At Girona FC, we celebrate the return of Ricard Artero to the first team's squad. The 23-year-old midfielder is back on the list after a long period affected by injuries, although he has been training regularly with the group since the beginning of this year.

Artero had not been included in a first-team squad since the 2022-23 season. His last official match was on May 23, 2023, against Celta, and since then, he has endured a true ordeal marked by injuries.

Born in La Bisbal d’Empordà, Ricard Artero was one of the great promises of Girona's youth football. His effort, hard work, and quality led him to debut with the first team on November 4, 2021, in the Second Division, in a match against Alcorcón under the management of Míchel Sánchez. Later, in February 2023, he made his debut in the First Division against Almería.

Although injuries have not allowed him to maintain continuity, his mental strength and positive attitude have been constant throughout the recovery process.

So far, Artero has played 24 official matches with the first team: 11 in the Second Division, seven in the First Division, five in the Copa del Rey, and one in the promotion play-offs. His return to the squad is excellent news for the coaching staff, the locker room, and the fans, who are eager to see him compete on the pitch again.

Míchel, in particular, highlighted the importance of Artero's return to the squad: "He has made it into the squad, and it’s great news. He truly deserves it. He is a player in whom both the club and I have always had high hopes. He has a very high technical level, he has the game in his mind, and his return is very important for him and also for us." Míchel also emphasized the human aspect of the moment: "He is a player who has suffered a lot over the last two or three years, and we need to give him this joy that he deserves. We are very happy for him and also for the team."

The Girona FC coach, Míchel Sánchez, appeared ahead of tomorrow's match at Montilivi against Real Betis, a game he considers demanding and key to continuing progress toward the season's objectives.

The coach began by highlighting positive news for the squad: “I think we have great news, which is the return of Ricard Artero. We have high hopes for him. He has suffered a lot in recent years, and now it's time for him to be rewarded by coming back.”

Regarding the team's current form, Míchel assessed the improvement this year: “In 2026, the team is doing things well. We are the third team that has conceded the fewest goals this year. But we need to make up for the poor start to the season. Tomorrow, we need to play a great match against a very tough opponent. They are a team fighting for European spots with standout players.”

The coach also made a call to the fans, despite the match's timing: “I know it's not a good time at half-past nine at night, but tomorrow we really need our people. It's a very balanced league, and every point is a struggle.”

True to his usual message, Míchel insisted on focusing on their own performance: “I always focus on our path. I don't look much at the standings. I'm concerned that we do things well.”

Finally, he analyzed the opponent, warning of their potential despite not yet achieving the expected results: “Betis has a lot of quality in all areas, but at the moment, they haven't achieved the results they wanted. We have to be able to control the ball, keeping in mind that Betis is very good at transitions.”

AZ Alkmaar romped to a 5-1 victory in Sunday’s cup final. The side made up for last seasons disappointing final defeat to Go Ahead Eagles by taking full advantage of an NEC Nijmegen side that were pushing to get back into the game. AZ Alkmaar hit the side on the break a number of times to cement their hold on the game and end up lifting their fifth KNVB Cup.

Head coach Leeroy Echteld could not have imagined this happening at the start of the season. The interim head coach took over just three months ago after Maarten Martens was sacked. While Echteld was only given a contract until the end of the season, his cup win has seen calls for him to extend his stay. It appears that conversations between the club and head coach are now taking place, and as reported by ESPN, AZ Alkmaar captain Jordy Clasie would like to see Echteld stay.

Following the cup win, Clasie said ‘I think this coach has brought a certain spirit and energy back into the group…I say he should stay. But ultimately, it’s not up to me’.

While the trophy is the most important thing, AZ Alkmaar can also now look forward to a return to European football without having to go through the play-offs. The side are currently sitting in sixth place, a finish that would have seen them having to win the play-offs. Now that that has been avoided, they could try and push for an improved ticket by closing the gap on Feyenoord and NEC, although this seems unlikely.

For more on how the cup final will effect the distribution of European tickets in the Eredivisie, we put together an article here.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

It is no secret that FC Barcelona are on the lookout for a left-winger heading into the summer transfer window.

With the possibility of making Marcus Rashford’s transfer permanent growing slim, the Catalans are keeping an eye on the market for alternatives.

Names like Victor Munoz, Ez Abde, and Jan Virgili, among others, have been cited as potential options.

Now, though, it appears that they have been offered a chance to sign a European champion from PSG.

Bradley Barcola offers himself to Barcelona

Indeed, according to SPORT, PSG winger Bradley Barcola has offered himself to Barcelona through his agent, Moussa Sissoko.

Approximately one year ago, the 23-year-old chose to end his relationship with Jorge Mendes. The influential Portuguese superagent was replaced by Moussa Sissoko, who also represents PSG superstar and former Barça ace Ousmane Dembele.

With Sissoko now managing his affairs, there have been several disagreements with PSG’s sporting management during the current season.

PSG have made initial approaches to discuss a new contract for Barcola, but although his current deal runs until 2028, Sissoko’s response suggests that negotiations may not progress smoothly or reach a favourable conclusion.

Barcola could be on the move from PSG. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Europe’s leading clubs, all seeking attacking reinforcements, are monitoring the situation closely. Sissoko remains open to contacts and willing to listen to offers, leaving the door open for a potential transfer.

The Frenchman’s agent has also taken the opportunity to remind clubs that a move for Barcola is possible if they are capable of financing a significant deal. This includes Barcelona.

Barcelona’s stance

Within Barcelona’s offices, there is no particularly positive memory of dealings with Sissoko following Dembele’s departure, but opportunities in the market remain under consideration.

Another question is whether Barcola’s agent is using Barcelona’s name to stimulate the market and apply pressure on PSG during contract negotiations.

For now, Barcola is one of the players being evaluated by Deco.

Two key questions remain unresolved: firstly, whether Barcelona’s sporting director considers the French forward to be a suitable high-level addition to the attack next season; and secondly, whether the club possesses the financial capacity to complete such a signing.

After all, any deal would require a fee of at least €80 million, provided PSG do agree to part ways with the 23-year-old.

Paul McStay has provided more details on his new role Ambassador role for Willie Haughey’s new Season Ticket Alliance Trust as Celtic gets set to issue season ticket renewal details to supporters…

Paul McStay carries the Scottish Premiership Trophy up the Celtic Way as the Celtic team arrive ahead of the Celtic v St Mirren match. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Posting on his Instagram account the former Celtic captain has given these details to proved details to supporters as those with season tickets get ready to make their decision whether to join in the Haughey plan that could see £10m given to the Alliance Trust to purchase a sizeable shareholding in the club IF 50,000 Celtic season ticket holders register for the initiative.

Paul McStay lives in Australia and has had some feedback from the Celtic supporters there particularly on the overseas support seemingly being excluded from the plan – at this stage anyway – yet they will feel just as committed to the Celtic cause as anyone going to Paradise each week. Indeed through their subscriptions to Celtic TV overseas supporters feel that is is their own season ticket an their merchandise buys are well known to the club as they are posting these purchases out to fans in Australia and around the world.

A flare is lit among Celtic fans during the Sydney Super Cup match between Celtic and Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on November 17, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Surely it would be an easy alteration to add Overseas Celtic TV subscribers to Alliance at the earliest possible moment and with Paul McStay himself being an Australian based Celtic supporter who presumably will watch the matches via Celtic TV, this is something he understands perfectly well.

Here’s Paul McStay’s latest update….

Paul McStay arrives at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Last week Paul McStay had this to say via Go Radio about the Alliance and his role in the project that is the initiative of Willie Haughey, who The Maestro has been friends with for 40 years.

“It’s a very important initiative, I’m delighted to be part of it, so whatever is required I’m willing to give up my time to maybe help in a little way to make things better and to be part of a group of Celtic fans that might have a voice going forward and be able to give their thoughts to the club.

“Again, that word unity, everybody just wants the same thing at Celtic. Everybody’s got different opinions but the key thing is that come a Saturday, they’re all there together getting behind the team and supporting them.

Celtic v Hibernian – Premier Sports Cup – Celtic Park Lord Willie Haughey in the stands before the Premier Sports Cup match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Sunday August 18, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh, IMAGO/PA Images

“I’ve been friends with Willie for about 40 years and I know where his heart is. He just wants the best for Celtic and that happened last year as well when I was back.

“I met up with the board, the directors at games, then I met up with various supporters clubs from the association, the registered clubs, met up with season ticket holders. Every single person just wanted the best for Celtic and I think that’s where at now.

“We’ve come through a difficult time, a lot of people upset with what’s been happening round about. I think things like this can bring back unity at the club and get us all working together.

Former Celtic captain Paul McStay walks out the tunnel before raising the Scottish Premiership flag. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

“I think we’ve all got different opinions but there’s only one common interest that really matters and that’s that everyone wants the best for Celtic. They want a successful team on the park, a team that entertains and I think hopefully this initiative and one or two others will help that”.

“I’m delighted to be involved and it’s an honour. When Willie asked me and explained what the initiative was about, I thought it was excellent. I believe that the 54,000 season ticket holders that go along each week put a lot of money into the club and support it financially and more importantly vocally at the games.

“But there’s a lot of those season ticket holders who are not shareholders so it’s difficult to voice their opinion at times so I think this is a great vehicle for them to sign up and be a part of something which allows them to give their opinions and be part of something that as a group can put their opinions forward to the club.

Former Celtic captain Paul McStay carries the Scottish Premiership Trophy up the Celtic Way as the Celtic team arrive ahead of the Celtic v St Mirren match. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

“The strength of the organisation will come from the number of season ticket holders that sign up and commit to it, and Willie will then help finance the purchase of shares. The more shares you have, obviously as people know, the more power there is to your voice. I think as a club the fans are the foundation of it.

“This one’s different. This is taking me back to my roots as a young Celtic fan and even back then, when you got your first scarf or strip you became an ambassador then. Anybody involved with Celtic, a fan, is an ambassador for the club at all times.

“To me, this was something I felt I could really support with all my heart and I believe it’s the right thing too to give some of the fans a voice and give their opinion as a group to the club happen.”

Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…

Click to join Celtic Pools

More Stories / Latest News

Maestro responds to queries about new ambassador role

Apr 20 2026, 12:32

Mohamed Toure – A £2.4m striker Celtic could easily have signed

Apr 20 2026, 11:31

Celtic Turbulent Season – Martin O’Neill answers second SOS for season finale

Apr 20 2026, 10:43

LSU baseball was swept by Texas A&M over the weekend. It marked LSU's second-straight weekend coming out on the wrong end of an SEC sweep after Ole Miss got the best of LSU before the Aggies did. LSU has dropped seven of its last eight games, and LSU is facing significant pressure down the stretch.

If the NCAA Tournament started today, LSU would probably be sitting at home. That's far below LSU's program standard, especially for a team that was ranked No. 2 in most major polls when the season began.

Texas A&M was the more complete team and outplayed LSU in every facet of the game. A&M's lineup is the best in the SEC and the Aggies flexed their muscles in Baton Rouge. In all three games, Texas A&M jumped on LSU early and the Tigers didn't have an answer.

Let's take a look at the weekend through the eyes of LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson. Here are some of his comments that stood out after all three games.

Derek Curiel is still LSU's best player

After batting consistently in the leadoff spot last year, Curiel bounced around the lineup throughout 2026 as Johnson attempts to figure out what works best.

"He's the best player on our team, so putting him in the right spot to be successful for our team to be successful is really all I'm trying to get out of that and he'll hit wherever I tell him to hit. That's one player that I don't ever have to worry about."

"The cleanup thing helped us a little bit. We'll look back at that, but we also left him on the deck at least a couple away late in some games and that's the risk that you run. For a while, we were able to get some big swings that you would risk that, because we were cashing in. It depends on the game. It depends on the pitcher.

"He can hit anywhere, he's not going to go any lower than 4, at least playing for me."

The fifth inning loomed large in Friday's loss

"We were like two outs, two strikes, like three or four times that inning, and didn't get off the field. [Chris] Hocopian just kind of stayed on a slider and muscled it out there to take the lead and then they moved up to second and third and [Jake] Duer punched one up the middle."

"That's what good teams do. Two out hitting, it's going to make the difference in the game. We had a couple chances. We had one in the first popped up. We had one, it was after [Steven Milam's] home run, and hit a ground ball to the shortstop.

"That's a glaring difference in the game. I know it was a six-run spread, but, you know, we're putting in different pitchers if we're not chasing runs, and it's not a six-run spread. They took advantage of those."

Growing pains and learning

After Saturday's loss, Johnson talked about the growing pains we're seeing from some of the young pitchers.

"It's a job interview for all of them every day. And I'm not talking about just LSU. Like, the guys we bring in, they want to play beyond this. And it's all tracked now. You know, everybody can see everything," Johnson said.

"There's still some growing pains that happen this time of year. And, you know, I don't think it's exclusive to us. Not that I really care about anybody else. But, you know, flip on the TV and see some things that, you know, maybe not be the best baseball, you know, happen in another game. But got to learn from it. Like I said last night, we have to get value out of this struggle. You know, otherwise it's just painful, you know, and you got to get some value out of it. And so we're going to try to continue to do that," Johnson said.

Jay Johnson talks development of Marcos Paz

"He's got everything you need to be great. And, again, like, he hadn't pitched in 18 months prior to this season starting. It was very minimal, you know, in the fall," Johnson said.

"I think he's going to be the best pitcher in the program. I really believe that. And I think he's moving in that direction," Johnson said.

On defensive struggles and wild pitches

After Saturday's game, Jay Johnson talked about the continued struggles of the defense, which includes wild pitches and passed balls.

"We'd still had three or four wild pitches or pass balls today. I don't know how they're categorized. But that's a bad sign. You want to look at struggle, literally look at those two stats, and it'll show you a team that's either playing clean or struggling. And I'm not blaming the pitcher. I'm not blaming Cade. That's not where I'm going with it," Johnson said.

"But I know we had two or three. I know one resulted in the first run of the game. Single, you know, from Wilson after they had moved up. We had two outs. I believe two strikes and a man on first, and they were able to move up, and then he got a single. So, you know, that would be the one thing I might pick at in this game. But, yeah, it was better. I think it's technically a zero in the air column. I don't know how many guys we struck out tonight or not. But, you know, again, like the bullpen, we'll take that as a positive."

The offensive slump continued on Sunday

"I thought we missed some pitches that we should hit. I thought we expanded the zone a couple times. I thought we struck out looking a couple times at very inopportune moments," Johnson said.

"And then I thought there was a stretch. We did hit five balls well and had really nothing to show for it. I've mentioned this before, hit a ball hard, bad result, maybe get a hit. And then a bat at bat, you never get any sustainable rhythm or chances to score. Probably a combination of all that."

The morale of the team

"That's not a question for me. That's a question for each individual player, and you might get different answers with the guys. But we're all in charge of that. You know, I'm in charge of the attitude, you know, of myself, my coaches, and what we translate to the team. And, you know, we had one small stretch like this before, you know, and I made a decision at that time, like I'm not going to go sour on them. I'm going to show up to work. It may not get us where we want to go. It may not. But, you know, I want them to keep going, so our coaching staff has to keep going. You know, I'm very honest, you know, in assessments and improvement that's needed, but also showing up is a big part of it. And, you know, two of the last three years it's been a lot of fun to show up here. It's not as fun right now, but you still have to. That's my job, and it's my coach's job, and, you know, it's these players' lives. Like this is the most important thing to them, you know, so, you know, we owe that to them."

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU baseball coach discusses struggles as Texas A&M sweeps Tigers

The major roster-building event is approaching for Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers. With eight picks, including six on Day 3, the Packers have an opportunity to add rookie contributors and long-term building blocks during the 2026 NFL draft.

How does the offseason roster look with most of free agency in the rear-view mirror and the draft now only days away? The Packers currently have 73 players under contract, leaving 17 open spots for draft picks or undrafted free agent signings.

Let's nail down where help is required. Here’s a look at the roster, position by position, after free agency and with the 2026 draft nearly here:

Quarterback

• On the roster: Jordan Love, Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord
• Added: McCord (signed to futures deal)
• Lost: Malik Willis (MIA)
• Unsigned: Clayton Tune (released)

Adding a developmental quarterback through the draft makes sense, especially on Day 3, but the real question is this: Do the Packers trust Ridder (18 starts with Falcons) as the expected backup, or will they dip into the veteran market following the draft?

Running back

• On the roster: Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez
• Added: None
• Lost: Emanuel Wilson (SEA)
• Unsigned: None

The departure of Wilson in free agency and the unreliability of Lloyd after two pro seasons opens the door for the Packers to reinvest in a running back through the draft, especially given Josh Jacobs' age and contract status past 2026. There is room for a rookie contributor and/or future starter.

Wide receiver

• On the roster: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Jakobie Keeney-James, Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor
• Added: Moore (signed to one-year deal)
• Lost: Romeo Doubs (NE), Dontayvion Wicks (traded to PHI)
• Unsigned: None

Doubs' leaving in free agency freed up Golden to be a starter and full-time player in 2026, while trading Wicks -- who was unlikely to be re-signed past next year -- opened up an opportunity for the Packers to take a receiver in this year's draft. Green Bay hosted several receivers on pre-draft visits, so the stage could be set for a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick at receiver.

Tight end

• On the roster: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Josh Whyle, Messiah Swinson, Drake Dabney
• Added: None
• Lost: McCallan Castles (released)
• Unsigned: John FitzPatrick

There isn't a tight end signed past 2026, although Kraft is likely to receive a lucrative extension at some point in 2026. Musgrave's future in Green Bay is far less certain, so adding long-term stability behind Kraft is possible in this year's draft.

Offensive line

• On the roster: Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton, Zach Tom, Darian Kinnard, Jacob Monk, Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Dalton Cooper, Brant Banks, Karsen Barnhart
• Added: None
• Lost: Rasheed Walker (CAR), Elgton Jenkins (released, CLE)
• Unsigned: Lecitus Smith

Despite losing two starters, the Packers still have five starters in place, with Morgan replacing Walker at left tackle and Rhyan replacing Jenkins at center. Depth and competition behind the starters could still be improved, and the Packers should have a contingency plan in place in case things go sideways at guard or center. A draft pick with interior versatility makes sense at any point in the draft.

Interior defensive line

• On the roster: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse, Jonathan Ford, Jordon Riley, James Ester, Jaden Crumedy, Dante Barnett, Anthony Campbell
• Added: Hargrave (signed to two-year deal)
• Lost: Colby Wooden (traded to IND)
• Unsigned: None

Nose tackle looks like the biggest hole on the roster, especially with the switch to a 3-4 coming. Stackhouse and Ford are unlikely starting options. Finding a big guy who can play on the nose in the base is a likely priority in this draft, but the Packers could also be on the hunt for another 3-tech disruptor. This is a position where Green Bay could double up.

Edge rusher

• On the roster: Micah Parsons, Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr, Arron Mosby
• Added: None
• Lost: Rashan Gary (traded to DAL), Kingsley Enagbare (NYJ)
• Unsigned: None

Losing Gary and Enagbare, who played over 1,000 snaps combined last season, opens up opportunities for young players and gives the Packers freedom to make a big investment if the right player is available. You can never have enough edge rushers.

Linebacker

• On the roster: Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann, Kristian Welch
• Added: Franklin (traded with IND)
• Lost: Quay Walker (LV), Jamon Johnson (released)
• Unsigned: None

Functionally, swapping Walker for Franklin doesn't change much. The top six here is probably good enough to start the regular season, although Franklin's deal is set up to be one-year-and-we'll-see, and Hopper hasn't developed into a starter yet.

Cornerback

• On the roster: Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Javon Bullard (slot), Benjamin St-Juste, Kamal Hadden, Shemar Bartholomew, Jaylin Simpson
• Added: St-Juste (signed to two-year deal)
• Lost: Nate Hobbs (released, SF)
• Unsigned: Trevon Diggs

St-Juste provides competition on the perimeter and special teams value but does little to affect the long-term question marks. Nixon and Valentine are both entering contract years. The Packers are likely to draft at least one cornerback, and a double dip is possible. A rookie could play right away even though the Packers retained all three starters from 2025.

Safety

• On the roster: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Johnathan Baldwin, Mark Perry
• Added: None
• Lost: Zayne Anderson (MIA)
• Unsigned: None

It's possible Bullard playing in the slot and Anderson departing in free agency could convince the Packers an investment is needed at safety, but this is a low-need position.

Special teams

• On the roster: Brandon McManus (K), Daniel Whelan (P), Matt Orzech (LS), Lucas Havrisik (K)
• Added: None
• Lost: None
• Unsigned: None

No need at punter or long snapper, and it looks like McManus will battle Havrisik at kicker this summer. A draft pick doesn't look likely, although adding competition at kicker after the draft is possible.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers: Breaking down roster before the 2026 NFL draft

Hello and happy Monday, folks.

Happy Marathon Monday, to be specific.

A huge shoutout to all of those who will be running in the marathon today, and another huge shoutout taking the time to go out and cheer everybody on. Patriots Day is a special day here in the Bay State—go on and have a good time with it.

The Sox play today as well; I have no clue whether this post is gonna be posted before the first pitch at 11:10 a.m.

Drop your favorite Marathon Monday memories in the chat below.

Be good to each other and go Sox.

No. 8 seed Orlando defeated No. 1 seed Detroit, 112-101, Sunday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs first round at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Tennessee basketball player Tobias Harris totaled 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 36 minutes for the Pistons. He converted 5-of-15 field goal attempts, 1-of-7 three-point attempts and 6-of-7 free throw attempts.

Harris played for the Vols from 2010-11 under head coach Bruce Pearl. In his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 assists per game. Harris was a Second-Team All-SEC performer and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. He received Second-Team Freshman All-America honors by the USBWA.

The former Vol was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft (No. 19 overall) by the Bobcats.

In his NBA career, Harris has played for Milwaukee (2011-13), Orlando (2013-16), Detroit (2016-18, 2024-26), the Clippers (2018-19) and Philadelphia (2019-24).

Former Vol and rookie Chaz Lanier did not play for the Pistons in Game 1 due to a coach's decision.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT at Little Caesars Arena. ESPN will televise the contest.

More: NBA draft process dates for Nate Ament

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tobias Harris scores 17 points in NBA playoff game for Pistons

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team didn’t see as large of an exodus as it did last year, but there were still a few holes to fill and Anaya Hardy started off the movement by committing early this weekend.

The Irish weren’t done adding, as on Sunday former Princeton guard Madison St. Rose committed to the Irish as reported by On3’s Talia Goodman. The 5-foot, 10-inch transfer had a very good year for the Tigers, scoring 15.8-points with 4.5-rebounds and 2.2 assists.

St. Rose will complement star guard Hannah Hidalgo in the backcourt, as Cassandre Prosper will now play in the WNBA. With the women’s game being driven by great guard play, Notre Dame will now have a pair that will be able to make big impacts.

This is a great addition for the Irish, as they look to return to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight season, and break through to get back to the Final 4 for the first time since 2018-19.

BREAKING: Princeton transfer Madison St. Rose has committed to Notre Dame, sources told @On3.

The 5-10 senior averaged 15.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 1.1 spg this season.

TRACKER: https://t.co/wYv1Ze6704pic.twitter.com/sTp7bHAXSc

— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 19, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame women’s hoops adds second transfer portal addition Sunday

Texas A&M's basketball program is in good hands under now second-year coach Bucky McMillan, who, entering his first full offseason, has already landed three transfer portal commits, led by former Kansas Star guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game last season.

Former Radford guard Lukas Walls and Tennessee transfer forward Cade Phillips provide immediate depth in the back and front courts, while returning talent, including forward Zach Clemence and Jamie Vinson, will compete for starting jobs next fall, but more help is needed to replace star big man Rashaun Agee and the guard depth that got the Aggies through the 2025-2026 season.

Before the portal closes, plenty of talent remains available, including former LSU guard Jalen Reece, who scored 17 points against the Aggies last month and was considered a rising star in the program after averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 assists, while shooting 35% from the field.

Those numbers are expected to improve after his freshman season, and after watching Reece play against the Aggies, his speed and fast-paced style fit perfectly into McMillan's scheme. According to On3's Joe Tipton, McMillan is interested in the Florida native, as the Aggie coach reportedly visited Reece this weekend.

Tipton further stated the Missouri coach Dennis Gates will also visit Reece, but given the Aggies' desperate need for reliable guard depth, I wouldn't be surprised if Texas A&M comes out on top. Time will tell.

Source: Texas A&M’s Bucky McMillan was in to see LSU transfer guard Jalen Reece today, and Missouri head coach Dennis Gates is expected to see him tomorrow.

Reece is also receiving interest from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Dayton, Saint Louis, Seton Hall, Charlotte, Villanova,… https://t.co/W0tggST619

— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 19, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan visited LSU transfer guard Jalen Reese

Nebraska softball (36-6, 17-1) concluded its series in Minnesota (14-30, 6-12) on Sunday. The Huskers got the sweep, picking up an 11-2 six-inning win. The team outscored their opponent 32-4 in the series.

Minnesota did take the lead in the bottom of the first, going up 2-1 over Nebraska. But the Huskers quickly responded in the second, taking a 3-2 lead. Nebraska pulled away in the final three innings, scoring a combined eight runs.

The Huskers tallied 15 hits in the win and held the Golden Gophers to three, two coming in the first inning. Jesse Farrell drove in a team-high three RBIs in the win after batting 3-for-4. She hit an RBI single, a two-run home run and a double.

Kacie Hoffmann, Samantha Bland, Lauren Camenzind and Bella Bacon all pitched in one RBI. Hoffman, Bland and Bacon all struck two hits as well. Hannah Coor batted 2-for-2 with two walks. 

Jordy Frahm (13-4) hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs, delivering a two-run home run in the fourth. She also earned the win in the circle after pitching the final 4.0 innings. Frahm fired six strikeouts and allowed no hits, no walks and no runs. 

The Huskers return to the state but will visit Omaha for a Tuesday night clash with the Mavericks. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on Nebraska Public Media and B1G+.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska softball sweeps Minnesota with 11-2 victory

Four Ohio State Buckeyes are in the top ten picks of many mock NFL Drafts, and we've already profiled three of them (Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Carnell Tate). The fourth is safety Caleb Downs. Downs transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after his freshman season, and he became a Buckeye legend by helping lead the team to its National Championship after the 2024 season. But how will that transfer to the NFL? Why are all of the NFL scouts so high on Downs, and just how high can he go in the draft?

Caleb Downs, Safety

Draft Projection: high first round

Ohio State's own website says that Downs is regarded by many as the best defensive player in the country, and it's hard to argue with that. Sure, he's probably going to be the third Buckeye defender off the board on Thursday, but that's because of how absurdly good the linebacking corps was this past year. Downs could definitely go in the top five of the draft, but he also could fall to just outside of the top ten.

With Downs' speed, strength, and football instincts, he is already a potential elite defensive back in the NFL. And with his clear leadership abilities that he showed on the field, even as an underclassman in 2024, he is exactly the type of top player that NFL teams are looking for--and the type of player that sometimes gets drafted higher than expected (not that Downs has much higher to go above expectations). Downs will almost certainly be the first defensive back taken in this year's draft, and it would not be a shock to see him jump a few spots. It would, however, be a shock to see him slide any lower than midway through the first round. He's just that good.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Caleb Downs NFL Draft profile and projection

The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and it's shaping up to be another exciting, unexpected first round to kick things off in Pittsburgh. For the first time in four years, the Chicago Bears won't need selecting in the Top 10, as they're slated to pick 25th overall.

We've been sharing our weekly mock drafts throughout this pre-draft process, where we've tried to pin down realistic scenarios. But everyone's thought process when it comes into assembling mocks is different, which makes it exciting with any given week. So we're trying something new, letting the computer make the picks.

In this exercise, we let Grok do the selecting in the first round, and the results were expected and surprising in these projections after the New York Giants traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Here were the first round results:

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Grok: The Raiders have been stuck in QB purgatory for years. Mendoza (6-5, elite arm talent, high accuracy, and mobility) is the consensus No. 1 prospect and a clean schematic fit for their offense. He gives them a long-term franchise cornerstone with starter upside from Day 1.

2. New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Grok: New York ranked near the bottom in sacks and pressure rate last season. Bailey is an explosive, high-motor edge rusher who can win with speed and power immediately opposite existing pieces. He’s a plug-and-play difference-maker for a defense that desperately needs juice.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State

Grok: Arizona’s front seven was a major weakness. Reese offers rare versatility (off-ball LB or edge) with a sky-high ceiling, explosiveness, and 6.5+ sacks last season. He pairs perfectly as a pass-rush threat in a tough NFC West.

4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Grok: Love is a special talent (vision, burst, receiving chops, and home-run ability) who can transform the offense around their young QB. He’s worth the early investment as a three-down weapon who elevates the entire run game and passing attack.

5. New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Grok: With two top-10 picks, the Giants can afford to be aggressive. Downs is the premier safety prospect with outstanding range, instincts, tackling, and ball skills—addressing secondary needs immediately. Alternative: Mauigoa as a massive, athletic tackle to protect their QB investment long-term. Many mocks see them targeting a high-upside defender or trench piece here.

6. Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Grok: Cleveland invested heavily in the O-line this offseason but left tackle remains a question mark. Mauigoa is a massive, athletic bookend with Pro Bowl upside who can anchor the left side for years.

7. Washington Commanders – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Grok: Tate is a polished route-runner with reliable hands and big-play ability. Pairing him with Terry McLaurin gives the Commanders a true No. 1 receiver duo and instantly upgrades the passing game.

8. New Orleans Saints – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Grok: Bain brings power, explosion, and a deep pass-rush toolbox despite shorter arms. He’s exactly the disruptive force the Saints’ front needs to generate pressure and support their scheme.

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Grok: Tyson is a contested-catch monster with strong hands and yards-after-catch ability. He gives Patrick Mahomes another high-upside weapon to stretch the field and create explosive plays.

10. New York Giants (from CIN) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Grok: The Giants' second top-10 selection is a major win from the Lawrence deal. Delane stands out with length, technical soundness, and elite ball production (plenty of PBUs and INTs). He shores up the secondary and creates turnovers. With two early picks, New York can mix best player available with scheme fits—potentially another defender, offensive lineman, or skill player here.

11. Miami Dolphins – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Grok: Styles is explosive, rangy, and productive. Miami’s defense needs athleticism at linebacker; Styles provides immediate impact in coverage and against the run while offering scheme versatility.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Grok: The Cowboys’ offensive line needs reinforcement. Proctor is a powerful, technically sound left-tackle prospect who can stabilize the unit and protect their investment at quarterback.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Grok: Lemon is a tough, reliable slot/inside receiver with sure hands. He complements their existing weapons and adds another layer to an already explosive offense chasing another Super Bowl.

14. Baltimore Ravens – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Grok: Fano didn’t allow a sack last season and brings elite pass-protection skills. The Ravens continue fortifying their O-line to keep Lamar Jackson upright and running lanes open.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Grok: Sadiq was a combine standout (4.39 40, 43½" vertical) and the clear top tight end. He adds a dynamic receiving threat and after-the-catch ability to their offense.

16. New York Jets (via IND) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Grok: The Jets still lack depth at receiver. Cooper (nearly 1,000 yards + 13 TDs last season) is a big-play threat who gives their QB a legitimate second option alongside Garrett Wilson.

17. Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Grok: Freeling is a ready-made left-tackle replacement with length and athleticism. He helps keep the Lions’ elite offense protected and competitive in the NFC.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Grok: Thieneman is a ball-hawking safety (8 career INTs) who can create turnovers. Minnesota’s secondary gets an immediate playmaker.

19. Carolina Panthers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Grok: McNeil-Warren’s production (5 INTs + 10 forced fumbles) jumps off the page. He brings turnover-creating instincts to a defense that needs more takeaways.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Grok: Boston is a reliable, strong-handed outside receiver with red-zone prowess. He adds depth and competition to the Cowboys’ receiving corps.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Vega Ioane (Olaivavega Ioane), G, Penn State

Grok: Ioane is a powerful, athletic interior lineman. He steps in immediately as a starter and upgrades the run game and protection.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Grok: Woods is a strong, disruptive 3-technique tackle who can stop the run and develop as a pass rusher. He plugs a key interior gap.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Grok: Miller has massive starting experience at right tackle. He provides depth and competition while maintaining the Eagles’ elite O-line standard.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Grok: McCoy’s ball skills are elite despite the missed 2025 season. He’s a high-upside addition to the secondary once healthy.

25. Chicago Bears – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

Grok: Young (6.5 sacks, 18 TFLs) brings power and quickness. He adds depth and competition to the Bears’ pass rush.

26. Buffalo Bills – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Grok: Faulk is scheme-versatile with impact against both run and pass. He bolsters the Bills’ front seven.

27. San Francisco 49ers – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Grok: Iheanachor has long arms, quick feet, and extensive starting experience. He provides O-line depth and future starting potential.

28. Houston Texans – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Grok: Miller adds interior disruption next to existing stars. He helps generate pressure from the inside and collapse pockets.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Grok: Hood is long, physical, and productive in coverage. He adds depth and competition to the Chiefs’ secondary.

30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Grok: Simpson is accurate, mobile, and decisive with limited starting experience but high upside. He provides a high-ceiling backup/developmental piece behind Tua.

31. New England Patriots – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Grok: Mesidor (12.5 sacks, 58 pressures) is a high-motor pass rusher. He injects youth and explosiveness into the Patriots’ edge group.

32. Seattle Seahawks – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Grok: Seattle grabs late-round value at tackle or edge. An athletic offensive lineman here continues their O-line rebuild and adds depth for Sam Darnold.

Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: AI predicts 1st round after Dexter Lawrence trade

Despite not having a first round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes there is a prospect to keep an eye on if you're the Denver Broncos.

"Keep an eye, if (the Broncos) stay at [pick] 62, and they take their pick; just keep an eye on Josiah Trotter out of Missouri," Baldinger said during an appearance on DNVR Broncos last week. "His dad (Jeremiah Trotter) was in Philly when (now-Broncos head coach) Sean (Payton) came to Philly (in 1997)... just keep an eye on that and that connection right there."

You can see the full video below.

"Keep an eye if they stay at 62..."@BaldyNFL has a tip for #BroncosCountry 🔥 pic.twitter.com/i0PNzTgmkv

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) April 17, 2026

Trotter has been a player linked to Denver in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft by severaloutlets, and could provide adequate depth behind starting linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.

Trotter (6-2, 237 pounds) was a redshirt sophomore who played at both West Virginia and Missouri, making 176 total tackles (79 solo, 97 assisted), 17 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and three pass deflections. Trotter's NFL combine profile likens him to the Kansas City Chiefs' Nick Bolton, who Denver faces twice a year.

The NFL draft is just days away. Who will the Broncos ultimately choose? Keep an eye on Trotter.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Brian Baldinger says ‘keep an eye’ on Josiah Trotter

It's a challenge to find a team better set up entering the NFL draft than the Los Angeles Rams. They already have a roster capable of winning a Super Bowl, led by arguably the best coach in football. And after some savvy offseason moves, they have no glaring weaknesses heading into the draft.

That's exactly how Les Snead wanted it, too.

With seven total picks, the Rams still have the ability to add rookies who could contribute right away – particularly at some of the following positions. Wide receiver will be at the forefront, as will linebacker and several other spots.

Here are the Rams' biggest positions of need right now.

Wide receiver

Wide receiver has been the Rams' biggest need since they checked off cornerback with the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. They have yet to add a wideout this offseason and they lost Tutu Atwell in free agency.

Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield could conceivably compete to be the No. 3 receiver but more likely, the Rams will draft someone relatively early to battle for that spot. Based on mock drafts, analysts believe Los Angeles could take someone like Makai Lemon or Jordyn Tyson at No. 13, but waiting until the second or third rounds is also possible. Trading back and taking a wideout like Omar Cooper Jr. or Denzel Boston is an option, too.

Inside linebacker

ESPN's Matt Miller reported that the Rams could target an inside linebacker with one of their first few picks in the draft, most likely in the second round. Josaiah Trotter was mentioned as a viable option if he's on the board, and the Rams also met with Cincinnati's Jake Golday – another second-round prospect.

Nate Landman and Omar Speights were the Rams' top two linebackers last season but they're similar in style. Los Angeles could use a rangy defender in the second level who can cover and stop outside runs, complementing the downhill mentality of Landman.

Offensive tackle

The Rams do already have Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr. as their penciled-in starters at tackle, but that shouldn't preclude them from adding another tackle in the draft. Not only could they use a swing tackle, but it's important for them to have a viable replacement in the event that McClendon doesn't work out as a full-time starter in 2026.

Or, at the very least, they should have a good right tackle behind him as leverage in contract negotiations, should McClendon play well. Look for the Rams to take an offensive tackle at some point in the draft, potentially even with their first pick at 13.

Cornerback

Similar to offensive tackle and wide receiver, cornerback is also a position of strength. However, depth is needed behind Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is a decent third option but that's a spot the Rams can upgrade.

Adding a cornerback who can cover the slot will also give the Rams more flexibility with Quentin Lake, allowing them to move him back to safety when needed, rather than making him a full-time slot defender – as good as he is there. If Mansoor Delane is there at 13, the Rams could consider him. Or, they could potentially trade back and take someone like Colton Hood or Chris Johnson later in the first.

Backup QB

Most people probably thought the Rams would've had a backup quarterback by now, but with just over a week until the draft, they still don't have a QB2 on the roster. Stetson Bennett is the only signal caller behind Matthew Stafford at the moment, which puts quarterback higher on the list of needs entering the draft.

Even if Los Angeles does sign Jimmy Garoppolo or another veteran, it still could use a young successor who can potentially take the reins from Stafford in 2027. It's hardly certain the Rams will draft someone this year but it's still on the table.

Edge rusher

Jared Verse and Byron Young look like they'll once again be the Rams' starting edge rushers in 2026, but after this coming season, that's not so certain. Young will be a pending free agent in 2027 and he's not guaranteed to sign a long-term deal with the team. Josaiah Stewart is a great option to replace Young, should he leave, but like many other positions, depth should be a priority.

Sean McVay said it himself: you can never have too many pass rushers. Even if it's just a mid-round pick, it would be smart for the Rams to add another edge rusher.

Guard/center

Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila are both entering the final year of their contracts, as is Coleman Shelton, which means they will be free agents in 2027 if they're not extended before then. Justin Dedich and Beaux Limmer are quality backups but the Rams should still add some competition to that position group.

Plus, it's always good to have a replacement in waiting along the offensive line. Injuries happen and can seriously derail an offense if there isn't enough quality depth.

Return specialist

The Rams kept Xavier Smith as an exclusive rights free agent but that hardly solves their need for a return specialist. The draft is a perfect place to find one in the late rounds, adding someone who can also contribute at a position like wide receiver.

Iowa's Kaden Wetjen would be an ideal prospect for the Rams on Day 3, as would LSU's Zavion Thomas.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: LA Rams' positions of need

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer says that he can understand why Liam Rosenior is struggling as Chelsea manager.

Shearer, like all of us, saw Chelsea lose yet another Premier League game in the fight for a Champions League spot on Saturday evening, pushing their hopes of playing in Europe’s most prestigious competition to near impossible now.

EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea set for midfield rebuild! 3 in, 3 out? New names targeted here!!

If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

Chelsea are closer to 14th place in the Premier League than they are to 5th place, which is the Champions League spots.

Things have gone from bad to worse for head coach Liam Rosenior, and Shearer blames him as well as the Chelsea owners.

Shearer on Chelsea

Alan Shearer on Match of the Day. (Photo: Screenshot from BBC)

On NBC Sports, Shearer was asked who is to blame our of Rosenior and the owners:

“A bit of both. I think the system Chelsea have adopted and chosen to do is very difficult for whoever goes in there. We’ve seen many managers go in there and struggle. He’s doing the same,” Shearer said.

“It’s difficult to get young players and get them to compete, week after week, and then try to turn it into a huge profit. That’s a difficult job for any manager, let alone a young manager. I blame a bit of both.”

In other news today

Liam Delap has said Chelsea have the belief they can finish in the top five and win the FA Cup despite their struggles this season. I’d like some of his positivity!

And on Delap, we are already hearing the excuses about why he has not been playing well in a Chelsea shirt since arriving in the summer. We’re all tired of excuses to be honest.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

The Manchester City fan who went viral during the 0-3 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has again revelled in the moment after the 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.

In a high-stakes encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City tightened the Premier League title race by securing a dramatic victory over leaders Arsenal.

The contest ignited when Rayan Cherki – who had earlier rattled the woodwork – unlocked the Gunners’ defence with dazzling footwork to fire Manchester City ahead, only for Kai Havertz to pounce on a Gianluigi Donnarumma error to level the scores just 107 seconds later.

Following a tense exchange where both Erling Haaland and Eberechi Eze struck the post, and Donnarumma redeemed himself with a vital save against Havertz, Haaland eventually delivered the decisive blow with a predatory close-range finish.

Despite late pressure that saw a Gabriel header deflected onto the post and Havertz miss a clear opportunity around the six-yard box, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who held firm to move within three points of the summit with a game in hand.

What has the viral Man City ‘bottle man’ fan done now?

Now, the lifelong Manchester City fan Tal Rehman has gone viral once again, revelling in his club’s mammoth 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday alongside fellow supporters on the concourse.

Dancing along to the tune of ‘Where’s your bottle gone’ aimed at the Gunners, Rehman has been captured mimicking the pouring of tears into his Arsenal-branded bottle, which first went viral at Stamford Bridge last time out.

How did this all start?

Rehman became an overnight sensation during City’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea on April 12, after television cameras captured him mockingly drinking from an Arsenal-branded water bottle at Stamford Bridge.

The gesture is a pointed jab at the Gunners, poking fun at the narrative that Mikel Arteta’s side are beginning to ‘lose their bottle’ in the race for the Premier League trophy, first following a shock defeat to Bournemouth.

Occurring as City cruised to victory courtesy of goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guéhi, and Jeremy Doku, the moment perfectly captured the apparent shift in momentum that saw Pep Guardiola’s side cut the gap at the summit to just six points.

Rehman later revealed in media interviews that the bottle was a souvenir from a previous clash at the Etihad Stadium, but his opportunistic ‘banter’ has quickly turned him into a viral meme, symbolising a growing sense of inevitability surrounding City’s latest top-flight title charge.

CHICAGO — Shortly after the Mets arrived in Chicago in the midst of a long losing streak, president of baseball operations David Stearns gave a vote of confidence to his embattled manager, Carlos Mendoza.

“I think Mendy is doing a good job,” Stearns said Friday in the Wrigley Field dugout. “I think Mendy is putting players in positions to succeed, and we need to go out and play better.”

The Mets have yet to play better. They were swept by the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, extending their losing streak to 11 games. It’s the longest such streak for the Mets since 2004, and if they lose the next game, scheduled for Tuesday night at Citi Field, they’ll match their 2002 streak.

It’s fair to question the job the manager is doing during a losing streak, which is why Mendoza all but expected to have to face it Sunday afternoon, after the Mets lost 2-1 to the Cubs in 10 innings.

“I know questions like this are going to come up, but I’m spending my energy on continuing to manage,” Mendoza said. “Continue to lead, continue to coach, continue to support. That’s what I’m doing right now — spending my energy on the things that I can control.”

It does not appear that Mendoza has lost the clubhouse.

“Mendy is our guy,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor, a key clubhouse leader. “He’s our leader. He’s in control, and he’s done a tremendous job. We just haven’t executed.”

Closer Devin Williams seemed almost offended that he was asked about the management of the third-year skipper. When asked about Mendoza, the right-hander was emphatic in his message: This is not the manager’s fault.

“He doesn’t swing a bat and he doesn’t throw a baseball,” Williams said. “We’ve been in a lot of these games. They’ve been close. I mean, him or somebody else is not affecting that.”

Mendoza can only do so much with the roster built by Stearns and the front office. The roster isn’t going to change drastically anytime soon, so if you ask the guys in the clubhouse, another voice isn’t going to get any more out of the team than Mendoza’s.

“If we’re not getting the job done, somebody else isn’t going to just magically flip a switch and we’re going to get it done,” Williams said. “He’s putting guys in good positions. We’re not performing.”

Williams could have an issue with how he’s being used, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Without a natural place to slot him in, Williams has pitched only twice in the last week, and had eight days of rest before pitching Wednesday in a loss to the Dodgers. The results haven’t been great: In seven games this season, he has a 7.11 ERA with two saves and one blown save.

Still, Williams isn’t entertaining any arguments about his usage.

“My job is to be there, be prepared and finish games when they get me the ball,” he said. “I didn’t do that today.”

In today’s game, many in-game decisions aren’t even dictated by the manager, though it’s generally believed that Mendoza has a fair amount of autonomy in the dugout. Every decision is going to be scrutinized in New York, win or lose, regardless of who is making them.

The decision to have Craig Kimbrel pitch to Nico Hoerner in the 10th, instead of walking him to set up a double play, could have been made by the analytics team. Or, it could have been made by a manager who can’t trust his middle infielders to turn one right now.

If they had walked Hoerner and the next hitter, Michael Busch, it would have loaded the bases and set up a force-out at home. The Mets haven’t been adept at those plays this season.

Ultimately, this seems to fall on Stearns. He’s the architect of the roster coached and managed by his handpicked staff. In his third season running the baseball operations department, he has effectively put his stamp on the team, doing so without emotion or an attachment to players of teams past.

Now, the Mets are playing in a similar fashion — without emotion, or Grimace, or OMG, or anything remotely fun. The Mets aren’t supposed to be this buttoned up and corporate, yet the team on the field is playing like a group of co-workers who barely know each other and can’t wait for their next Teams meeting to end.

Fans are losing their emotional attachment. Why would they want to show up for games when this is the product on the field? Where is the entertainment value? Who are the heroes they’re supposed to root for?

There is no lack of talent, but the Mets are lacking quite a bit. They’re lacking an identity and chemistry on the field. The manager can’t provide those attributes; he can only help the team find them on their own.

“It’s all of us,” said left-hander David Peterson. “We’re in this together. Everyone has a part in this, and we’ve got to stick together. Everyone has to take responsibility and accountability. We all need to look in the mirror and see what we can do better to help this team move in the right direction.”

A word on the future of Off Tackle Empire, a couple hundred words on the Big Ten and how Iowa are dirty cheaters, and then 1,000 more on a delicious sandwich.

We have run over 10,000 posts here at Off Tackle Empire dot blogspot dot biz, soon to be acquired and saddled with tons and tons of debt.

…but we’ve never actually had a good idea.

Until now.

The premise is simple: there’s been a lot going on in the wide, wide world of Big Ten football! You, however, are a good-looking connossieur of football and all things internet with nary enough time to read them all.

We would like to fix that—BUT!—more importantly, we would like to fill your belly, too.

Introducing: A Horseshoe in Every Pot; or, Your 2026 B1G Football Check-In

Bringing this about was the wise, wise move of the state of Illinois to finally fix a longstanding historical inequity last week, making the Italian beef the state’s official sandwich and—in a sot, we assume, to the downstate vote—making the horseshoe the state’s official open-faced sandwich.

Now. Is the horseshoe the superior of these two sandwiches?

Of course.

[PLEASE NOTE: if you would like to debate whether or not an open-faced sandwich is a sandwich, feel free to do so in the comments. I would personally hate it if the reason that we looked appealing to the Sheinhardt Wig Company and/or German porn channel about to buy SBNation was because we had a 700-comment flame war on whether a not a horseshoe was, in fact, a sandwich. Under no circumstances should you have a strong opinion about this; however, if you do, feel free to let us know down in the comment section. SBNation: the Year of the Commenter!]

But that’s simply not the point right now, damnit! You were LURED in here by the promise of a horseshoe in your pot, or the picture of Tricky Dick’s Late-Nite Saloon in Peoria, or perhaps my crafty search engine optimization tools that convinced you to click on this THINKING it was going to be chock-full of Big Ten football updates.

Here’s one: many Big Ten teams are in the too-early Top 25! Here’s another: Iowa’s a bunch of dirty cheaters, an article that 10 years ago would’ve required a HazMat suit to enter on this site!

With your whistle wetted from that oasis of #content in the off-season desert, let’s get to filling your belly with the metaphorical meal of Having Opinions on Food.

What’s the Big Idea?

What are you, in my Museums and Methods class? Thanks, Bev Serrell.

For the rest of you, the idea is simple: Invent a horseshoe sandwich for every Big Ten school.

A Horseshoe?

In case you didn’t click the link above or need a refresher, here’s a little overview on the pride of Springfield, the horseshoe sandwich:

Springfield offers up one of the most filling sandwiches in the Midwest.

This unique open-faced sandwich is definitely a must!!
Just know, it will blow your diet…but, it is so worth it!

Start off with two thick slices of toasted Texas Toast, topped with your choice of meat, then cover that with a heaping pile of crispy French fries and drench with homemade cheese sauce!! WOW!! This signature dish can be found at most local restaurants who serve pub & American-style food.

You are correct: that looks delicious.

So what’s the deal with Tricky Dick’s Late-Nite Steakhouse in Peoria?

You never forget your first, and my first horseshoe came when I was approximately .25 BAC on a cool evening in Peoria, Illinois, in about 2013. We were visiting a friend in grad school, had been out drinking, and wanted a late-night meal.

Enter Richard’s Under Main.

It did exactly what it said on the sign: served you unhealthy food until the wee hours of the morning.

I don’t remember much about Tricky Dick’s, but I do remember having a massive horseshoe down there and my friend throwing up in the bathroom.

It closed in 2018, reopened in 2022, and lasted just shy of a year.

I miss it every day.

But now, thanks to the state of Illinois, I’ve got horseshoes—and Big Ten football, of course—on my mind once again. So, approximately two times a week until (1) I’m fired, (2) the blog is shuttered, (3) I run out of energy, or (4) the dictat comes down to begin posting only listicles/wig reviews/recaps of German pornography, I or one of the other—nonexistent, at this point—Off Tackle Empire staffers will post the following:

1. An update on a Big Ten team—perhaps a Spring Game, a transfer portal update, or this absolutely reprehensible Pat Fitzgerald tongue-bath from a USA Today reporter who should honestly be ashamed and quit the profession—and
2. A recipe or concept of a horseshoe sandwich for that team.

Which will be more important and/or prominent?

Don’t be fucking stupid. Of course it’s the horseshoe.

What are the required components? I’m thinking I’d like to write for OTE.

1. A passing knowledge of college football
2. The ability to write in completeapproximate things vaguely resembling sentences

I meant for the horseshoe, you dunce.

YES! Right. The horseshoe. All horseshoes should consist, approximately, of the following:

1. A bread. It need not be Texas toast! Perhaps a San Francisco sourdough, if Stanford and/or Cal were in the Big Ten (they are not, as of this writing, but who knows). Make it culturally or regionally appropriate.
2. A meatlike substance. Is Minnesota’s going to be SPAM? WHO’S TO SAY! (I like the idea, but let’s not pretend I have a plan here!) “Choice of meat” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. We’ll see where it goes.
3. A starchlike substance. Preferably a potato, but who knows! It should make sense and, preferably, be fried and unhealthy.
4. A liquid-adjacent viscous topping. Cheese sauce? SURE! Lingonberry jam? MAYBE! A gallon of XXX Root Beer? WHY NOT! The main qualifier here will be a liquid-based substance of relative viscosity. (Maybe root beer would be out for this one. Get back to me.)

It’s important to note: these will not just be reconstructions of a school’s, city’s, or state’s iconic dish but in horseshoe format. We’re not flattening a steamed hot dog bun, covering it in wieners, topping said wieners with fried onion strings, and then dousing it in chili and calling it a Coneyshoe—okay fuck that does sound amazing.

Do you see why we’re doing this article series?

OK. More on this in the coming days. Maybe as early as tomorrow! Probably not, though. Much like I didn’t do when I ate Coneys from both Lafayette and American in the span of 10 minutes when I was in Detroit last month, it’s a good idea to pace yourself.

Everton 1 - 2 Liverpool

Gana Gueye goes flying after yet another Liverpool foul

(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Well, the bad thing happened. And it happened in typically heartbreaking fashion — Virgil van Dijk cropping up with a header in the 100th minute to ensure Liverpool took the bragging rights from the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

A 2-1 loss in this fashion, to them, is gut-wrenching, but here are three things we learned from Sunday’s defeat.

EVERTON ARE CURSED

Getting this one out of the way early. While we should not wallow in self-defeatism or derby misery, it is hard not to think that this simply would not have happened against pretty much any other club in the Premier League.

Hill Dickinson Stadium was rocking in the early afternoon sunshine, and the Toffees were the better side right up until the moment Mohamed Salah opened the scoring — that goal coming only a couple of minutes after wild celebrations for Iliman Ndiaye’s goal had been cut short by a VAR check, which deemed Jake O’Brien to have been offside in the build-up.

The Toffees were not brilliant, but their performance definitely merited at least a point. They had battled hard to get back into it through Beto’s equaliser.

But when it comes to facing Liverpool, even when the respective form of the clubs seems to suggest that this might just be the Toffees’ time to shine, Everton just seem to be cursed.

EVERTON NEED BETTER

Thierno Barry and Tyrique George came on to try and swing the game in Everton’s favour — albeit, the former substitution was enforced by Beto taking a knock to the head — but ultimately, neither attacking change made the desired impact.

Barry failed to provide a platform to build off, while George, fresh from a bright cameo against Brentford last week, could not get into the game, and was not swift enough to release the ball when he had it to feet.

If Everton are to get to a level where they can really take advantage when they go into games like derbies, then simply put, the club need to start being bullish in the transfer market.

Last year, Everton spent plenty of money on players to fill out the squad, but bar Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish, none of them have made a real impact, with Barry at least scoring some important goals. That is simply not good enough, and this coming transfer window must be different. BRANTHWAITE’S ISSUES PILING UP

It looks like Jarrad Branthwaite’s season could be over.

He was having an excellent game, but as the match ended its closing stages, he went down after a bad slip while trying to muscle Cody Gakpo out of play.

The centre-back’s right hamstring appeared to pull immediately, and after receiving treatment, Branthwaite had to be taken off on a stretcher. It was in the time added on because of that stoppage that Liverpool got their winner.

But we now know for certain that Branthwaite needs fixing. If Everton are to get the best out of him, then they need to solve his injury issues. If not, he may not fulfil his immense potential, and the Toffees will be worse off for it.

//

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is one of Europe’s hottest transfer prospects right now.

With Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool in the mix for his signature, and multiple other clubs rumored to be linked with the star winger, this was always going to be a brawl.

Until now…maybe.

Bayern Munich might be in the driver’s seat, if the news from transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri is true. Tavolieri (via @iMiaSanMia) is reporting that Gordon is open to a move to Bayern Munich and additional talks between the German power and the English attacker’s camp are being planned:

Anthony Gordon has told his entourage that he would be open to a move to FC Bayern. The Englishman sees a move to Munich as a logical step up in his career, inspired by Michael Olise’s success, who left the Premier League for Germany and quickly managed to adapt and perform. Bayern are planning further meetings with Gordon’s representatives in the coming weeks in order to discuss personal terms. Newcastle expect Gordon to leave and are already looking for a replacement. At the moment, no potential transfer fee has been mentioned – the discussions are still at an early stage regarding that aspect of the deal.

BFW Commentary

It is wonderful to note that the player is hungry for success and feels ready to take the next step. Furthermore, it seems as if Gordon wishes to emulate the incredible Michael Olise, who could be a top three Ballon d’Or candidate in the eyes of most people with a lick of football IQ.

With players like Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz serving as a blueprint for players from the Premier League succeeding in the Bundesliga, Anthony Gordon might fancy his chances at playing at the highest level and competing for a treble every season at Bayern.

Per some reports, Bayern has already had talks with Gordon’s representatives and per Tavolieri, additional meetings are being planned. If Newcastle in the hunt for a replacement, this might soon become reality.

Of course, there might be the tiny issue of the transfer fee, which no doubt can be expected to be massive, but if Bayern is committed, if the scouts believe in his abilities, and if he is keen to move to Bavaria…

GET IT DONE!

Also, sliding this stat in there: Anthony Gordon has 10 goals and 2 assists in 12 Champions League appearances this season. You want a big game player? Thou mightst him have.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

It should come as no surprise that Brandel Chamblee found a way to criticise Jon Rahm after his win at LIV Golf Mexico City on Sunday.

Chamblee has been one of LIV Golf’s biggest critics since their inception in 2022.

Rahm is the best player on LIV Golf; there is no doubt about that.

However, Brandel Chamblee found a way to diminish Jon Rahm‘s latest LIV Golf victory and it must be said, it’s hard to argue against his point.

Chamblee predicted the end of LIV Golf after the bombshell news emerged on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia’s PIF could be prepared to stop funding the league.

Quite what the future holds for LIV, and indeed Rahm, remains to be seen.

However, Chamblee believes it’s all immaterial anyway.

Brandel Chamblee posts stinging message to Jon Rahm after LIV Golf Mexico win

Rahm raced away with the win in Mexico on Sunday, defeating his countryman, David Puig, by a whopping six shots.

It was Rahm’s second victory on LIV Golf in 2026.

Incredibly, he hasn’t finished outside the top five so far this season.

However, the general consensus is that all of his achievements on LIV are fairly meaningless, due to his poor performances in the majors.

Chamblee took to his official X account in reaction to Rahm’s six-stroke victory in Mexico City on Sunday.

“He beat players who sacrificed their careers to play on a tour that was hotter cooked than eaten,“ Chamblee said.

What the former PGA Tour player means by that is that the idea of LIV Golf was better in conception than it is in its final form.

And that’s a fair stance to take from Chamblee.

Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf gamble fails miserably

Rahm took a gamble that his move to LIV Golf would be the tipping point regarding unification with the PGA Tour.

However, since the Spaniard joined the Saudi-backed league, the PGA Tour has gone from strength to strength, while LIV continues to struggle.

LIV Golf simply doesn’t resonate with the vast majority of golf fans.

The lack of jeopardy and non existent strength in depth in their fields mean there is little interest in their events.

Add to that their lack of history and tradition and it’s easy to see why LIV Golf has been a failure up to this point.

Jon Rahm won’t admit it, but he must be regretting his decision to leave the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf back in 2023.

He has damaged his legacy with that decision and it could be argued that he will never be able to repair that damage, regardless of what happens in the future.

Brown trade likely after June 1 as Eagles eye cap flexibility, Patriots emerge as landing spot originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A.J. Brown is still with the Philadelphia Eagles but the clock may already be ticking on his tenure in Philadelphia.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brown is “likely” to be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1, a move driven largely by salary cap strategy rather than on-field performance.

The financial reasoning is straightforward but significant. The Eagles are facing a $40 million cap hit tied to Brown’s contract. If they trade him before June 1, that entire amount would count against their 2026 salary cap. By waiting until after June 1, they can split the hit between 2026 and 2027—creating much-needed flexibility as they reshape their roster.

What makes the situation more notable is Brown’s continued production. In the 2025 season, he recorded 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, marking yet another 1,000-yard campaign in a career defined by consistency and explosiveness.   His ability to generate big plays and command defensive attention has made him one of the league’s premier wide receivers.

Cap strategy drives potential Brown trade as Patriots eye No. 1 receiver upgrade

Despite that production, Philadelphia appears to be weighing long-term roster balance over short-term star power. With significant financial commitments across the roster, moving Brown would allow the Eagles to reallocate resources while maintaining flexibility in future seasons.

For New England, the potential trade would represent a major offensive upgrade. The Patriots have lacked a true No. 1 receiver in recent years, and Brown’s physicality, route-running, and playmaking ability would immediately elevate their passing game.

Still, several factors remain unresolved. Trade compensation, timing, and final cap considerations will all influence whether a deal is completed. The Eagles are expected to seek a significant return, reflecting Brown’s status as one of the NFL’s top wideouts.

For now, Brown remains an Eagle. But with June 1 approaching and financial realities looming, one of the league’s most productive receivers could soon be on the move—reshaping both franchises in the process.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be relegated from the Premier League on Monday, 20 April.

Rob Edwards' side are bottom of the table having picked up just 17 points from 33 matches, leaving Wolves 15 points from safety with just five games to go.

Wolves can only reach a maximum of 32 points this season and that would require them winning each of their final five matches.

After a 3-0 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, as well as a victory for Nottingham Forest against fellow strugglers Burnley, Wolves can only catch three teams mathematically.

However, with 17th-placed West Ham on 32 points, the Hammers need just a single point to confirm the Old Gold's relegation.

The Hammers play London rivals Crystal Palace on Monday night, where a win or draw for Nuno Espirito Santo's side will confirm a return to the Championship for Wolves.

Failing that, Wolves will remain in the division mathematically until at least Saturday, 25 April, when they face Tottenham Hotspur at home while West Ham host Everton.

If West Ham avoid defeat or Edwards' side fail to win this weekend, Wolves will be relegated.

Opta's supercomputer gives Wolves a 100% chance of being relegated.

What is the earliest a team has been relegated?

Wolves have already avoided becoming the earliest team to be relegated from the top-flight and also bettered the Premier League's record lowest points tally.

Derby County hold both records after Paul Jewell's side were relegated on 29 March 2008 - earning just 11 points in the process.

Southampton suffered the earliest Premier League relegation in terms of the number of games played in 2024-25. Ivan Juric's side went down with seven games spare and finished on a meagre 12 points.

These are the records Wolves have managed to avoid:

• Derby County (2007-08): 29 March
• Huddersfield Town (2018-19): 30 March
• Fulham (2018-19): 2 April
• Leicester City (2001-02): 6 April
• Southampton (2024-25): 6 April
• Portsmouth (2009-10): 10 April
• Sunderland (2002-03): 12 April
• Leicester City (1994-95): 13 April
• Ipswich Town (1994-95): 14 April
• Sunderland (2005-06): 14 April

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• Could seven Premier League clubs qualify for the Champions League?
• VAR vs TMO – what are the key differences?
• 'Some people think it's live' - how is the commentary in EA Sports FC 26 put together?
• How many points do you need to stay in the Premier League?

Leicester City must win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation to League One when they host play-off chasing Hull City on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Foxes are eight points adrift of safety with three games remaining after a run of just one win in their past 17 matches (D7 L9).

Even victory will not be enough for Gary Rowett's side to stay up if Charlton Athletic avoid defeat and both West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers win in midweek.

The Tigers are sixth, two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham, and need a win to guarantee they keep their play-off hopes in their own hands, though Sergej Jakirovic's side have gone four games without victory (D3 L1).

• Leicester have lost just one of their past six home league games against Hull (W3 D2), though it was the last time they hosted them in September 2023 (0-1).
• Hull are looking to complete the league double over Leicester for the first time since 2007-08, when the Tigers were promoted to the top-flight for the first time.
• Only Sheffield Wednesday have collected fewer points at home in the Championship in 2026 than Leicester City (7 – W2 D1 L6); indeed, their six defeats in their past eight are as many as in their previous 28 home matches in the second tier (W17 D5).
• Hull have lost three of their past five away league games (W1 D1), as many as in their previous 14 matches on their travels (W9 D2).
• Hull's Oliver McBurnie has four goal involvements across his previous eight away league starts (2 goals, 2 assists), netting most recently at former side Sheffield United.

Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni will miss Tuesday’s Coppa Italia clash against Como due to injury. 

According to Corriere della Sera via FCInter1908, Cristian Chivu won’t force the 26-year-old’s premature return to action.

Alessandro Bastoni missed Friday’s 3-0 home rout of Serie A minnows Cagliari after sustaining a minor leg injury.

Furthermore, he won’t be at Chivu’s disposal for tomorrow night’s ‘make or break’ showdown against Como.

Inter held the Lariani to a scoreless draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie last month, leaving the contest evenly poised ahead of the return fixture.

When Inter Milan Star Alessandro Bastoni Could Return from Injury

With Bastoni unavailable for selection, Chivu will likely turn to Carlos Augusto to fill the vacant spot at the back.

Meanwhile, the Italian center-back is reportedly at risk of missing Inter’s upcoming Serie A clash against Torino.

Indeed, he is more likely to make his long-awaited return against Parma at San Siro the following weekend.

In the meantime, rumors surrounding his future are gaining momentum, with Barcelona keen to lure him to the Camp Nou this summer.

Despite the player’s desire to stay at Inter, his unbearable situation in Serie A could force his summer exit.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis insists Giovanni Malagò is the most-suited candidate to become the FIGC President and ‘rebuild’ Italian football, while Giancarlo Abete ‘is a dear friend, but is not a good fit.’

Malagò and Abete are expected to be the only two candidates at the FIGC Presidential election taking place on June 22, 2026.

Malagò, a former CONI President, is the candidate picked by Lega Serie A, and today representatives of clubs in Italy’s top flight will meet the 67-year-old to outline their project.

Abete, on the other hand, already served as the FIGC President from 2007 to 2014 and is backed by Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND), which accounts for 34% of the vote, compared to Serie A’s 18%.

Any candidate, however, needs to secure 51% of the vote to be elected, so Malagò and Abete need to win over other members of the voting panel to win the election.

Napoli President De Laurentiis once again backed Malagò just before the beginning of the Lega Serie A meeting in Milan today.

NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli President during the UEFA Champions League match between SCC Napoli and SC Braga at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 12, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I called Malagò, telling him to take charge of the situation because no one can do this better than him,” De Laurentiis said via TMW.

“He’s an entrepreneur and a sportsman with plenty of experience. The only flaw is that he’s in love with Roma, but we’ll put up with that, too,” he added, smiling.

“We are tired of being led by people who have institutional roles just for personal prestige. The most important thing in life is to work, but to do that, you need knowledge. Nobody more than an entrepreneur who does business can fix things that don’t work. From my perspective, Mr Malagò is welcome.

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Giancarlo Abete President of LND poses during the FIGC DCPS press conference at Europa Experience on December 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“Abete is a dear friend and a person I truly respect. His brother is a business partner in one of my companies, but he’s not a good fit for this job,” De Laurentiis continued.

“Perhaps, he’ll be upset, but we are accustomed to expressing our thoughts in a democracy, even if Italians, by nature, are cowards.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 15: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 delivers a speech during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games closing ceremony at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

“We wait for Malagò and hope his ideas match ours. Football in Italy has to be rebuilt. They say I’m a visionary, but I came from the world of cinema in 2004, and I’ve been annoyingly saying since then that everything’s old and that kids wouldn’t watch matches anymore. But nobody is there to listen because everyone is just thinking about their seats.”

Emiliano Viviano praised Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu, linking his success to the influence of Simone Inzaghi.

During the latest episode of ‘Pressing’ via FCInterNews, the former Nerazzurri goalkeeper discussed Chivu’s outstanding first season at San Siro.

Inter Milan secured a third consecutive Serie A win on Friday, easing past perennial strugglers Cagliari to cement their place at the top.

Indeed, with just five games left to play, the San Siro giants sit a whopping 12 points clear of second-placed Napoli.

Therefore, Cristian Chivu is on the verge of winning the Scudetto in his first full managerial season in Italy’s top flight.

Despite lacking experience in senior management, the 45-year-old has fared remarkably since replacing Simone Inzaghi in the dugout.

However, it’s fair to say that the current Al-Hilal manager laid the foundations for this success during his spell at the club.

Emiliano Viviano Hails Simone Inzaghi Role in Cristian Chivu Success at Inter Milan

Inzaghi left Inter shortly after an embarrassing loss to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League final.

However, the 50-year-old guided the club to two Champions League finals in three years before departing to the Middle East.

Furthermore, Inzaghi won two Serie A titles with the Nerazzurri during his highly successful stint at San Siro.

“Inter were strong and well-coached,” Viviano said. “Chivu did a masterpiece, given his lack of experience.

“He managed to lead Inter to at least one trophy, but Inzaghi did incredible things at Inter, reaching two Champions League finals,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Chivu has continued to build on the solid foundations left by his predecessor.

Indeed, the 45-year-old is one step away from lifting the Scudetto and could also secure Coppa Italia glory.

Achieving that feat would see him become the first Inter manager since Jose Mourinho to win a domestic double.

Referee Simone Sozza will be in charge of Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final clash between Inter Milan and Como.

The Lega Serie A have announced the complete list of officials for the upcoming semi-finals, via FCInterNews. Daniele Doveri will be on VAR duty for the match.

Inter Milan and Como shared the spoils in a dull 0-0 draw in the first leg at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia last month.

Therefore, both sides will have everything to play for when they renew hostilities at San Siro tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Cristian Chivu is vying for a place in the Coppa Italia final, looking to complete a coveted domestic double.

Indeed, Inter eased past Cagliari on Friday, moving 12 points clear of Serie A runners-up Napoli.

Simone Sozza to Referee Inter Milan vs Como Coppa Italia Clash – Doveri On VAR

The referee for Friday’s game will be Simone Sozza.

Assisting Sozza in his duties will be Alessio Berti and Dario Cecconi.

The role of the fourth official, meanwhile, will fall to Matteo Marcenaro.

In the VAR booth, Daniele Doveri will oversee the match to correct any errors made by the on-pitch officials.

Assisting Doveri in his duties will be Daniele Paterna.

After falling victim to disastrous officiating in several matches this season, Inter will hope to avoid further controversy in this fixture.

Diego Coppola, Ciro Immobile and Luca Koleosho started in Paris FC’s win over Metz on Sunday, prompting the Parisiens’ coach, Antoine Kombouaré, to claim: ‘ There are more Italians here than there are Juventus or Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.’

Paris FC coach taunts the Azzurri: ‘There are more Italians here…’

Three Italian players, Coppola, Koloesho and Immobile started in Paris FC’s 3-1 away victory at Metz on Sunday.

Immobile and Coppola contributed to the victory with one assist each, while Koleosho, on loan from Burnley, has scored twice in 12 appearances since moving to Paris in the January window.

Official: Diego Coppola joins Paris FC from Brighton & Hove Albion (@Diegocoppolass via Instagram)

Paris FC’s coach Kombouaré sarcastically commented on his team’s victory, saying (via GFNF): “Today, there are more Italians playing for Paris FC than there are at Juventus or AC Milan. That’s why they’re not going to the World Cup.”

Italy have not qualified for the World Cup for the third time in a row, making their last appearance in the competition in 2014.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Ciro Immobile of Bologna FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Juventus FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Furthermore, the Azzurri have not played in the knockout phase of the competition since 2006, when they went on to lift the cup after beating France on penalties in the final.

Les Blues have won the World Cup twice in their history, compared to Italy’s four, but have reached the Final in the last two editions.

😂 Coach Antoine Kombouaré, en roue libre, en pleine forme avec ses trois italiens titulaires ! pic.twitter.com/WFKym1RocJ

LAS VEGAS — WrestleMania 42 just wrapped up, so now its time to ask: When and where is the next one?

The entire WWE calendar revolves around WrestleMania, since it's where the top stars compete for the top prizes, and after what unfolded in Las Vegas, fans are already looking ahead to what happens next year. Given the status of the show, its a highly sought event to host for cities, bringing in tourists around the world as it becomes the wrestling capital of the world.

Next year's WrestleMania site has already been determined. WrestleMania 43 will be a controversial yet historic one, as it will be the first one to take place outside of North America. So, where is WWE taking its grand event? Here is what to know about WrestleMania 43 in 2027:

Where is WrestleMania 43 in 2027?

WrestleMania 43 in 2027 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was announced in September. The venue has not been announced.

It will be the third edition outside the U.S., but the first WrestleMania outside North America.

When is WrestleMania 43 in 2027?

The dates for WrestleMania 43 have not been determined.

If WWE keeps with its recent tradition of having the event in mid-April, it will likely be April 10-11 or April 17-18.

Has WrestleMania 44 in 2028 been decided?

The site for WrestleMania 44 has not been determined. The leading contenders to host are Indianapolis and New Orleans.

Indianapolis is a contender since it has a partnership with WWE that will bring WrestleMania to the city in the future. New Orleans also has a deal to get a future WrestleMania after it was originally scheduled to host WrestleMania 42, but it ultimately got moved to Las Vegas.

Recent WrestleMania location history

Here is every WrestleMania site since 2021:

• WrestleMania 37 (April 10-11, 2021): Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
• WrestleMania 38 (April 2-3, 2022): AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• WrestleMania 39 (April 1-2, 2023): SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
• WrestleMania 40 (April 6-7, 2024): Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
• WrestleMania 41 (April 19-20, 2025): Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
• WrestleMania 42 (April 18-19, 2026): Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
• WrestleMania 43 (2027): Venue TBD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where is WrestleMania 43? Location, dates for WrestleMania 2027

The Republic of Ireland will play their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier with the Netherlands at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

The qualifier on 5 June will be the third time the Republic of Ireland have played at the home of gaelic games in Cork.

The Republic of Ireland defeated France in a memorable 3-1 win in front of 18,400 fans in 2024, and Carla Ward's side picked up a 1-0 win against Slovenia last year.

Ward said that her squad "love" playing in Cork and they will look to extend their unbeaten run at the stadium against the Netherlands in their final home qualifier of the campaign, before a final fixture in France.

"The team has won both matches at Pairc Ui Chaoimh so far, and we will be aiming to continue that run against the Netherlands," Ward said.

"I've no doubt that our supporters will come out in their numbers to back the team as we aim to move closer to securing a place at the World Cup."

The Republic of Ireland are third in League A2 and picked up six points against Poland in April's double-header.

Ward's side lost their opening qualifier to France at Tallaght Stadium, and were narrowly defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in Utrecht in March.

Monday marks Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts and the 130th running of the Boston Marathon. Cool weather and an expected tailwind will greet them at the starting line in Hopkinton.

Boston Marathon: What to know about the course, start times, and road closures

More than 30,000 runners are set to make the 26.2-mile trek to the race’s iconic finish line on Boylston Street in Boston’s Copley Square.

Organizers say the race has its strongest field ever, with seven of the top men’s finishers from last year and eight women with personal bests that would have beaten the Boston course record until last year.

Reigning men’s and women’s champions, John Korir and Sharon Lokedi, both of Kenya, lead the packed field of runners.

Eight-time wheelchair champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland is going for another victory, while defending women’s wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni is expecting a baby in August and not racing.

Follow along below for live race updates:

7 a.m.

Men’s and women’s wheelchair racers are on their way to Hopkinton. They begin the Marathon at 9:06 a.m. and 9:09 a.m., respectively.

Wheelchair Pros are on their way to Hopkinton💛💙 #BostonMarathonpic.twitter.com/O2YobGXR2q

— Boston Marathon Pro (@Boston26_2_Pro) April 20, 2026

6:45 a.m.

The racers are ready to go.

Pros are ready!😊🏆 pic.twitter.com/QGEJW0sw6p

— Boston Marathon Pro (@Boston26_2_Pro) April 20, 2026

6:30 a.m.

Boston 25 Meteorologist Tucker Antico confirms a tailwind is expected to help the runners.

Chilly for spectators, not too bad for runners today!

After you've scraped the frost off your windshield, look forward to mid-upper 40s in the afternoon. A breezy west (tail) wind later on too! 🟦🟨 pic.twitter.com/y81yorIbhz

— Tucker Antico (@tuckerweather) April 20, 2026

6 a.m.

MassDOT reminds the public that highway ramp closures will be in place to support Marathon operations.

Today in #Boston#Newton Daytime ramp closures of I-90 EB, I-95, and Route 16. Closures will be in place Monday, April 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to support @bostonmarathon operations.

Posted detours will be in place for each closure. 🦄 #Boston130pic.twitter.com/PfA5YbVXgl

— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) April 20, 2026

6 a.m.

Race Director Dave McGillivray sent a group of about 50Massachusetts National Guard members across the Boston Marathon start line, officially launching the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

As reported by several outlets earlier this month, Bayern Munich are lining up a move for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon.

According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, writing for the Swiss edition of Sky, the England international has told those close to him that he is open to a move to the German champions at the end of the season.

To advance their pursuit, Bayern are planning to meet Gordon’s representatives in the coming weeks, as per the report.

Before potentially approaching Newcastle, who are said to be open to negotiations, Bayern want to ensure common ground can be reached with the 25-year-old’s camp.

Gordon has scored 17 goals and provided five assists in 46 appearances across all competitions this season.

Whatever they are offering, ask for more.

Exeter confirmed last week that a takeover offer is on the table for club.

Whether they were tuning in from the United States or, as in the case of Black Knight board member Ryan Caswell, at Sandy Park in person, their prospective new owners were served up a fantastic advert of what the league can be.

The Chiefs were on the losing side – Fin Smith dancing around England team-mate Immanuel Feyi -Waboso on the final play of the game for the winning score – but a superb toe-to-toe contest in front of a sun-bathed, 12,000-strong crowd was prime sporting 'product'.

Northampton caught the mood as well.

Henry Pollock unveiled a new try celebration, lobbing the ball in the air before 'shooting' it down with a mimed rifle. Number eight Callum Chick showed a fine bit of slipper, landing a 50:22. Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson seemed to motion to ask the home fans to find the knock-on in Smith's game-winning score after the visitors had had an earlier try ruled out.

Tom Litchfield's performance at outside centre will give Dowson more reason to smile.

The 24-year-old made the most metres of any of the Saints backline in their win over Saracens at Tottenham Stadium last time out in the league and was a muscular, intelligent presence once again.

The result, combined with Bristol's win over Gloucester on Friday night, adds some much-needed intrigue to the top-four conundrum.

The Bears are four points off Exeter.

Northampton sit top of the pile still, but the fixture list will test their grip on the summit.

They host second-placed Bath next (albeit the visitors seem set to rest some stars with a looming Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles), before travelling to in-form Leicester and then hosting Bristol.

• Northampton snatch dramatic late win at Exeter
• Northampton delighted by Litchfield's progress

The 'niggle in Brizzle' rematch delivers

Ellis Genge and Afolabi Fasogbon brought the rumble once again at Ashton Gate.

Their front-row dust-up was a brilliant subplot in last season's corresponding fixture, with Under-20 World Cup-winning Fasogbon getting under Genge's skin at scrum-time and giving the England and Bristol keystone a cheeky, cheery wave off the pitch when he was replaced early in Gloucester's 44-41 win.

Friday night's rematch went the way of the older man however.

Genge went looking for Fasogbon after Bristol won a scrum penalty, shouting the odds. As the teams trooped off at half-time, the pair were at the heart of a sudden tunnel tussle.

And when Fasogbon was replaced a couple of minutes before Genge, the Ashton Gate crowd waved him on his way.

• Bristol thump Gloucester to narrow gap to top four

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't take it personally a few years back when he waved at me when I was walking off the pitch," Genge said on TNT Sports.

"I'm sometimes tarnished as a hothead, but I think the animosity and violence in rugby is what people crave and we should embody it, not shy away from it.

"He is a young talent and I'm sure he will have me again at some point, but I am buzzing with our tight five. We won that battle."

The two could be on the same side this summer.

With Will Stuart and Trevor Davison recovering from Achilles tendon and knee injuries respectively, England's tight-head options behind Joe Heyes are a little sparse for England's summer fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

Genge's Bristol team-mate George Kloska, picked to start at three ahead of Fasogbon for England A earlier this year, might have something to say about that too though.

Martin back in the mix

Billy Searle was lining up a gimme conversion after Gabriel Hamer-Webb had strolled in for an alarmingly easy fourth try of the afternoon, when some late intrigue was injected into the final quarter of Leicester's 62-3 win over Newcastle.

George Martin, who has been sidelined since Febuary 2025 with various shoulder and knee injuries took to a rugby field once more.

The second row has spent some of his rehabilitation signing for Saracens for next season, but was still greeted warmly by the Tigers faithful.

It was a perfect game to be reintroduced into top-flight rugby.

Newcastle has long since given up the ghost. Martin trucked up a couple of balls just outside his 22m, had a nibble at a breakdown, took a couple of lineouts and showed some smart hands to drop it out the back to Orlando Bailey.

England boss Steve Borthwick will have been watching every bit intently. During Martin's time out, England have faithfully included his name at the bottom of every squad announcement as one of those in their thoughts, but out of fitness.

After such a long absence, are five rounds of regular-season matches, potentially another two beyond, enough to propel him into contention to face South Africa, who he so memorably tore into in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finals?

• Hamer-Webb grabs five tries as Tigers thrash Newcastle
• England lock Martin in line for Tigers return

Sale slide to season low

Firstly, let's excuse Tom O'Flaherty.

The wing was the one bright spot in Sale's afternoon, taking the fight to Saracens with spirit and wit. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, packing down on his less accustomed loosehead side, had some nice fast-twitch moments and George Ford continued playing flat and fast.

Other than that it was as grim for Sale against Saracens as an 85-19 scoreline suggests.

They were desperately short of incision and invention in attack, but the most glaring void in their game was in defence.

Saracens made 14 entries into the home 22m and came away with a try from all but one of those visits.

• Caluori-led rampant Saracens annihilate sorry Sale

Sale actually shaded the territory battle (57% to 43%), but their defence was so lacking in conviction and organisation, Saracens strolled them as through it was a semi-structured training session.

There are plenty of candidates for the most egregious example, but perhaps the worst was the way that Fergus Burke, not the most noted running threat from fly-half, slapped aside tackles to saunter through and set up his side's ninth try and Noah Caluori's fourth.

Sale used to pride themselves on their defence. A little over a year ago they went to Ashton Gate and 'nilled' an in-form Bristol Bears in a supreme performance.

Byron McGuigan orchestrated that, but the then-defence coach has since departed to England and seemingly taken some of the heart out of Sale's rearguard with him.

A big summer lies ahead for the Sharks, who made the play-offs in four of their five previous seasons but have won only three of 13 league matches this season.

A big future lies ahead for Caluori, who dominated opposite number Tom Roebuck in the air and beat the cover with one-handed dunk dives for two of his tries.

The spelling on the back of his shirt may have been awry, but whoever is in charge will get plenty of practice in getting it right in the years to come.

Dombrandt and Kenningham battle amid Quins wreckage

The most important signing that Harlequins might make this summer could be in their medical department.

They had 27 players out through injury before heading to Bath on Saturday, with head coach Jason Gilmore saying that emergency short-term front-row signings were needed so there were enough bodies in to fulfil fixtures and keep training viable.

Then, once they got to the Recreation Ground, it got worse. Luke Northmore pulled out before kick-off. Nick David and Cadan Murley were injured on 20 minutes. Fly-half Jarrod Evans copped another shoulder knock on 56 minutes.

Gilmore has spoken about robustness being one of the key qualities he wants his squad to develop over the summer.

Alex Dombrandt has shown plenty of that, providing precious go-forward against the champions. Jack Kenningham, in the league-wide top 10 for both tackles made and turnover won, has too.

But Harlequins, who have signed Northampton skipper George Furbank and Bristol second row James Dun for next season, need more of the same from more of their squad.

• Bath cruise to win against injury-hit Quins

• Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate
• Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

West Bromwich Albion forward Daryl Dike wants to keep his scoring momentum "rolling" after ending his season-long goal drought on Saturday.

The American scored the decisive second goal in the Baggies' 2-0 win at Preston, just seven minutes after coming off the bench.

It was his first goal since netting on the final day of last season in a 5-3 win over Luton on 3 May.

"I'm just so happy," Dike told BBC Radio WM. "I've worked really hard for this and to contribute to the team, and being on the scoresheet is a great thing.

"Naturally as a striker you always want to score and to contribute, so working hard and seeing the products of your work on the pitch is a good feeling."

Dike admitted to "many lows" this season before scoring in his 22nd appearance of the campaign and thanked supporters who "have always believed in me".

"As a striker every single game I sit there and think, 'OK, today's going to be the day I'm going to score,'" he added.

"It's all you can think about, really, every single day, so finally it's like a little breath of fresh air.

"But now I'll be frustrated on Tuesday if I don't score again, so I'm just going to try and keep it rolling."

Rejuvenated under interim boss James Morrison, Albion are unbeaten in eight matches since a 2-1 defeat to relegation rivals on 28 February, picking up 14 points.

The run has left them five points above the drop zone with three games to play, starting with a home match against mid-table Watford on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

"Now we step into every single game thinking we can get a result, winning away to a tough Preston, and now we are at home; we have the support, the motivation, the camaraderie," said Dike.

"So going into Tuesday, why can't we win? We go into every single game now thinking that we can."

• Latest West Bromwich Albion news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds

Dodgers' manager felt Roki Sasaki was more 'efficient' against Rockies originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki has struggled with his command this season, resulting in poor starts. Sasaki’s struggles continued in the Dodgers' second straight loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

Even though Sasaki didn't get through five innings, manager Dave Roberts did see some improvement from his young right-hander, which Sasaki can build off of. 

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts feels Roki Sasaki was “more efficient” against the Colorado Rockies

“I thought he [Sasaki] was more efficient. I thought he got ground balls when he needed to, got some quick fly balls,” Roberts said postgame to SportsNet LA. “And I really wanted him to get through that fifth inning. But with [TJ] Rumfield up, I felt, you know, Alex was going to give us a better chance to kind of keep the game there, but overall, better, better outing.“

Despite his “efficient” outing, Sasaki didn’t get through five innings, as he allowed seven hits, two walks, and three earned runs on 78 pitches (43 strikes). The 24-year-old’s previous two starts were much of the same, totaling eight earned runs, eight walks, and 11 strikeouts in nine innings. 

More News:Mets Carlos Mendoza 'nobody's going to feel sorry for us'

The problem with Sasaki this season has been his walks (12 walks in 17.2 innings), but his four-seam fastball has not been effective. In 21 at-bats (109 pitches) against his fastball, opposing hitters are hitting .381 with a .714 slugging percentage and have hit two home runs off the pitch. 

A reason for the change in the effectiveness of his fastball could be the fact that Sasaki has changed his arm angle. In 2025, Sasaki’s arm angle was 45 degrees; this season, it’s increased to 50 degrees. 

Changing this up and being more on top of the baseball should be a focus in Sasaki’s bullpens to get him back on track.

More News:

• Phillies make their Taijuan Walker decision ahead of Cubs series
• Mets David Peterson isn't disgruntled about Carlos Mendoza's decision
• Mariners' starting rotation has been 'elite' this season
• Braves get a positive health update on Ha-Seong Kim

Alex Highsmith more likely Steelers trade candidate than Nick Herbig originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Pittsburgh is approaching the draft with the kind of problem that many front offices wouldn't hesitate to trade a pick for.

They have three starting-quality edge rushers, T.J. Watt locked in on a $41 million-a-year extension, Alex Highsmith paid like a cornerstone, and Nick Herbig running hot behind the curtain.

Both Highsmith and Herbig are reportedly drawing calls from rival front offices, but per Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, only one of them is really close to the door.

The contract math and Jack Sawyer's rookie tape point the same way

Highsmith, who turns 29 in August, still has two years remaining on the four-year, $68 million extension he signed back in 2023.

He is owed $14.5 million in 2026 and $15.5 million in 2027, with cap hits above $20 million in both seasons.

He led the Steelers with 9.5 sacks last season, but he has not reached double digits for about three straight years.

Also, Herbig, who is 24, is cheaper and arguably more productive at this moment. In a rotational role this past season, he earned an 87.1 PFF pass-rush grade and produced 47 total pressures with eight sacks.

“Highsmith’s name, along with fellow edge Nick Herbig are definitely floating around front offices as the draft approaches. It seems that any trade would be a one-but-not-both scenario, with Highsmith the likelier candidate to get moved...With Herbig waiting in the wings and having been very productive while rotating with Highsmith and T.J. Watt, the Steelers are expected to take some calls on Highsmith if the phone rings."

As one high-level personnel executive said, 'I think they will trade one of them. [between Highsmith and Herbig].' While Herbig's name has come up in conversations with teams about potential trade targets, it feels like the more acquirable player at this point would be Highsmith." Robinson wrote.

Pittsburgh drafted Jack Sawyer in 2025, and he forced a strip-sack on Houston in the Wild Card loss. That gives Omar Khan real cover to move on.

None of this guarantees a trade. Phones go silent all the time at this stage.

But looking at the shape of the room, the money, Sawyer's emergence, and a cheaper, younger Herbig in line for real minutes makes it easy to see why rival teams believe Highsmith is the one moving if the right offer lands.

More NFL news:

• Zay Flowers Accuses John Harbaugh of Causing Late Season Injury Spike
• Analyst Says Raiders Would Be Smart to Sit QB Fernando Mendoza
• Chiefs GM Brett Veach Hints More Trades Coming on Draft Night
• What De'Von Achane's return to the Dolphins facility means right now
• Brandon Aubrey stays in Dallas after zero teams submit an offer sheet
• Jaire Alexander's Instagram post reveals what went wrong in Baltimore 

Declan Rice was caught on camera encouraging Martin Odegaard after Arsenal’s 2-1 loss against Manchester City yesterday, as the Gunners once again failed to win a key game. The moment reflected the squad’s disappointment, but also their determination to keep fighting in the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s side worked tirelessly throughout the match, yet it was not enough as City secured victory in front of their own supporters. The result means the Citizens could move to the top of the table if they win their next fixture.

Arsenal Face Important Response

For much of this campaign, Arsenal have been the best team in the Premier League. The Gunners have consistently won matches many expected them to win, showing maturity, quality and resilience across a demanding season.

However, the defeat to City now presents a huge test of character. Arsenal must recover quickly from the setback and win their remaining league matches if they are to keep serious pressure on their rivals in the closing weeks.

The players were clearly hurt by the result and looked frustrated as they prepared to leave the pitch. After giving so much in such an important contest, the emotional reaction was understandable.

Rice Shows Leadership Qualities

Despite the disappointment, Rice demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the group’s leaders. In difficult moments, strong personalities often become most important, and the midfielder appeared eager to lift those around him.

As reported by the Daily Mail, he was caught on camera telling a dejected Odegaard, “it’s not done” as Arsenal prepare to continue the fight until the very end of the season.

Those words may prove significant because they capture the mindset Arsenal need now. The title race has become more difficult, but there is still football to be played, and pressure can still shift quickly.

Rice has earned praise throughout the season for both his performances and mentality. His influence extends beyond what he offers on the pitch, and moments like this underline why he has become such an important figure at the club.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…

More Stories / Latest News

Camera catches Declan Rice’s message to Odegaard after Arsenal loses

20 April 2026, 12:00

Barcelona makes a decision that boosts Arsenal’s Nico Williams’ chance

20 April 2026, 10:30

Premier League explains why Gabriel escaped sending off against Man City

20 April 2026, 9:00

Mohamed Toure is a player who could have easily been recruited. He was available for £2.4 million, yet we were willing to pay much more for Joel Mvuka…

Our much publicised failings in the transfer market are one of the leading causes for our current woes on the park, if not the leading cause altogether.

During the last few transfer windows we have failed to bring in any one of any real quality, especially when it comes to the centre forward position. It’s an area in the team that’s been severely neglected, and a major reason as to why we’ve had to endure such a turbulent campaign.

Last summer Celtic failed to bring in a centre forward capable of scoring goals as we missed out on names such as Kasper Dolberg, David Sterlec, and Mathias Kvistgaarden. Players who would have undoubtedly improved our powderpuff frontline.

In the end we reacted by bringing in free agent Kelechi Iheanacho, who despite doing his best, has had his campaign interrupted by injury, and clearly isn’t one hundred percent fit. His two goals at Hampden yesterday shows that the Nigerian striker has the quality, his problem is fitness related and if he can stay fit for the last half-dozen games he could end up as a Celtic hero.

Alex Gogic of St Mirren battles with Tomas Cvancara of Celtic during the ScottishPremiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

The January transfer window was the time to make amends, but alas we failed miserably once again, as we were forced into bringing in a trio of loan players, such as Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, and Joel Mvuka. All three were available for yesterday’s Scottish Cup semi-final yet none of them even made it onto the Celtic bench.

All three have failed to make an impression, or in the case of Adamu and Joel Mvuka, aren’t even considered good enough for a place in recent squads.

Joel Mvuka of Celtic Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Cup, Fifth Round, Celtic Park, 07 February 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/ Shutterstock

There were much better options open to us, if we had any competence on the recruitment front. There were better options affordable to us, and more importantly options who would have added quality that could have seen us sitting in a much better place in the Scottish Premiership at this moment in time.

One such option as a potential signing was Mohamed Toure, an Australian international who was starring for Randers in the Danish top flight.

Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Championship match between Oxford United and Norwich City at Kassam Stadium on February 10, 2026 (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Just 22, Toure is described as a striker with great physical strength as well as possessing terrific natural pace. Whilst he wasn’t exactly a proven experienced striker, or had a great goalscoring ratio, he had undoubted potential, something he was proving by starring in an average Randers side.

Norwich City scouts had done their homework properly and The Canaries swooped to sign the then promising 21 year old Australian international for the relatively low fee of just £2.4 million.

The results? Toure to date has scored eight goals and registered three assists in nine games for the English Championship side, including a hat-trick against Bristol City at the weekend, as Norwich look to keep in the hunt for a play off spot, just months after being stuck in the relegation zone.

Mohamed Toure of Norwich City celebrates scoring their third goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion on February 14, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

So Toure was available for just £2.4 million had we done our homework. The fact that we were willing to pay £3.5 million for Joel Mvuka yet again highlights the incompetence that plaques the recruitment side of things within Celtic Football Club.

How is it going to get any better this summer? There will be a new manager coming in but what will he have left from this current squad to work with? Will he be happy with the current recruitment operation that has been tried and tested and shown to be inadequate in the extreme.

Photo Vagelis Georgariou

I’m not saying that Mohamed Toure could have been as good as Kyogo in his prime but he’d certainly have done more than our January or indeed most of our summer recruits. A low bar maybe but yesterday showed what Martin O’Neill thinks of Celtic’s ill-considered January signings, essentially panic buys after the Wilfried Nancy experiment crashed and burned after just 33 days.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…

Click to join Celtic Pools

More Stories / Latest News

Mohamed Toure – A £2.4m striker Celtic could easily have signed

Apr 20 2026, 11:31

Celtic Turbulent Season – Martin O’Neill answers second SOS for season finale

Apr 20 2026, 10:43

20th April – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day

Apr 20 2026, 10:36

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti only had words of praise for his players, who produced a stellar performance against Bologna on Sunday.

The Bianconeri pushed forward with intent right off the bat, and it only took them 90 seconds to break through the deadlock through Jonathan David, who headed home Pierre Kalulu’s cross.

The home side had several chances to kill off the contest in the first half, but they had to wait until Khephren Thuram’s second-half introduction to open up a two-goal cushion. The French midfielder rose above his marker to nod home Weston McKennie’s sublime cross.

Luciano Spalletti explains the importance of the win over Bologna

After the contest, Spalletti lauded the importance of tackling the match with the right attitude, while explaining that this can be considered a career-defining performancefor some of his players.

“What became crucial for us was not getting the attitude wrong in this game. I would have been disappointed if, tomorrow morning, while analysing the match, I had to comment on the attitude,” said the 67-year-old in one of his post-match interviews via JuventusNews24.

“That didn’t happen because from the very first moment, they immediately decided to take control of the game. We talked about keeping a high tempo, also because Bologna—as Italiano rightly said—had played three matches this week.

“The players deserved to take home this important win, because this is the kind of match that can truly change careers. Careers don’t change based on the number of games, but on the decisions made in key moments of certain matches, and on the focus and intent you manage to maintain.”

The manager also cherishes the solid bond between his Juventus players, who enjoy celebrating together, as illustrated by the second goal.

“Friendship, relationships, enjoying being together—these are things that can improve the team, because you’re no longer playing as eleven individuals, but as a unit built on shared ideas and team concepts.

“I don’t know what they came up with, but seeing them all celebrate together like that is the most important thing.

“It’s even better to see the goalscorer call his teammates over to share the moment, because everything comes from relationships and connections.”

Spalletti praises Juventus squad but seeks reinforcement

With this victory, Juventus solidified their fourth place in the table, putting five points between them and  Como and Roma, while also reducing the gap with Milan and Napoli to just three points.

Spalletti believes his team is proving that they fully deserve to play in the Champions League next season.

“We showed that we have players who deserve to play in the Champions League. We had an opportunity tonight that couldn’t be wasted, and we made the most of it.”

The Tuscan tactician feels that this squad boasts players of high calibre, but they were a bit too timid at times.

“I was curious to see them up close because you could sense they were a group of good guys, who sometimes were too nice, even a bit timid.

“They needed to free themselves from others’ opinions—they had to break away from being seen as too ordinary. They’ve shown they are of real quality and level.”

That being said, Spalletti admitted that Juventus is still lacking some quality among the ranks, in what could be an implicit message to the management.

“In terms of evaluation, we might lack certain characteristics that would complete us at the same level, but we have strong players.

“It’s not that they were lacking quality—we just needed different attributes to round out the squad. They show it through their qualities, and even if we’re missing some elements that would complete the team, they’ve always behaved perfectly.”

It’s moments like this which remind us exactly why certain players define eras at Liverpool, and Jamie Carragher didn’t hesitate to underline that after our dramatic derby win.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

A 100th-minute winner from Virgil van Dijk sealed a 2-1 victory over Everton, with Mo Salah once again playing a decisive role in the game, and it’s those two names which dominated the post-match reaction.

Carragher highlights Liverpool’s match-winners

Speaking on Sky Sports after the final whistle, Jamie Carragher was clear just how significant the result could be in the wider context of the season.

He said: “The result is absolutely huge for Liverpool when you consider the Chelsea result yesterday.

“When that board went up for eleven minutes [added time], I’d have shaken hands with anyone and taken the points from a Liverpool point of view.”

The former defender admitted that, late on, the game looked like it might slip away from us, with Everton arguably the more threatening side in the closing stages.

Carragher added: “Everton were probably more the team that you thought were creating any chances and really probably looked a little bit more threatening than Liverpool towards the end of that game.”

But ultimately, it came down to quality and experience in the biggest moment.

Salah and Van Dijk prove their importance again

The 48-year-old summed it up perfectly when he pointed to the players who decided the game, describing them as figures who continue to deliver when it matters most.

He said: “When you think about how Liverpool have won this game, two of the absolute legends of the club have done it… as I said, two of the absolute greats, and that man [Mo Salah] has done it again… you can always rely upon him.”

That reliability is something we’ve seen time and time again, especially in fixtures like this, where emotions are high and margins are fine.

Curtis Jones made a similar point after the match, suggesting Everton celebrating being close to us in one of our worst seasons says everything about the gap between the sides, while Van Dijk himself has already spoken about how important Salah remains on and off the pitch.

When you combine those perspectives, it becomes clear that even in a season where consistency hasn’t always been there, having players of this calibre still gives us a decisive edge, and once again, they proved it when it mattered most.

Real Madrid return to action on Tuesday as they host Alaves at the Bernabeu, their first match since exiting the Champions League. A victory would see them close to within six points of Barcelona, but with only seven matchdays to go of the 2025-26 season, it will be a tall order for Los Blancos to win La Liga.

There was a lot of disappointment at Real Madrid following their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, but head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is confident that his side will bounce back against Alaves, as per Diario AS.

“I consider myself a person with a lot of strength and energy. I have felt the pride that Real Madrid has for the game that the team played on Wednesday. I look forward to a Bernabéu tomorrow with my family, united and proud of how the team played. The feeling on the street is that they deprived us of being in the semi-finals. That’s what I’ve been able to feel.”

Arbeloa reacts to future speculation – “I’m not worried”

In the aftermath of last week’s Bayern defeat, there has been significant speculation on Arbeloa’s future, with a number of reports linking manager’s to his position – with Jose Mourinho among them. However, he is focused on the task at hand, that being the final seven matches of the season.

“It is a decision that is not my responsibility. I’m not worried about my future at all. I’m worried about these seven games, and especially tomorrow’s. I have direct communication every week with the club and I have a great relationship, but the only future that worries me is tomorrow. There are seven games more important than they may seem. We have to prove it tomorrow.”

Arbeloa: Real Madrid fans are with the team

On a number of occasions this season, the Real Madrid supporters inside the Bernabeu have whistled the players, but Arbeloa does not expect that to happen against Alaves, despite it being the club’s first match since exiting the Champions League.

“It doesn’t worry me, because I’ve felt on the street that Real Madrid is with the team. We have to play a good game tomorrow, play well and earn the applause at the Bernabéu. We have to go out for the game, show it from the moment the match starts.”

AZ Alkmaar were imperious in the cup final this weekend as they hammered NEC Nijmegen 5-1. In a game many expected to be a closely fought contest between AZ Alkmaar and this years Eredivisie surprise package NEC, it was the side returning to the cup final for the second seasons in a row who proved to have too much for their opponents. However, the score line did not tell the full story of a game that was, for over an hour at least, pretty close.

However, the opening goal of the game only came after the half-hour mark. Some great work out wide from Ro-Zangelo Daal eventually led to Mees de Wit opening the scoring. It remained 1-0 until after the hour mark, when Kees Smit was sent free on the counter, finding the marauding Sven Mijnans to make it 2-0. In pushing for a way back into the game, NEC left themselves exposed on the counter, with Peer Koopmeiners breaking free to make it 3-0 with a wonderful finish. With just 15 or so minutes left in the game, it was clear that the cup was heading to Alkmaar.

Yet, just a few minutes later, NEC did get back into the game through substitute Koki Ogawa. However, AZ were clinical on the counter. After Mijans second was chalked off for offside, Smit chipped Jasper Cillessen in stoppage time to make it 4-1 before Troy Parrott got himself on the scoresheet with a deflected strike. By then, NEC had thrown caution to the wind and left themselves completly exposed at the back.

AZ, who had lost in dramatic fashion against Go Ahead Eagles last year, made sure they picked up their fifth cup in, making it five wins and four defeats in cup finals in their history. The side are also now guaranteed a European ticket, while NEC are still in a good position to earn one through the Eredivisie. The side will hopefully complete what has been a fantastic season as they remain in contention to finish in the top four.

For more on how the cup final will impact the European tickets in the Eredivisie, we put together an article that can be found here.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Arsenal's damaging defeat to Manchester City on Sunday means that now only one team in the Premier League has not suffered back-to-back defeats this season.

The Gunners 2-1 defeat to title challengers City came fresh off of the 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth earlier this month as Mikel Arteta's April difficulties continue.

It also means that only one team has avoided back-to-back defeats in the Premier League this season: Manchester United.

The Red Devils have lost seven times in total in the league so far and have bounced back each time with six wins and one draw following defeats – including victory over Chelsea last time out after losing to Leeds United previously.

Indeed, the last time United were defeated twice in a row in the Premier League was May last year when West Ham United and Chelsea won – a part of three-game losing streak with Brentford defeating Ruben Amorim's side before that.

Local rivals Manchester City lost back-to-back games as recently as August when they lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur (how times have changed) and away to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Looking at the top four tiers, only five other teams are yet to lose two league games in a row. While no team in the Championship has yet to do that this season, in League One, Bolton Wanderers and leaders Lincoln City are yet to suffer two losses.

Down in League Two, there are three teams yet to suffer back-to-back losses: already-promoted Bromley, Cambridge United, and Chesterfield.

Man Utd Track Emery as Aston Villa Braced for Summer Interest

Emery Rise Commands European Respect

Unai Emery’s work at Aston Villa has been one of the Premier League’s most compelling managerial stories. Since his arrival in 2022, he has driven the club into consistent European contention, restoring belief and tactical clarity.

Photo IMAGO

TeamTalk note that his “performance at Aston Villa has not gone unnoticed across Europe.” That feels like an understatement. Emery has imposed structure, discipline and ambition, lifting Villa into the top seven in every full season under his guidance. Another top five finish now looks within reach, with Champions League qualification a realistic reward.

Such progress inevitably attracts attention. His pedigree, strengthened by spells at Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain, adds further weight to his candidacy for elite roles.

Man Utd Monitoring Managerial Options

At Manchester United, the search for long term direction continues. TeamTalk reports that intermediaries have been “actively promoting Emery’s availability to top clubs,” with United among those approached.

Photo IMAGO

The situation remains fluid. Interim manager Michael Carrick has impressed, with sources stating that “no manager has achieved more Premier League points since his appointment.” That record has placed him firmly in contention for the permanent role.

Photo IMAGO

Yet United are casting a wide net. Alongside Emery, names such as Julian Nagelsmann and Andoni Iraola have been discussed. This reflects a club still weighing identity and style, seeking a figure capable of restoring sustained competitiveness.

Real Madrid Interest Adds Pressure

Interest is not confined to England. Real Madrid are also monitoring Emery’s situation following their separation from Xabi Alonso. With Alvaro Arbeloa currently in charge, uncertainty remains over their long term direction.

TeamTalk emphasise that “Emery’s work at Villa has caught their attention,” placing him among a shortlist that includes some of Europe’s most respected coaches. Madrid’s preference may lie elsewhere, but admiration for Emery’s achievements is clear.

Photo IMAGO

For Villa, this represents a familiar challenge. Success brings scrutiny, and sustained performance elevates individuals into global conversations.

Villa Confidence Faces Summer Test

Despite the noise, Villa remain calm. Emery is contracted until 2029, and the club insist he is staying. Their upward trajectory, combined with the prospect of regular Champions League football, strengthens their position.

Still, the dynamics of elite football rarely remain static. TeamTalk underline that “Villa are aware of the growing interest but remain confident of retaining their manager.” Confidence, however, will be tested if formal approaches materialise.

For Manchester United, the situation offers opportunity and complexity in equal measure. Emery represents proven quality, yet extracting him from a thriving project would require significant persuasion.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Manchester United supporters, this report will spark genuine debate. Emery’s credentials are undeniable. He has rebuilt Aston Villa into a disciplined, tactically astute side capable of competing with the Premier League’s strongest teams. That level of organisation is something United have lacked.

There is admiration for what he has achieved. Taking Villa into European contention consistently demands clarity, authority and adaptability. Those qualities would appeal to supporters craving stability.

At the same time, there is hesitation. United’s identity has long been tied to progressive, attacking football. Emery’s approach, while effective, leans heavily on structure and control. Some fans may question whether it aligns with the club’s traditions.

Carrick’s emergence complicates matters further. His results have been impressive, and there is a growing belief that continuity could be the smarter path. “No manager has achieved more Premier League points since his appointment” carries weight among supporters.

Ultimately, the decision will define United’s next chapter. Emery offers experience and reliability. Carrick represents continuity and potential. For fans, the priority remains clear, a return to consistent success at the highest level.

MONACO (AP) — Track and field investigators have classed India as an “extremely high” risk for doping and imposed stricter testing on athletes from Botswana including a stellar men’s sprint team ahead of the 2027 world championships.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced its decisions Monday days after India — which is currently bidding for the 2036 Olympics — hosted World Anti-Doping Agency leaders who challenged the country to improve its poor record.

“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping program is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” the AIU’s chairman David Howman said in a statement.

India has produced the most positive doping tests in track and field since 2024, the AIU said, and now will be subjected to stricter “minimum testing requirements for their national team athletes.”

The list of highest-risk countries that India joins also included in 2025 Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine.

Botswana, Cuba and Peru are classed as second-tier risks by the AIU and their athletes must now give at least three no-notice samples in training to be eligible for upcoming major events, including the worlds next year in Beijing.

Botswana runners also face increased testing before the country hosts the World Relays in Gaborone next month.

This was imposed because of “an inadequate response to repeated warnings about low testing levels, and an increase in performance at international level,” Howman said.

Botswana won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2025 worlds in Tokyo, all by men’s 400 meters runners in the individual and relay events.

Cuba won a gold medal and two bronzes in Tokyo after having “the highest percentage of athletes with zero out-of-competition tests among the top 40 nations,” the AIU said.

Bahrain’s high-risk was downgraded and the country was praised by Howman for a “vast improvement of the anti-doping situation.”

The AIU operates independently from the World Athletics governing body and since 2019 has held member federations accountable for anti-doping programs operating in their nation.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni has reportedly made a final decision on his future amid intense interest from Barcelona.

According to Mundo Deportivo via FCInter1908, the 26-year-old is enthusiastic about joining the Catalan club in the summer.

Despite his household status at San Siro, Alessandro Bastoni could wave goodbye to his homeland in the coming months.

Indeed, Bastoni’s reputation has taken several hits since the start of the calendar year.

In addition to his Derby d’Italia shenanigans, the Italian defender emerged as one of the main culprits for the Azzurri’s fiasco in the FIFA World Cup playoffs.

Therefore, his future at Inter is hanging by a thread, with Barcelona ready to offer him an escape route from Serie A at the end of the season.

Inter Milan Star Alessandro Bastoni Makes Decision on His Future Amid Barcelona Rumors

Kept in high esteem by head coach Cristian Chivu, Bastoni is reportedly open to staying at San Siro.

Moreover, it is his priority. However, his life in Serie A has become unbearable due to mounting criticism and constant boos from opposing fans.

Therefore, the former Atalanta man would reportedly embrace a move to Barcelona in the summer.

Meanwhile, he has already informed the club of his intention to stay. Furthermore, he is reluctant to continue his career in the Premier League.

As such, he’ll either stay at Inter next season or join the Blaugrana.

Drew Scharnowski announced on Sunday that he’s transferring to Duke from Belmont, which has led a lot of people to ask: who is Drew Scharnowski?

As it turns out, he’s pretty promising.

When you watch this video, you’ll see a guy who is big, athletic, and smart.

He is a capable defender, and a willing one, who could pick up some of Maliq Brown’s responsibilities. Statistically, he played about 22 minutes, averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks. He shot 68.1% overall, but just 20% from deep, and free throws are a significant weakness at just 43.6% on a team that finished around 70 in KenPom.

So he probably won’t spend a lot of time on the perimeter. However, when you watch the linked video, you’ll notice that he has an unusual intelligence for passing. This guy makes some pretty great passes. In particular, he has a knack for getting the ball to teammates who are moving through traffic to the basket. Not everyone can do that.

He seems like a good fit for what Scheyer has looked for in big guys.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting in 1907…

David Potter’s Celtic Books

David’s bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything completely sold out in print  but is available on  Amazon kindle, with all the photographs of the hardback edition, for HALF PRICEat just £3.49…

Peter Somers scored twice

ONE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1907 – Celtic beat Hearts 3-0 in a Scottish Cup Final to show the world what a great side they are, for they are at the top of the Scottish League as well as Scottish Cup winners for the 5th time. The game is a little one-sided, and although Hearts moan about a few refereeing decisions, the 50,000 crowd see a great Celtic display with two goals from the ever-inventive Peter Somers and a penalty scored by Willie Orr.

Andy McAtee scored

TWO – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1912 – The League season ends in a whimper with a 1-1 draw against Raith Rovers in front of a meagre crowd of 4,000. The Scottish Cup is safely in the bag, but the Scottish League has been lost once again. But there are some good youngsters appearing, one of them being Andy McAtee from Croy who scored today. The main topic of conversation, however, is the extent of the disaster in the North Atlantic involving the “unsinkable” HMS Titanic

Bobby Lennox scored

THREE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1968 – Desperation time at Celtic Park as Bobby Lennox scores (with his shin!) the scrappiest goal of his life, but it keeps Celtic at the top of the Scottish League on goal average with only one game to be played. Earlier Willie Wallace had scored, but Morton had equalised, and looked like holding out for a draw. That same Morton had been the team who had drawn with Rangers on Wednesday to equal to allow Celtic to draw level in the League race. Parkhead celebrated as if the League had been won.

WATCH THIS…20th April 1974, Bobby Lennox scores this goal in a 2:0 win over Aberdeen.

FOUR – WEDNESDAY 20th APRIL 1983 –The death wish continues as Celtic, having lost to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday, now blow up at home to Dundee United to imperil their chances of winning the League and everyone can predict that they will now go to Pittodrie on Saturday and lose again. Not without cause are fingers pointed at Charlie Nicholas who was mysteriously missing on Saturday, but restored tonight. Although he scores a penalty in the 2-3 defeat, he fails to produce the victory that Celtic needed. Celtic Park is a dark, ominous, brooding sort of place tonight.

Andy Thom scored twice

FIVE – SATURDAY 20th APRIL 1996 – Celtic are finishing strongly, today defeating Falkirk 4-0 at Parkhead, but Rangers are still ahead. It is generally agreed that Celtic have played the better football, but it looks as if they will finish second. However, the new stadium is making progress and 35,692 see Andy Thom score twice, Simon Donnelly once and Jorge Cadete once as Falkirk are put to the sword.

Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…

Click to join Celtic Pools

More Stories / Latest News

Celtic Turbulent Season – Martin O’Neill answers second SOS for season finale

Apr 20 2026, 10:43

20th April – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day

Apr 20 2026, 10:36

Scottish Cup Definitive Ratings – Celtic v The Wild Bunch

Apr 20 2026, 10:14

Erling Haaland suggested that had he gone to ground after his head to head with Gabriel, then it would have been more likely that the Arsenal defender was sent off.

Both players were booked for the incident during City’s 2-1 win over the Gunners.

“I think if I fell on the floor there which I would not do unless someone really attacks me, I think maybe it would be a red card, I’m not sure,” Haaland told Sky Sports after the game.

“I haven’t seen the situation (back) to be honest but it is what it is. I will not fall on the floor easy like this.

“Yellow card for me? I don’t know why.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Manchester City news by joining our Man City WhatsApp channel. 

Haaland scored the all important winner for his side in the second half and reflecting on his battle with Arsenal’s two centre-backs, he said: “I scored the goal, so of course I won that battle in the decisive moment.

“It was a good cross, the ball came, and the finish was perfect. I think it was a great goal and the decisive moment.”

If you enjoy our articles, help us out by making Hayters.com one of your preferred sources on Google by clicking here. 

It has been another action-packed weekend across 'The 72' and Playmaker is here to run you through some of the outstanding performers and statistics from the EFL.

From the slickest passers enroute to the most tenacious tacklers via the busiest goalkeepers, we have all the headline stats you need to know from this afternoon.

Let's dive in...

Top performers in the EFL

Most shots on target: 4 - Mohamed Touré (Norwich City) / Dávid Strelec (Middlesbrough) / Patrick Bamford (Sheffield United)

Most tackles won: 8 - Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)

Most aerials won: 11 - Tom Lees (Peterborough United)

Most passes completed: 97 - Bobby Thomas (Coventry City)

Most key passes: 6 - Rúben Rodrigues (Bolton Wanderers)

Most saves: 9 - Wyll Stanway (Barrow AFC)

Most interceptions: 5 - Kenny McLean (Norwich City) / Hakeem Odoffin (Luton Town)

Most successful dribbles: 6 - Nestory Irankunda (Watford)

Most big chances created: 3 - Kieran Green (Grimsby Town)

Player of the Day

Player of the Day

Kasey Palmer

Midfielder - Luton Town

9.1

Final Scores

Championship 2025/26

EFL League One 2025/26

EFL League Two 2025/26

Jari-Matti Latvala guided Toyota’s new GR Corolla Rally RC2 to its first American Rally Association National Championship win at the Olympus Rally.

The 18-time World Rally Championship event winner headed a Toyota 1-2 after emerging from a 98-car field at the Washington-based event, which previously hosted the WRC from 1985-1988.

After being beaten on the opening stage by four-time American champion Brandon Semenuk, Latvala hit the front from stage two. Semenuk’s challenge was short-lived as a rear differential issue on his Ford Fiesta Rally2 ended his victory hopes.

Latvala went on to win the following 15 stages, held across three days, to clinch his first win on American soil, and his first in a modern rally car for three years. The Finn took the win by seven minutes from Toyota team-mate Seth Quintero. The final place on the podium was filled by Lia Block, the daughter of the late Ken Block, after guiding her Hyundai i20 N Rally to a well-deserved third, 2m50.2s adrift of Quintero.

“The final day went well. We had no issues, and we completed eight stages, so it was quite a long day,” said Latvala.

“With nearly 300 stage kilometres in total, it was comparable to a WRC rally. It’s been great to see such a long event.

“It’s been enjoyable to drive here. The atmosphere has been surprisingly relaxed, and the stages are fantastic There are very good roads here. Of course, there are still things that can be improved on the organisational side.”

Toyota's GR Corolla is longer than the GR Yaris raced in WRC

Latvala secured the victory by winning the Mason Lake stage, a test that had previously been conquered by Juha Kankkunen, driving a Group B Peugeot 205 T16 in 1986.

“On our first pass, we were 17 seconds faster compared to the Group B time,” Latvala added.

“These cars have clearly evolved. Back then there was more power, but it couldn’t be used effectively due to the suspension. Tyres have also improved significantly."

Latvala, who has been involved in the development and testing of the Toyota GR Corolla, admitted there are still areas for improvement in the car.

“The Corolla has a longer wheelbase, which makes it very stable and enjoyable on fast sections,” he explained.

“The body is heavier than the Yaris and the longer wheelbase means that in slower, tighter corners it tends to understeer slightly. That’s an area we need to improve.

“If we could make the car a little lighter, that would also be beneficial.”

Toyota brings Corolla back to rallying with all-new rally car

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

1. JORREL HATO (6.8)

It was another game in which there wasn’t much to be happy about, but young Jorrel Hato continues to catch the eye with some solid performances at the back — once again deployed out of position, at center back.

Not many players have shown improvement since Liam Rosenior’s appointment, but Hato is one of the few exceptions, and that’s certainly nice to see. His future isn’t at center back, but that sort of versatility can only help.

2. MARC CUCURELLA (5.9)

Speaking of left backs, Cucurella seems to be rounding into some decent individual form, which is also good, though it also isn’t too likely to ever be game-changing.

3. ENZO FERNÁNDEZ (5.6)

Enzo does have the capacity to be game-changing on a regular basis, but luck was not on his side this time. Perhaps in a different narrative he scores his big chance and we get a meaningful celebration. Instead, he’s forced off with a cramp late on, with only the cynical narratives prevailing.

vs. MANCHESTER UNITED (PL, H, L 0-1)

EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —

EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —

GOOD (6.5-7.4): Hato (6.8)

AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Cucurella (5.9), Enzo (5.6), Caicedo (5.5), Sánchez (5.5)

SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Estêvão (5.3), Chalobah (5.0, sub), Acheampong (5.0, sub), Gusto (4.9), Lavia (4.8, sub), Fofana (4.7)

BAD (3.5-4.4): Palmer (4.4), Neto (4.4), Delap (4.0)

TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): Garnacho (2.5)

OVERALL

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to begin their nine-week offseason workout program on Monday. Here's a full look at the current 72-man roster, highlighting returning stars, key additions, and early roster battles to watch as OTAs approach. The NFL just announced its nine-week off-season workout routine for all 32 teams. The training programs are divided into three phases: one mandatory minicamp for the entire roster and one rookie minicamp for each group.

Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program, during which activities are limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program and includes on-field workouts, which may involve individual or group instruction.

Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program, during which teams may conduct ten days of organized team practice activities, or “OTAs.”

No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

Eagles' first day:

April 20

OTA Offseason Workouts:

May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4

Mandatory Minicamp:

June 9-10

73 man roster ahead of NFL Draft

Quarterback

#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee#16 Andy Dalton

Jalen Hurts will shortly begin on-field work with Sean Mannion. Hurts will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, while the Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolina to acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.

Running back

#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele

#36 Cameron Latu (FB/TE)

Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.

Wide receiver

#11 A.J. Brown#6 DeVonta Smith#0 Hollywood Brown#80 Darius Cooper#89 Johnny Wilson#86 Quez Watkins#82 Danny Gray

#18 Britain Covey

#13 Elijah Moore -signed March 24

Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade

DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season. Only five Eagles have three 1,000+ yard receiving seasons – Brown (four), Smith, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Quick. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.

Tight end

#88 Dallas Goedert#83 Johnny Mundt#81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. JenkinsN/A Jaheim Bell

#36 Cameron Latu

Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra played in 62 games with 22 starts. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role. Cameron Latu will assume the role of fullback. In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.

Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.

Offensive line

LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson

#74 Fred Johnson, #78 Myles Hinton, #73 Cameron Williams, #67 John Ojukwu, #66 Drew Kendall, #61 Willie Lampkin, #75 Jake Majors, #63 Hollin Pierce

The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach. The Vikings didn't retain Kuper after four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season, versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.

Defensive line

#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young#96 Gabe Hall

Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.

Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.

Edge rusher

#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie

N/A Joe Tryon-Shoyinka#43 Jose Ramirez

N/A Ta'Quon Graham

Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.

Linebacker

#53 Zack Baun#30 Jihaad Campbell#54 Jeremiah Trotter Jr.#42 Smael Mondon Jr.#59 Chance Campbell

N/A Chandler Martin

Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.

Cornerback

# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#32 Jonathan Jones#22 Mac McWilliams#41 Tariq Castro-FieldsN/A Ambry Thomas

After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded after landing Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.

The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia and Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas the Seahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.

Safety

#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps#48 J.T. Gray#31 Andre' Sam#49 Brandon Johnson

Before last Friday, Philadelphia had Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre Sam, and Brandon Johnson on the roster. On Friday afternoon, the Eagles traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.

Specialists

Kicker: #4 Jake ElliottPunter: #10 Braden MannLong snapper: TBD

Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles don't have a long snapper under contract.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles 73-man roster as off-season workouts begin

Atlético de Madrid have reported on the injuries of Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth.

The club statement

"Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sørloth finished the Copa del Rey final with discomfort. The club’s medical staff carried out tests which recommend the utmost caution to avoid the risk of injury, so they will follow an individualized plan over the coming days, training separately from the group. The progress of this discomfort will determine their return to training with their teammates."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Exeter City winger Ilmari Niskanen's leadership has been praised by interim manager Matt Taylor.

The 28-year-old Finland international set up Exeter's second goal in their dramatic 3-3 draw with Stockport County on Saturday, which saw City goalkeeper Jack Bycroft score a stoppage-time equaliser.

The draw kept them within two points of AFC Wimbledon as the Grecians try to move out of the final League One relegation spot.

Niskanen, whose contract runs out in the summer, has provided 13 assists and scored two goals this season.

"He's huge and he typifies the character of the group," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.

"He's not perfect in any way; there's certain moments in the game, but he just runs and runs and runs.

"He never says a word, but he's a leader within the group; people just follow him in terms of his actions.

"I want and need more of them and the team needs more of them, but he's an inspirational figure and I think he's had the reward of his best season to date in terms of goal contributions."

The New England Patriots are about to begin their preparation for the 2026 season. On Monday, players are invited to Gillette Stadium to begin the offseason workout program.

The first phase will focus exclusively on strength and conditioning work and like most of the program is voluntary to attend. Nonetheless, the expectation is that a significant portion of the roster will participate. Among the players set to arrive at the Patriots’ facility on Monday are starting quarterback Drake Maye as well as most if not all of the team’s leaders and free agency signings.

The offseason workout program consists of three phases, and will run for almost two months. As stipulated by Article 21 of the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, all of it with the exception of mandatory minicamp in mid-June is voluntary.

The first phase, as mentioned above, will focus on strength and conditioning. Players are allowed to spend 90 minutes on the field each day and two hours in total at the club facility under team supervision. Patriots director of sports performance Frank Piraino, who arrived alongside head coach Mike Vrabel last year, will lead the charge.

After two weeks, the Patriots will transition to Phase 2. Over a three-week period, they will be permitted to hold individual and group drills. Additionally, offensive players will be allowed to line up across from other offensive players, and defensive players will be permitted to do the same on their side of the ball. No full-speed or full team drills are permitted at that point in time.

The third and final phase will start in late May and cover the last four weeks of the program. The Patriots will be able to hold 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but neither live contact nor full pads are permitted. Phase 3 will also feature 10 days of organized team activities as well as the aforementioned mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.

The reigning AFC champions announced their full offseason workout schedule earlier this month.

St. John head baseball coach Stephen Laurent knew what the Eagle program needed even before he accepted the job.

It was a matter of crossing thresholds.

“This is a school where I had been trying to get a job a couple of times over the years,” the first-year head coach said.  “I knew coming into it that was a lot of potential here and a lot of love and support from the community.”

He also knew the community wanted him to help the players fulfill their potential.

After leading the Eagles to their first district championship in several years, he accomplished his biggest first-season goal.

The students and the community already knew what they wanted from Laurent. They wanted the Eagles to beat Ascension Catholic, a school that has been a thorn in St. John’s side for years.

“I heard it from my first day here,” Laurent said. “It wasn’t just the students, either — it was people throughout this community, along with the parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents, so it’s become our main goal.” 

The accomplishment was profound, yet bittersweet. 

Ascension Catholic and St. John will not be in the same district next year, which marks a break in tradition that goes back decades. 

“We knew this was our last crack at beating them in district play,” he said. 

It’s not the only change for the program.

Laurent eliminated weaker opponents on the schedule in favor of bigger schools that could test Eagles to their full abilities.

The Eagles started the season 0-5.

Frustration is a natural emotion during a losing streak, but Laurent urged the players not to dwell on the record. 

“I kept preaching to the players that we’ve got to go out and play the game,” he said.

It meant the Eagles had to look past the team and not dwell on an opponent’s record. 

“I emphasized that we had to go out every day and play to the best of our ability as a team,” Laurent said. “It took a while, and I told them it would not happen overnight.”

For Laurent, it has been more than the standard approach of wins and losses. 

He knew his team needed confidence before they could compete against the larger schools. 

“We went straight to the gauntlet, find our team identity and give some guys their first start on the mound so they could get those butterflies out,” Laurent said. 

He now gets calls from other coaches, who have one question for him. They want to know how he managed to turn around the Eagle baseball program his first year at St. John.

It was not a complex issue.

“We simply out there with the goal to compete and grow,” Laurent said. “I’ve had seniors who have been the heartbeat of the team, and they really stepped up, which also strengthened their leadership.”

It’s all been about execution and creating a sense of urgency. 

The team also had to put the losses behind them and look ahead.  

“Whether we win or lose, we must learn from it,” he said. “Our objective this season has been to play the game, learn from it and move on.”

Some of the players have said the win against Ascension Catholic gave the Eagles the sense of confidence they needed, but it’s not one win or one team that helps a program turn the corner, Laurent said. 

“I’ve had to teach our players they should go into a game expecting to lose,” he said, “The goal has been to go out and play team-baseball — and that’s where our success has come from.”

Now that he has crossed the threshold to get into the Eagle program — literally and figuratively — Laurent intends to make this year’s success merely the starting point for the future of the program.

He wants to establish a feeder program and bring players in by eight grade to learn what is expected from the St. John baseball program. 

Even as coach, he does not see himself as the catalyst for the program’s current or future success.

“I tell our players about them,” he said. “Right now, they have a chance to change everything.” 

This article originally appeared on Plaquemine Post South: St. John crosses threshold with victory against Ascension Catholic

Vincenzo Montella was full of praise for Juventus and head coach Luciano Spalletti following their 2-0 win over Bologna on Sunday evening, but jokingly warned the Bianconeri tactician: ‘From here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Yildiz’.

Montella, head coach of Turkiye, was a guest analyst on Sky Sport’s Serie A coverage on Sunday evening and spoke in-depth about his role, his relationship with Yildiz and his previous experiences working under Spalletti.

Montella on Turkiye role and Italy disappointment: ‘It’s not all negative’

It has been over six years since Montella last worked in Italy, joining Adana Demirspor in 2021 before being appointed as head coach of the Turkiye national team in 2023.

He explained to Sky Sport viewers why he decided to make the move to Turkiye five years ago: “I didn’t have any interviews in Italy for a year and a half. I went to Turkiye to get back into the game because there weren’t any interviews coming my way here, no chance,” (via Tuttosport).

“I also thought about stopping coaching because there were no chances, then COVID arrived. I was fine at home. Then some teams that I didn’t like came along. Then I decided to go and work my way up in Turkiye and start again.”

And on the difficulties that face Turkiye heading into the 2026 World Cup, he added: “We don’t have a recognised striker, so it becomes important for us to come in with players of great quality, strength and speed, especially in attack. We’ve gathered talent, I’ve brought them together under this banner, we’ve given them a bit of tactical organisation.”

As we all know, Italy will not be competing at the 2026 World Cup following their third consecutive defeat in the World Cup play-offs back at the end of March.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy shows reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

“It’s not all negative,” Montella insisted. “Italy, taking away some of the strongest teams, is competitive. There’s a bit of tension with the non-participation in the World Cup, but this team deserved to go because of its technical values. I wouldn’t be so defeatist.”

Montella on Juventus, Spalletti and Yildiz: ‘He’s always been a genius’

Montella and Spalletti’s paths have crossed several times throughout their careers, first as players at Empoli, and later as player and coach respectively at Sampdoria and Roma.

TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“We played together in ‘92. I was at the beginning of my career and he was almost at the end of his. Then he coached me at Empoli, Sampdoria and I saw him again at Roma. He’s always been a genius because he invents, studies, develops and his teams always play well,” said Montella.

During his time in charge of Milan, Montella also coached a young Manuel Locatelli: “I’m pleased to see him all grown up and the captain of Juve,” he said.

Montella feels that Juventus could have done with the services of Dusan Vlahovic heading into the final stretch of Serie A fixtures, though: “I’m sorry he’s injured because I think he could have made a big contribution.”

And on Yildiz, Montella said: “He always wants to improve, he’s balanced. There are signs that make you notice him immediately. ‘Mister, let me do something else’. He never comes off the pitch, he arrives earlier than anyone else and still does. And in my opinion, he’s destined to improve even more.

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“He’s devastating in one-on-ones, the opponents can barely get the ball off him. I like to play him on the left with Turkiye for our organisation, but he also has to come inside and play.”

And if there’s one piece of advice that Montella can offer Spalletti: “If I have one suggestion, from here until the end of the season, let’s not take any risks with Kenan, please.”

Washington Commanders fans, I understand many of you are frustrated and questioning the job GM Adam Peters has done in his two NFL drafts. However, Washington fans, how do you think the Commanders' future would be in the hands of Duke Tobin?

Tobin handles the roster and drafts of the Cincinnati Bengals, though his title is actually "Director of Player Personnel." The Bengals were in a very similar situation to the Commanders until Saturday night. The Commanders finished 5-12 and the Bengals 6-11 in 2025. Thus, the Commanders have the No. 7 pick and the Bengals had the No. 10 selection. The Bengals have one of the better quarterbacks in the game, Joe Burrow, as do the Commanders with Jayden Daniels.

The Bengals have had trouble protecting Burrow from taking many hard hits each season. In fact last season, Burrow was only able to play in eight games due to Burrow's injury. It shouldn't be overlooked that in 2020 and 2023 Burrow was only able to play in ten games those seasons due to injury as well.

Saturday night, the Bengals traded their No. 10 selection to the New York Giants for their 340-pound nose tackle, Dexter Lawrence. The Bengals gave up the No. 10 selection in this draft for a nose tackle who was drafted eight years ago!

Get this: the Bengals could have selected one of the several offensive linemen expected to be drafted in the first round at No. 10 to help keep Burrow standing and playing in more games next season. They could have drafted the highest player on their board at No. 10 regardless of position to help their team, and that player would have been on a rookie contract the next four seasons.

But no, Tobin chose to trade that valuable pick to the Giants for a nose tackle that will turn 29 in November and pay him a one-year extension of $28M. This means they will only have Lawrence through the 2028 season, whereas the draft choice would be through the 2029 season, and if you exercise the fifth-year option, he would be with you through the 2030 season.

Fourthly, the Bengals had lost pass-rushing defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency. At No. 10, the Bengals could have taken the best defensive player on their board. In Tobin's defense, I get it that the Bengals were 31st in yards surrendered in 2025. Lawrence is a good nose tackle, and I can see a contender picking anywhere from 25-32, considering making such a trade. But what was Tobin doing trading the No. 10 pick overall for a nose tackle?

If he wanted to address losing his top pass rusher, he doesn't know who is going to be still available at No. 10. It could be such defensive prospects as Safety Caleb Downs, DE Rueben Bain Jr, second-rated corner of the class Jermod McCoy, perhaps even the highest rated corner Mansoor Delane.

Surely, no one else was offering the Giants anywhere close to the No. 10 selection for Lawrence. Does Tobin not waiting to see who is available at No. 10, Thursday night, suggest Tobin was impatient and prematurely jumped the gun?

Yes, Commanders fans, several players in the 2024 Commanders draft have not yet had breakout seasons, but neither can they be considered 'busts' either. Thus, is Peters due all the criticism he has received? In addition, don't be upset if he trades back Thursday night, receiving good value in an attempt to rebuild this roster.

Lastly, remember how much worse it was, MUCH worse. Consider Ron Rivera's production from his four FIRST- round selections during his tenure when he had final say on all drafting: Chase Young (2020), Jamin Davis (2021), Jahan Dotson (2022) and Emmanuel Forbes (2023).

Peters' first-round choices Jayden Daniels (No. 2) and Josh Conerly (No. 29) have both already proven to be much better.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Adam Peters would not have made Bengals mistake

The NFL draft is just three days away, and the smokescreens are rising across the league in what could be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory.

The Tennessee Titans will be on the clock early, and at this point, there are way too many variables to truly decipher what they will do with this all-important haul. While they have some holes to fill, they are in a better place than when they kicked off the offseason.

With the next group of rookies preparing to come to Nashville, Bryan DeArdo took a look back at the past 25 drafts and found the best and worst of the Titans' draft classes since the year 2000.

Tennessee TitansBest pick: RB Derrick Henry (No. 45 overall, 2016)

After a quiet first two seasons in Nashville, Henry quickly became one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He won back-to-back rushing titles with the Titans, which included a season that saw him become the eighth player to run beyond 2,000 yards in a season. With the Ravens, Henry had the greatest season in NFL history by a running back over the age of 30 in 2024 when he ran for 1,921 yards.

In 2026, Henry could conceivably pass four running backs to move into sixth place on the NFL's all-time career rushing list.

Worst pick: OT Isaiah Wilson (No. 29 overall, 2020)

Barring injury, not many first-round picks end up playing in just one regular-season NFL game. Discipline issues, however, led to Wilson's career amounting to just one game. He was traded to the Dolphins for a seventh-round pick in 2021 but was released just three days later after showing up late for his physical and missing two workouts.

Landing King Henry in the second round was a homerun. A rare combination of size and speed, he was not only the face of the franchise, but he has also proven to be one of the most dominant backs of his generation.

As durable and impactful as Henry was, Wilson was the polar opposite, and his selection definitely started the Titans' downward spiral. Wilson flamed out before the Titans even struck the match, and they cannot afford another miss of that caliber.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Best and worst NFL draft picks of last 25 years

Union St Gilloise appear to have taken a decisive step in their bid to win back to back Belgian Pro League titles. The side won 2-1 against Club Brugge in a brutal encounter in Brussels, with January signings Mateo Biondic and Besfort Zeneli helping the side come back from 1-0 down. It looked like Kevin Rodriguez had given Union St Gilloise the lead, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Almost immediately, Brandon Mechele gave Club Brugge the lead from a corner. Kjell Scherpen did not cover himself in glory with how he tried to keep the ball out, but the 26-year-old goalkeeper more than made up for it with an incredible save late on to deny Aleksandar Stankovic from a corner.

It was fitting that once again, Union St Gilloise’s ability to recruit talent helped them get over the line agaist Club Brugge. Biondic signed from the German regional leagues and scored his second goal for the side. It was a well taken finish from the striker. Zeneli was hardly a surprising signing from Elfsborg, but his finish oozed with class and was worthy of winning any game.

In the race for the title, Union St Gilloise are now fully in control. They still have to travel to Brugge for the reverse fixture, but currently have a four point lead over their title rivals. Given the disparity between both Union St Gilloise and Club Brugge compared to the rest of the sides in the play-offs, this game felt like Club’s best chance to deny Union St Gilloise another title. Both sides should have enough to win their remaining games against the other teams in the play-offs, although Club will now be praying that someone else can do them a favour ahead of the return fixture.

For now, it appears that title number 20 for Club Brugge will have to wait. Instead, the trophy appears to be staying in Brussels for another year.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Inter Milan striker Ange-Yoan Bonny could reportedly return to the starting lineup in Tuesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final decider against Como.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, it could be a perfect chance for the Frenchman to regain Cristian Chivu’s trust.

Signed from Parma for a reported fee of €25 million last summer, Ange-Yoan Bonny enjoyed a dream start to life at San Siro.

Indeed, the 22-year-old racked up four goals and as many assists in the opening 12 Serie A rounds.

However, the numbers have dwindled since the end of October, with Bonny’s form taking a dramatic downturn in the second half of the season.

Ange-Yoan Bonny to Start in Inter Milan vs Como Showdown

Bonny has only scored two Serie A goals since October, finding the net against Lazio and Pisa.

Furthermore, his last goal in any competition came in a 2-1 Coppa Italia win over Torino in February.

It’s also worth noting that Bonny hasn’t started a single competitive match since March’s Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan.

Still, he could take Francesco Pio Esposito’s place in attack tomorrow, hoping to help Inter reach the grand final.

Otherwise, his long-term future at San Siro could potentially be at risk.

Anaheim (Calif.) Western quarterback Chance Thomas picked up a big offer over the weekend that could be a game changer in his recruitment. 

We’ve seen Thomas multiple times this off-season and noted he’s a ‘trend up’ quarterback in our eyes. He was a top performer at Elite 11 Regional Camp and the Under Armour Camp and has a nice combination  of size, arm talent and athleticism. 

Kansas has been recruiting Thomas harder than anyone and he has an official visit locked in for June 5. He visited Stanford over the weekend and the Cardinal have now offered as well. 

“This was my second time visiting Stanford and I had a great trip,” Thomas said. “I would say the highlight for me was watching the team practice and seeing the new offense installed. 

“They had a scrimmage and that was interesting to watch as well. Of course getting the offer was great too and Stanford is 100% in the running right now.”

Thomas said the offer came towards the end of the trip and he was able to meet with multiple members of the staff. 

“I talked with Tavita Pritchard, Andrew Luck and the general manager, Albert Garcia,” Thomas said. “It was towards the of the visit and I was very excited.

“Being able to have an opportunity to attend a school that caliber of Stanford is truly a blessing. I have high interest right now but I’m not ready to make a quick decision. I still want to take my official visits and then I’ll make a commitment.”

Thomas locked in an official visit to Stanford for May 29 and is talking with a few other schools as well.

“I’ve been talking with Utah for awhile and Iowa State recently started to reach out as well,” Thomas said. “I had an offer from Washington State and now that staff is over at Iowa State so there’s a connection there.

“I have great relationship with the Kansas staff and have already been up there once and really liked it a lot. It’s a good all around fit and they have been aggressive in recruiting me so they are definitely one of my favorites.”

Maverick Vinales will sit out this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, with the Tech3 MotoGP rider yet to make a full recovery from a shoulder surgery.

Vinales withdrew from last month’s US Grand Prix to return to Europe and undergo an operation to recover a displaced screw from his left shoulder.

The Spaniard had been hoping to take advantage of an extended break in the MotoGP calendar to complete his rehabilitation and make a comeback at his home race in Jerez.

But on Monday, Tech3 said in a statement that Vinales will not be fit in time for the first Spanish race of 2025 on 24-26 April.

The 31-year-old is now hoping to rejoin the grid at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans on 10 May.

"It’s obviously disappointing not to be racing at Jerez this weekend,” Vinales said. “It’s a huge event for me and the first of my home races this season. 

“I know my body well though and right now the priority is to recover properly and make sure I can come back in the best possible condition for the rest of the season. Everything is moving in the right direction, and the target is to be ready for Le Mans.” 

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Vinales had high expectations from his second season aboard KTM machinery after signing five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo as his rider coach.

While pre-season testing suggested no signs of lingering effects from his Sachsenring crash in 2025, Vinales struggled for performance across the opening two races at Buriram and Goiania and eventually withdrew from the third round in Austin due to severe pain.

Scans showed that a screw that was fitted to his shoulder in the aftermath of his German GP crash had become loose - and required surgery. Tech3 was initially planning to announce test rider Pol Espargaro as Vinales’ replacement for Jerez, but the 34-year-old is also unfit after sustaining a hand injury in the build-up to the race.

As such, the KTM satellite squad will contest the race with a single bike for Enea Bastianini, who returned to the podium in the sprint race at Austin.

Guenther Steiner, Red Bull KTM Tech3 CEO said: “I don’t ask for these situations, but somehow they keep turning up anyway. Of course, there’s a bit of irony in it, but the reality is that this is not how we wanted to arrive in Jerez.

“First Maverick is recovering, then Pol injures his hand, and suddenly the plan changes very quickly. We have looked at the alternatives, but we also must make sensible decisions that are right for the team and for the wider project. 

“The positive is that Enea comes into this weekend with good momentum after Austin, and that gives us something strong to build on as we head into the European leg of the season.” 

KTM backs “unlucky” Maverick Vinales to return and become "second leader"

Has Ducati stagnated or have its MotoGP rivals caught up?

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Along with all of the results from UEFA'S 'Top 5' leagues, Playmaker is here to provide you with a rundown of the top performers.

From the slickest passers enroute to the most tenacious tacklers via the busiest goalkeepers, we have the headline stats you need to know.

Off we trot...!

Top performers

Most shots on target: 4 - Lorenzo Colombo (Genoa) / Giorgi Kvilitaia (Metz) / Moussa Al-Tamari (Rennes) / Adrien Thomasson (Lens)

Most tackles won: 8 - James Garner (Everton)

Most aerials won: 10 - Danilho Doekhi (1. FC Union Berlin)

Most passes completed: 125 - Illia Zabarnyi (PSG)

Most key passes: 8 - Saud Abdulhamid (Lens)

Most saves: 10 - Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)

Most interceptions: 5 - Matteo Cancellieri (Lazio) / Victor Nelsson (Hellas Verona) / Pedro Porro (Tottenham)

Most successful dribbles: 6 - Jérémie Boga (Juventus)

Most big chances created: 2 - John McGinn (Aston Villa) / Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) / Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) / Anthony Caci (Mainz) / Luis Díaz (Bayern München) / Michael Olise (Bayern München) / Chris Trimmel (1. FC Union Berlin) / Vincenzo Grifo (SC Freiburg) / Emerson Palmieri (Marseille) / Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC) / Matthieu Udol (Lens)

Player of the Day

Player of the Day

Morgan Gibbs-White

Midfielder - Nottingham Forest

9.4

Final Scores

Premier League 2025/26

LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26

1. Bundesliga 2025/26

Ligue 1 McDonald´s 2025/26

Serie A 2025/26

It was a nightmare 45 minutes for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. Not only did Olympique Lyonnais race into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Endrick and Afonso Moreira, but they also lost key midfielder Vitinha (26) to injury. 

The Portugal international seemingly injured his right ankle when landing during a duel with Real Madrid loanee Endrick. He was subsequently taken off by Luis Enrique and replaced by Warren Zaire-Emery, who, for the first time in 40 matches, did not start for Les Parisiens.

Vitinha went straight down the tunnel, took off his boot and was seen hobbling back to the dressing room. With a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich coming up, it was a concerning image for PSG. 

As per a report from L’Équipe, the midfielder will undergo an MRI on the ankle injury on Monday. The good news on Sunday, despite the 2-1 defeat, came in the form of Fabián Ruiz’s return, following a three-month absence. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has issued a defiant rallying cry, insisting the Premier League title race remains "all to play for" despite rivals Manchester City seizing control.

The Gunners' 2-1 defeat by Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday has left them on the cusp of relinquishing their long-held top spot.

Should City secure a victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, Arsenal’s 200-day reign at the summit would conclude with just five matches remaining.

However, even in that scenario, Mikel Arteta's side would still be level on points with the reigning champions, prompting Odegaard to urge his teammates to deliver a crucial win against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday.

"We have to keep going," Odegaard stated, reflecting on the intense battle. "It was always going to go all the way to the end so we have to keep going, keep working hard and sticking together. We just look forward to the next game now and bounce back.

“We created a few big, big chances (against City) so there are some positives to take. It is frustrating at the moment but we’ll analyse it, move onto the next one, and it’s all to play for. This is the best part of the season so we will just look forward to the next game."

Sunday’s loss marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive domestic defeat, following their Carabao Cup final loss (also to City), a shock FA Cup exit against Southampton, and a crushing home defeat by Bournemouth.

This recent slump has fuelled a narrative of "bottling" their trophy ambitions as the season approaches its climax, with the Emirates Stadium experiencing palpable anxiety and even boos from sections of the crowd after the Cherries defeat.

While City will be engaged in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend, Arsenal's home fixture against Eddie Howe’s struggling Newcastle presents an immediate opportunity to reclaim momentum.

Amid this high-stakes period, former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has called for Arsenal fans to throw their full support behind Arteta’s title-chasing squad.

Speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, he remarked: "The Arsenal fans need to be better. I saw them boo the team off the other day. Arsenal have been brilliant all season, they are in a bad run of form, and they need to understand how much the fan support means to the players and how much it can help you.

“Those players would have put so much hard work into being in a position where they are now so to lose a game and get booed off, that would have hurt the players, 100 per cent.

“For Arsenal to win the league, the fans need to play their part. They need to get behind the team. They want to win the league, and they are desperate to do that, but they have a role to play."

With a depleted group of relievers, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted one of their top prospects ahead of their Sunday contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.

23-year-old Wilber Dotel got the call to pitch for Pittsburgh while on a road trip with Triple-A Indianapolis. Originally slated to start for the Indians on Saturday evening, Dotel instead found himself making his MLB debut with the Pirates, helping to close out their victory over the Rays.

The Dominican Republic native was called upon in the ninth inning, and said he was filled with emotion coming out of the bullpen.

 “On my way to the mound, I wanted to get there as fast as possible just to get on the mound and start throwing my pitches,” Dotel said.

Dotel first faced Junior Caminero and gave up a homer, but remained poised during the rest of his outing. The next three batters were retired with no more hits or runs allowed, and Dotel had eight pitches registered at more than 98 mph. He would pick up his first big league strikeout against Jonathan Aranda.

Pirates’ manager Don Kelly was pleased with Dotel’s performance.

“That was impressive,” Kelly said, “Especially for a guy making his debut in the ninth inning with a lead and give up a homer and then come back with triple digits and stay in the zone. That was phenomenal.”

Dotel was signed by the Pirates in 2020 as an international free-agent at 18-years-old. Known for blazing fastballs, Dotel has quietly but effectively moved up the Minor League ranks, and has been a real fixture in the Pirates’ farm system since 2023. 2025 was Dotel’s best season to date. With Double-A Altoona the righty had a 7-9 record with a 4.15 ERA over 125.2 innings. His 131 strikeouts ranked third in the Eastern League, while he had a career low in walk rate (3.1 BB/9) and a career high for strikeout rate (9.4/9). Dotel made just three starts in Indianapolis before being promoted.

Despite not having played in relief in three seasons, it is the spot that Dotel is most valuable right now and figures to be where he is used at this season with Pittsburgh. He did pitch two innings out of the bullpen for the Buccos in Spring Training, so he’s optimistic that the transition will not be that difficult. Time will tell if Dotel is a full time reliever for the Pirates, but it is a group that could use some fresh blood as it has struggled in 2026.

Wilber Dotel is the Pirates’ 12th ranked prospect.

The arrival of Dexter Lawrence with the Cincinnati Bengals via blockbuster trade is a move the team hopes can change the landscape of both the AFC North and the broader NFL. 

For now, it’s just going to massively change the Bengals’ depth chart and NFL draft outlook. 

Lawrence’s position of interior defensive lineman was a heavily scrutinized one for the Bengals this offseason before his arrival. BJ Hill was coming off a down season due to injury and TJ Slaton had a ho-hum season, firmly planting him as a cut candidate. 

The Bengals signed Jonanthan Allen this offseason to aid the rotation, putting even more pressure on recent draft picks Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. 

There are only so many roster spots to go around, so two names are now back to full-blown cut candidate status. 

Bengals cut candidates after Dexter Lawrence trade

The two names should be obvious at this point: 

• TJ Slaton
• McKinnley Jackson

Slaton is a fine run defender but wasn’t one of the guys Bengals brass were going to bat for at the combine and other appearances. He’s a $6.6 million cap savings as a pre-June 1 cut, so the Bengals could look to make that happen, especially once we know more about Lawrence’s new contract details. 

The Bengals aren’t going to be ready to give up on Jenkins, though. He’s a former second-round pick and could gain much by learning from guys like Lawrence and Allen, never mind Hill. 

Jackson, though, might be on the way out. He asked for a trade or release in the middle of last season while being unable to crack the active roster. While a third-round pick from the same draft as Jenkins, things were well headed to cut territory before the Lawrence trade. 

Given the cap savings potential, Slaton would happen before Lawrence. But Jackson could be on the hot seat all summer. Jenkins has the potential to join him if they add more names and/or he struggles, too.

Bengals updated depth chart after Dexter Lawrence trade

DE: Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson, Isaiah Foskey

DL: Dexter Lawrence, T.J. Slaton, Kris Jenkins, Jordan Jefferson

DL: B.J. Hill, Jonathan Allen, McKinnley Jackson, Howard Cross

DE: Boye Mafe, Shemar Stewart, Antwaun Powell-Ryland

The Bengals will obviously go with a multiple defense on a likely per-opponent basis, kicking edges inside and going with odd and even fronts. This is merely aimed at giving a loose look at the current makeup of the roster in this area before the draft.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals cut candidates, depth chart after Dexter Lawrence trade

It is easy to forget now, looking back through the lens of promotion, that Frank Lampard was not universally popular when he first arrived at Coventry City. It was less to do with his mixed managerial record and more because Coventry fans, and many players, felt it was their destiny to reach the top flight under the guidance of Mark Robins. Supporters were “devastated” and “sickened” when he was sacked in November 2024.

Robins had almost single-handedly revived the club from their darkest days in League Two, earning two promotions and reaching the Championship play-off final in 2023, where Coventry lost to Luton at Wembley. He had come so close, giving blood, sweat and tears over seven years, and surely it was his right to take the final step.

But Coventry’s new owner, the businessman Doug King, felt the dressing room needed a new voice and he made a bold, risky decision. Perhaps he also sensed a commercial opportunity in appointing one of the world’s most famous footballers as manager.

On his first day at the club, Lampard gathered everyone in the gym – players, staff, chefs, cleaners – and told them to start believing the sky is the limit for Coventry. The club has not looked back, and 18 months later they are heading back to the Premier League.

One staff member told The Independent Lampard’s “relentless drive” has been at the heart of Coventry’s promotion season. His determination was a trait of his playing career and the stories of him staying behind as a young player to work on his speed and finishing are well worn. So perhaps it is no surprise that the word “standards” is used repeatedly by people at the club to describe his impact.

Few have had a better view of Lampard’s impact than Harry Colledge, a fifth-generation Coventry fan who swapped his season ticket for a payslip when he started working in the club’s kit department three years ago, which he now runs.

“We are in the dressing room at half-time and full-time,” Colledge says. “He motivates me! He makes me want to do a few laps. He’s brought a winning mentality to the club.

“He does talk a lot about his experience and how it relates to situations in-game for us, and where things can change. And just the way he views a game of football is incredible, especially to someone who’s obviously not played the game. Working in this environment, it makes someone who’s not played the game feel like you don’t know much about football.”

Does Lampard ever need to scream and shout to get his point across? “I don’t think there’s been many occasions when he has,” says Colledge. “He is quite a calm character, but he’s very direct and to the point.”

Colledge lays out kit each morning for Lampard, who commutes up the M1 from his home in London and often stays the night in the city. Lampard is hands-on in training and will often be directing and marshalling his players on the grass, alongside assistant Joe Edwards.

One of Lampard’s most significant achievements has been to unlock the potential of key players, such as left-back Jay Da Silva and midfielder Jack Rudoni, who shows shades of Lampard in the way he arrives by stealth in the final third. The manager has got the best out of striker Haji Wright, too, who has stood up in certain moments, like his hat-trick against promotion rivals Middlesbrough last month.

Lampard has been supported by the owner, King, who brought the club’s training ground into the 21st century with a much-needed redevelopment in 2024. Recruitment has been more hit than miss, particularly in goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, signed on loan from Brighton last summer, and midfielder Frank Onyeka, who signed on loan from Brentford in January to inject quality at a crucial moment in the season when Coventry went off the boil.

But the most important signing has been Matt Grimes, the captain, who arrived from Swansea for £3.5m in January 2025. Lampard has trusted Grimes as his de facto manager on the pitch and off it, giving him freedom to lead with the help of senior players. There are parallels with Lampard’s own career when he and John Terry ran the Chelsea dressing room.

“Grimsey had been a great captain,” says Colledge. “He’s a perfect figure for the dressing room, a true leader who can have the crack with the lads too.”

A lesser known signing is Claire-Marie Roberts, a former swimmer and footballer who joined Coventry as performance director several months before Lampard arrived. Roberts is a chartered psychologist and she is credited inside the club for developing a high-class approach to a raft of areas including injury prevention, recovery and recruitment.

Roberts works closely with the sports science department and Lampard’s experienced first-team coach Chris Jones, who has served Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho, Anotonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel in the past. “She’s overseen a lot of change,” Colledge says. “Recovery and performance has been a key thing we’ve tried to improve.”

She has also been working with the recruitment team to make sure new signings have the right psychological profile for the squad, using what she described to the Coventry Telegraphas a “gold standard psychometric instrument” to measure a player’s character and predict their personality. Lampard has repeatedly credited the unity and attitude in his dressing room for Coventry’s overperformance above their mid-table wage budget.

It has not all gone swimmingly this season. A downturn in results during the winter saw Coventry blow their lead at the top, and Middlesbrough briefly usurped them as Championship leaders. But the club stuck together through the slump – “there was never any panic” in the dressing room, says Colledge – and the 3-1 win over Boro at the CBS Arena sparked fresh belief that they could go and seal promotion.

Throughout his spell, Lampard has sought to build a rapport with fans. This was one of the factors that attracted him to the club: a large, dedicated fan base made him feel he was a sleeping giant, or perhaps a stirring one after Robins’ tenure.

Lampard wasn’t entirely comfortable dishing out his now customary fist pumps after wins, but he knew it was an important way of connecting with supporters. “The fans love him, and I think he shows he loves the fans too,” says Colledge. Lampard was supportive of the idea of having The Enemy play live at the stadium before the game against Sheffield United earlier this season, and their song “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” has become the anthem to Coventry’s rise.

Coventry fans have been through more than their fair share of torment in the past 25 years since they last played in the Premier League. A journey of groundshares, relegations, points deductions and administration brought the club to its knees and turned the fanbase on the club’s former owners, Sisu. Now Coventry are going back to the top flight after King’s managerial gamble paid off.

“It’ll be fantastic,” says Colledge. “It’s been a 25-year wait, I’m very excited.” And it might make his job a little easier. “I’m hoping some of the away dressing rooms might be a bit bigger than the Championship. That’ll help us out quite a lot.”

The Atlanta Falcons are counting down the days until the 2026 NFL Draft, but due to the team's lack of draft capital, there's only so much first-year general manager Ian Cunningham can do. The Falcons' first selection won't come until Day 2 (pick No. 48 overall), and they have just five total picks.

The quarterback position is one that fans will be watching closely in 2026. The team signed veterans Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Siemian in free agency to add competition and depth to the QB room, which includes former top-10 pick Michael Penix Jr.

Since the 2026 NFL Draft is just a few days away, we're breaking down each position group on the roster. Today, we're looking at quarterbacks, including potential draft targets and free-agent options.

Falcons current QBs (3)

• Michael Penix Jr.
• Tua Tagovailoa
• Trevor Siemian

Penix and Tagovailoa are supposed to have an open competition for Atlanta's starting quarterback job. Since Penix is recovering from ACL surgery, Tagovailoa may have the early advantage. The former top-five pick was released by the Miami Dolphins and is looking for a fresh start.

However, Penix believes he will be good to go by the time training camp rolls around. The Falcons are only paying Tagovailoa $1.3 million, so they can truly afford to go with the QB that performs best in camp. Siemian is not a lock to make the roster, though, so the team could add another QB in the draft.

Possible Falcons QB targets in draft

• Haynes King, Georgia Tech
• Jack Strand, MSU-Moorhead
• Jalon Daniels, Kansas

The Falcons met with both King and Strand on pre-draft visits. Both players are late-round prospects and could be options for Atlanta on Day 3 or as undrafted free agents. Kansas Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels is another potential late-round QB prospects for Atlanta. Other notable options include former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck and Clemson's Cade Klubnik.

Remaining free agent QBs

• Russell Wilson
• Easton Stick
• Tyrod Taylor

The Falcons are unlikely to sign another quarterback in free agency, but for the sake of this article, we examined the remaining options. Wilson and Taylor are both experienced veterans who would likely prefer to go somewhere with less competition.

One potential option could be Easton Stick, who played well for the Falcons in the preseason last year. Veteran Aaron Rodgers is among the other notable free-agent quarterbacks, although he will likely sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers if he plays this season.

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons pre-draft quarterback breakdown

No. 7 Texas A&M (31-7, 12-5 SEC) is by far one of the hottest teams in the country after earning its fourth consecutive SEC series, sweeping the LSU Tigers for the first time since 1978, while the Aggies are the first SEC team to sweep the Tigers in Alex Box Stadium since 2022.

Over the first two games, Texas A&M only trailed once during the Friday night opener before the offense exploded late in the game, winning 10-4, led by freshman outfielder Jorian Wilson's two home runs, while Saturday's 7-2 Game 2 victory was much of the same, as sophomore pitcher Aiden Sims dominated to reach 7-0 on the year with six strikeouts and just two earned runs.

Entering Sunday, it was assumed that LSU coach Jay Johnson would go to the bullpen early to give his team a chance, and after Caden Sorrell's 18th home run of the season, combined with Maryland transfer Chris Hacopian's two-run home run an inning later, Johnson did just that, leading to LSU pitcher Deven Sheerin shutting out the Aggies after Gavin Grahovac's RBI single.

Even though the Aggies failed to score after the fourth inning, Aiden Sims, Gavin Lyons, and reliever Clayton Freshcorn continued to provide stability, while Texas A&M stays undefeated on the year after scoring at least six runs, which is quite the stat if the pitching rotation stays steady the rest of the season.

After the sweep, Texas A&M is now in sole second place in the SEC after sweeping rival Texas last weekend, and will now host a talented UTSA team on Tuesday night before facing Florida on the road, starting on Friday night.

Updated SEC Standings

1. Georgia (32-9, 13-5 SEC)
2. Texas A&M (31-7, 12-5 SEC)
3. Texas (30-8, 11-6 SEC)
4. Mississippi State (30-10, 10-8 SEC)
5. Ole Miss (29-12, 10-8 SEC)
6. Auburn (27-12, 10-8 SEC)
7. Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8 SEC)
8. Florida (28-13, 10-8 SEC)
9. Alabama (28-13, 9-9 SEC)
10. Arkansas (26-15, 9-9 SEC)
11. Vanderbilt (24-17, 9-9 SEC)
12. Kentucky (26-12, 8-10 SEC)
13. Tennessee (26-14, 8-10 SEC)
14. LSU (23-18, 6-12 SEC)
15. South Carolina (19-22, 5-13 SEC)
16. Missouri (20-20, 3-15 SEC)

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M baseball in sole second place in updated SEC standings

Wisconsin did not go into the transfer portal to find a polished backcourt star. It sought a higher-ceiling guard, and Addie Deal fits that bill. The 6-foot guard's flashes during her freshman year at Iowa only hint at what her pedigree suggests is coming.

Deal arrived from Iowa after a 2025-26 freshman season that brought All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors and two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. She averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game, shooting 39.4% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point range, and 68.0% at the free-throw line. Her résumé also included a career-high 20 points against Ohio State, two five-assist games (Ohio State and Western Illinois), and a four-3s outing against Oregon, the kind of single-game spikes that hint at more responsibility down the road.

Deal’s size and skill are hard to teach, as is the recruiting profile that preceded them. She was the No. 9 overall recruit in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports, starred at Mater Dei, and was rated the top player in California entering college. She also arrives as a program first, the first player in Wisconsin history who was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, and that kind of talent level is designed to scale with opportunity.

Done DEAL ✅

2025 McDonald’s All-American, former five-star recruit, and All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection Addie Deal is a Badger! 🦡 pic.twitter.com/5EFWtQCIer

— Wisconsin Women’s Basketball (@BadgerWBB) April 15, 2026

The question is consistency. Deal’s 29.7% mark from deep and 68.0% at the line show she is not yet a reliable perimeter shot-maker, and her 1.6 assists against 1.7 turnovers per game underscore that her decision-making is still developing. This addition focuses more on upside and growth than immediate, all-around production.

With three seasons left after her freshman year, Deal gives Wisconsin time to develop her into a bigger offensive piece. Next to watch is how quickly she earns a larger role and whether improved shooting and cleaner ball security turn those flashes and that résumé into nightly impact.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers Add Addie Deal from Iowa via Transfer Portal

With the 12th round of the Brasileirão over, it’s time to find out the best 11 players, along with the standout coach.

Eight teams had at least one player represented.

See how OneFootball’s Team of the Week for round #12 turned out: 

Was anyone missing?

Let us know in the comments!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

The 2025 NFL draft is just hours away, and thanks to Jimmy Johnson, Gil Brandt, and Rich Hill, even the most inexperienced general manager can manage most draft-day trades. Every team in the NFL has a trade value chart based on the one devised by the former Cowboys head coach and enhanced by Hill. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is among the best in the league at moving up and down draft boards. Baltimore will certainly be among the teams utilizing the chart to restock a championship roster.

The details of any trade can be found in the value of the moves, using the NFL’s trade value chart.

What is the 'trade value chart?

Back when he was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and building a dynasty, Jimmy Johnson developed a value chart that assigned every draft pick a specific point value. This made it easier for him and front-office types to compare the relative value of draft picks in different rounds.

A system formulated by personnel guru Gil Brandt and the former Cowboys head coach in the 1990s, the chart helps measure the value of draft assets and helps negotiate trades. Known as the "Dallas Draft Picks Value Chart," Johnson's grading system for picks is used by executives across the league and consulted before making final decisions on trade proposals or offers.

Draft capital

Using the trade value chart from DraftTek, Baltimore has the 12th-most draft capital among NFL teams and the third-best draft capital in the AFC North

12. Ravens draft capital: 1913

Picks: Nos. 14, 45, 80, 115, 154, 162, 173, 174, 211, 250, 253

2026 draft value based on Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart

Jimmy Johnson created the original NFL Draft value chart during his time with the Cowboys in the early 1990s. With the guidance of Gil Brandt, the Cowboys assigned numerical values to each draft pick to evaluate their worth for potential trades. The draft value trade chart was created by assigning the highest value to the first pick, which was 3,000 points. After that, each pick lost value, and at its core, Dallas enjoyed a competitive advantage until the rest of the NFL caught on.

In case you're unfamiliar with the old-school Jimmy Johnson trade chart, here's how the Ravens value charts out courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

Round 1 pick 14 (overall value 1100)

Round 2 pick 45 (overall value 450)

Round 3 pick 80 (overall value 190)

Round 4 pick 115 (overall value 64)

Round 5 pick 154 (overall value 30)

Round 6 Pick 162 (overall value 27)

Round 6 Pick 173 (overall value 22)

Round 6 Pick 174 (overall value 22)

Round 7 pick 211 (overall value 7)

Rich Hill Trade Chart

Because the addition of compensatory picks impacts the value of other selections, Rich Hill (Pats Pulpit) updated the chart in recent years to reflect their trade value.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Full Ravens draft order with trade value charts

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• NFL Draft Profile: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon (Thomas Moore) As more teams move to using three safeties, would the Browns be interested in this versatile Duck defender?
• In-depth Look at Browns’ Draft Needs – A great, detailed look from DBN’s Feed (BigBeng614) Sorry, it’s long.
• 2026 NFL draft has how many elite offensive prospects? Expert says number is very low (Jared Mueller) The Cleveland Browns need offensive prospects from the 2026 NFL draft but how many are elite? Not many says Justin Melo
• Cleveland Browns and the origins of the NFL Draft: Part 2 (Barry Shuck) The NFL draft did not always exist. More on the origins, including with the Cleveland Browns

More Cleveland Browns news:

• NFL Trade Rumors: Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys linked to bold first-round blockbuster swap (The Times of India) “NFL News: The Cleveland Browns may be setting up one of the most aggressive draft-night plays in recent memory, and it could come at the expense of the…”
• Three Current Browns Players Who Could Lose Their Jobs on Draft Night (Sports Illustrated) “Following the NFL Draft, these Cleveland Browns players could be at risk of losing their starting jobs this season.”
• Analyst Urges Browns To Make Stunning Pick At No. 6 (Browns Nation) “Even before last season came to an end, many Cleveland Browns fans said the team needed to focus on acquiring offensive help in the upcoming draft.“
• Andrew Berry’s latest draft comments have Browns fans asking one big question (Dawg Pound Daily) “Browns GM Andrew Berry’s recent praise for a top prospect has sparked debate about what Cleveland might actually do on draft night.”
• Browns urged to avoid selecting 315-pound prospect in 1st round of 2026 draft (Sporting News) “The Cleveland Browns have two first-round picks in 2026, but one analyst thinks they should avoid a popular rumored target.”
• Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Good News Despite Ty Simpson Talk (Heavy.com) “The Cleveland Browns may add a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson remains one of the most frequently mentioned names.”
• Browns’ general manager’s comments about Ty Simpson could be seen as a ‘betrayal’ by Shedeur Sanders (Marca) “The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation has drawn attention following reported interest in Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, creating speculation about…”
• Will the Browns draft defense early? – QnA (Youtube) Quincy Carrier reacts to the latest

It wasn’t just the players and travelling supporters celebrating Liverpool’s dramatic derby win, as Steven Gerrard was spotted going just as wild as the rest of us.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute header sealed a 2-1 victory over Everton, and footage shared online has now shown exactly how the former captain reacted in the moment.

Gerrard spotted celebrating wildly in Crosby

A video posted by McNamara’s Sports Bar on Facebook showed Gerrard watching the game with friends at their Crosby venue, before erupting when the winning goal hit the net.

The Liverpool legend could be seen jumping up, celebrating passionately and embracing those around him as the reality of the moment sank in.

The venue captioned the clip: “Scenes in our Crosby venue as Virgil wins the Merseyside Derby for Liverpool in the last minute! 🤯

“What a header and what a celebration from the lads in the club! Does anyone recognise anyone? 👀🔴”

From our perspective, it’s exactly the kind of reaction you’d expect from someone who knows better than most what these games mean to the club and the city.

Liverpool late drama sparks emotional reactions everywhere

The nature of the win made it even more special, with the game drifting towards what felt like a fair draw before Van Dijk produced one of the latest winners in Premier League history.

Moments like that don’t just impact the players on the pitch, they resonate across the fanbase, and Gerrard’s reaction mirrored what so many of us felt watching it unfold.

Curtis Jones’ immediate response to the goal, hands on his head in disbelief, captured the chaos of the moment on the pitch, while supporters inside the ground and across the city erupted in similar fashion.

Even Hugo Ekitike, watching from home while recovering from injury, joined in with a cheeky social media post after full-time, underlining just how united the squad remains.

For Gerrard, though, it’s another reminder that no matter where he is or what role he’s in, he’s still one of us, celebrating the highs and living every second of moments like this just like any Liverpool supporter would.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva admits he made the decision to leave the club at the end of the season “a long time ago”.

The Portugal star helped his side to a huge 2-1 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday as City moved just three points behind their title rivals with a game in hand.

“Very big obviously because it puts us in a position if we win our game in hand we’re on the same points,” Silva reflected. “Two weeks ago this didn’t look very likely, this scenario, so a tough game, a good game, and we’re happy we can be on the same points.

“These big games are like this. It’s the small details, the small margins that make the difference, but overall I think we played a good game. We were there, our fans were there, so I’m really proud.

“It’s a long season. A lot of small details didn’t go our way this season. Not only decisions but allso unlucky plays, we missed a lot of chances, as had a lot of games we should have won. Today things went our way. I’m really happy.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Manchester City news by joining our Man City WhatsApp channel. 

The 31-year-old now says he is focused on ending his nine-year stay at the club on a high.

“I made the decision a long time ago so for me it’s been emotional all season because I knew my decision,” he said.

“I just want to finish on a good ending and win trophies, and I’m doing my best for this club until the end.”

If you enjoy our articles, help us out by making Hayters.com one of your preferred sources on Google by clicking here. 

Arsenal and Barcelona have long been admirers of Nico Williams, with both clubs competing closely to sign him after Euro 2024. Despite that strong interest, the attacker chose to remain with Athletic Club rather than make a move elsewhere.

Last summer, he signed a ten-year deal at the club, a decision that appeared to make clear he had no immediate plans to change teams. His commitment was seen as a major statement, particularly given the number of elite sides tracking his progress.

Arsenal Continue To Monitor Situation

However, that contract has not stopped clubs from maintaining interest in his signature, and Arsenal remain one of the teams keen to sign him should an opportunity arise. The Gunners are expected to assess attacking options again at the end of the season.

Arsenal have been tipped to offload Gabriel Martinelli this summer, and Williams is one of the players who could arrive as part of any reshaping of their forward line. His pace, direct style and attacking quality would make him an attractive option.

The winger has been in fantastic form and continues to do his best to ensure the top teams on the continent keep following him. Strong performances have only strengthened the belief that he could thrive at the highest level.

Barcelona Reportedly Step Back

Williams reportedly has a release clause that can still be triggered despite his long contract, and Barcelona had been expected to push for a reunion with Lamine Yamal in the same side.

However, according to Fichajes, Barcelona have now decided that they will not make a move for him again, having been annoyed that he turned them down in favour of signing a new long-term deal at Athletic Club.

If that report proves accurate, Arsenal could benefit significantly. The withdrawal of one of Europe’s biggest clubs would reduce competition for a player who has remained high on many shortlists.

The Gunners would still need to show serious intent if they want to complete any deal, but the situation may now be more favourable than it was previously. Williams remains a highly rated talent, and Arsenal could move strongly if they decide he is the right target for the summer window.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…

More Stories / Latest News

Barcelona makes a decision that boosts Arsenal’s Nico Williams’ chance

20 April 2026, 10:30

Premier League explains why Gabriel escaped sending off against Man City

20 April 2026, 9:00

Gary Neville blames Arsenal man for Cherki’s goal

19 April 2026, 23:59

Final derby drama seals emotional farewell

There are moments in football that feel scripted, and for Andy Robertson, his final derby against Everton unfolded with a sense of inevitability and theatre. Liverpool’s 2-1 victory, sealed by a towering 100th-minute header from Virgil van Dijk, provided the kind of crescendo that players dream of when closing a long chapter.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the match, Robertson did not hide his satisfaction. “You can’t ask for much better than that,” he said, summing up both the occasion and the emotional weight of his final derby appearance.

This was not just another fixture. It was a clash steeped in history, intensity and local pride. And for Robertson, a player who has defined Liverpool’s left flank for nearly a decade, it represented the end of a deeply personal rivalry with Everton.

Robertson perspective on Everton contest

Liverpool controlled large spells of the match, particularly in the first half when Mohamed Salah’s composed finish set the tone. Yet Everton responded after the interval, with Beto levelling and shifting momentum in a way that only a derby can.

Robertson reflected candidly on the ebb and flow of the game. “Yes, I think so. I thought in the first half we were excellent and were really in control. I thought actually when we conceded the goal we were the dominant and most in control. It felt like it was just a matter of time before we got the second after we scored. I’ve been here long enough and I know how Merseyside derbies go and sometimes when you’ve got momentum, sometimes you get punished. I think that’s what we did.”

That awareness of the derby’s unpredictability is forged through experience. Robertson has seen enough clashes with Everton to understand how quickly control can slip. Yet Liverpool responded with resilience, building pressure until the decisive moment arrived.

“We took a little bit of time to recover, and we just had to keep pushing and then a set-piece right at the death, you can’t ask for much better than that and it was great to see the away end react how they did.”

Winning moment defines Liverpool spirit

The winning goal was not merely about execution. It was about belief. Liverpool’s late surge carried the hallmark of a side accustomed to decisive moments, especially in high-stakes matches against Everton.

Robertson pointed to that collective mindset when discussing the closing stages. “When you get the set-piece you always believe when you’ve got Virgil and you’ve got Ibou in the team, you always believe that they can get on the end of it and thankfully the big man popped up. It’s a massive three points for us.”

That belief has underpinned Liverpool’s success in recent years. Even when chances were missed, including a late opportunity for Rio Ngumoha, the sense remained that the breakthrough would come.

“Rio had a great chance, which I’m sure he would have hoped to have done better with. But we started knocking at the door a little bit.”

The persistence paid off, and in doing so, reinforced Liverpool’s reputation for late drama. Against Everton, that narrative feels almost routine, yet never loses its edge.

Legacy of Robertson in derby battles

For Robertson, this final derby was as much about reflection as result. Nine years at Liverpool have been punctuated by intense encounters with Everton, fixtures that demand emotional and physical commitment in equal measure.

“I’ve loved the Merseyside derby,” he said. “They are the games I will look back on in the nine years I have been at Liverpool that kind of got the best out of me, always got the juices flowing inside me and today was no different.”

There is a clear sense of attachment in his words. Derby matches are not simply contests. They shape careers and identities. For Robertson, they have been a proving ground.

“When I got the nod yesterday, me and Mo spoke about it and said, ‘Let’s just go and enjoy it.’ It’s our last one and we’ve had so many great memories in the Merseyside derby, so many highs, a couple of lows but not too many. They are fantastic games to be involved in and I’m going to miss them, that’s for sure.”

That sentiment captures the essence of his Liverpool journey. Fierce competition, shared triumphs and enduring memories. His final derby against Everton did not just end with a win. It delivered a moment that will sit comfortably among the best of them.

Serie A giants Inter Milan have earmarked Atalanta’s rising star Marco Palestra as one of their top targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri view the 21-year-old as a perfect upgrade on their current options on the flank.

Widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects in European football, Marco Palestra looks destined for a high-profile transfer this summer.

Indeed, the Italian wingback has enjoyed a meteoric rise during his season-long spell at Cagliari, tallying one goal and four assists in 32 Serie A matches.

However, the prodigious star will return to his parent club Atalanta at the end of the season, with La Dea ready to cash in on their prized asset.

Inter Milan Earmark Marco Palestra as ‘D’ Factor

Aware of Palestra’s potential, Atalanta have slapped a stratospheric €40 million price tag on the young gun.

Meanwhile, Inter and several Premier League clubs have already set their sights on the Italian starlet.

With Denzel Dumfries’ future at San Siro hanging by a thread, Cristian Chivu is keen to sign a top-class wingback.

Palestra fits the bill, especially considering his eye-catching technical qualities.

Indeed, only Juventus talisman Kenan Yildiz has completed more successful dribbles than Palestra (65) in Serie A this term.

Palestra’s ability to glide past defenders and carry the ball into dangerous areas make him a constat threat down the flank.

Furthermore, Inter desperately lacked a player of his characteristics this season.

England's Fraser Dingwall has hailed Northampton centre partner Tom Litchfield's advance as a big plus for the club this season.

They were again paired together in midfield for Saturday's thrilling 35-28 win at Exeter Chiefs, which kept Saints on top of the Prem table.

And the team are looking good for the play-offs, as they are 14 points clear of Bristol in fifth place with only five rounds of matches remaining.

"The thing with Litch is, he's been growing year on year, and this year you've seen an extra little turn in him where he's been given even more opportunity," Dingwall told BBC Radio Northampton.

"He's such a good player; the way he carried, his defensive stuff is really good - you feel him more [on the pitch], you feel his collision work, you feel his movement, you feel the way he's able to attack even more.

"He's another one of those typical success stories from this group where someone who gets better year on year, all of a sudden they're carving up games like this."

Dingwall's view was supported by director of rugby Phil Dowson, who described Litchfield's display at Sandy Park as "exceptional".

He added: "To leave Rory Hutchinson at home, a Scottish international, and not miss a beat speaks volumes about Tom Litchfield.

"That's been one of our strengths this year that we have been able to rotate people at times to freshen them up and [other] guys have really stepped in."

Fin Smith's try with just five seconds left on the clock gave Northampton the win, a perfect response to the disappointment of losing to Bath in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals in their previous game.

And the two sides will meet again in the league on Saturday, in a 17:30 BST kick-off at Franklin's Gardens.

Dingwall said staying calm in all situations was one of the hallmarks of their game.

"It's just the belief in what we do and the understanding of what gives us [scoring] opportunities," he added.

"Those opportunities come from the first minute all the way through to the 80th, and irrespective of the context of the game, scoreline or time pressure, we are desperate and keen to keep going after the same things.

"It's going to be another cracker of a game [against Bath]. We showed last week how two teams can really go at it and the boys will really be ready for it."

Mason Miller has been untouchable all season. And so have the San Diego Padres lately.

Miller's scoreless streak is now at 32 ⅔ innings, just one shy of the Padres' franchise record. And perhaps most impressively, the best closer in the game has struck out 27 of 38 batters faced this season, his 71.1% strikeout rate the highest by a pitcher in his first 11 appearances since 1900.

But it takes a good team to give a closer a chance to shine and the Padres are just about baseball's best right now. They've won 13 of 15 to close within a half-game of the Los Angeles Dodgers - and zoom seven spots to No. 2 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

At 15-7, the Padres have baseball's second-best record, thanks in large part to their closer with the wipeout fastball-slider combo that's proven untouchable. Or, as Fernando Tatis Jr. put it, "Game over."

Miller's next task? Preserving his scoreless streak through mile-high Coors Field and Phoenix this week.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Nothing like Coors Field to humble a club on a 126-win pace.

2. San Diego Padres (+7)

• Jackson Merrill has robbed three home runs - still impressive even if Jo Adell did that in one game.

3. New York Yankees (-1)

• Cam Schlittler still taking guff from Red Sox fans, still ready to break their hearts once again.

4. Atlanta Braves (+3)

• Martín Pérez DFA'd, re-signed, still dominates Phillies.

5. Milwaukee Brewers (-2)

• Jacob Misiorowski with a dominant 40% whiff rate through five starts.

6. Cincinnati Reds (+5)

• Won eight of first 10 road games for first time since ... 1990 World Series championship season.

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)

• Mitch Keller sporting a 2.79 ERA after five starts.

8. Cleveland Guardians (-)

• Parker Messick threatened, but Len Barker's perfect game is Cleveland's last no-no. Len Barker is now 70 years old.

9. Detroit Tigers (+4)

• Dillon Dingler leads all major league catchers with .983 OPS, second with five home runs.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• Corbin Carroll hits grand slam one day, exits with back tightness the next.

11. Chicago Cubs (+3)

• They win five in a row but let's not get too excited: Three were against the Mets.

12. Philadelphia Phillies (-8)

• Zack Wheeler set to make season debut next weekend in Atlanta.

13. Seattle Mariners (-8)

• Lefty Kade Anderson's first three pro starts at Class AA: 22 strikeouts, one earned run in 14 innings.

14. Miami Marlins (+4)

• Kyle Stowers returns from hamstring strain, gets drilled in first plate appearance of the year.

15. Tampa Bay Rays (+4)

• Owner Patrick Zalupski visits his pal Tom Ricketts in Chicago, gets some live-work-play development tips.

16. Texas Rangers (-)

• Now 10-40 at T-Mobile Park since 2020. Talk about taxing.

17. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)

• Kazuma Okamoto goes 59 at-bats between home runs.

18. New York Mets (-6)

• If a homestand with Twins, Rockies and Nationals can't fix them...

19. Baltimore Orioles (-2)

• Jeremiah Jackson and Rico Garcia are their best players right now, which is both good and bad news.

20. Athletics (-)

• They depart Yolo County for a telling six-game stretch at Seattle and Texas.

21. Los Angeles Angels (+3)

• An appropriate bevy of tributes for Garret Anderson.

22. Boston Red Sox (-1)

• In danger of getting buried in the AL East.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (+4)

• Won five of their first seven series.

24. Minnesota Twins (-1)

• Still the ABS kings of the moment with 38 successful challenges.

25. San Francisco Giants (+1)

• Lineup so punchless that Daniel Susac will take at-bats from .151-hitting Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey.

26. Houston Astros (-4)

• Are they really this bad?

27. Washington Nationals (+1)

• James Wood's seven homers tied for second in NL.

28. Kansas City Royals (-)

• Salvador Perez, manager Matt Quatraro fall out briefly over "little mental breather."

29. Colorado Rockies (+1)

• Consecutive wins over the Dodgers for the first time since October 2022.

30. Chicago White Sox (-1)

• Munetaka Murakami doubters feeling sheepish: His eight home runs just one behind Aaron Judge.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Padres' Mason Miller powers SD vs. LA in NL West

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Chelsea at American Express Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Diego Gomez, who went off injured against Tottenham, has a knee injury but it's "positive news" in "that it's not as bad as expected". Hurzeler added: "It's not a big injury and it's not an injury that takes him out for months, but we have to be patient to see how it develops."
• Kaoru Mitoma, who was also subbed off on Saturday, had "minor issues" like cramp and is available for Tuesday's game.
• James Milner remains sidelined but Hurzeler expects him to return before the end of the season.
• Solly March had a "minor" setback in training and that is why he was missing from Saturday's squad and will not make the Chelsea game.
• On Georginio Rutter: "He went through a very tough period where he suffered. He kept believing and fighting and now he's showed a great impact when he got on the pitch and got his reward with a goal."
• Hurzeler said he has been "impressed by the character and resilience" of his players after working through a tough patch earlier in the season to close in on a European spot.
• On being a point off Chelsea in sixth: "It's a position we should really embrace and we need to enjoy these moments and games because it's a great opportunity for us to grow."
• He said they face the Blues "with great belief and confidence" following recent results, but are also "very humble" because they know the talent Liam Rosenior's side have.
• On Chelsea: "They have enough individual quality to beat every team in the league. They are not on the best run but they play good football. We have to play intense again if you want to compete with them."

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

The 2026 NFL draft is just hours away, and thanks to Jimmy Johnson, Gil Brandt, and Rich Hill, even the most inexperienced general manager can manage most draft-day trades. Every team in the NFL has a trade value chart based on the one devised by the former Cowboys head coach and enhanced by Hill.

The details of any trade can be found in the value of the moves, as shown on the NFL's trade value chart.

What is the 'trade value chart?

Back when he was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and building a dynasty, Jimmy Johnson developed a value chart that assigned every draft pick a specific point value. This made it easier for him and front-office types to compare the relative value of draft picks in different rounds. A system formulated by personnel guru Gil Brandt and the former Cowboys head coach in the 1990s, the chart helps measure the value of draft assets and helps negotiate trades. Known as the "Dallas Draft Picks Value Chart," executives across the league swear by Johnson's grading system for picks and consult it before making final decisions on trade proposals or offers.

Draft capital

According to the trade value chart from DraftTek, Philadelphia has the 18th-most draft capital among NFL teams and the third-best in the NFC East. We've provided both charts with picks for all 32 teams to help with your mock draft calculations and evaluate what happens on draft weekend.

18. Eagles Draft Capital: 1643.7

Picks: Nos. 23, 54, 68, 98, 114, 137, 153, 178, 197

2026 draft value based on Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart

Jimmy Johnson created the original NFL Draft value chart during his time with the Cowboys in the early 1990s. With the guidance of Gil Brandt, the Cowboys assigned numerical values to each draft pick to evaluate their worth for potential trades. The draft value trade chart was created by assigning the highest value to the first pick, which was 3,000 points. After that, each pick lost value, and at its core, Dallas enjoyed a competitive advantage until the rest of the NFL caught on. In case you're unfamiliar with the old-school Jimmy Johnson trade chart, here's how the Eagles value charts out courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

Round 1 Pick 23 (Point value 760) Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 2 Pick 54 (Point value 360)  Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 3 Pick 68 (Point value 250)  Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 4 Pick 98 (Point value 108)  Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 4 Pick 122 (Point value 50) Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 5 Pick 137 (Point value 38) Philadelphia Eagles 2026Round 5 Pick 153 (Point value 30) Philadelphia Eagles 2026

Round 6 Pick 178 (Point value 20) Philadelphia Eagles 2026

Round 7 Pick 215 (Point value 5) Philadelphia Eagles 2026

Total value: 1621

Rich Hill Trade Chart

Because the addition of compensatory picks impacts the value of other selections, Rich Hill (Pats Pulpit) updated the chart in recent years to reflect their trade value.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Full Eagles draft order with trade value charts

The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away as the New England Patriots continue the process of finishing their board. Things will look quite different for the team this draft picking 31st overall after back-to-back years selecting in the top-five. Cornerback is not expected to be a major need as New England returns their top starters, but they could look to add late-round depth even though Eliot Wolf noted the secondary is not a strength of this class.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for the Patriots at the position.

Patriots’ current cornerback situation

Christian Gonzalez remains without a long-term extension as of today, but the star 24-year-old corner is still under contract and will be leading the Patriots secondary next season. Gonzalez will team back up with Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones, a talented trio who New England leaned on in their run to the Super Bowl.

The depth behind the top three remains a larger question. After being claimed on waivers after roster cutdown day last summer, Charles Woods worked his way into the rotation as the third boundary cornerback and a key special teamer. Woods held his own when called upon for injury relief and currently projects as the team’s fourth cornerback

Mr. Irrelevant Kobee Minor and 2024 sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial Jr., who missed all of last year with a torn ACL, will factor into the depth equation, while the Patriots signed Kindle Vildor in free agency. Brandon Crossley also remains on the roster and being on-and-off the practice squad in his rookie year.

Patriots NFL Draft fits at cornerback

Daylen Everette (Georgia): A former five-star recruit and three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Everette has the size and speed teams look for in a perimeter cornerback. He needs to play up to his 4.38 speed more and cut down on coverage busts, but Everette can provide immediate depth as a rookie with potential for more. | Consensus ranking: 108

Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin): An impressive boundary cornerback at SFA, “Chuck” Demmings was extremely productive over the four years he started recording 35 pass breakups and nine interceptions — while proving to be a top competitor which shows with his physicality. He pairs his strong tape with the height, length, and athletic profile to make him an developmental corner worth betting on. | Consensus ranking: 157

T.J. Hall (Iowa): Hall proved to be a physical cornerback for the Hawkeyes especially coming downhill in the run game and as a tackler. His best work is done in zone coverage as he can be beaten downfield in man which leads to him then getting grabby at times. | Consensus ranking: 170

Thaddeus Dixon (UNC): A physical, outside cornerback coached by Bill Belichick last season (and Steve Belichick at Washington the year prior), Dixon can stick in man coverage and recorded 24 pass breakups over the last three seasons. He only managed two interceptions and will need to improve his tackling, while he also missed half of last season with an injury — but was impressive at the Senior Bowl. | Consensus ranking: 199

Devon Marshall (NC State): Growing up in Massachusetts and attending Catholic Memorial, Marshall was present for the Patriots Local Pro Day this offseason. While he is on the smaller side for an outside cornerback and is an average athlete, Marshall still led the FBS in pass breakups last season and proved reliable in coverage and in run support. | Consensus ranking: 216

Andre Fuller (Toledo): After Quinyon Mitchell was a first-round pick in 2024, the Rockets are now set to see safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and cornerback Avery Smith, and Fuller reach the NFL. While Smith played the inside role, Fuller was a physical boundary cornerback who proved the ability to hold up in man/match coverages. He’ll be a 24-year-old as a sixth-year senior but has enticing tools and truly played cornerback for just one season after starting as a safety. | Consensus ranking: 226

If the Patriots do dip into the cornerback market earlier than expected, Keith Abney II (Arizona State), Devin Moore (Florida), and Davison Igbinosun (Ohio State) are candidates. Other depth options include Jadon Canady (Oregon), Tacario Davis (Washington), Ephesians Prysock (Washington), and Karon Prunty (Wake Forest).

• Reaction as Manchester City win a momentum-shifting match against Premier League leaders Arsenal
• Pep Guardiola's side can go to the top of the table on Wednesday if they win their game in hand away at struggling Burnley
• The celebrations at the end reflected the growing sense that City are poised to strike, writes Shamoon Hafez
• Arsenal had a nine point lead but that is now down to just three in the space of a week
• 'Title race not over yet' according to Wayne Rooney, while Danny Murphy says Mikel Arteta's side 'did not bottle it'
• It would be pretty seismic if they were now to reach the end of the season without winning anything, writes Sami Mokbel
• However, Opta's predictions still have Arsenal as favourites to win their first Premier League title in 22 years despite Sunday's defeat

Arsenal 'did not bottle it' - but will they beat Man City to the title?

Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Clarke is undaunted by the prospect of three away games in a row as they look to secure automatic promotion from the Championship.

Clarke scored an 87th-minute penalty to salvage a point against Middlesbrough on Sunday, which put Town second on goal difference.

They must now travel three times in seven days, starting with Charlton on Wednesday, then West Bromwich Albion and Southampton.

"It's in our hands; it's up to us. We know the scenario we're in, we know it's down to us and we can't rely on anybody else doing us any favours," Clarke told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"I don't think we've been particularly helped by the scheduling this year, but it's what we've got a big squad for - we've got a lot of talented players, and we're going to need everybody to dig deep in the next week or so."

• Ten days to decide second place in the Championship?

Just three points separate Ipswich from Middlesbrough in fifth place, and Clarke said it was up to everybody to rise to the challenge, no matter their level of experience.

"I don't think you can just rely on people who've been there and seen it and done it. Whether you've played one game or 100 games, everybody's opinion is valued, and we're all going to be called upon at different times," the 25-year-old said.

Following his successful spot-kick against Boro, Clarke now has 15 goals for the season and always backs himself to score in that situation.

He said: "I've taken a few this year, and thankfully the nerves don't magnify in terms of what the scenario is; I'm always confident standing over the ball.

"I practice them during the week, and if one comes, you've just got to stick to your thing [plan] - if the keeper saves, he's done well; if I score, I've done well.

"The day before a game I'll pick my spot and take two or three so I know what I'm doing when it comes."

But he continued: "I don't think about individual things too much; I'd rather score zero but we win every week."

Clarke said he hoped the result against Middlesbrough would prove to be a "good point" at the end of the season, which they end with a home match against QPR.

He added: "First half we played really well; we should have given ourselves more of a cushion going into half-time.

"We probably didn't defend a couple of moments well enough, and obviously they're a good team; they grew into the game, started playing some good football, put some good moves together, committed a lot of bodies [forward], and we had to show character to get back into the game.

"Hopefully it's not a bad point, but we set our sights on winning the game and getting back on that winning train, so we're a bit disappointed on that side."

• Latest Ipswich Town news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to Ipswich Town content on BBC Sounds

Barcelona’s ongoing search for defensive reinforcements could spark a wider transfer discussion with Inter Milan, and one unexpected name has now entered the frame – Aron Yaakobishvili.

According to SPORT, the young goalkeeper, currently gaining experience on loan, is attracting attention from the Italian giants at a time when both clubs are assessing their respective needs.

Barcelona’s admiration for Alessandro Bastoni is well known, but turning that interest into a deal is far from straightforward. 

This is because Inter value the defender highly, with a price tag understood to be around €70 million, which is well beyond what Barcelona can comfortably afford outright.

This financial gap has led to internal discussions about potential alternatives, including the possibility of involving players in any future negotiations to reduce the overall cost.

Yaakobishvili emerges as potential bargaining chip

It is within this context that Yaakobishvili’s name has surfaced. 

Inter are reportedly exploring long-term options in goal, particularly with Yann Sommer now approaching the latter stages of his career.

The Hungarian goalkeeper, currently on loan at FC Andorra, has impressed with his development and composure. 

Inter Milan are interested in Aron Yaakobishvili. (Picture credit: X/@fcandorra)

His profile reportedly fits the type of young, high-upside player Inter are looking to bring into their system.

Barcelona’s internal dilemma

At Barcelona, Yaakobishvili is regarded as a promising talent with the potential to eventually step into the first-team setup. 

However, his immediate pathway remains blocked, largely due to the presence of an established starter in Joan Garcia.

With limited opportunities expected in the short term, the club has been open to alternative development plans. 

Another loan spell or even a transfer with a buy-back clause has been considered the most practical route for his progression.

Decision time for Barcelona

The situation now presents Barcelona with a choice to make. 

Holding onto Yaakobishvili would align with their long-term planning, but including him in negotiations could help unlock a deal for a player like Bastoni, someone who would immediately strengthen the first team.

As things stand, no formal talks have taken place, but the pieces are slowly falling into place for what could become a complex negotiation.

First

Second

Farmers’ league

Real Madrid have published a medical report on defender Raúl Asencio, who will be out against Alavés with an illness.

After the tests carried out on our player Raúl Asencio by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with bacterial enterocolitis. Asencio is at home under treatment. His condition will be monitored for further developments.
Source: Realmadrid.com

It’s been a rough second half of the season for Asencio. The defender was playing quality minutes due to injuries but he has missed a significant amount of time since and several reports suggest that he could be on his way out of the club next summer.

Real Madrid have nothing to play for now, so expect some rotations from Arbeloa as the club tries to figure out what to do with several players who could be sold in the transfer window.

After a controversial late penalty helped Ipswich rescue a point at home to Middlesbrough to return to the top two, with a game in hand, on Sunday, we asked what you thought of Town's automatic promotion chances ahead of a run of three away games in six days.

Here are some of your views:

Tom: After Sunday's result I feel like we are destined for play-offs. We simply don't have a good enough number 9, it's what has let us down all season. Neither Hurst or Azon are strong enough to keep the other out of the team. If we still had Delap, we would be promoted by now.

Eric: I am confident that Ipswich will claim the second spot, but I am less confident that any team in the Championship would survive in the Premier League for more than one season.

Beattie: Ridiculous schedule, but the quality of the squad will overcome that, and Town will deservedly be promoted.

John: Guaranteed promotion this year for Ipswich. They'll find it tricky again next year and will come straight back down. McKenna will be gone, and the owners will be looking to offload. You get what you wish for.

Jon: Looking at the other promotion contenders, we are most likely going to need to win three out of the last four fixtures. With one of these being at Southampton, it's going to be tricky. I think it will go down to the last day of the season.

Kevin: I would have preferred a win obviously, but a point against a team who had to win realistically was good. West Brom could be safe by the time we play them, Southampton away will be tough but, again, they have to win realistically. I would rather be in our position than any of the others.

Matt: We achieved a deserved point. All the Ipswich haters will moan about the penalty, but we are second with a game in hand. We have some great players, but I still don't think McKenna knows his best team. We have two world beaters in Philogene and Clarke, but they can't play together. We will get over the line. Just.

Simon: Still in the box seat, which means everyone else is chasing. A win against Boro would have nailed it, but not to be. One game at a time. Believe.

Martin: West Brom and Charlton away are massive games and really tough. They are both fighting for survival, and the Baggies in particular have really turned a corner. I feel a positive result against Southampton will be crucial.

Yestin: I think we are doomed to play-offs and a semi-final loss in these. The lack of a quality striker has stood out for three seasons. Also, Nunez looked fantastic before his injury, but now?

Declan Rice had a defiant response to Arsenal’s major setback in the Premier League title race after defeat to Man City.

Arsenal fell 2-1 to Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with Pep Guardiola’s side trimming the deficit to just three points, while also holding a game in hand.

And at full-time after succumbing to City in the crunch contest, Rice could be seen issuing a rallying cry to his teammates.

Rice could be seen shouting at those nearby, including Martin Odegaard: “It’s not done.”

After desperately trying to fix minds and raise hopes that Arsenal can still win the title, the Gunners not only still hold a three-point advantage, but due to Man City’s involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals, even with a City win at Burnley on Wednesday, Arsenal can extend their lead to six points once again.

That’s because Arteta’s side play twice before City’s next league fixture following their midweek trip to Turf Moor.

Either side of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Arsenal host Newcastle on 25 April and then Fulham visit the Emirates Stadium on 2 May.

While City must wait until 4 May for a trip to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Arteta remained upbeat despite the blow to his hopes of glory, highlighting the manner of the defeat after going close on a number of occasions and hitting the woodwork.

"I am very disappointed not to get a result in the game and in the manner that it happened, but not the performance,” Arteta said.

“ The players felt we lost an opportunity but we have the advantage in the league in the next five game, so let's go.

“A bit of both,” Arteta added when quizzed on how a number of missed chances affected his views on the game. “Because we created big situations against a team that concedes very little, and we've gone into it the right way.

“But at the end, to win or not win is about moments, and when they had moments, they put them in the back of the net and that was the difference.”

Former Tottenham midfielder Andy Reid says Saturday's draw with Brighton will be a "tough blow" for the players after conceding an equaliser in the 95th-minute, but there are "shoots of positivity" to take from the overall performance.

"The crowd brought a good degree of atmosphere to the stadium that I haven't seen for a bit and the players fed off that," said Reid on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It seemed like they were less bothered about possession - which is what Roberto de Zerbi has always been known for - but the performance had a good tempo and intensity.

"They pressed Brighton really high up the pitch and Dominic Solanke was the catalyst for that. They were in the game and the crowd was with them.

"When Xavi Simons scored Spurs' second goal the place erupted and the atmosphere was as good as I've seen it at the new stadium. At this point, you're thinking that this could be the start of something good, but then the Georginio Rutter goal goes in and the life is sucked out of the place again.

"It wasn't toxic in that there was any booing, but it went flat.

"It is a tough blow for them to take but there were shoots of positivity."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Los Angeles Kings (35-27-20, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (55-16-11, in the Central Division)

Denver; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT

LINE: Avalanche -275, Kings +224; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Avalanche lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the fifth time this season. The Avalanche won the previous meeting 2-1.

Colorado has a 27-9-6 record at home and a 55-16-11 record overall. The Avalanche have a +101 scoring differential, with 298 total goals scored and 197 allowed.

Los Angeles has gone 20-11-11 on the road and 35-27-20 overall. The Kings have given up 238 goals while scoring 220 for a -18 scoring differential.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nathan MacKinnon has scored 53 goals with 74 assists for the Avalanche. Martin Necas has three goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

Artemi Panarin has 28 goals and 56 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has scored nine goals and added two assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 7-2-1, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 1.8 goals per game.

Kings: 6-2-2, averaging three goals, 4.5 assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Avalanche: None listed.

Kings: Kevin Fiala: out for season (leg).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Utah Mammoth (43-33-6, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Golden Knights -161, Mammoth +135; over/under is 6

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Golden Knights lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the fifth time this season. The Golden Knights won the previous matchup 4-2.

Vegas has a 39-26-17 record overall and a 21-12-9 record on its home ice. The Golden Knights have a 38-6-11 record when scoring three or more goals.

Utah is 43-33-6 overall and 21-18-3 on the road. The Mammoth have allowed 240 goals while scoring 268 for a +28 scoring differential.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell Marner has 24 goals and 56 assists for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has six goals and four assists over the last 10 games.

Nick Schmaltz has 33 goals and 40 assists for the Mammoth. Clayton Keller has four goals and 13 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-0-2, averaging 4.1 goals, 6.7 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game.

Mammoth: 6-4-0, averaging 4.1 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body).

Mammoth: Barrett Hayton: out (upper-body), Sean Durzi: day to day (upper-body), Jack McBain: out (lower-body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (50-26-6, in the Atlantic Division)

Tampa, Florida; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Lightning -191, Canadiens +158; over/under is 6

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Canadiens lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Canadiens won 4-3 in overtime in the last meeting. Juraj Slafkovsky led the Canadiens with three goals.

Tampa Bay is 16-9-2 against the Atlantic Division and 50-26-6 overall. The Lightning have scored 286 total goals (3.5 per game) to rank fourth in league play.

Montreal has gone 48-24-10 overall with a 17-9-1 record in Atlantic Division play. The Canadiens have a 44-8-9 record in games they score at least three goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Guentzel has 38 goals and 50 assists for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov has four goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Slafkovsky has five goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lightning: 4-5-1, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.5 assists, 6.8 penalties and 17.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Canadiens: 7-3-0, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.6 assists, 5.6 penalties and 14.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Lightning: Victor Hedman: out (personal), Pontus Holmberg: out (upper-body).

Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen), Noah Dobson: out (thumb).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Boston Bruins (45-27-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division)

Buffalo, New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Sabres -170, Bruins +142; over/under is 6

NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Sabres lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Sabres won the last matchup 4-3. Tage Thompson scored two goals in the win.

Buffalo is 50-23-9 overall and 17-6-4 against the Atlantic Division. The Sabres are fifth in the league with 283 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).

Boston has gone 45-27-10 overall with an 11-13-3 record in Atlantic Division play. The Bruins have a 38-10-7 record when scoring at least three goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Rasmus Dahlin has 19 goals and 55 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Pavel Zacha has 30 goals and 35 assists for the Bruins. Morgan Geekie has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 7-2-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.7 assists, 4.4 penalties and 11.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Bruins: 4-4-2, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 3.2 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Sabres: Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: out (arm), Justin Danforth: day to day (lower body), Noah Ostlund: day to day (upper-body).

Bruins: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Manchester United may have struggled to maintain their high standards since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, but they remain one of the most iconic clubs in the world. The Red Devils continue to be heavily followed across the planet thanks to their rich history and tradition, as well as their ability to nurture talented youngsters into world beaters.

Perhaps the most famous example in recent times is Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived at Old Trafford as a lanky teenager and proceeded to take the footballing world by storm. The Premier League giants were looking for David Beckham’s replacement in the summer of 2003 when they discovered the Portuguese starlet.

Ronaldo spent six seasons with United, winning nine trophies and also lifting the first of his five Ballon d’Or awards, before moving to Real Madrid. While his fairytale second coming did not pan out as expected, he remains one of the Red Devils’ most famous sons.

The English giants have similarly kept an eye out for emerging talents across the world in recent years, and one player who remains very much on their radar is Endrick.

Endrick’s struggles at Real Madrid

Real Madrid saw off stiff competition from major clubs in Europe to secure Endrick’s signature in December 2022. The Brazilian arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024, but struggled for game time under Carlo Ancelotti.

His fortunes failed to improve following the arrival of Xabi Alonso last summer, which added to speculation regarding his future. United were reportedly among the clubs considering a loan move for the 19 year old, who ended up joining Lyon instead.

Endrick has been a revelation since the move, registering seven goals and seven assists for the Ligue 1 club in 17 appearances.

Endrick Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

His efforts have already caused a stir at Old Trafford, with United reportedly considering a move this summer. The Brazilian has previously explained his admiration for Red Devils legend Sir Bobby Charlton, and he has now revealed that he grew up watching the Red Devils because of one player.

Endrick’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo

Speaking to Four Four Two, Endrick explained that he was fond of United because of Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: “I had affection for Manchester United, because that’s where Cristiano Ronaldo played and achieved so much. Everyone watches the Premier League – it has excellent clubs, a lot of excitement and a lot of matches that are decided in the final moments.”

“I’ve followed Ronaldo’s career closely and watched YouTube videos of him playing at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al Nassr. It doesn’t matter where he is, I’ll always follow him.”

The Brazilian also confirmed that there was interest from the Premier League in January, and remained coy about a future move. He added: “Yes, there was interest from English clubs (in January), and from Italy and Germany too. Some very good clubs showed interest, but it’s not necessary to mention names.”

“I thank them for their interest. I have God in my life and when I heard about the English clubs that were interested, I didn’t hear God telling me it was the destination at that moment, and neither did my wife.”

“When you get married, you know who’s really in charge! [Laughs] So it’s important to listen to her opinion. But when the name Lyon appeared, both my wife and I felt the touch of God. If one day I go to the Premier League, then it will not only be my decision, it will be something God places in my path.”

Final Thoughts

United could be tempted by a cut-price deal for Endrick, provided Real Madrid are ready to let him go. With the Red Devils expected to participate in four competitions next season, the Brazilian could add depth to the squad, especially with Joshua Zirkzee’s future uncertain.

Featured image Denis Doyle via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Medhi Benatia didn’t hold back after Olmypique de Marseille’s 2-0 loss away to FC Lorient.“It’s a scandal. We were playing against a team that is almost already on holiday, even if they have quality, and we are playing the first of our five finals. We organise training camps to build connections and to work, and yet nobody reacts in the dressing room. Everything is calm, as if nothing happened,” said the outgoing sporting director. 

Benatia was involved in the recruitment of Habib Beye, but the Moroccan initially left after the departure of his predecessor, Roberto De Zerbi. Marseille owner Franck McCourt convinced him to return until the end of the season, but he will not continue beyond then.

There could be a tense few weeks around the Commanderie. This isn’t the first time that Benatia has been higly critical of his players, but La Provence understands that his latest comments have been received particularly poorly by the dressing room. The publication speaks of a “gaping fracture” between the squad and their sporting director.

The measures taken by Benatia may grow that fracture even further. As per a report from L’Équipe, the players’ day off has been cancelled. The Marseille players were therefore at the training ground on Sunday, the day after the defeat to Les Merlus. The training sessions will also be doubled on Tuesday and Wednesday and between Thursday and Sunday, the players will sleep at the training ground.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon has already informed those close to him that he wants a move to Bayern Munich this summer, according to Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri. Newcastle have not been told by the England international that he wants out, but the feeling inside the St James’ Park club is that the Magpies star will seek an exit. Bayern are planning to meet with Gordon’s representatives in the coming weeks as they look to wrap up a deal before the World Cup starts in June.

The Magpies star believes joining the Bundesliga club will be helpful for his career progression after watching Michael Olise’s rise since he left Crystal Palace for them. Bayern won their ninth league title in ten years yesterday, and joining such a club appeals to Gordon. They face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Champions League and Gordon wants to be playing regularly in the competition. Newcastle could miss out entirely on European football next season after suffering their 15th defeat of the Premier League campaign to Bournemouth last Saturday. They are six points off the top-seven and will need to win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium next Saturday to have any hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Gordon is likely to still look to move on regardless of where Newcastle finish, and the club will hope to get top dollar from suitors for his services.

The 2025-26 season has been a miserable one for Real Madrid, and it will almost end without a trophy heading to the Bernabeu. Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have already fallen short in the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, while they are very unlikely to overturn a nine-point deficit to Barcelona in the La Liga title race.

One of the defining moments of Real Madrid’s season was the departure of Xabi Alonso, who left via mutual agreement after losing the Super Cup final to Barcelona. The former Bayer Leverkusen head coach had a decent record during his time in charge, but he struggled to convince the dressing room with his methods, which ultimately led to the decision for him to depart.

As per Marca, Real Madrid icon Luis Figo has questioned whether Real Madrid should have allowed Alonso to leave, as he believes the 44-year-old was not given enough time to make his mark at the Bernabeu.

“The reality is that it is a bad season. For Real Madrid, if you don’t win, it’s always a negative season. When the titles are missing, it’s because things didn’t work. I don’t think he (Alonso) was given enough time. We did not even have time to make an analysis of the months he has been there. It’s very complicated.”

Figo: Atleti unlikely to win Champions League

Figo was also asked about who he sees as the teams most likely to win this season’s Champions League, and among them is not Atletico Madrid, who are Spain’s sole remaining candidate in the competition.

“From what they have shown, my favourites are PSG and Bayern. They are two very strong teams. I like the way they play football, but anything can happen. We’re in the best moment of the Champions League and the teams that are there have deserved it.”

Figo waves lyrical about Lamine Yamal

Figo also spoke glowingly on Lamine Yamal, who continues to grow from strength to strength at his former club Barcelona.

“He is incredible. He is an incredible talent. I hope he continues to grow as a player and that he has an incredible career.”

Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal to ‘keep going’ despite the setback of defeat at Manchester City.

A poor run of form has seen Arsenal’s title race lead reduced to three points, and City can move top of the table with a win at Burnley in their game in hand.

Arsenal have now lost their last four domestic games, exiting both cup competitions, and allowed the Citizens to close in.

Goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland condemned Arsenal to a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad on Sunday, a big blow to the club’s hopes of a first league title since 2004.

Odegaard has aimed to rally his side, with the Arsenal captain insisting the title race is far from over.

“Keep going, keep going. It’s always going to be going all the way to the end, so we have to keep going, keep working hard, and sticking together, you know,” he said post-match.

“Just look forward to the next game now and bounce back, and keep going.

“We created a few big, big chances there as well, so of course there are some positives to take – frustrating at the moment, but we’ll analyse it and move onto the next, you know – bounce back.

“It’s all to play for – and it’s the best part of the season. It’s all to play for, so we’ll just look forward to the next game now, and go from there.”

Read – Premier League Awards: Derby drama and Arsenal agony

See more – Premier League Team of the Week – Silva, Gibbs-White, Cherki

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Barcelona are hoping to make at least two major additions to Hansi Flick’s squad during the summer transfer window, with their hope being that those will be Alessandro Bastoni and Julian Alvarez. They are also poised to seek a replacement for Marcus Rashford, who is unlikely to remain at the Spotify Camp Nou on a permanent basis.

Barcelona are happy for Rashford to re-sign, but they are only considering another loan at this stage – something that Manchester United have already ruled out. Because of this, it’s become increasingly unlikely that he will stay beyond the summer, and alternatives are already being considered.

Low-cost options are being prioritised, such as Ez Abde, Jan Virgili and Victor Munoz, but the emergence of Bradley Barcola could change things. According to Sport, the Paris Saint-Germain could rise to the fore within the Can Barca offices if he becomes available on the transfer market this summer.

Liverpool are seen as likely candidates to sign Barcola, whose contract situation in Paris has cast doubt on whether he will remain at the reigning European champions beyond the summer. But in the event that Barcelona free up the required salary space from the expected departures of Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, they are seen as an option to sign the PSG man, whom is long-admired by sporting director Deco.

Barcelona have tense relationship with Barcola’s agent

Barcola is appreciated within the offices of Can Barca, but the same cannot be said for his agent Moussa Sissoko, who was blamed for orchestrating Ousmane Dembele’s Spotify Camp Nou exit in 2023. Negotiating with him is something that won’t be easy for Deco, but if he wants to get a deal done, it would be necessary.

There is talk that €80m could be enough to sign Barcola this summer. It will remain to be seen whether Barcelona have that left in the bank by the time they sign a new centre-back and striker, as those are the priority objectives for Deco.

Patrick Vieira has questioned Mikel Arteta’s decision to substitute Eberechi Eze during Arsenal’s defeat at Manchester City.

Eze was withdrawn with 16 minutes remaining of Arsenal’s 2-1 loss at the Etihad, despite the Gunners chasing an equaliser.

The England midfielder had been positive in the final third for the North Londoners and came closest to scoring in the second half, when his effort cannoned out off the inside of the post.

Arsenal failed to find a route back into the game, in a defeat with damages their Premier League title hopes.

Former Gunners captain Vieira has said he was ‘disappointed’ to see Eze brought off, at a time when Arsenal needed attacking inspiration.

“Eze didn’t stay on the left-hand side, he came inside and created the overload and that was, I think, the tactical plan. It was really interesting to see him in that position because he touched the ball a lot,” Viera said.

“I was a bit disappointed, to be honest, that he came off because I think he was getting into the game and he could create chances for scoring goals because he’s got that quality. Taking him off, I think I was disappointed to see him off.”

Read – Odegaard sends Arsenal message after title race setback

See more – Premier League Awards: Derby drama and Arsenal agony

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

The long road of qualifying matches has finally come to an end. On 31 March, the decisive moment arrived when the last European nations secured their places in North America. If you follow the 2026 World Cup closely, it becomes clear that this tournament promises to be the most gruelling challenge in modern sport. We can expect 104 matches over 40 days, including flights between Mexico City and Vancouver with varying humidity levels and time zones.

This is no longer just football — it is a true test of endurance and squad depth. At times like these, when the excitement of the play-off finals has not yet subsided, many turn to analytics on licensed platforms. Pin Up World is one of them, where you can place sports bets, track odds in real time and use analytics for betting. 

World Cup Playoffs: The triumph of resources over exhaustion

The final World Cup Playoffs in March served as a brutal lesson for anyone hoping for a miracle. We watched Sweden and Turkey literally snatch their spots through superior bench strength. The Swedes broke Poland in regular time only because their manager could bring on two fresh attackers who maintained high speed during the final stretch of the match. This was a harsh lesson for teams relying on a single star veteran. 

The March qualifiers confirmed the old rule. In modern football, the resource wins. Italy only managed to overcome Bosnia in extra time, and once again, the decisive moments came from players coming off the bench.

This is a clear signal for the giants. If your roster lacks depth of at least 20 quality players, you will go home after the group stage. Fatigue accumulates instantly, and the pressing intensity in Europe is so high that no starting eleven can survive three consecutive matches without rotation.

Germany World Cup: Nagelsmann rebuilt the machine

The German national team approaches the summer as one of the most flexible collectives in the world. The Germany World Cup campaign under Julian Nagelsmann finally put an end to the chaos of previous years. The Germans stopped playing sterile possession for the sake of statistics. Now it is an aggressive, vertical team where every movement makes sense. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz define the face of this machine. They operate in the half-spaces between the lines, creating a constant numerical advantage in key areas of the pitch.

The main advantage of the Germans today is their ability to control the tempo and switch speeds at the right moment. They maintain a 91% passing accuracy, but these are now forward passes that cut through the opponent's defense.

Analyzing their recent friendlies shows why the odds on Germany dropped so sharply. Nagelsmann has two experienced players for every position. If Musiala gets tired, Leroy Sane or Pavlovic enters the pitch. The game pattern does not change one bit. This is a team ready for any physical load and climatic surprises.

France World Cup squad: Freshness and the Adidas TRIONDA factor

The France World Cup squad currently looks like a team without visible weaknesses. Didier Deschamps built a system where a leader's injury is not a national tragedy. If William Saliba feels discomfort, players worth 80 million euros are waiting on the bench. This allows France to maintain a frantic pace throughout the month, while opponents wear out from endless flights between Mexico and Vancouver.

The new World Cup 2026 ball features a unique four-panel construction, making its flight extremely fast and unpredictable for goalkeepers. When an exhausted defender loses concentration in the 80th minute, a fresh French attacker feels the TRIONDA aerodynamics much better.

One precise strike with this technological projectile can decide the fate of the entire tournament. While you analyze shooting statistics on Pin Up World, notice how often substitutes score from long range. The new ball punishes the slightest goalkeeper fatigue, and fresh legs are the best way to convert this technology into goals.

Five factors for success in the expanded format

The world of football changed forever, and old preparation methods no longer bring results. Roster depth is the only way to the trophy on July 19.

1. Logistical exhaustion. Teams will travel thousands of miles between Mexico, Dallas, and Toronto. A 15-degree temperature difference during a single flight breaks player physics. Without rotation, the squad will simply burn out by the third round.
2. The five-sub effect. Now, a manager can refresh half of the outfield players. This allows for radical changes in the game pattern. You can shift from a cautious 5-4-1 to an aggressive 4-2-4 in a single moment without sacrificing quality.
3. Injury risk. In such a crazy schedule, muscle damage becomes a routine. If you lack a replacement for a key defensive midfielder, your system will collapse like a house of cards in the first serious playoff match.

It wasn’t just the late drama that defined Liverpool’s win over Everton, as Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off with a concerning injury midway through the second half.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Georgian goalkeeper had been deputising for the injured Alisson Becker in recent weeks, but his afternoon at Hill Dickinson Stadium was cut short after a heavy collision during Everton’s equaliser.

Slot delivers Mamardashvili injury update

Speaking post-match via Liverpoolfc.com, Arne Slot provided clarity on the situation, and while the initial images looked worrying, the early signs appear relatively positive.

The Dutchman confirmed: “He has gone off to hospital.”

That understandably raised immediate concern, but the Liverpool head coach quickly offered further context on the nature of the issue.

“It looked to me, and that’s also what they told me, that he had a big wound – an open wound. That’s of course not going to be a long-term injury. Let’s see if he is available for next week.”

From our perspective, that’s about as reassuring as it could have been given the circumstances, especially with the obvious drop in quality without Alisson.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper issues continue

Slot also highlighted just how unusual the current situation is, with injuries stacking up in a position where we are normally well covered.

“We’ve had almost in all positions our problems and now even two goalkeepers being out.”

The 47-year-old added: “So it’s a good thing that we have three goalkeepers, because we usually don’t have three full-backs or three No.9s or three left wingers, and now it happens in a position where we have three players.”

Freddie Woodman’s introduction for his Premier League debut in a Merseyside derby underlined just how stretched we are, although the Englishman did enough as we held on before Virgil van Dijk’s 100th-minute winner sealed a massive three points.

There’s no doubt Mamardashvili’s injury summed up the chaotic nature of our season, with the shot-stopper caught in a collision involving both Beto and Andy Robertson as he tried to prevent the goal.

The hope now is that the issue is purely superficial, because with Liverpool pushing for Champions League qualification, losing another senior goalkeeper at this stage would be a significant blow, even if the depth has just about held up so far.

Our Premier League Awards celebrate the best and worst of the weekend action, featuring a last-gasp Merseyside Derby winner and Manchester City’s massive win over Arsenal.

Moment of the Week

There was a historic first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend as Everton hosted Liverpool at their new stadium for the first time.

Though there were new surroundings, it was a familiar feeling for Everton, who suffered an all-too-familiar heartbreak late on.

The Toffees were stunned in the 10th minute of stoppage time, when Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home a set piece.

It’s the sixth stoppage-time winner that Liverpool have scored against Everton in the Premier League era, a record for one opponent against another. A sore one for the Blues, but their European dream remains alive.

Player of the Week

Morgan Gibbs-White has timed his run of form superbly for the run-in to help lift Nottingham Forest. Vitor Pereira’s team is mired in the dogfight, but Gibbs-White’s goals are keeping them above the drop zone.

The midfielder scored his first career hat-trick as Forest recovered from 1-0 down at half-time to beat Burnley, a result which moves Forest five points clear of the relegation places. It’s six goals in six games for Gibbs-White, who is knocking on the door for an England recall.

Goal of the Week

Rayan Cherki is a special footballer. The Manchester City schemer skipped through the Arsenal defence to score one of the solo goals of the season, and put the Citizens on course for a massive win.

Cherki’s close control and fleet feet saw him dance into the box and fire home, a 10th goal of the season for the Frenchman, who is the only player in the Premier League to reach 10+ goals and 10+ assists in all competitions.

Crucially, his latest intervention might just have swung the title momentum irreversibly in City’s favour. A win at Burnley in midweek can take City to the top for the first time since the opening weekend.

Save of the Week

There were some super saves in the Premier League this weekend, with Emi Martinez’s last-gasp stop against Sunderland vital, and Karl Darlow’s rapid reflexes on show for Leeds.

It’s Bernd Leno who takes this award, however, after the German goalkeeper’s late heroics for Fulham. His 90th-minute stop from Dango Ouatarra ensured the Cottagers escaped Brentford with a point.

Stat of the Week

Eddie Howe and Bournemouth will be forever linked, but the former Cherries coach must be sick of the sight of his old side.

Howe has never beaten Bournemouth in a league fixture since leaving the south coast. Another defeat for struggling Newcastle extended his winless record against Bournemouth to eight games.

Tweet of the Week

A week to forget for…

Mikel Arteta. Arsenal failed to get the job done at Manchester City, and a damaging defeat at the Etihad has opened the door for City to burst through. A win on Wednesday will take Manchester City top of the table on goal difference, and the title race could go down to the wire.

Arsenal have failed to find the definitive performance often associated with champions, and the questions around their big-game mentality continue. Arteta has insisted his team retain belief, but after four consecutive domestic defeats, their season is in danger of falling apart.

Arsenal invested more, by net spend, than any other Premier League team last summer, but did the Gunners get their business right? That Arteta chose to leave marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres on the bench until the final six minutes was telling. The pressure is on.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Silva, Gibbs-White, Cherki

See more – Arteta insists Arsenal still have title belief despite Man City setback

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Arsenal this weekend feels like a massive moment in the title race.

The Citizens are charging towards the finish line as Arsenal have stumbled, with victory at the Etihad slashing the Gunners’ lead in the title race to three points. City, crucially, have a game in hand and can move top of the Premier League with a win at Burnley in midweek.

Pep Guardiola’s side have set up a dramatic conclusion to the campaign. The win means the two teams are almost evenly matched, with the prospect of the Premier League being decided via goal difference if both teams win all of their remaining games.

Only once has the Premier League been decided on goal difference, when City edged out Manchester United in 2012.

There is currently only one goal between the teams, which could lead to other tiebreaker factors being used to determine the champions. If both teams finish level on points and goal difference, the team with the most goals scored this season will be crowned champions. City currently lead by two goals scored on that metric.

However, if points, goal difference, and goals scored are all equal, the title will be decided on head-to-head record.

That would see City’s 2-1 win this weekend crown the club champions at Arsenal’s expense, with the reverse fixture ending 1-1 at the Emirates in September.

What are the Premier League tiebreaker rules? How are things decided after goal difference?

Position in the Premier League table is decided by the following tiebreakers if teams finish on the same number of points.

• Goal difference
• Goals scored
• Head-to-head record
• Away goals scored in head-to-head games

Read – Odegaard sends Arsenal message after title race setback

See more – Vieira questions Arteta substitution after Man City defeat

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

After clinching their 35th Bundesliga title with a 4-2 win over VfB Stuttgart on Sunday, the players and staff of Bayern Munich wore specially designed championship shirts featuring a cockatoo.

As reported by Bundesliga.com, the story goes back to last season when the record champions celebrated their league title at the Munich restaurant Käfer and jokingly took a cockatoo porcelain figurine home with them.

Since then, the restaurant owner has given the team a new lucky charm, which made its return to the pitch during Sunday’s celebrations.

"He already dominated last year's celebrations, and now he's had to wait a long time for us to let him out of his cage again," FC Bayern Leon Goretzka wittingly said in a post-match interview, according to Bundesliga.com, as he carried the mascot onto the pitch.

"But as soon as we win another trophy, he'll be allowed out to mark the moment with us."

With Bayern having reached the semi-finals of both the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League, Goretzka and co. will be hoping for more good omens from their lucky bird.

Vis dette opslag på Instagram

Et opslag delt af Bulinews (@bulinewsdotcom)