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Rangers face off against French giants Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night in their opening group stage match of the 2021/22 campaign.

The Gers qualified for the group stages after beating Alashkert in the play-off round, having been knocked out of the early stages of Champions League qualification.

Steven Gerrard will now be hoping that his side can go far in the Europa League to make up for their Champions League failure, starting with a win against Lyon.

They head into the clash off the back of a 2-1 win in the Scottish Premiership. How many changes will Gerrard make to his team from that game? Here is our predicted XI for the match…

We are predicting that Gerrard will make three changes to his XI, with Connor Goldson, John Lundstram and Borna Barisic coming into the team.

Starting at the back, Goldson coming in for Filip Helander is a relatively easy prediction to make. The Swedish centre-back has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after suffering a knee injury against St Johnstone, with Goldson set to return after missing out due to self-isolation over the weekend.

Earlier this year, Goldson was called a ‘mountain’ by Gerrard for his strong performances on the pitch. He told The Scotsman:

“Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a warrior.

“I can’t describe to you how well he has done for this team, not just in terms of what you have seen on the pitch but also his leadership on the inside of the club and his availability every single day.”

This highlights his importance to the side when fit and why, with Helander out, he should return to the starting XI immediately.

We published an article on Wednesday explaining why Borna Barisic should come in at left-back ahead of Calvin Bassey. The Croatian international could add more creativity to the side on the left flank, helping the Gers open up the Lyon defence.

Finally, we are predicting a slight change to the make-up of the midfield with Lundstram coming into the team in place of Joe Aribo. With Scottish Premiership matches coming thick and fast, Gerrard could need to rotate his squad to ensure that players do not suffer any muscle injuries due to being overloaded with minutes, so Aribo could be chosen to step out for this match.

He has started all five of Rangers’ league matches this term and averaged 84 minutes per game, which suggests that he could do with a rest as he has been an almost ever-present. Lundstram, meanwhile, has only started once this season and this clash with Lyon could be the perfect opportunity for him to come in and show Gerrard what he is capable of.

We are predicting the rest of the team will stay the same from the win over St Johnstone, with Jon McLaughlin, James Tavernier, Leon Balogun, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent filling out the XI.

AND in other news, Gerrard must unleash £18k-p/w Rangers gem with “terrific quality”, he can unlock Lyon…

Are England really the second-best one-day team in the world? It’s a preposterous notion, and yet, by the time Kevin Pietersen’s men go to bed in the early hours of Thursday morning, it could well be an officially-recognised fact

The Preview by Andrew Miller02-Sep-2008
Andrew Flintoff: leading the way with bat and ball © Getty Images
Match factsWednesday, September 3, 2008
Start time 14.30BST (13.30GMT)Big Picture Are England really the second-best one-day team in the world? It’s a preposterous notion, and yet, by the time Kevin Pietersen’s men go to bed in the early hours of Thursday morning, it could well be an officially-recognised fact. Having begun the series in sixth place in the ICC rankings, England have already climbed to No. 3, and one more win will enable them to displace South Africa at No. 2 – and their unbridled dominance in the first four matches of the NatWest Series means that that prospect is very much on the cards. South Africa’s ageing one-day outfit has been no match for a resurgent England, for whom the pace, aggression and enthusiasm of Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff has been the key factors. If the weather holds, it’s hard to envisage anything other than another England win.Form guideEngland WWWWL
South Africa LLLLW
Watch out for…Owais Shah
It was on Pietersen’s insistence that Shah was promoted from No. 6 to No. 3, and he justified that faith with a cultured 44 from 40 balls to guide England to victory in their 20-over thrash at Lord’s on Sunday. That innings, however, needs to be the start of even greater things for Shah, who turns 30 at the end of the season, and must be tiring of the fringe status that has dogged his international career ever since he was earmarked as one of England’s most promising cricketers at the end of the 1990s. A tough tour of India awaits, and a big sign-off in Cardiff would be the ideal confidence boost ahead of what promises to be a seminal winter.Hashim Amla
Graeme Smith’s tennis elbow has given Amla an opportunity to show that his talents need not be confined to the Test arena, and so far he has done his best to stake a long-term claim as a one-day opener. A solid 46 at The Oval was followed by a coruscating 34 from 31 balls at Lord’s that ended with an untimely run-out but nonetheless featured eight sumptuous boundaries, including four in an over from Harmison. His fielding is a cut above that of many of his colleagues, and another good performance at Cardiff will put further pressure on the established batsmen, in particular the ageing Herschelle Gibbs.Team newsAssuming there are no injuries, it’s hard to imagine that England will seek to make any alterations to their line-up. Ian Bell and Matt Prior are settled as an opening partnership; Shah, Pietersen and Flintoff have shown their worth in the middle-order, and while Paul Collingwood and Luke Wright have had quiet series so far, that is largely because of the excellence of their colleagues. Samit Patel’s sparky showings as the spinning allrounder have perfectly complemented the four-prong pace attack, and everything – for now – is rosy.England (probable) 1 Ian Bell, 2 Matt Prior (wk), 3 Owais Shah, 4 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 5 Andrew Flintoff, 6 Paul Collingwood, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Luke Wright, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steve Harmison.South Africa’s team is not so easy to second-guess. Injuries have blighted their best-laid plans, with Smith sidelined until December and Albie Morkel still struggling with a shoulder problem. Makhaya Ntini was dropped for Lord’s in favour of Andre Nel, so it is hard to imagine he’ll be seen again this summer, while Jacques Kallis’s batting form is reaching crisis point. An unchanged side is probable, but South Africa could hardly be less stable at present.South Africa (possible) 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis (capt), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Jean-Paul Duminy, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Vernon Philander, 8 Johan Botha, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Andre Nel.Pitch and conditions Britain’s weather has been at its obnoxious worst in the past 24 hours, with England’s pre-match net session cancelled due to the adverse conditions. Quite what effect all this rain will have on the pitch remains to be seen, but it’s safe to assume there will be plenty assistance for the bowlers, as and when the covers are peeled off on Wednesday afternoon.Stats and Trivia Only once, against Zimbabwe in a hastily-arranged series in October 2001, have England wrapped up a 5-0 victory in an ODI series. They were, however, beaten 5-0 by Sri Lanka in 2006. Andrew Flintoff’s return to top form is backed up by his statistics. After four matches of the series, he is averaging 187 with the bat and 12.90 with the ball.Quotes” We’ll try our hardest to win the series 5-0 because there would be no greater satisfaction than to finish at 10.30pm and know we are second in the world. That’s the most important thing, not Stanford.”
Though the million-dollar match in Antigua is looming large, Kevin Pietersen insists that his team is focussed on victory, not money.“We pride ourselves on our results – and even though there were positive signs here, we don’t accept losses very well.”
Jacques Kallis admits that South Africa’s morale isn’t tip-top at the moment.

Flocking to Twitter, a number of Manchester United fans have erupted over news involving Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

It is now official as the Red Devils parted company with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this morning following a run of dismal results, with a 4-1 humiliation at hands of minnows Watford seemingly cementing the Norwegian’s fate.

United severed ties with Solskjaer more than two-and-a-half years after they appointed him on a permanent basis to succeed Jose Mourinho.

The club legend vacates the Old Trafford managerial seat having guided United through 168 games in all competitions, winning 92 of them, drawing 35 and losing 41 – averaging around 1.85 points per match (Transfermarkt).

As such, their search seems set to begin as club chiefs decide best how to take the Red Devils forward whilst making the most of their star-studded squad.

Links to Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers have surfaced in recent weeks but it is the latest update on Ten Hag which has fans excited.

According to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, writing on his personal Twitter feed, Ajax’s boss is ‘in the mix’ to succeed Solskjaer as Red Devils manager. Jacobs added that United ‘made contact’ with ‘multiple candidates’ even before their loss to the Hornets on Saturday – including Ten Hag.

Man United fans go wild for Ten Hag…

Taking into account his plaudits, style of play and managerial record, it’s little wonder that so many United fans have raved over this news.

A title winner in the Netherlands and a Champions League semi-finalist in 2019, Ten Hag’s impressive points average of 2.08 per match eclipses that of Solskjaer and the 51-year-old even has admirers in some high profile Premier League coaches.

For example, Jurgen Klopp branded him ‘one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football’ (Planet Football) – perhaps evidence that the Dutchman could be just what United need.

Plenty of Red Devils fans certainly believe so judging by these excited Twitter reactions, with one supporter even calling him a ‘perfect fit’.

Check out more of their verdicts below:

“Ten Hag timeeeeee”

Credit: @Ixrisldn

“Ten Hag, I’m on my knees”

Credit: @casperorace

“Tears in my eyes”

Credit: @_M0J

“Bring him home”

Credit: @Showman_ke

“Get this man inside!”

Credit: @KgosiAkeem

“YEEEEEESSSSSSS”

Credit: @RASHYFORDSZN

“Perfect fit”

Credit: @juxkwabena

In other news: ‘Needs transfer listing’, ‘Shocking’ – These Man Utd fans slam ‘awful’ player who lost the ball 15 times v Watford

Accusations made by Giles Clarke that Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s chairman, is only in cricket to make money have angered club officials

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2009David Robinson, the chairman of Hampshire Cricket Members Committee, has slammed accusations made by Giles Clarke that Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s chairman, is only in cricket to make money.Bransgrove has been an outspoken critic of Clarke, the chairman of the ECB, and called for him to stand down in the aftermath of the Stanford scandal. But Clarke briefed several journalists in Barbados on Tuesday, and Bransgrove was very much in his sights.Asked in the Daily Mail about criticism from Bransgrove, Clarke replied that he “is a proprietor and is seeking to make money out of cricket. He’s in a different position to those of us who are manifestly not in it for the money.”I am certainly not going to give in to basically two men with megaphones. Messrs Davidson [the Leicestershire chairman] and Bransgrove have just lost an election. I see both of them as flawed individuals.””It will be clear to anybody associated with Hampshire that this could not be further from reality,” Robinson said. “There is little doubt that Hampshire would not be in existence today without the selfless intervention of Rod in 2000 when the club was on the brink of financial disaster.”For Clarke to suggest that this is purely for Rod’s own financial benefit, is disgraceful and will not be recognised by anyone associated with Hampshire cricket. We refute, absolutely, the unfortunate and unfounded comments.”

Australia’s World Cup recovery continued as they held off West Indies to record a 47-run victory at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney

Cricinfo staff12-Mar-2009Australia 7 for 211 (Blackwell 46*) beat West Indies 6 for 164 (Dottin 51) by 47 runs
Scorecard

Deandra Dottin made a half-century but West Indies still finished 47 runs short © Getty Images
Australia’s World Cup recovery continued as they held off West Indies to record a 47-run victory at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. The hosts lost the opening match against New Zealand but swept aside South Africa before finishing the group stage in second on four points.West Indies struggled to 7 for 164 in reply to Australia’s 7 for 211 as the defending champions fielded a re-worked batting order. The opener Alex Blackwell was pushed down to No. 6 and made an important 46 not out while Ellyse Perry chipped in with a valuable 36 off 35 balls that took the total out of West Indies’ reach.However, there were some problems for Australia, with Leah Poulton falling to the sixth ball of the game and the top order shaking to 6 for 130 when Karen Rolton, the captain batting at seven instead of three, departed for 2. They relied on the opener Shelley Nitschke’s 45 and 42 to Jodie Fields to provide some stability before Blackwell and Perry put on 57 in 11.2 overs.”We lost consecutive wickets throughout our innings, especially early on, and that really hurt us in the middle overs, but I think we regrouped well to get a defendable total on the board,” vice captain Blackwell said. “Building partnerships throughout the order – it doesn’t really matter where they are – are important, like Ellyse and I did today. She came out and we formed a really good partnership which helped us.”Shakera Selman grabbed 2 for 28 from her 10 overs while Stafanie Taylor and Anisa Mohammed also earned two wickets. Taylor tried to hold together the chase with 32 at the top, but there was no meaningful assistance until Deandra Dottin and Debbie-Ann Lewis (19) combined when they needed more than a run a ball.Dottin finished with 51 from 54 balls, including four sixes, but West Indies, who also qualified for the Super Six stage, were too far behind. Perry picked up an early and a late victim while the spinners Lisa Sthalekar and Erin Osborne were economical and took two wickets apiece.

A blistering half-century from Kevin O’Brien helped Ireland beat Kenya by 86 runs in Nairobi and secure their first win of the tri-series

Cricinfo staff18-Oct-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
A blistering half-century from Kevin O’Brien helped Ireland beat Kenya by 86 runs in Nairobi and secure their first win of the tri-series. Kevin struck 83 off 52 balls with five sixes and propelled his team to 285 for 6 in a 47-over match, an improved batting performance after their collapse against Zimbabwe on Friday.Kenya never recovered from losing half their side for 122, and the escalating run-rate proved too great a challenge to overcome for the rest. They were bowled out for 199 in 44 overs with Jimmy Kamande top scoring with 42. Regan West took 2 for 35 off his ten overs while Alex Cusack picked up 3 for 29 off six.Ireland’s victory, however, wasn’t an easy ride. A top-order wobble eroded a sound start from their openers. William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien had added 55 for the first wicket but Ireland lost four wickets for another 55. Niall was the first to fall, stumped by Maurice Ouma while charging against Jimmy Kamande, followed by Porterfield and Gary Wilson. Andre Botha had slog-swept Steve Tikolo over midwicket for a six but offered a return catch the very next ball. He, like the others before him, failed to build on a start.Kevin, batting at No. 6, walked to the crease in the 27th over of the innings. He and Andrew White began to counter-attack, scoring 82 in 11 overs for the fifth wicket. White took the initiative, sweeping and pulling the spinners Hiren Varaiya and Tikolo to the leg side. He even played the reverse-sweep successfully. Kevin lofted Varaiya over long-on for the first of his sixes. Two of the other four disappeared straight down the ground while the others were over deep midwicket and cover.Ireland did not lose momentum even after White was bowled by a yorker from Lameck Onyango. Alex Cusack got off the mark by smashing debutant Rajesh Bhudia over the midwicket boundary. In 7.3 overs, Kevin and Cusack added 73 runs and Ireland had reached 265 by the time Kevin was run out. Cusack ensured the innings ended in a flourish: he scored 36 off 30 balls and Ireland managed 103 from the final ten.Kenya used six bowlers. Hiren Varaiya took 1 for 40 off his ten, while Tikolo finished with 2 for 43 in eight. Peter Ongondo, the new-ball bowler, wasn’t called upon to finish his quota after bowling six overs for 25 runs.The asking-rate was over six but Kenya’s run-chase had a promising start. Their openers Seren Waters, playing his first ODI, and Kennedy Otieno pierced the off-side field in each of the first three overs and, by the end of the sixth, Kenya were 37 for 0. Boyd Rankin gave Ireland their first opening, using his height to gain extra bounce and hit the top of Otieno’s handle for a catch at gully. The run-rate slowed, Kenya scored only 17 off the next seven overs, and Rakep Patel fell to a skier off Andre Botha.The critical blow came when Waters, who batted 74 balls for his 41, hit one hard back at West, who took the catch at head height. The innings fell apart after that and the steady stream of wickets, and the lack of a noteworthy partnership, ensured the Kenyan challenge ended tamely.

According to a report by 90min, Jesse Lingard made it clear to Manchester United that he didn’t want to return to West Ham United amid a prospective late push by the Irons to sign him this summer. 

The Lowdown: Hammers return never materialised 

Lingard spent the second half of last season on loan with David Moyes’ side, notching nine goals in 16 games to help the club qualify for Europe for the first time since 2016. 

It was rumoured throughout the summer that Lingard would be brought to the London Stadium again – either on a permanent deal or a loan – but it never materialised and West Ham spent their money elsewhere on Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic. 

The 28-year-old has only appeared for four minutes for Manchester United this season, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes ahead of him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.  

The Latest: Lingard to fight for Manchester United place 

The report by 90min states that Lingard ‘communicated to joint chairman David Sullivan personally’ that his preference was to remain with Manchester United rather than try his luck with West Ham again. 

His inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for their triple header over the international break against Hungary, Andorra and Poland gives him a chance to show his worth to Solskjaer ahead of the next four months before the winter transfer window, with an inside source claiming that Lingard will reassess his situation then. 

Solskjaer has confirmed that the midfielder will be used and could play an important role for the Red Devils, but with less than 12 months on his contract at Old Trafford, the player’s options will remain open in January. 

The Verdict: Let’s hope Lingard doesn’t regret it

Lingard is Manchester United through and through. He is best friends with one of the Red Devils’ key players in Marcus Rashford and was one of their most influential players only a few years ago, being labelled as ‘unique’ by the club’s current coach Michael Carrick in 2018.

He would have been disappointed with missing out on the European Championship in the summer and maybe a move to West Ham would have put him in good stead to make England’s World Cup squad in 2022.

For now, though, the playmaker must take his chance when it comes to him at Old Trafford and hope that his decision to reject the Hammers is the right one in the long run. 

In other news, West Ham remain keen for ‘extraordinary’ player after missing out on him in the summer transfer window, find out more here.

It’s been an eventful summer for Manchester United, with Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane arriving at Old Trafford, but a current member of the first-team squad continues to dominate the headlines.

What’s the story?

Paul Pogba has been heavily linked with a move to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain throughout the current window after entering the final year of his current contract, and The Athletic’s Adam Crafton has provided an update on the World Cup-winning midfielder’s situation.

Crafton’s latest report concerning the future of Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe and the potential domino effect his exit could have, states that PSG remain interested in signing Pogba, although they would prefer to do a deal on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.

However, it also claims that United still hope to convince Pogba to commit his long-term future to the club, meaning the 28-year-old could still put pen to paper on fresh terms at his boyhood club.

Manchester United fans will be buzzing

PSG were originally expected to make a move for Pogba this summer before the opportunity to secure Lionel Messi’s signature proved too good to turn down.

And Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be delighted that he’s still able to call upon the maestro’s services after watching him break a Premier League record in the opening weeks of the new campaign.

The former Juventus ace became the quickest player to register five assists in a Premier League season after setting up four goals in United’s opening-day demolition against Leeds United, before teeing up Mason Greenwood against Southampton last time out.

After reminding everyone of his incredible ability and importance to Solskjaer’s side, the Old Trafford outfit’s supporters will surely be buzzing to learn of this latest revelation.

Pogba has often split opinion since returning to United in a then world-record £89 million deal from Juventus back in 2017, but he’s consistently shown his best form since December last year, striking up a formidable partnership with Bruno Fernandes in the engine room.

With United finally appearing capable of challenging for major honours once again, the club’s fanbase and hierarchy alike will be desperate for one of their star performers to commit his future to the ongoing revolution under Solskjaer.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Man Utd transfer update that’ll have the fans buzzing 

Two inexperienced Bulls, Chris Swan and Nick Kruger, gave the so-called baby Blues a stern lesson at the SCG, where Queensland finished the first day well on top

Cricinfo staff21-Nov-2008
Scorecard
Beau Casson’s late 63 salvaged some respectability for the Blues © Getty Images
Two inexperienced Bulls, Chris Swan and Nick Kruger, gave the so-called baby Blues a stern lesson at the SCG, where Queensland finished the first day well on top. Swan collected 4 for 21 as New South Wales were bundled out for 210 and Kruger led Queensland’s strong reply with 40 not out that guided them to 1 for 72 at the close.Kruger, who was playing his fourth first-class game in seven seasons, had the veteran Martin Love with him on 29 after his opening partner Ryan Broad was bowled first ball by Burt Cockley. Kruger and Love put the Bulls in a good position to push for first-innings points after Swan’s career-best effort.At 30, Swan is hardly a raw fast bowler but he was a latecomer to state cricket and has only eight previous first-class appearances to his name. He started the damage with the first wicket of Phillip Hughes and later added two important breakthroughs in three balls when Dominic Thornely and Daniel Smith were both caught behind the wicket.Late resistance from Beau Casson (63) pushed the Blues to a more respectable total after they stumbled to 7 for 97, and Casson was the last man out, giving James Hopes his third wicket. The day began on a sombre note for New South Wales, who rushed Ed Cowan into the side as a late replacement for the batsman Peter Forrest, whose father Ian had died overnight from a heart attack.

A scintillating 53-ball century from big-hitting Shaun Marsh led Western Australia to a convincing win over New South Wales at the WACA

The Bulletin by Andrew Fuss05-Jan-2010
Scorecard
Mitchell Marsh, handed the ball for the first time in Twenty20 cricket, made it a memorable day for the Marsh family•Getty ImagesA scintillating 53-ball century from big-hitting Shaun Marsh led Western Australia to a convincing win over New South Wales at the WACA. Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh watched from the stands as son Shaun hit the Blues attack to all corners, racking up a 168-run Big Bash record-partnership (for any team and any wicket) with fellow-opener Wes Robinson.So swift was Shaun’s second fifty that when he reached his hundred, Robinson was on just 54 – having beaten Shaun to the half-century mark.The Blues bowlers had started steadily through Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc, backed up by some darting offspinners from Dominic Thornely, and had restricted the hosts to 87 off the first 12 overs. However, when Thornely exited the attack, Marsh unleashed fury on Dwayne Smith, Moises Henriques, and the often wayward Aaron Bird.He blasted six fours and the same number of sixes, including several effortless drives over long-off as the Warriors set the Blues an imposing target for victory.The visitors came out swinging with David Warner falling early to a good catch by Luke Pomersbach at cover from a lethal cut shot. Usman Khawaja fell shortly after trying to pull Michael Hogan and when Henriques was bowled trying to loft Brad Knowles, the Blues looked in dire straits.Aaron Heal ended a mini fightback from Steve Smith and Phil Jaques, dismissing them in consecutive balls and when Mitchell Marsh was handed the ball for the first time in Twenty20 cricket, the visitors were in for a tough time. The younger Marsh brother showed he’s got plenty of talent with the ball, regularly hitting the mid-130s kph, and gave father Geoff even more to smile about, taking 4 for 6 in just 2.2 overs to wrap up a comprehensive win.The Warriors moved to third on the table and will host Victoria on Sunday night, while the Blues dropped back to fifth (with a net run-rate of -1.667) with home matches against Queensland and South Australia to come.