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Liverpool are believed to have triggered Dominik Szoboszlai's €70m (£60.1m) release clause at RB Leipzig, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Szoboszlai off to Liverpool?

Reds supporters found themselves in an exciting position on Friday, as various reports suggested a deal to sign the 22-year-old was edging closer all the time.

Having seemingly been battling with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United for Szoboszlai's services, it soon became apparent that there was only going to be one winner in the deal.

The Leipzig star is arguably one of the most exciting young players in the Bundesliga, and Jurgen Klopp has seemingly picked him out as a standout option for Liverpool this summer, as their much-needed midfield rebuild continues.

Szoboszlai's release clause at his current club has been a talking point, with it expiring on June 30th, but a key update suggests that the Reds have got there in time.

What's the latest on Szoboszlai to Liverpool?

Taking to Twitter on Friday evening, Romano dropped an exciting update regarding Liverpool's pursuit of the Hungarian, saying his release clause has been met by the Reds:

"BREAKING: Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool, here we go! Understand RB Leipzig are now informed that Liverpool have triggered the release clause. €70m deal done, to be signed soon. Personal terms agreed, Szobo’s ready for medical tests soon. Huge signing for £LFC."

This is fantastic business by Liverpool, not only lying on the verge of signing a fabulous young prospect, but also acting quickly enough to trigger the release clause and snap him up for a cheaper amount.

The 32-cap and seven-goal Hungary international could be a wonderful addition to the Reds' team next season and beyond, combining creativity, endless product and pressing ability in attacking midfield areas. He has been hailed as the "future icon of Hungarian football" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also described him as "special" at one point last season.

Liverpool suddenly having Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to call upon in the No.8 roles in midfield has the potential to transform the Reds in the middle of the park, not only providing more of a spark in the final third, but allowing the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to be more effective with extra legs around them. At 22, the Leipzig ace is primed to come in and become a star at Anfield, acting as a poster boy for his next era under Klopp on Merseyside.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos, as Julen Lopetegui aims to bolster his side on a budget this summer.

The Spaniard must address the Old Gold’s struggles in the final third of this transfer window after his side ended the season as the Premier League’s lowest scorers with limited creativity in attack.

With Ocampos linked, Molineux could see an injection of attacking prowess added to the ranks, at a price that would not damage the clubs’ finances.

As reported by The Guardian earlier this week, Wolves are reportedly ‘in talks’ to sign the 28-year-old winger from Sevilla, in a deal worth €15m (£13m).

Earlier this month, the Telegraph confirmed Lopetegui’s commitment to the Midlands side, adding that the club will ‘intend to pay’ around £8m-£15m for new recruits this summer to remain within Financial Fair Play (FFP) boundaries.

In Ocampos, the Spaniard could land himself a financially friendly asset as well as an experienced player that can add an abundance of threat on the flanks.

What could Lucas Ocampos offer to Wolves?

Hailed as “dangerous” by members of the media, the 28-year-old could provide a new outlet to the right flank at Molineux, following the departure of Adama Traore.

After a total of five years employed by Wolves, the Spaniard will leave as a free agent this summer, having marked himself as one of the Premier League’s most feared players to challenge 1v1.

Averaging 2.95 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, the 27-year-old ranks in the top 7% of players in his position in Europe in this area, as per FBref, showing the presence Wolves will be without next term.

Despite possessing such a threatening skillset, the £46k-per-week attacker only registered 25 goals and assists in a total 157 appearances at Molineux, conveying that at a time of need his exploits on the flank came to little avail.

With just 31 goals in 38 games, individual expeditions won't cut it next season for Lopetegui, who requires a genuine menace in attack to break Wolves free of their goal-scoring woes.

As per Sofascore, Sevilla’s Ocampos averaged 1.6 shots per game in La Liga this season, as well as averaging 4.95 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, significantly more than Traore who registered 3.37 per 90, via FBref.

Similarly to the Spaniard who received an average of 9.39 progressive passes per 90, the Argentine received 8.73 per 90, showing the positions he can create just as Traore has for Lopetegui’s side.

Most prominently for Wolves is the added threat on goal that the 28-year-old could bring, highlighted by his 0.35 xG (expected goals) per 90 in La Liga, incomparable to the club’s departing star who averaged just 0.08 xG, as per FBref.

Lopetegui could ease the Spaniard’s departure by signing Ocampos, who could prove to be an upgraded asset to the front line at Molineux.

The four-wicket victory was South Africa’s 12th in a row, helping them equal their best run in the format

The Report by Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton19-Feb-201734 overs a side
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:34

South Africa equal their best run in ODIs

South Africa equalled their best winning run in ODIs with a 12th victory on the bounce, but it was not achieved without plenty of jitters in Hamilton. There was no surprise to see AB de Villiers unbeaten at the end of a tight chase, but it was Andile Phehlukwayo who struck the crucial blows with sixes in the penultimate and last over – the latter bringing the requirement down to 3 off 4 balls – before de Villiers clubbed the winning boundary with one ball to spare.South Africa started the penultimate over, bowled by Trent Boult, needed 22 and only one run came off the first two balls. But Phehlukwayo, showing great calmness as he had done alongside David Miller in the huge chase against Australia last year, picked up a slower ball to clear long-off and in the final over, with nine needed off five balls after a wide call against Tim Southee, he repeated the dose over long-on. As the ball sailed over the boundary, de Villiers gave a little punch of the air.That New Zealand dug deep to push the game so close was a worthy effort because they had rarely been in control. Passing 200 seemed a tall order following Chris Morris’ four top-order wickets and Kane Williamson’s departure for 59, but Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee clubbed 51 off 23 balls for the eighth wicket.Then in the chase, Quinton de Kock, who was reprieved by the DRS after an lbw decision on 18, and Hashim Amla added 88 for the first wicket and, although there was significant encouragement for the spinners – this was the same surface used for the Australia ODI earlier this month – they had everything well in hand. Even when Amla chipped a return catch to Williamson it seemed a mere irritant. However, that soon changed.Faf du Plessis was lbw sweeping at legspinner Ish Sodhi, who was recalled for this match – his first ODI since the tour of India last October. Then, in the next over, de Kock, who had eased to fifty off 47 balls, gave his innings away with a weak pull that found midwicket. All of a sudden, New Zealand sensed a chance.It was Southee who seized the moment. He found JP Duminy’s leading edge with a delightful slower ball, but out-did himself with the next delivery when he cleaned up Farhaan Behardien with a magnificent off-cutter which bit off the surface to beat the inside edge. Morris steadied things for a while alongside de Villiers before picking out long-off, and New Zealand were just about favourites, with South Africa needing 52 off 44 and their lower-order exposed.On 2, Phehlukwayo offered a very tough, low chance to Tom Latham behind the stumps off Southee and it felt like de Villiers or bust. However, on the eve of the match, de Villiers had spoken about the belief in the South Africa side and, with him in the middle to offer a calming hand, this was a fine example of what he was talking about.Steady morning rain topped up an already saturated outfield – 120mm has fallen in the area over the last few days, from the same storms that went through Auckland – but the ground coped well and a 34-over match was a better result than may have been the case. Both captains opted for a second specialist spinner, and their judgement of the pitch proved astute. De Villiers later said how conditions were as tough as he had faced anywhere and, with hindsight, he would have batted first.Morris got to work early after South Africa unsurprisingly opted to field, benefiting from the DRS when Latham was given lbw as he played around a delivery swung into him late. Morris’ late movement had been a feature in the T20 at Eden Park and he again found movement at encouraging pace.While the second-wicket stand between Dean Brownlie and Williamson was forming, New Zealand appeared reasonably secure. Imran Tahir was dealt with effectively, especially by Williamson who slog-swept him for six, but Morris’ return had an immediate impact.With his first ball back, he removed Brownlie, who lazily pulled to deep square leg have worked hard to play himself in, and before the over was out, Ross Taylor had also departed when he drove too early, bunting a return catch to Morris who was alert in his follow through. Smart planning and execution brought the fourth wicket when Neil Broom was hustled for pace by a shorter delivery that he was in no position to pull, and could only splice a catch to square leg.Not for the first time, Williamson looked a class above. He added a second six over midwicket, this time off left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi, before moving to his fifty from 48 balls. Consecutive boundaries off Shamsi soon followed and New Zealand’s ambitions were lifting, only for Shamsi to strike back with a delivery which spun into Williamson a touch, cramping his cut shot and finding a bottom edge into the stumps.Short balls from Kagiso Rabada accounted for Santner and Jimmy Neesham, and the innings was threatening to end with a whimper. However, Morris’ day took a turn for the worse as de Grandhomme and Southee cut loose, with some luck and some judgement, to bolster the total significantly. It gave New Zealand something to bowl at. And it almost proved enough.

New Zealand have made changes to address their recent struggles in ODI cricket, but despite their foothold in familiar conditions, they have their task cut out against a resurgent Bangladesh side

The Preview by Mohammad Isam25-Dec-2016Match factsDecember 26, 2016
Start time 1100 local (2200 GMT)Given their general tendency to play spin well, Bangladesh’s focus would be on dealing with New Zealand’s pace attack•Getty ImagesBig PictureIt may not seem so but New Zealand have a fight on their hands on Boxing Day. In their corner is a very healthy record at home – 21 wins out of 27 matches over the last two years. But against them stands a Bangladesh side which had whitewashed them the last time they met in a bilateral series in 2013. This time the visitors are armed with Mustafizur Rahman, who was named ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year.On the only occasion he bowled against New Zealand, in the World T20 in March, Mustafizur took a five-wicket haul. Bangladesh have had to make do without him for nine months and would welcome his return, although they would be wary of overworking him. Mustafizur had to undergo surgery to his left shoulder in July and was yet to test his bowling and throwing arm in international cricket.New Zealand should enjoy being back in their own conditions, for on tour they lost to India 2-3 and were then blanked out 3-0 by Australia. They’ve made a few changes as well and, with the returns of Luke Ronchi and Neil Broom – who hasn’t played ODI cricket since 2010 – to complement the mainstays Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, their aim might be to bat Bangladesh out of the game.Not that their bowlers are slouches. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are two of the finest quicks in the world, although both are set to be rested later in the tour. Lockie Ferguson and Colin de Grandhomme serve as supporting seamers while Mitchell Santner is the lone spinner, tasked with keeping things tight.Given their tendency to play spin well, a lot of Bangladesh’s focus would be on the hosts’ four pacers. So it should help that an opening batsman is in top form. Tamim Iqbal has scored over 1000 in the last two years in ODI cricket, averaging 47 with three centuries and six fifties, and if he established dominance early, not many attacks can cope. There may be a shake-up in the middle order, though. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim could be pushed up to tackle the extra pace and movement in Christchurch, while youngster Mosaddek Hossain may be squeezed between Sabbir Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan to look for late runs.Form guide(completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand: LLLLW
Bangladesh: LWLWL
In the spotlightMartin Guptill was New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in ODIs in 2016, and featured among the top-ten overall. He has been a dangerous figure at the top of the order and in his last innings against Bangladesh, in Hamilton, Guptill scored a century.Much of what Bangladesh achieve in the first ODI would hinge on Mustafizur Rahman, who is likely to make a comeback after a five-month layoff due to surgery on his left shoulder. As a result, Mustafizur’s action has undergone a slight change. Given his fast arm-movement has been key to his success, it would be interesting to see how he performs.Teams newsNeil Broom is likely to take Henry Nicholls’ place at No. 4, and Luke Ronchi should replace BJ Watling behind the stumps. Matt Henry and James Neesham face competition from Lockie Ferguson and Colin de Grandhomme for the third seamer and allrounder’s positions respectively.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Neil Broom, 5 Colin Munro, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry/ Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent BoultMustafizur proved his match fitness during Bangladesh’s warm-up game in Whangarei and is likely to play. Nasir Hossain wasn’t in the ODI squad, so a call has to be made to include one of two players – Mehedi Hasan and Tanbir Hayder.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Tanbir Hayder/Mehedi Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin AhmedPitch and conditionsIn three completed List A matches this year, the average first-innings score at the Hagley Oval has been 272. There’s virtually no chance of rain, with a high of 20-degree Celsius on match day.Stats and trivia Both Bangladesh (3) and New Zealand (7) have won and lost an equal number of ODIs in 2016 so far. Bangladesh’s only international win in New Zealand was against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup.Quotes”They have been getting better and better every year, and certainly at home, they are extremely tough to beat. They have turned over most oppositions that have come their way in their own conditions, and they are getting more and more experienced playing around the world, so it’ll be a tough challenge and we will have to be playing our best cricket.”

PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators have signed Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq as their assistant and bowling coach

Umar Farooq01-Dec-2016PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators have signed Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq as their assistant and bowling coach. He will join the team for the second edition of the league, replacing Englishman Ian Pont, whose one-year contract wasn’t extended after the first edition.Officially, Razzaq is still available for international selection, but his appointment could be a foray into professional coaching, which he has never done before.However, it has sparked a controversy as Pont took to Twitter to express his frustration about not being told that he was replaced after a successful stint in the first edition.”I have just found out on social media, that I have been replaced as assistant and bowling coach for 2016 PSL runners-up, Quetta Gladiators,” Pont wrote in a statement released on his Twitter account. “Naturally, I respect the franchise’s decision to bring in someone else. That is their right.”I do find it highly unprofessional not to have seen contacted by anyone from Quetta Gladiators about this beforehand, and only to discover the fact from a tweet by Abdul Razzaq who has been roped in as my replacement.”Worse still, it is extremely late for me to approach another franchise in the PSL and had I been told what Quetta was planning, I could have at least had the chances to do so. The PSL is a really good competition and it was Shahid Afridi who personally advised me to go into it. I hope it goes from strength to strength.”Putting my own disappointment aside, I wish Abdul very well in his new role. I am sure the fans will welcome him. Perhaps he can go one better and help win the PSL. Cricket is rife with poor communication and muddled thinking. However, remaining professional is a prerequisite regardless.”Quetta were reluctant to address the matter in public, hoping to sort the issue with Pont in person. ESPNcricinfo learnt that Pont’s agent was given a hint that the team was unlikely to extend his contract but did not get a confirmation until Razzaq’s appointment. The PSL management has also intervened to address this issue on its own.Quetta were the runners-up last season, losing the final to Islamabad United in the UAE. The second edition is set to be played from February 2017, in Sharjah and Dubai, while the final will probably be played in Lahore, subject to security clearances. Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed continues to lead Quetta.Razzaq last played for Pakistan in 2013, in a T20 against South Africa, and was last seen in Pakistan’s domestic circuit in 2015. His international career spanned 17 years after he had made his debut in 1996 against Zimbabwe in Lahore, a month before his 17th birthday. He has played 46 Tests, 265 ODIs and 32 T20Is, besides representing five counties.

أعلن مجلس إدارة الأهلي برئاسة محمود الخطيب، عن زيارة نادي الزمالك؛ غدًا الإثنين، تلبية للدعوة التي تلقاها قبل فترة من مجلس إدارة الأبيض برئاسة حسين لبيب.

تأتي هذه الزيارة الودية ترسيخًا للعلاقات الوطيدة بين الناديين الكبيرين وجماهيرهما العريقة على مر العصور والأجيال.

إقرأ أيضًا.. مدير الكرة بـ سيراميكا كليوباترا يرد على الاتهامات بتسببه في إفساد انتقال محمد بسام إلى الأهلي بيان الأهلي للإعلان عن زيارة الزمالك

كان من المفترض أن يلبي مجلس الأهلي الدعوة المشار إليها في وقت سابق، إلا أن الظروف التي ألمت بعائلة الأهلي والوعكة الصحية للوزير العامري فاروق، نائب رئيس النادي ـــ رحمة الله عليه ــــ ، ووفاته قبل ثلاثة أسابيع كانت وراء التأجيل.

الجدير بالذكر أن العلاقات المتميزة بين قطبي الرياضة المصرية دائمًا حاضرة في كل زمان ومكان، وكلاهما يحمل تقديرًا كبيرًا للآخر بالرغم من المنافسة الشريفة بين الناديين في مختلف اللعبات الرياضية.

كما أن الفترة الأخيرة شهدت العديد من المواقف الإيجابية التي تعكس أواصر الحب والروح الطيبة بين الكيانات الرياضية الكبيرة التي تسهم في دعم ومساندة كل المنتخبات الوطنية.

Leeds United look destined for relegation from the Premier League, with only a win against Tottenham Hotspur combined with Everton and Leicester City dropping points enough to see Sam Allardyce's side avoid a return to the Championship.

What's the latest on Leeds' injury situation?

To make matters worse, the Yorkshire outfit could be without both Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo for the game at Elland Road on Sunday, with both struggling with injuries in the defeat against West Ham United last weekend.

Allardyce confirmed after the game that Bamford had picked up a hamstring injury, while Rodrigo was clearly impacted by a heel problem, which could easily leave both absent for the final-day decider against Spurs.

The experienced Englishman refused to recognise club-record signing Georginio Rutter as a realistic option from the bench at the London Stadium which suggests that he is also unlikely to start against Ryan Mason's side on Sunday.

Therefore, he should consider unleashing 19-year-old Sonny Perkins, who has performed superbly in the academy this season following a move from West Ham, as he could be a big player for the Elland Road outfit in the future and deserves his Premier League debut.

Should Leeds start Sonny Perkins?

Since joining the Whites last summer, the teenage striker has gone on to make 22 appearances for the U21s, in which he has contributed an impressive 12 goals and three assists.

He also made his mark in the FA Cup earlier in the campaign, scoring his first goal for the club with a late equaliser against Cardiff City, so it is perhaps surprising that he hasn't been given any opportunity to play in the top flight.

It didn't take long for Perkins to catch the eye of academy coach Michael Skubala, as he sang his praises back in August 2022, saying:

“Yeah he’s a goal machine, he loves scoring goals. He’s working on other parts of his game that he still needs to improve, but Sonny’s not had the best pre-season so he’s slowly becoming stronger and faster but two great finishes and that’s what Sonny’s all about."

The chances of Leeds staying up on the final day are slim, to say the least, so Allardyce must surely consider starting a player that has done so well for the U21s this season and is clearly in a confident mood in front of goal.

Even if the Yorkshire outfit can't pull off a miracle on Sunday, the benefit of giving Perkins Premier League minutes could be huge next season, as he could certainly play a big part in firing Leeds back up if he can live up to his potential at Elland Road.

ScorecardSam Billings raced to a 97-ball century•Getty Images

Sam Billings treated his home county crowd to the third spectacular century for England Lions in as many matches as they wrapped up the Tri-Series with a 56-run victory over Pakistan A in Canterbury.The Kent wicketkeeper-batsman hit a career-best 175 from only 139 balls with 21 fours and two sixes, an innings that was all the more impressive and important after the Lions had been reduced to 49 for 4 by Bilawal Bhatti’s excellent new-ball spell.They ended up posting 324 for 8, and despite a fine century in reply from Pakistan’s opener Jaahid Ali, three more wickets for Mark Wood ensured the Lions would maintain their 100% record and seal the series before their last game against Sri Lanka A on Monday, also at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.Billings’s innings meant three of the top four List A scores for the Lions or the England A team that preceded them have been recorded in consecutive matches, following Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 163 in the previous match against Pakistan A in Cheltenham last Tuesday, and Dawid Malan’s new record of 185 not out against Sri Lanka A in Northampton on Thursday.”It’s all about trying to put performances in when it matters, to really show the selectors you have the ability when push comes to shove to soak up the pressure and deliver,” Billings said. “For the older guys in the squad like myself, we’ve got to dominate this cricket, and really put performances in the hat.””It was a good crowd for a Lions game, and nice to walk out to bat and get a decent cheer from a home crowd, that does make a difference and make you feel good. It’s a special place, a different feel from the other grounds around the country. I’ve been at the club since I was seven, so to get my first Lions 100 here was really nice.”Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone provided excellent support in a restorative fifth-wicket partnership of 135 in only 20 overs, cracking 64 from 60 balls with five fours and two sixes into the building site on one side of the ground.But the local hero continued to entertain an appreciative crowd until he was finally dismissed in the last over of the Lions innings, playing a range of increasingly audacious shots – with one of his sixes pulled over midwicket from a left-handed stance.Tom Curran opened the bowling for the Lions with his younger brother Sam, one of three debutants as Brett D’Oliveira replaced his injured Worcestershire team-mate Joe Clarke, and Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood was handed his first appearance of the series – even though like Sam Curran, he still qualifies for the Under-19s.The Curran brothers each took an early wicket to reduce Pakistan to 30 for 2, but Jaahid was then joined by his captain Babar Azam to add 97 for the third wicket.Liam Dawson had Babar caught by Tom Curran at long-on for 55, but Jaahid had Pakistan on course at 208 for three in the 36th over. Then the elder Curran brother claimed his second wicket, and Mahmood his first for the Lions, before Wood ripped out Jaahid’s off stump – and had Bhatti caught behind off his next delivery.Billings took a steepling catch running back towards the pavilion to give Wood his third wicket of the match, and his eighth of the series, before Sam Curran and Dawson polished things off.

BBC journalist Tom English has slammed Rangers defender James Tavernier amid his "atrocious" display in the club's recent defeat.

What's the latest on James Tavernier and Rangers?

It was another frustrating Old Firm clash for the Ibrox outfit as they lost to their bitter rivals in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Truth be told, it was a pretty tight affair but Celtic just about edged out Michael Beale and co on the day to pick up a 1-0 win at Hampden Park.

With that in mind, it will be all the more frustrating for the only goal of the game to have come in the manner in which it did. Indeed, the Rangers defence went to sleep, allowing Daizen Maeda to quickly cross to Jota who headed in at the far post.

Tavernier was among those most culpable in the Ibrox backline and this was made clear by journalist English.

Indeed, as quoted by BBC Sport, he remarked: "There were four or five Rangers players culpable for the goal. A defensive lapse, switching off and James Tavernier's positioning there was atrocious.

"He's the captain and, when the ball is in the air, he doesn't have a clue where Jota is."

How bad was James Tavernier against Celtic?

The BBC reporter wasn't the only one to note just how poor this piece of defending at the back post was by the £30k-p/w right-back.

For instance, in the Daily Record player ratings, writer Andrew Newport handed him a 6/10 and said of the incident: "Sleeping at the back post as Jota pounced."

​​​​​​Unfortunately, this isn't the only time of late where question marks have been raised over the captain's defensive abilities during an Old Firm meeting.

For example, when Rangers lost 3-2 to Celtic at the start of April, former Celtic captain Tom Boyd described Tavernier as a “very, very poor defender”.

After the right-back scored a freekick in the defeat, Boyd said (via the Irish Mirror): “Joe Hart had absolutely no chance with the accuracy of it coming down off the crossbar. He might have been able to save it if he was standing there.

"But that’s all Tavernier’s got as a player. He’s good at set pieces, he’s good at penalties… as a defender he’s very, very poor.”

Unfortunately, after this latest defensive mishap on the weekend, it's not as though the Rangers captain has done much to prove these claims wrong.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice was hailed for an "unbelievable" performance in this afternoon's 4-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

What was the West Ham result?

West Ham were emphatic 4-0 winners against Bournemouth this afternoon, in what could be a vital result in the relegation battle, now sitting six points clear of the bottom three, with a game in hand at their disposal.

It was a dominant first-half performance from the Hammers, with Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Rice all getting on the scoresheet, and the latter player was the subject of huge praise from Sky Sports pundit Danny Cowley.

After the England international found the back of the net for the second time this week, having scored in the 4-1 victory against Gent on Thursday night, Cowley hailed him for the improvements he has been making to his game.

The pundit said: "Declan Rice, he's like two players for West Ham, he's unbelievable, for me world-class, and he's starting to add goals to his game as well."

How well did Rice play against Bournemouth?

The travelling West Ham fans made their feelings clear about the captain, with chants of "one more year, Declan Rice" ringing around the away end, during what was yet another impressive performance.

It remains to be seen whether the £60k-per-week earner is willing to remain at the London Stadium, amid increasing interest from London rivals Arsenal, and it is no wonder the Gunners are interested, given his display this afternoon.

The 24-year-old recorded a 90% pass accuracy, completed four tackles, and weighed in with the third goal to put the game beyond the Cherries' reach, with a fantastic finish.

The Irons are now in a fantastic position to retain their Premier League status, and David Moyes will also be hoping for similar performances from Rice in their Europa Conference League semi-final clash with AZ Alkmaar.