Category: 6. Sports

Muhammad Asif’s quest for a gold medal at the World Games came to an end on Wednesday as he was defeated 2-0 by China’s Zhao Guodong in the snooker semi-finals.

Despite a valiant effort, the 36-year-old from Pakistan was unable to overcome Zhao, ranked 14th in the world, who clinched a straightforward win.

Asif, who had been in excellent form throughout the competition, will now shift his focus to the bronze medal match. Although this semi-final defeat marked the end of his hopes for a final appearance, Asif’s performance up until this point had been nothing short of impressive.

Earlier in the week, Asif had shown his skill and resilience in the quarter-finals, where he comfortably dispatched Britain’s Zac Cosker. Asif dominated both frames, securing a 79-15 win in the first and following it up with an 89-31 victory in the second, thanks to a powerful break of 51 points.

The World Games, taking place in Chengdu, China, have brought together over 4,000 athletes from across the globe, competing in 34 disciplines.

Snooker, which has been part of the Games since 2001, continues to provide a platform for top cueists to showcase their talent, with 12 players vying for the coveted gold medal this year.

Asif, a seasoned campaigner and former IBSF World champion, had earned his place at the World Games after a stellar performance in the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship last year in Doha.

His success continued with a victory in the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship in Bahrain last month, where he triumphed 4-3 over India’s Brijesh Damani to secure his sixth world title.

Asif will now look to finish strong in the bronze medal match, aiming to add to Pakistan’s medal history in the sport.

The 2023-24 season finished at Anfield with Jurgen Klopp singing Arne Slot’s name, the following campaign with the Dutchman returning the compliment. Well he might. It always appeared that Slot’s inheritance at Liverpool was an enviable one. It turned out it was even better than most realised. After a summer of transfer market inactivity last season, defined by an inability to recruit Martin Zubimendi, Slot cruised to the title.

Of the 418 Premier League starts for Liverpool in the campaign, just one – by Federico Chiesa in May’s defeat to Brighton – was made by anyone signed in Slot’s reign. And even then, not really by Slot.

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In some ways, there will not be a repeat. In others, there could be. Liverpool were third favourites 12 months ago. Now, after a summer of spending and following a campaign when they lost just two league games before becoming champions, they are. If the crown is retained, it will be Slot’s side.

Last year, in contrast, Klopp’s successor seemed to follow in the footsteps of Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, who all won their first league titles with the aid of continuity and with groups broadly assembled by others.

Now the scale of the overhaul is such that Liverpool 2.0, to borrow Klopp’s phrase, may only be a two-season affair: the German’s last and the Dutchman’s first. This looks something different, albeit shaped by a recruitment team who are a throwback to Liverpool’s recent past, with the sporting director Richard Hughes handpicked by the returning Michael Edwards and a strong Bundesliga influence.

For owners Fenway Sports Group, austerity can permit expenditure. Neither they nor Slot can be accused of a lack of ambition this summer. It remains to be seen if it produces Alexander Isak, who would give them a scarily good forward line. A £110m offer would make for a club record deal. As it is, Liverpool have already made a signing that, if add-ons are triggered, would break the current British record, with Florian Wirtz’s £100m move having the potential to come to £116m. Besides bringing in a player who could prove Anfield’s creator-in-chief for a decade, there was a significance in one of Germany’s leading talents rejecting Bayern Munich for Liverpool.

There have been times when Liverpool had looked to be shopping in cheaper markets than some of the European elite. Not now. The pecking order had seemed entrenched when Trent Alexander-Arnold followed the familiar path from Anfield to Real Madrid. There is now a legitimate question where Liverpool figure among the continental superpowers: after all, they topped the Champions League group stage last season, beating Real, only to exit the competition in the last 16, albeit to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

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But Alexander-Arnold’s replacement Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez constitute a pair of new full-backs; evidence of Andy Robertson’s decline came even amid the team’s outstanding form. Whether or not Isak arrives, Liverpool have a searingly quick striker who should make them still more devastating on the break, in the £69m Hugo Ekitike, who has made a hugely encouraging start. Such moves have been funded in part by Hughes’ capacity to command excellent prices for departing players like Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton.

But the rebuilding started with two who stayed, the makeover with the constants. Liverpool lingered in limbo last year, unsure if they would lose Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk as well as Alexander-Arnold. There was a scenario in which they were substantially weaker now and much of the transfer budget had to be devoted to a right winger and a centre-back. Instead, they kept both and if it may be unfair to expect the Egyptian to replicate last season’s contribution of 28 goals and 19 assists in the Premier League alone, he and Van Dijk can continue to defy the years.

That said, a squad with enviable talent in some departments may look slightly short of depth in others. Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen leaves Liverpool with only three specialist centre-backs, which cost them the last time they tried to defend the Premier League title. While Rio Ngumoha’s emergence has been a highlight of pre-season, the winger is still only 16. In attack, Liverpool have quality, but perhaps not quantity.

It reflects the tragedy of their summer, one that is both inescapable and yet which, for obvious reasons, feels difficult to discuss. A beloved husband, father and figure around the club first and foremost, the loss of Diogo Jota in a car crash also robbed Liverpool of a very fine footballer with a priceless ability to find space in the penalty box. No one can say what psychological effects there will be from the sudden loss of him. It would be understandable if they take a toll on individuals or the team as a whole.

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Many of the footballing questions look answered. A few others remain: if Liverpool can show the consistency they did when going 25 games unbeaten in the top flight last season or if Slot, who operated with a small core, can rotate more if they need to peak later in the campaign or how Dominik Szoboszlai responds to the arrival of Wirtz. Another was added by the Community Shield: if Liverpool are too open defensively and too likely to concede as they search for a new blend to include their attacking additions.

But past Liverpool sides used to marry transition with glory. This one looks to record a rare feat. Apart from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, no one has retained the English title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in 2009. No Liverpool side has since Fagan, following Paisley, did so in 1984. That team won the European Cup, too. And, fresh from their buying, that will be a target for Liverpool now.

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – He had all the excuse to sit out, but Sergio El Darwich simply didn’t want to.

The star guard chose to brave through a broken nose and fight in the trenches with his brothers-in-arms instead, and that sacrifice paid off as Lebanon turned their fortunes around in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.

From losing twice in a row to end the Group Phase, the Cedars are marching on to the Quarter-Finals following a massive beatdown of Japan on Tuesday night, ensuring that their title hopes remain very much alive.

“We’ve been through ups and downs a lot in this tournament, especially me, myself,” he said after their 97-73 victory at the King Abdullah Sports City. “I got injured. I broke my nose. I’m playing through a broken nose.”

“But anything for my team, anything for my national team,” the 29-year-old added.

El Darwich got hurt mere seconds into their eventual defeat to reigning champs Australia last Wednesday never to return, although he managed to compete against Korea the following game albeit with a protective mask.

He actually had 13 points against their East Asian foes but all that went for naught as they got overpowered from deep early on, and could only make the gap respectable late before bowing to a 97-86 result.

Losing in back-to-back fashion inevitably caused skeptics to be all the more critical of the 2022 silver medalists’ chances in this tournament, but if anything, that loss to the Koreans served as a wake-up call of sorts.

Thus, the conscious effort on the part of El Darwich in helping set the tone early, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the opening frame that saw him nail back-to-back three-pointers to lead a 10-0 run for a 19-12 lead.

And that run was all they needed to seize control. The Japanese struggled to keep up as Team Lebanon began to pull away late in the second chapter before completely breaking the game wide open after the break.

“Thankfully today, we showed out, and we played our best basketball,” he said. “We knew Japan is a great, great team, and we had to limit their three-point shots, and stop their key players, and that’s what we did.”

El Darwich’s solid start highlighted as well how much of a difference was the guard play between the two teams, as the Lebanese received remarkable contributions from their other tried and tested backcourt pieces.

Karim Zeinoun, for one, finished with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Amir Saoud had 12 points as well alongside 5 assists, while Ali Mansour dished out 15 of their 29 assists on top of his 5 points and 6 rebounds.

For the 2024-25 Lebanese D1 Men’s Basketball Championship MVP, all that was a by-product of their eagerness to turn it up a notch, most specifically on defense after allowing Korea to drop 22 shots from beyond the arc.

“I’m telling you, we were very focused. We came to the game, we knew the intensity we had to put on defense,” said El Darwich, who chalked up 5 steals – the most by any player in this year’s competition.

“Against Korea, they scored a lot of three points against us. We were very loose on defense. So thankfully, we were very serious about it, and very locked in and showed it on defense before offense,” he furthered.

El Darwich couldn’t have picked a more opportune time to perform, for he will find himself competing against some of the Japan players as he’s headed to the B.League next season after signing with the Sendai 89ers.

“I told him, Imma see them guys in Japan,” he said, as he shared a dap with opposing big man Josh Hawkinson, who’s playing for the Sun Rockers Shibuya, in the mixed zone shortly after the match.

“I’m happy we beat them,” he added, smiling, “and so now, I can go to Japan and maybe, do the same thing over there.”

But that, of course, is another story altogether as El Darwich remains focused on the task at hand, and that is gearing up for the Quarter-Finals where they will take on the 2022 bronze winners in New Zealand.

The two have fought seven times in FIBA play. But the Tall Blacks have the edge as they’ve won five times, the most recent of which was a 106-91 result during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.

Nonetheless, the University of Maine product is more than ready for the challenge against their unbeaten opponents, who swept their way into the Quarter-Finals after going 3-0 in Group D.

“It’s a great opportunity again to show out in front of our fans,” he said.

“New Zealand is a great, great team. They’ve been unbeaten in this tournament. But we’re gonna play our basketball, bring our intensity, and hopefully we can get the win,” El Darwich added.

FIBA

The 2025/26 Premier League season gets underway on Friday to kick off what will likely turn into yet another three-way fight for the league title.

Liverpool ended Manchester City’s four-year reign last term as Arne Slot became the seventh Premier League manager to win the trophy in their first season in charge.

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After winning an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles, Pep Guardiola’s side had to settle for a dismal third place, while Arsenal finished runners-up for a third year on the spin.

Despite halting a 17-year title drought with an impressive Europa League triumph, Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a shocking 17th-place finish, while beaten finalists Manchester United fared slightly better in 15th.

Both teams are desperate for vast improvement in 2025/26 as we preview the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Title Favourites

Liverpool’s league victory last season was nothing short of emphatic. As such, they’re the leading candidates to go back-to-back for the first time in the Premier League era.

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A heartbreaking loss of Diogo Jota has left an unfulfilling gap in the hearts of the Reds faithful. However, it will be an added motivation for the Anfield club to rally and push even harder for success this season.

Determined to follow Man City’s example and build a dynasty of their own, Liverpool broke the club’s transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of £100 million plus add-ons.

Widely considered among the world’s finest talents, Wirtz will join forces with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz in attack, making the Reds’ unstoppable frontline even more formidable.

Jeremie Frimpong has arrived as a long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Milos Kerkez should be the new first-choice left-back in Slot’s new-look line-up.

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Despite significant personnel changes, Liverpool are exceptionally well-equipped and will be the team to beat.

Genuine Contenders

Can Mikel Arteta lead Arsenal to their first league title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ is a million-dollar question.

After three successive second-place finishes, the Gunners have strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi.

However, Arteta’s men desperately lack a prolific goalscorer. Unless they sign Victor Gyokeres, they risk another campaign of near-misses and unfulfilled potential.

Unlike Arsenal, no one would dare to question Man City’s title pedigree, even though they’re coming off their first trophyless season since Guardiola’s maiden campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

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The Cityzens have one of the best managers of all time and a star-studded squad, and after last season’s sobering experience, they will likely return hungrier than ever to stake their claim top of the Premier League table.

With Erling Braut Haaland leading the line, goals should not be an issue for Man City, while they can rely on newcomers Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders to shoulder the creative burden.

Top-Four Race

If there’s a side capable of disrupting the ‘natural order’ at the top, it’s Chelsea.

The reigning Europa Conference League holders continued to thrive under Enzo Maresca, as they hoisted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

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Joao Pedro has seamlessly slotted into the new team. Cole Palmer’s standout showings in North America renewed the club’s optimism after the youngster’s rough patch in the second half of last season.

Liam Delap and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will add to Chelsea’s firepower and further establish them as not just genuine top-four contenders but potential title dark horses.

Whether Man Utd and Tottenham can keep pace remains to be seen, especially after last season’s fiasco, but it would be disrespectful and naive to omit them from the list.

Like every year, Man Utd fans hope this could be their season, yet they would be well-advised not to hold their breath.

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The Red Devils need an attacking leader, a goalscoring machine to reinvigorate their misfiring frontline, and expectations will be high for Matheus Cunha.

However, it’s hard to expect one man to turn around the team’s fortunes. Ruben Amorim will probably need a collective effort to restore United’s status among England’s elite.

Elsewhere, Ange Postecoglou lost his job despite delivering the first piece of silverware to Spurs since 2008, with ex-Brentford boss Thomas Frank taking over.

Spurs have been relatively quiet during the transfer window, with Mohammed Kudus remaining the only high-profile acquisition.

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Whether he will be enough to re-establish Tottenham as top-four contenders remains uncertain.

Relegation Battle

Relegation places were all decided long before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but that’s been a common theme in recent Premier League memory.

All three newly promoted clubs suffered the drop for the second season in a row, with Southampton barely avoiding the ignominy of recording the lowest point haul in the division’s history.

Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland will try to change the narrative in 2025/26 and buck this trend. However, history is not on their side, and neither are the odds.

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Uncontrolled summer spending may not save the promoted sides, as a third consecutive season in which all three promoted teams return immediately to the second tier could be on the cards.

This alarming pattern raises concerns about the growing gulf between the Premier League and the Championship, and it’s up to the hat-trick of promoted teams to stop the rot.

Golden Boot

Salah dominated all the charts last term. With 29 goals and 18 assists, he was the Premier League’s top scorer and leading provider.

As the Egyptian superstar turned 33 in June, it’s hard to expect another record-smashing campaign. However, it’s impossible to rule the four-time Golden Boot winner out of the race.

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Only a handful of players have consistently been at Salah’s level, and Haaland is undoubtedly up there.

The Norwegian finished third last year with 22 goals after winning the awards in his first two Premier League seasons, including a record-breaking 2022/23 campaign.

Alexander Isak stood between the pair in 2024/25, and with Newcastle United setting the highest goals for the upcoming season, he should be in the mix.

It would be exciting to see if anyone can truly challenge these goalscoring giants this season.

Joao Pedro could be a surprise pick if his early life at Stamford Bridge is anything to go by.

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All Premier League Team Season Previews

• Arsenal 2025/26 Season Preview

• Aston Villa 2025/26 Season Preview

• Bournemouth 2025/26 Season Preview

• Brentford 2025/26 Season Preview

• Brighton 2025/26 Season Preview

• Burnley 2025/26 Season Preview

• Chelsea 2025/26 Season Preview

• Crystal Palace 2025/26 Season Preview

• Everton 2025/26 Season Preview

• Fulham 2025/26 Season Preview

• Leeds United 2025/26 Season Preview

• Liverpool 2025/26 Season Preview

• Manchester City 2025/26 Season Preview

• Manchester United 2025/26 Season Preview

• Newcastle United 2025/26 Season Preview

• Nottingham Forest 2025/26 Season Preview

• Sunderland 2025/26 Season Preview

• Tottenham Hotspur 2025/26 Season Preview

• West Ham 2025/26 Season Preview

• Wolves 2025/26 Season Preview

The 2025 Chengdu World Games are set to feature another thrilling duathlon action, with the two individual races and the 2×2 mixed relay scheduled for the second week of competition in China. Held at the scenic Xinglong Lake, this year’s course is designed to test the athletes’ versatility with hard and hilly bike courses and flat and technical run segments. With a diverse international field and a mix of seasoned champions and promising newcomers from development countries, the duathlon promises another unforgettable competition.

The elite men’s and women’s duathlon races will take place on back-to-back days, starting Thursday, 14 August with the men at 8am local time and running through to Friday, 15 August at the same time for women. The 2×2 Mixed Relay will close the duathlon program on Sunday, 17 August at 8am.

The course features a 5km flat, fast lake-shore run — perfect for early race momentum — with two laps around Xinglong Lake, nestled within one of the world’s largest urban parks. The 30km bike segment includes five laps of a technically demanding, hilly circuit, challenging athletes’ skills and resilience under rising temperatures. The athletes will finish with another 5km run, returning to the lake shore to cross the finish line in front of cheering spectators at the grandstands.

Men’s Race Preview:
The men’s competition is open with a top contender in reigning World Champion Benjamin Choquert (FRA), who has found fresh motivation in this year’s shorter format after finishing in second place at the 2024, 2023 World Championships and the 2022 Birmingham World Games. His compatriots, Thomas Laurent and Krilan Le Bihan, are both experienced and fast duathletes with multiple titles, making them serious threats and always dangerous opponents. France’s trio has shown great form, and their tactical acumen could play a decisive role in this challenging course.

Another athlete aiming for the victory is Javier Martin Morales from Spain, a former World Champion (2024) and one of the circuit’s fastest runners. Having finished fourth this year at the World Championships despite having raced at home, he’s been honing his skills to adapt to the new format, positioning himself as a strong podium contender.

Belgium’s Arnaud Dely, the silver medallist of 2025, has been in Chengdu for the past ten days, working hard to acclimate to the extreme heat conditions. His experience and speed will surely make him one to watch during the race.

On the start list, athletes from five continents will be represented, including newcomers making their debut at the World Games duathlon. These include Mickael Chaumond from Cambodia, Abdulrahman Alghamdi from Saudi Arabia, Albion Ymeri from Kosovo, Bolor-Erdene Enkhtaivan from Mongolia, and Eric Anel Acosta Tuñon from Panama. The diverse lineup reflects the sport’s growing global reach and the exciting new talent coming onto the scene.

Women’s Race Preview:
The women’s race is now more open than ever after the last-minute withdrawal of defending World Champion Marion Legrand (FRA) due to injury. 

One of the main athletes to watch is Maria Varo Zubiri from Spain, who is in excellent form and claimed silver at the 2025 World Championships. Known for her exceptional running, she will undoubtedly be a key factor in the race to the finish. Mexican athlete Anahi Alvarez Corral is another standout, boasting the fastest 5km split of all the women’s competitors. If she can hold her pace on the bike, she could pose a serious challenge for the podium.

Belgium’s Jeanne Dupont and Lisa Isebaert are both consistently fast runners with extensive experience on demanding courses. Their tactical racing and endurance could be decisive. Germany’s Nelly Rassmann, who has podiumed in several longer duathlon formats, will also be worth observing on this shorter, more intense circuit.

Adding to the excitement, several nations will make their debut at the duathlon world stage in the women’s category, including Singapore, with three representatives—Xuan Jie Ng and Man Yun Yong—and local favorites China, fielding Ziqing Lu and Zhengyu Duan. Their participation highlights the event’s expanding global appeal and the emergence of new talent.

2×2 Mixed Relay Preview: 

The 2×2 Mixed Relay at the 2025 Chengdu World Games will feature a total of 20 teams competing for ultimate glory. This exciting new format will see six nations making their debut at this competition at the World Games: China, Colombia, Spain, Germany, Iran, and Slovakia, showcasing the sport’s expanding global reach.

However, the reigning World and World Games champion, France, will not be competing this year following the withdrawal of reigning women’s champion Marion Legrand. This absence creates an open field, increasing the competitiveness of the event and providing a golden opportunity for strong teams like Belgium, Spain, Germany, and China, among others, to seize the victory and etch their names into duathlon history at the World Games.

You can check the full start lists HERE

Watch the competitions LIVE on the World Games website (restrictions might apply in certain countries)

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Bevan

BBC Sport journalist

You already know about the Premier League’s established superstars but what about the wildcards who might make a name for themselves this season?

Whether they are new and recent signings, late bloomers or exciting young academy talents, we are talking about the less familiar faces of all ages who are hoping for a breakout campaign.

Here, BBC Sport’s TV and radio commentators pick 21 players who will be worth watching out for in the next few months – and a manager who may surprise a few people too.

1. Estevao Willian – Chelsea

Age: 18 Position: Winger Country: Brazil

Image source, Getty Images

Conor McNamara: I commentated on Estevao’s debut for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen last week and the kid is a star.

He showed an excellent poachers’ instinct to score his first goal in Chelsea blue, reacting well after Cole Palmer’s shot had come back off the crossbar – but Estevao’s game is all about running with the ball at high speed.

He only turned 18 in April, but the Brazilian looks the real deal.

It’s early days of course, but he already seems to have a telepathy with Palmer – when the England international backheeled the ball on the edge of the area against Leverkusen, Estevao knew it was coming and got his shot away.

Mark Scott: I’m commentating at the Bridge on Sunday and Estevao is the player I’m most excited about seeing.

Regarded by many as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinicius Junior, he gave Chelsea fans a taste of his ability with a cracker against them at the Club World Cup, and has since impressed in a blue shirt with a sparkling showing in the friendly win over Leverkusen.

That electric performance showcased the abilities that have led to all the hype – immense quality on the ball and extreme confidence and flair driving at defenders with it.

Estevao is versatile as well, able to play on either flank or as a number 10. Chelsea’s plan was to ease him in gradually, but they might have to re-think that…

2. Joel Piroe – Leeds United

Age: 26 Position: Striker Country: Netherlands

Image source, Getty Images

Guy Mowbray: The very definition of a wildcard, given that he can look like he can do it all AND the total opposite – sometimes within the same game.

I’ve a feeling Leeds will have brought in a new striker to start ahead of him before the big kick-off, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come on as an impact sub to get them a point or two early in the season.

3. Cristhian Mosquera – Arsenal

Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Country: Spain

Image source, Getty Images

James Fielden: All of my picks come from the Uefa age-group championships that I covered in the summer and Mosquera looked largely untroubled throughout at the Under-21s tournament in Slovakia.

A front foot and aggressive defender when need be, he was extremely confident stepping forward and helping in attack. With recovery pace to help in rare situations of Spanish panic, he sounds like Mikel Arteta’s kind of player.

Whether he can dislodge the established elite at Emirates Stadium is another matter, but Arsenal have had injury issues in the middle of defence, and he’s only missed three games for Valencia over the last two seasons. For a reported fee of £13m, he looks to be a low risk and potentially high reward acquisition.

4. Dan Ndoye – Nottingham Forest

Age: 24 Position: Forward or winger Country: Switzerland

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Bower: Dan Ndoye is new to the Premier League and could be another shrewd piece of business from Nottingham Forest.

He first came to my attention in the Europa Conference League for Basel and subsequently on to the Champions League with Bologna.

I’ve also covered a fair bit of Switzerland for BBC Sport at the last two major tournaments and he has steadily grown into a crucial player for his country.

After the departure of Anthony Elanga, Ndoye looks an exciting replacement for Forest fans. At 24, he has good experience and looks ready for the Premier League.

5. El Hadji Malick Diouf – West Ham

Age: 20 Position: Left-back or left wing-back Country: Senegal

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Dennis: There were a number of Senegal players who caught the eye when they beat England at the City Ground in June but none more so than El Hadji Malick Diouf.

During my commentary for 5 Live that night I’d mentioned interest from Brighton and Hove Albion so I’m not surprised to see him in the Premier League and West Ham have a real gem.

Diouf can play as a left-back or a wing-back, has an ability to get up and down. He is a dynamic player with excellent crossing ability and somebody who will offer a real threat in an attacking sense.

He scored seven goals for Slavia Prague last season and I think he will become a real crowd favourite at West Ham.

6. Emmanuel Agbadou – Wolves

Age: 28 Position: Centre-back Country: Ivory Coast

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Gayle: For me, Emmanuel Agbadou was one of the Premier League’s best signings during the January transfer window. Wolves had to strengthen defensively and, in the Ivorian, they managed to more than fulfil the need for a top-quality centre-half vacated by Max Kilman’s departure five months earlier.

Agbadou’s reading of the game and positioning, combined with a heavyweight boxer build and the athleticism of a gymnast, made him one of the league’s toughest opponents in a one-v-one situation.

What also stood out was his confidence. Inside his own box he can happily receive the ball and turn while under pressure, spray long-range passes, and drive with possession way past the halfway line. This nonchalant style helped enable Pereira’s side to play much more aggressively over the second half of the campaign.

His transition to the English top flight is a sharp poke in the eye to anyone who continues to view Ligue 1 as a ‘Farmer’s League’. I’m convinced the Agbadou fan club will only grow bigger this season, especially if he continues taking goal-kicks, helping conjure ‘proper Sunday league’ vibes.

7. Simon Adingra – Sunderland

Age: 23 Position: Winger Country: Ivory Coast

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Pearce: I wish Simon Adingra well at Sunderland. This talented Ivorian had a really good first season at Brighton, famously scoring at Ajax to send the travelling fans there into delirium.

He started last season well too, with four goals in his first eight games, but then the confidence in his tricky dribbling fell away. He seemed to be trying almost too hard to hold off the challenge from Yankuba Minteh for his place and performances suffered.

I hope Sunderland fans are excited by him. £18m is not a lot for a player who deserves to succeed in his fresh start

8. Jhon Arias – Wolves

Age: 27 Position: Winger or attacking midfielder Country: Colombia

Image source, Reuters

Conor McNamara: I was in the United States for the Club World Cup and Jhon Arias was one of the standout players of the tournament as he played his final games for his old club Fluminense, picking up three player-of-the-match awards.

He is 27, so should be at his peak, old enough to not be overawed by the Premier League stage.

The Colombian will take the No.10 shirt vacated by Matheus Cunha. He scored his first goal in Wolves’ colours in a recent friendly against Girona showing excellent dribbling skills to run deep into the penalty area before shooting from close range.

Arias is my top tip of this summer’s new signings to be a big hit.

9. Diego Coppola – Brighton

Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Country: Italy

Image source, Getty Images

James Fielden: I saw Coppola play twice at the European Under-21 Championship in the summer and it was against Spain and Germany, so good games to judge him against top teams.

Brighton had clearly done their homework previous to the Euros with the deal announced mid-competition, and you can see why they’re ready to drop him into their evolving backline.

Strong and commanding in the middle, Coppola was also keen to play out over short and long distances and that, along with other metrics clearly impressed the Seagulls.

10. Romain Esse – Crystal Palace

Age: 20 Position: Midfield Country: England

Image source, Rex Features

Mark Scott: There was a buzz when Palace made Romain Esse their latest youthful acquisition from the Championship in January. That excitement grew after he bagged his first Premier League goal 25 seconds into his debut, but game time proved limited after that.

It’s tough to dislodge Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr in attack, but Esse showed while he was at Millwall how good he can be at both taking on opponents and crossing, as well as cutting in and getting a shot away.

Should Palace get through their Conference League play-off, the extra games in Europe will afford him more opportunities to display those attributes.

11. Harry Howell – Brighton

Age: 17 Position: Midfield Country: England

Image source, PA Media

Guy Mowbray: I must confess to never having seen him play… but he’s a name that’s been mentioned to me by quite a few people this summer – some of whom I consider to be VERY good judges!

As was once said about another teenager, external who made his mark on the Premier League – “remember the name”.

Jonathan Pearce: Brighton fans will be praying that Carlos Baleba stays put and that Yankuba Minteh continues his dramatic improvement. But there’s another youngster ready to leap off the Amex talent conveyor belt.

I was mightily impressed by Howell’s cameo debut in the penultimate game of last season. He helped win the game with his front foot, fearless, direct running at the opposition.

His cousin Jack Hinshelwood had a big breakthrough season last time around – 2025-26 could be the year for Harry.

12. Jair Cunha – Nottingham Forest

Age: 20 Position: Centre-back Country: Brazil

Image source, Getty Images

Conor McNamara: Jair Cunha was another player that I saw in action this summer at the Club World Cup. He’s 6ft 6in but is strong as well as tall – he is huge for a 20-year-old.

Cunha used his height to score a header for Botafago against Seattle Sounders, but it was his defensive calmness that caught the eye that day, even more than the goal he scored. He’s very comfortable taking the ball down and controlling it in tight spaces where others would just boot it clear.

Logic tells us that he should be raw, because he has played so little senior football in his short career so far – only 46 games so far – but this guy has a real presence about him. He was a key player in the Brazil team that won the Under-20 South American Championship this year.

13. Max Dowman – Arsenal

Age: 15 Position: Midfielder Country: England

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Dennis: I can’t wait to see Arsenal’s Max Dowman in the flesh because the last time I heard such a buzz around a youngster was Wayne Rooney.

I speak to a lot of scouts and I have heard rave reviews for a while about this ‘gifted’ attacking midfielder.

So much so, I spoke with Gunners midfielder Declan Rice about him last season, who at the time claimed “Max is the best 15-year-old in the country”.

It was March when I sat down with Rice, who said at the time he has been inundated with great reviews about the teenager, explaining: “I’ve had so many texts about Max recently where people have watched him and are saying “wow, what a talent”.

Dowman doesn’t turn 16 until 31 December but sounds the real deal.

James Fielden: Maybe not an original hot take that Dowman is going to be much talked about in years to come, but even having seen him play at the Uefa European Under-17 Championship this summer you can see why he’ll cause teams no end of problems wherever he plays off the front line.

One of a growing number of English players who glide across the field with grace that we’ve maybe not been used to seeing over the last couple of decades, it’ll be interesting to see what Arteta has planned for him, firstly in terms of game time beyond the domestic cups and also, the position in which he’ll be deployed.

Let’s hope he fulfils his potential and is managed carefully at domestic and international level.

14. Habib Diarra – Sunderland

Age: 21 Position: Midfielder Country: Senegal

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Guy Mowbray: Can a club record signing be classed as a ‘wildcard’? Well, given that Diarra will be new to most Premier League watchers, I’m putting him in that bracket.

Only 21, the midfielder – who Sunderland beat Leeds to sign – captained Strasbourg to European qualification last season, before scoring one of Senegal’s three goals against England at the City Ground in June.

His quality stood out when I went to watch Sunderland’s pre-season game against Sporting last month.

15. Rio Ngumoha – Liverpool

Age: 16 Position: Winger Country: England

Image source, EPA

Steve Bower: A few people within academy football told me about Rio Ngumoha over a year ago – tales of Chelsea’s anger at losing the teenager, and a big gain for Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s positive approach was immediate in involving him in first-team training and then we saw him become the youngest player to start a game for the club in January in the FA Cup.

He’s not 17 until the end of August but I know internally there’s huge excitement about him, and his goals in pre-season have heightened this.

Sometimes a young player sees an opportunity and, with Luis Diaz’s departure, Ngumoha looks set to be in the first-team group throughout the season.

Conor McNamara: Back in January I commentated for Match Of The Day when Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a match for Liverpool – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.

To make us all feel old, the song that was No.1 in the charts the day he was born was Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed A Girl’!

At the time he was so unknown that I needed Slot to help me pronounce his name correctly.

But that FA Cup appearance was his only first-team game and he never made the bench for a Premier League match through to the end of the campaign.

His form this pre-season suggests that should change this term. He is still very young and we know that competition for places will be severe at Anfield, but Ngumoha has a spark about him.

16. Thierno Barry – Everton

Age: 22 Position: Striker Country: France

Image source, Getty Images

Guy Mowbray: Having checked his numbers and seen a few clips online, I’m really hoping he can make a big – and quick – impact for Everton.

He’ll be raw certainly, but the talent is undoubtedly there for David Moyes to work with.

It’s about time Everton had a strong centre-forward who can consistently deliver again. Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Andy Gray, Duncan Ferguson… Thierno Barry?

And if he doesn’t fire – how about Beto to step up as a bit of a wildcard himself?!

17. Josh King – Fulham

Age: 18 Position: Midfield Country: England

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Gayle: The time feels right for Fulham to release the handbrake from underneath Josh King. As I wrote back in February, the club has a history of struggling to keep hold of prodigious talents, so it’s no surprise to see they’ve employed a more cautious, drip-feed approach when it comes to his development and exposure to first-team action.

Reading between the lines, the fact King signed a new long-term deal in July, his second contract agreement in the space of just over 18 months, says or in fact screams to me that a) there has been interest from other teams, and b) Fulham believe he is ‘Premier League ready’.

Securing top-flight game time won’t be easy, though. Right here and now, the experience of both Andreas Pereira and club record signing Emile Smith Rowe, means they have a far greater claim to the number 10 position than the teenager.

Still, I have no doubt assurances will have been made to King regarding a significant increase in Premier League minutes over the coming year. Manager Marco Silva knows their demanding schedule will inevitably lead to the youngster being granted a ‘next man up’ moment. Given his impressive cameos to date, I expect King to flourish when given an opportunity.

18. Jaka Bijol – Leeds United

Age: 26 Position: Centre-back Country: Slovenia

Image source, Getty Images

Conor McNamara: Leeds’ new centre-back from Udinese is a very interesting signing. I’ve been wondering for a few years now why a Champions League club has not snapped him up.

His one failing seems to be a tendency to mis-time lunging tackles, something he will need to get right in the cut and thrust of the Premier League, but otherwise he appears to have all the attributes – very strong in the air, mobile, and able to ping an accurate long-range pass.

I commentated on several of his games for Slovenia at last summer’s Euros in Germany, and he did really well in games against strikers such as Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund, Alexander Mitrovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo – none of them scored in their games against Bijol during the tournament.

19. Harrison Armstrong – Everton

Age: 18 Position: Midfield Country: England

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Bower: Given Everton’s frustrations in the summer market, Blues fans are hoping one of their own has an opportunity to make an impact.

I saw Harrison Armstrong start at Goodison in the FA Cup win over Peterborough in January before a productive loan spell in the championship with Derby. Still only 18, he offers versatility in the attacking positions.

He’ll have to be patient but he’ll be hoping to follow the likes of Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon in taking his opportunity when it arises.

20. Charalampos Kostoulas – Brighton

Age: 18 Position: Forward Country: Greece

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Scott: Brighton’s track history of buying low and selling high is the envy of city traders, but their £30m outlay on Charalampos Kostoulas is the second most they’ve ever spent on a player.

The Seagulls rarely get it wrong though and haven’t blinked at splashing that much on an 18-year-old with just a season of senior football behind him.

He’s shown versatility having impressed as a number nine at academy level, before switching successfully to a second striker role once he made the first team at Olympiakos.

His physicality has also caught the eye, with one of his former coaches saying the strength he has for his age is “extraordinary”. Maybe he’ll turn out to be yet another Brighton bargain.

21. Justin Devenny – Crystal Palace

Age: 21 Position: Midfield Country: Northern Ireland

Image source, Reuters

Jonathan Pearce: Jason Devenny caught my eye the minute I saw him in Palace’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa last November. It was only his second game. He scored, but more than that he wanted the ball. He was hungry to make an impact.

He certainly did that with the winning Community Shield shootout penalty against Liverpool last Sunday. He’ll never forget that and I’ve a feeling he’ll have a big season.

And a manager… Keith Andrews – Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

Conor McNamara: Obviously no longer a player, but I would still put Keith in the ‘wildcard’ category.

Sure, his appointment has raised plenty of eyebrows but I have worked regularly with him as a co-commentator in the past for Irish TV.

His enthusiasm and way with words really impresses me. Because I know him from work, in recent seasons my eye would be drawn towards him before games when Sheffield United or Brentford were warming up and, although an assistant at the time, he always seemed to be at the heart of everything and constantly communicating with the players.

The owners at Brentford have earned a reputation for making good decisions, and they will not have made this one rashly. They have seen him up close, and will have heard the feedback of a squad who enjoy his methods.

So many high-profile managers have crashed out in their first Premier League job so it certainly is not easy. But I’ll be hoping that Andrews gets off to a really good start.

Salah has played for the senior national team for 14 years and his importance to Egypt is such that high-ranking government officials have been known to get involved when he has been injured.

“I even had calls from Egypt’s Minister of Health,” recalls Dr Mohamed Aboud, the national team’s medic, about the time Salah suffered a serious shoulder injury in Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final, leading to speculation he could miss the World Cup in Russia a few weeks later.

“I told him not to panic, everything is going well.”

Speaking from his medical clinic in the Maadi area of Egypt’s capital, Dr Aboud adds: “I was younger and the pressure from inside the country was intense.

“I had calls from so many people trying to help. One of our board members told me I was now one of the most important people in the whole world.

“This situation changed me as a person.”

For the record, Salah did recover to play in two of his country’s three group games but was unable to prevent Egypt from making a quick exit after defeats to Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

“I need to tell you that Salah was involved in every single goal in our 2018 World Cup qualification campaign,” says former Egypt assistant coach Mahmoud Fayez at his home on the outskirts of Cairo.

Salah had scored a dramatic 95th-minute penalty against Congo in Alexandria to secure a 2-1 win and book Egypt’s place at the World Cup, with one qualifying game to spare, for the first time in 28 years.

In a nail-biting game, Salah put Egypt ahead before Congo equalised three minutes from time.

“Do you know when you can listen to silence? I listened to the silence when Congo scored – 75,000 fans and silence everywhere,” adds Fayez.

Then came the penalty that turned Salah into a national hero.

“Imagine it, a nation of nearly 120 million waiting for this moment to qualify,” says Fayez. “He had the toughest and most difficult moment for one player, a penalty in the 95th minute that Mohamed had to score.

“He scored it and he made us all proud. In the dressing room afterwards he started to dance, hug everyone and he was shouting ‘we did it, we did it’, after 28 years, we did it.”

In Cairo is a football academy called ‘The Maker’, founded and run by former Tottenham and Egypt striker Mido, who is hoping to produce players who will follow in Salah’s footsteps.

“I played for the national team in front of 110,000 people when I was only 17, the youngest player to represent Egypt,” Mido says. “I love to feel that people depend on me and Salah is the same.”

At the time of our visit, a classroom lesson for young players about the mindset required to become a top professional is taking place.

Underneath Salah’s name on a whiteboard, one of the coaches has written “discipline, dedication and motivation”.

“The reason Salah is where he is now is because he works on his mental strength daily,” Mido adds.

“He is the greatest ambassador for Egypt and for African players as well. He made European clubs respect Arab players, this is what Salah has done.

“I think a lot of European clubs now, when they see a young player from Egypt, they think of Salah. He has made our young players dream.”

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