All posts by h716a5.icu

Netherlands legend Marco van Basten took a swipe at Mohamed Salah as he said the Liverpool star has the 'brains of a beetle' in a brutal response to him 'attacking' Reds boss Arne Slot. After being left out on the bench for the third consecutive Premier League game against Leeds United last weekend, Salah went on an explosive rant as he hinted he could even exit Anfield in January.

Salah's explosive rant against Slot

After win the Premier League Golden Boot for a record-equalling fourth time last season, Salah has experienced a sudden dip in form in 2025-26. So far this season, the Egyptian winger has scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 matches across all competitions. 

Salah's latest run of form prompted Slot to drop the star player from the Reds' starting lineup in their last three Premier League fixtures. After being left out as an unused substitute for a third consecutive game, Salah burst out in front of the media as he said: "I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. "Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesEgyptian left out of Champions League squad

Following his public outburst against the club and manager, Liverpool have taken the extreme step of omitting Salah from their travelling squad to Italy for their crucial Champions League fixture against Inter in midweek. With such a huge decision, the reigning Premier League champions made clear to their star player that everybody – regardless of their standing at Anfield – must earn their place in the team. Salah will be left to reflect on that stance when his team-mates line up against Inter on Tuesday evening in Milan.

Dutch legend slams Salah

Former Netherlands international legendary forward Marco van Basten took a brutal dig at Salah for his behaviour against Slot and the Reds as he told : "I'd say: the brains of a cockchafer. If you react like that… He did very well last year, but this season he's not good. He's just been bad these past few months. I always find Slot honest and straightforward. He doesn't shy away from a fight and ultimately doesn't say anything unwise. Salah, on the other hand, really started attacking the man and reacting incorrectly."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportHow did Slot react to Salah's outburst?

A day after Salah went public with his frustration over the lack of game time, Reds boss Slot addressed the media to offer a response, as he said: "I don't feel that my authority has been undermined. It's not the way I feel it. It's not about me, if my life is difficult, yes or no, that's not very important in a situation like this. It's if it is more difficult for the team and for the club. No one likes us to be in the situation we're in at the moment. First of all, it's difficult to see staff members who work so hard are affected by the situation we're in now. Mainly because of the results. I'm the manager, I have to pick a team so to a certain extent I'm important, but my focus is on the team and not on me."

When asked if the winger had played his last game for the English champions, Slot added: "I have no clue. I cannot answer that question at this moment in time."

The visiting spinners took six wickets between them in the fourth T20I on the Gold Coast

Andrew McGlashan06-Nov-2025

Glenn Maxwell was bowled by Varun Chakravarthy•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Australia’s defeat to India on the Gold Coast made it the first time they have lost consecutive T20Is since their exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, when the same opposition ended their tournament in St Lucia following a Super Eights loss to Afghanistan.That tells you Australia have been going nicely in the format: since that World Cup they have won 17 of their 21 completed T20Is. But the manner of the loss on Thursday did provide a glimpse at one area of their game that continues to hold a few questions – combating high-class spin on slower pitches offering some assistance. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar took 6 for 49 in 9.2 overs combined at the Carrara Oval.”I don’t think we did much wrong tonight,” Nathan Ellis said after the game. “I think we played some really good cricket and there were some big moments that we potentially came out on the wrong side of and that’s what happens in T20 cricket.”We’ll get different surfaces wherever we go. I’m sure the Gabba in a couple of nights will be completely different again. Win, lose or draw, you’ve got to take what you can out of it and that’ll be no different tonight.”Related

Short outlines clear pathway to next T20 World Cup

Axar, Dube, Washington power India to 2-1 series lead

Axar's deceptive simplicity dismantles Australia's threat

Since this lengthy run of T20Is began in the West Indies in late July, Australia have been all-in on all-out attack. Their aggressive approach, particularly in the powerplay and allied to Tim David’s elevation from his previous finishing role, has made this the most potent T20 batting line-up Australia has put together. Amid a couple of wobbles against West Indies in Jamaica and South Africa in Mackay, they largely just kept going.In the Caribbean, the West Indian spinners conceded 9.66 an over and took just seven wickets in five matches, though Akeal Hosein caused a few uneasy moments. Against South Africa’s spinners, Australia scored at 8.93 an over and lost only five wickets in three innings. In New Zealand, where it was almost still winter, the hosts bowled six wicketless overs of spin in three matches for 60 runs.However, this series against India, unsurprisingly, is proving a different beast. They have a formidable collection of T20 spinners. Such is their depth of resources that they were able to release left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav mid-series and still have three to call on (two of whom are also top-order batters).After a wet start in Canberra, they have certainly left a mark. In three matches, the spinners have 12 wickets with an economy rate of 7.71. Even in defeat at the MCG, world No. 1 Chakravarthy proved a handful, winning a mind-games battle with David. In Hobart, on a ground with enticing boundaries, Chakravarthy again showed his class, particularly when he ripped one through Mitch Owen first ball.Then, on the Gold Coast, a trio came together. This time Axar applied the initial pressure and claimed key wickets, then Chakravarthy all but sealed the game by befuddling Glenn Maxwell, leaving Sundar to run through the tail.”It almost felt like an Indian wicket in a way,” Ellis said. “To credit their bowlers, they bowled brilliantly tonight. I think Shubman [Gill] as well probably played in innings that you wouldn’t associate with T20 cricket in this day and age, but he soaked up a lot of balls and gave them a platform to go at the back end.”No one yet knows quite what role spinners will have across India and Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup next February. On Thursday, the ICC shortlisted Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai as tournament venues along with Kandy and Colombo but, with three months to go, the fixture list is yet to be confirmed. It would be a surprise, however, if at some point over a month-long tournament there wasn’t a pitch that provided a set of conditions that will challenge Australia’s gameplans and technique.

Rangers are now facing the prospect of losing one of their young talents to the Premier League for nothing in a frustrating blow for Danny Rohl.

Rohl pinpoints "old habits" affecting Rangers

It was like a throwback to the start of the season against Falkirk. Rangers were toothless as they were held to a 0-0 draw in the first time that Rohl has stuttered in the Scottish Premiership. The German, frustrated by the draw, claimed that the Gers fell into “old habits” and lacked “conviction”.

The Rangers manager now has the task of getting back to winning ways as early as Wednesday when his side square off against Dundee United. Another game without three points would only raise concerns that Rangers are slipping back into poor form just when fixtures are coming thick and fast.

With the January transfer window now just a month away from opening too, any sign of poor form would also raise serious questions for Rohl about the quality of his squad.

Following the exit of sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss is likely to have a larger say on who comes in and who heads for the exit door in January.

What he won’t have a say in, however, is the future of Bailey Rice. The 19-year-old midfielder has reportedly rejected Rangers’ latest contract offer and looks destined to leave the club.

Premier League clubs chasing bargain Rice deal

According to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, Premier League clubs are now racing to sign Rice on a free deal when his current contract expires in the summer.

The midfielder is the youngest-ever player to play for the club in the Scottish Premiership, but looks almost certain to leave in 2026 after rejecting new terms.

Whilst Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion tracked the 19-year-old in the past, it is Sunderland and Aston Villa who are after his signature these days – handing Rice a big decision to make.

A "spell on the sidelines" is needed for the "best player" at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers star who was called the team’s best player should be dropped from the starting line-up.

ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

For Rangers, meanwhile, it’s another blow and another likely departure from an academy star. There was a time when Rice looked to be the future of their midfield. Now, he’s set to depart before he even reaches the peak of his powers and with zero financial gain for the club.

Former interim boss Barry Ferguson was full of praise for Rice last season, telling reporters that he believes that the midfielder is a “fantastic talent”. Like everyone else watching on in Scotland, however, Ferguson may be forced to see the youngster thrive away from Rangers and in the Premier League.

Danny Rohl sends 13-word warning to Rangers players ahead of transfer window

Quinton de Kock reversed his white-ball retirement earlier this year, and scored 239 runs at 119.5 during three ODIs in Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2025Quinton de Kock has had a little bit of fun already in his second stint as an ODI cricketer. Having initially retired after the World Cup in 2023, he made himself available for South Africa again earlier this year and had a good run in Pakistan, scoring 239 runs in three matches at an average of 119.5.”I think he’s big, he’s massive,” South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince said. “With Rohit [Sharma] and Virat [Kohli] coming to the Indian team, I think Quinny probably has a similar effect coming into our team with his experience, with his quality that we saw in Pakistan.”His presence definitely boosted the dressing room and we got quite a few young left-handers and just quite a few young players in the team. For them to sit around and have a few conversations with him and also be out with him in the middle and bat with him, I think that does a lot for their growth – being able to bat with him out in the middle. So he is a big influence for us.”Related

Tests lost, India look to feel at home as ODIs against South Africa begin

'Look forward to enjoying responsibility' – Rahul steps into the hot seat

South Africa are also looking forward to seeing the heights Marco Jansen can reach after the allrounder played a starring role in helping them beat India 2-0 in the Test series. Prince broke down key elements of Jansen’s contributions in Guwahati – 93 off 91 with the bat, and 6 for 48 with the ball.”I think what’s important for Marco is clarity about how he bats. When you’re batting at No. 8, No. 9, generally you don’t have a lot of partners. So for him… once he gets in, he needs to score quickly, because he’s only got one or two partners to come. So playing an aggressive role is something that we discussed.And then to follow that up with the ball in the way that he did. Again, we talk about assessing the conditions. When we come to India, we don’t expect the pitches to bounce as much as that one did. So we assess this communication between our batters and our bowlers. And our batter’s feedback was that the bounce is quite steep. Maybe we should look to use the bounce more than what we anticipated. And the bounce was quite steep and it was difficult to handle… Therefore, we say adapting to what is in front of us is the most important thing.”