The Diamondbacks placed star Ketel Marte on the restricted list on Friday days after the second baseman's Scottsdale home was burglarized. The incident happened during the All-Star break this week, reportedly on Tuesday night when Marte was in Atlanta for the All-Star Game.
It's been previously reported that Marte requested to have some personal days off after the break-in happened. It's unknown how long Marte will be out of the Diamondbacks' lineup. The Diamondbacks begin a three-game home series vs. the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
The original robbery report said no one was home when the incident occurred, and "numerous personal items and jewelry" were taken. An investigation into the matter is currently ongoing.
The incident is just the latest in a series of recent robberies involving well-known athletes across multiple leagues, where players' homes have been repeatedly targeted while they are traveling for events or away games. Among those impacted are NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, as well as basketball bigwigs Luka Doncic and Bobby Portis.
Through 68 games this season, Marte's averaged .290/.394/.567 with 73 hits, 52 runs, 40 RBIs and 19 home runs.
Wilfried Nancy will manage his first match in charge of Celtic this afternoon as Hearts come to Parkhead in a top-of-the-table clash in the Scottish Premiership.
It will be interesting to see what tactical changes he has been able to implement after only a few days on the training pitch, as his usual system with his former club is different from the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape that the Hoops have played this season.
Per FBRef, Nancy played with a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-3 system in 31 of his 43 matches with Columbus Crew this year in all competitions, often playing with two second strikers or number tens behind a main centre-forward.
If the French boss goes with his favoured 3-4-2-1 system, he could ruthlessly drop Luke McCowan from the team that started against Dundee last time out.
Why Wilfried Nancy should drop Luke McCowan
The Scottish midfielder has started the last two league matches on the right wing in Martin O’Neill’s 4-2-3-1 system, but he has been ineffective in a new role, lacking the dynamism and pace required to be effective in that area of the pitch.
McCowan, who has not scored since the opening day of the season, did not score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team against Hibernian or Dundee as a winger, per Sofascore.
He also completed just two of his five attempted dribbles, per Sofascore, struggling with the explosive turn of pace that is often needed to make things happen on the wing, whilst he also lost seven of his 11 duels in total across both matches.
These statistics suggest that McCowan should be dropped irrespective of a change in formation, but a change in shape to a 3-4-2-1 would allow Nancy to ditch the Scotsman by unleashing Johnny Kenny in a new role.
The new role that Johnny Kenny could play for Celtic
It has been a rollercoaster couple of months for the Ireland international, who went from rarely playing under Brendan Rodgers to scoring four goals in O’Neill’s first four games, to now being on the bench behind Daizen Maeda.
Kenny has been an unused substitute in the last three matches, which means that he has still scored four goals in his last five appearances for the club, per Sofascore, and Nancy could bring him back into the fold as an attacking midfielder or second striker.
The two roles behind the striker in a 3-4-2-1 system are unique because it can be a very fluid front three with a lot of movement, and that could suit both Kenny and Maeda, the former of whom has been praised for his “top-drawer” mentality by his former Sligo Rovers coach Conor O’Grady.
Celtic’s Irish striker has shown that he can score goals for the club, with his four-goal burst under O’Neill, but Nancy’s job is to find the best way to fit him into the system to get the best out of him.
Per Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old star has never played as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder in his career to date. It is a role that could suit him quite nicely, though.
How Celtic could line up in a 3-4-2-1
Position
Player
GK
Kasper Schmeichel
CB
Dane Murray
CB
Auston Trusty
CB
Liam Scales
RWB
Colby Donovan
CM
Callum McGregor
CM
Reo Hatate
LWB
Kieran Tierney
AM
Hyun-jun Yang
AM
Johnny Kenny
ST
Daizen Maeda
As you can see in the XI above, Kenny could play as one of two players behind Maeda, who is a relentless pressing forward who can also play deeper or out wide, and could rotate across all three positions.
This fluidity could suit the Irishman because of his mobility and desire to run beyond the last line to create chances for himself, without being the focal point who has to bring physicality and hold up play, because it will be Maeda in that position.
Of course, it is hard to judge how the system will look until Nancy has had a few games to test things out and more time on the training pitch to coach the players, but Kenny seems like a player who could benefit from a 3-4-2-1 formation.
That change in shape, whilst helping the striker, would also allow the manager to drop an underperforming player, McCowan, from the starting line-up to provide the young forward with a chance to shine in a brand-new role in his career.
Better than Maeda: Celtic star is going to be undroppable under Nancy
This Celtic star who was even better than Daizen Maeda against Dundee should be Wilfried Nancy’s first undroppable star.
The Philadelphia Phillies are experimenting with a new-look outfield for Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves, and early on, they've had some mixed results.
Edmundo Sosa, who has manned various infield positions throughout his MLB career but only played five games in the outfield, started in left field on Tuesday, with Johan Rojas handling center field duties.
During the second inning, Austin Riley popped up a deep fly ball in between Sosa and Rojas, both of whom began tracking the ball in left-center field. When it came time to make the catch, however, the two outfielders both stopped moving and bizarrely watched the ball hit the ground right in front of Rojas. The ball bounced directly in front of Rojas's feet, who proceeded to fire it into the infield.
The replay appeared to show Sosa calling for the ball, but he gave up on his pursuit seemingly under the impression that Rojas would secure the catch. It seems Rojas similarly expected Sosa to field the ball, and as a result, neither player went after it.
It was an unfortunate mistake, and a costly one, too, given Riley came around to score on a Sean Murphy home run a few at-bats later.
While that was a moment Sosa and Rojas will wish they could take back, Sosa did make an electric home run robbery earlier in the game, stealing away a home run from Marcell Ozuna in the first inning.
It's been a busy afternoon for Sosa in left field, and he's made both a bit of magic as well as a rather embarrassing mistake.
Alisha Lehmann let fly with a t-shirt cannon into the crowd at the Baller League this week, before her MVPs United faced Chelsea legend John Terry's 26ers at the Copper Box Arena for the latest round in the competition. The Switzerland international took aim and pulled the trigger, before handing the launcher back. The trip marked a quick break from her day job with Como Women.
Lehmann's side quest amid Como adventure
Although she's yet to score for Como since making her debut for the ambitious Serie A Femminile in October, Lehmann is loving life when it comes to the Baller League and got fully involved with the entertainment side of things on Monday night. She manages MVPs United in the UK edition alongside TV personality Maya James. This was the third game of season two, with MVPs finishing runner-up in the hugely successful first season earlier in 2025.
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Swiss star meets with Chelsea legend Terry
This week's match for Lehmann's MVPs was against Terry's 26ers and everything seemed very cordial as the two bosses posed for a snap together to mark the occasion.
MVPs United beaten
Unfortunately for Lehmann, her team was beaten 3-1, a first defeat of this season. J'Ardell Stirling, Emmanuel Robe and Bilal Sayoud scored the crucial goals for 26ers, with Montel McKenzie finding the net for MVPs.
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What comes next?
Season two of Baller League UK continues next Monday night with matchday four. For Lehmann, who hasn't completed 90 minutes in Serie A for Como since October 5 and was only a substitute for a win over Ternana last weekend, there's first a visit from AC Milan to attack on Saturday.
Dorival Júnior analisou o empate sem gols contra o Vasco e relatou que, mesmo sem os três pontos, está enxergando uma notável diferença no comportamento do São Paulo.
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Desde a final da Copa do Brasil, onde foi campeão pelo Tricolor, o treinador vinha falando que a equipe estava encontrando uma certa ‘dificuldade em virar a chave’. Entretanto, depois do jogo contra a equipe cruz-maltina, Dorival relatou que está notando essa mudança de comportamento.
Para ele, essa mudança de pensamento é algo difícil, mas acredita que o time passou por essa etapa. Segundo suas palavras, o São Paulo voltou ‘completamente para o Brasileiro’.
– É muito difícil esse momento de se desligar de uma competição e se voltar para outra, mas acredito que já tenhamos cumprido essa etapa. Fiquei muito feliz com a intensidade do nosso time. Intensidade de disputa a todo momento, briga pela posse de bola, buscando criação de jogadas, aproximação. Tentamos a todo momento e infelizmente acabou não acontecendo, mas acredito que já voltamos por completo ao Brasileiro e precisaremos de muito mais para melhorarmos a nossa posição – explicou.
Sobre a partida em si, Dorival Júnior destacou que o São Paulo criou várias oportunidades, mas segundo sua análise, a defesa do Vasco estava bem postada – o que dificultou um resultado melhor.
– Tentamos, tivemos algumas oportunidades. A defesa do Vasco estava muito bem postada. As duas equipes buscaram. Poderíamos ter tido gols, mesmo que o empate fosse o resultado final. Mas um empate com gols, porque estávamos atrás a todo momento. Foi ao menos uma partida agradável de se ver, com duas equipes que tentaram realizar algo nos 90 minutos – analisou.
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Garantido na Copa Libertadores, o São Paulo busca os 45 pontos na tabela para se manter em segurança. No momento, soma 35 pontos e é o 10º colocado.
Manchester United are in the market for new talent and could look to beat Real Madrid to a signing that could revolutionise their engine room under Ruben Amorim.
Man Utd preparing for trip to Anfield
Renewed optimism is in the air at Old Trafford after a victory over Sunderland before the international break showed a degree of competence that hasn’t always been present this season.
Nevertheless, Manchester United travel to Anfield on Sunday as the Premier League gets back underway, which will be a stern test of character for a group that needs to start putting points on the board.
Delving into Amorim’s side, it is clear that midfield is one area that could be improved once the January transfer window opens. However, BBC reporter Simon Stone doesn’t believe Red Devils target Carlos Baleba will arrive at Old Trafford in January.
He explained: “No, I don’t. (believe Baleba will join Man Utd in January). Why would Brighton sell halfway through the season? It wouldn’t really make sense and unless someone leaves, who would be left out to accommodate them?
“I think Casemiro has done OK. It is more how effective Bruno Fernandes is being. I just don’t see a world where Fernandes is left out and there are too many ‘number 10s’ already.”
Arsenal and Man Utd lead clubs looking to sign "exciting" French defender
The Gunners could be set to do battle with their Premier League rivals for the signature of a versatile defender.
ByDominic Lund Oct 13, 2025
While Sekou Kone continues to impress at Carrington and could be one option, there is still room for another figure to enrich the Red Devils centrally as they bid to find their way back to being one of the elite sides in English football.
Now, they could be set to compete with Real Madrid to secure a midfielder who is becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand players due to his performances.
Man Utd looking to beat Real Madrid to Adam Wharton
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are looking to beat Real Madrid to sign Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and could offer £60 million to acquire the England international.
With uncertainty over Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro’s future at the club, the Red Devils are willing to act swiftly to thwart the La Liga giants, who see the former Blackburn Rovers man as an ideal replacement for Toni Kroos.
Adam Wharton in 2025/26 – Premier League (Fotmob)
Chances created
11
Pass completion
155
Successful dribbles
6
Duels won
19
Interceptions
6
Capable of breaking up play and building the game in equal measure, Wharton has registered a solitary assist in ten appearances across all competitions this term, helping Crystal Palace’s early charge for European football.
Oliver Glasner won’t want to lose his prize asset, who was dubbed “incredible” by Eberechi Eze. However, Manchester United are prepared to act before other clubs can snare their pursuit of the Three Lions star.
Bringing new blood into the squad is something Amorim will hope can reignite the Red Devils’ fortunes, albeit recruiting Wharton will be easier said than done.
Everton were at a critical point when they dismissed Sean Dyche at the beginning of a new era, a change of ownership seeing the Friedkin Group complete a protracted takeover bid at the end of 2024.
But Everton have now passed that juncture. The David Moyes era is well underway. The Toffees are on the up. Tuesday evening’s dour defeat at Molineux against Wolves in the Carabao Cup did serve as a reminder that this club have a long way to go before they reach the ground they wish to reach.
Having left Goodison Park behind and settled into a new home on Bramley Moore-dock, Everton are piecing together a new future, having shipped out much of the deadwood at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Now boasting a squad fit to compete for a top-half Premier League finish, Moyes has struck gold with additions such as Jack Grealish and the raw but talented duo Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry.
However, Iliman Ndiaye would still stake his claim as the club’s standout forward, having been immense since arriving a little over a year ago.
Iliman Ndiaye's Everton career
Ndiaye missed a fair chunk of the Moyes era as it got going last term, sidelined for a stretch after being substituted against Liverpool in February.
He had been quite the bright spark through the dreary first half of the campaign, though, with analyst Ben Mattinson even marvelling at the “relentless” 25-year-old’s performances and claiming he “could be at least a regular squad player in every Premier League team”.
He’s certainly proved this is the case since joining the Toffees from Marseille for £15m in July 2024, scoring 13 goals in total. Be on the left or the right, he is deadly, and has started strongly this term, netting the first goal at a new home to kickstart Moyes’ first full term back in charge.
Attacking midfield
51
15 (5)
Centre-forward
49
10 (12)
Left winger
41
10 (1)
Right winger
13
3 (2)
This kind of dynamism has borne Everton through a dark patch and into the light. He is the real deal, and quite comfortably one of the most important players on the books.
Pocketing £45k per week, Ndiaye is not one of the club’s top earners, and he will surely expect that to change soon. Indeed, technical director Angus Kinnear will need to offer the versatile winger improved terms if he hopes to stave off the suitors that will come for him – and sooner rather than later at that.
Especially when considering there are other, less reliable members of the Toffees fold who earn a prettier penny than him.
Everton must cash in on high-earning star
Moyes and Everton and TFG did well to free themselves of some high-earning stragglers this summer. Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example, had been a stalwart across his years at Goodison Park, but could no longer justify his £130k-per-week salary and left, relocating to the Middle East.
This isn’t quite the same for Vitalii Mykolenko, who remains a part of the Everton first team, but his sale might be one that Moyes wants to green-light in the coming months.
The Ukrainian has only played two times in the Premier League so far this season, and he was directly at fault for one of Wolves’ goals during that 3-2 win at Molineux in August, with the Liverpool Echo frustrated with the left-back’s efforts and branding him with a 4/10 match rating.
With his attacking play leaving plenty to be desired and a problem with maintaining availability, Mykolenko might be worth selling in 2026, especially since Adam Aznou, 19, has been welcomed to fold with a weight of expectation.
He’s been hailed in the past for his “incredible” mentality by former boss Frank Lampard, but Mykolenko leaves too much to be desired.
James Garner has also deputised commendably at left-back across the opening weeks of the season, with Mykolenko indeed sidelined by injury.
As Everton continue to develop under Moyes’ wing, shaping into a team fit for purpose on a higher rung of the Premier League ladder, so do some fans clamour for a more attack-minded full-back.
Well, they have one in Aznou, who had even been hailed as a “generational” talent by football scout Jacek Kulig in the build-up to his switch from Bayern Munich to Merseyside.
As the Morocco international goes from strength to strength at Everton, so too do Mykolenko’s chances of falling down the pecking order increase.
Given that a €30m bid from Napoli was turned down during the summer, senior Blues officials may come to regret not taking the money and running, for if Mykolenko’s injury problems persist, there’s every chance he will be offloaded for a smaller fee down the line.
Vitaliy Mykolenko for Everton.
Former Everton scout Bryan King has also chipped in on the situation, saying after the Liverpool loss, “He was injured during pre-season, and that’s never a good sign for a player.”
He did acknowledge that the 26-year-old wasn’t the only poor performer during that defeat, but Sofascore record that he lost five of six contested duels and gave the ball away 13 times. Hardly convincing.
And neither was it an illustration of the full-back’s rather lofty £58k-per-week salary, placing him above Ndoaye on the wage bill.
Mykolenko might be a solid defender, but his track record on the fitness front and persistent struggles to provide attacking support that will be needed as Everton continue to evolve mean that change might be afoot.
He is out of contract at the end of the season, and the club might just come to regret not cashing in for a hefty sum while they could, especially if he plays a peripheral role throughout.
Whether the club can fetch a sum for him in January remains to be seen, but with contract talks slated for deeper into the season, there may yet be time to cash in for a figure not too dissimilar than that which was offered by Napoli a few months ago.
Everton messed up selling their original Tyler Dibling for just £1.5m
As Everton place their faith in youth gamble, one former player offers a cautionary tale.
Florian Wirtz’s record-breaking move to Liverpool has sparked intense scrutiny after a slow start in England. The 22-year-old, hailed as one of Germany’s brightest footballing talents, has yet to score or assist in 10 appearances for the Reds, drawing unfair “flop” labels. But Ilkay Gundogan has leapt to his defence, calling such criticism “completely exaggerated” and insisting that those doubting Wirtz “don’t understand football.”
A tough start for Florian Wirtz at Liverpool
When Liverpool secured Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a staggering €133m (£116m/$154m), expectations were sky-high. The 22-year-old was seen as the creative force to reignite the Reds’ attack and a generational successor to the club’s greats. Yet, just 10 games into his Premier League journey, the young midfielder finds himself at the centre of intense criticism for failing to register a single goal or assist.
This narrative, however, has not gone unnoticed by the football fraternity, particularly by former Germany captain Gundogan, who knows the pressures of English football first-hand after his own Premier League spell with Manchester City. Gundogan, now at Galatasaray, has openly expressed empathy for Wirtz’s situation, condemning the harsh judgment surrounding his Liverpool form and urging fans to look deeper than statistics.
Having spent seven seasons in England and emerged as one of the most tactically intelligent midfielders in the world, Gundogan understands better than most the weight of expectation that comes with a big transfer.
"With the high transfer fee for Flo, it was somehow clear that things could get very loud very quickly in England – unfortunately, that's the way the business works these days. It's not Flo's fault that he cost so much. Nevertheless, it's understandable that people expect a lot from him. However, I've read that across all competitions, no Premier League player has created more chances than Flo," Gundogan said in an interview with
The 34-year-old further added: "I would like to see a bit more in-depth analysis here – and not just focus on the bare assists and goals. Anyone who doesn't see Flo's outstanding quality really doesn't understand much about football. To call it a transfer flop already is completely exaggerated.
"I'm sure the goals and assists will come very soon – if not in October, then from November onwards. No player or person in this world can completely block out so much noise; it always takes its toll on you. Nevertheless, I believe Flo, as a human being, and given his immense talent, will get through this phase. That would also be extremely important for the German national team. Personally, I don't have many doubts and see it as just a matter of time."
Slot backs Wirtz to soon turn up for the Reds
Wirtz’s early struggles are hardly unique in football’s high-pressure environment. Many greats once faced similar doubts before turning their fortunes around. Thierry Henry endured a difficult start at Arsenal before becoming a Premier League icon with 157 goals. Dennis Bergkamp was written off after a goalless streak but later orchestrated Arsenal’s golden era. Even at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah was dismissed as a flop at Chelsea before returning to England to become one of the club’s most prolific scorers.
Supporting Wirtz’s case, Liverpool coach Arne Slot explained that the midfielder has sometimes been deployed in unfamiliar roles, including as a number 10 and on the left wing, which affected his influence. Slot suggested that Wirtz might thrive if given more freedom to cut inside from the left, similar to how he plays under Julian Nagelsmann and former-side Leverkusen. The Reds' coach further acknowledged the challenges Wirtz has faced, pointing out the tough fixtures Liverpool encountered early in the season, including matches against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Burnley, which made it hard for any player to thrive.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also backed Wirtz, calling him a “once-in-a-century talent” and emphasising that the ongoing criticism is “a bit exaggerated.”
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Wirtz isn't fazed by the early criticism
Wirtz has maintained composure despite the mounting noise around him. Reflecting on his early months at Liverpool, he said: “I know what I can do, and I know that eventually I’ll show it fully on the pitch. So I just stay calm. That’s good advice.”
Acknowledging the lack of direct goal contributions so far, he added that such phases are part of the game. “Of course, I’d like to have scored or assisted already, but I know that it will come. Sometimes things don’t go your way, but I work every day to improve. I know I can play good football, and it’s just a matter of time.”
With the majority of the season yet to unfold, Wirtz has ample time on his sleeves to quash the criticism surrounding him and reignite his form with his new club Liverpool.
Liverpool certainly weren’t at their free-flowing best away at Turf Moor on Sunday, but the Reds still remain at the top of the Premier League pile after a slim 1-0 win against Burnley.
In typical Mohamed Salah fashion, the much-loved Egyptian would end up being the difference-maker with a last-gasp penalty kick, with Scott Parker’s Clarets nearly hanging on for a 0-0 draw, which would have been a very impressive feat, as they played the last few minutes of the tense clash with just ten men.
However, it wasn’t to be for the relegation-threatened hosts, as Liverpool – once again – found a way to win, even as various hurdles tried to stop them in their tracks.
Indeed, there were several worrying underperformers lining up in the distinctive green strip in Lancashire, with the likes of Milos Kerkez now concerned for his starting spot in the Champions League this mid-week.
Liverpool's biggest underperformers against Burnley
It would feel strange not to start with Kerkez’s poor showing when judging the whole host of underperformers on the day, considering the former AFC Bournemouth defender would fall victim to Arne Slot’s wrath after just 38 minutes.
Indeed, after receiving an early yellow card for diving, the 21-year-old full-back found himself on shaky ground, winning zero duels before the Dutchman put him out of his misery.
Away from Kerkez’s early substitution dominating most of the conversation, Hugo Ekitike also struggled against a well-drilled Clarets defence, with the Frenchman frustratingly unable to add to his two-goal Premier League tally when reduced to just two efforts on the Burnley goal.
Moreover, Cody Gakpo also faded in and out of the contest, with the usually tricky winger only managing to register two accurate crosses all match long, away from also failing to test Martin Dubravka, as all five of his efforts weren’t on-target.
But, there is one attacker yet to be mentioned who could already be in grave danger of becoming Liverpool’s next Darwin Nunez, as more millions are potentially wasted.
5/10 Liverpool star could be Slot's next Nunez
While Ekitike might not have scored against the gritty hosts on Sunday, he has at least hit the ground running away from this attritional showdown, with two goals next to his name already from just four league clashes.
Unfortunately, when Darwin Nunez arrived in Merseyside back in 2022 for a whopping £64m, he couldn’t get to that tally in the same swift manner, with a goal on his Premier League debut against Fulham then being followed up by a barren run of form, leading to the Uruguayan bowing out from his first season at the club with a disappointing nine league strikes next to his name.
Thankfully, Nunez is no longer a concern for Liverpool fans to wrestle with, after he secured a summer move to the Middle East with Al-Hilal.
But, Slot could depressingly have his second iteration of the South American now in Florian Wirtz, with the £116m purchase letting his weighty price-tag get the better of him already so early into his playing days at Anfield.
Wirtz’s PL numbers for Liverpool
Stat
Wirtz
Minutes played
338 mins
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
60.5
Accurate passes
32.5 (79%)
Key passes
2.0
Big chances created
0
Stats by Sofascore
From 338 minutes of Premier League action to date, Wirtz is yet to break his duck for the Reds in terms of goals or assists, which is an unusual predicament for the German to find himself in.
After all, last season in Bundesliga action alone, the vibrant 22-year-old managed to collect an astounding 22 goals and assists from just 31 matches. His blistering form at the BayArena would even see him branded as “world-class” by journalist Zach Lowy.
Yet, against the Clarets, Wirtz also looked a shadow of his Leverkusen self, with zero shots on target registered and zero successful dribbles mustered up, away from also giving up the ball 21 times.
This will be really concerning to see for all those associated with Liverpool, as Nunez stung them in the same manner, having entered the English game off the back of a ridiculous 34-goal season at Benfica, to only then flounder under the weight of all his expectations.
His shoddy showing at Turf Moor would see Liverpool World’s Will Rooney hand out a sub-par 5/10 rating to him post-match, having stated that he just couldn’t impact proceedings in the manner he would’ve liked.
Not all hope will be lost so early on, but Wirtz will need to buck up his ideas fast, so as not to be considered as another expensive misfire down the line.
Arsenal now set to rival Liverpool for signing of £35m star who Rice loves
The Gunners are in the race for an “elite” player.
Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou took aim at his side's defending despite being on the receiving end of a refereeing decision he described as an "absolute howler" in their 1-0 defeat against Sunderland on Saturday. The Australian is still searching for his first win since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground, having lost three of his opening five matches in charge.
Forest fume as Dominguez receives yellow card for simulation
Forest were left fuming when referee Tony Harrington booked midfielder Nico Dominguez for simulation following a coming together with Sunderland’s Trai Hume. And from the resulting free-kick, defender Omar Alderete was able to steal a march on the Forest backline before heading home what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
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Postecoglou criticises Forest's defending as well as the officials
However, while criticising a "whole range of decisions" from the officials, Postecoglou was adamant that his Forest players should have defended the set piece better, saying after the game: "It was a really poor goal we conceded, albeit after a poor decision, I thought, from the official. But it was a really poor goal and we had plenty of time to rectify that.
"It was a whole range of decisions from the officials, from awarding and then some holding in the box. But I still think we were way too lax in our determination to keep the ball out of the net. I just thought it was a really disappointing goal to concede."
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Postecoglou has his say on whether he thought Dominguez dived
When asked whether he thought Dominguez had dived when challenging Hume for the ball, Postecoglou added: "I just thought play on, play on. But that's the referee's decision. There's nothing to say to him (Dominguez). I didn't think there was anything in it. Irrespective, even if the referee has made an absolute howler, we can still deal with the free kick better. We have to park that to one side. What we did after that is more of a concern to me than the decision."
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Forest are now winless in Postecoglou's first five games in charge
The result means Postecoglou is now winless in his first five games since taking over the Forest helm on September 9. The former Tottenham head coach oversaw back-to-back losses against Arsenal and Swansea City in the Premier League and Carabao Cup respectively, before a 1-1 league draw with Burnley ensured Forest picked up their first point under his tutelage. Forest also drew 2-2 with Real Betis in their Europa League opener on Thursday, before suffering defeat against Sunderland in what was Postecoglou’s first home match as manager.