In Fantasy Premier League (FPL), bonus points are allocated after each match to outstanding performers.

They are calculated via the Bonus Points System (BPS), which utilises various statistics supplied by Opta such as goals, successful crosses and pass completion percentage to create a performance score for every Premier League player. The players with the top three BPS totals in each match are then given bonus points.

Three are awarded to the highest-scoring player, two to the second-best, and one to the third.

But who are the best at grabbing bonus points? We’ve listed the top 12 players with the most bonus points in FPL so far this season, with the amount of BPS points used as a tiebreaker, alongside other bonus points statistics.

The 10 most popular FPL players this season

Here are the players everyone has picked for their fantasy teams this year.

By
Barney Lane

Oct 31, 2024

All data correct as of 1st November 2024.

12

Harvey Barnes (Newcastle)

Midfielder, 8 bonus points

Newcastle United midfielder Harvey Barnes enjoyed a fine run of personal form earlier this season. After getting an assist in the Magpies’ draw with Bournemouth, he then scored three goals in three games against Tottenham, Wolves and Fulham.

His performances across those four matches saw him earn a total of 33 FPL points, eight of which were bonus points.

Since then, his form hasn’t been quite as good, with the Englishman having failed to register a single goal contribution in any of Newcastle’s last four top-flight games ahead of the visit of Arsenal.

11

Yoane Wissa (Brentford)

Forward, 8 bonus points

Despite being injured for three games this season, Brentford striker Yoane Wissa has already scored an impressive 39 points in FPL, eight of which have been bonus points.

The DR Congo international has scored five times for the Bees, including twice in their recent 4-3 win over Ipswich Town – with the Bees winning an appeal over Wissa’s second, which had initially been given as an own goal.

10

Luis Diaz (Liverpool)

Midfielder, 8 bonus points

Like Barnes, Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has scored eight FPL bonus points so far this season, which he earned during the wins over Brentford, Manchester United and Bournemouth. The Colombian was on the scoresheet on all three occasions.

In total, Diaz has already earned 60 FPL points this term. Only five players – Bukayo Saka, Bryan Mbeumo, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah – have earned more. It’s no wonder he’s a popular pick among FPL players.

9

Matheus Cunha (Wolves)

Forward, 9 bonus points

Gary O’Neil’s Wolves are struggling this season, having picked up just two points from nine Premier League games. Striker Matheus Cunha, however, has been a ray of hope thanks to his four goals and all-round impressive displays.

In FPL, the Brazilian has scored a total of 41 points, including nine bonus points, which he earned in games against Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton.

Cunha will need to keep up his good form if Wolves are to avoid relegation come the end of the campaign.

8

Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)

Forward, 9 bonus points

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been in fine form this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in nine Premier League games for the Blues.

As a result, he’s already earned an impressive 57 FPL points, nine of which have been bonus points. Six of those bonus points came from Chelsea’s wins over West Ham and Newcastle, while he also scored a point in games against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Jackson’s six goals this term means he’s now scored as many Premier League goals for Chelsea as Fernando Torres.

7

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Midfielder, 10 bonus points

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is one of the highest-scoring players in FPL this season, having already picked up 63 points in total.

The Englishman, who has three goals and seven assists in nine games for the Gunners, has been awarded bonus points in six separate games. He earned the maximum three in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Southampton and two in the recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

6

Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)

Midfielder, 12 bonus points

Finding goalscoring midfielders is key for FPL players, and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is just that.

This season, the Cameroon international has scored eight Premier League goals in just nine games, making him the division’s second-highest scorer behind Erling Haaland. His performances have earned him 68 FPL points so far – 29 of which came in just two games against Southampton and Ipswich Town.

5

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Midfielder, 12 bonus points

Cole Palmer was the king of FPL last season. He finished the campaign with a total of 244 points, which was more than any other player.

The Chelsea midfielder has continued this season in the same vein, having already picked up a whopping 79 points, 12 of which have been bonus points.

4

Danny Welbeck (Brighton)

Forward, 13 bonus points

Danny Welbeck is ageing like a fine wine.

Now 33, the former England international is in the form of his life, having netted six goals in nine Premier League games for Brighton this season. It’s already his joint-best top-flight return for the Seagulls, and there are still 29 games to play.

In FPL, he’s scored 57 points, including 13 bonus points, which have been spread across six games.

3

Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

Forward, 13 bonus points

Nottingham Forest are the division’s surprise package this season and Chris Wood has been their star man. After nine games, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, who only narrowly avoided relegation last year, are seventh in the Premier League table, having lost just once.

Wood has scored seven goals already, and his form has earned him 59 FPL points – 13 of which have come as bonuses.

However, Forest (and FPL players) could be without the New Zealand striker this weekend after he picked up a knock in Forest’s 3-1 win over Leicester City.

كشفت رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، عن هوية رجل مباراة اليوم بين فريقي ليفربول وفولهام.

واستضاف ملعب “كرافن كوتيدج” مباراة الفريقين في الجولة 31 من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث خسر ليفربول بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين.

طالع أيضًا.. تقييم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وفولهام بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وفتحت رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي باب التصويت أمام الجماهير، لاختيار رجل مباراة اليوم بين ليفربول وفولهام.

وحسبما نُشر، حصل أليكس أيوبي، لاعب وسط فولهام على جائزة رجل المباراة بعدما نال أعلى نسبة تصويت 51.5%.

وجاء لويس دياز في المركز الثاني، من حيث نسبة التصويت 23.9%، ثم أنتوني روبينسون بحصوله على 6.5%.

GOAL breaks down why the 20-year-old striker is suddenly in the mix with the USMNT

There's nothing good about an injury crisis, and the U.S. men's national team is experiencing one at the striker position right now.

Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are out. Haji Wright and Daryl Dike, two others based in Europe, are just coming back, with the latter's absence being extremely long-term. The MLS season is just starting and Josh Sargent is fit for now, making him the defacto starter right now, but his own injury history doesn't exactly inspire confidence given the matches that separate the U.S. men's national team and the CONCACAF Nations League later this month.

Even in a crisis, though, there could be a silver lining, and if that silver lining is an introduction for Damion Downs, maybe this will all be worth it.

As he continues to make waves in the 2. Bundesliga, where he's scored nine goals, Downs has been included in Mauricio Pochettino's 60-man preliminary squad for the CONCACAF Champions League. There is no guarantee that he'll be in the squad, but his inclusion does send Downs a strong message about a potential U.S. future.

Thus far, Downs has flip-flopped between the USMNT and Germany on the youth level, which means the 20-year-old's international future remains up in the air. There's no clear path to minutes on either side. The USMNT, for the first time in a while, has multiple legitimate starting candidates at striker whereas Germany is, well, Germany.

The CONCACAF Nations League could end up being Downs' big break, though, and it could end up being the turning point for a dual national whose stock continues to rise thanks to his goals this season.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  American roots

  Funnily enough, Downs very easily could have fallen into the other kind of football. Given his size at 6-4, maybe it could have worked out. He'd have had a chance, for sure, if he remained in Texas, the American football hotbed where he spent much of his childhood.

  Downs was born in Germany to an American father and a German mother but moved to the U.S. at around a year old. He spent the next eight years there before his parents divorced, leading him back to Germany. It was only after moving back to Germany that he was introduced to soccer, and he took to it quickly.

  “We lived in Texas, and I have a lot of memories," he told American Soccer Now. "All good memories. It was fun living in the States…When I was in the States, I was playing American football. I didn't have much of a connection to soccer.”

  "I'd been speaking English first," he continued. "And then when I was like eight, nine, 10, that's when I started to learn German… I started soccer at like eight or nine when I moved to Germany because where I was living, there were no real American football clubs. It was pretty much a small town, a small village — and obviously, in Germany, there are a lot more kids playing soccer.  I just had to choose a new sport."

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• 2. Bundesliga breakout

  Downs is a youth product of FC Schwienfurt and FC Ingolstadt. Over the last five years, though, he climbed the ladder at FC Koln, where he's emerged as this year's breakout star in the 2. Bundesliga.

  That breakout actually began last year, when he scored two goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances. His first goal came last March against Borussia Monchengladbach. His second several months later: a stoppage-time winner over Union Berlin.

  After Koln's relegation to the second division, the club handed the baton to Downs and he's more than run away with it. He's scored nine goals in 21 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, while adding one more goal and even an assist in a narrow 3-2 extra-time loss to top-flight side Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal. Just 20 years old, Downs is tied for 10th in the league in goals.

  With Downs helping to lead the charge, Koln are firmly in the 2. Bundesliga title race. They currently sit fifth, but just one point behind league leaders Hamburg. There's a cluster at the top, with 10 teams within seven points in an extremely competitive 2. Bundesliga. For Koln to push for promotion, Downs will need to be a key figure and, at least so far, he has been.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Style of play

  One thing stands out immediately about Downs: he’s massive. He towers over nearly everyone on the field. But it’s not just his height — at nearly 180 pounds, he moves like a freight train once he gets going.

  Downs has plenty of pace, which he’s showcased multiple times this season when breaking in on goal. Yet, given his frame, he’s not just a counterattacking striker. He uses his size effectively to shield the ball and link up play when Köln retains possession. That’s why the team deploys him in a 3-4-2-1 system, with two attacking midfielders behind him—either feeding him into space or making runs off his hold-up play.

  Beyond his work in the attack, Downs has been a consistent scoring threat, averaging just over a goal every two games—a strong return for a young player. He’s not Köln’s designated penalty taker, so all his goals have come from open play.

  He does most of his damage inside the box, displaying a poacher’s instinct. Of his 48 shots this season, 42 have come from inside the 18. While seven have been headers, he’s also shown balance with his feet, taking 23 shots with his right and 18 with his left.

  All of this makes Downs a well-rounded striker — one with obvious physical tools and the versatility to impact a game in multiple ways.

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  International allegiance

  Downs' inclusion on the USMNT's Nations League preliminary roster could mean something. It means, at the very least, that manager Mauricio Pochettino is paying attention. It's no guarantee of anything, though. Downs' international future is still somewhat up in the air, as his past has indicated plenty of times.

  Downs holds dual citizenship with both the U.S. and Germany and has played for both countries in his youth career. So far, though, it's been a series of close calls and near misses for both sides. He was part of the U.S. U-20s ahead of the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship but didn't make the final team. He was part of the Germany U-19s before the 2023 U-19 Euro qualifiers but, again, didn't make the final team. He was then left off the U.S. Olympic squad after training with the team last summer before joining up with Germany's U-20s this past November amid his 2. Bundesliga breakout. He went on to score two goals in a 2-0 win over England.

  “When I moved to Germany, it was pretty much my whole German family,” Downs told ASN just before being left out of the Olympic squad. “We were mostly watching the German national team. But I always kept an eye on the American national team and how they were playing.”

  The U.S. is now keeping an eye on him. We'll find out when the CONCACAF Nations League squad is unveiled if that turns into something more.

Nic Maddinson made a fine unbeaten century before Gurinder Sandhu’s second consecutive Sheffield Shield five-wicket haul sparked a stunning collapse to help Queensland avoid a significant first-innings deficit at the Junction Oval.Maddinson’s innings, along with 92 from Peter Handscomb, 91 from Marcus Harris, and 48 from Matthew Short had put Victoria in a strong position at 3 for 336, just 14 runs shy of taking the first-innings lead.But Sandhu and Mark Steketee combined to take 7 for 24 in 10 overs to rip through Victoria’s lower order and bowl the home side out for 360 with a lead of only 11. Sandhu picked up 5 for 65, following on from his 6 for 57 in Adelaide in November. It was just his third first-class five-wicket haul having claimed his first on debut.Maddinson and Short had been in cruise control during a 140-run stand having come together after the early loss of Harris and Handscomb on day three. Both men fell within sight of their centuries inside the first hour. Harris closed the bat face trying to work James Bazley through midwicket and the thick edge was well held by Bryce Street in the gully. Handscomb moved from 74 to 92 before trying to cut a slider from Mitchell Swepson that zipped through and crashed into off stump.Maddinson then proved why he’s on the fringe of Australia’s Test side with his second Shield century of the summer. He struck 12 fours and a six and attacked both pace and spin with equal skill. He now has two centuries and two half-centuries in seven Shield innings this season while averaging 80.80. But when Short holed out hooking Steketee down fine leg’s throat the game turned in an instant. Five of the last six Victoria batters registered ducks as Steketee and Sandhu tore through the tail while Maddinson watched helplessly at the non-striker’s.Queensland knocked over the deficit without loss but Mitchell Perry and Jon Holland made three key breakthroughs before stumps, removing Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Street to leave Queensland three down with a lead of just 58 and one day to play to force a result.

Mohamed Salah's contract talks with Liverpool appear to be at a standstill, and the Egyptian star could potentially join Barcelona next season.

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Salah and Liverpool reach contract impasse Egyptian will become free agent after this season endsHas offered himself to La Liga giants BarcelonaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mohamed Salah and Liverpool seem to have reached an impasse over the renewal of the Egyptian's contract, which expires at the end of the ongoing season. According to a report from SPORT, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has offered himself to Barcelona, but a move will only be possible if he agrees to a significant pay cut.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Over the past few weeks, it had been reported that Barcelona sporting director Deco was keen on signing Salah's Liverpool teammate Luis Diaz, who the club's sporting department regard to be the ideal choice to complete the left side of their attack.

Now, it appears that signing Salah could be a more realistic outcome for all parties involved. However, the transfer would materialise only if the 32-year-old agrees to take a pay cut. Currently earning close to €18 million per season, Salah is among the highest-earning players in the Premier League. But he will have to settle for a reduced salary in Catalonia due to Barcelona's financial constraints and uncertainty over whether they have returned to the 1:1 rule.

DID YOU KNOW?

Salah appeared for an interview with Liverpool legend Steve McManaman last month, where he seemingly hinted that his time at Anfield was coming to an end.  "I want fans to remember that I gave it all to the fans. I gave it all to the city. I was here, I wasn't lazy, I just enjoyed my football and gave it all. I think that's what the city is about – they give you love and you have a connection with them because you give your all. I just want them to remember that I was here for eight years and I gave it all."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?

Liverpool fans will have to remain patient to hear official news regarding the future of their star man and club legend. In the meantime, the former Roma and Chelsea winger will be seen in action in the EFL Cup Final against Newcastle on Sunday, March 16, after they'll have faced PSG in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday night. The Egyptian has over 50 goal contributions in a little over 40 games across all competitions in what is turning out to be arguably his best season ever, helping the Reds remain in the hunt for the Premier League, Champions League and the EFL Cup.

Aston Villa have been told that they can sign one of their transfer targets for £30m this January as they face a race with Unai Emery’s former side Arsenal for his signature, according to a fresh report.

Aston Villa on course for successful season

Despite four consecutive losses, Aston Villa will still be happy with the start to the season they have made, both in the Premier League and the Champions League. Unai Emery’s side sit 9th in the Premier League, but are just a point off third place and have already faced Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal this season.

They have also won three of their first four Champions League games, as a handball controversy saw them fall to defeat against Belgian side Club Brugge in their last outing after a previously perfect start that included a famous 1-0 win over Bayern Munich at Villa Park.

The Villans will be looking to bounce back from their run of defeats after the international break, where they face home games against relegation threatened duo Crystal Palace and Southampton as well as games against Brentford and high-flying midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa’s next five Premier League games

Crystal Palace (Home)

Chelsea (Away)

Brentford (Home)

Southampton (Home)

Nottingham Forest (Away)

January signings cannot be ruled out either, with Villa looking to go deep across multiple competitions this season and qualify for the Champions League for a second successive campaign.

But with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool looking a cut above the rest, they will be fighting against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and perhaps even Brighton for the final spot or spots to ensure Champions League football next season, something that will require significant depth. Now, they have been offered the chance to sign a midfielder for just £30m.

Aston Villa eyeing Ajax midfielder

That comes as CaughtOffside name Aston Villa as one of the sides keeping a close eye on Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor, with the 22-year-old having impressed in Amsterdam. Taylor has managed two goals and two assists in 11 Eredivisie outings, form that has caught the eye of a trio of Premier League sides.

As per the report, Arsenal, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Napoli are all “keeping tabs on his development” ahead of a potential future move.

They add that though “Ajax are not keen on letting Taylor go”, a fee of €35m (just over £29m) could persuade them to part ways with the young midfielder as soon as January.

Of course, Villa have already invested significantly in midfield in recent seasons, with Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley both arriving over the summer to add to recent free signings of Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans.

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The news has thrown any potential deal into doubt at Villa Park.

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But with John McGinn now stationed in wide areas, Villa lack a true box-to-box ball carrying midfielder, something that Taylor would certainly offer them.

A deal in January could be premature, with Villa keen to strengthen in other areas before they reassess midfield, but should it be the only way to get their man ahead of fellow interested parties, they may well be best just taking the risk.

Arsenal thought they were back in the groove. The Gunners had dispatched the likes of West Ham, Sporting and Manchester United since the last international break of the year but fell short when they travelled to Fulham.

We know the Premier League isn’t easy. The way Mikel Arteta’s men have relentlessly attempted to chase down Manchester City is a testament to that.

Well, they are ahead of City this time around but the trouble is, Arsenal still only sit in third place.

Chelsea leapfrogged them courtesy of a remarkable 4-2 win over Spurs and even though Liverpool didn’t play due to adverse weather conditions, the gap between them and Arteta’s side is still six points.

So, where’s it all gone wrong so far this season? Well, three red cards certainly haven’t helped. Neither did skipper Martin Odegaard’s 12-game absence due to an ankle injury.

The bottom line, however, is that Arsenal simply haven’t been good enough for long periods of time. A lot of that can be owed to an underperforming attack.

Arsenal's underperforming attackers

Let’s get this out of the way first. When at their best, Arteta’s forward line is one of the very best in Europe. Bukayo Saka – the division’s top assister – has proven he is now one of the finest wingers on the continent and coupled with Odegaard, Arsenal have created perhaps their most dynamic duo since the days of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.

Alas, it is the players on the opposite flank who have often let the club down in crucial moments this season.

Leandro Trossard may have found a degree of form in recent weeks, scoring against Sporting and West Ham nine days ago. Yet, there was that foolish red card at the Etihad and it was his misplaced pass that ultimately led to William Saliba’s sending off against Bournemouth.

The Belgian may have finished as the club’s second-top scorer last term on 17 goals but he simply hasn’t been at the races this term, registering just four goals in 20 games.

Gabriel Martinelli has not fared much better and his piece of play deep in the game at Craven Cottage as Arsenal drew 1-1 typified his season.

The Brazilian did incredibly well to cut inside and curl a tantalising ball to the back post where Saka headed home. It looked like Arsenal had a late winner. But wait…what’s this? It’s the dreaded VAR.

It was a “criminal” mistake in the words of Paul Merson, as Martinelli strayed offside and ruined Arsenal’s chances of narrowing the gap at the top to four points.

That being said, some of the blame should lie at the feet of another Brazilian; Gabriel Jesus.

Why it's time for Gabriel Jesus to go

Over the summer, the club finally decided to part ways with Eddie Nketiah. He had become the third choice option behind Jesus and surprisingly, Kai Havertz.

It was predominantly the German’s form as a centre-forward that provoked that sale and since then he scored four goals in his first seven league matches of 2024/25.

While the goals haven’t been quite as forthcoming in the Premier League since, he still brings a great deal to the attack with his pressing and hold up play.

Unfortunately, like Nketiah, Jesus does not offer much at all. He has scored just one league goal in 2024 to date and ruined his chance to rescue things for Arteta on Sunday afternoon.

Truth be told, it was a rough old day for Havertz who didn’t have a single shot on target in the clash. Change was needed and the more dynamic and tricky Jesus was a wise option to call upon.

His cameo was rather dire, though. The former Man City striker registered a truly awful pass success rate of 17% after he left the field and also messed up a goalscoring opportunity in bizarre fashion.

Minutes played

17

Touches

8

Accurate passes

1/6 (17%)

Shots

0

Dribbles

0

Key passes

0

Crosses

0

Duels won

1/1

Possession lost

5x

Tackles

1

The ball was lifted over the Fulham defence by Declan Rice and the 27-year-old had an ideal opportunity to tuck the ball away when one-on-one with Bernd Leno. Except Jesus didn’t actually make contact with the ball. He paused, seemingly unsure as to whether the ball would come to him and rather than being gifted with a simple chance it fell straight into Leno’s arms.

That lack of confidence, that lack of conviction typified his sorry calendar year. Perhaps rather harshly, Arsenal reporter Connor Humm noted that the £45m signing “doesn’t look like he could score in League 2.” It does feel like that at times, it must be said.

Truth be told, Jesus’ decline has been particularly sad. Yes, the Brazil international has struggled with injuries over the last 18 months or so but let us remember the immediate impact he made at the Emirates.

After signing from title rivals City in the summer of 2022, he scored five goals in his first eight league outings. That form has never been replicated since.

Unfortunately, it feels as though this could be the beginning of the end of Jesus’ time in an Arsenal shirt. They will undoubtedly recruit a new forward in 2025 and as a result, someone will have to be shipped on. He is now a prime candidate.

5/10 Arsenal star just had his worst game all season

Arsenal were held by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.

ByMatt Dawson Dec 8, 2024

Liverpool had a quiet first summer under new manager Arne Slot, signing just two new players.

The first, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, remains with Valencia and won’t move to Anfield until next summer, while the second, Federico Chiesa, has barely featured for the Reds.

The Italian winger, whom Liverpool paid Juventus £12.5 million for, has played just 78 minutes of football this season, having been sidelined for most of the campaign with fitness and injury problems.

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Come January, however, Slot may be a little busier in the transfer market. Liverpool have already been linked with a number of big, and small, names, including Fulham’s American full-back Antonee Robinson, Sporting Lisbon starlet Geovany Quenda, and Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk. One deal, in fact, is reported to have already been agreed.

Liverpool reportedly agree £21m Loic Bade deal

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool have allegedly agreed a €25m (£21m) fee with Sevilla to sign defender Loic Bade. The Spanish publication claims that Bade had been a target for the Reds since last summer, and he will now join them after the New Year, assuming ‘”nothing goes wrong” between now and January.

Aston Villa were also understood to be interested in the Frenchman, who has been impressing in Spain. Since joining Sevilla last year, Bade has made 67 appearances for the club, helping them lift the Europa League in 2022/23 – a tournament in which he notably scored against Manchester United in the quarter-finals.

Over the past year, the 24-year-old, who has been previously likened to former Liverpool star Joel Matip and described as “complete” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, ranks in the 98th percentile for tackles and take-ons when compared to players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

Who is Loic Bade?

Bade began his professional career in his home country with Le Havre. After just a handful of appearances for his boyhood club, he was then sold to Lens, before, just a year later, he was shipped on to Rennes.

In September 2022, he then joined Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest on a year-long loan. Bade left the club just six months later, however, without having made a single appearance.

At Sevilla, whom he initially joined on loan before making the deal permanent in the summer of 2023, he has found a home and established himself as one of La Liga’s top young defenders.

As a result of his displays for Sevilla, he was called up to the France national team for the first time last month in place of injured Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana.

Speaking about his time at Forest in an interview with Le Parisien last year, Bade said: “I gave everything in training. But these are the coach’s choices. I thought I’d get my chance, but I didn’t.”

“It was a blessing in disguise is what I tell myself,” he added. “If I hadn’t had this difficult period, I wouldn’t have refound myself at Sevilla.”

“I didn’t tell the curator to make a pitch according to me. It was the same for Australia, yet we got their 10 wickets”

Umar Farooq10-Mar-2022Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq has dismissed the debate surrounding the Rawalpindi pitch, insisting that the hosts were simply playing to their strengths, and that the pitch was the same for both teams. Imam went on to question whether Australia would ever prepare their pitches at home after consulting the opponent.The barren pitch in Rawalpindi became a talking point after only 14 wickets fell across five days in the first Test. While Pakistan managed to take all 10 Australian wickets in the first innings, Australia could pick up only four in total, as the hosts made 476 for 4 and 252 for 0 before the game ended in a tame draw.Imam, in particular, flourished, becoming only the 10th Pakistan batter – and third opener – to score a century in both innings of a Test. Imam and Abdullah Shafique also set a new record for most runs scored by an opening pair against Australia.After the game, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins suggested that the lifeless pitch was made to nullify the visitors’ pace attack, something PCB chairman Ramiz Raja also confirmed though he conceded that a draw wasn’t a good advertisement for Test cricket.”A draw is something nobody wants to see,” Imam said. “Obviously when it’s a five-day Test everyone anticipates for a result. But when we go to Australian conditions, they don’t make pitches consulting us but make it according to their will so I think we should see our strength and should live up to our strength.”But in Karachi, we are looking for a result in our favour. I think the Rawalpindi Test was played well as we managed to get all 10 wickets. Unfortunately 70 overs were not played out due to bad light and rain but had those overs been bowled the result could have been different because we intended to make them bat again.”Related

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Why did Pakistan sedate Rawalpindi, their liveliest Test pitch?

Stats – Australia's worst bowling effort

Australia’s combined bowling average of 238.33 and strike-rate of 478 were their second-worst in 145 years of Test cricket. The visiting bowlers claimed just three scalps between them across 239 overs, with the other wicket coming through a run-out. Furthermore, none of the Australian batters managed to get into three figures.Imam, however, went about making runs on a docile pitch that barely tested him. Playing a Test at home for the very first time, Imam survived a dismissal on 94 when replays showed he had inside-edged a Nathan Lyon delivery to short leg, only for Australia to miss taking a review. But beyond that lapse, Imam dealt with Lyon without much fuss. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, of the 45 length deliveries that Lyon bowled to him, Imam took 41 runs, including two sixes. On a slow pitch, Imam kept his focus intact, even expertly blocking 49 fuller-length deliveries from Lyon.”Regardless of my settled or unsettled position in the team or even whether I am performing or not, I will always be criticised,” Imam said. “It’s been nearly five years and 60 games I have played so far for Pakistan and yet I face criticism but I am not sad because that’s very normal to me.My job is to score runs and the quality of innings should be judged on the basis of my intent. For me, my captain, my coach and the think-tank are the important ones and what they are expecting from me and how they rate my innings. It is not really important what people say from outside and what perception is made about me that doesn’t matter at all and I don’t care about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that any judgement coming from the people in the dressing room is what is all important for me.”I didn’t tell the curator to make a pitch according to me, nor is he my relative. It was the same for Australia, yet we got their 10 wickets and none of them managed to score 100. I didn’t ask for the pitch so that I can score a hundred in each innings. The Karachi pitch will be the same as it has been in first-class cricket and I won’t be playing at it for the first time. But at the same time whatever Test I had played before this I played outside in South Africa, Ireland and England in away Tests. So whatever the pitch will be – either it’s green, yellow or brown – my job is to play cricket and I will play and keep believing in my practice.”The second Test starts from March 12 in Karachi, where in the last five years the spinners have taken 275 first-class wickets at 33.16 while fast bowlers have dominated with a better average of 31.44 and 499 wickets.

Sky Sports has provided an update on Aston Villa’s potential future recruitment, with the Villans having made a “concrete enquiry” for a new midfielder.

Aston Villa eyeing reinforcements

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Aston Villa are expected to be busy as Unai Emery continues to craft a side capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League and Europe.

They have been strongly linked with a move for a new forward, while there is also concern over the future of defender Diego Carlos, who was made available for transfer over the summer window and could still leave this coming January.

Related Aston Villa closing in on move to sign £5.7k-p/w midfielder for Unai Emery

He could arrive at Villa Park either in January or in the summer.

Posts 1 ByBen Browning Nov 30, 2024

Having struggled in recent weeks, it will likely be a case of adding depth to the squad rather than a major overhaul at Villa Park, but they may be forced to wait until the summer to get the man they seemingly really want.

Aston Villa make enquiry for new midfielder

That comes as a fresh update has been forthcoming on Aston Villa’s interest in PSV Eindhoven star Malik Tillman.

The USA star has enjoyed a fantastic start to the campaign and has drawn rave reviews for his performances in the Champions League and Eredivisie, with the ex-Rangers man enjoying a purple patch with the Dutch side.

Tillman in 2024/25 (All competitions)

Appearances

19

Goals

8

Assists

4

Yellow Cards

2

Minutes per goal/assist

121

It emerged last week that the USMNT forward was “surfacing” as a potential new recruit at Villa Park, and now Sky Sports has gone further, providing a fresh development.

Indeed, Sky Sport in Germany claims that “there are already several concrete inquiries for a winter transfer” and add that “Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa are among those interested” in the former Bayern Munich man.

Bayern, for their part, have a buy-back clause for the American, but it is added that “a return to FC Bayern is currently considered unrealistic”, while Tillman “sees himself in the long term at an ambitious top club, with the Premier League being a major goal”.

However, his arrival in England won’t be cheap, with the midfielder still having almost four years left to run on his £250,000-a-year deal in Eindhoven. Sky adds that there is a release clause in his contract set at between €30-40m (£25-33m), but that it does not come into effect until the summer, meaning that a January transfer would likely be expensive.

Villa are clearly on the hunt for more attacking firepower and have been linked with several attacking midfielders as they look to find competition for Morgan Rogers. Tillman’s “phenomenal” performances have seen him catch the eye, and football analyst Ben Mattinson claims that the PSV man “reminds me of Morgan Rogers”.

Could he be the perfect man to help share the workload with the England international at Villa Park?