فيديو | تشيلسي يستعد لمباراة مانشستر سيتي بتعادل مع إنتر ميلان

اكتفى فريق تشيلسي بتحقيق التعادل مع نظيره إنتر ميلان، في مباراتهما الودية اليوم، استعدادًا للموسم الجديد 2024/25.

وتلاقى الفريقان، مساء يوم الأحد، في آخر المباريات الودية الاستعدادية للموسم المرتقب، حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله. أهداف مباراة تشيلسي وإنتر ميلان الودية

كان ماركوس تورام قد سجل هدف التقدم لصالح فريق إنتر ميلان، في الدقيقة 26 من عمر الشوط الأول.

وظل تشيلسي متأخرًا في النتيجة حتى الدقيقة 90، حيث تمكن شيموانيا أوجوشوكو من تسجيل هدف التعادل القاتل للفريق اللندني.

ويبدأ تشيلسي مشواره في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بمواجهة صعبة ضد مانشستر سيتي، يوم السبت المقبل.

وخسر تشيلسي من مانشستر سيتي، في مباراة ودية الأسبوع الماضي، بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين.

Agarwal, Pujara and Kohli make Australia toil

Pat Cummins claimed Australia’s two wickets in a superbly wholehearted display on a largely docile Melbourne pitch

Andrew McGlashan25-Dec-2018Definitive judgments should wait for another few days, but the early signs are that there has been no magical solution to the MCG’s pitch problem. After the challenges of Adelaide, and especially Perth, this was a more docile affair for the batsmen, and India took advantage, moving to 2 for 215 on the back of a fine debut by Mayank Agarwal, followed up by solid work from Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.There was much interest in the toss, with 10 millimeters of grass left on the surface, enough to urge Tim Paine to consider bowling. But the coin fell India’s way and Kohli opted to bat while noting the dryness underneath the top layer. The talk soon began as a number of deliveries with the new ball barely carried to Paine, Nathan Lyon was on by the eighth over, there were catchers in front of the wicket within the first hour, and a slip cordon of one inside Josh Hazlewood’s first spell.Australia’s slim rewards went to the outstanding Pat Cummins, who transcended the conditions with hostile spells. He gave Hanuma Vihari, promoted to open the innings, a working over, before removing him with a poorly played short delivery, and ended Agarwal’s impressive debut innings with another short ball fended down the leg side.3:00

Laxman: Sometimes Pujara doesn’t get credit for what he does

None of Australia’s was poor – Mitchell Starc hit 150kph, Hazlewood challenged the outside edge and Mitchell Marsh provided 15 tight overs on his recall – and keeping India to a sedate scoring rate meant they were far from out of the contest. Towards the back end of the day, there was a fiery passage as Starc charged in with the second new ball, having Kohli dropped on 47 when an edge carried low to Paine’s right. There are big chances, then there was this. It was a period when Kohli looked as close to being vulnerable as he ever does, and was kept on 47 for 24 balls before the close.It is one thing being given conditions where batsmen should book in for bed and breakfast, and another to make sure you take advantage of them. There was a sense that India could be vulnerable, having completely changed their opening partnership. But while Vihari was not convincing, by the time he fended to slip, the early sting had already been take out of the day.Agarwal, a batsman who has certainly bided his time to earn the chance, shaped up excellently in his first outing. He scored the first 17 runs in the innings that came off the bat, although the first boundary of the day came from an outside edge that just evaded Mitchell Marsh at gully. Like Vihari, he was not entirely comfortable against Cummins’ short stuff, taking one on the back as he tried to duck, but was confident in his scoring options.A brace of boundaries early in the afternoon session off Nathan Lyon took him to his half-century, and he later struck the first six of the match by lofting Lyon over long-on. Thoughts were turning towards the prospect of a century on debut when he gloved a short ball from Cummins down the leg side against what became the last ball before tea.That meant Kohli walked in after the break, greeted by boos (Mitchell Marsh had also been booed by sections of the Melbourne crowd disappointed at Peter Handscomb’s omission), and as is so often, he brought greater intent to the innings. He was at a run-a-ball early in his stay before settling into a pace more akin to the day’s proceedings and becoming becalmed heading into stumps. Australia’s bowlers tried to attack in him outside off, where he can occasionally be vulnerable – Hazlewood found the edge only for it fall well short of slip, and there was the late chance offered against Starc – but Kohli was alert whenever they strayed too straight.Meanwhile, Pujara was Pujara, refusing to be moved out of his bubble. It wasn’t an entirely comfortable innings, however, with the physio twice coming out when he got struck on the gloves. Just six boundaries came during his 200-ball stay, but he remained there to continue Australia’s toil on the second day. Five innings into the series, he is already within touching distance of his most successful overseas tour.

Vijay, Vihari fifties headline drawn encounter against New Zealand A

All top five India A batsmen notched up 40-plus scores on the last day against New Zealand A in Mount Maunganui

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2018M Vijay guides one towards covers•BCCI

All of India A’s top five batsmen notched up 40-plus scores on the last day against New Zealand A as the first unofficial Test ended in a draw at Mount Maunganui. M Vijay and captain Ajinkya Rahane followed up on their paltry first-innings scores by making 60 and 41 not-out respectively, while Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari, who made their Test debuts against England earlier this year, brought up half-centuries.India openers Vijay and Shaw had finished with a quick stand of 35 in eight overs on day three after New Zealand’s lower order had made India bowlers toil hard earlier.Shaw reached his fifty in just 51 balls, as the pair added 39 more runs to their overnight stand. He was removed by by Doug Bracewell two balls later. Vijay then entered into an 81-run partnership with the Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal, who chipped in with 42, as India A went to lunch with a lead of 138 runs, with Shaw being their only loss in the morning session.The duo lost their wickets shortly after lunch, with Agarwal losing his wicket to Central Districts’ seamer Blair Tickner for the second time in the match and Canterbury spinner Theo van Woerkom dismissing Vijay. Tickner finished with a match haul of 5 for 123.Rahane and Vihari saw through the rest of the day with an 86-run partnership between them, as India ploughed to 247 for 3 in 65 overs.

"اسم مفاجأة".. فليك يختار بديلا جديدا لتعويض فشل صفقة نيكو ويليامز في برشلونة

كشفت تقارير صحفية أن هناك اسما جديدا قد يكون مفاجأة لتدعيم مركز الجناح الأيسر في الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة لتعويض فشل صفقة، نيكو ويليامز.

وكان برشلونة يركز في الأسابيع الماضية على التعاقد مع جناح أتلتيك بلباو، نيكو ويليامز، بعد تصريحات من رئيسه خوان لابورتا بأنهم قادرين على ضم اللاعب بالفعل.

ولكن اللاعب يبدو وأنه أقرب للبقاء مع فريقه بعدما منحه القميص رقم 10 الذي كان يرتديه القائد، إيكر موناين، في السنوات الماضية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سيرجي روبيرتو يودع زملاءه ويكشف عن هدفه المفضل مع برشلونة

وبحسب صحيفة “24sata” الكرواتية أن مدرب برشلونة، هانز فليك، اختار اسم آخر للقدوم إلى برشلونة وهو من الحرس القديم له في بايرن ميونخ.

وزعمت الصحيفة أن فليك قد اتصل بلاعبه السابق، إيفان بيريسيتش، الذي كان يلعب مع بايرن ميونخ تحت قيادته وحقق السداسية وسجل أيضًا في فوزهم على برشلونة بنتيجة 8-2.

وتوصل بيريسيتش قبل ساعات قليلة لاتفاق مع ناديه هيدوك سبليت في الدوري الكرواتي لفسخ عقده، وبالتالي، قدومه إلى برشلونة لن يكلف سوى راتبه السنوي.

كان رد اللاعب الكرواتي إيجابيًا على طلب فليك بالقدوم إلى برشلونة، في حين أن بيريسيتش يمتلك خبرة كبيرة للغاية في الدوريات الكبرى ولكن لم يسبق له أن لعب في الدوري الإسباني.

Tom Cooper and Alex Carey fifties shore up South Australia

An unbeaten 130-run sixth-wicket stand between Tom Cooper and Alex Carey has put South Australia in a strong position on day one against New South Wales at the SCG.The Blues had the chance to put the Redbacks under significant pressure when Jake Lehmann fell with the score at 5 for 185. But the in-form Cooper and Australia’s short-form vice-captain Carey steadied the innings and then put New South Wales to the sword after tea.ALSO READ: Maddinson’s unbeaten 159 floors Western AustraliaCooper continued his fine summer moving to 87 not out with 11 fours and is just 13 away from his third Shield century of the season. Carey has been starved of long-form opportunities given his call-ups to Australia’s ODI and T20I teams but he made 66 not out from 124 balls and has a chance to kick on.Earlier in the day, Jake Weatherald compiled a neat 59 before he holed out to deep square leg. Lehmann made 57 but fell to an odd attempted sweep-shot from a full toss from Jason Sangha.ALSO READ: Queensland 8 for 86 as Pyecroft takes fiveBlues debutant left-arm seamer Greg West picked up two wickets, strangling Conor McInerney down the leg side and getting Kelvin Smith caught behind attempting to cut.

Livramento isn’t the only Newcastle talent coming for Trippier’s place

Newcastle United are in the midst of an injury crisis right now but have still managed to pick up some huge wins in the Premier League, particularly Saturday's 1-0 victory at home to Manchester United.

Eddie Howe has had to bandage his team up, but those who walk over the white line have certainly stepped up to the plate as of late for the head coach, having picked up massive results in recent weeks against the likes of the Red Devils, Arsenal, Chelsea and even Paris Saint-Germain.

The defence, in particular, has been left bruised and battered with injuries as Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Sven Botman and Nick Pope are all sidelined with long-term problems, meaning Newcastle's defence is quite a makeshift one.

Nevertheless, the back four have done really well so far, and one player in particular has exceeded expectations.

Tino Livramento's stats this season

Tino Livramento joined Newcastle United during the summer for £40m following Southampton's relegation from the Premier League. However, given the form of Kieran Trippier and Burn either side of the centre-backs, the young defender struggled to break into the first-team.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.

Heading into November, Livramento's only start for the Geordie outfit came in a 1-0 win at home to Manchester City in the EFL Cup back in September, although his display was certainly impressive.

Club legend Malcolm Macdonald called Livramento "faultless" throughout the game and admitted that Howe needed to find a place in the starting lineup for the exciting fullback, although it wasn't until Burn's injury that Livramento had the opportunity to shine for the Magpies, albeit at left-back.

Nevertheless, after a string of stellar performances on the left, the 21-year-old has made the position his own.

In fact, Livramento is outperforming Burn in a number of key metrics this season, meaning the latter could struggle to reclaim his starting place in the team upon returning from injury.

Tino Livramento vs Dan Burn

Per 90 Metrics

Livramento

Burn

Assists

0.13

0

Expected Assists

0.07

0.02

Progressive Passes

4.36

3.16

Key Passes

0.91

0.23

Passes To Penalty Area

0.91

0.38

Passes To Final 1/3

2.91

2.93

Crosses

1.2

0.67

Progressive Carries

2.91

0.6

Tackles

2.91

1.73

Tackles Won

2.13

0.96

Interceptions

1.47

0.81

Errors

0

0.08

Stats via FBref

Livramento could have been seen as a long-term replacement for Trippier who is now on the wrong side of 30, but with the Chelsea academy product finding his feet on the left, perhaps another player in Howe's ranks could be his successor.

Harrison Ashby's stats this season

Livramento wasn't the only fullback Newcastle United bought this year. The club also managed to secure the services of Harrison Ashby from West Ham United for a reported £3m back in January.

Ashby was highly rated at West Ham United, with former captain Mark Noble even claiming that the wide defender has a "real physical stature". The 22-year-old had made seven appearances in all competitions for the Hammers over the past three seasons but appeared merely twice last term before making the switch to the Mags.

Nonetheless, after a handful of appearances in the Premier League 2 with Newcastle's U21s, Ashby was sent out on loan to Swansea City at the beginning of the current campaign. It's been a tricky season for the Swans, who recently sacked head coach Michael Duff, but Ashby is still playing plenty of first-team football, making 13 appearances so far, including 11 in the Championship.

Harrison Ashby, right-back, Newcastle

Ashby has a bright future ahead of him and with Livramento looking likely to hold onto his left-back berth long into the future, the Swansea loanee could come for Trippier's place over the coming seasons, with the latter turning 34 next year.

Trippier is still outperforming Ashby by a large margin in attack but the young defender has performed quite well defensively in comparison to the England international.

Harrison Ashby vs Kieran Trippier

Per 90 Metrics

Ashby

Trippier

Assists

0.12

0.51

Expected Assists

0.05

0.36

Progressive Passes

1.69

7.33

Key Passes

0.39

3.04

Passes To Penalty Area

0.65

2.07

Passes To Final 1/3

1.69

4.81

Crosses

3.37

8.32

Progressive Carries

1.3

1.85

Tackles

3.25

1.63

Tackles Won

2.44

0.88

Interceptions

2.33

0.88

Errors

0.13

0.07

Stats via FBref

Trippier is one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world so it'll always be difficult for a young player to reach his heights. However, Ashby is playing regular first-team football for the first time in his career and his numbers are certainly encouraging.

Former Swansea manager Duff even admitted that Ashby came to the Swansea.com Stadium with a "really positive character reference" from Trippier, whom the coach played with at Burnley for a few seasons before retiring.

Perhaps Howe may look to implement him into the team next season, handing Trippier a few nights off, with an eye to having a permanent changing of the guard between the pair.

Step aside Sam Kerr! USWNT star Sophia Smith rewrites history books by taking NWSL goal record from current Chelsea forward

USWNT star Sophia Smith has taken a NWSL goal record off of current Chelsea forward Sam Kerr.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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  • United States international in fine form
  • Reached 50 goal contributions in NWSL
  • Aussie icon knocked down pecking order
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    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Smith continues to see her stock soar, with the Portland Thorns striker making impressive contributions for club and country in 2024. She is now a W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup winner, with the United States getting back on the trophy trail.

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  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Smith has been starring on the senior international stage, taking her goal tally to 18 through 46 appearances. That fine form has been mirrored domestically, with the 23-year-old making a flying start to the 2024 campaign.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    The Portland Thorns crushed the Houston Dash 4-1 in their latest outing, with Smith on target once again. She has now reached 50 goal contributions in the NWSL (40 goals and 10 assists) and has become the youngest player to hit that mark – knocking Aussie icon Kerr, who has spent time with Sky Blue FC and the Chicago Red Stars, down the pecking order.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR SMITH?

    Smith will be hoping to maintain high standards through the rest of the calendar year, with there plenty for her to play for. While looking to chase down NWSL honours, she is also expected to make Emma Hayes’ squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Fast bowlers give Sri Lanka hope against upbeat New Zealand

The hosts have already named their XI, with Neil Wagner returning to a bowling attack containing Ajaz Patel as its lone spinner

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando in Wellington14-Dec-2018Big PictureThis is a Test between a team ranked No. 6 that has just been walloped 3-0 at home, and a No. 4 side that has just returned from a 2-1 triumph overseas. That the series takes place in the the higher-ranked outfit’s own conditions further underlines who the favourites here are.There is stability for New Zealand. There is a highly-rated captain who has been in the job for almost three years. There is a well-heeled and confident attack. A solid top order. A reliable backroom. They’ve travelled across continents since their last Test, and arrived at the Basin Reserve where, by Kane Williamson’s own estimation, the conditions they will encounter are the “polar opposite” to those last week in Abu Dhabi, and yet, they have made only one change to the XI, switching out the offspinner William Somerville for the fast bowler Neil Wagner. You get the feeling there is a plan at work here. That they are building to something. Perhaps something special.The visitors, meanwhile, are scrambling. The poor returns against England first cost the selectors their jobs. The fielding coach and batting coach have also since been told they will be replaced. In truth, Sri Lanka’s Test record over the past 18 months is not all that awful – they’ve won series against South Africa, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and drawn a series in the West Indies. But being whitewashed at home by England last month has stung. The whole system suddenly seems a little shaken. Now, they are in a country where they last won a Test 12 years ago, and where they have been more-or-less thumped in four matches this decade.There is, however, a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka, and that is their young, exciting seam-bowling battery. The last time Sri Lanka fielded three frontline quicks in a match, as they are almost certain to do in Wellington, they blasted out West Indies for 93 in Barbados, overturning a first-innings deficit, and setting up a win. Lahiru Kumara, the quickest in Sri Lanka’s ranks, took 17 wickets at less than 20 apiece in that series. Kasun Rajitha seamed the ball viciously in his first two matches. Dushmantha Chameera, meanwhile, has already had one good tour of New Zealand, back in 2015-16.But so infrequently do Sri Lanka play on seam-friendly tracks, it is difficult to gauge how good these bowlers actually are. Will they really be menacing and dynamic? Or will Williamson and co. wear them down, then exploit their inexperience? Sri Lanka have to hope they have some special young talents in their side. Form and proven quality are decidedly with New Zealand. All that remains to the visitors is surprise.Form guideSri Lanka LLLWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WLWDWHenry Nicholls shows off his leg-side game•Getty ImagesIn the spotlightHenry Nicholls had skated by on a modest average for the first 16 Tests of his career, but 2018 might just be the making of the man. He made 145 not out against England, in Auckland, to begin the year, but it was in the UAE last month that he truly blossomed, making scores of 55 and 77 before his outstanding match-turning second-innings 126 not out in the company of Williamson, in Abu Dhabi. A good series at home to follow an excellent one overseas would help cement a burgeoning reputation as a reliable middle-order batsman.Of Sri Lanka’s batsmen, only opener Dimuth Karunaratne has a hundred in New Zealand – his 152 in Christchurch at the end of 2014. He also comes into the series with a little batting form, having made 256 runs at 42.66 against England, after having dominated the home series against South Africa earlier in the year. Now the team’s vice-captain, Sri Lanka will look to him for some serious stability against the new ball, because it is a shaky middle order that he is protecting.Team newsNew Zealand have named their XI. They will go with the tried-and-tested pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, with Ajaz Patel as the sole specialist spinner.New Zealand: 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Trent BoultSri Lanka’s line-up is a little tougher to predict. Danushka Gunathilaka probably played himself into an opening spot with a second-innings 83 in the practice match. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara are likely to be the first seamers chosen, with Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera fighting for the third seamer’s spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka , 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt), 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru KumaraPitch and conditionsThe pitch was barely distinguishable from the outfield on the eve of the match, but the general trend for Basin Reserve surfaces is that they dry out after day two and become very good for batting on days three and four.Stats and trivia Kane Williamson averages 91.88 after 12 innings against Sri Lanka. This is his highest average against any Test nation. After his ton in the second innings in Abu Dhabi, he also only needs one more century to become the first New Zealand batsman to make 20 tons. Sri Lanka have lost each of their last five Tests against New Zealand – four of them in New Zealand, and one in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s most recent win in New Zealand came at the Basin Reserve, back in 2006. New Zealand will become the No. 2 ranked team in the world if they win the series 2-0. Quotes”You do as much homework as you can, but there’s some bowlers some guys haven’t seen. That’s the beauty of international cricket, in that you do see other countries’ depth. We know that by all accounts there is a really talented fast bowling group in the Sri Lankan side. I’m sure they’re really excited to get into the Test tomorrow. .”New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Sri Lanka’s pace battery
“Straight after the series finished against Englnad we had three or four practice sessions. We knew that when we came to New Zealand we’d definitely get grassy pitches. We kept grass on our pitches and had really good preparation.”Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal

Para o Flamengo, derrota no Fla-Flu vai além de 45 minutos desastrosos

MatériaMais Notícias

Arrascaeta foi curto e grosso na saída do Fla-Flu da última quarta-feira, em entrevista à “Rede Globo”: “Não merece ser campeão”. A fala do uruguaio simboliza e escancara que a derrota de virada para o Fluminense, por 2 a 1, vai além dos três pontos perdidos na briga pelo título brasileiro e dos 45 minutos desastrosos no segundo tempo, quando o Tricolor marcou os gols.

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O desabafo do uruguaio vai ao encontro de atuações inconsistentes de um time que não tem apresentado repertório capaz de permear cenários distintos ao longo dos jogos e ser imponente com organização. O segundo tempo contra o Fluminense, por exemplo, acentuou as recorrentes mexidas improdutivas deRogério Ceni – como recuar Willian Arão para a zaga.

E dá para dizer que a desorganização no decorrer dos jogos foi uma tônica dos dois últimos tropeços do Flamengo, mesmo com semanas cheias para treinar, o que é alarmante e não condiz com os méritos necessários por uma taça que coroa a regularidade.

O trabalho de Ceni, hoje, reflete mais pontos negativos do que positivos. Se por um lado o time consegue ter volume de jogo no campo adversário e criar chances forçando erro dos rivais, por outro, não sê constância e efetividade nos dois tempos de jogo. Outro ponto que nada contra a maré é o de insistentes falhas do sistema defensivo, independente de erros individuais, pesados significativamente na balança pelo treinador:

-Tivemos ótimas chance de ampliar, e o Fluminense veio para jogar bola na área de qualquer lugar, e assim conseguiu o primeiro gol, em uma falta. Sofrendo gols dessa maneira fica difícil, realmente.Tivemos falhas grandes no jogo, e por isso perdemos. De resto, posse, finalizações… fora isso não tenho como explicar – salientou Ceni, em entrevista coletiva.

OUTROS ALARMES

Ontem, apesar de ter finalizado 19 vezes e ter trocado673 passes (com precisão de86%, segundo dados do “Sofascore”), o Flamengo demonstrou linhas descompactadas, um time exposto e que ainda está distante de ter uma saída de bola à altura da qualidade de seu plantel. Contra o Fortaleza, mesmo num ritmo ainda mais lento, o panorama foi parecido.

Vai ser necessário Ceni driblar a pressão e os números ruins (aproveitamento de 48.5% e apenas quatro vitórias em 11 jogos) para mostrar que o seu dedo é compatível com a missão de, primeiro, evoluir com as fragilidades afloradas e, depois (aproveitando a fala de Arrascaeta), fazer por merecer o título, uma vez que osalarmes vistos contra o Flu estão longe de ser pontuais. Vão além.

O PRÓXIMO JOGO

Agora, o Flamengo volta a campo neste domingo, dia 10 de janeiro. Pela 29ª rodada do Brasileirão, o Rubro-Negro recebe o Ceará no Maracanã, às 16h.

> Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Com 49 pontos, o time de Ceni segue a sete pontos de distância do líder São Paulo, que perdeu para o Red Bull Bragantino nesta quarta e está com 56 pontos. O Atlético-MG, que também tem 49, não atuará neste meio de semana.

Ten Hag could drop 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 23x vs Newcastle

It has been a rough month for Manchester United as despite being the in-form team in the Premier League at one point, they have managed to throw away what looked to be a comfortable win against Galatasaray and, perhaps even worse, fell to a humbling 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle United on the weekend.

Now, usually, a 1-0 loss is nothing to sound the alarm about, but it was the manner in which the Red Devils lost, as they were resoundingly beaten on the night and had the Toon had their shooting boots on, it could have, and maybe should have, ended four or five nil.

It is hard to pick out the worst player from Saturday's performance – which is never a good sign – but one starter who certainly has a claim to that most unwanted of accolades is Diogo Dalot.

Diogo Dalot's game in numbers vs Newcastle

The Portuguese full-back started at left-back for the game, which saw Luke Shaw move into the centre of defence – a decision The Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell claims Ten Hag made to signal his desire for a new left-footed centre-back.

Well, whatever the reason, the decision backfired horribly and led to a performance that Whitwell described as the "worst of the season."

Dalot was one of the chief architects of the abysmal showing and, for that, was given a very generous 4/10 match rating from Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.

Diogo Dalot

His individual statistics for the match do not make for pretty reading in the slightest, with the worst of them all being that he lost the ball 23 times, which is a statistic so genuinely woeful for a Premier League player that it is almost impressive – almost.

The former Porto man played for the full 99 minutes, meaning he lost the ball on average, every four minutes – no wonder Anthony Gordon's goal originated from Dalot's side.

99

0.01

4

1

9 (4)

2 (1)

23

59%

2 (0)

2 (0)

The reasons why Diogo Dalot must be dropped vs Chelsea

While Hen Hag might be set on making his point about the team's need for a left-footed centre-back, playing Shaw there and keeping Dalot on the left is likely a faster way to get his p45 than it is a new defender.

With how woeful the Braga-born full-back was on Saturday, the Dutchman must relent and go back to playing Shaw in his natural position against Chelsea this evening, as while there is a questionable level of quality in this team, the Englishman is undeniably one of the best in the league in his position.

He was chosen to start on the left of a back four against Everton at the end of November, and guess what? The Red Devils emerged from that game as 3-0 winners, and despite some nervous moments here and there, they generally looked the better side over 90 minutes.

The former Southampton defender had a great game at Goodison Park as well and was suitably praised for it, with Samuel Luckhurst giving him an eight out of ten and arguing that he 'made a huge difference to the balance of the defence and provided some dynamism in attack.'

His individual statistics from the game also make for much nicer reading than Dalot's, as, most notably, the 28-year-old did not lose the ball 23 times.

76

0.01

3

1

4 (3)

2 (2)

9

80%

1 (1)

Ultimately, ten Hag's side are going through a tumultuous period, and while Shaw is unlikely to come in and set the world ablaze like some hope he will, the increasingly under-pressure manager can at least rely on him to not lose the ball every four minutes.

With Mauricio Pochettino's Blues coming to Old Trafford later today, that defensive alteration must take place.

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