Even the most optimistic Tottenham Hotspur fan would not have predicted Ange Postecoglou to enjoy such a fine start to life at the club, especially with the turmoil surrounding Harry Kane's future that dominated the summer.

Where many should have been focusing on what the Australian was set to bring to north London, they instead outlined what they were set to lose when the 30-year-old departed.

However, this seems to have worked in their favour, with many now rushing to watch the Lilywhites, as a side that have guaranteed hearty performances with a touch of class sprinkled throughout. The philosophy is all-action and free-flowing, and it is only just getting started.

Not only have they showcased their intelligence in the market with the acquisitions last window, but the academy is also experiencing a particular period of enjoyment, bursting at the seams with bountiful talent.

With a few standout names, there is one in particular who bears a striking similarity to former Spurs star Christian Eriksen, who shone for the club across seven impressive years.

However, before showcasing the academy star in question, it is worth outlining just how important the Denmark international was for Mauricio Pochettino, and therefore how excited fans should be that they could now unearth his heir.

How good was Christian Eriksen?

Brought in from Ajax as part of the Gareth Bale-funded revolution, it could be argued that the 31-year-old creator was the only one of the seven who actually enjoyed a successful career with the club.

After all, going on to feature 305 times, scoring 69 and assisting a further 90 certainly marks success, even if he failed to conjure up a trophy whilst with the club.

With a number of supremely impressive campaigns too, the three-year period between 2015 and 2018 marked the highlight of a sparkling career which has seen successful spells at Inter Milan and more recently Manchester United.

The first of those three seasons saw Eriksen register six goals and 13 assists. The year following he would reach new heights, amassing eight goals and 15 assists. Then, in the final term of this exceptional stint, he still managed ten goals and ten assists, via Sofascore.

2019/20 (Tottenham Hotspur)

35

8

12

2017/18 (Tottenham Hotspur)

37

10

11

2016/17 (Tottenham Hotspur)

36

8

16

2015/16 (Tottenham Hotspur)

35

6

15

2014/15 (Tottenham Hotspur)

38

10

2

2013/14 (Tottenham Hotspur)

25

7

9

A silky but hard-working customer, blessed with both feet and lethal from a set piece, there are few around nowadays who could have dominated as he did.

Pochettino was understandably enamoured with the midfielder, noting: "He is so special and we always call him Golazo, because he is capable of scoring unbelievable goals. The recognition from us is massive. It is true he is so quiet, so calm. He is a very relaxed person but he loves football."

His presence helped facilitate a system in which they essentially had two numbers tens, with tactical flexibility that helped him interchange with Dele Alli.

Funnily enough, the man who provokes all these comparisons in Alfie Devine could help underpin a similar system for Postecoglou, who too has showcased a penchant for deploying two number eights in the past. Alongside James Maddison, the future could be exceedingly bright should he strike up a fine partnership with the 19-year-old.

Who is Alfie Devine?

Having spent academy stints at Liverpool and Wigan Athletic, the teenage midfielder eventually settled in north London, where he has gone on to make two senior appearances despite his youth. In fact, his start and goal against AFC Marine in their 2021 run in the FA Cup broke records, as he became their youngest-ever player, and subsequently their youngest-ever scorer too.

Clearly destined for big things, Jose Mourinho would outline his devastating offensive qualities after that clash: "He's a kid with good potential. He's basically a midfield player but with an instinct to appear in finishing zones and to score goals. We like him and of course for him it was a special day."

Then, writer Orlando Valman would offer a glimpse into the similarities he boasts with Eriksen, writing for GOAL: "He is also an excellent set-piece taker, and a good finisher off both feet; the next step for him is to get into those goalscoring positions more frequently."

Having already amassed four goal contributions across eight games whilst on loan at Port Vale, it seems the physicality of the English leagues will prove little obstacle for the wizard either.

This comes a year after he posted eight goal contributions across games in the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League too, with a first consistent spell at senior level set to potentially surpass that.

The potential partnership he could form with Maddison should mark an enthralling prospect for Postecoglou, who saw his academy jewel praised further by journalist Alasdair Gold for that versatility that could see him facilitate the former Leicester City man just as Eriksen did for Alli:

"Fascinating to watch Alfie Devine. He might only be 17 but he's an organiser. He pops up one minute in support of Scarlett and the next in a deep-lying anchorman role, all the while talking to everyone around him, telling them to push up or hold back."

How is James Maddison playing?

As the more cultured and perhaps conservative of this potential partnership, it could allow Maddison to enjoy his best football with an extra creator beside him.

However, his start to life with the Lilywhites has suggested he needs little additional help, given how outstanding a signing he is already proving to be.

With six goal contributions across his opening six Premier League games, the 26-year-old's 8.03 average rating actually makes him the division's second-highest-rated player, via Sofascore.

It should therefore come as no surprise to see Joe Cole having already branded him the "signing of the summer", with his words only set to be proven right as this form persists.

Postecoglou will certainly have a long-term plan in mind with regard to how he truly wants to set his team up, and the calibre of playing staff he fits within those roles.

However, should Devine continue his brilliant upward trajectory, he could have the spearhead of his midfield sorted for the foreseeable future, set to make Eriksen's legacy an afterthought.

يلتقي منتخب هولندا، عصر اليوم الأحد، مع خصمه منتخب بولندا في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس أمم أوروبا.

ويستضيف ملعب “فولكسبارك” مباراة المنتخبين التي تأتي في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من دور مجموعات يورو 2024.

ويتواجد المنتخبان في المجموعة الرابعة، والتي تضم كذلك كل من فرنسا والنمسا، حيث سيلتقيان مساء يوم الإثنين في الجولة نفسها. موعد مباراة هولندا وبولندا اليوم في يورو 2024

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 4 عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة هولندا وبولندا اليوم في يورو 2024

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1 Max. معلق مباراة هولندا وبولندا اليوم في يورو 2024

سيكون علي محمد علي هو معلق تلك المباراة.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Liverpool have reached staggering levels of success since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp back in 2015, who has transformed the Premier League club and unlocked the potential of so many stars, who in turn have rewarded the German with silverware across nearly every possible avenue.

For all of the outfit's stunning feats over the past several years, they did endure a rocky road last time out, falling by the wayside and finishing in fifth-place after failing to click together all year, with the weary midfield sapped of life and the once vigorous unity of the overall cohesion a distant and bitter memory.

Because of Liverpool's woes, Klopp ruthlessly sought to give the majority of the Anfield centre the boot, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contractual expiries followed by the sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and the loan exit of Fabio Carvalho.

Alexis Mac Allister

£35m

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m

Wataru Endo

£16m

Ryan Gravenberch

£34m

All fees sourced via Sky Sports.

Four exciting new faces were landed, and Liverpool are back on their way this year with a very different feel to the centre of the Anfield efforts.

Certain members of the old guard have retained their roles in the squad, however, with the likes of Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic pushing to work their way up the pecking order after growing into their skin in different scenarios last year, impressing despite their club's struggles for form and fluidity.

Another to have made their presence known was Harvey Elliott, who contributed enormously and will now be hoping to enter the next phase of his development as Liverpool chart a course for success once more this year.

How much did Liverpool pay for Harvey Elliott?

Liverpool signed Elliott from English rivals Fulham in 2019 when he was just 16-years-old, paying the Cottagers a £750k compensation fee after gleaning the prodigious talent.

However, in February 2021, the Anfield side were ordered to pay a record compensation fee of £4m, inclusive of add-ons, while also acquiescing to Fulham's demand for a 20% sell-on clause to be inserted.

It's a payment Liverpool will have wanted to avoid, paying a large fee for an untested commodity on the major stage, but while Elliott is still scarcely free of his teenage years, the omens already bode well.

If Liverpool were to cash in on the dynamic midfielder any time soon, not that that will likely happen, they would receive a handsome figure for the burgeoning talent.

How much is Harvey Elliott worth now?

According to CIES Football Observatory's valuation tool, Elliott now boasts a market value of €60m (£52m), emphasising just how impressive a rise this young star has had over the past several years, and given his youthful age, he is yet to reach even the periphery of his zenith.

This is largely down to his integration into Liverpool's first-team, having now chalked up 70 senior showings for the Reds, scoring seven goals, supplying six assists and earning praise for his David Beckham-esque aura on the pitch by European football expert Andy Brassell who quirkily he said "was like a flying ant in a forest of sloths".

Last season, the one-time Blackburn Rovers loanee indeed impressed, scoring five goals and providing two assists from 46 appearances across all competitions, with the regularity of his match action underscoring the high regard that Klopp holds him in.

The increase in responsibility is jaw-dropping; the year before, when Liverpool were pushing for a historic quadruple, though ultimately clinching just the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, Elliott only played 11 times across all competitions, starting three of the opening four Premier League matches of the campaign before an ankle dislocation played detriment to his seasonal progress.

Despite the influx of acquisitions this summer, Klopp clearly still views Elliott as an integral member of the squad, having featured him regularly already and looking to return to silver-laden success after falling flat last year, with the Europa League in particular warranting greater rotation as the Reds battle across multiple fronts.

An exceptional dribbler with a gliding gait and eye for an impactful pass, it's easy to forget that this ace is still in the early phase of his professional career – for example, he is younger than the likes of Barcelona's Pedri and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka – and he could see his lofty valuation balloon even further as he continues to make the increments to his craft over the coming years.

How good is Harvey Elliott?

This season, Elliott has featured across all four of the Merseyside outfit's opening matches of the Premier League season but is yet to earn his maiden start of the year.

Heralded as a "special" talent by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano after penning a new long-term deal with Liverpool until 2027, the £40k-per-week phenom can safely say he is already one of the most creative, energetic midfielders in Liverpool's mix, ranking admirably against positional peers under Klopp's leadership.

Harvey Elliott

3.55 (top 14%)

7.27 (top 14%)

3.15 (top 6%)

Alexis Mac Allister

3.53 (top 14%)

5.56 (top 35%)

2.27 (top 16%)

Ryan Gravenberch

4.32 (top 4%)

6.78 (top 18%)

1.97 (top 22%)

Stats vs midfielders per 90, as per FBref

As is clearly delineated, Elliott's presence on the pitch will result in an upswing in opportunity for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and co in the offensive third, with the 20-year-old capable of orchestrating from deep or weaving through the lines to directly influence the attacking play in decisive moments.

Elliott's defensive workrate does receive its criticism, with the Englishman averaging only 0.8 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 0.2 clearances per game in the English top-flight last term, as per Sofascore.

However, while the current campaign is in its rudimentary stage, Elliott impressed against Chelsea in the season opener, coming off the bench in the 77th minute and making two clearances and one interception, winning his duel and dribble attempts and completing 89% of his passes, reminding Klopp of the weapon he wields, capable of unlocking defences when all looks lost in the closing period of the match.

While Elliott is still an unrefined gem, the signs point towards a prosperous and sustained career at the top, and Liverpool will look back at his £4m signing as one of the shrewdest deals of the Klopp era as he continues to rise over the coming seasons.

While things are rather rosy for those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion at present, it may remain rather strange not to have former talisman, Harry Kane leading the line these days, with the England skipper already making his mark at new club, Bayern Munich.

After itching to leave the Lilywhites for Manchester City two years ago, the prolific striker finally got his wish after sealing a £100m move to Bavaria last month, ending a lengthy association with Spurs that began in the youth ranks at N17.

As expected, the 30-year-old is already making a mockery of the Bundesliga having scored eight goals and contributed four assists in just seven games for his new side, notably bagging the first of what could prove to be multiple hat-tricks for the German giants at home to Bochum at the weekend.

In truth, the experienced marksman is picking up where he left off last season after bagging 30 league goals amid what was a dire collective season for the club, having at times held things together on his own during the years of turbulence under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Somewhat surprisingly, Ange Postecoglou's side have not yet felt the impact of losing the 89-cap international amid what has been a remarkable, unbeaten start to the new Premier League season, although it remains to be seen if the void that was left by the club's record goalscorer can be filled for the long-term.

With Kane undoubtedly the club's most successful academy graduate – and perhaps even their best-ever player – it is hard to believe that there was once a talent who arguably shined even brighter in the academy setup, in the form of one-time wonderkid, Cameron Lancaster.

Who is Cameron Lancaster?

For all the beauty and spectacle that football can provide, it can also be a particularly punishing and cruel sport, with the margins so slim between those who make it and those who don't at the elite level.

In truth, for every major success story, there is the case of talent who didn't quite make it. For every Marcus Rashford, there's a Ravel Morrison; or for every Harry Kane, there is a Cameron Lancaster.

As noted above, Kane had been the golden boy at Spurs for almost a decade prior to his departure this summer, yet it was his former youth colleague, Lancaster, who originally looked like being the bigger star of the future at Hotspur Way.

The Camden-born marksman – who is the same age as Kane – had regularly trained with the first team during his teenage years, gaining valuable experience working with the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale in the senior set-up.

That rapid rise was then capped during Harry Redknapp's time in charge during the 2011/12 campaign, with the then-youngster having been handed his debut off the bench against Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, something which seemingly caught him off guard:

“It was all bit of a blur. I remember going out after training to get some brand new boots for the game.

“I remember warming up, then Redknapp called me over to say I was going on for the last 15 minutes and all he said was to go and enjoy myself, do a job for the team.”

That first-team bow – which came prior to Kane's top-flight debut in August 2012 – appeared to be the start of a promising career for Lancaster in the capital, with the likes of Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand having told the academy gem that he had a "real chance of cracking it at Spurs".

As is so often the way, however, the footballing gods had other ideas…

What went wrong for Cameron Lancaster at Spurs?

Following on from that breakthrough 2011/12 season, the emerging sensation was then handed a new two-year deal by incoming boss Andre Villas-Boas, proving yet another show of faith by the club in his undoubted talents.

On the cusp of potentially earning a regular role for himself in the first-team squad, Lancaster was then cruelly struck down by the first of numerous injuries that would ultimately inhibit his progress, as he has revealed to Planet Football:

“That was the summer AVB came in and I started training with the first-team for pre-season, but it was literally within the first week I got quite a bad injury. I ended up snapping my groin off the bone and that set me back near enough a year. After that it was injury upon injury and I couldn’t get going to kickstart my career."

As the forgotten man went on to add, by the time he had recovered from an ACL blow in 2014 his contract was up at White Hart Lane, with the player deciding to take on a new challenge elsewhere, with just a solitary senior appearance for Tottenham under his belt.

As is the way, it was that following season in which Kane truly announced himself to the wider world after plundering 21 league goals under Mauricio Pochettino, with Lancaster, meanwhile, beginning a journey that has taken him far from the glittering heights of the Premier League.

Where is Cameron Lancaster now?

The 6 foot hitman did initially remain in English football after joining Stevenage following his departure from north London, albeit while ultimately scoring only once in just six appearances for the club, prior to joining non-league side St Albans City halfway through that 2014/15 season.

Since then, aside from a brief spell on the books at MLS outfit, Nashville – for whom he scored six goals in 19 games – the 30-year-old has been plying his trade in America's second tier for Louisville City.

While he may not be making his mark on the Champions League stage, unlike Kane, Lancaster has been rather prolific during his time in the States, with 84 goals in just 171 games in all competitions for his current side to date.

That record indicates that the Englishman has still enjoyed a respectable career since leaving Spurs almost a decade ago, although there may still be a sense of what might have been had injuries not halted his early progress.

Having forced his way into the senior set-up even before Kane, the future looked particularly bright for the one-time Dagenham & Redbridge loanee at the time, yet, alas, it was simply not meant to be for this once lauded wonderkid.

Knight Riders captain also suggests considering VJD method for revising targets in IPL, instead of current DLS system

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-20181:27

Surprised asking rate dropped after rain – Karthik

Dinesh Karthik, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain, was “surprised” by the revised target thrown up for Kings XI Punjab in the rain-hit match at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Chasing 192, Kings XI were 96 for 0 in 8.2 overs when the rain arrived; roughly 90 minutes later, they needed just 29 more off 28 balls (that is, 125 in 13 overs) to seal victory and go top of the IPL table. The new target was calculated via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, an upgrade on the Duckworth-Lewis system.”We needed two wickets at that stage,” Karthik said, after Kings XI romped to a nine-wicket win with 11 balls remaining. “It was important to get [Chris] Gayle and KL [Rahul] early and that was something I was wishing to happen, but they played some really good shots and got away.”It’s hard for me to predict what would’ve happened. It’s interesting that at that stage, when play was stopped, they needed about eight runs an over. But after the [DLS] method, they suddenly needed only six, a run a ball, and that was surprising.”If it would have been a 20-over game, they’d be needing eight an over. If we’d gotten two quick wickets, the [required] run rate would have kept going up if we’d bowled well. We came back after the rain and they said they needed just a run a ball, I didn’t understand that part. I’m sure [DLS] has been something people are still trying to figure out.”Karthik suggested an alternative to the DLS be considered for the IPL: the VJD method, put forward by V Jayadevan. The VJD method of revising scores is used in Indian domestic cricket. “I always thought since VJD is an Indian method and this is an Indian domestic tournament, why not think about it in the future,” Karthik said. “I’ve been told that is also a good method. We’ve used it in domestic cricket and only for the IPL we seem to use Duckworth-Lewis, so why not think about VJD even here?”ESPNcricinfo understands Kings XI’s target even under the VJD method would have stood at 125.Karthik is not the first player to voice displeasure after a shortened game in this tournament. Gautam Gambhir, Delhi Daredevils’ captain, had said a target of 71 in six overs was “tough” on his team following their rain-marred game against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on April 11. Then, Royals batted first and their innings was stopped after 17.5 overs by the weather; they had got to 153 for 5. After a prolonged rain break, Daredevils were presented with their target of 71 in six.”We were very much in the game,” Gambhir had said. “It was a beautiful wicket to bat on, then 150-odd for 5 in 18 overs, we thought we could contain them to 170 and it was chaseable, especially with dew coming in later on.”We were very much happy with the first innings. But then in six overs 71 was tough. We had to go from ball one. Obviously with these sort of games, things could go either way. [But] just two overs of Powerplay, it’s very difficult. If it was a 20-over game, it would’ve been much easier to chase.” Daredevils eventually lost that game by 10 runs.

Pep Guardiola opened up about Erling Haaland's glaring miss in the first half of the Manchester derby as he hailed the striker as a 'great player'.

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Guardiola reacts to Haaland's miss in Manchester derbyHaaland scored a late goal in Man City's 3-1 winHailed Haaland as a 'great player'WHAT HAPPENED?

The Manchester City forward missed a sitter in the first half as he failed to push the ball into an empty net from a handshaking distance. Haaland, though, netted a third goal towards the end of the game to increase his team's winning margin in the Manchester derby.

Manager Guardiola later said that Haaland's ability to forget about mistakes is what makes him a "great player" as he mentioned a bizarre basketball players' analogy.

AdvertisementWHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Catalan manager said, "The great, great players I met, I was lucky to manage many of them, they forget [missed chances] in an instant. They forget as quickly as possible. Footballers, basketball players. They miss. They just smile and get on with it and he [Haaland] did it. He has an incredible ability to forget. That defines the great players."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Against the run of play, Marcus Rashford had handed United the lead with a thunderous strike before Phil Foden brought the Cityzens back into the game in the second half with another world-class hit. The England international then completed his brace to put his team in front before Haaland scored a third to seal an important win for the reigning champions.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

The Premier League champions will be next seen in action in the Champions League on Wednesday as they take on Copenhagen in the second leg of their round of 16 clash.

Gordon Greenidge, the West Indies great who was one of Bangladesh’s earliest foreign coaches in the late 1990s, always knew Bangladesh cricket would one day overcome their difficult start in the quest for international cricket. Even now, he is proud of what they have achieved, having seen first-hand their more fallow days when he was appointed coach in 1996.Greenidge, who later guided Bangladesh to their first World Cup appearance in 1999, was accorded a reception by the BCB on Tuesday, with many cricketers from his time meeting him after nearly two decades. In a rare reunion, the likes of Akram Khan, Minhajul Abedin, Mohammad Rafique and Khaled Mashud, among others, shared hugs, laughs and stories with Greenidge, whom many considered a father figure during his four-year tenure as head coach.”I did believe Bangladesh cricket would grow,” Greenidge said. “It always had the potential to grow. It is difficult to measure the quality of Bangladesh cricket. Before, we were only playing one-day cricket. It was nice to see the players meeting the demands of the highest standards and more extensive games at the international arena. It was always going to be a difficult task to rise to the international standard.”I am happy to say that they have done it exceptionally well. It is not always the case that you have continuous success. I can see Bangladesh cricket actually keep its head high and be able to compete credibly at the international stage.”The BCB also presented Greenidge with a Bangladesh jersey, a tie and a watch. It also donated Tk 500,000 for the Gordon Greenidge Primary School and library in Barbados.Greenidge said that while his departure was “disappointing” – he was unceremoniously discharged soon after Bangladesh’s famous win over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup – he has moved on. “The parting was disappointing. I would have liked to spend more time with Bangladesh cricket, but it wasn’t to be. I have no ills. These things happen.”Greenidge said that he hoped to stay in touch with old friends in Dhaka. “I cherish all my memories here in Bangladesh. I just met [Gazi Ashraf] Lipu after some time. I believe [Tanjeeb Ahsan] Saad is not well. I had a good communication channel, which was lost. Now that we have met again, I sincerely hope that we can renew that relationship and continue where we left off.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن تفاصيل العرض الثاني المقدم من قبل نادي برشلونة الإسباني بهدف التوقيع مع نيكو ويليامز خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية.

ويحظى اللاعب الإسباني أيضًا باهتمام كبير من قبل عدة أندية أوروبية، من بينهم ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي.

اقرأ ايضاً.. بناءً على رغبة لابورتا.. برشلونة يدخل سباق التوقيع مع لاعب مانشستر سيتي

وذكرت صحيفة سبورت الكتالونية أن برشلونه يجهز بالفعل عرضاً جديداً لنادي أتلتيك بلباو من أجل التعاقد مع، نيكو ويليامز، هذا الصيف.

وتابعت الصحيفة الكتالونية أن برشلونة سيقدم عرضًا بقيمة 55 مليون يورو بالإضافة إلى 10 ملايين مكافأت + إدخال إينيجو مارتينيز في الصفقة.

يذكر، أن برشلونة سيقوم بدفع المبلغ إلى نادي أتلتيك بلباو على دفعتين، ستكون الدفعة الأولى بقيمة 30 مليون يورو والثانية بقيمة 25 مليون يورو.

وشارك الإسباني الشاب هذا العام في 37 مباراة مع ناديه الإسباني في جميع المسابقات، حيث سجل 8 أهداف وقام بصناعة 16 هدفاً طوال الموسم.

Pakistan coach rues the inconsistency in his young team as England bounce back from a humbling defeat at Lord’s

Andrew Miller03-Jun-2018Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach, said that he would need to “dish out a couple of hidings tonight”, as he rued the inconsistency in his young team that allowed England to bounce back from a humbling defeat at Lord’s to square the series in some style at Headingley.Arthur, who was also at the helm when Pakistan drew their last Test series in England, 2-2 in 2016, said that his players were “gutted” to have been rolled aside inside three days, but said that a setback such as this could be instrumental in helping them grow as a side, so long as the right lessons are learned.”I am incredibly disappointed to be brutally honest,” Arthur told Sky Sports. “It was a poor display from us, coming off the back of such a high at Lord’s. It’s all about trying to get this consistency right and trying to get us playing in the right style and manner, so I’m incredibly disappointed with what we’ve dished up here.”We’ll talk about it and have a hard discussion right now but as long as that dressing room has learned from it, it’s a young team and we can grow, and grow quicker.”Only four players remain from the side that toured in 2016, and Arthur admitted that his current team had not been able to replicate the levels of consistency that they were able to generate, especially in the absence of such proven performers as Younis Khan, Yasir Shah and the then-captain Misbah-ul-Haq.”The guys are feeling what it’s like to play tough Test cricket over an extended period, a lot of guys haven’t done that before,” he said. “But our expectation is more, it’s better than that. They will take it on the chin tonight, and they will hopefully grow and learn from it.”In particular, Arthur bemoaned Pakistan’s batting in this contest, particularly on the first day, when they slumped to 174 all out having won what could have been a useful toss.”Inconsistency is something that comes with a young team, however hard that is to take at the moment for all of us,” he said. “[At Lord’s] they were patient, they committed to defence, committed to attack and showed good intent.”We got the balance wrong here. We weren’t as disciplined, we weren’t as patient in this first innings especially. There was always going to be something in the wicket but we had to get through a session and a half there, because the sun came out and it became really good batting conditions late in the day .”If we had got ourselves a big score we could have put them under some pressure but we could never do that at 180 [all out]. The key thing is that a number of batsmen got starts and no one got a hundred. For us to grow as a team, we need someone in top six get hundreds consistently.”Another critical lapse in Pakistan’s hitherto high standards came late on the second day at Headingley, when Jos Buttler was dropped on 4 at short midwicket by Hasan Ali, off the bowling of the legspinner Shadab Khan. Buttler went on to blaze a decisive 80 not out from 101 balls, extending England’s lead to an insuperable 189.”It was a massive chance, massive in the way the game panned out,” said Arthur. “We knew in the moment it went down it had the potential to be big, and it was. Shadab had bowled a really good spell up to that point so that would have capped it off really nicely, in terms of him confirming he belongs at this level.”But that happens. No one drops them on purpose. On the whole we fielded well, we caught well, we’ve done a hell of a lot right in this series. We’re just disappointed at the eventual outcome.”We need to dish out a couple of hidings tonight, but that’s how they’ll grow. I can’t fault effort, the way the boys worked. They are hungry, they want to do well for Pakistan, most of these young players have advance their cause, and it confirmed to us we are on the right track.”I think to be honest, most of these boys have advanced. The talent in that dressing room is phenomenal, we’ve just got to get that consistency back and that’s what we strive for as a coaching team.”

Brentford and Everton have been facing off against one another on and off for the last 87 years, with their first encounter coming in April 1936 when the Bees travelled to Goodison Park and emerged as 2-1 victors.

Football FanCast has everything you need to know before the two sides once again meet in the Premier League this weekend.

We are just over a month into the new season now, and while that doesn't feel very long, both teams have already played six games across the league and EFL Cup, so we can start to get a better idea of their form how they're likely to fair going into the game on Saturday.

The hosts have enjoyed a great start to their season, a season many thought they'd find much tougher without their start forward Ivan Toney.

Thomas Frank's men find themselves 11th in the table after one win, one defeat, and three draws from their opening five games in the league. While we're sure the charismatic manager would prefer more wins on the board, they have looked very good thus far, and they are also into the third round of the EFL Cup.

For their part, Everton have not had such a great start to their own campaign.

The Toffees find themselves down in 18th and just a single point above 20th. They have already racked up four defeats and just a single draw after their first five games, which does not bode well for the prospects of avoiding a third successive relegation battle this season.

They can at least celebrate making it into the third round of the cup – although we aren't sure that is enough at the moment.

Brentford vs Everton: What's their head-to-head record?

Given that the sides' first meeting was 87 years ago, you'd be forgiven for thinking this fixture would've likely been played at least 50 times by now, but that isn't the case. In fact, Brentford and Everton have only played one another 22 times since that initial meeting in 1936.

The main reason for that is the Bees' extended absence from the English topflight – resulting in no games being played between the teams from 1954 to 2010.

When they have competed against each other, though, it's generally been a tightly contested affair, one with no outright winner.

In their 22 games, Brentford and Everton have come away with nine wins a piece, with the other four being draws. There also haven't really been periods of dominance for either team, with the longest win streak between them being two games.

Brentford Wins	9
Draws	4
Everton Wins	9

Brentford vs Everton: What's their record at Goodison Park?

The balanced nature of this fixture generally comes from how strong both teams have been when hosting the other at home. In Everton's case, they have won eight of the 11 games hosted at Goodison Park, giving them a seriously impressive win rate of 72.7%.

For their part, the Bees have at least won three games when playing in the blue half of Liverpool, and there has never been a draw between the sides at Goodison.

Brentford Wins	3
Draws	0
Everton Wins	8

Brentford vs Everton: What's their record at Brentford?

Games played in West London have generally tended to favour Brentford in this fixture, with the Bees coming away with maximum points six times out of 11, which gives them a slightly lower – but still impressive – win rate of 54.5%.

Interestingly, Everton have been far less successful in the capital than Brentford have been in Liverpool regarding wins – they have just one – but they have managed to earn four draws when playing away.

Will the Toffees be able to improve their record at the weekend or will they add to the draw tally?

Brentford Wins	6
Draws	4
Everton Wins	1

Brentford vs Everton: What's their First Division/Premier League record?

When it comes to their games in the top flight, it's Brentford who come out slightly ahead of their Merseyside opponents. In all, the West Londoners have won seven of 14 games played at the highest level, whereas, the Toffees have just managed four wins and drawn three.

That said, if you're just looking at how the sides have gotten on in the Premier League, then it's a bit closer, with the Bees taking two wins, while Everton have one win to their name and a draw.

Brentford Wins	7
Draws	3
Everton Wins	4

Brentford vs Everton: What's their Second Division record?

While the majority of the meetings between the two teams have happened when they have both been in the top flight, they have also played six games against one another in the old Second Divison.

It's in the Second Division that the scorecard flips around, and instead, the Toffees come out on top.

In the six games the teams played in the second tier from 1951 to 1954, Everton came away winners on four occasions, with Brentford winning the other two.

Brentford Wins	2
Draws	0
Everton Wins	4

Brentford vs Everton: Which team has the most goals?

There has been a total of 67 goals in this fixture, which, considering there have only been 22 games thus far, is pretty good going from both teams – and good value for the fans.

Everton have scored 38 of the 67 goals, giving them an impressive ratio of 1.72 goals per game. Brentford's 29 goals, in comparison, gives them a ratio of 1.3 goals per game, which is still impressive in its own right.

Will the fans be treated to another goal-fest in West London this weekend?

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Brentford Goals	29
Everton Goals	38

Brentford vs Everton: What happened in last season's fixtures?

Despite the Toffees' incredibly close shave with relegation last season, the two games against Brentford went pretty well for them as they picked up four points out of six.

The first encounter between the sides was in West London and saw the Merseysiders take the lead courtesy of a 24th minute goal from Anthony Gordon. However, the visitors couldn't hold onto the lead, with Vitaly Janelt bringing the hosts level on 84 minutes, and the game ended 1-1.

The reverse fixture took place in March of this year and saw new boss Sean Dyche pick up all three points as his side won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Dwight McNeil in the first minute of the game.

Brentford vs Everton: What is Brentford's biggest win?

Brentford's biggest win against Everton came back in April 1936, in the old First Division. It was only the second meeting between the sides, but that didn't stop the Bees putting four past their opponents, conceding only one in the process.

The scoring was opened by Jack Holliday before Dai Hopkins grabbed a brace, and Billy Scott added one more. The Toffee's goal came through Torry Gillick.

Brentford vs Everton: What is Everton's biggest win?

In their 22 games against the Bees, Everton have registered some fairly hefty wins: 4-2 in 1952, 5-0 in the same year, and 4-1 in 2021, but their biggest win came in February 1953.

It was a game in the Second Division, and it ended 5-0 in favour of the hosts – Everton. The scoring was opened by Ted Buckle before Dave Hickson scored a hat-trick, and Tommy Eglington added the fifth.

Brentford vs Everton: What are the recent results?

There have been five instances of this fixture since Brentford's return to the top flight two seasons ago, four in the league and one in the FA Cup, and much like the fixture as a whole, the results have been incredibly balanced.

The Toffees have won one of the league games and the FA Cup tie, whereas Brentford have won two of the league games, drawing the third one. The last three games have seen both sides win once and draw the third one.

And as if it wasn't already close enough, bar the FA Cup game, the other four have all been won by a one goal margin. So, we should be in for an entertaining game this weekend.

Brentford vs Everton: When is it?

Brentford host Everton at the GTech Community Stadium on Saturday, 23rd September, at 5.30pm British Summer Time. While the fixture isn't one of the most storied in the league, both teams have their reasons for wanting to win, and given how it has gone in the past, it should be a cracker for the neutral as well.

The visitors will be looking to forget about their loss to Arsenal last weekend and instead build upon the point they earned against Sheffield United before the international break. Dyche's men desperately need to start picking up points on the road this season if they want to avoid another nail-biting conclusion to the season in May – surely they can't risk that for a third year running?

For the hosts, they'll be looking to add some more wins to their impressive performances this season, and a home tie against a team struggling in the way that Everton are could well be the perfect opportunity for that.

Overall, it should be an entertaining game for neutrals and fans alike, so make sure you don't miss it!