the past and they’ll tell you that getting out of the Championship is one of the most difficult tasks that English football has to offer. Farke’s side already experienced the ups and downs of such a competitive division last season, suffering playoff heartbreak against Southampton, and will be desperate to avoid the dramatics of Wembley this time around.

Failure saw the likes of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, Glen Kamara and Georginio Rutter all depart last summer as those at Elland Road were left with no choice but to rebuild in key areas. Failure a second time may even result in even harsher consequences, however, which would likely include Firpo’s exit as a free agent.

Mbaye, who just turned age 16, will immediately join the youth setup of the Rossoneri

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AC Milan sign USYNT defender Mbaye16-year-old joins ranks of rising American stars in ItalyTeen is highly-rated defenderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

AC Milan have reportedly signed U.S. youth international Astin Mbaye from the New York Red Bulls academy.

The 16-year-old has an EU passport, allowing him to leave at that age for the Italian. Several other teams in Europe were chasing his signature, while RBNY was in talks over a pro contract, but the have secured his services. Current U.S. internationals Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah both play for the Italian club.

Fabrizio Romano first reported the deal, while confirmed it with additional details.

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The RBNY academy has excelled in recent years, highlighted by the development of USMNT captain and Bournemouth star Tyler Adams, along with U.S. fullback John Tolkin, who plays for Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel.

The Eastern Conference MLS side also boast one of the most talented teenagers in all of MLS in Julian Hall, who is attracting interest from some of Europe's top teams at age 16.

Mbaye, meanwhile, has been a mainstay with the U15 youth national team, representing his nation six times at the U15 level, including at the December 2023 UEFA Developmental Tournament, where he bagged a goal against Scotland. He recently earned his first call-up to the U16 national team.

DID YOU KNOW?

The last American defender to play for the senior team of AC Milan was Oguchi Onyewu, who played for the from 2009-2011.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?

The senior team returns to the pitch on Saturday in Serie A action to take on Lecce. Sergio Conceicao's men sit ninth in the league standings.

The upcoming summer could be full of major departures from the AC Milan roster, with their Champions League qualification in jeopardy.

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• Hernandez, Maignan, Leao could depart in the summer
• Milan facing financial uncertainty
• Club could sell stars to offset missing out on Champions League spot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A major squad overhaul could be on the horizon for AC Milan, as the club considers parting ways with three of its biggest stars – Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, and Rafael Leao. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato), the Rossoneri are weighing their options amid contract uncertainties and financial considerations.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Milan face contract uncertainties with key players Maignan and Hernandez, whose deals expire in June 2026. While a draft agreement could extend Maignan’s contract until 2029 with a salary increase to €5 million – a 56.25% increase – it doesn’t ensure his stay.

  Meanwhile, negotiations for Hernandez's renewal have stalled, making a summer exit likely.

  Leao, under contract until 2028 with a €175 million release clause, remains the subject of speculation, as few clubs can meet his buyout fee. Doubts persist about his future, even within his camp, adding to Milan’s concerns over retaining their top talents.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to Corriere della Sera, Maignan remains highly professional in training but appears less settled. Frequent injuries – keeping him out for over 50 games in three-and-a-half seasons – along with coaching changes have fueled uncertainty. With his 30th birthday approaching in July, Milan believe the coming summer would be the right time to sell the France international. Extending his contract until 2028 could help secure a better transfer fee, as his market value has dropped dramatically.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The club is now more open to offers for Maignan, Hernandez, and Leao. While Theo’s exit seems inevitable, Maignan and Leao’s futures depend on Milan’s season outcome. Failure to qualify for the Champions League – worth €60 million – could force a squad overhaul, increasing the likelihood of major departures in the summer.