Live Report – New Zealand v West Indies
ESPNcricinfo’s live updates on New Zealand v West Indies
Karthik Krishnaswamy22-Jun-2019
ESPNcricinfo’s live updates on New Zealand v West Indies
Karthik Krishnaswamy22-Jun-2019
Emma Hayes has named her first U.S. women's national team squad ahead of two June friendlies against the Korea Republic.
Hayes names first USWNT squadTwo players given first U.S. call-ups19 holdovers from SheBelieves CupWHAT HAPPENED
Hayes named a 23-player squad on Tuesday ahead of the USWNT's pair of friendlies against Korea Republic. The roster features a total of three uncapped players, including Sam Staab and Hal Herschfelt, both of whom are in their first USWNT camp. They're joined by Lily Yohannes, the young Ajax starlet who was called in for her second USNWT camp.
The squad is headlined, though, by many regulars, including Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan and Jaedyn Shaw. Also included is Rose Lavelle, who missed out on the SheBeleives Cup due to injury. In total, 19 players return from that SheBelieves Cup-winning team.
In addition to the 23-player squad, Hayes has also called in Olivia Moultrie, Croix Bethune and Kate Wiesner as training players, with the latter two joining the USWNT group for the first time.
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GOALKEEPERS:Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage)
DEFENDERS:Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sam Staab (Chicago Red Stars)
MIDFIELDERS:Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
FORWARDS:Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
GettyWHAT HAYES SAID
“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” said Hayes. “The preparations have been well underway and I can’t wait to get into camp. We know it’s a short turnaround and we have a lot of work to do, but I’m fully focused on making sure that the performances are at the levels that are required to compete.
"I want to build on the work that Twila [Kilgore] has been implementing over the last six months. I expect complete commitment from everyone to absorb very quickly the things that I value as the most important so that we can compete this summer. I know they are a highly coachable group and I’m looking forward to challenging them.
"It’s time to go to work. I can’t wait to meet the fans and it’s really time to get behind the team as we get closer to putting a roster together for the Olympics.”
USA Today ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Among the notable absentees is Alyssa Naeher, the USWNT's incumbent starting goalkeeper. Naeher recently suffered an injury on the club level with the Chicago Red Stars, leading to her absence.
Additionally, the positional designations could offer some insight into how Hayes sees the squad. Crystal Dunn, long a left-back for the USWNT, is listed as a forward, while Emily Sonnett is listed among the defenders.
Alex Morgan and Tierna Davidson return, however, despite recent injuries at the club level.
Ipswich Town have now made an approach to sign a new £17m striker, who is also a target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs, according to a report.
Ipswich keen on new striker following Delap departure
Ipswich have made a strong start to the summer transfer window, securing deals for the likes of Azor Matusiwa, Cedric Kipre and Ashley Young.
However, Kieran McKenna has a big decision on his hands following Liam Delap’s move to Chelsea, as he can choose to either press on with George Hirst as the main man in attack, or pursue a move for a new striker.
Hirst arguably struggled to make the step-up to the Premier League last season, scoring just three goals, but the centre-forward was a reliable source of goals and assists during the 2023-24 Championship campaign, amassing 13 goal contributions in 26 games.
As such, the 26-year-old could be capable of leading the line for a promotion-chasing side, but the Tractor Boys have now made an approach to sign a new striker, who is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
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That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states Ipswich have now made contact over a deal for Metz forward Idrissa Gueye, who could be available for a fee of around £17m this summer.
However, there may be fierce competition for Gueye’s signature, as Liverpool have made an approach of their own, alongside the likes of West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Borussia Dortmund, showing just how highly the 18-year-old is rated.
With a number of the Serie A’s top clubs and Manchester United also interested in the striker, it could be difficult for the Tractor Boys to get a deal over the line, but there is certainly interest on their behalf, and the race is now underway.
Gueye could be real coup for Ipswich
It would be a real coup if McKenna’s side were able to sign the Metz forward, given how highly he is regarded, having previously been likened to a Liverpool legend, with journalist Alan Nixon revealing the youngster is “rated as highly as Sadio Mane was”.
The Senegalese starlet has already managed to force his way into the Metz first team, picking up five goals and one assist in 17 Ligue 2 outings last season, indicating that he may now be ready to lead the line for a Championship side.
However, given that Gueye is being pursued by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, it seems unlikely that Ipswich will be able to get a deal over the line, meaning it may be worth moving on to a more attainable target.
Widespread claims have suggested that Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford could also be in the Tractor Boys’ sights, and the 31-year-old may well be a solid signing, having picked up a total of 69 goals and 15 assists in 217 Championship appearances.
The makeshift right-back sent Arne Slot's side top of the Premier League with a sensational strike that lit up an otherwise dull game at Anfield
Who needs Trent Alexander-Arnold?! Certainly not Liverpool! Dominik Szoboszlai once again did an outstanding job filling in at right-back in Sunday's Premier League meeting with Arsenal at Anfield – before then deciding the game in the home side's favour with the kind of fantastic free-kick that Trent made his trademark.
It was a moment of outrageous quality completely at odds with the dross that preceded it, as the top two teams from last season seemed reluctant to take too many risks at this early stage of the season.
The champions won't care, though, as they once again managed to win a game in which they hadn't played particularly well to go top of the table, three points clear of their main title rivals.
GOAL rates all of the Liverpool players on show as the Reds ended a run of six Premier League games without a win against Arsenal with a hard-fought 1-0 victory…
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Alisson Becker (6/10):
Made one decent stop from Madueke during the first half but, truth be told, he didn't actually have much to do.
Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):
Once again deployed in defence due to Liverpool's issues at right-back and once again put in an excellent shift for his side before winning the game with a sensational strike from 32 yards out.
Ibrahima Konate (7/10):
After two shocking displays, against Bournemouth and Newcastle, the Frenchman looked back to something resembling his best. Such a shame, then, to see him forced off through injury.
Virgil van Dijk (7/10):
Another typically dominant display at the back and, on days like this, it's the Dutchman's anticipation that really stands out. The one gripe was that he didn't shoot after pouncing on a poor pass from Raya.
Milos Kerkez (7/10):
Much more like it from the Hungarian. He struggled in his first two Premier League appearances for Liverpool but he stood up very well indeed to the threat posed by the lively Madueke down Arsenal's right-hand side.
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Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):
The Dutchman's propensity for picking up bookings remains a concern, but he's such a calming and influential presence in the middle of the park. Helped Liverpool gain control of the game after the interval.
Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):
Recalled to the starting line-up after missing the game against Newcastle, and although he created a couple of chances, the Argentine is clearly still not 100 percent match fit after a stop-start couple of months.
Florian Wirtz (6/10):
We're still waiting to see the real Wirtz, but this was a bit better from the Germany international, who picked out Salah with a couple of nice passes (both of which were wasted), while he also had one of Liverpool's few shots on target. Ran himself into the ground, too, before hobbling off late on.
AFPAttack
Mohamed Salah (4/10):
Struggled to get any change out of Calafiori all afternoon and failed miserably to take advantage on the few times he found himself in a dangerous position. A really poor performance from a player who hasn't quite got going this season.
Hugo Ekitike (5/10):
Ekitike had scored in his first three competitive games for Liverpool but he never even went close to maintaining his 100 percent strike rate. The Frenchman was forced to feed off scraps for the entirety of his 79 minutes on the field.
Cody Gakpo (5/10):
Looked like a threat when he got on the ball, but the Netherlands international offered no real penetration.
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Curtis Jones (6/10):
Came on for Mac Allister on the hour mark and added a bit of intensity to Liverpool's pressing.
Joe Gomez (7/10):
Took over in the centre of defence for the injured Konate for the final 12 minutes and did well to putt off Eze without fouling the new signing before making a brilliant interception to deny Gyokeres.
Federico Chiesa (N/A):
Replaced Ekitike up top in the closing stages and pressed well.
Wataru Endo (N/A):
Brought on in the dying minutes to help Liverpool close out the game.
Arne Slot (6/10):
The decision to stick with Szoboszlai paid off spectacularly, but the former Feyenoord coach will probably be most satisified with the fact that his side looked solid for the first time this season. Still, victory won't mask the fact that his team still hasn't quite clicked yet.
The proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with a maximum of five overseas players in each XI
Nagraj Gollapudi13-Oct-2022The long-awaited women’s IPL is set to become a reality next year with the BCCI planning a five-team tournament for March 2023, immediately after the Women’s T20 World Cup ends in South Africa on February 26.The BCCI’s proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with each squad comprising 18 players with a maximum of six from overseas. No more than five overseas players can feature in a playing XI, with four from Full Member countries and one from an Associate nation.As per the plan, which the BCCI sent on Thursday to state associations and which has been seen by ESPNcricinfo, each team will play the others twice during the league phase (20 matches), with the league topper heading straight to the final. The second finalist will be decided via an Eliminator between the second and third-ranked teams from the league phase. The BCCI is yet to finalise the schedule of the WIPL, but it will be wrapped up before the men’s IPL begins, which is likely to be at the end of March.Whether the March window has been pencilled in for the long term remains to be seen, but the BCCI said in a paper on the WIPL that it has identified a “clear 25 days Women’s IPL window in the FTP cycle”. The inaugural WIPL is likely to clash with the inaugural season of the Women’s Pakistan Super League.”It will be a challenge to play the WIPL in the home and away format, because with five to six teams it is not possible to have a match every day,” the BCCI said in its paper on the WIPL, which was sent to the states as part of the wider agenda for the board’s annual general meeting scheduled in Mumbai on October 18. “It is suggested that the tournament can be played in caravan style, where after finishing ten matches at one venue, the next ten matches to be played at the next venue. Therefore, ten matches each to be played across two venues in the 2023 WIPL season, ten each in the next two venues in the 2024 season, and for the 2025 season ten matches in the remaining one venue and the remaining ten in one of the venues from 2023 season.”Where will the teams be from?
Unlike the Women’s T20 challenge, the precursor to the WIPL, where the teams were assembled randomly, the BCCI will sell the five franchises. However, unlike the men’s IPL, where franchises bid for teams in a particular city, the BCCI has chalked out two plans for the WIPL. The first one comprises selling teams across six zones spanning the country. A set of cities in each zone has been shortlisted and comprises: Dharamsala/Jammu (North zone), Pune/Rajkot (West), Indore/Nagpur/Raipur (Central), Ranchi/Cuttack (East), Kochi/Visakhapatnam (South) and Guwahati (North-East).The second plan involves teams being sold but without a solid home base, with matches to be played at six shortlisted IPL venues: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.The BCCI will present the WIPL plan at the AGM next week but a final decision will be taken by the IPL Governing Council chairman – who that is will be decided at the upcoming AGM – along with the BCCI office bearers.Exponential growth in participation – the reason behind WIPL
Women’s cricket in India became a big talking point ever since they reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2017 at Lord’s, where they lost to England in front of a full house. In 2018, the BCCI launched the Women’s T20 Challenge, but it was restricted to just one match. Over the next three years, it expanded to a three-team competition. Voices across women’s cricket, both in India and globally, were critical of BCCI’s reluctance to launch a women’s IPL at the time.The board and several state associations were originally concerned by the shallow player pool in women’s cricket, but those reservations have gradually receded now.”With the rise in popularity of women’s cricket in the country mainly due to prominent performances by the Indian Senior Cricket team on world stage by qualifying for semi-finals in 2018 T20 World Cup, finals in 2020 T20 World Cup, securing silver medal in recently held 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham, we intend to conduct the Women’s IPL on similar lines with the Indian Premier League,” the BCCI said in its paper on WIPL.The growth on the domestic front was massive with the paper listing “an overall increase of 111% in participation of players along various categories” in the eight-year period between 2014-22. A further breakdown listed the number increasing by 129% in the senior women’s category and a 92% increase in the Under-19 category.The WIPL – and the proposed WPSL – will join the FairBreak Invitational, the Women’s Hundred, WCPL and WBBL as T20 leagues that bolster the popularity and growth of women’s cricket globally. The WIPL paper also noted that the BCCI had studied both the WBBL and the Women’s Hundred models before finalising its plan.
It’s understood his vision did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka
Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20256:17
‘Zaheer’s vision wasn’t bought by LSG leadership group’
Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor Zaheer Khan has parted ways with the franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo has learned Zaheer informed LSG of his decision on Thursday.It is understood that the primary reason for Zaheer quitting is that his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While Zaheer’s relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, he was affected by the thought process that played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir’s exit after IPL 2023. Zaheer had been with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 and agreed to a two-year contract with LSG, taking charge of scouting, planning and strategy.Related
Zaheer: Looked like it was Punjab curator at our home game
Bharat Arun named LSG bowling coach
After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, LSG did not reach the knockouts in the last two seasons. In 2025, they finished seventh with six wins from 14 games. It was a season of contrasting halves: LSG had five wins in their first eight matches but only one in the last six. Of the eight games they played at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium, they won only two.LSG had made headlines at last year’s mega auction when they bought Pant for INR 27 crore (USD 3.2 million approx.), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL. The team was built around him, but Zaheer put in place building blocks he felt were needed to grow stronger every season. Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant opening the batting, Zaheer spoke to the wicketkeeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran, who was the No. 3.The role clarity allowed the batters to play with freedom and perform consistently. Markram had never opened in the IPL before, while Marsh, despite having been in the IPL for more than a decade, had never made a major impact. The move worked: Marsh was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran made 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram 445 at 148.82.
Nottingham Forest are at the beginning of life under Ange Postecoglou, but results haven’t gone to plan since the Australian boss arrived at the City Ground.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure paved the way for Postecoglou to enter the hotseat in the East Midlands, though it is fair to say his tenure has yielded mixed reviews as he awaits a first victory in charge.
Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Swansea City were followed by consecutive draws against Burnley and Real Betis, before Forest endured a frustrating loss against Sunderland last weekend despite creating a host of chances.
Urging patience, Postecoglou shared frustration at his side not being able to dispose of the Black Cats, albeit he did acknowledge his side were more than a match for their opponents in terms of their performance.
He stated: “Frustrating. Disappointing. It’s another game we have allowed to get away from us, where really we should be very comfortably overcoming (Sunderland). I didn’t think there was anything in it (free-kick decision). Irrespective, even if the referee has made an absolute high howler, we can still deal with the free-kick better. What we did after that is more of a concern to me than the decision.”
While Nottingham Forest’s frustration at the officials was reflected by Neco Williams, they do have plenty to build on; it isn’t as if they’ve been blown away by their opposition in any of their last four matches, excluding their defeat at Arsenal.
Ange Postecoglou’s frustrating start
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Swansea City 3-2 Nottingham Forest
Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Real Betis 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Either way, people will already begin to form judgements, with many still fresh from memories of Postecoglou’s rollercoaster season with Tottenham Hotspur last term, ending the year with the Europa League trophy and a 17th-placed Premier League finish.
Tim Howard launches scathing Postecoglou verdict
Speaking to Premier League Productions, former United States and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has hit out at Postecoglou, claiming his methods lack pragmatism even if they are easy on the eye.
He stated: “I’m so sick and tired of these coaches saying, ‘This is the way I play, and I’ll lose my job, but I’ll play this way.’ No, you have to be pragmatic. You have to dig in. Yes, they use the football well and yes, they play well. But did you see that (Sunderland) performance? They were willing to dig in, every single one of them. That’s how you get results, and it shows.”
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Truthfully, there are two contexts to view Nottingham Forest’s situation in. On one hand, they have been unlucky not to claim more from their first five matches under Postecoglou, but a soft underbelly has no place in a side trying to claim Premier League points.
The Australian is known for his firebrand style of football, so fans will have to be encouraged by the flashes of what they’ve seen – particularly in Seville – and simply buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Germany needed only to avoid defeat to guarantee their 2026 World Cup spot when they faced Slovakia at the Red Bull Arena on Monday night. Following a sub-par campaign, which included a 2-0 loss in Slovakia back in September, Die Mannschaft booked their trip stateside in fine fashion as Julian Nagelsmann's side slaughtered the Falcons, easing to a 6-0 victory.
AFPTell me more
Germany looked to settle early nerves and it was the home side who forged the first half-chance with just three minutes on the clock, with Florian Wirtz's cross headed over Serge Gnabry. Wirtz himself then fired over from inside the Slovakia box, before the dominant hosts found the breakthrough in the 18th minute as in-form Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade headed Germany.
Midway through the first half, and Germany were two goals to the good through Gnabry, latching onto a perfectly weighted Leon Goretzka pass. And the match as a contest was settled 10 minutes before the break as Leroy Sane scored his first and Germany's third – Wirtz played a superb ball over the high Slovakia defensive line for Sane. Wirtz and Sane linked up again for Germany's fourth as the former picked out the latter at the back post in a rampant opening 45 minutes.
The hosts added a fifth midway through the second half. Ridle Baku replaced captain Kimmich in the 64th minute and made no mistake from close range having been teed up by Gnabry to score his second international goal of his career. Dubravka did all he could to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable as he palmed away a low Goretzka drive in the 73rd minute. But he failed to keep out Assan Ouedraogo's deflected effort as the teenager became the second youngest scorer for the Germany national team a little over a minute after his second half introduction.
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Having struggled at club level and come in for criticism for a series of sub-par displays following his Liverpool move, Florian Wirtz showcased just why the Reds spent big to secure his services over the summer. Wirtz was a creative force in Leipzig as he tore the Slovakia backline to shreds, linking up superbly with Leroy Sane on the opposite flank. Liverpool fans will be hoping he can transfer this flying Germany form to club level when domestic duties return this weekend.
The big loser
The experienced head in the Slovakia backline, Milan Skriniar looked anything but. The 30-year-old won't want to remember Monday's showing in Leipzig in a hurry. Indeed, Skriniar was at fault for Leroy Sane's second and Germany's fourth in a pitiful performance from the former Inter and PSG man.
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Getty Images SportMatch rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.
Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory
Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid
Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.
"In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."
The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today."
This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.
Lewandowski's hat-trick sparks goalscoring resurgence
The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.
"It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.
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De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona
While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.
"I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."
De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.
A free agent who has already proven himself in the Premier League earlier in his career could now be willing to make the move to Everton.
Garner reveals Everton's change in mentality
The Blues have won three of their opening three league games this season, with the early signs suggesting that positive times lie ahead under David Moyes.
Midfielder James Garner has impressed in the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring in the 2-0 win at home to Brighton, and he has spoken about a shift in mentality that has taken place at Everton under their manager.
“He said to us on day one that he’s not come here to take over a team that’s fighting against relegation – he said it again on day one of pre-season. He sets high standards and we know where we want to be.
“We’ve got a few more faces in over the summer and with the quality we have in the squad now, we all agree with the manager – if you want to achieve big things, then you’ve got to set your standards and your goals high. I think you can see it in us. There is a mentality shift. We’re playing with more confidence, going into games thinking how we are going to take all three points, it’s not just surviving.
“We’ve done that in these first few games. Obviously, the first game [against Leeds] felt like a blip, I don’t think we played well, but we’ve responded and now the aim is to keep building momentum. We want to keep winning and keep that winning mentality – that was the message in the changing room amongst all of us after the Wolves game.”
While Everton’s improvements this season are clear, it is also important that further quality is added to the squad, and they have now been linked with a move for a free agent.
"Brilliant" free agent could be keen on joining Everton
Speaking to Goodison News, former Toffees scout Bryan King talked up the idea of Everton signing left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer, who could be “willing” to move to Merseyside.
“He’s a free transfer, so it would certainly be an option to look at. They’re a bit stretched across the whole defence at the moment, with Branthwaite’s injury concerns. I would imagine that Reguilon would be more than willing to go and join a club like Everton. It seems like Everton are moving in a forward direction, instead of being in a relegation fight.”
Reguilon could be a shrewd signing for Everton, especially with Vitalii Mykolenko picking up an injury prior to the international break, with the 28-year-old an experienced player.
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The Spaniard actually scored against the Blues for Tottenham in a 5-0 win back in 2021/22, and he has 81 Premier League appearances to his name.
Reguilon was once hailed as “brilliant” by Noel Whelan, and he could bring a good mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust to Everton’s team, with a return to English football potentially appealing to him as he searches for a new club.