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The Dodgers captured their second consecutive World Series title on Saturday night after a thrilling 11-inning Game 7 vs. the Blue Jays.

Los Angeles has grown its roster in the past few years to build the powerful championship team it has become. Two players who are new to the team are starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow (joined in 2024) and Blake Snell (joined in ‘25). Glasnow now has two World Series titles (he didn’t compete in the postseason last year due to injury), while the two-time Cy Young award winning Snell just secured his first one.

Funny enough, the two pitchers were teammates on the Rays in 2020 when Tampa Bay faced the Dodgers in the World Series, which Los Angeles ended up winning. They both ended up in Los Angeles and now have World Series rings of their own after failing with Tampa Bay.

While celebrating in the locker room at Rogers Centre on Saturday, Glasnow dropped a hilarious, but somewhat cringey, line about players who have lost to the Dodgers in any previous World Series.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, baby!” Glasnow said, followed by high-fiving Snell.

Both pitchers made relief appearances in Game 7. Glasnow pitched 2.1 innings, throwing two strikeouts and giving up three hits and one run. Snell appeared in the eighth and ninth, striking out two batters and giving up one walk and one hit. The Dodgers went on to win 5-4 in the 11th inning.

Of course there is India vs Pakistan, but there is also a lot more to look forward to in the UAE

Shashank Kishore07-Sep-202515:43

Can Afghanistan make the final of the Asia Cup?

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) can be criticised for many things. Like having Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in a brutal group of death, or missing the chance to ride the wave of cricket’s surging popularity in Nepal.But they have often nailed one key aspect: moulding their flagship competition to suit the needs of the cricket calendar. So, two years after its 50-over edition, the Asia Cup returns in 2025 as a T20 competition, aiming to be a lead-in to next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.September in the UAE can be brutal, but the ACC doesn’t have full control over the timing, or the venue. India are the official hosts, but they have once again turned to the UAE, just as they had during the pandemic years with the IPL and the T20 World Cup.Related

• Why are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so poor at T20I batting?

• Back-to-back games plus travel 'not ideal' – Asalanka, Rashid on gruelling schedules

• Muhammad Waseem: 'We can absolutely inflict an upset on India or Pakistan'

• Grassy Dubai pitch leaves India with tricky selection calls against UAE

• It's showtime as winless Hong Kong take on wounded Afghanistan to kick off Asia Cup

While geopolitics continues to cast its shadow, the fixture everyone is already marking out on their calendars is, of course, India vs Pakistan, the tournament’s perennial centrepiece. And if history is anything to go by, the players will bring intensity and not animosity.From Shaheen Shah Afridi presenting Jasprit Bumrah with a gift for his newborn son to Babar Azam publicly backing Virat Kohli during his slump, the camaraderie has often been warmer than the political climate. But in today’s social media age, where jingoism thrives, will the players be as comfortable sharing a laugh or a joke, a hug or a handshake?Saturday evening could have provided a peek: the teams trained side by side at the ICC Academy in Dubai but kept to their halves, with barely a passing interaction. Perhaps it was just scheduling; perhaps it was something else.The ACC, though, has been mindful of the commercial and cultural importance of the contests. The prospect of the sides playing each other at least twice, perhaps thrice, is tantalising. Amid occasional calls for boycotts, the larger picture, which includes India’s ambitions of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games in 2036, makes these clashes hard for them to avoid.If history is anything to go by, Indian and Pakistani players will bring intensity and not animosity•Associated PressNone of this has dimmed the enthusiasm of the general fan. Tickets for the two big clashes on September 14 and 21, have been bundled with a few other matches. Not even the seemingly steep prices [starting 1400 AED] have been a deterrent. Every single corporate box is taken, some believed to be by those who once vehemently called for a boycott.While all this brings the typical hype and drama surrounding the contest, the personnel are vastly different. No Babar or Mohammad Rizwan for Pakistan; no Kohli or Rohit Sharma for India. Pakistan are unheralded, and are testing the waters with a young team under Salman Agha. India are regrouping in the format after the T20Is against England at home in January, keen to pitch tent for their World Cup defence.Afghanistan, perhaps more at home in the UAE than anyone else, are now genuine contenders, and not underdogs. Stars like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naveen-ul-Haq live and train here. Their spin-heavy attack is built for these conditions, and their confidence, despite the abject defeat to Pakistan in the tri-series final, should be sky-high.Sri Lanka may be the defending champions in the T20 format – they beat Pakistan in the 2022 final – but the team that lifted the trophy under Dasun Shanaka looks markedly different today. The recent collapse for their second-lowest T20I total against Zimbabwe has underlined the growing pains of a side in transition.They are still searching for a finisher who can also bowl, and there’s heavy reliance on Pathum Nissanka with the bat. Their X-factor remains their bowling, though. Maheesh Theekshana’s mystery and Matheesha Pathirana’s slingy pace should be more than a handful, but how they are used could determine their fate in a tough group.Bangladesh are navigating life after their golden generation. With no Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim or Tamim Iqbal, and Mustafizur Rahman not quite the enigma he once was, they are recalibrating with a younger, power-hitting mindset. The tournament is both a test and an opportunity for this new-look squad.20:37

Do Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav make the all-time Asian T20 XI?

Outside of the Test nations, the story is as much about the Associates – three of them this time.Oman are piecing things back together after a pay crisis nearly derailed their progress, even coaxing veterans out of retirement to compete. Hong Kong are battling under-preparation. Having been forced into indoor nets for months, they have relied on a two-week crash course in Dubai under new coach Kaushal Silva. UAE are aiming for more than just participation this time. With increased investment and ILT20 exposure, there’s a push to develop more local talent. Captain Muhammad Waseem leads that charge, alongside emerging power-hitter Alishan Sharafu, mentored by Andre Russell and already making waves.So, the subplots are rich and the stakes high. Can Afghanistan turn potential into silverware? Can Pakistan find rhythm in chaos? Will India experiment or play their first-choice XI in a tournament they are touted to win? Can the Associates land a meaningful blow on the giants?The pitches could be slow and the crowds partisan. Politics may loom large, but when it comes to box-office cricket, nothing tops India vs Pakistan, or Pakistan vs Afghanistan, perhaps even Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh.Over to the Asia Cup to provide the perfect stage.

West Ham are scouring the market for a new striker as Niclas Füllkrug prepares to depart the London Stadium in January, and a former Tottenham forward has now entered their radar.

Nuno Espirito Santo has called upon Callum Wilson and Lucas Paqueta to play the striker role in Fullkrug’s latest injury absence, but even once the Germany international returns, he won’t be donning Claret and Blue for long.

The 32-year-old’s disappointing spell at the London Stadium is set to end after just 18 months, with trusted sources like Fabrizio Romano confirming that Fullkrug plans to seek a new challenge as soon as the transfer window reopens.

Discussions have already been initiated and the player’s representatives are said to be in contact with potential suitors from Germany and beyond.

Fullkrug has made just 27 appearances for West Ham since his arrival on a four-year contract in August 2024, scoring only three goals, with his first season heavily disrupted by two long-term injuries that saw him miss a combined 28 games for club and country.

Romano revealed in his GiveMeSport newsletter this week that West Ham are hopeful of finding a striker who would be a better fit than Füllkrug, with the club already considering options.

West Ham have Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee on their list of targets, with the Dutch striker struggling for regular opportunities under Ruben Amorim. The Hammers are also reportedly quite interested in signing Ivan Toney on loan as the England striker looks to battle his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

Nuno’s side explored the possibility of signing Real Madrid’s Endrick on loan too, but the Brazilian teenager is now on the verge of a move to Lyon instead.

Reports in Italy suggest AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez will cost around £21 million to sign in January, amid reports that West Ham are keen on handing the Mexico international a fresh start in the Premier League after a tough time at the San Siro.

While January is a notoriously difficult window, the east Londoners do have options on the table, and one of them is now former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.

West Ham eyeing former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott

According to Turkish media, West Ham are eyeing a move for Parrott amid his scintillating Eredivisie campaign so far, as Fullkrug also ‘prepares to leave’.

The Republic of Ireland international left Spurs permanently in 2024 to join AZ Alkmaar in a deal worth just under £7 million, and he’s since found a new home in the Netherlands.

Parrott’s racked up 13 goals in 14 appearances for AZ already this season, with six of them coming in the Dutch top flight.

The 23-year-old has also fired them to third in the table and four wins from their last five games, with Parrott’s form now attracting West Ham’s attention as AZ make his price tag known.

They want at least £26 million to consider parting company in January, and such a fee would mean they make a near-quadruple profit off hs sale.

Parrott heroically guided his country to the World Cup play-offs after scoring a hat-trick in their 3-2 qualifying win over Hungary on Sunday.

It’s turning out to be quite the year for him, and a return to London could be on the cards if he wills it and West Ham are prepared to pay AZ’s asking price.

The Danny Röhl era at Rangers begins.

Having been unveiled on Monday, the 36-year-old has not had a lot of time to prepare for his first match in charge, which will be Thursday night’s Europa League tie with Brann.

The Gers travel to Bergen having lost five consecutive European matches, currently pointless in the league phase, following defeats at the hands of Genk and Sturm Graz.

Hosts Brann, meantime, narrowly lost their Europa League opener 2-1 against Lille, Hamza Igamane on target for the hosts in Northern France, but then beat Utrecht 1-0 on home turf earlier this month, Sævar Atli Magnússon the match-winner, so will fancy their chances of another scalp.

Rangers though cannot allow that to happen if they’re to get back in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages, so what lineup should Röhl pick as he aims to leave Norway with all three points?

What Rangers supporters should expect from Danny Röhl

Despite his youthfulness, a year younger than defender Leon Balogun who departed in the summer, Röhl has plenty of high-level experience as a coach.

He worked under Ralph Hasenhüttl as an assistant at RB Leipzig and Southampton, before also being an assistant manager at Bayern Munich to Niko Kovač and then Hansi Flick, joining the latter in charge of the German national team at the World Cup in Qatar.

His first head coach role took him to Hillsborough, overseeing 89 matches in charge of EFL Championship crisis club Sheffield Wednesday, saving the Owls from relegation in his first season in charge, before they finished 12th last year, despite being run into the ground by owner Dejphon Chansiri.

In terms of tactics, as outlined in a piece by the Coaches’ Voice, Röhl ‘utilised a variety of formations’ during his time in Yorkshire, regularly switching between a back three and a back four, noting that in build-up play his ‘central defenders split quite wide’, labelling this a ‘key feature’ of his team.

They go on to note that there would always be a double pivot in front of the back-line, with width provided by wing-backs, allowing wide-attackers to penetrate centrally, making them as much of a goal threat as possible.

Thus, expect Röhl to be quite fluid with his formations, while also making regular changes to his starting lineups, especially considering this is the first of six matches on his agenda in the next 17 days, but we’re going to give predicting his first XI a go!

Rangers predicted XI vs Brann

During Russell Martin’s disastrous tenure, as well as under caretaker boss Steven Smith on Saturday, Rangers have always operated out of a back four.

Thus, in search of defensive stability, many are forecasting Röhl will instantaneously switch to a back three, but who would benefit from this change in shape?

Well, Nasser Djiga would for starters, simply because a third centre-back is needed.

John Souttar and deadline day signing Derek Cornelius have formed an encouraging partnership in recent weeks, while Wolves loanee Djiga has started just two of the last seven matches, not exactly endearing himself to his new supporters by being sent off against Dundee during his home league debut.

Meantime, at wing-back, Jayden Meghoma, on loan from Brentford, is the only natural left-back at the club, but has really struggled, so the vastly more experienced Max Aarons could fill in on that side, despite being naturally right-footed.

On the opposite flank, there has been debate for many years about captain James Tavernier’s defensive acumen, but one cannot argue with his attacking output, considering he is the club’s joint-top scorer this season with five, taking his tally to 135 for the club against Dundee United at the weekend, and a wing-back role could help him get back to his best.

The importance of a midfield duo in Röhl’s system has already been alluded to, so luckily for him Rangers’ best player last season was Nicolas Raskin, back in the team now and playing week in and week out, after a falling out with Martin earlier in the campaign that really saw supporters turn against the manager.

Alongside, none of Joe Rothwell, Connor Barron, Thelo Aasgaard nor Lyall Cameron appear particularly appetising options, if we’re being totally honest.

Thus, Röhl will hope to have Mohamed Diomandé available, after the Côte d’Ivoire international sat out the weekend draw due to a knock, but is expected to be available for the trip to Bergen.

Raskin and Diomandé as a pair certainly boast the athleticism and on-ball quality to be able to dominate matches, even at a high level.

Scout Emir has certainly been impressed by the Ivorian, noting that he is “relentless in duels” while also constantly showing for the ball under pressure, concluding that he is becoming the “complete midfielder”.

Lastly, in attack, Djeidi Gassama will certainly be in the line-up, considering he made 81 appearances for Röhl when the pair were together at Sheffield Wednesday, while he is Rangers’ joint-leading scorer this season with five, all of which have come in Europe, thereby hoping for more of the same in Norway.

The Frenchman has already shown that he can link up well with fellow new recruit Oliver Antman, the pair combining to score the third goal during a demolition of Viktoria Plzeň during Champions League qualifying, the clear high point of Martin’s ill-fated tenure.

Lastly, despite splashing £10m to sign Youssef Chermiti, thereby making him the club’s second-most expensive signing of all-time, it’ll surely be Bojan Miovski leading the line, the North Macedonian looking to add to his two goals for the club to date.

They may not have shown it very much this season, currently pointless in the Europa League and sixth in the Scottish Premiership, but Rangers do boast some good players.

So, if Röhl can turn them into a functioning team, results will exponentially improve for sure, of that there is no doubt.

Former Rangers star reveals similarity between Danny Rohl and Walter Smith

He’s delivered his verdict…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 21, 2025

TORONTO — More than an hour after his season ended in a heartbeat and winter took hold, Ernie Clement sprawled in his chair in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, still in full uniform, nursing a Labatt Blue. His sliding shorts featured a hole in the right knee. His eyeblack stickers barely clung to his cheeks. His eyes brimmed with tears. 

He struggled to reckon with his loss. Not of Game 7, in which the Blue Jays fell, 5–4, in a shocking, back-and-forth, 11th-inning defeat to the Dodgers. Not of the World Series, which they at one point led three games to two, and on Saturday were two outs away from clinching. What hurt most, he realized, was that he wouldn’t get to come to work tomorrow. 

“Even if we’d won,” he mused, “I’d still be sad that it was over.”

That was the message the Blue Jays repeated over and over in their quiet clubhouse as Saturday night bled into Sunday morning. 

“Everybody loves each other in here,” said center fielder Daulton Varsho. “We enjoy being around this group, and that’s probably going to be the most hurtful thing.”

That they were so close only makes it worse. 

“It took them seven games to beat us,” said Kevin Gausman, who started Games 2 and 6. “I think if we play tomorrow, we beat ’em, but we’re not playing tomorrow.”

They had so many chances for a different ending. They loaded the bases with two outs in the second. They had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth, and a runner at third with no outs in the fifth. They loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, and they had runners at the corners with one out in the 11th. But they could not come through with a hit to put the Dodgers away, and the Dodgers clawed back with solo homers in the eighth, off Trey Yesavage, who started Games 1 and 5; in the ninth, off closer Jeff Hoffman; and in the 11th, off Game 4 starter Shane Bieber. 

“I feel for everybody in here,” said Clement. “We grinded so hard. I’d go to war with Jeff Hoffman every day of the week. I want him on the mound. I want Biebs on the mound. Those are guys who I would take a bullet for. And 99 times out of 100 those guys get the job done. Obviously, this wasn’t our night here. But I feel for those guys so much.”

The New York Mets had their seven-game winning streak come to an end Monday night as they lost to the San Diego Padres, 7-6.

Home plate umpire Emil Jimenez had a brutal game behind the plate, frustrating both teams throughout the night with some bad calls. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the third inning after arguing balls and strikes and Juan Soto appeared to come close to getting tossed in the seventh inning after he was rung up on a bad called third strike.

One of the Mets announcers was rightfully not happy with how Jimenez stared down Soto after making the call, saying:

"I mean you watch this pitch, it’s clearly above the zone. That’s at his elbow. He delays, calls a strike and then stares at Juan wanting a reaction. ‘OK, you want to say something?’ Don’t make yourself part of the action."

Here's that moment:

Fans ripped Jimenez:

The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their recent struggles Tuesday night with an ugly 10-7 loss at home to the Minnesota Twins. It was their 11th loss in their last 14 games and one ugly play in the top of the seventh inning summed up how things have been going for them lately.

The Twins had the bases loaded with one out when Royce Lewis hit a slow grounder up the first base line. Dodgers reliever Edgardo Henriquez ran over and scooped up the ball and then turned a made a horrible throw to first.

MORE: Dodgers fan makes sweet catch on Ohtani's HR

How bad was it? The ball ended up bouncing off the wall in deep right field, which allowed three runs to score and sent Lewis all the way to third base.

This was something straight out of a Little League game:

The Dodgers are still in first place in the NL West with a 59-43 record but they haven't been able to get out of their own way lately.

“Tonight, it just wasn’t pretty,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game. “When you’re walking guys and the defense is spotty and things like that, it wasn’t a good one.”

It certainly wasn't.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has hit out at the refereeing decision that cost his side dearly against Liverpool in the Champions League. The Argentine striker labelled the late penalty award for holding as an "injustice" and insisted that football would become unplayable if every shirt pull resulted in a spot-kick, while also reaffirming his desire to win everything this season.

• 'We threw it away due to an injustice'

  The mood at Appiano Gentile is one of frustration rather than regret following Inter's contentious clash with Liverpool at San Siro. The Nerazzurri saw their hopes of a positive result dashed in the 88th minute by a controversial penalty decision that has left their captain fuming. Martinez believes the referee's interpretation of a tussle in the box was far too harsh and ultimately decided the outcome of a match that was balanced on a knife-edge.

  The incident occurred late in the game when defender Alessandro Bastoni was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Liverpool substitute Florian Wirtz inside the area. While on-field referee Felix Zwayer initially waved play on, he was advised by VAR to review the monitor. Upon second viewing, Zwayer pointed to the spot, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to convert the winner. Martinez argued that such contact is commonplace and that penalising it ruins the sport's competitive nature.

  "We are disappointed but not angry," Martinez explained to . "Because if you lose due to a referee's mistake, there is little you can do. We are sorry to have thrown everything away because of an injustice: if they were to whistle for penalties for every hold, we would never play."

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• AFP
  

  Martinez targets success this season

  Despite the controversy in Europe, Inter remain firmly in the hunt for domestic glory. The Nerazzurri are currently embroiled in a fierce battle for the Serie A title, looking to add another Scudetto to their collection. With the Supercoppa Italiana also on the horizon, the fixture list is congested, leading to questions about whether the club needs to prioritise one competition over another to ensure success.

  However, Martinez was quick to shut down any suggestion that Inter should pick their battles. Drawing on the mentality that has seen the club reach two Champions League finals in the last three years, the Argentine insisted that the squad has the depth and the hunger to compete on all fronts. He emphasised that the club's recent history of lifting trophies has created an environment where settling for less is not an option.

  When asked to choose between the Scudetto and the Champions League, Martinez was defiant: "I don't choose. I want to go to the end in all competitions, just as we have done in recent years. We are on an extraordinary journey that has brought trophies and happiness back to Inter. It is not taken for granted to play two Champions League finals in three years."

• Inter still looking good under Chivu

  Martinez’s comments highlight the elite mentality that has survived the managerial transition from Simone Inzaghi to Cristian Chivu. While Chivu is still navigating his first season in charge of the senior side, the core of the squad remains battle-hardened from deep European runs in previous campaigns. They are still in good shape in both competitions, sitting a point behind AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A and in the mix for a top-eight finish in the Champions League table, which would guarantee an automatic spot in the round of 16.

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  What comes next?

  Inter must now quickly channel their frustration into performance. The fixture list offers no respite, with a Serie A match against Genoa coming up this weekend before they travel to Saudi Arabia to face Bologna in a Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, with Napoli and AC Milan going head-to-head in the other clash.

The 2025/26 campaign has brought a whole host of problems onto Arne Slot’s doorstep, with his title-winning Liverpool side knocked so far out of kilter it is difficult to see how they will be realigned before the end of the season.

The tenth-place champions would be in deep bother were they to limp to the finish line, trailing the Champions League pack, trailing the pay packet that comes with Europe’s elite competition.

Liverpool spent a lot of money this summer, a record-breaking amount. It would be fair to say that Richard Hughes’ signings haven’t all worked out, and the onus is now on finding form and sustaining it, mounting a fightback after months of distress.

However, the recent Mohamed Salah conundrum has cast Liverpool’s season into new territory, and it needs sorting out quickly.

The latest on Salah's situation at Liverpool

Slot was coy when discussing Salah’s explosive outburst at Elland Road, incensed after being kept on the bench for three successive fixtures.

All of a Liverpool persuasion hope for an agreeable resolution, but the truth is that the 33-year-old may be headed for the exit, with multiple pointers suggesting he will not return after jetting off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.

Liverpool need a replacement, and they may have found one in a star bearing a likeness to Luis Diaz, who was sold to Bayern Munich in August.

According to Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are in talks to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, whose future has been a hot topic this year.

Semenyo’s £65m release clause becomes active in January, and with Salah ostensibly inching toward a bitter exit at the end of his glittering Merseyside career, FSG are primed to make the payment and restore Liverpool’s frontline.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

Semenyo, 25, was hailed as “the best winger in the country” by pundit Chris Waddle in November, having enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign with Bournemouth. On the opener, he netted twice at Anfield.

Now he has six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this term, and that’s without having notched a direct involvement across the past two months. This could be perceived as a negative thing, but Andoni Iraola’s side have been in a rut for a little while, and Semenyo continues to stand out as a shining light.

The Ghanaian’s physicality and directness could even see him emerge as Liverpool’s new version of Diaz, even if he’s welcomed to – in theory – replace Salah.

Diaz and Semenyo share in their athleticism an economy of strength and motion. The two players are versatile and confident across the frontline. They are both fleet-footed and as electric as they come, but they are also intelligent and calculated, reserving their energy for opportune moments.

Semenyo’s pace and ability to take on and beat defenders set him apart from Liverpool’s current crop. Cody Gakpo is too one-note; Salah is getting old, and he lacks his one-time speed and physical attributes.

Liverpool need more variation. They have been ‘found out’ this season, with the same players weaving the same patterns and struggling to get the same results as last year. Semenyo would change that, adding not one attacking dimension but two or three.

Four matches have come and gone since Liverpool last tasted defeat. The midweek win over Inter Milan at the San Siro was impressive, for sure, but Premier League draws against Sunderland and Leeds United shine a light on the many dents in the metalwork.

FSG, Slot, Hughes, Michael Edwards. Nobody could have foreseen such a staggering slide, but the slump has to be arrested and kept locked up.

It’s all well and good making Liverpool more compact, harder to beat, but if the restoration process is to launch the Reds back into the ascendancy, they need an elite forward as Semenyo added to the mix. The decision against directly replacing Diaz has had far-reaching ramifications. It’s time to sort it out.

Sell him before Gakpo & Konate: Slot must bin Liverpool's "Origi regen"

A number of Liverpool stars face uncertain futures on Merseyside following a dismal start to the season.

By
Angus Sinclair

4 days ago