After the hundred in the first match, Ishan Kishan had scored just 125 runs at a strike-rate of 106.83 in 10 innings coming into the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In Lucknow, though, he played a highly-efficient anchor role with 94 off 48 to make sure the high-intent Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) line-up didn’t run out of batters in the end. It took SRH to 231, the 42nd score of 200 or more in IPL 2025, the highest number of such scores in a season. The target of 232 was also more than any they have chased down successfully.Outside Kishan, though, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Aniket Verma all put the RCB bowling under extreme pressure. They expected the pitch to be tricky, but in an over they decided it was a belter and that they needed 230 to 240. Abhishek started the charge with 34 off 17, Head was more sedate with 17 off 10, Klaasen almost effortless in his 24 off 13 and Aniket actually hit good balls for sixes in 26 off 9.When RCB finally got rid of all four of them, they could get in four quiet overs: only 30 came from overs 13 to 16. Romario Shepherd, who turned RCB’s last game around in the final few overs around with the bat, threatened to do so with the ball here. Having been introduced only in the 15th over, he took the wickets of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhinav Manohar in two overs for just 14.This is when Kishan’s innings was crucial. He scored 54 out of the 86 that came since the wicket of Aniket at 145 for 4 in the 12th over. He did so without taking the high risks that his partners had been taking. Kishan and Pat Cummins added an unbeaten 43 in the last three overs.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Data Fifa começou nesta segunda-feira (5) e vai até o dia 12 de setembro. Durante o período, há uma pausa nos campeonatos nacionais para a disputa das Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2026. Dessa forma, jogadores de vários clubes do Brasil foram convocados para representarem seus respectivos países. Das 20 equipes da Série A do Brasileirão, apenas América-MG, Cruzeiro, Cuiabá e Cuiabá não terão representantes.

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+ Eliminatórias: quantas vagas terá a América do Sul na Copa do Mundo de 2026?

O clube que mais cedeu jogadores nesta Data Fifa foi o Athletico-PR, com sete nomes ao todo, incluindo seleções principais e a pré-olímpica brasileira: Zapelli e Esquivel (Argentina), Fernando Nava (Bolívia), Arturo Vidal (Chile), Canobbio (Uruguai) e Mycael e Vitor Roque (Brasil sub-23). Confira a lista completa abaixo:

Jogos da Seleção Brasileira nesta Data Fifa:

8/9: Brasil x Bolívia – às 21h45 (de Brasília) – Estádio: Mangueirão
12/9: Peru x Brasil – às 23h (de Brasília) – Estádio: Monumental de Lima

Wayne Rooney has bemoaned one “crazy” West Ham United “problem” and Graham Potter’s “lack of belief”, following the recent 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

West Ham suffer another setback against Crystal Palace

Potter appears to be on very thin ice after the 2-1 defeat at home against Crystal Palace last time out, with the West Ham hierarchy now running the rule over potential replacements.

Following the most recent loss, the Hammers are 19th in the Premier League table, having tasted defeat in four of their opening five games, with Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche also entering the frame as potential Potter replacements.

In the wake of yet another loss, Rooney has bemoaned the Hammers’ inability to defend set-pieces, while also calling into question the atmosphere at the club.

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The former Manchester United man said: “I analysed the set-pieces yesterday, last night, on Match of the Day and it’s all second balls. Graham Potter came out and said they’ve been working on set plays, so as a coach there’s only so much you can do, but they’re not winning the first header and the problem is they’re not reacting quick enough, and then the second ball, they’re conceding goals.

“So, it’s crazy to concede seven from five, but when you have a lack of confidence and a lack of belief – I think that’s clear with the West Ham players and the fans as well I can imagine. There’s a lack of a belief in the team, and it looks like the owners and the manager.”

Potter must fix defensive issues to keep his job

Defending from set-pieces has undoubtedly been a major issue for the Irons, with Potter saying: “We’ve addressed [our weakness from dead-balls] and we’re working to improve it. We conceded too many, had to defend a lot. That is something we also have to look at. It’s just constant work on the training ground.”

However, having been in the dugout since January, the 50-year-old has had more than enough time to fix the glaring problems, and there have been very few promising signs, winning just six of the 25 games he has taken charge of.

The Hammers have also conceded 13 goals already this season, the highest number of any Premier League side, so it is clear their top-flight status could be in jeopardy if there is not either a radical improvement or a change in manager.

While he arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of appointments, Dyche could be a solid option for West Ham, at least on a short-term basis, having led Everton to safety when the Toffees were in a similar position.

If there is one area of the pitch where David Moyes has improved Everton at the start of this season compared to the start of the previous campaign, it is in front of goal.

Seven games into the 2024/25 season, the Toffees had struggled to find the back of the net.

According to Understat, they’d scored seven goals in the same number of games under Sean Dyche. Yet, this term under the tutelage of Moyes, they have already scored nine goals, with more points to their name.

Goals are coming from the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, but Moyes will be hoping strikers Beto and Thierno Barry can kickstart their campaign soon enough.

Barry and Beto’s start to the season

There are certainly different expectations that surround Beto and summer signing Barry. The Hill Dickinson Stadium may expect more frequent goals from the former, whereas their summer signing from Villarreal deserves more time.

Starting with Barry’s form this term, he has yet to find the back of the net in nine appearances for the club so far. To caveat that, the France under-21 international has only played 314 minutes in those games, equalling just 3.4 full 90-minute games.

Given the time it can take for a player of his inexperience to adapt to the Premier League, it is hard to criticise him.

Beto, on the other hand, could well be deserving of more criticism. At 27 years of age, he could certainly be considered the elder statesman of the two centre-forwards, but has just two goals in nine appearances this term.

Only one of those strikes has come in the Premier League, with Grealish setting him up to score thanks to a wonderful headed cross away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Yet, he has certainly left a little to be desired, and has now gone four consecutive starts without a goal, playing 45 minutes in all of those.

It is a conundrum for Moyes. He needs goals to come from centre-forward, although the man to do that might be an outside-of-the-box alternative.

Moyes’ Barry and Beto alternative

At the moment, solving the issues that the Toffees strikers are having in front of goal is not an immediate concern for Moyes. After all, they are scoring from other areas of the pitch, with Ndiaye the chief goal-getter at the moment.

But, eventually, the Scot is going to want to fix the issue. With no other natural number nine in the squad, he may have to get creative. One player who could slot in up front is summer signing Carlos Alcaraz.

The Argentine attacker is no stranger to leading the line. He’s done it nine times in his career, according to Transfermarkt, scoring and assisting two goals each from that area.

He’s a number 10 by trade, and is used to getting into the box and on the end of crosses.

In his short Everton career so far, the 22-year-old has only ever operated in attacking midfield, a little deeper as a number eight, and on each flank.

That has been to some degree of success, though; Alcaraz has bagged three goals and has three assists in just 23 Toffees appearances so far.

The “special” forward, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, actually scored on his first start for the club last February.

The strike came away to Crystal Palace, where he showed good instinct in the penalty area to pounce on a loose ball and fire home from 10 yards.

He can be a real thorn in the side of Everton’s opponents, that is for sure. The underlying stats from last season in the top flight highlight his high shot on target total per 90 minutes, with 1.4, which ranks him in the top 2% of Premier League attackers.

He can usually cause goals out of nowhere, too. The 22-year-old notched up 0.7 goal-creating actions each game last season, placing him in the top 7%.

Goals and assists

0.58

82nd

Shots on target

1.4

98th

Shots on target %

44.4%

87th

Passes into penalty area

2.21

88th

Goal-creating actions

0.7

93rd

There is certainly evidence to suggest that experimenting with Alacaraz up top could work well for Moyes. The Argentine attacker can be a nuisance in forward areas, and knows where the back of the net is.

It would be a bold call if the Toffees boss was to go down this route, but, it could certainly benefit his side in the short-term.

Moyes may have the new Moise Kean in Everton's "world-class talent"

This Everton star hasn’t started the season as he might have hoped.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 8, 2025

Sean Dickson marked his return to Somerset’s team with top score of 76 as they made it four wins from as many Vitality Blast group games with a five-wicket victory over Middlesex in a Taunton run-feast.Middlesex ran up 229 for five – the highest ever Blast total by a visiting side at the Cooper Associates Ground – after losing the toss, Max Holden striking 87 not out off 47 balls and Ben Geddes a career-best 69 from 32 deliveries, including seven sixes.In reply, Somerset reached 235 for five with four balls to spare, Dickson, back after a broken finger, hitting five sixes and six fours in his 38-ball knock and Lewis Gregory making a rapid 58 not out.Middlesex were given a brisk start by Stephen Eskinazi and Kane Williamson, who posted 39 in less than four overs before Eskinazi was bowled by Riley Meredith attempting a scoop.Williamson was visibly frustrated to fall for 28 off 17 balls, caught at deep square off fellow Kiwi Matt Henry to make it 58 for two in the sixth over.From then on, the innings was all about Holden and Geddes, both of whom greeted left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy with sixes in taking the total to 103 for two at the halfway stage.Craig Overton had impressed in his opening three overs before Geddes struck him for a straight six into the River Town and pulled another maximum at the end of his stint.Geddes went to a majestic 25-ball half-century, clearing the ropes for a sixth time, off Gregory, and then sent another ball into the river off Ben Green before Holden moved to an equally impressive half-century off 30 deliveries.Their partnership ended when Geddes was caught at long-off, Meredith striking again with his next ball as Leus du Plooy was brilliantly caught at long-on by Overton. A pulled four by Holden off Gregory brought up the 200 in the 18th over and Jack Davies hit the 12th six of the innings in the final over.Somerset lost Will Smeed to the fifth delivery of their innings, bowled by Noah Cornwell. Tom Kohler-Cadmore cleared the ropes three times before Tom Banton fell to Ryan Higgins to make it 41 for two in the fourth over.Kohler-Cadmore quickly followed to Cornwell and it was 88 for four in the ninth over when Tom Abell slog-swept a boundary catch off Luke Hollman to depart for 24.But Dickson was starting to blossom, producing a wide range of attacking shots in moving to a 24-ball fifty, reached with a reverse-swept six off Zafar Gohar. Gregory was caught off a Hollman no-ball as 18 came off the 13th over and the home side still had hope.Dickson smashed Cornwell for a straight six and Gregory rode his luck further when dropped on the boundary by du Plooy off Gohar, hitting three sixes in the same over. After Dixon holed out to long-off, the Somerset skipper hit his fifth maximum to reach a 21-ball half-century.Ben Green was dropped in the closing overs, du Plooy again the guilty fielder, before another Gregory six completed a remarkable victory.

In a move that could see them skip out the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive South American wonderkid.

Van Dijk: It's "clear" Liverpool must improve

Returning from the international break looking to return to winning ways for the first time in three games, against rivals Manchester United no less, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted that the Reds must improve.

The Dutchman also praised the Red Devils, sending a warning to the rest of his teammates about the threat that they pose even after getting off to a difficult start to the campaign, themselves.

For Arne Slot, it’s an unfamiliar position.

The Dutchman only knows winning ways in Merseyside after securing the Premier League title in his debut campaign last time out. Now, for the first time, the pressure is on him to turn Liverpool’s £400m summer spending spree into a side capable of defending that title.

Slot can fix Konate & Leoni blow by unleashing Liverpool's 19-year-old star

Liverpool have something of a sore spot in defence this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 18, 2025

Anfield chiefs rarely panic on that front, however, and will instead have their sights set on further improvements.

After smashing their transfer record twice in the summer to welcome Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have reportedly shifted their focus towards a wonderkid.

Liverpool join Ian Subiabre race

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Ian Subiabre alongside Arsenal, Manchester City and a number of other Premier League rivals.

The youngster is one of the most promising stars that South American football has to offer, and is reportedly ready to move on from River Plate in 2026.

Described as a “direct dribbler” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Subiabre would be an excellent coup for Liverpool, especially in January if a winter move does indeed become possible.

Whether it’s been those at Anfield in the case of Alexis Mac Allister or Chelsea with Moises Caicedo, a number of top Premier League sides have missed out on bargain deals for South American stars before paying a premium price to the likes of Brighton to secure those same players.

The Reds could now skip that step by landing a repeat of Man City’s Claudio Echeverri deal for Subiabre next year.

While Subiabre’s deal is due to expire at the end of 2026, reports from his homeland suggest the 18-year-old is actually ready to renew his deal until 2028 — giving River Plate the chance to recuperate a larger fee for him.

This proposed fresh contract, if officially announced, would include a whopping £74 million release clause.

Liverpool will be praying this isn’t the case, and Subiabre pulls a ‘Trent’ by running his current deal down.

If not, Slot’s side would have to fork out much more money for the Argentine, albeit maybe not as high as the clause.

“Right now it looks like a mess”. Those were the words of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, speaking after his former side slipped to a frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Galatasaray on Tuesday evening.

Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty proved enough to clinch all three points for the Turkish giants in that Champions League tussle, with the trip to Istanbul a particularly damaging one amid notable injury blows for both Alisson and Hugo Ekitike.

While the reigning Premier League champions remain top of the pile domestically, this has been a challenging week for Arne Slot’s side, having been deservedly beaten by an in-form Crystal Palace at the weekend.

This is certainly no time to panic, amid a difficult seven days in what has largely been a flawless tenure for the Dutchman to date, although with the warning signs having already been there in recent weeks, something needs to change.

As Carragher alluded to on CBS, the Merseysiders “haven’t gained anything going forward, but they’ve lost a lot defensively” following the summer squad overhaul, with the backline looking all at sea thus far.

With just two clean sheets in ten games in all competitions in 2025/26 – the last of which came away at Burnley – the Reds need to find a way to plaster over the cracks that are emerging…

Konate & Frimpong's display vs Galatasaray

While there were few who could hold their heads high on Tuesday night, among those who particularly underwhelmed were Ibrahima Konate and Jeremie Frimpong, with the pair enduring another worrying display against the Super Lig side.

In the case of Frimpong, there may well be concerns brewing over his ability to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back for the long-term, with Slot even favouring him in a more advanced role, in order to afford Mohamed Salah a well-earned rest.

That switch certainly didn’t pay off, however, with the diminutive Dutchman hooked on the hour mark after a desperately disappointing showing, having lost the ball on 16 occasions from just 35 touches, as per Sofascore, while winning just two of his nine attempted duels.

Such lightweight quality hardly inspires any confidence that the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man can flourish when moved back into a full-back berth, with Slot perhaps wise to avoid pairing the summer signing with the hapless Konate in that right channel.

Indeed, the Frenchman endured another sorry outing up against the rampant Osimhen, having notably gifted possession to the Nigerian in the second half, after a slack pass back was intercepted by the ex-Napoli striker.

As noted by the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst, the former RB Leipzig man ‘looks worryingly out of form of late’, with the failure to get the Marc Guehi deal over the line looking set to haunt Slot and co over the coming months.

Even despite the lack of alternatives, Slot needs to find a way to take Konate – and Frimpong too – out of the firing line, with the same perhaps true of this season’s Alexander-Arnold…

The new Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

While ‘Trent’ may now be old news at Anfield, it is worth noting that the struggles of the injury-hit Real Madrid man last season now appear to be being repeated in this new-look Liverpool side.

There is a sense that the Reds romped to the title in 2024/25 in spite of the Englishman, not because of him, with the contract rebel never seemingly managing to win over Jurgen Klopp’s successor in the dugout.

Indeed, while the attacking quality remained – with his 14 goals and assists eclipsing his tally of 13 from the previous campaign – the 26-year-old’s defensive woes were plain to see.

Substituted off on 16 occasions in the top-flight, the academy graduate notably made four errors leading to a shot, while being dribbled past 1.7 times per game, as per Sofascore, with Slot certainly not wholly impressed by what he saw:

That scenario now looks to be repeating itself with the case of £40m man, Milos Kerkez, with the Hungarian youngster also emerging as something of a liability at full-back, following his summer switch from Bournemouth.

Much like Alexander-Arnold, the 21-year-old – who registered five Premier League assists last season – is a real asset in an attacking sense when at his best, with that form also seeing him create eight ‘big chances’ under Andoni Iraola’s watch.

Unfortunately, that quality is yet to be seen in a Liverpool shirt, with Kerkez still waiting to register his first goal involvement for his new side, after making ten appearances in all competitions.

Targeted on the opening weekend by former teammate Antoine Semenyo, the rampaging left-back has regularly come under the microscope since then, not least following his early withdrawal amid the threat of a red card at Turf Moor.

It was also his errant clearance which led to the throw-in that saw Palace clinch victory at the weekend, while in midweek, the £75k-per-week menace won just three of his seven attempted duels, while failing to provide a single successful cross or long ball.

It is, of course, still early days, with the at-times hot-headed defender also perhaps not aided by the woes of those ahead of him, having yet to strike up a fruitful partnership with Cody Gakpo down that left flank.

That being said, as was the case with Alexander-Arnold’s demotion behind young Conor Bradley on occasion last term, Kerkez may find himself ousted for a more steady presence in the form of the long-serving Andy Robertson.

Like Trent, at his best, the former Cherries starlet can be such a weapon from the flanks with his wicked delivery and attacking instincts. Like Trent, too, however, at his worst, he can be a costly figure in a defensive sense for Slot’s side.

Liverpool star who's "on par with Salah & VVD" had his worst game under Slot

Liverpool endured a night to forget as they were beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 1, 2025

Jordan Henderson has backed “world-class” Liverpool to rediscover their form after helping Brentford inflict another defeat on his former club. The England international played a crucial role as his side secured a 3-2 victory which stretched the Reds’ losing run in the Premier League to four games, with Bees trio Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago doing the damage.

Henderson produces another fine performance in Liverpool win

Henderson continued his fine form in 2025-26 with an impressive display against Liverpool on Saturday evening. After joining Keith Andrews’ side on a free transfer in the summer, the 35-year-old produced another brilliant performance to help his team secure all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium. Brentford forwards Ouattara, Schade and Thiago were all on the scoresheet for the hosts, with Liverpool unable to find an equaliser after goals from Milos Kerkez and Mohamed Salah.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfielder backs his former club to rediscover early-season form

Liverpool have now suffered four straight defeats in the league, and five losses in their last six games in all competitions, after coming unstuck against an in-form Brentford side who are currently 10th in the table and just two points behind Arne Slot’s men. The Merseysiders have also lost to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea and Manchester United during their worrying run, but while questions are now being asked of their title credentials, Henderson has backed his former paymasters to recapture the form which saw them win their first seven games this season.

Henderson insists Liverpool are still 'world-class' despite recent losses

Speaking to after the Brentford game, Henderson said: “Liverpool are a world-class team with world-class players. You look all over the pitch, there's not much to go at, they're all quality players. I don't really see a weakness in the team.

"Yes, I know there's been results of late that haven't been great for them but, for me, they're still top players and a top, top team and it's just a matter of time before they get in a rhythm and get going.

"I think there's been a lot of reasons why they haven't hit the heights from last year but they're still a world-class team and wherever you look on the pitch there's to players, so it's always going to be difficult.

“But the [Brentford] lads dug deep, stuck together and caused some problems on the counter.

"I thought from start to finish we stuck together. We knew it would be difficult at times. The way we defended together, the way we stayed composed on the ball and try to, rather than just kick it forward at times, it's trying to play the long ball in behind to someone running in, like Dams (Mikkel Damsgaard) did for Kev (Schade) on the second goal.

"And [Igor] Thiago was a threat all night and he’s been like that all season to be fair. We've got a lot of good players on the counter-attack with the front three. We've got people like Dams, Yarmo (Yehor Yarmolyuk) and the centre-halves who can pick passes as well.

"Overall, I think it was a really good performance and we deserved the win in the end."

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Getty Images SportEngland international likened Liverpool departure to a 'break-up'

Saturday’s clash was the first time Henderson had faced Liverpool following his departure in 2023. After joining the club from Sunderland in 2011, the midfielder spent 12 seasons at Anfield before his heavily-criticised move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. Henderson made just 19 appearances in the Middle East before switching to Ajax in January 2024, featuring 57 times before leaving in the summer.

Reflecting on his Liverpool exit, Henderson said earlier this month: "Timing, with everything in hindsight, yes – maybe I would have made different decisions. But at the time that's how I felt and the decision I made was for many different reasons and only I know them reasons.

"I am not going to lie, over the past couple of years I have had some tough moments. It felt like a break-up when I left Liverpool. Of course I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes in the past. Of course I will have throughout my career.

"But all I've ever tried to do is the right thing.”

Millie Taylor, Georgia Davis share four wickets as hosts make it three wins from last four

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Jun-2025Birmingham Bears continued their strong form in the Women’s Vitality Blast as they beat Hampshire by 13 runs at Edgbaston to record their third win in four games.Put in, Birmingham totalled 178 with Meg Austin making a polished T20-best 51 from 38 balls. Daisy Gibb took 3 for 25, her wickets all coming in the space of four balls in her third over to put a crucial brake on the Bears when they appeared to be heading for 200.It was still a testing target for a Hampshire side missing the injured Ella McCaughan, scorer of a match-winning century against Essex on Thursday. They came in short at 165 for 7 as only captain Georgia Adams, with 32 off 31 balls, and Mary Taylor (31 not out off 17) passed 30 against a disciplined attack led by Millie Taylor.Hampshire chose to bowl but found early breakthroughs elusive. Austin and Davina Perrin added 70 from 48 balls and, after Perrin was well-caught by Charli Knott at mid-on off Adams, Perrin and Stere Kalis took the score to a promising 112 for 1 after 12 overs.The 13th over, however, changed the flow as Gibb took wickets with its first, second and fourth balls. Austin fell to another smart catch by Knott at long-on and Laura Harris tried to cut a ball that was too far up and played on. Charis Pavely survived the hat-trick ball but was bowled by the next. Kalis watched from the non-striker’s end as the trio departed but soon joined them in the pavilion when she top-edged a sweep at Bex Tyson to short fine leg.Four wickets having fallen for 20 in 18 balls, Birmingham needed to reboot and Nat Wraith (38 not out off 24) and Issy Wong reintroduced some impetus. They added 42 in 28 balls before Freya Davies dismissed Wong and Millie Taylor with successive balls in the last over.Hampshire’s reply started frenetically – after 20 balls they were 35 for 2 with Knott and Maia Bouchier having struck six fours and got out. Phoebe Graham, signed on loan from Lancashire, ousted Knott, caught behind, and Bouchier pulled Georgia Davis straight to midwicket.When Freya Kemp chipped Hannah Baker to extra cover, Hampshire were three top batters out and already behind the required rate. Adams and Rhianna Southby added 46 from 36 balls but Birmingham’s spinners kept the pressure high.Southby chipped Davis to extra cover and the 15th over, from Baker, cost just two runs to leave Hampshire needing something spectacular. In search of it, Adams and Naomi Dattani both charged at Millie Taylor and were stumped, setting up the rare spectacle of twin sisters in competition as Mary Taylor came in to face Millie.Mary survived to unfurl some pleasant strokes but in a lost cause as the required rate escalated. Hampshire required 26 from the last over and two singles left Taylor needing to hit the last four balls, from Wong for six. It didn’t happen.

Brenden Aaronson’s strong run of form reached new heights with a goal in Leeds United’s 2-1 victory over West Ham, earning plaudits from USMNT legend Alexi Lalas. The FOX Sports analyst praised Aaronson’s steady improvement and work ethic, saying the midfielder has played his way back into U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'He's got an opportunity'

  Lalas emphasized that Aaronson's previous solid form for the U.S. and his current strong run for Leeds make him a strong candidate for the upcoming U.S. call-ups in November. 

  “Well, stock up again,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “It's in the context of his club performance. We have seen Brendan Aaronson play well, not necessarily be the best player on the field for the U.S. men's national team. He's got an opportunity. I think he's worked his way back into the, not the good graces, because I don't think Pochetino didn't like him."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reassessing Aaronson's ceiling

  Lalas said that critics might have placed limitations on what Aaronson could achieve at the highest levels of European football.

  “Always when we talked about Brenden Aaronson, it was about that ceiling and what he was,” Lalas said. “Maybe there's still a little room, and maybe we shortchanged him in terms of what he can be. But this is not surprising to me… people, and I'm talking about coaches, mostly fans, fans alike, too, recognize and I think they see value in his 'work ethic.'"

• Getty Images
  

  'Very good soccer player'

  Lalas emphasised how Aaronson's work rate has translated into appreciation from both the coaching staff and Leeds supporters. 

  “Sometimes that can happen when you say someone works hard, it's, you know, damning with faint praise, right?” Lalas said. “It's they work hard. And what you are almost implying is that they're not really good at soccer. And so they make up for it with hard, with hard work. Very good soccer player. I think he’s kind of like a Cristian Roldán, who has done more with less than others…

  "This is a good thing, and it's a good thing that he's being recognized and he's playing well. I don't necessarily think it's going to translate into him starring for the national team, but this is better than him not playing well and not even being involved in the national team going forward.”

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• Road ahead for Aaronson and Leeds

  face Brighton and Hove Albion next on Oct. 31 in the Carabao Cup, and then they’ll face Nottingham Forest on Nov. 8.