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Rahul Dravid, the Rajasthan Royals mentor, has said that Shane Watson’s move to hand over the franchise’s captaincy to Steven Smith has given him more freedom to perform his all-round duties

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2015Rahul Dravid, the Rajasthan Royals mentor, has said that Shane Watson’s move to hand over the franchise’s captaincy to Steven Smith has given him more freedom to perform his all-round duties. In only his second game after the decision, Watson made an unbeaten 104 off 59 deliveries and then picked up two wickets to take Royals to the playoffs with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders.”Watson and Smith are quality people besides being quality cricketers. It was a collective decision in which Watto was an active part of,” Dravid told the IPL website. “He realized that his role as a batsman and a bowler was a lot more important to us than as a captain. It was such a nice thing to see that we made the change and it allowed Watson to play freely. We saw the result (against Knight Riders). Credit to him that he recognised it and showed the willingness to take that call.”Smith said that Watson wanted to have a “clear mind” so that he could focus on executing his skills with bat and ball. Royals defended a total of 199 for 6 by nine runs in a tense chase as Knight Riders replied with 190 for 9. Watson went for 38 runs in his spell but dismissed Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla in successive overs at the death. He admitted that he would have found it hard to concentrate on his own bowling if he had to worry about things such as making bowling changes during that chase.”There is no doubt that (while) bowling (in) that second innings, if I had to captain that as well, that would have been very tough,” Watson said. “It would have been pretty scattered with my mind. So I was happy that Steve Smith was doing it.”

Bangladesh’s recent successes have ensured that South Africa, coming off a three-month break, will aim to shake off rust quickly and not take the hosts lightly

Mohammad Isam04-Jul-2015Two teams with little in common are meeting at crossroads, one side coming to an end of a successful period, the other beginning a long journey. Contests between South Africa and Bangladesh in any format – save their World Cup meeting in 2007 – have not been much of a contest, but the home team’s improvement will ensure the visitors are anything but complacent.Bangladesh have had few breaks while playing four series and a World Cupin the last 12 months, and these two Twenty20 internationals, three ODIs and two Tests against South Africa will end their 2014-15 and 2015 seasons, which merged into one vast period. They have two months off before hosting Australia in October.South Africa, on the other hand, are touring Bangladesh for their first international assignment since losing the World Cup semi-final to New Zealand in March. Having had three months off, they begin with Bangladesh, before playing New Zealand at home, India away and England at home, before returning to India for the World T20 in March 2016. Between now and February, South Africa play 12 Tests, 16 ODIs and nine T20 internationals.No wonder then that Dale Steyn thought his energy would be better spent elsewhere than in Bangladesh, but since the team arrived in Dhaka last week, his team-mates Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy have given their opponents’ current form due credit. Having had success in the subcontinent previously, South Africa are not the type to go easy on any opponent, and Bangladesh’s victories over Pakistan and India would have hardened that approach.Apart from a host brimming with confidence, South Africa will also have to contend with the heat and humidity of the Bangladesh summer, and Duminy said how well they take care of themselves physically could be critical to success. The T20Is start at 1300 local time.South Africa are missing Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir for the T20Is, and will test an emerging attack comprising Kyle Abbott, David Wiese, Kagiso Rabada, Eddie Leie and Beuran Hendricks, along side Wayne Parnell. Steyn will play only the Tests, while AB de Villiers will play the T20s and ODIs before going on paternity leave.They will be expected to dominate Bangladesh nonetheless, and unless there is an upset, the results are likely to receive a low-key response back in South Africa.In Dhaka and Chittagong, though, interest in cricket – call it madness or frenzy too – is at an all-time high. It has peaked after the 2-1 victory in the ODIs against India, as evidenced by the rush for free seats during South Africa’s warm-up match against a BCB XI in Fatullah. Bangladesh’s fans will do anything to get a glimpse.The captain Mashrafe Mortaza and coach Chandika Hathurusingha have said that South Africa are likely to be tougher than Pakistan and India, not only because of their formidable away record, but also because Bangladesh are coming to the end of a long season.The two Twenty20 internationals are the start of both sides build-ups to the 2016 World T20, and the ODIs that follow are of special importance to Bangladesh. They are all but through to the 2017 Champions Trophy, but one victory against South Africa will cast their qualification in stone.The T20 and ODI series will also be the first under the ICC’s new playing conditions for limited-overs games – no mandatory catchers in the first ten overs of an ODI, no batting Powerplay, five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs of an ODI, and free-hits for all kinds of no-balls. Bangladesh have expressed happiness with many of these changes, and it remains to be seen how the teams adjust to them.

A round-up of all the Plunket Shield matches played between February 20 and 23, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2016Andrew Ellis smacked a fast-paced 143 in Canterbury’s first innings to shape his side’s eight-wicket win over Northern Districts in Hamilton. Ellis also chipped in with the ball, taking five wickets in the match, including 3 for 43 in the second innings.Ellis’ 170-ball knock, which included 13 fours and eight sixes, reinforced Canterbury’s advantage after they had bowled Northern Districts out for 257 in the first innings. Northern Districts had stabilised after early wickets through a 68-run partnership between Dean Brownlie and Bharat Popli (55) but suffered a batting implosion, losing seven wickets for 69 runs. It was Daryl Mitchell’s 84 that pulled them past the 200-mark to a score of 257. For Canterbury, Todd Astle claimed 3 for 87, while Hamish Bennett and Ellis picked up two wickets apiece.Ellis’ hundred was complemented by Ken McClure’s 96 and an 81 from Cam Fletcher. McClure and Ellis were involved in a 235-run, fifth-wicket stand that hauled the side to safety from a precarious 77 for 4. Once the pair were dismissed, Fletcher led the side’s rally, guiding them to a score of 485. Legspinner Ish Sodhi was the pick of Northern Districts’ bowlers, picking up 5 for 167, backed up by Scott Kuggeleijn’s 4 for 133.Northern Districts batsmen got starts but only Popli (94) and Kuggeleijn (53) went on to make substantial scores as they were dismissed for 316. Canterbury brushed aside their target of 89 in 17 overs and climbed to second place on the points table.George Worker’s all-round efforts – a knock of 123 and a four-for – supported by centuries from Dane Cleaver and Greg Hay set up Central Districts’ 87-run win over Wellington, their first of this season’s Plunket Shield.Put in to bat, Central Districts amassed 424 for 6 declared, riding on a 230-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Cleaver and Worker that steadied them after they were 148 for 5. Cleaver hit 20 fours and five sixes in his 208-ball 151 not out, while Worker stroked 15 fours and two sixes.In response, Stephen Murdoch (89) and Tom Blundell (92) powered Wellington to 370 for 7 dec. Kurt Richards was the pick of Central Districts’ bowlers, picking up 3 for 77.Hay then built on Central Districts’ 54-run lead with a patient 127 not out to steer them to 314 for 6 declared, setting Wellington a target of 369. Top-order fifties from Luke Woodcock and Stephen Murdoch (82) gave Wellington a good start but their chase fell away after a batting slide that saw them lose five wickets for 26 runs. Luke Ronchi waged a lone battle scoring 88 as Wellington lost eight wickets to left-arm spinners, Ajaz Patel and Worker, with Worker taking 4 for 58.Brad Wilson’s 107 and Neil Broom’s 84 helped Otago play out a draw against Auckland after they were set a target of 444 at Eden Park.Auckland managed to post a 444-run target thanks Jeet Raval’s unbeaten 202 in the second innings that included 28 fours. Rob Nicol and Colin de Grandhomme also contributed with fifties, the latter striking 52 off 43 balls with six fours and two sixes.After being inserted, Auckland were bundled out for 277 on the first day, riding on fifties from Nicol (60) and de Grandhomme (59). Tarun Nethula then led their response with the ball, taking 3 for 64 to help dismiss Otago for 265.With the draw, Auckland picked up six points to maintain their position at the top of the points table.

Yuvraj Singh’s injury will force India into changing their combination for the first time in the World T20. They will have to make a choice between batsman Manish Pandey and left-arm spinning allrounder Pawan Negi

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Mumbai30-Mar-2016Fifty-two runs at an average of 13.00. Three overs, 19 runs, one wicket. One twisted ankle. At 34, these might well be the last set of numbers generated by Yuvraj Singh at an ICC event. A modest set of numbers for a limited-overs great, but they do not reveal the importance of some of his contributions, his batting in partnership with Virat Kohli easing India through pressure situations against Pakistan and Australia, and his three overs against Australia helping India drag their way back into a must-win game.Ravi Shastri, India’s team director, highlighted those three overs when asked what impact Yuvraj’s injury would have on India’s plans for Thursday’s semi-final against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium.”It will have an impact because he’s had his moments,” Shastri said. “I thought his three overs were brilliant in the last game. That really put the brakes on the scoring and allowed us to come back into the game. After the first four overs it was a no-contest, because at one stage it looked like [Australia would score] 200-plus, which would have been very difficult to chase on that surface. So he will be missed. [It’s] unfortunate. It’s an injury that happened during the game. Looking to take off [for a run], he did his ankle in, and I believe it’s a minor tear in the ankle.”India have played the same eleven right through the World T20, and Yuvraj’s injury will force them into changing their combination for the first time. They have three possible replacements, none of them exactly like-for-like. Ajinkya Rahane is viewed as a back-up for India’s top three, and not as a middle-order batsman. Pawan Negi bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin, like Yuvraj, but is a bits-and-pieces allrounder rather than a specialist batsman who bowls part-time. Manish Pandey, who has replaced Yuvraj in India’s squad, is a middle-order batsman who doesn’t really offer a bowling option.Ravi Shastri on…

Facing West Indies: “I’ve said it from the beginning – they’re probably one of the most dangerous sides in this format because they’ve got explosive players, match-winners. We know what we’re up against. But we’re up and ready as well. This is not a knockout for us, our knockout was the last game [against Australia]. That was a quarter-final, this is a semi-final.”
Virat Kohli’s innings against Australia: “Outstanding innings, one of the best you’ll ever see in T20 cricket. I don’t know how long T20 cricket will be played but when you consider the occasion, the pressure, and the kind of shots he played – all cricketing shots – it was quite unbelievable.”
The poor form of India’s batsmen apart from Kohli: “You’ll need [them to step up] in a big game like this, a semi-final. We’ve played to 70% of our abilities in this tournament. So there’s still 30% in areas we need to improve, so let’s hope it happens tomorrow. In a semi-final you’ve got to get your A game. You cannot rely on a couple of players. You need six or seven to step up to the plate and it’s not happened really in this tournament, so let’s hope tomorrow is a start.”
Whether the bowlers can cope on a flat Wankhede pitch: “I see no reason why [they can’t cope]. I thought Bangalore and Mohali were good surfaces, this has always been a good surface, so again, it’s repeating what they’ve been doing. Keeping things simple.”

Shastri hinted that India might need a bowling option.”We’ve not decided [who will replace Yuvraj] because Manish has just joined the party yesterday,” Shastri said. “We’ll take a good look at everything in the nets and see what our best options will be for tomorrow’s game. We’ll have to keep those overs in mind.”India’s practice session began soon after Shastri’s press conference. The players occupied three of the Wankhede’s practice pitches, two on the eastern side of the ground and one on the west. As if on a conveyor belt, their batsmen moved from east to west, facing the quick bowlers first, then the spinners, and then – after a break for water and electrolytes – throwdowns. This was their order: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Kohli, Suresh Raina, Pandey, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Negi.Negi batted as late as he did because he had been bowling for around 20 minutes to Raina, Pandey, Dhoni and Pandya. And while Harbhajan only got to face a set of net bowlers at the seamers’ net, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was summoned up for a second bowling stint when Negi came in to bat.Rahane wasn’t part of this sequence: he was the first batsman to face throwdowns, but did not spend any time at either the seamers’ or spinners’ nets.From all this, it seemed safe to assume the choice was between Pandey and Negi, two entirely different cricketers.Pandey is a proper batsman with a 50-plus first-class average and a reputation for scoring runs in crunch situations, particularly in steep run-chases: whether it’s a Ranji Trophy final , an IPL final, or an ODI against Australia. He can play his shots, but his T20 strike rate is 115.84, which is less even than Rahane’s.Negi is a T20 specialist – he has played 57 T20s, but only three first-class matches and 19 List A games – who can hit big in the lower middle order. He has a strike rate of 134.92, and hits a four or six roughly once every six balls. He has taken 47 wickets at 26.06, while maintaining an economy rate of 7.38.The fact that he can bowl, and left-arm spin at that, might tilt the choice Negi’s way, given that everyone in West Indies’ batting line-up bats right-handed apart from Chris Gayle and Sulieman Benn. But that may not be a significant factor considering the Wankhede’s short boundaries, particularly if its pitch is as flat as it was in the early part of the tournament. And given the iffy form of the top order barring Kohli, India might value the batting pedigree of Pandey over Negi’s utility value. Either way, they have a difficult choice to make on Thursday morning.

Goal looks at the form for each team in the knockouts for the most recent 10 games in all competitions ahead of the last 16 second legs…

Getty/Goal composite16. Basel | 10 points | ⬇️ 4 places

UCL last 16 first leg result: Basel 0-4 Manchester City

dabblebet odds to win UCL: 3000/1

So used to having it all their own way in Switzerland, this season has been a rude awakening. They will relinquish their Super League crown to Young Boys and are about to tumble out of Europe with a heavy defeat.

However, they should take encouragement from their qualification to the knockout phase given their original goal of the season was any sort of continental football after the winter break. And they will have learned plenty from playing against Guardiola. 

AdvertisementGetty/Goal composite15. Chelsea | 13 points | ➖

UCL last 16 first leg result: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

dabblebet odds to win UCL: 33/1

The Antonio Conte era – not yet two seasons old – appears to be coming to an end. Defeats to Manchester United and to Manchester City in the Premier League in recent weeks were shocking in their manner with Conte even taking criticism from his own goalkeeper.

Chelsea are big underdogs and short of confidence after their trip to the Etihad on Sunday. A remarkable turnaround and mounting problems for a coach who last season could do no wrong. 

Getty/Goal composite14. Roma | 14 points | ⬆️ 2 places

UCL last 16 first leg result: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Roma

dabblebet odds to win UCL: 66/1

Paulo Fonseca is winning plenty of credit – and being linked to bigger jobs than his current one – for the work he's done this season. Now Ukraine's runaway leaders, Shakhtar have stormed back from their long winter break in sensational form.

Their intricate play was too much for Roma to handle in the first leg. If they can hold their nerve and play to their values in the Italian capital, they will go through. 

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Getty/Goal composite13. Sevilla | 18 points | ⬇️ 3 places

UCL last 16 first leg result: Sevilla 0-0 Manchester United

dabblebet odds to win UCL: 150/1

Vincenzo Montella's side will be kicking themselves that they didn't find a breakthrough in the first leg even if they managed to avoid conceding an away goal.

They will be well aware that most observers will be expecting United to have a much easier ride at Old Trafford and fighting against that perception with belief will be key to progress. Their form has been up and down. Maintaining confidence even if they concede will be vital. 

Goal takes a look at all of the kits that will be on display as two dozen countries battle it out for the crown of world's best

The eighth edition of the Women's World Cup takes place this summer as 24 teams from around the globe converge on France.

Reigning champions United States are out to add a fourth world title to their collection, while the hosts will be hoping to emulate their male counterparts by clinching gold.

The tournament will also see European champions the Netherlands and South American heavyweights Brazil involved, with the likes of Argentina, Sweden, Cameroon, China and Australia also involved.

It's the biggest competition in the world and the pinnacle of most players' careers and it's also an occasion kit suppliers relish as their wares are broadcast to the world.

Leading sportswear manufacturers Adidas and Nike will see their logos adorn the majority of kits, but there will also be offerings from Umbro, Puma and Warrix Sport on display as well.

Goal takes a look at every team's kit at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

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GettyCameroon (TBC)To be confirmed.

With Socios.com providing an app for fans to have their say, GOAL looks back at five major decisions that formed one of Europe’s elite

Juventus are the most successful club in Italian football history and have an appeal that stretches across the world.

The Turin giants have picked up 36 official league titles and have won the Coppa Italia 14 times, setting the record for crowns in both these competitions.

Furthermore, they have become a global brand in recent years, with the club considered to be emblematic among the Italian diaspora throughout the world.

How did Juve manage to attain such a lofty status? Here are five key decisions that have played a role in getting the club to its current position.

The $JUV Fan Token gives you the power to help the Bianconeri make the right decisions, access VIP experiences, earn official products, all on Socios.com.

Juve asked their fan token holders to choose a new goal song at the stadium after eight years, with Blur’s Song 2 emerging the winner.

From the beginning, Juve have given fans a wide variety of ways to use their Fan Tokens. Some of the most popular have included letting fans choose a new design for the official team bus, re-imagine the J logo for bespoke shirts and selecting the phrase to be seen on the first ever 'on field' fan token exchange when Juve played FC Barcelona.

Below, we look back on the five major decisions Milan made that helped transform them into the superpower they are today.

GettyTurning to England for kit help

Initially formed as an athletics club in the late 19th century, Juventus became a football club in 1899 and joined the Italian Football Championship the following year. At this point, they played in a pink and black strip.

A change began in 1903 when the continual washing of the pink shirts, which were made by the family of one of the players, meant that they were fading and needed to be replaced.

Juventus found inspiration from an unlikely source. Englishman John Savage, one of the players of the day, was asked at the time if he had anyone who could supply a new kit. Savage had a contact in Nottingham who, being a Notts County fan, shipped out the now famous black and white stripes.

Juve soon changed their colours to the black and white stripes by which they are known by today. Indeed, they were playing in this kit when they lifted their first Scudetto in 1905, setting in stone a tradition for the club to turn out in the ‘Bianconero’.

GettyCreating the Angelli dynasty

The 1920s were a pivotal period for Juventus, with Fiat’s Edoardo Agnelli appointed to the role as club president in 1923. He would not know it at the time, but it was a decision that would put the Agnelli family at the head of the club in an almost unbroken spell that has spanned the best part of a century.

Indeed, it was under Edoardo Agnelli that the club won its second league title in 1925-26, although perhaps the most pivotal period arrived in the 1930s, when Juve won five successive championships, became the first professional football club, and spread their appeal beyond their immediate locality.

The Agnelli family have gone on to experience all the highs and lows of the club for the best part of 100 years, with Andrea Agnelli having been the latest member of the family to take over as president. Indeed, he has overseen Juve’s exceptional run of since the early part of the 2010s that includes nine Serie A titles.

GettyAppointing the legendary Trapattoni

Juventus’ Golden Era came about in the latter part of the 1970s and 1980s and was largely overseen by legendary head coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who led the club for a decade from 1976.

It proved to be an incredible era for Juve. Trapattoni was renowned for his man management and excellent tactical awareness, helping the club to six Serie A titles, two Coppas Italia and every UEFA competition, including the 1984 European Cup, during his first tenure.

During this period, Juventus were not just dominant on the domestic scene, they were also the foremost side in world football. This is highlighted by the fact they won four Ballon d’Or titles in succession from 1982 onwards, with the brilliant Michel Platini, Trapattoni’s on-field magician, gaining a hat-trick of those.

Incidentally, Roberto Baggio also picked up the coveted individual award in 1993, during Trapattoni’s second spell at the club, again highlighting his ability to get the absolute best from players.

Known as the ‘King of Catenaccio’, Trapattoni’s tactical schemes that inspired Juventus to remarkable heights will be forever remembered in footballing history.

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GettyMoving into a new era with Juventus Stadium

Juventus have been relatively nomadic over the duration of their history, calling five different grounds their home over the course of around 120 years.

In 2008, however, they took a major decision to build themselves a state-of-the-art ground of their own.

Previously, Juve had shared the Stadio delle Alpi and the Stadio Olimpico with neighbours Torino, but neither of these grounds had generated an atmosphere befitting of their stature due to the running track that kept fans well away from the action.

Juventus’ new home, which has been built on the site of the Delle Alpi, has brought fans closer to the pitch and offers impeccable facilities that have been granted UEFA Category 4 status – one of only four grounds in the country to attain such a level.

Crucially, it has also provided Juve with an additional source of income, as it was the first club-owned modern venue in the country.

It is far more than just a football stadium with a shopping centre, bars and restaurants attached.

From Fulhamerica to a Champions League winner, GOAL takes a look at the best Americans to play in England's top-flight

The Premier League is viewed by many people in the United States as the pinnacle of the club game. It's the division where the spotlight is brightest, the one where stars are made and broadcast onto TVs all over the world. It's where kids honing their crafts on stateside pitches aspire to play.

A total of 49 Americans have competed in England's top flight, with the league hosting many of American soccer's best ever exports.

From a seemingly unending stream of bald goalkeepers to a legendary group at Fulhamerica, the U.S. has delivered very important players to Premier League teams in recent decades.

With that said, GOAL takes a look at the 10 best Americans to ever play in the Premier League.

Getty10Landon Donovan

Tenth on our list not because of lack of impact but rather a lack of time.

The LA Galaxy icon spent just a few months on loan at Everton across two spells, but the impact he made during his brief stays in England was massive.

During his first stint in 2010, Donovan scored two goals in 13 appearances and was named the club's Player of the Month in January.

In his second crack at the Premier League, he provided three assists in just seven games, including helpers in wins over Chelsea and Manchester City.

Everton would have loved to have kept him, but it wasn't to be as the Galaxy were determined to keep hold of their legendary American star.

However, those brief spells proved that Donovan did, in fact, have the talent to make it at the highest level.

AdvertisementGetty9John Harkes

A true trailblazer, a player that was present for the transition into what we now know as the Premier League, Harkes was the first American to play in the newly-formed division as a member of Sheffield Wednesday.

He made a total of 137 top-flight appearances for the Owls, even if a bulk of those came before the formation of the Premier League.

Harkes, who also lined out for Derby County and West Ham, was one of the greatest American players of his era and one of the first to prove that USMNT stars could cut it at the highest level in Europe.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images8Geoff Cameron

Only one American outfield player amassed more Premier League appearances than Cameron, who was a regular for Stoke as the club remained a top-flight regular for years.

Cameron's career began with the Houston Dynamo, where he earned a move to Stoke at the age of 27. He appeared in 168 Premier League games as he proved something of a Swiss Army Knife for the club.

A player who could line up as a holding midfielder, right back or center back, Cameron provided a rare level of versatility during his six-year stay.

He moved to QPR in 2018-19 to begin a three-year stint in the Championship before eventually joining FC Cincinnati in 2021.

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Getty Images7Claudio Reyna

The original Captain America.

Reyna is one of America's best-ever exports, having also starred at Rangers before arriving in England.

His spell at Sunderland was marred by a torn ACL, and his time at Manchester City also saw him battle several injury issues.

However, he did make a total of 105 appearances in the Premier League and was a hugely popular figure, even if his best days were spent in Scotland and Germany.

Fun fact: His son, Borussia Dortmund star Gio, was born in Sunderland, making him eligible for England's national team. However, as we all know, he followed in his father's footsteps by playing for the USMNT.

The Red Devils took advantage of a draw between Arsenal and Chelsea to move second in the standings, just three points off top spot.

After its winter break, the Women's Super League returned with a bang this weekend as title rivals Arsenal and Chelsea played out for a dramatic draw, bottom side Leicester finally got some points on the board and Manchester United thrashed Liverpool 6-0.

Elsewhere, a trio of Lionesses made debuts for their new clubs as Aston Villa beat Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday, Everton emerged victorious against Reading on Sunday in a five-goal thriller and Manchester City edged out a tight contest with West Ham, winning 1-0.

Everywhere you looked, there were talking points in the first WSL action of 2023. But who kicked off the new year in style and who looked a little rusty after the break?

GOAL picks out this weekend's winners and losers below…

GettyWINNER: Zecira Musovic

When the teams came out on Sunday for the big clash at the Emirates between Arsenal and Chelsea, it was a surprise to see Zecira Musovic in between the sticks for the visitors.

That's not because the Swede lacks quality – not at all – but because Ann-Katrin Berger has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Blues for some time now. While Musovic is rotated in semi-regularly, she wasn't expected to start this huge fixture – yet she proved one of the game's stand-out performers.

As well as contributing with her hands, tipping a dangerous Steph Catley cross-cum-shot onto the bar and clawing a loose ball off her goalline, the goalkeeper added "value" to the team's build-up, manager Emma Hayes noted.

"The work she's doing in the background, on the training pitch, her diligence, her attention to detail, her application has been absolutely brilliant and she's deserving of the accolades she gets from today's game," she said.

It feels like the battle for that starting spot in Chelsea's goal is really going to heat up after this weekend because Musovic could've hardly taken this opportunity in a more impressive way.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Arsenal

For a while on Sunday, it looked like Arsenal were going to go level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League – behind on goal difference, but with a game in hand over the champions.

Kim Little's penalty had the Gunners 1-0 up – and deservedly so, as they'd played well. However, Jonas Eidevall's team hadn't taken their chances either side of their captain scoring from the spot, despite creating plenty, and Chelsea would punish them.

Sam Kerr's 89th-minute header, from a gorgeous Jelena Cankovic cross, saw the spoils shared in a dramatic finale. To come so close to such a big win and then have it taken away at the death will've been extremely tough for Arsenal to take.

"I’m happy with the performance, subjectively in how we play football but also objectively in the goalscoring opportunities that we created," Eidevall said afterwards. "That means I’m obviously disappointed with the result because it’s a draw."

A point against the champions isn't a bad result by any means. But how costly could conceding that late goal prove to be? Only time will tell but Arsenal certainly can't afford to be as wasteful in other games this season if they want to win the title.

GettyWINNER: Leicester

It didn't have the glitz and glamour of Arsenal vs Chelsea, but Leicester against Brighton was an equally big game on Sunday – and the result could have seismic implications on the bottom half of this league.

Leicester went into the game without a point to their name after nine games. However, in what was Jens Scheuer's first game in charge of the opposition, the Foxes ran out 3-0 winners.

It moved them within four points of second-from-bottom Brighton and third-from-bottom Reading, who lost 3-2 to Everton on Sunday. They're also only five points behind Liverpool and six behind Tottenham.

Suddenly, the relegation battle has new life in it. This result, and the good January transfer business completed so far, could do wonders for Leicester's survival bid.

As for those starting to appear in the sights of the Foxes, they suddenly have a little more reason to keep a watchful eye over their shoulders as we enter the second half of the campaign.

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GettyLOSER: Matt Beard

"We should be embarrassed by it – because I am."

That was Matt Beard's honest assessment after his Liverpool team were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester United on Sunday, with the Red Devils not even playing particularly well on the day, either.

It's difficult to overstate how much Liverpool missed Katie Stengel, their goal-scoring No.9, after she was ruled out with a problem late in the week. Without a focal point in the front three, their attacking play was poor and felt disjointed, while the scoreline explains how bad the defending was at the other end.

But most disappointing of all for Beard was that his team couldn't even fulfil the most rudimentary of tasks.

"The basics of ball retention, turning the ball over time after time, not getting two or three passes together, but my biggest disappointment is the work rate," he explained.

"The best example I can give you is right at the end of the half, Mel Lawley is driving out, three on one, and seven Manchester United players have run past four or five of mine and Mel is on her own.

"I think that summed the day up for me perfectly in that one moment. I don't know why they had more desire than us."

With Leicester winning shortly afterwards, Beard admitted his team are in "a relegation scrap". They can't afford more performances like this if they want to survive it.

EA Sports released a list of the highest rated MLS players in FIFA 23 and there are plenty of familiar faces.

The division's popularity continues to rise on an annual basis and, subsequently, so do the players competing in the United States.

Those players are available for use both in Ultimate Team and FIFA's other game modes ever since the new iteration of the popular video game franchise released on Friday, September 30.

Some players, such as Gareth Bale, have left MLS since the game's release, but they are still linked to the league on Ultimate Team.

GOAL shares the top 10 players (base ratings) below…

=7 | Federico Bernardeschi | RM | 79

While Lorenzo Insigne got much of the hype for his move to Toronto, fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi is no slouch, and made the list of top-ranked MLS players for FIFA 23.

AdvertisementGetty=7 | Nicolas Lodeiro | CAM | 79

Another one of the five MLS players who were given a 79 rating on FIFA 23, Seattle Sounders captain Nicolas Lodeiro just completed his seventh season for the club.

Getty=7 | Emanuel Reynoso | CAM | 79

Emanuel Reynoso is coming off a brilliant season for Minnesota United with 10 goals and six assists in 29 MLS appearances. Because of the level of performance he has been turning in, he has been rewarded with a 79 rating.

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Getty Images=7 | Javier Hernandez | ST | 79

Since leaving Europe for the MLS, Chicharito has stood out for LA Galaxy. He holds a very strong record of 37 goals in 65 MLS games and remains one of the league's most popular figures.