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Darwin Nunez handed Arne Slot snub as Liverpool boss claims Reds have two ‘more logical number 9s’

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Darwin Nunez handed Arne Slot snub as Liverpool boss claims Reds have two 'more logical number 9s'

DARWIN NUNEZ did not get a rousing vote of confidence from Arne Slot after he revealed Diogo Jota will be missing for weeks.

It appears the mercurial Uruguayan is THIRD in manager Slot’s pecking order of Liverpool’s No 9s.

Darwin Nunez has started just two Premier League games this season

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Darwin Nunez has started just two Premier League games this seasonCredit: Getty

Jota looks unlikely to return until after November’s internationals amid abdominal damage suffered in the 2–1 win over Chelsea ten days ago.

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And Federico Chiesa could be out for even longer as the £10million arrival from Juventus is struggling following a series of niggling injuries.

Yet Slot says he would have turned to the Italian — and not £64m man Nunez — in the absence of Jota.

The Dutchman starts a run of four games in 11 days before the next international break with a Carabao Cup trip to Brighton.

And Slot admitted: “It is a pity that Jota is not available.

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“And Chiesa is also not available as they were, in my opinion, the most logical No 9s but we still have other options.”

One possibility there is Nunez, who has played in the main striker’s role for the last three games, scoring in the 1–0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

But Kop boss Slot, who had only started him in two of the ten previous games since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, admits he is “worried” about the loss of Jota and Chiesa ahead of a punishing spell.

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Former Feyenoord gaffer Slot brushed off suggestions Chiesa could return to Italy on loan in January.

And he was not jumping for joy at being forced to turn to Nunez, who has just 35 goals in 106 appearances since arriving from Benfica more than two years ago.

How Arteta dominated Liverpool with stealth Havertz trick before genius Slot switch saved the day

Slot added: “About Darwin, I gave him credit for the fact he worked so hard in previous weeks when he didn’t play a lot to be able to play three games in a row.

“Three games in eight days, so that says a lot about him.

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“But it also says a lot about the quality of our performance staff and medical staff that we were able to give him the right sessions to prepare him in the right way.

“You always need the player to buy in because you can give him the right sessions but if he doesn’t give everything then it is very difficult for him to do what he did.”

Slot also points to the fact that Nunez had a five-game international ban revoked having joined team-mates to battle rioting Colombian fans after his country’s Copa America semi-final defeat in August.

He played against Peru and Ecuador last month, with Slot saying: “It was a good thing his ban for the Uruguay team was cancelled so he could play.

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“That has probably really helped him to play the way that he did in the last three games.

“I’m not talking about the quality he played with, but the intensity he played with. The quality was also good — so that was a positive thing.”

Slot is planning on making changes on Wednesday night as Liverpool host Brighton in the Prem on Saturday, as well as ex-Kop hero Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League before a visit from Aston Villa.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler is without defender Lewis Dunk who has a “small muscle issue” and conceded his captain is “not easy to replace”.

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Hurzeler added: “He’s a great healer, so we have to go day by day. For sure, we can’t take any risks with him — but he’s keen on coming back as soon as possible.”

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Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return – Scottish gossip

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Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return - Scottish gossip


Rangers will borrow a further £4m from investors and have agreed to receive another £9m in loans. (Record), external

The amount paid by Rangers to settle a dispute with Elite was recorded as £3.8m in their annual accounts. (Herald – subscription), external

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage regrets not signing Nicky Devlin before the Scotland right-back joined Aberdeen from Livingston. (Record), external

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tried to sign Yan Dhanda, James Penrice and Blair Spittal before all three moved to Hearts during the summer. (Herald – subscription), external

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is nearing a return to fitness at Arsenal. (Record), external

Former Celtic general manager Jock Brown has become chairman of Hamilton Academical. (Sun), external



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Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

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Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

Midfielder Hinshelwood has benefited from Ruth’s guidance at Brighton and the 19-year-old has featured heavily under De Zerbi and Hurzeler.

Hinshelwood’s direct journey to first-team football was unlike the path of Caicedo, who had to go out on loan and play for Ruth’s under-21s before he was ready for the seniors and ultimately a £115m move to Chelsea.

“Since I took the role when Roberto first came in, not a day has passed when an academy player hasn’t trained with our first team,” Ruth said.

“Passing players back and forth is really normal here. We believe it helps their development and believe it helps in making them get closer to impacting our first team.”

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Ruth would like to become a head coach at some point, but he explained that coaches should not be in a “hurry” to secure the senior positions.

“As a 21s head coach, it is a great education. You are almost a filtered-down version of a senior coach,” Ruth said.

“The bits and pieces and the challenges that might land on my desk are nowhere near what might land on Fabian’s.”

The outlook appears bright for both Brighton Under-21s and their coach.

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Ruth’s team sit second in the Premier League 2 table behind Manchester City, having lost just one game.

Players are seizing the chance to impress, knowing a first-team career is achievable.

“In the last four seasons we have had more players go on to play professionally than we have released,” Ruth said.

“The stat of young players falling out of football is big, we know. We’re really proud that that’s not the case [at Brighton] and we’re trying hard to defy that stat.”

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VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade’s epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

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VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade's epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

Australian T20 World Cup winner and wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade, on Tuesday, retired from international cricket. He last appeared in Aussie colours at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

The 36-year-old will now join Australia’s coaching staff under Andre Borovec for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, and the ODI series starting in Melbourne from November 4.

Wade played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is over 13 years, scoring 1,613 runs, 1,867 and 1,202 respectively. He started off as a junior footballer, but switched to cricket owing to his height. A testicular cancer survivor, Wade remained in wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine’s shadow. Despite the setbacks, Wade went back to domestic cricket and made a strong case for himself with stellar performances for Tasmania.

He was picked for the England series in 2019, and then made his way into the white-ball teams. He made his mark in T20 cricket, with Hobart Hurricanes in BBL, and soon became Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in 2020-21.

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2021 T20 World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan semifinal, Dubai

The defining moment of his career came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he was the vice-captain and was assigned the role of a finisher. In the semifinal against Pakistan in Dubai, he smashed a 17-ball 41 not out in an epic finish, to take Australia into the final.

Wade came out to bat at no.7 in the 13th over, after the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell (7). Australia needed 81 runs off 46 balls then, with Marcus Stoinis batting at the other end on four. The wicketkeeper-batter started off slowly, making eight runs off his first nine balls, while Stoinis was hitting the lusty blows.

Wade tees off in style

In the 18th over bowled by Hasan Ali, Wade hit a six and a four to get going. Australia needed 22 runs now in two overs. Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had given only 13 runs in his three overs till then, came on to bowl the 19th over, with Stoinis on strike.

The first was a dot ball. The Aussies managed to sneak in a leg-bye off the second ball, as Pakistan reviewed an LBW decision unsuccessfully. With Wade on strike, Afridi bowled a wide. The next ball would have been Wade’s last, but his mistimed shot was floored by Ali. What was worse, the Aussies managed to scamper back for two runs. The equation was down to 18 off nine balls.

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Wade vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: 6, 6, 6

What followed was absolute carnage by Wade. He moved across his stumps and scooped an almost yorker to short fine leg for a six. The next ball was a cutter, but Wade cleared his front leg and mowed it down midwicket for yet another six. Pakistan’s hopes of taking the match into the final over were done and dusted, as Wade finished off the match in style, with yet another audacious scooped six off the last ball of Afridi’s over.

He was adudged the player of the match for his stellar innings. Australia went on to win their maiden T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final.

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Charvarius Ward’s one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

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Charvarius Ward's one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS star Charvarius Ward has tragically revealed his one-year-old daughter has passed away.

Ward, 28, confirmed on social media the heartbreaking news that Amani Joy had died on Monday morning.

Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morning

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Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morningCredit: Getty
Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani Joy

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Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani JoyCredit: Instagram @itslilmooney

Alongside a picture of his daughter, the cornerback shared a loving message.

He said: “We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.

“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery.

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“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better.

“She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl.

“We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

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The 49ers also released a statement which read: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Ward and partner Monique welcomed Amani Joy into the world in November 2022.

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In March, on World Down Syndrome Day, the NFL star shared a post opening up about his daughter’s condition.

He said: “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realise it is just a gift from God.

“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be.”

Ward featured for the 49ers in Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

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It is not yet known whether he will feature against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his team’s next game on November 10.

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Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz

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Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz




The “MLB on FOX” crew react to the New York Yankees’ Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series and preview Game 5.



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NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

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NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

Watch as Jayden Daniels throwqs a stunning last-gasp “once in a lifetime” Hail Mary pass as the Washington Commanders defeat the Chicago Bears in week eight of the NFL.

READ MORE: Daniels’ Hail Mary heroics, Browns stun Ravens & Chiefs stay perfect

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