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Some were surprised when the Washington Commanders selected Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the 2026 NFL Draft. It was sort of silly for anyone to be surprised, given that it was a seventh-round pick and quarterback is the most important position on the field.

Sam Hartman hasn't exactly panned out as a potential long-term backup to Jayden Daniels, so Washington, like any good organization, is taking a flier on a young quarterback who has played a lot of football. Kaliakmanis will battle for the No. 3 spot in training camp, unless the Commanders bring in another veteran, like Jeff Driskel to play behind Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

Washington also has a new offensive coordinator, David Blough, who undoubtedly had some say in the Kaliakmanis pick.

On Friday, Kaliakmanis took the field for the first time as a Commander on the opening day of the team's rookie minicamp. After practice, he revealed that he received a text from Daniels shortly after being drafted.

"Jayden texted me, actually, after I got drafted, which was pretty cool," Kaliakmanis told reporters. "And I just got put in a group chat with all of the other QBs, so I can't wait to meet them. Big resumes on every single one of them. Grew up watching some of them, too. Really, really excited to meet them."

Athan Kaliakmanis says Jayden Daniels texted him after Washington picked the Rutgers QB to congratulate him pic.twitter.com/ylA0FMNC8o

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 8, 2026

He's right, all of Washington's current QBs, including the OC Blough, have impressive resumes. Daniels and Mariota are former Heisman Trophy winners and No. 2 overall picks in the NFL draft, while Hartman started 57 college games between his time at Wake Forest and Notre Dame.

Kaliakmanis is no slouch either, having started 42 career games between his time at Minnesota and Rutgers, both Big Ten schools.

It's nice to see Daniels reaching out to Kaliakmanis immediately after he was drafted. It shows leadership, which is no surprise considering everything we know about Daniels. The 2026 season will be the third year where Blough, Daniels, Mariota and Hartman are together. It's a tight-knit room, but there will be a competitive battle for the No. 3 quarterback job once training camp begins in July.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels reached out to Athan Kaliakmanis

The hype is real surrounding Notre Dame football and its fate involving the 2026 college football season.

Rece Davis, the host of ESPN’s College GameDay recently went on record that he believes that the Irish will break its title drought dating back to 1988 by winning the College Football Playoff this coming campaign. He’s not the first to make this prediction, as Notre Dame has everything you are looking for in a title contender.

They return an elite defense with stars at every level, but most importantly, quarterback CJ Carr. He’s expected to take another leap following his first-year starting, one that could propel him into the NFL draft as a first-round pick.

Head coach Marcus Freeman has assembled an elite group of talent, most likely the most that he’s had since taking over the program. Recruiting has been fantastic over the last few cycles, and the influx of high-end players through the transfer portal has filled gaps in the roster.

Notre Dame is one of the favorites to win the championship this fall, and if it does come to fruition, the program could go to levels that has not been seen in a long time.

TRENDING: College GameDay Host Rece Davis has named Notre Dame as his pick to win the National Championship this season.

He joins Media personalities like Mark Ingram & Stanford Steve on the list of guys who think the Irish will win their first Title since 1988.… pic.twitter.com/SRdQpufO5q

— Ryan Fravel (@Fravel_Ryan) May 9, 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: College football expert predicts Notre Dame to win the 2026 CFP

Texas A&M basketball is in great shape under coach Bucky McMillan, who is entering his second season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament, including an appearance in the Round of 32 before eventually falling to 2-seed Houston. This success was not expected after McMillan, who was the final Power 4 coach hired last April, had to build his entire roster from the transfer portal.

Senior forward Rashaun Agee led the Aggies in scoring and rebounds during his one and only season in College Station, and while he will be tough to replace, the addition of seven players from the transfer portal, led by former Kansas State guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game last season, has replenished a roster that was lacking size and a go-to scoring option.

Returning to the roster, forwards Zach Clemence, Jamie Vinson, and Mackenzie Mgbako could all slot in as starters, combined with Haggerty and former NBA G-League guard Bryson Warren, while former LSU guard Jalen Reece is a player on the rise and should serve as the sixth man to provide an offensive spark off the bench.

However, after landing LMU transfer forward Jalen Shelley, Texas A&M's size disadvantage last season has officially ended, as Shelley easily fit in as the starting wing and became a reliable scorer near the rim. While McMillan will likely add at least one more forward to finish the roster and head into the summer, college basketball analyst Any Katz placed the Aggies No. 32 in his preseason Top 40.

With the controversial news that the NCAA Tournament will expand to a 76-team field, predicting any team's future at this point is simply speculation, but it's clear that this new roster possesses the traits needed to thrive in Bucky McMillan's fast-paced, high-scoring system.

🚨 The FIRST-EVER #Power44 from @TheAndyKatz is in 🚨

1. Duke
2. Florida
3. Michigan
4. Illinois
5. Tennessee
6. UConn
7. Arizona
8. Arkansas
9. Texas
10. Michigan State pic.twitter.com/awqFok4o37

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 7, 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 basketball ranked 32nd in Andy Katz' Power 44 rankings

The much-anticipated 2026 NFL schedule release is right around the corner.

We know the regular season matchups, with dates to be determined. The 2026 schedule features intriguing showdowns that could potentially be a Super Bowl 61 preview.

Will the Seattle Seahawks defend their title? Can the New England Patriots make it back to the Super Bowl? The Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills currently have the four best odds to win Super Bowl 61, according to BetMGM.

SUPER BOWL ODDS: Rams, Seahawks lead the way after 2026 NFL Draft

NFL SCHEDULE: Home and away matchups for all 32 teams

The roadmap to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles gets clearer once the schedule is released.

USA TODAY Sports predicts five possible Super Bowl 61 previews during the 2026 regular season.  

1. Los Angeles Rams vs. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen was visibly emotional after Buffalo squandered a Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow-less postseason. It's unlikely Allen will be able to avoid his QB rivals during a potential playoff run this year. New Bills head coach Joe Brady is under a lot of pressure to get the team further than his predecessor, Sean McDermott. DJ Moore’s arrival is intriguing. Is he the No. 1 wide receiver Buffalo’s been looking for since Stefon Diggs? We’ll find out a lot about Moore when he’s matched up against Rams CB Trent McDuffie.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams should have a decided advantage versus Buffalo’s secondary. The Rams' offensive line versus Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb is an interesting matchup in the trenches.

This interconference tilt is at SoFi Stadium, the site of Super Bowl 61.

2. Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks

The defending champions have a road date in Denver during the regular season. The game presents a juicy matchup between 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year CB Patrick Surtain. Smith-Njigba had just one catch for 10 yards when covered by Surtain in their lone meeting in Week 1 of 2024, but Smith-Njigba wasn’t Seattle’s primary option then. Sam Darnold’s ability to handle Denver’s constant pressures is a key factor in this battle. The Broncos have led the NFL in sacks in each of the past two seasons.

Sean Payton and the Broncos have to feel like their bad injury luck cost them a chance to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 60. Bo Nix is expected to be ready by training camp after a clean-up procedure on his right ankle. Denver re-signed its leading rusher in J.K. Dobbins and bolstered its wide receiving corps with the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle. This Broncos squad appears to be more talented than last year’s group.

3. Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Nobody expects the Chiefs to have two straight losing seasons, right? Patrick Mahomes is rehabbing and eyeing a Week 1 return. The addition of Super Bowl 60 MVP RB Kenneth Walker III will help ease the load off Mahomes and the passing game. On defense, the Chiefs found their Trent McDuffie replacement in Mansoor Delane. The return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy shouldn’t be understated, either. He helps bring accountability to the offense.

The Rams have the most talented team in the NFL entering the season. There’s a reason why they have the best odds (+800) to win Super Bowl 61. The Rams addressed their biggest weakness – pass defense -- this offseason by trading for McDuffie and they sealed a free-agent deal with Jaylen Watson. Matthew Stafford’s durability is a concern at his advanced age, but the 38-year-old didn’t play like a QB pushing 40 during an MVP campaign last season.

More: Patrick Mahomes is 'ahead of schedule'

4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Houston Texans

Houston’s defense versus Philadelphia’s offense is bound to generate storylines pre- and postgame.

The Texans had a Super Bowl-caliber defense last season, but the unit couldn’t withstand C.J. Stroud’s postseason regression, coupled with five interceptions, which equaled a playoff-high with Bears’ Caleb Williams. The latest out of Houston is Stroud has put in the work this offseason as he hopes to rekindle his 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year magic behind a rebuilt offensive line. The Texans had the NFL’s No. 1 defense last season and are set to return all its key players, plus they added safety Reed Blankenship.

It’s hard to count out the Eagles. The status of A.J. Brown looms large for Philadelphia. With or without Brown, the Eagles’ offensive identity shouldn’t change. They should be a run-oriented football team. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s primary job is to be able to marry the run game with the pass game and revamp what was a basic scheme. The Eagles supplemented the loss of Jaelan Phillipswith Jonathan Greenard. Plus, Philly’s top-10 pass defense should be even stronger with the pickups of corners Riq Woolen and Jonathan Jones.

2026 NFL SCHEDULE: Here's what we already know

5. Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs’ odds to win Super Bowl 61 are at +1600. They are tied with their AFC West rival, the Chargers, for the best Super Bowl odds in the division. Kansas City’s chances are dependent on Patrick Mahomes’ health. The Chiefs' offense should be better with Kenneth Walker III, who will have a revenge matchup against his former club. It’s going to be interesting to see if Rashee Rice can be the go-to target the Chiefs need him to be with an aging Travis Kelce. The Chiefs’ overhauled secondary is expected to start slowly but should improve as greater continuity develops. Rookies Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas could all make immediate impacts on Kansas City’s defense.

The Seahawks’ dark side defense is bound to provide a big test of the Chiefs – plus they know Walker well. Seattle boasted the NFL’s top scoring defense and ranked in the top 10 in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate last season, per ESPN.

Aside from being a possible Super Bowl 61 preview, this game provides the requisite storylines of a good regular-season opener. The Seahawks can raise their Super Bowl 61 banner, Mahomes’ presumptive return to action, Smith-Njigba vs. Delane, Walker faces his former team and Seattle’s dark side defense against Kansas City’s offense all generate intrigue.

More: Ranking NFL's possible season opener matchups: Who gets first crack at Seahawks?

Honorable mentions:

• New England Patriots @ Detroit Lions
• San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Chargers
• Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL schedule release: Ranking 5 mostly likely Super Bowl 61 showdowns

Midfielder Sam Clucas and defender Tom Anderson are among four players being made available for transfer by Shrewsbury Town.

Clucas, 35, scored twice in 40 appearances during the 2025-26 campaign, while Anderson, 32, played 35 games as Town finished 19th in League Two.

Forwards Ricardo Dinanga and Callum Stewart have also been told they can find new clubs following non-league loan spells during the season.

Captain John Marquis, meanwhile, is one of 10 players to be released by the club when their contracts expire.

Marquis, 33, scored six goals in 43 appearances this season, having joined Shrewsbury from Bristol Rovers in 2024.

Also departing is former Portsmouth midfielder Anthony Scully, who scored five goals in 35 games, along with Mal Benning, Harrison Biggins, Alex Gilliead, Nick Freeman, Jack Loughran, Isaac Godwin, Karsten Cairns and Joe Morris.

Left-back Benning, 32, had been with Shrewsbury since 2023 and played 21 times this season.

Defenders Luca Hoole and Josh Ruffels and midfielder Taylor Perry are considering new deals offered by the club.

• Defender Benning leaving Salop at end of season

There are transfer stories that feel procedural and generated by the media, and then, there are those that feel realistic and quite symbolic. The growing noise around Alejandro Balde firmly falls in the latter category.

FC Barcelona being open to offers is not just about the player or how talented he is. It is about a club that is still caught between financial stability and football identity.

Balde’s name surfaces not because he is surplus, but because he is valuable and one of the more sellable assets in the squad, young, homegrown and crucially profitable on paper.

This is where the danger begins.

Because when a club starts seeing its most unique profiles as accounting opportunities, it risks repeating an all-too-familiar cycle. Balde is not yet a finished article, but he is on his way to becoming a solution in the future.

The case for selling: logic, not emotion

Let’s be clear here: the argument to sell Balde is not completely irrational. In fact, it is precisely because it sounds reasonable that it must be carefully dissected.

There are concerns and real ones at that. His percentile radar, as shown in the data, paints a fascinating but incomplete player.

Defensively, he stands out, with elite duelling success in the 98th percentile, strong recovery presence and excellent ball retention under pressure. These are not minor traits. They are structural.

But, the attacking side tells a different story.

His progressive passing sits low. His crossing output lacks consistency. The scatter plot reinforces this theory, depicting high ball-carrying frequency but limited progression through passing.

He moves well on the pitch but doesn’t always connect well, especially in the final third.

For a player tasked with holding the entire left wing in Hansi Flick’s system, such numbers do not make an argument in his favour.

Then, with Balde, there is also the case of availability. Injuries have been a constant part of his career so far, interrupting his rhythm and preventing continuity, the one thing young players generally need the most.

The version of Balde that exploded on the scene and kept Jordi Alba out has not been seen enough in the coming years.

And Barcelona, as always, need money. Immediate, tangible money.

So yes, if you reduce the football to columns and numbers, the argument writes itself: sell now, invest and reinforce. But football needs to be looked at beyond the mere numbers.

The hidden value that data fails to capture

The same data that raises doubts also quietly defends him. Balde’s ball carrying remains elite. His ability to break lines of pressure with the ball at his feet isn’t just frequent; it’s instinctive.

His ball-carrying template highlights this clearly: high penetration, high speed, but low effectiveness in final actions.

The last phase does not mean Balde cannot produce. It is just that this aspect of his game is underdeveloped, as things stand. That is something that is very coachable.

His post-recovery sequences tell another story, one that is easy to miss if you only focus on assists and crosses.

A 92.4% passing accuracy after regaining possession, controlled transitions and immediate forward intent.

He is not chaotic. He is selective. More importantly, he is not a player who is failing. He is just unfinished.

The tactical truth: speed is not optional

Barcelona’s current and future tactical structure, at least as long as Hansi Flick is in charge, demands something very specific from its full-backs.

In a team that pushes high, presses from the front and compresses space, defensive speed becomes non-negotiable. It is what allows risk to exist in the first place and Balde is fundamental to that.

His defensive duel percentile shows that he is a safety net. When Barcelona lose the ball high, more often than not, he is the best bet to stop a transition.

Therefore, replacing Balde is not just about finding another left-back. It’s about finding one who can match his recovery pace, carry the ball through pressure, understand positional play and still have room to grow.

That player does not exist easily. And certainly not for €50 million.

Yes, there is Cancelo, who they can choose to keep permanently, but his strengths and Balde’s are as different as night and day.

The illusion of the “complete” full-back

Modern football has created a dangerous expectation: every full-back must be complete.

Cross like a winger, defend like a centre-back, and create chances like a midfielder. Balde is not that player. Not yet.

Selling Balde would be a mistake. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

To be fair, very few in world football are. Balde’s current limitations, particularly in crossing and final-third decision-making, are often symptoms of a team still searching for attacking clarity.

Fix the structure, and you often fix the player. Sell the player, and you reset the problem.

In many ways, Barcelona have a complete full-back in their ranks between Balde and Cancelo and even that is a luxury for most teams around the world.

La Masia, identity, and the cost of impatience

There is also a deeper layer to this conversation. Balde is not just a left-back. He is part of a lineage.

A La Masia graduate. A player who understands spacing instinctively. A footballer shaped by the club’s positional DNA rather than imported into it. Barcelona have spent years trying to rebuild that identity.

Selling Balde would be a contradiction. A club preaching development wouldn’t do themselves in favours by cashing in on an elite talent prematurely.

The onus is on the club to help him develop into a better version of himself.

Not perfect but necessary

All this leaves Barcelona with a decision that feels fairly simple but isn’t. Yes, Balde has flaws. His game needs refinement. His output must improve. His body must hold up. None of these can be ignored.

But, crucially, none of this justifies a sale this summer. Not at this stage of Barcelona’s rebuild.

Because what Balde offers is far more valuable than a paycheck can. Selling him would solve a short-term problem. Keeping him, however, could solve a long-term one.

Balde has a lot of years left to spend in a Blaugrana jersey, and let’s hope the club think along the same lines and resist pulling the plug prematurely.

*Data source: Tools developed by X/pranav_m28 and DataMB

With the tournament in North America edging ever closer, the honorary president of FC Bayern Munich remains far from convinced by the current state of the German national side.

Speaking in an interview with the FAZ, Hoeneß took aim at Nagelsmann’s approach and in particular the absence of a settled starting XI. “If Germany manages to become a cohesive team even though the coach hasn’t managed to field the same starting eleven twice in a row – then we have a chance,” Hoeneß explained.

The 74-year-old had already voiced similar concerns in a recent interview with DAZN, where he argued that Nagelsmann rotates too frequently and is still yet to establish a clear system or preferred lineup.

Now, however, Hoeneß has sharpened his criticism even further. “I can’t say that at all, because the German team has never played with the same lineup twice in a row,” he said when discussing Germany’s World Cup prospects.

Hoeneß also questioned the uncertainty surrounding several major positions within the squad.

“Who is our center forward? Who plays goalkeeper? Who is the right-back, who is the left-back?” he asked publicly before warning: “If things continue like this, we will end up sending a team onto the pitch for the first World Cup match that has never played together before. And that’s unacceptable.”

Later in the interview, Hoeneß appeared to draw an indirect comparison between Nagelsmann and Vincent Kompany, praising the work currently being done at Bayern Munich.

“The situation is the same as with us. Before the season, everyone said: The squad is too small, the squad isn’t good enough,” explained the long-time Bayern chief.

In Hoeneß’s view, Kompany succeeded in doing exactly what Germany are currently lacking. “But then the coach improved all the players, and above all, he forged them into a team.”

The Bayern honorary president then delivered what many will interpret as a direct swipe at Nagelsmann’s philosophy. “But our national coach believes he’ll win the game. No, the team will win the game,” the 74-year-old declared.

With those remarks, Hoeneß underlined his belief that success at international level is built less on experimentation and tactical reshuffling, and more on creating a settled, united team capable of functioning together on the pitch.

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa spoke to the press this Saturday in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s (10) clash against Barcelona, El Clásico.

And, as expected, the fight between Valverde and Tchouameni was one of the most discussed topics.

The coach gave his version of the controversy involving his teammates, who were punished and fined by the merengue club.

I am very proud of the club’s firmness, speed, and transparency. And also of the fact that the players acknowledged their mistake, showed remorse, and apologized. For me, that is enough."

"Valverde and Tchouameni deserve for us to turn the page and give them a chance to keep fighting for this club. I am very proud of them. I will not allow this to be used to cast doubt on their professionalism: it is a lie that they are not professionals or that they have disrespected me... it is absolutely untrue," the coach stressed.

On top of that, Arbeloa guaranteed that Tchouameni will be included in the squad for El Clásico and said he is "very happy with the work of his four captains."

Controversies involving Carvajal and Mbappé

The manager also denied reports of problems with some players, such as Carvajal. "It is a lie that any of them are not playing because of problems with me or because of their life outside Real Madrid. I am the first person responsible for the fact that the season is certainly not up to standard. But I have been here for four months and I am very proud of my players."

"What I am not going to do is burn them at a public stake, because they do not deserve it," Arbeloa stressed, also saying that he sees a "healthy dressing room."

Asked about Mbappé’s attitude, the coach was direct: "Anyone who wants to take out of context the fact that a player leaves training smiling is distorting things. I can only vouch for him, for his work and for the way he treats me. When he played, it was because he deserved it, and when he did not play, it was because someone else deserved it more."

Betrayal and leaks

Finally, Arbeloa did not hold back in criticizing the reports that came out of the dressing room: "For things that happened inside the dressing room to be leaked seems like a betrayal of Real Madrid and its badge to me."

"I am not accusing my players, or anyone. There are a lot of people at Real Madrid and I am not here to point the finger at anyone. What happens with my players will stay between them and me," he concluded.

Sunday’s El Clásico will be played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. (Brasília time).

Barcelona come into the clash as clear leaders with 78 points, holding an important advantage at the top of the table.

Real Madrid are right behind them in second place with 72 points.

With only four rounds left in the championship after this weekend, the match at the Santiago Bernabéu is the last big opportunity for Los Blancos to cut the gap and reopen the La Liga title race.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Liverpool could put themselves on the brink of Champions League qualification this afternoon if they extend Chelsea’s losing streak in the Premier League to seven matches when the teams meet at Anfield at lunchtime.

Three points for the Reds, coupled with Bournemouth failing to win at Fulham later in the day, would ensure that Arne Slot’s side are in Europe’s primary club competition for next season with two matches to spare in this campaign.

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It’s a scenario which seemed rather fanciful just a few weeks ago when, either side of the spring international break, LFC suffered sobering defeats away to Brighton, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, but a post-Easter revival has improved the outlook significantly.

Liverpool will be without the likes of Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Alisson Becker for the visit of Chelsea, although the Reds boss was hopeful on Friday of having Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili back fit for this game.

The starting XI for this afternoon’s fixture has now been confirmed.

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Liverpool starting XI to face Chelsea

There are three changes from the Liverpool side which began the defeat at Old Trafford last weekend.

Mamardashvili has indeed returned between the sticks, while Milos Kerkez is restored at left-back in place of Andy Robertson. Curtis Jones is set to continue at right-back, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the central partnership as usual.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister start in midfield once more, although one change to the attack sees Rio Ngumoha come in to start in place of Florian Wirtz, who’s absent from the matchday squad.

There is at least a return for Isak on the bench, with Robertson’s experience providing the antidote to the youthful exuberance of fellow substitutes Kieran Morrison, Trey Nyoni, Will Wright and Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo.

You can view the Liverpool starting XI and substitutes below, via @LFC on X:

Chelsea face Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League in just over an hour, and the team news for the game is in!

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.

Robert Sanchez’s nasty collision on Thursday has ruled him out of this game, meaning Filip Jorgensen returns to play in goal for the first time since his horror error against PSG in the Champions League.

After that, things get weird. It looks like a back three, with Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill at centre back.

Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto would then be a wing backs. Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos play as the double pivot, with Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez playing off Joao Pedro up top.

That means Romeo Lavia and Trevoh Chalobah, regulars from recent games, have been dropped.

The formation change was predictable, given we’re so short of attacking options. Liam Delap is the only senior attacker on the bench. Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Mathis Eboue are called up from the youth team.

Reece James, sounded close to being fit for a start today, is also present on the bench.

Here are the full team line-ups for Liverpool vs Chelsea (kick off at 12:30 GMT)

CHELSEA:

Chelsea’s team to face Liverpool.

In other news…

Joe Cole has suggested that Chelsea could bring in two veteran free transfers this summer to help the rest of their squad.

Chelsea are set to compete with Crystal Palace for two of their top manager targets it seems.

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

The English Football League (EFL) has charged Southampton after accusations of spying on their play-off opponents Middlesbrough ahead of their first-leg clash on Saturday.

The charges relate to “alleged unauthorised filming on private property” ahead of the game.

“Southampton Football Club has today been charged with a breach of EFL Regulations, and the matter will be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission.,” the EFL said in a statement.

“This follows a request from the EFL for the club’s observations after a complaint from Middlesbrough relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property ahead of the two clubs meeting in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off semi-final first leg.

“Under EFL Regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges. However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the Independent Disciplinary Commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity. ”

Southampton response

“Southampton Football Club acknowledges the statement issued by the EFL in relation to alleged breaches of EFL Regulations.

“We can confirm that we will be fully cooperating with the League throughout this process.

“Given the ongoing nature of the matter, the club is unable to comment any further at this time.”

LPL 2026 draft introduces bizarre rule: 250k followers on social media needed to register as Icon or Star player originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sri Lanka's Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 demands 250k+ social media followers for Icon and Star player registration in their draft.
• Foreign player registration portal opens May 8, closing on May 18, 2026.
• The sixth LPL edition runs from July 10 to August 5 across four venues.

No followers, no deal! What do the Lankan Premier League registration rules say?

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had published the player category qualification criteria ahead of the sixth season of the LPL, and the document covers six distinct categories: Icon, Star, Gold, Classic, Associate Stars, and Local Emerging U23 players. And one condition stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Both the Icon and Star categories carry identical social media conditions; a following exceeding 250,000, described as essential alongside a large fan base and commercial appeal.

MORE: Is it the end of captain SKY era? Suryakumar Yadav's IPL and T20I form could cost him India spot

The Gold category sets the bar slightly lower at 150,000 followers. Classic and Associate Stars categories list fan base and commercial appeal as requirements, but stop short of putting a number on it.

The Local Emerging U23 category, reserved for Sri Lankan players under 23 who were born after July 1, 2003, has no such social media clause at all.

Whereas, cricketing eligibility requires that icon players must have played 75 T20 internationals, over 100 franchise T20 matches, and at least 30 matches in the past 18 months. Whereas, Star players require 50 T20Is, over 100 franchise games, and 30 matches in the last 18 months.

However, it has been reported that after facing significant online backlash, the condition has been reportedly revoked.

MORE: IPL 2026 Crackdown: PBKS bans Arshdeep’s vlogging

When does the LPL registration window open?

The online portal for overseas player registration opened on May 8, 2026, and can be accessed through the official SLC website at www.srilankacricket.lk. The window will stay open until May 18.

When does LPL 2026 start?

LPL is scheduled to run from July 10 to August 5. It is a return to the mid-year calendar slot the LPL had previously occupied.

This edition had originally been pencilled in for late 2025, with dates between November 27 and December 23, but SLC pushed it back to prioritise venue renovation for the men's T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted with India earlier this year in February and March. 

The Cricket News Opinion: When did cricket become an influencer contest?

The social media follower rule, to put it plainly, was odd. The idea that a cricketer with 10,000 T20 internationals under their belt and 249,999 followers somehow falls short of the Icon standard is the kind of logic that makes you question the eligibility criteria.

The LPL is a young tournament still building its identity. Chasing social media reach through player criteria rather than through the quality of cricket on show felt like the wrong shortcut. The removal of the condition is a step in the right direction.

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Even after losing the likes of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, the Wisconsin Badgers are still among Andy Katz's top 44 teams.

In the first-ever Power 44, Wisconsin earned a No. 36 ranking. Duke, Blackwell's new home, tops the rankings at No. 1.

Fellow Big Ten teams, No. 3 Michigan, and No. 4 Illinois, find themselves in the top five. In total, 12 Big Ten teams were in the Power 44.

Katz may have the Badgers as a bottom-nine team in this set of rankings, but even making the Power 44 proves there's still a lot Wisconsin has to look forward to next season.

🚨 The FIRST-EVER #Power44 from @TheAndyKatz is in 🚨

1. Duke
2. Florida
3. Michigan
4. Illinois
5. Tennessee
6. UConn
7. Arizona
8. Arkansas
9. Texas
10. Michigan State pic.twitter.com/awqFok4o37

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 7, 2026

All in all, Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter are the only returning players in Greg Gard's starting lineup. There's still time for things to change, but incoming freshman Owen Foxwell, along with transfers Trey Autry and Eian Elmer are projected to round things out.

Gard's incoming freshman class has some talent, and he did a great job in the portal as he also brought in Victory Onuetu. A good majority of his bench players are returning for the 2026-27 season, one that would be considered a success if the Badgers simply made it out of the first round.

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 men's basketball earns bottom-nine ranking in Katz' Power 44

Liverpool Confirmed Starting XI vs Chelsea

Liverpool return to action after last Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United and Arne Slot will be hoping for a reaction from his players.

The Reds host Chelsea at Anfield, where a win would secure Champions League qualification for next season. 

Prior to the defeat to Man United, Liverpool had won three games on the bounce against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

Chelsea have had their own struggles, losing their last six Premier League games and only scoring one goal in that run.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane remains in charge, after Liam Rosenior was sacked after the 3-0 defeat to Brighton two weeks ago.

Liverpool Team News

Giorgi Mamardashvili returned to training yesterday and could replace Freddie Woodman in goal. Alisson Becker remains absent.

After a brief scare this week, Ibrahima Konate is available for selection. The same applies for Florian Wirtz, who missed training on Wednesday through illness.

Alexander Isak also returned to training yesterday and is in contention for a return, but Mohamed Salah will just miss out on this occasion.

Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic, Jayden Danns and Hugo Ekitike all remain sidelined with long-term issues.

Liverpool Confirmed XI

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Frimpong, Gakpo, Ngumoha.

Liverpool and Chelsea have confirmed their starting lineups for this afternoon's Premier League clash at Anfield.

The Reds were narrowly defeated last time out against bitter rivals Manchester United, while Chelsea suffered a shock defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.

Both sides will be searching for a crucial three points today, with the Reds closing in on qualification for next season's Champions League, while Chelsea face a fight to stay within contention for European qualification overall.

The big news for Liverpool is that striker Alexander Isak returns to the squad and has a place on the bench, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is back fit and in the XI.

Florian Wirtz, however, misses out through illness.

So, here's a look at how both sides shape up at Anfield in the early Premier League kick-off.

Who will come out on top today?

There will be nine international games taking place this season in the NFL, two of which will be played by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before the NFL schedule release on May 14, one analyst attempted to predict who the Jaguars' opponents would be for those two games.

What we do know right now is who the Jaguars 17 opponents will be in 2026 and that they will be the home team for the two London games, which narrows down the pool of potential opponents.

As the home team this season, the Jaguars are scheduled to face Houston, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, and New England.

So who does CBS Sports' John Breech think the Jaguars will play in their two games in London?

His first prediction is that the Jaguars play an AFC opponent -- either Cleveland or Tennessee, is Breech's guess.

"On the AFC side, let's start with the Titans," wrote Breech. "The NFL usually tries to avoid sending divisional games overseas, but it has happened before. As for the Browns, they've never played an international game as the visiting team, so this would break new ground."

The second game, Breech predicts, will be against an NFC team -- either Philadelphia or Washington.

"On the NFC side, there are only two options: the Eagles or Commanders," Breech wrote. "Although Washington is already set to host a game in London this year, the NFL could have the Commanders play back-to-back games there, with one as the home team and one as the visiting team. As for Philadelphia, the Eagles have only played two international games in franchise history, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league, so the NFL could send them abroad."

Playing in London has become the norm for the Jaguars. Except for the 2020 NFL season, the Jaguars have played in London every year since 2013. This will be the third time that they will have played back-to-back games in London as well.

Overall, the Jaguars are 7-7 in those 14 games played abroad.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL schedule: Analyst predicts who Jaguars play in London games

It’s not every day a UFC fighter threatens to shoot another Octagon combatant.

With UFC 328 just hours away, how did we get to the point that Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland are openly threatening one another and throwing kicks at face-offs? This is a very high-level matchup and interesting style clash that would surely draw well already, yet it feels like the feud is only ramping up further as the bout approaches.

Before the Middleweights actually throw down with gold on the line, let’s establish a timeline and explain how this beef began in the first place.

Origins

In 2022, Khamzat Chimaev and his Smesh Bro Darren Till visited Las Vegas to train at Xtreme Couture, Sean Strickland’s primary gym. At the time, Chimaev was still a Welterweight contender, getting ready to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 279. When the two were competing in different divisions, they were willing to train together and seemed friendly enough.

“Be nice,” Strickland told Chimaev. “Khamzat, understand you’re better than everybody, so just don’t hurt people.”

Who got the better of those sparring sessions remains a topic of debate to this day.

Title Contentions

In the fall of 2023, Sean Strickland was UFC champion, while both Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis were angling for a shot at Dricus du Plessis’ Middleweight crown. At UFC 294, Chimaev picked up a close majority decision win over a very short-notice Kamaru Usman in one of the toughest tests of his career. Strickland was not impressed by the win and argued that Chimaev’s Welterweight success shouldn’t equal a Middleweight title fight.

“The only thing I like about Chimaev is that he sells fights,” Strickland said. “For some reason, people f—ing like him or don’t like him. I don’t know. To me, he’s a f—ing paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch, but he f—ing hasn’t earned it. He doesn’t f—ing deserve it, but here we are.”

A month later, UFC snubbed Chimaev and awarded du Plessis the shot at UFC 297.

Gym War Stories

The feud began to escalate when stories of the sparring session emerges.

At first, rumors claimed that Welterweight “Borz” dominated the top Middleweight contender in their 2022 training sessions. Strickland’s coach denied that narrative, and Strickland himself claimed to have gotten the better of Khamzat. No video was released at the time, but both fighters insisted they were the better man in the training room.

“He said he beat me in sparring,” Chimaev said in July 2024. “But there were a lot of guys around who saw me choking him and beating him up. It was even recorded on camera. So, we also have some unfinished business. It would be good to see who’s better inside the Octagon.”

Getting Personal

Ahead of the du Plessis vs. Strickland rematch at UFC 312, the beef between Strickland and Chimaev really started to heat up. On social media, Chimaev made fun of Strickland for his emotional appearance on the Theo Von podcast (watch it), where Strickland discussed his abusive upbringing.

“Why are you baby crying all the time?” Chimaev tweeted above a picture from 2011 of Strickland with his dad. “Father didn’t give you love or he showed his love to you too much?”

Strickland went ballistic in response. He went after Chimaev’s fancy new United Arab Emirates passport and relationship with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadryov.

“Here’s the thing, my dad did hit me with some beer bottles once or twice lmao,” Strickland replied. “I will admit it, made me the man I am today … but I guarantee this little w—re sucked off Kadyrov … obviously not good enough because you had to flee your country.”

This would not be the last time Strickland attacked Chimaev’s relationship with Kadryov, and Chimaev brought up Strickland’s abusive father just last week! Alongside the gym drama, these are the two primary motifs of their feud.

An Inactive Champion?

In February 2026, Strickland trashed Chimaev for failing to defend his belt following his August 2025 victory over du Plessis. Again referencing Kadyrov, Strickland argued that “Borz” has no motivation to bother defending his belt because of his financial backing.

“It’s kinda weird what the UFC did with Chimaev,” Strickland said. “You brought a guy in that fights once a year who’s like Madonna, who gets like, how much money does that dictator give him under the table? Like, the guy doesn’t need to fight, dude. He’s best friends with a warlord. He doesn’t need to fight. Dude gets gifted G-Wagons.”

“So you have somebody who is just gonna sit on a belt and wait and wait until they force him to fight. They wanted him to fight Nassourdine [Imavov], whatever the guy’s name is. He’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t wanna fight you, my brother.’ Like, what are you talking about? It’s not how the sport works, dude. Like, go fight that guy!”

One month later, Khamzat vs. Strickland was official for UFC 328.

Extra Curricular Violence

In the couple months since the matchup was booked, the big concern has been violence expanding outside of the Octagon. Even UFC CEO Dana White admitted that extra security was needed to keep the duo apart and ensure the fight could play out as planned!

“If he dies, he dies.”

Strickland, naturally, did very little to calm the situation. When he was in the same part of southern California as the champion, he dropped his location and invited a street fight. Khamzat pointed out that Strickland was all alone and susceptible to getting jumped by the massive “Borz” entourage, and Strickland answered simply that he would shoot them.

“All I’m gonna do, I’ll pull my gun out of my shoe,” Strickland replied. “If [Chimaev] were to come up to me like a man and say, ‘You know what, Sean? You said some things about my dad [Ramzan] Kadyrov.’ And I’m like, well you know what dude? You wh–ed yourself out, not me. ‘I wanna settle this.’ I would say, ‘Let’s settle this like men.

“But if you come up to me with three f–king Chechens that don’t speak English, I’m gonna pull my gun and I’m gonna shoot each and every one of you,” he added.

Fortunately, no shots have been fired. At the UFC 328 pre-fight presser, Khamzat did manage to land a cowardly kick to the nuts, which is currently the extent off the pre-fight action. For further fisticuffs, we’ll (hopefully) have to wait until the main event gets started later tonight.

If you’re of a certain age, you may remember the SNL skit Taco Town, a satirical send up of American restaurants’ tendency to embiggen portion sizes until they challenge the very concept of human dignity. In the sketch’s most memorable line, a babyfaced Andy Samberg yells “Pizza! Now that’s what I call a taco!”

I yelled that same thing myself with the recent news that the NCAA basketball tournament is expanding to 76 teams starting next year. I’m not terribly sentimental about college basketball since I only watch it in the spring as tourney time nears, but this is a craven decision that no fan wants and that will only make the sport worse and less interesting. It signals, once again, a growth-at-all-costs mindset on the part of the sport’s leadership (meaning Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti) with no regard for the fans or the student-athletes (are we still calling them that?).

What concerns me more is that this probably means a 24-team football playoff is inevitable. 

Realistically, the 24-team format was probably a foregone conclusion as soon as the BCS shuffled off this mortal coil. I suppose we should count our blessings that it took more than a decade for the greedy vampire squids who run this sport to decide to woodchipper it beyond recognition. If you’re in favor of a bigger playoff, I won’t try to change your mind. But as I remain a disciple of Senator Blutarsky, here are my reasons for skepticism. 

The Regular Season Is Meaningless (for Some Teams)

On this week’s episode of Split Zone Duo, Bill Connelly said that a 24-team playoff means Ohio State will never play another meaningful regular season game again. The same is probably true for a dozen other major brands in the sport who are never going to be in danger of missing the playoff. Even as a fan of a team in that group, that’s bad!

The traditional narrative about college football is that it had the Most Important Regular Season of any sport because so few teams earned a title shot. For most of the sport’s history, a team had almost no margin for error if it wanted to fulfill its greatest ambitions. Now, with 24 spots, mulligans for the bluebloods will abound. Losing to a rival may sting, but it won’t derail a season like it once did. Of course, thanks to NIL and more player freedom, a dark horse may break through — Indiana is the reigning champion, after all — but more chances for established powers with better player development systems and better prep recruiting will likely serve to consolidate titles in the same hands. 

I’m not saying we have to stuff the genie all the way back in the bottle, but 12 playoff spots is enough. Sometimes we need a postseason without Ohio State, Alabama, and even GASP Georgia in it for the games to have stakes. 

It’s Not About Inclusion

I think most people are cynical enough about the motives of college football leadership to know that the expanded playoff isn’t designed to give the G6 more opportunities. But take a look at the final CFP rankings from last year. There are only three G6 teams on the list, with two of them ranked below an 8-4 Iowa team despite having fewer losses. Plus, the committee has already implemented rule changes to prevent two G6 teams from ever making the 12-team field again after the debacle with Duke winning and ACC and Notre Dame getting left out last year.

Sankey and Petitti aren’t going to advocate for a bigger playoff so they can see Navy or East Carolina vying for a championship. In a 24-team field, spots 18 through 24 are primarily going to an 8-4 Mizzou team. What you’re going to get is the Reliaquest Bowl rebranded as a playoff game.

The Expanded Playoff Won’t Solve Coach Firings/Buyouts

One of the reasons I’m most certain that expansion is coming is because coaches are consolidating around the idea. That’s probably because they believe a bigger playoff means better job security. Coaches can point to making the playoff field as evidence of success for their program to engender goodwill and keep themselves employed. 

Well, coaches, I have bad news for you. When you take this job, you’re holding a wolf by the ears. What the boosters want is a championship, not making the field, and they behave as responsibly with their money as a sailor on shore leave. Gone are the days where a Mark Richt-type will get a decade-plus to deliver a national title. 

Do you think I’m wrong about this? Well, let’s look at some recent trends. Gus Malzahn set a record with a buyout of just over $21 million when Auburn fired him at the end of the Covid season in 2020. That’s after he nearly won a national championship in his first year and almost made the playoff again in 2017 to say nothing of his work as OC there prior to his head coaching stint. Since then, Jimbo Fisher, Brian Kelly, James Franklin, and Mark Stoops have all eclipsed that total. Fisher has a national championship, Kelly is the winningest coach in the history of one of college football’s legacy programs, Franklin is the second-winningest coach in Penn State history, and Stoops is the winngest coach in Kentucky history. But none of them won a title at that current school, and that’s what mattered.

One team out of 138 can win a championship each year. Everybody else is in danger of the pink slip, and making the tournament as a 15 seed isn’t going to save you for long.

The Controversy Won’t Go Away 

After last season ended with a stupid, engineered controversy, I wrote about how further expansion wouldn’t solve the problem. There is no way to objectively determine a champion in a sport with this bizarre structure. That’s the whole point! If anything, expanding the playoff will just make the arguments worse and more annoying.

I don’t know what it will take to get me to stop watching college football, but I have a feeling I’m going to find out.

Tim Walter makes two changes from the victory over Braunschweig as Ivan Nekic and Umut Tohumcu replace Ikem Ugoh and Frederik Roslyng.

Petrik Sander makes one change from the win against Hertha as Dariusz Stalmach comes in for Silas Gnaka. 

Confirmed Holstein Kiel vs. 1. FC Magdeburg lineups

Holstein Kiel (4-5-1): Weiner (GK) - Rosenboom, Zec, Nekic, Ivezić - Kaprálik, Meffert, Davidsen, Tohumcu, Therkelsen - Harres

1. FC Magdeburg (4-3-3): Reimann (GK) - Bockhorn, Mathisen, Hugonet, Musonda - Stalmach, Michel, Ulrich - Nollenberger, Żukowski, Atik 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

While the Detroit Red Wings missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, their American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids is halfway to capturing its third Calder Cup championship.

The Griffins closed out their series against the Manitoba Moose with a 5-2 victory at Van Andel Arena, powered by a pair of goals from Carter Mazur and a highlight-reel tally from Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

SURVIVED & ADVANCE 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ewJIHfAv5F

— y-Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 9, 2026

With the win, Grand Rapids advanced to the Central Division Finals, where they will battle the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Mazur, Detroit's third-round selection (70th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, upped his playoff goal total to four with his second straight two-goal performance for the Griffins.

This season with the Red Wings, he appeared in eight games but didn't register a point. 

Sandin-Pellikka, who made the Red Wings' roster out of Training Camp, scored a highlight-reel second-period goal for the Griffins, who also got goals from Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Eduards Tralmaks.

It was Tralmaks who opened the scoring in the first period on the power-play for Grand Rapids. While Manitoba knotted the score, Sandin-Pellikka restored the lead, and Brandsegg-Nygård added an early third-period tally.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka Scores Filthy Goal For Griffins Detroit Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who has his first year in the NHL under his belt, will be on highlight reels everywhere.

Like Sandin-Pellikka, Brandsegg-Nygård also made Detroit's roster out of Training Camp, but was returned to the Griffins after registering an assist in 12 NHL games. 

After making it 4-1, Mazur added his second goal of the evening into the vacated Moose net with goaltender Thomas Milic, who was making his first start of the series, on the bench for an extra attacker 

Griffins goaltender Michal Postava continues to author an impressive stretch of play in his first season in North America, making 19 saves. 

Game 1 between the Griffins and Wolves is scheduled for Thursday in Grand Rapids. 

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Toledo Mud Hens 10, Memphis Redbirds 4 (b0x)

Sawyer Gipson-Long returned off the injury list for this one, and was pretty meh, but he did a lot better than lefty Pete Hansen did against the Hens.

Gipson-Long gave up two runs in the top of the first, and then another run before departing in the fourth.

It mattered little as the Hens scored seven in the second inning. Max Anderson led off with a double to left and Jace Jung singled to right. A sacrifice fly from Corey Julks scored Anderson, and Tyler Gentry walked. A soft serve single from Tomas Nido loaded the bases, and a Ben Malgeri grounder scored Jung but forced Gentry at third. Max Clark striped a line drive single to right to score Nido, and Paul De Jong walked. A Gage Workman triple cleared the bases, and Workman then scored on a wild pitch after the Redbirds had gone to the bullpen to replace Hansen. 7-2 Hens.

Workman doubled with one out in the fifth and took third on a wild pitch. Anderson walked, and Jung singled in Workman. A grounder to second from Julks went for an error, and Anderson scored to make it 9-3. Workman would then double in DeJong in the sixth to make it 10-3.

Woo-Suk Go fired three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh, and eighth in his return to Toledo.

Workman: 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 3B, 2 K

Jung: 2-3, R, RBI, BB

Gipson-Long: 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, K

Coming Up Next: The series is even heading into a 5:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Erie SeaWolves 9, Harrisburg Senators 1 (box)

The SeaWolves got a decent outing from Joe Miller and played well behind him in this one as they pounded out 14 hits to win easily once again. Currently the SeaWolves are in the opposite gear of the Whitecaps, winning their ninth straight on Friday.

Andrew Jenkins singled and scored on an Izaac Pacheco single in the second inning to start the scoring. In the third, Aaron Antonini walked and rode home on Brett Callahan’s sixth home runs of the season. Chirs Meyers would single in Jenkins later in the inning to make it 4-0 SeaWolves.

In the fourth, Callahan reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second, scoring on a John Peck single. In the fifth, Jenkins and Meyers both singled, and with one out, Pacheco singled in Jenkins and Joe Campagna tripled in Meyers and Pacheco to make it 8-0.

A Pacheco error led to the Senators scoring a run on Milleri in the fifth. Yosber Sanchez cleaned this up and tossed a perfect sixth as well. Luke Taggart handled the seventh. Trevin Michael tossed the eighth.

Thayron Liranzo has been scuffling since his return from the injured list two weeks ago, but he led off the ninth with a solo shot hitting right-handed. Tyler Owens closed this one out and seems bound for Toledo again fairly soon. Woo-Suk Go was promoted to Toledo on Friday as well after a strong start to the year.

Jenkins: 3-5, 3 R

Callahan: 1-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, K, SB

Pacheco: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 3 K

Miller: 4.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start in Harrisburg on Saturday.

Dayton Dragons 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

The misery of the Whitecaps continued as their losing streak stretched to 12 games on Friday night.

There isn’t too much to report. Rayner Castillo’s struggles continued as he allowed a pair of home runs and four runs, three earned total. He struck out three and walked three over 4 1/3 innings, and there’s still no sign of the easy 95-96 mph sinker he was slinging in 2024 and early 2025.

Carlos Lequerica was knocked around for four runs in relief. Garrett Pennington had the only two hits for the ‘Caps. Bryce Rainer had the night off.

Pennington: 2-4, 2B

Castillo (L, 0-4): 4.1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 2:00 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 11, St. Lucie Mets 4 (box)

Troy Melton fired three perfect innings in his rehab outing, and the Flying Tigers mauled a pretty good pitching prospect in the Mets’ Cam Tilly.

Melton struck out five and needed just 27 pitches to collect those nine straight outs. His velocity wasn’t quite peak, but he was 95-96 mph the whole outing, racking up a ton of whiffs on fastballs and sliders.

Jude Warwick gave him an early lead to work with when the second baseman cracked a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning. That was his first of the year. It would be Warwick sparking an eight-run inning off Tilly in the third. He led off with a double, and Jordan Yost singled. Zach MacDonald lined a single to center that got away from the Mets center fielder and Warwick scored. Beau Ankeney cranked a three-run shot to make it 5-0, and Carson Rucker followed that up with a triple. Edian Espinal and Javier Osorio followed with singles, and by the time the Mets went to the bullpen, Warwick was up again and smoked a three-run shot to right field to make it 9-0 Lakeland.

Conner Seabold rehabbed with a solid inning in the fourth. Jan Carabello took over and had some trouble, giving up four runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jose Guzman gentled the Mets down with two scoreless innings.

In the eighth, Carson Rucker doubled in MacDonald, and Espinal tripled in Rucker to make it 11-4 where it ended.

Warwick: 3-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 HR, K

Rucker: 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B, K

Yost: 2-4, R, BB

Espinal: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, BB, K

Melton: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are up 3-1 in the series with first pitch on Saturday set for 6:00 p.m. ET.

Q: Ira, I thought it was interesting when I spun the lottery machine and it came up with the Heat at No. 2 (total transparency, it took 21 tries), they had the Heat taking Darryn Peterson over Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Isn’t another big man what we need? – Lance.

A: What a team that finished in 10th place in consecutive seasons and has been in the play-in the last four years needs is talent. And with silky scoring ability, Darryn Peterson arguably stands as too talented to overlook. Yes, there is not much in the Heat power rotation at the moment beyond Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, and, yes, the Heat have Tyler Herro and other wing options. But the Heat previously went for size over best available (in 2020, with Precious Achiuwa over Tyrese Maxey) and highly doubt they would go in that direction again. All of that said, the Heat would be ecstatic in such a loaded, top-heavy lottery to wind up with any of the first four picks. There might be hard decisions there, but seemingly also ample easy answers.

Related Articles

• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: Some of the teams that lost in the first round seem interested in moving some of their players. Do you see any trade opportunities for the Heat with these teams?  – Jake, Hollywood.

A: Always. But the issue also is the waiting game with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Look, has there ever been a time when the Heat didn’t chase Kevin Durant when it was believed he could be on the move? Plus, the draft lottery could leave any of the lottery teams with potential redundancies on their roster. We should know more about trade options in coming days, especially as the second round of the playoffs winds down. Remember, as soon as a team is eliminated from the playoffs it can make trades with any other team that is eliminated (with impending free agents off-limits).

Q: If we gutted the team for Giannis Antetokounmpo, are we even that much better than the Bucks? – Scout.

A: Guess that comes down to what you think of a potential Heat starting lineup of Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell.

Manchester United’s Focus Shifts After Champions League Qualification Secured

With Champions League qualification for next season now secured, Michael Carrick has a chance to rotate his Manchester United squad as they prepare to face Sunderland. The Red Devils clinched their place in Europe’s elite competition following a dramatic 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend.

This victory not only confirmed their Champions League spot with three games still to play but also marked United’s first Premier League double over Liverpool in a decade. United’s dominant performance against Liverpool effectively ended their two-year exile from the Champions League, meaning they cannot finish lower than fifth this term. The result was a huge boost for Carrick, further solidifying his credentials as the club’s next full-time manager, even though an official decision regarding his future has yet to be made.

The Importance of Finishing Strong

Carrick is determined to finish the campaign as strongly as possible. Though their primary goal has been accomplished, he remains focused on enhancing his long-term job prospects. He’s also hinted at giving opportunities to some of United’s fringe players during the final three matches of the season.

Photo IMAGO

“I think every player in the squad has been absolutely fantastic, I have to say,” Carrick commented at his pre-Sunderland press conference. “Some have played a lot more than others, and I understand from a professional and a playing point of view it can be difficult, but the togetherness and the support that the players have shown, certainly each other, is great to see.”

Carrick also acknowledged the challenges of managing training intensity with fewer matches to play. He stated, “It’s what we need within the group and that’s part of the challenge of doing a lot of training and not having as many games as we would have liked. It’s the balance that we’ve made the most of really, so coming into these games it’s something we’re aware of. I think it’s really something we’re keen on playing well and still trying to get good results as well, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.”

Sunderland’s Struggles Continue

While Carrick will be tempted to make changes, the opposition on Saturday, Sunderland, will not be an easy task. The Black Cats are struggling for form, drawing 1-1 with relegated Wolves last time out. Sunderland are now stuck in 12th place, five points behind the top six, and will be keen to secure an important win to boost their chances of finishing higher.

Sunderland will need a turnaround in fortunes, but it remains unclear if United will rotate their squad for this encounter, particularly with a few injury concerns. United will be without striker Benjamin Sesko, who came off at half-time against Liverpool after aggravating a pre-existing shin injury. He was replaced by Amad Diallo during that match after a collision with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.

Injury and Squad Updates

Further complicating United’s selection is the absence of Matthijs de Ligt, who is still recovering from a lower back injury. His return remains uncertain. However, Carrick will be pleased with the return of Lisandro Martinez, who has served his suspension and is set to bolster the defence.

Additionally, Patrick Dorgu, who made his first appearance since January off the bench against Liverpool after recovering from a hamstring injury, may now be in line for more game time. Carrick will likely give more opportunities to squad members like Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, and Noussair Mazraoui, as he looks to finish the season with strong performances.

Predicted Manchester United XI Against Sunderland

With a few changes expected, here’s how Manchester United may line up against Sunderland in a 4-2-3-1 formation:Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

2025 First Round pick Jake O’Brien has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds.  His season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL came to an end May 4th after a game 7 loss to the Barrie Broncos in the conference final.  

O’Brien put up a 1.75 points-per-game average in the regular season: 28 goals and 65 assists across 53 games played.  In the playoffs, he skated in 15 games and added 6 goals and 17 assists.  The 8th-overall pick is best known for his ability to thread his way through his opponents, anticipating their movements and sneaking pucks over, under, around, and through the smallest openings.  His uncanny ability to predict not only his opponents, but also his teammates’ movements allows him to create chances from the most untenable situation.  

Similar to Ryden Evers, it is unlikely that O’Brien will see any playing time in Coachella Valley.  Instead, he will have the opportunity to practice with the team and get familiar with the facilities and coaching staff.  With the recent rule changes allowing 19-year old first round picks to play in the AHL, it is entirely possible he will be with the team full-time in the 2026 season.

Related:

Firebirds Force Game Five With 6-2 Win Over ReignFacing elimination, Coachella Valley unleashed a second-period surge and a dominant six-goal performance to stun Ontario, keeping their playoff dreams alive for a decisive winner-take-all showdown.

A good gauge of the depth of a team's roster is seeing how many other teams covet your players. That's what happened to the New York Giants this week after they cut ties with four players to make room for their incoming rookies.

On Thursday, after the team inked several members of their 2026 draft class, they cut defensive lineman Elijah Chatman, linebacker Swayze Bozeman, wide receiver Courtney Jackson, and defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu.

On Friday, three of those players had already caught on with other teams, a true indication that the Giants' roster building the past few years has been heading in the right direction.

Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson, who were all waived, landed jobs, leaving Tuipulotu, who had his contract terminated, the lone free agent.

Bengals claim LB Swayze Bozeman off waivershttps://t.co/B9h8kHtyqGpic.twitter.com/oaqrKLgFc7

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 8, 2026

We've claimed DT Elijah Chatman via waivers

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 8, 2026

The Titans claimed WR Courtney Jackson off of waivers from the Giants pic.twitter.com/aQTcz8HJko

— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) May 8, 2026

The Giants have been adding quality players up and down the roster this offseason, and there simply is not enough room for everyone. Chatman and Tuipulotu are victims of a numbers game. The Giants have been stockpiling defensive linemen in the wake of the Dexter Lawrence trade.

Chatman, who made the Giants' final roster in 2024 as a UDFA, appeared in 22 games over his two seasons in Blue. He is a bit undersized for these new Giants (278 pounds), who are favoring stout interior linemen.

Tuipulotu was signed to a reserve/futures deal this past winter. A former draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, he spent the past two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in five games. He is expected to draw interest in the market this summer.

Jackson, signed to a reserve/futures contract in February, was one of 12 wideouts on the roster, and his chances of making the 53-man roster were remote.

Bozeman played six games for the Giants last season and was primarily used on special teams. The Giants had 14 linebackers under contract, and there was little opportunity for Bozeman.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 3 recently released New York Giants have found new homes

Texas A&M baseball opened its road series in Oxford with a frustrating 5–3 loss to Ole Miss, a game defined by offensive inconsistency and a lineup still reshuffling due to multiple injuries.

Ole Miss capitalized early on free passes to build a lead, while the Aggies didn’t break through until the top of the fifth, trimming the deficit to 3–2. A misplayed ball in the outfield in the seventh inning allowed two more Rebels runs to score, pushing the margin back to 5–2. A&M added one more run late but couldn’t complete the comeback.

The Aggies struck out 15 times and stranded nine runners, generating plenty of loud contact but rarely in the right moments. The bottom of the order, filled with new faces, managed just one hit all night.

Normally, A&M would have two days to reset, but with expected weather in Oxford, the Aggies now face a Saturday doubleheader with national hosting implications on the line.

Below is all the information for the series:

GAME SCHEDULE

Game 2 - May 9 at2 p.m. CT

Channel: SEC Network +

Texas A&M: RHP Aiden Sims

Stats: 8-1, 3.60 ERA, 65.0 IP, 68 K, 18 BB

Ole Miss: RHP Cade Townsend

Stats: 5-1, 2.42 ERA, 52.0 IP, 73 K, 13 BB

______________________________________________

Game 3 - May 9 at 6 p.m. CT(subject to change)

Streaming: SEC Network+

Texas A&M: TBD

Stats: N/A

Ole Miss: RHP Taylor Rabe

Stats: 3-4, 4.17 ERA, 61.2 IP, 62 K, 9 BB

WAYS TO FOLLOW THE SERIES

TV/Streaming: SEC Network+ / ESPN App

Radio: Locally Sports Radio 1150/93.7 The Zone

Social: Follow the @AggiesBaseball on X for updates

Internet: 12thMan.com / 12th Man Mobile app for live play-by-play

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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: UPDATE: Texas A&M baseball vs Ole Miss schedule change due to weather

The title is out of Manchester City's hands now after their 3-3 draw at Everton, but their late equaliser on Monday could still turn out to be huge.

City getting a point means Arsenal still have to win their final three games to be sure of being champions, so it is not over yet.

Pep Guardiola's side definitely have to win this game, though, and to do it they will have to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Brentford are in the mix for the top six and only lost narrowly to City earlier in the season.

I am being selfish here, but just for my Fantasy team I need Erling Haaland to have a strong finish to the season so I am going for City - and him - to get among the goals on Saturday.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

When Matt Ryan was asked about the Falcons' quarterback competition recently he admitted that he doesn't know what to expect. It's a fair sentiment at this point, because nobody knows exactly when Michael Penix Jr. will be fully recovered from his ACL tear and we're not entirely sure who will start Week 1 for Atlanta.

That being said, the smart money right now is on Tua Tagovailoa filing that role. Tagovailoa is healthy and will likely get a lot more QB1 reps over the summer while Penix is still working his way back.

Tua has had his moments during his time with the Miami Dolphins, but heading into the 2026 season at least one analyst considers him a below-average starter. According to a new ranking from Andrew Buller-Russ at Sportsnaut, he's just the 22nd best projected starter in the league right now.

"Even in a down year, Tua Tagovailoa still had the second-highest TD rate of his career. The issue, obviously, was an interception rate nearly twice that of his previous five seasons. Given a chance to reset in a domed stadium, there’s enough reason to believe a motivated Tagovailoa returns to peak form in Atlanta."

For context, that's only one spot ahead of Bryce Young, who threw for fewer than 200 passing yards in 12 games last season. It's one spot below Bo Nix, who has just two years of experience at this level.

One could argue that Tagovailoa belongs a little higher on this list. At a minimum, he should probably be rankedin the top 20 based on his past accomplishments alone.

If Tua can stay healthy and cut down on his interception rate (it was a career-high 3.9% last season, up dramatically from his career average of 2.4%) then he should be able to climb these rankings pretty quick.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa ranked No. 22 QB in NFL

Saturday's star-studded WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings will feature the last four No. 1 overall draft picks.

The Fever, led by Aliyah Boston (2023 No. 1 pick) and Caitlin Clark (2024 No. 1 overall pick), will open the 30th season of the WNBA against the Wings, led by Paige Bueckers (2025 No. 1 pick) and Azzi Fudd (2026 No. 1 pick). Saturday's season-opening matchup not only pits the last four consecutive No. 1 draft picks against each other, it features the past two Rookie of the Year winners in Clark (2024) and Bueckers (2025).

It'll mark the second matchup between the squads in a little more than a week after the Wings soundly defeated the Fever 95-80 in the preseason on April 30. Bueckers (20) and Maddy Siegrist (18) combined for 38 points in the win, while Clark had 21 points in the losing effort.

Clark, who was limited to 13 games last season due to injuries, said she's "really excited" to be back.

"I feel great," Clark said on Tuesday. "Even the preseason games were really fun for myself too. I treat those like real games... Obviously we have a lot of areas to improve, especially during the Dallas game. You certainly saw that defensively I think has been our focus."

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings?

The Indiana Fever open the season against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings: TV, streaming

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
• TV: ABC
• Stream: Disney+

Indiana Fever roster

*developmental player

Dallas Wings roster

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news —  Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fever-Wings season opener: How to watch Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers

In a statistic that doesn't seem real, Iowa State's TJ Otzelberger has snagged six top in-state recruits from Greg Gard.

The Wisconsin Badgers just missed out on Donovan Davis, who is yet another top Wisconsin native to choose the Cyclones over the Badgers.

Since Otzelberger took over in 2021, ISU has earned commitments from Tyrese Hunter, Milan Momcilovic, Jamarion Batemon, Xzavion Mitchell, Usef Gray, and now Davis.

Those recruits played high school ball at Racine, Pewaukee, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, West Allis, and Freedom. Remember, Otzelberger is a Milwaukee native who played at Saint Thomas More.

There's no doubt NIL has a huge say in these decisions, but that's still something that needs to be addressed behind the scenes. Gard can only do so much, and Wisconsin doesn't seem to even be competitive in some of these battles.

Until that changes, top in-state players are going to keep playing elsewhere. Keep in mind, this list of six players doesn't even include the likes of Patrick Baldwin Jr., Kon Knueppel, Dooney Johnson, Seth Trimble, among many more.

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: The six recent in-state recruits Greg Gard has lost to TJ Otzelberger

PHOENIX — After the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals in October, Kahleah Copper gathered her teammates in a huddle as the Aces celebrated on Phoenix’s court. 

“After the game, I just wanted us to feel it. I wanted us to hear the celebrations. I wanted us to really feel the moment, feel the hurt,” Copper said immediately after. "Let it just fuel us for the future."

It’s a level of disappointment that lingers seven months later as the Mercury prepare to open the league's 30th season against the same team that ended its championship dreams. And if that wasn’t loss enough motivation, the Mercury will watch as the Aces raise their latest championship banner and get their rings Saturday at T-Mobile Arena (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/Disney+).

“You would have some motivation too, right?" a fired-up Copper said Wednesday, ahead of Phoenix’s season-opener that doubles as a WNBA Finals rematch. "We just got swept…We want to get that one for sure.”

Kahleah Copper said the Phoenix Mercury are "1,000%" motivated heading into Saturday's WNBA Finals rematch against the Las Vegas Aces after getting swept last season.

'You would have some motivation too, right? ... We want to get that one for sure' pic.twitter.com/b9m4sWusl0

— Cydney Henderson (@CydHenderson) May 9, 2026

No one expected the Mercury to go on a deep postseason run last year, let alone make the WNBA Finals. And despite defying all odds, few selected Phoenix to return to the championship series. Being the perpetual underdog is nothing new to the Mercury, who last won a title in 2014 during the Diana Taurasi era.

Frankly, they don't care.

"We're not really worried about the expectations of what others think," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Our expectation is always going to be bigger than what the national media thinks. Some national media picked us to be the seventh best team in our league. When we look in the mirror, we don't see that. We see a team that's playing for a championship."

The belief is still there among the franchise. Unlike last season when Phoenix had two returning players, the Mercury have continuity on its side with seven returnees, including veterans Copper, Alyssa Thomas, Sami Whitcomb and DeWanna Bonner. Phoenix lost last season's leading scorer in Satou Sabally, but the team reloaded with French forwards Noémie Brochant and Valériane Ayayi to collectively help fill that void.

“People aren't familiar with a lot of players that we've put on our team, just like last season. So once again, we're counted out," said Thomas, who finished third in MVP voting after breaking her own single-season triple-double record with eight. "We have a lot more depth this year... our defense is really going to be taken to a different level."

Thomas and the Mercury may not get the national recognition, but they have the respect of their peers. In the WNBA GM survey released earlier this week, Thomas was named one of the most versatile players in the league that forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments. She was also ranked as one of the top three defenders in the league.

"Anytime you have a team with Alyssa Thomas, I think you're going to be ... a defensive team," Tibbetts said. "You lean into the things that got us or made us successful a year ago and how can we tweak some other areas that are weaknesses for us. So we'll continue to evolve."

With evolution comes adversity, which the Mercury are facing early on. Kathryn Westbeld suffered a season-ending ACL tear in her right knee while playing overseas and Sami Whitcomb is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing an arthroscopy procedure on her left knee.

That hasn't dampened the Mercury's anticipation for another playoff run.

"For us it's the start of the season, the start for us to set the tone on how we wanted to play this year," Thomas said. "We have a lot of new pieces that we're still integrating. They're slowly coming into training camp, so I think for us, we're just excited about the capabilities of what we have this year and we're going to go out there and try to play our brand of basketball."

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news —  Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phoenix Mercury open season against Las Vegas Aces after finals sweep

The RFEF has announced the referees appointed for the Primera División matches on Sunday, May 10.

El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be refereed by Alejandro Hernández Hernández, with Javier Iglesias Villanueva assisting on VAR.

It will be the sixth Clásico overseen by the Canary Islands official, with a record of two Barcelona wins, two draws, and one Real Madrid win. Last season, he refereed Barcelona’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid on matchday 35.

The rest of the matchday appointments

The duo of César Soto and Jorge Figueroa will take charge of Real Oviedo vs. Getafe, Ortiz and Martín González will handle Athletic vs. Valencia, and García and Del Cerro will officiate Mallorca vs. Villarreal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Lars Kornetka makes five changes from the defeat in Kiel. Lukas Frenkert, Fabio Di Michele Sanchez, Fabio Kaufmann, Erencan Yardimci and Faride Alidou replace Andi Hoti, Leon Bell Bell, Robin Heußer, Johan Gomez and Jovan Mijatović.

Thomas Stamm has made one change from the victory over Kaiserslautern as Lukas Boeder comes in for Friedrich Müller. 

Confirmed Eintracht Braunschweig vs. Dynamo Dresden lineups

Eintracht Braunschweig (4-2-3-1): Hoffmann (GK) - Aydin, Ehlers, Frenkert, Di Michele Sanchez - Flick, Marie - Tempelmann, Kaufmann, Alidou - Yardimci 

Dynamo Dresden (4-2-3-1): Schreiber (GK) - Sterner, Boeder, Keller, Rossipal - Amoako, Wagner - Ceka, Hauptmann, Bobzien - Vermeij 

When are the EFL Championship playoffs? Schedule of 2026 matches as teams battle for Premier League promotion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With two teams now promoted to the Premier League, the remaining side to go up will be determined by the playoffs.

The top two finishers in the EFL Championship at the conclusion of the season secure automatic promotion, with the third determined through an exciting playoff system.

The four teams that finish third through sixth will progress to the Championship playoffs, a thrilling and nerve-wracking four-team mini bracket to determine the eventual winner. The final is considered the richest game in football, as the winner earns access to the massive financial provided by the English top flight.

The Sporting News details who will be involved in this year's playoffs and when the games will be played, including the famous final at Wembley Stadium.

MORE:What teams have been promoted to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season?

When are the 2026 EFL Championship playoffs?

The final day of the EFL Championship regular season was Saturday, May 2.

The playoffs began the following weekend. The first legs of the semifinals are on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, while the second legs will be played that following Monday and Tuesday.

Then, the Championship playoff final will be held on Saturday, May 23 at Wembley Stadium.

What teams are in the 2026 EFL Championship playoffs?

The four teams in this season's playoffs are Milwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull City.

Wrexham missed out on the final day after a 2-2 home draw with Boro allowed Hull to leapfrog them in the standings.

Race for Championship promotion playoff

Table updated after final round of games

*Confirmed for playoffs

EFL Championship playoff schedule, fixtures for 2026

The semifinals will take place the weekend of May 8, while the final will take place in late May at Wembley Stadium.

Playoff semifinals

First leg

Second leg

Playoff final

In the third round of the 2026 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected LSU safety AJ Haulcy. Let's take a closer look at Haulcy's game with what a few draft experts had to say in their final scouting reports.

Haulcy has ample experience playing both free safety and down in the box near the line of scrimmage. He's been a sound run defender by PFF's metrics and has had very good ball production in coverage, logging eight interceptions and 10 pass breakups the last two seasons.

Haulcy brings a ballhawking presence to the Indianapolis secondary, and the Colts believe he has the versatility to fill a variety of roles in Lou Anarumo's scheme.

Right away, Haulcy will compete for the starting safety role next to Cam Bynum.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

"Haulcy has some wild tendencies. Given his recognition and range, though, teams will be comfortable betting on him to reach his ceiling as an NFL starter. Teams will also appreciate his coachability and intangibles, which will show on special teams."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

"Haulcy, aka Mr. Give Me That, is a throwback safety with a compact, densely muscled frame and a pro feel for reading the field. He’s a rare blend of ballhawk and enforcer who can scurry into passing lanes for takeaways or run through a receiver to break up a pass. His pattern recognition and instincts are top-notch and he’s decisive in his reactions. A lack of sustained top-end speed could create mismatches in man coverage. He’s more effective playing forward than he is at guarding large spaces in deeper coverages. He’s rock-steady as a finisher but sees the missed tackle total tick higher as an open-field tackler. Haulcy’s frame and game are pro-ready, though. He projects as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme."

Todd McShay, The Ringer

"Haulcy is an experienced and productive safety with a good blend of size and speed. He’s at his best when he can read receivers and quarterbacks in off coverage and zone looks. He’s quick to trigger, breaks well on the ball, and jumps routes. He can sort out route combinations and has enough range to cover a deep half. He is a physical presence and a big hitter in coverage. He tracks the ball well and doesn’t play the man in zone looks."

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Scouting reports on new Colts' S AJ Haulcy

Peter Hickman edged out Jeremy McWilliams to take victory in a thrilling opening Supertwins/Sportbike race at the North West 200 on Saturday.

The Swan Racing Yamaha R7 rider executed the decisive pass at the Juniper Hill chicane on the final circuit of four to take the fifth North West win of his career and his third in the Twins class following his double in 2024.

The Lincolnshire rider had 0.46 seconds to spare over McWilliams, who led for the duration of the race until Hickman hit the front when it mattered.

The pair were involved in an exhilarating dual at the front, with Alastair Seeley holding off Paul Jordan to secure the final rostrum position.

Jordan recovered ground after overshooting at University Corner on the first lap, posting the fastest lap of the race at 112.231mph in taking fourth spot.

Yorkshire's Jamie Coward was fifth on his Milenco by Padgett's Paton, with Christian Elin completing the top six.

Hickman moves to within two of Richard Cooper's record of five Supertwin race triumphs with his victory. McWilliams also has three wins in the class.

Today in Boston Celtics history, former Danny Ainge was hired by the storied franchise in 2003 to his latter role as team president. He succeeded former Celtics general manager Chris Wallace, the prior President of Basketball Operations, who had held the position since taking over the job from infamous Celtics president Rick Pitino in 2001. Ainge had a successful tenure as President of Basketball Operations, winning a title in the 2007-08 NBA season, and making an NBA Finals appearance two seasons later in 2010. His ability to seemingly always get the best of a deal has earned him the moniker “Trader Danny”, ranging from acquiring the contracts of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to forge the team that won Banner 17.

Perhaps his best-known trade was moving Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 which netted what would prove to be one of the most uneven returns in league history. Ainge would step down as team president in the 2021 offseason after several tough seasons in terms of both an ongoing pandemic and personal health, having suffered a heart attack two years earlier.

He has since found a similar position (if lighter load) working with the Utah Jazz.

Birthdays

It is also former Celtic big man Marcus Webb’s birthday, who was born in 1970 on this date in Montgomery, Alabama.

Webb came to the Celtics as an undrafted player out of Alabama and played nine games for the team in the 1992-93 NBA season after signing as a free agent in the summer of 1992. He averaged 4.3 points and 1.1 rebounds while with the team.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Danny Ainge hired as GM, Marcus Webb born

The NFL is projecting to feature a record-setting nine international games in four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums in the 2026 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have a significant history of playing international games, including recent contests in Brazil, Germany, and Mexico.

The league has continued to feature artists from different cultures as performers, promoting diversity and innovation. Super Bowl LX halftime performer and global superstar Bad Bunny delivered a memorable show that drew a record-breaking audience.

Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with the female DJ trio Las Flaquitas for their thoughts on the cultural impact of the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

"It was fun to watch him transform a football stadium into a space that felt like home for a lot of people, and for others was an introduction. In his short performance, he gave everyone a kind of history lesson that felt celebratory, which isn't easy to do."

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The proverbial calendar has flipped in WWE after WrestleMania, but there's still some unfinished business to settle, so it's time to deal with the backlash of it.

Backlash 2026 is the first premium live event to take place after WWE's major event, and it's setting the stage for the next part of the wrestling world. After defeating CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship, Roman Reigns has his first title defense, and it comes against cousin Jacob Fatu in a new chapter in the Bloodline saga. It's one of two title matches scheduled, with the other a WrestleMania rematch for the United States Championship.

Some feuds that have been boiling for months will finally meet in the ring, and everyone awaits to see who Danhausen will have as his tag team partner. Plus, John Cena will appear, and what will he have to say?

Here's what to know for Backlash 2026:

WWE Backlash 2026 start time

Backlash 2026 starts at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. ET.

How to watch WWE Backlash 2026

The first hour of Backlash 2026 will air on ESPN2 and ESPN's streaming service.

Afterward, Backlash will stream exclusively on ESPN's streaming service. Viewers can sign up for a subscription to the site here, which starts at $29.99 a month.

ESPN's service is available through select cable and TV packages, including:

• DIRECTV
• Fubo TV
• Hulu + Live TV
• Spectrum
• Verizon FiOS
• U-verse
• Cox
• Comcast Xfinity

If your cable or TV package includes the ESPN streaming service, you can figure out how to activate it here. 

Internationally, WrestleMania will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Where is WWE Backlash 2026?

It takes place at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

WWE Backlash 2026 match card

Matches not in order

• John Cena appearance
• Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
• Iyo Sky vs. Asuka
• Danhousen and mystery partner vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
• United States Championship match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn
• World Heavyweight Championship match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

When is WWE Backlash 2026 preshow?

The Backlash preshow begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

How to watch WWE Backlash 2026 preshow

The preshow will be available to stream for free on YouTube and WWE's social media channels. It will also be available to stream on ESPN's streaming service, and the final hour of the show (5-6 p.m. ET) will air on ESPN2.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE Backlash 2026 start time, how to watch and match card

Liverpool Eyeing Champions League Qualification Amidst Key Developments

Liverpool are preparing to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, with crucial points on the line as they battle for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. However, a series of off-field stories have captured the spotlight ahead of the match, overshadowing the on-pitch action. These developments, including Darwin Núñez’s potential return to the Premier League and ticket price hikes, add extra layers of intrigue to the Reds’ current season, as reported by Daily Star.

Arne Slot’s First Year in Charge: A Mixed Bag

Arne Slot, who took over Liverpool’s managerial reins in the summer of 2024, has found it difficult to replicate the success of his debut season. Just 12 months ago, the Dutchman guided Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 2020, only to see their title defence falter in the current campaign. The team’s failure to build on their previous triumph has led to growing concerns over Slot’s tactical approach and ability to sustain long-term success.

Despite this, the Reds remain in the hunt for a top-five finish, currently holding fourth place with 58 points. While a place in the 2026/27 Champions League is still within reach, the final trio of fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brentford will be crucial in determining their European fate. The pressure on Slot will intensify as he aims to secure a return to Europe’s premier club competition next season.

Darwin Núñez’s Saudi Arabian Sojourn: A Short-Lived Adventure

In an unexpected turn of events, Darwin Núñez, once a promising prospect at Liverpool, is reportedly heading back to the Premier League after less than a year with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayan forward, who joined Liverpool for £64 million in 2022, struggled to live up to his hefty transfer fee. His spell at Al-Hilal has been equally turbulent, with the 24-year-old failing to make a lasting impact in the Saudi Pro League.

Photo: IMAGO

Despite a promising start to his tenure in the Middle East, Núñez was relegated to the sidelines following the arrival of Karim Benzema in January. Al-Hilal, seeking to comply with foreign player restrictions, made the decision to cut Núñez from their squad. The restrictions limit the number of overseas players in their squad, with only eight players born before 2003 allowed to feature.

Núñez has not played since February, and reports suggest that he has reached an understanding with Al-Hilal that will allow him to leave the club when the season concludes. Although a Liverpool return seems unlikely, several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United and Chelsea, are reportedly monitoring his situation closely, and the forward could become a free agent at 26.

FSG’s Ticket Price U-Turn Amid Supporter Backlash

In an unexpected move, Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have put plans for significant ticket price increases on hold following a wave of protests from fans. This comes after the club’s initial proposal to raise ticket prices for the next three seasons faced widespread backlash from the Liverpool fanbase. Protests outside Anfield, including banners, placards, and chants against FSG, have been a clear indication of the growing discontent among supporters.

Photo: IMAGO

The club initially cited inflation and rising operating costs as reasons for the price hikes, but the fan outcry has led to a partial reversal. Instead of the proposed increases, Liverpool will raise general admission prices by just 3% next season and freeze prices for the following two years. This move comes after discussions between the club’s executives and supporter groups, including the influential Spirit of Shankly.

In a statement, Liverpool announced: “The club and Supporters Board will use the certainty of these seasons to seek longer-term alternative solutions across the game and explore commercial ideas with the Supporters Board in an attempt to avoid future ticket price increases and address issues around affordability and accessibility for future generations.”

Spirit of Shankly, one of the key fan groups, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that they would continue to engage with the club to find long-term solutions to prevent future price hikes. The group praised the club for listening to fans and working with them to find a resolution.

Conclusion: A Season of Mixed Fortunes

Liverpool’s 2025/26 season has been one of mixed fortunes. While their Champions League hopes remain alive, the club’s internal and external challenges, from managerial struggles to player departures and fan protests, show that this is not a smooth ride for Arne Slot and his team. With key decisions still to be made, the next few weeks could prove decisive in determining the club’s trajectory. The Reds will be hoping that they can turn their fortunes around, both on and off the pitch, as they look to secure a place in Europe’s elite competition for next season.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As a Liverpool fan, the news surrounding Darwin Núñez’s turbulent Saudi Arabian stint is both surprising and disappointing. When he was brought to Anfield in 2022, expectations were sky-high, especially with the hefty £64 million price tag. However, his time at Liverpool was marred by inconsistency, and his move to Al-Hilal was seen as a potential fresh start. Unfortunately, his time in the Middle East has been equally underwhelming, with reports suggesting he was sidelined due to squad regulations and player restrictions.

While it may be tempting to view his potential return to the Premier League as a positive, the truth is that Núñez’s struggles raise questions about the club’s recruitment strategy and ability to bring in players who can truly make an impact. As Liverpool fans, we want to see players who are ready to step up and contribute from day one, not ones who require a lengthy period to adjust. The situation with Núñez highlights the challenge Liverpool faces in finding players who can seamlessly fit into their system and deliver consistently.

Moreover, the ticket price saga has left many fans frustrated and feeling alienated. It’s good that FSG has responded to fan protests and rolled back their plans for drastic ticket price hikes, but it remains to be seen if this move will quell the growing dissatisfaction among supporters. Fans want to feel valued, not just as customers but as an integral part of the club’s identity. The Spirit of Shankly’s efforts to hold the club accountable are commendable, and it’s crucial that Liverpool continues to engage with supporters to ensure that ticket prices remain fair and accessible for all.

In these challenging times, Liverpool fans are calling for clarity, stability, and genuine efforts from the club to address their concerns. With Arne Slot’s future under scrutiny and the team fighting for Champions League qualification, it’s clear that Liverpool needs to take a long hard look at its strategy both on and off the pitch to ensure it remains competitive in the years to come.

The tagline for Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois is “Don’t Blink”, but the host of Friday’s weigh-in oddly set his bespectacled sights beyond this fight – and on the looming presence of Moses Itauma in the heavyweight division.

“Is either of you the landlord, or are you just squatters, waiting for Moses Itauma to come and take the property?” asked Simon Jordan, referencing Anthony Joshua’s recent message to Tyson Fury, as well as the potential next opponent for Wardley or Dubois.

Jordan, familiar to TalkSport listeners but brought in by DAZN on Friday, is always articulate but can be aggravating to athletes. He certainly tried to bring some needle to this weigh-in, but neither WBO heavyweight champion Wardley nor Dubois felt much of a prick here, as they tipped the scales then faced off ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Manchester.

Dubois (251.7lb / 114.1kg) barely answered Jordan’s questions, instead speaking in brief mission statements as he tends to do. Wardley (242.2lb / 109.8kg) entertained Jordan’s queries but stayed calm, maintaining his composed demeanour from the rest of fight week.

The champion (20-0-1, 19 KOs) even encouraged the crowd’s shouts in support of Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs), and there were many of them, although there were cheers for Wardley as well.

Neither fighter is local to Manchester, with Wardley, 31, representing Ipswich and Dubois, 28, fighting out of London. Regardless, the split of Friday’s support will be as irrelevant on Saturday as the votes that were shown at the weigh-in; when Jordan put it to Dubois that the online polls leant towards a Wardley win, “Dynamite” was unfazed.

There was a whisper in his ear from a team member, though, which made this writer think of a comment by Wardley at Thursday’s press conference: “You let other people talk to you and tell you what it should be like.”

As mentioned above, Wardley has appeared calm this week, and – speaking on the BBC’s 5 Live Boxing Podcast – he told Indy Sport columnist Steve Bunce that he is very intentional with how he expends his energy. Then you have Dubois, who has twice ended interviews prematurely this week; one could argue that this is his attempt to save energy, but carrying tension into and out of those media duties is not necessarily a great sign.

Similarly, it seemed on Friday that Wardley was doing his best to enjoy the occasion, while Dubois just wanted to fast-forward to the fight. Dubois has said as much throughout the week, and that is understandable, but there is a sense that Wardley has won the little pre-fight battles.

Will those battles influence the outcome of what is expected to be a war on Saturday?

Maybe not, or maybe only to a small degree. This is still close to a 50-50 fight, but every per cent counts.

Still, what of Itauma, and the relevance – if any – of his mention by Jordan? The young phenom is a teammate of Wardley, who has been coy about the prospect of facing the 21-year-old, but there is no doubt that Itauma is edging closer to the heavyweight elite.

Actually, he might be a likelier opponent for the loser of Saturday’s clash at Co-op Live, rather than the winner.

But to focus on Itauma is to rob yourself of the full enjoyment of Wardley vs Dubois, an all-British bout for a world heavyweight title – contested between genuine knockout artists. This very specific combination of factors makes this fight truly tantalising. So, don’t look beyond it, and definitely don’t blink.

Álvaro Arbeloa appeared before the press on the eve of tomorrow’s Clásico against Barcelona, in the middle of an unprecedented dressing-room crisis at Real Madrid.

The first-team coach gave his version of the fight between Valverde and Tchouameni, who have been disciplined and fined by the club.  "I’m very proud of the club’s firmness, speed and transparency. And then of the players acknowledging their mistake, expressing their regret and apologizing. That’s enough for me," he said.

"Valverde and Tchouameni deserve for us to turn the page, to give them a chance to keep fighting for this club. I’m very proud of them. I’m not going to allow this to be used to cast doubt on their professionalism: it’s a lie that they aren’t professionals, that they have disrespected me... it’s absolutely false," he stressed.

The coach said that Tchouameni will be included in the squad for the Clásico and that he is "very happy with the work of his four captains."

Arbeloa also denied reports about problems with some players, such as Carvajal. "It’s a lie that any of them aren’t playing because of problems with me, or because of their life outside Real Madrid. I am the first person responsible for the fact that the season is probably not up to standard. But I’ve been here for four months and I’m very proud of my players."

"What I’m not going to do is throw them (the players) onto a public bonfire, because they don’t deserve it," Arbeloa stressed, while also saying that he sees "a healthy dressing room."

On Mbappé’s attitude

📸 Fran Santiago - 2026 Getty Images

"Anyone who wants to take a player smiling after training out of context is twisting things."

"I can only speak up for him, for his work and the way he is treating me. When he has played, it’s because he has deserved it, and when he hasn’t, it’s because someone else has deserved it more."

The leaks

"For things that happened in the dressing room to be leaked seems like a betrayal of Real Madrid and its badge."

"I’m not accusing my players, or anyone. There are a lot of people at Real Madrid and I’m not here to point the finger at anyone. What happens with my players will stay between them and me."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Real Madrid are now moving rapidly towards bringing back Jose Mourinho, with growing belief inside the club that the Portuguese coach is the only figure capable of restoring order to a turbulent dressing room.

According to fresh reports from AS, Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu is now viewed as a ‘matter of time’ rather than a possibility. 

According to the outlet, the decisive phase of the operation is expected to begin next week, when club president Florentino Perez is scheduled to hold direct talks with the veteran manager.

Real Madrid’s hierarchy have spent weeks analysing multiple managerial possibilities, but the board has reached a clear conclusion. 

Mourinho has emerged as the preferred candidate because of his experience, authority, and ability to immediately take control of difficult dressing rooms.

The club believes the current squad lacks leadership, unity, and competitive balance – issues that have become increasingly visible throughout the campaign. 

Internal tensions, dressing room disagreements, and repeated controversies have only strengthened the feeling that Real Madrid require a manager capable of imposing discipline quickly.

Mourinho is on board

Perez and Mourinho will meet next week. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The process towards a reunion reportedly began with Mourinho himself showing openness towards returning to Madrid. 

However, the biggest development has now come from within the club, where the board is said to fully support the idea of bringing him back.

Although no contract has officially been signed yet, both parties already understand what the other wants. 

For now, the operation is mainly being delayed by the fact that the current season has not officially concluded for either side.

Another important factor behind the growing optimism is the improved relationship between Real Madrid and influential agent Jorge Mendes. 

That connection reportedly helped facilitate discussions and reopen communication channels that had previously become strained.

Lastly, the move is also considered achievable financially, as Mourinho’s release clause is believed to stand at around €3 million, a figure Real Madrid view as reasonable given the scale of the problems they are trying to solve.

Liverpool seem to be gearing up for another busy summer.

Last term, the Anfield outfit spent the most money of all the Premier League teams with many believing that they'd easily retain the Premier League title.

That has clearly been far from the case with several new players being like with a Liverpool move every week.

Despite their lack of form, it seems like the Reds could be about to make a huge mistake with the fate of one of their most important players now looking to be sealed.

Curtis Jones looks destined to exit Anfield after Victor Froholdt interest emerges

Curtis Jones' future has been spoken about since the January transfer window.

The Englishman was linked with a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan due to his lack of playing time under Arne Slot this term.

That is, despite the 'extraordinary' midfielder being one of the Reds' most important players when he's actually been used.

And, while no concrete links have emerged regarding the future of the 25-year-old, the fact that Danish outlet Bold are saying that the Reds are 'in love' with FC Porto's Victor Froholdt tells a different story.

The 20-year-old central midfielder has been a shining light among Porto's team this term and, even though the Portuguese champions are demanding a fee worth around £73 million to prise him away, the Reds seem to be heavily interested.

Although Froholdt and Jones aren't the exact same sort of player, another midfielder already being looked at by Liverpool feels rather telling.

Victor Froholdt would be a good signing for Liverpool but not at the cost of Curtis Jones

Even though Slot may not see it, Jones has been one of his best players this term.

Much like Dominik Szoboszlai, the Englishman has never stopped running and, even though his best position is as a central midfielder, the Dutchman has also put his versatility to the test by using him as a right back on more than one occasion.

Indeed, £73 million for a relatively unproven 20-year-old is a huge risk but he would almost certainly be an excellent signing.

But, with the performances that other players such as Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have put in this term, it feels like they'd be much better options for the Reds to replace with Froholdt rather than Jones.

The fact that Jones is homegrown also has a major part to play as, if they do end up moving Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott on this summer, their options for homegrown players will be wearing thin.

Personnel matters In Cologne’s Südstadt district, the BVB women started the match in their familiar 4-3-3 formation. There were two changes from the 3-1 win against SSV Rhade, with Ronja Leubner and Jasmin Jabbes coming into the starting line-up in place of Nora Willeke and Paula Reimann. Frederike Kempe, who had scored the goal to make it 2-1 the previous week, led the BVB women onto the pitch wearing the captain’s armband.

The matchFrom the kick-off, the BVB women dominated the game against a deep-lying Cologne side. With Jenske Steenwijk and Ann-Sophie Vogel pushing high up the flanks, the Borussia women carried the ball deep into the opposition’s half. Free kicks and corners, all taken by Rita Schumacher, produced the first shots on goal for the Black & Yellows, who were becoming increasingly dangerous. A long-range shot from the set-piece specialist was saved by the Cologne goalkeeper in the 15th minute as she tipped it onto the post and behind for a corner.

A quarter of an hour later, Rita Schumacher curled the ball beautifully into the net to give the BVB women a 1-0 lead (30). This was preceded by her winning a high ball and then playing a one-two with Ronja Leubner. The hosts managed a few counter-attacks in the first half, which an alert BVB defence was able to nip in the bud early on. The BVB women were denied a 2-0 half-time lead after Annika Enderle was caught offside in the 43rd minute.

The second 45 minutes began with a flurry of corners from the BVB women. Although all four set-pieces in the first five minutes flew dangerously into the six-yard box, none found a Black & Yellow player to finish them off. A headed goal was only a matter of time and Ronja Leubner duly converted the tenth corner of the match with a header into the right-hand corner to give her side a deserved 2-0 lead (54).

Consistent counter-pressing and focused build-up play through the two centre-backs, Frederike Kempe and Yasu Wöhrn, secured the BVB women’s comfortable two-goal lead. Rita Schumacher’s set-pieces also proved promising in the 73rd minute as a free-kick from the edge of the box found the onrushing Frederike Kempe, who was left unmarked to direct a composed header into the net to make it 3-0 (73). The BVB women remained the more attacking side in the final quarter of an hour, creating further chances for a fourth goal through Ann-Sophie Vogel (who hit the crossbar) and Annika Enderle. They were ultimately delighted with a commanding 3-0 away win at the well-attended Jean-Löring-Sportpark.

This result sees the BVB women move to the top of the Regionalliga West table on 57 points for the time being, and they will be keeping an eye on 1. FC Köln’s U21s’ match on Sunday. The U21s have the chance to reclaim top spot in the local derby against Vorwärts Spoho Köln.

OutlookFor their penultimate home game of the season, the BVB Women’s team will host FSV Gütersloh at the Rote Erde Stadium on Sunday (17 May, 15:00 CEST). Tickets for the match against the team currently tenth in the table are available from the BVB online ticket shop (standing: €3, seated: €5). The match will also be broadcast live and free of charge on Pluto TV.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch wanted to call a timeout with five minutes to play Friday and the Wolves trailing Game 3 against San Atnonio by two.

Finch felt official Tony Brothers waited three ticks too long to grant the request and, per his account, told Brothers “I want my three seconds back.”

“Because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play, and then gave me it. It almost cost us the turnover,” Finch said. “And then he lost it.”

“Lost it” is a subjective term, but Finch then claims he went to ask Brothers where the ball would be inbounded from after the timeout, at which point Brothers turned and took a couple steps toward Finch before shouting in his direction.

“So, completely unprofessional behavior by him,” Finch said.

It is rare for an NBA official to get into a shouting match with a player or coach. But Finch’s account is only one side of the story. And the Timberwolves’ coach is possibly the biggest complainer — both during the game and after — re: officials.

Nearly every time the refs make a trip down the floor, Finch has something to say in their ear. That likely can be grating. Still, does that give the refs justification to bark back? Or should they merely “take” the verbal scolding from players and coaches with little to no reaction?

Certainly, refs never want to become a major storyline in the game. The 61-year-old Brothers crossed that threshold Friday. Whether any discip

“It’s competition at the highest level. We want to win, Finchy want to win. Tony Brothers is Tony Brothers,” Wolves guard Anthony Edwards said. “We all love him, so it’s all good.

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LIV Golf has lost its Saudi funding, and as it seeks new investment, players are eyeing a PGA Tour return.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp confirmed that he’s been taking calls from LIV golfers who are exploring the potential of coming back to the tour. Bryson DeChambeau was seen speaking with tour officials at The Masters, and Joaquin Niemann expressed his desire to return.

PGA Tour players have been generally open to LIV players returning. Cameron Young said Brooks Koepka’s return has been great for the tour, but he doesn’t think that players like DeChambeau or Jon Rahm should be offered the same deal as the five-time major winner.

Rory McIlroy has been incredibly outspoken about LIV in the past. He acted as the face and voice of the tour when LIV was first formed, and while he’s walked back some of his comments since, the career grand slam winner remains opposed to the breakaway league.

Speaking for the first time since LIV’s loss of funding was reported, McIlroy said whether he would welcome back players to the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy says LIV players should be allowed back on the PGA Tour

McIlroy has been far more diplomatic on his messaging about LIV Golf in recent years, especially as it became less of a threat to the PGA Tour’s future. This trend continued at the Truist Championship, where McIlroy was asked to share his thoughts on LIV’s potential collapse.

He said, “I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf. I don’t think I need to rehash any of that. It’s never been for me and, look, it doesn’t mean that LIV is going to go away.

“They’re going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like. But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you’re too expensive for them, that sort of says something.”

When asked if he’d welcome players back to the PGA Tour, his response may surprise some: “It’s a question if they do want to come back. Obviously, we have seen the quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it seems like some of the guys, if – again, it all depends on what happens to LIV.

“But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, I think Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice.

“But again I think there’s going to be a lot of sort of bridges to cross to get there, just because, obviously, the guys over there are under contract and if they are able to keep it going and get a schedule together next year, it seems like those guys are still going to play the majority of their golf on LIV, in whatever form it takes.”

Several LIV players, including DeChambeau, have expressed some hesitancy to return to the PGA Tour if LIV folds. McIlroy shared his opinion on that: “Which is totally fine. Like, again, I think I’ve said at the start, I was probably too judgmental with the guys that went because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view.

“But again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour. Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe; if that’s a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that’s my home TOUR, at the end of the day.

“But this is, if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”

A sly dig at DeChambeau, perhaps, who has threatened the tour with stepping away from competitive golf and doing YouTube full-time. It seems that despite his back-to-back Masters wins, the rivalry is still strong between McIlroy and DeChambeau.

Happy weekend, sports fans! It’s another weekend without a Tottenham Hotspur match (they play Monday afternoon/evening), and weirdly none of today’s matches directly impact Spurs in their bid to avoid relegation. The highlight of today is probably the early match — Liverpool vs. Chelsea, even though Chelsea are currently on a six match losing streak during which they’ve only scored one goal. The longer that streak goes, the more I’m convinced we’re going to lose at Stamford Bridge next weekend, because that’s exactly how this season seems to have gone.

Anyway, all the important non-Spurs matches — West Ham vs. Arsenal, Forest vs. Newcatle — are tomorrow. This is your open thread. Huzzah!

Saturday Match Schedule

Liverpool vs. Chelsea
7:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. BST
TV: NBCSN (USA), TNT Sports 1 (UK)
Streaming: Peacock

Brighton vs. Wolves
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
TV: not televised
Stream: Peacock

Sunderland vs. Manchester United
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
TV: NBCSN (USA), not televised (UK)
Stream: Peacock

Fulham vs. Bournemouth
10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
TV: USA Network (USA), not televised (UK)
Stream: nbcsports.com

Manchester City vs. Brentford
12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. BST
TV: NBC (USA), Sky Sports (UK)
Stream: Peacock

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß is a master of blunt statements. And his assessment of the German men’s national team ahead of this summer’s World Cup is unsparing.

In Hoeneß’ view, the Germans cannot be considered among the tournament favorites.

“I can’t say that at all,” Hoeneß declared in recent comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “Because the German team has never played with the same eleven in two consecutive matches.

“And that’s something I hold against [head coach] Julian [Nagelsmann] — I’ve already told him personally. If you go to a World Cup and don’t have a truly world-class team, which in my opinion we don’t have at the moment, then — as Vincent has demonstrated — you can only be successful through the team, through the team structure.

“But currently, I don’t see a clear lineup at either end of the pitch. Who is our striker? Who plays in goal? Who is the right-back, who the left? And if things continue like this, we’ll end up fielding a team for our first World Cup match that has never played together before. And that doesn’t work.”

It has been a strange road for Germany since the home-turf EUROs of 2024. Of course, things can always come together fast, but it is just about the cusp of the tournament now…and where Germany stands is unclear. Can Nagelsmann figure it out in time? It appears that in Hoeneß’ opinion, the national team coach needs to start taking some outside advice.

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…

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Gasperini has decided to manage the strength of his starting players to avoid problems.

In the final push of this season, which could secure qualification for the Champions League for the first time in eight years, the Giallorossi coach has adopted a different resource management technique this week, focusing especially on those who have spent the most energy this season.

As reported by Il Messaggero, starting with Malen – who was partially rested two days ago – all the starting players completed a personalized gym session yesterday.

It’s not just Donny Malen, who was clearly fatigued after the match against Fiorentina.

Several players didn’t complete the entire training session under the coach’s orders, and the reason lies in their playing time.

Six outfield players have logged more than 2,300 minutes in Serie A: Wesley (2,300), Koné (2,363), Celik (2,469), Ndicka (2,554), Mancini (2,797), and Cristante (2,856).

All players are expected to return to training today for a late morning training session, before the coach’s press conference and the subsequent departure for Parma.

Therefore, Gasperini wants to leave no stone unturned, and he wants his key players to be in top form for the final three matches of the season.

Meanwhile, El Shaarawy and Gollini were sidelined yesterday. The former could be fit for the match at the Tardini at the last minute.

A former member of Xavi Hernandez’s coaching staff at Barcelona has delivered a strong defence of the club legend while opening up about what he believes was a lack of support from within the organisation during his time in charge.

David Prats, who worked closely with Xavi before recently moving to Qatar to coach Al Shamal, reflected on the intense atmosphere surrounding Barcelona and the criticism directed at the former manager and his staff.

Speaking about his relationship with Xavi in an interview with SPORT, Prats made it clear that the former midfielder remains the biggest football influence in his career.

“Xavi is head and shoulders above everyone else, both personally and professionally. To me, he’s a top-class manager.”

The ground reality

The conversation then shifted towards the difficult reality of working at Barcelona during one of the club’s most unstable periods in recent years.

Prats admitted the pressure inside the club was enormous, even for staff members working behind the scenes.

“The pressure is immense. You’re at one of the biggest clubs in Europe and you have to win and play well all the time. You feel it even as an analyst.”

Despite acknowledging the sporting demands that come with Barcelona, Prats suggested the most painful aspect of the experience was the criticism aimed at Xavi and the coaching staff – criticism he believes was unfair and left unanswered internally.

“What hurt me most was the unfounded criticism directed at us, especially at Xavi. 

“He didn’t deserve it; they were unfair to him. And what’s more, we weren’t protected from within.”

Defending Xavi

Prats feel Xavi was not treated rightfully. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Prats also defended the work achieved under Xavi during a period where Barcelona were facing both sporting and financial instability.

“For me, it was very unfair. We arrived at a very difficult time for the club. 

“We managed to get the team into the Champions League, then we won La Liga and the Super Cup. 

“I think that’s a huge achievement. But from within, it wasn’t appreciated as it should have been.”

The Al Shamal manager then explained that his previous experience working alongside Xavi at Al Sadd played a major role in his managerial journey.

“It all started because I’d already been here with Xavi as an assistant coach with Al Sadd’s first team. 

“We had a great time, felt very much at home, and I had fond memories of the league and the country.”

Lastly, he also disclosed that Xavi himself encouraged members of his staff to seek new opportunities after leaving Barcelona.

“I consider him a very good friend and he told us: ‘If you have the chance to do something else and it motivates you, go for it.’ He needed a break.”

How to Watch Liverpool vs Chelsea: TV Channel and Live Stream Details

As Liverpool and Chelsea prepare to face off in what promises to be an intriguing Premier League clash, all eyes are on the battle for European football qualification. With just a few matches left in the season, both teams have plenty to play for, but how can fans watch this pivotal encounter?

Liverpool’s European Push Continues

Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, have enjoyed a solid run of form recently, winning three of their last four Premier League fixtures. Although not at their peak, the Reds remain in the hunt for a top-five finish. Currently in fourth place with three matches to go, they are still at risk of slipping outside the Champions League spots due to the tight competition in the table.

A victory over Chelsea would temporarily give Liverpool a three-point cushion over fifth-place Aston Villa and a five-point lead over sixth-place Bournemouth. With qualification for Europe still uncertain, this match at Anfield could be a crucial step towards securing a spot in next season’s competitions.

Photo: IMAGO

Chelsea’s Struggles: Can They Find Form?

Chelsea, on the other hand, are in the midst of a challenging period. The Blues have lost their last six Premier League matches, failing to score in five of them. Their only goal in the last month came from Joao Pedro’s stunning bicycle kick against Nottingham Forest. With just one game left before the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Chelsea are under pressure to get back on track.

This trip to Anfield could be their last chance to revive their season before the Wembley showdown. Currently languishing in the middle of the table, their hopes of qualifying for European football are dwindling. For manager Calum McFarlane, the focus will be on ending this tough run of form and getting a much-needed morale boost before their Wembley date.

When and Where to Watch Liverpool vs Chelsea

For those wondering how to catch all the action, here are the details:

• TV Channel: In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. Coverage begins at 11:00 AM BST, with the match kicking off at 12:30 PM BST.
• Live Stream: Subscribers to TNT Sports can stream the game live via the HBO Max app and website, ensuring fans won’t miss a moment of this crucial encounter.

Need a VPN to watch the match? Our preferred VPN to watch UK TV from anywhere is LibertyShield.com – they offer a 48 hour no-obligation free trial and have apps or all popular devices including Mac, Windows, FireTV, iPhone/iPad and Android.

What’s at Stake for Both Teams?

With both clubs vying for different reasons—Liverpool pushing for a European spot and Chelsea aiming to salvage their season—this fixture carries significant weight for both teams. For the Reds, it’s a chance to build momentum ahead of the final stretch, while Chelsea’s need for a positive result could shape the remainder of their campaign.

Whether you’re a Liverpool supporter hoping for a win or a Chelsea fan searching for a much-needed revival, this match is not to be missed.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – When looking for an even-keeled positive take coming out of the Anaheim Ducks’ abysmal 6-2 loss in Game 3 to the Vegas Golden Knights, look no further than Lukáš Dostál following his stellar near-shutout performance in Anaheim’s 3-1 win in Game 2.

“It’s still one win in the series,” Dostál said. “I always say it doesn’t matter how you win or what the score is.”

At the end of Friday night at Honda Center, it’s still just a 2-1 series lead for Vegas.

There’s no extra points for scoring at all three strengths–even strength, shorthanded and on power play–in the first period or for Mitch Marner netting a hat trick to claim the playoff lead in goals and points.

There’s also no extra demerits for Dostál giving up a goal on the first shot of the game for the third time in nine playoff games–13th time all season–before getting pulled after one period or the Ducks power play remaining power less–0-for-11 in the series after converting at 50% in the first round.However, if you’re looking for more fire and brimstone commiserate with just how bad Anaheim looked at points in Game 3, Ducks coach Joel Quenneville had that for you, when asked if his team came in too comfortable after controlling the play in the first two games.

“I think that there's a lesson to take out of today's game, and it's only gonna get harder every single game,” Quenneville said. “Not gonna get any easier. So let's get ready to go to war.”

Anaheim will get its chance to return fire in Game 4 on Sunday at Honda Center, but first, there is the autopsy of Friday.

From puck drop, the Ducks were not good in Game 3, and not on the back of one particular player or one particular breakdown. Every position group, every line and every man-strength unit had something come apart and go against them.

“I think they just outbattled us,” Jackson LaCombe said. “They won more puck battles than we did. They played physical. We’ve got to be better next game.”

Just 48 hours after that 21-save performance and 59:54 of shutout hockey by Dostál, social media reaction was all over the Anaheim netminder with the aforementioned early goals and pull, but this was not a one-man collapse.

When asked if pulling Dostál was for his own showing or for the team’s play in front of him, Quenneville said, “both.”

Just one minute in, Vegas gained the zone, and with Jack Eichel in the corner and a wide-open middle to survey, Eichel hit the trailing Shea Theodore at the far point, who snuck behind the unaware Cutter Gauthier. Theodore then ripped a shot around the inadvertent screen of Ryan Poehling, who became an unfortunate obstruction after tying up his man in front.

Vegas again negated the Anaheim power play 11 minutes later, and Brayden McNabb scored shorthanded on a slightly flubbed half-armed shot that crossed up Dostál, 2-0. For the second straight series, the Knights' penalty kill is outscoring its opponents' power play. An odd one, but also the one Dostal wants back. 

In the dying seconds of the first period, Vegas’ power play capitalized on a broken play. Marner got a shot off slicing through the Ducks’ penalty kill box, but that shot took an odd deflection and bobbled off of Dostál. No one could control the bouncer, until it found Marner’s stick, who tucked it around the Anaheim netminder, 3-0.

“Getting that third one at the end of the period certainly was a killer,” Quenneville said, “and that was basically the game.”

A cross-zone breakdown for a screened goal one minute in. A change-up shorthanded goal midway through. A broken power play knuckler in the final seconds.

All situational killing goals in their own right, and it ended Dostál’s night with three allowed goals on eight shots.

“It's tough to win a game when you put yourself in spots like that,” Alex Killorn said. “I thought they played well, but I don't think we brought our best. Maybe a little bit comfortable after last game. They’re a great team, we just have to have a little bit of a better start and effort throughout the game.”

After thoroughly dominating the first six periods of the series–only good for a 1-1 tie at that point, Vegas truly “entered the series,” according to coach John Tortorella, and there is plenty of credit to be given to the Knights’ team game.

Vegas blocked 20 shots, whereas Anaheim only got in front of six. The Knights’ penalty kill continued at an elite clip with a two-for-two night to add to a 25-for-26 run in the playoffs.

However, as Killorn noted, Vegas’ best game wasn’t done without the Ducks’ help, and as if to prove it wasn’t only the goaltender’s fault, the breakdowns did not stop for Anaheim.

A slow-developing Ducks line change led to a four-on-three break, where Marner took advantage of the space to maneuver around a left-out-to-dry Ville Husso–who entered in the second period and allowed two second-period goals among the 19 total shots faced.

Marner pulled in his first career playoff hat trick nearly nine minutes later, as Marner evaded Drew Helleson’s eye behind the net. Helleson left Marner to cover the net front, and Marner again used time and space to sneak out and squeeze a shortside shot between Husso and the post, 5-0.

One part “how is the playoffs new leading goal scorer left that wide open when he already has two goals tonight,” and another part “that’s one Husso wants back.”

Point being, no Duck was immune from a blunder as Vegas steamrolled in Game 3.

To zoom back out, it’s still just one game, and Anaheim did claw back a bit in the third period. Carter Hart let up his own softy, as Beckett Sennecke dove at a loose puck that snuck through the Vegas goalie’s arm, and Chris Kreider finished off a trademark passing sequence from Troy Terry.

“Everything adds up, so play the whole 60 and continue to play physical,” Kreider said. “Make that investment in a seven-game series. Each game's kind of a standalone thing, so we've just got to be better going into the next game.”

The Ducks have been better than they were in Game 3. They were better just two days ago.

Anaheim has been a comeback team all season, and it must respond in Game 4. Otherwise, Vegas just made a hard turn in this series and with a heavy helping hand.

LIVERPOOL VS. CHELSEA

| Saturday, May 9th |
Premier League | Anfield
12:30PM BST/7:30AM EST

Full time, ref, surely.

When will this cursed season end? Well, three games still, apparently. Somehow Liverpool are more or less a shoe-in for Champions League qualification, and a win today would all but guarantee that. And somehow Chelsea (Chelsea Chelsea) have been even more cursed than Liverpool this season. However, as Spurs proved, there’s no curse that Dr. Liverpool can’t cure. So. I’m tired, Robbie.

PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH

Full Match Preview:Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Television & Streaming: TNT Sports 1 (UK); NBCSN (USA); Stan Sport (Australia); DAZN (Canada); Star Sports Select 1 (India); Astro Premier League (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo 2 (Nigeria); 222 Hub Premier 2 (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo 2 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV

Online Radio: LFCTV GO

LIVERPOOL

Teamsheets posted approximately one hour before the match.

CHELSEA

Teamsheets posted approximately one hour before the match.

If you haven’t done so already, we’d love if you signed up for an SB Nation account and join the community at TLO. We’ll bring you and your fellow Liverpool fans from around the world full coverage of every match from the 2025-26 season in the Premier League, Champiopns League, and domestic cups along getting you breaking news, insight and opinion, tactical discussion, and post-match reactions as the new season plays out. Hopefully you’ll join us for it!

Both Lazio and Inter are likely to make squad rotations in their Serie A match today, as they prepare for next week’s Coppa Italia Final, but the Nerazzurri captain, Lautaro Martinez, is still expected to start.

It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 BST) at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

It’s Inter’s first game as defending Serie A champions, as the Nerazzurri secured the Scudetto with three games to spare last week.

Lazio are four points below a Conference League placement, but their priority remains next Wednesday’s Coppa Italia Final, also against the Nerazzurri.

Francesco Pio Esposito and Hakan Calhanoglu are unavailable for Inter, but while the Italian striker is expected to recover in time for next week’s Final, Calhanoglu is not likely to make it.

Lazio get to this match without the injured Samuel Gigot, Ivan Provedel, Alessio Furlanetto, Danilo Cataldi, Elseid Hysaj and their captain Mattia Zaccagni.

As reported by Gazzetta, Italy international Davide Frattesi is set to make a rare start for Inter in the middle of the park, so Nicolò Barella will rest.

Marcus Thuram is also expected to start on the bench, making room for Ange-Yoan Bonny and Lautaro Martinez up front.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano runs with the ball during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lazio vs. Inter – probable line-ups

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Daniel Maldini of Lazio gestures during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Lazio vs. Inter – where to watch on TV

Inter (3-5-2): Martinez Jo.; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Sucic, Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Lautaro Martinez, Bonny.

Lazio (4-3-3): Motta; Lazzari, Provstgaard, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Basic, Rovella, Taylor; Isaksen, Maldini, Noslin.

Real Madrid’s search for a new manager is in full swing, and the club has now identified their top managerial targets.

Going by the rumours in recent days, Jose Mourinho appears to be the top-placed candidate to arrive at the Valdebebas as the new manager. However, there are several other options being considered.

As relayed by Abraham Romero in a recent report, however, there are only two candidates in the race as matters stand, and the club have heavily filtered down their list. 

Down from five

The Spanish journalist relays that Real Madrid began with a five-man shortlist that included Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Lionel Scaloni, and Didier Deschamps.

From that, only two names remain as strong contenders – Mourinho and Deschamps.

The club believe that only one type of manager succeeds at the club – the Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, and Jose Mourinho type of coaches who are strict and excellent man-managers. 

Didier Deschamps is Real Madrid’s Plan B. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

In that sense, Mourinho is the top candidate to take over the position and is seen as the best option internally.

Concurrently, they have a Plan B, which is Didier Deschamps, a highly experienced manager who has successfully managed a star-studded French national team.

Scaloni, Nageslmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Massimiliano Allegri, and other initially linked names have all been discarded as matters stand.

With the end of the season nearing, Real Madrid do not have long to finalise a managerial appointment.

If they are to negotiate with Deschamps, they will likely have to wait until the end of the FIFA World Cup, and will thus activate that option only if the Mourinho deal falls apart.

As for Mourinho, the club is yet to negotiate with Benfica, but the Portuguese manager is expected to be available if a €3 million fee is paid.

Chelsea’s Injury Woes Ahead of Liverpool Clash

Chelsea face another daunting Premier League challenge as they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool, with managerless Blues enduring a dreadful losing streak. The team will be without several key players, making this match even more crucial for interim manager Calum McFarlane.

Missing Players for Chelsea

Chelsea’s squad for Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off is badly depleted. Robert Sanchez and Jesse Derry will both miss out, and wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are also expected to be sidelined. Sanchez, who was forced off in the second half of Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, is still undergoing concussion protocols after a head injury. His replacement, Filip Jorgensen, is now the likely starter in goal for Chelsea.

“Rob [Sanchez] is also not going to be available after the injury that he sustained in the Nottingham Forest game,” McFarlane confirmed. As for Neto and Garnacho, McFarlane expressed doubts about their availability: “Neto and Garnacho are carrying knocks, so it’s looking unlikely that they are going to be available [against Liverpool].” With academy star Derry unavailable for the remainder of the season after a head clash against Forest, McFarlane is left with few options.

Tactical Adjustments for Chelsea

With so many players absent, Chelsea may need to adapt their tactics significantly. There are no fit and available wingers in the squad, forcing McFarlane to consider Joao Pedro in an unfamiliar left-sided role. Enzo Fernandez will likely operate in an attacking midfield position, while Cole Palmer should line up on the right. This could leave Liam Delap to lead the line as Chelsea look for a much-needed win.

Photo IMAGO

The absence of wingers, compounded by Estevao and Jamie Gittens’ injuries, means that McFarlane might not have many alternatives. It’s likely that Joao Pedro will be deployed as an auxiliary winger once again.

Reece James’ Potential Return

In brighter news for Chelsea, captain Reece James could make his first start in over six weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury. He returned to the bench in the Forest loss, and McFarlane will have to decide whether to risk him in the starting XI. If selected, James could replace Malo Gusto at right-back, but there are concerns about rushing him back into action too soon.

Defensive and Midfield Setup

Defensively, McFarlane will have to rely on Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill to hold the fort against Liverpool’s potent attack. Colwill, who made a return from an ACL injury, could be key to adding pace to Chelsea’s backline. In midfield, Romeo Lavia may once again partner Moises Caicedo, with the duo expected to provide the defensive shield necessary to stifle Liverpool’s creative players.

With injuries and absences mounting, Chelsea’s task at Anfield is becoming more difficult by the day. However, the Blues will be hoping for a shock result as they face Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are still fighting for Champions League qualification.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap.

Doubts: Neto, GarnachoInjured: Sanchez, Estevao, Gittens, Derry

Time and Date: 12:30pm BST, Saturday May 9, 2026Venue: Anfield, LiverpoolHow to Watch: TNT Sports

Aslamjon Ortikov has been an absolute wrecking ball since arriving in the world’s largest martial arts organization. The undefeated striking sensation from Uzbekistan has carved a remarkable path through the promotion’s flyweight Muay Thai ranks, amassing a flawless 9-0 promotional record.

The 22-year-old powerhouse is now set for another massive test. He will face explosive Colombian star Jordan Estupinan in a highly anticipated flyweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 43: Tang vs. Gasanov on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime on Friday, May 15, from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.

This high-stakes matchup represents another opportunity for Ortikov to showcase the destructive skills that have made him one of the most exciting stars on the global roster.

From his explosive debut to his recent string of masterclasses, here is a look back at all nine victories that have shaped Ortikov’s incredible ONE Championship journey so far.

#1 A Memorable Debut

The pressure was immense for Ortikov’s promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 25 in July 2023. Undefeated at 15-0, the young Uzbek striker faced Kaotaem Fairtex in a 128-pound catchweight Muay Thai showdown.

Ortikov lived up to every bit of the hype. He dropped his opponent with a devastating left hand during a wild first-round exchange and never looked back, as his unorthodox shot selection and powerful punching were on full display all fight long.

The unanimous decision victory pushed his career record to 15-0 and announced to the world that a new force had arrived in ONE Championship.

#2 Finding His Finishing Touch

After his successful debut on the global stage, Ortikov was hungry for a stoppage victory at ONE Friday Fights 37 in October 2023, and he found exactly what he was looking for against Pethuahin Jitmuangnon.

The 20-year-old dominated from the opening bell, dropping the Thai with a spinning back fist at the end of the first round. In the third frame, he put his opponent on the ropes before landing a devastating left head kick that ended the fight at just 50 seconds into the round.

The victory extended his perfect record to 16-0 and gave him his first finish in ONE.

#3 Lightning-Fast Destruction

Ortikov’s third promotional appearance at ONE Friday Fights 43 was his most explosive yet. Facing Chatanan Sor Jor Joyprajin, the Uzbek brawler wasted no time making his mark.

From the opening bell, Ortikov stalked his opponent with predatory intent, and consistently connected with cleaner, more powerful strikes as his confidence grew throughout the early exchanges.

With laser-like precision, he brought Chatanan’s two-fight winning streak to an abrupt end with a perfectly timed left high kick at just 2:33 of the first round, moving to 3-0 in ONE.

#4 The Tactical Masterclass

At ONE Friday Fights 54 in March 2024, Ortikov proved his tactical maturity against Watcharaphon Singha Mawynn in their 129-pound catchweight Muay Thai battle.

The pair took time to feel each other out early, but Ortikov’s elite fight IQ began to shine as he recognized patterns and controlled the action, showcasing his ever-evolving skill set with clever counter-strikes and pivots that allowed him to cruise to victory.

In addition to keeping his pristine professional record intact and defeating one of Thailand’s top talents, the unanimous decision win demonstrated his ability to adapt and overcome different styles.

#5 Veteran Slayer

Ortikov next took on veteran Yodthongthai Sor Sommai at ONE Friday Fights 78 and showed he could handle seasoned opposition with brutal effectiveness.

The unbeaten star held the center of the ring from the opening bell, landing thudding low kicks and growing bolder with each connection. He dropped Yodthongthai with a counter left hook at the end of the second round before securing the knockout via another fatal left hook at 2:15 of the third round.

The finish moved him to 5-0 in ONE and further cemented him as one of the flyweight Muay Thai division’s most terrifying finishers.

#6 The Perfect Performance

Against Pompet PK Saenchai at ONE Friday Fights 88 in November 2024, Ortikov delivered what many consider his most complete performance to date. Indeed, the Uzbek phenom brought his signature pressure to the 130-pound catchweight Muay Thai contest.

He kicked Pompet’s legs and threw a multitude of punches and elbows before dropping him with a stern right hand in the opening round. A frantic brawl ensued in the second frame, but Ortikov’s tactical brilliance shone through as he found homes for his overhand right with surgical precision.

Ultimately, Ortikov walked away with a unanimous decision win, three rounds of valuable experience against top-flight opposition, and his sixth straight victory at ONE Friday Fights.

#7 The All-Action Thriller

In his seventh promotional outing at ONE Friday Fights 107, Ortikov delivered arguably his most dominant performance yet against fellow young phenom Dedduanglek Torfunfarm. The striking clinic elevated his status to that of a bona fide star.

Ortikov threw hand grenades at the Road to ONE: Thailand winner from the opening bell. His overhand rights and straight lefts were on point all night, backed up by punishing knees and elbows in the clinch.

The 22-year-old even had time for some showboating and axe kicks before wrapping up another pristine display. The flawless unanimous decision victory officially extended his promotional winning streak to seven.

#8 A True Test Of Grit

Stepping up to face heavy-hitting veteran Petsukumvit Tomthungyai at ONE Friday Fights 114 in June 2025, Ortikov proved he possessed the iron chin and sheer grit required to swim in the deepest waters of the flyweight division.

The Uzbek phenom absorbed the Thai’s signature heavy kicks and relentless forward pressure, answering back with his own blistering boxing combinations. By seamlessly blending boxing techniques with traditional Muay Thai fundamentals, Ortikov consistently found the target and dictated the pace.

His ability to outwork a battle-tested veteran earned him a hard-fought victory, moving his promotional record to a spectacular 8-0.

#9 Conquering A Stadium Champion

In what was undeniably one of the most significant victories of his career, Ortikov squared off against two-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai at ONE Fight Night 36 in October of last year.

Facing a slick, highly experienced veteran, the undefeated Uzbek relied on his relentless forward motion to suffocate Kongthoranee’s kicking game. He completely overwhelmed the Thai star with heavy pressure, cutting off the ring and unloading furious combinations to the head and body.

Ortikov’s tactical brilliance and explosive power were simply too much for the stadium champion to handle. The massive win secured his ninth consecutive victory in ONE, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is ready for the absolute elite of the division.

Source

Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first Premier League title in 22 years are now in their hands after Manchester City dropped points in an extraordinary collapse at Everton.

Mikel Arteta’s side are five points clear of City, who have a game in hand, and it means the Gunners will lift the Premier League if they win their final three games against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Pep Guardiola insisted City will not give up the fight and they will play before Arsenal’s next game. Arteta’s team are away to Premier League strugglers West Ham, who will be fighting for their lives on Sunday evening.

But the balance of the title race has firmly swung in Arsenal’s direction, even after Jeremy Doku’s late equaliser at the Hill Dickinson Stadium rescued a point for City when the damage looked to have been done.

And it could be a historic season for the Gunners after they progressed past Atletico Madrid to reach their first Champions League final in 20 years, and they will face PSG in Budapest on Saturday 30 May.

Arsenal

Played: 35 | Points: 76 | GD: 41

Remaining fixtures:

• Sunday 10 May: West Ham (a)
• Monday 18 May: Burnley (h)
• Sunday 24 May: Crystal Palace (a)
• Saturday 30 May: PSG (Champions League final)

Man City

Played: 34 | Points: 71 | GD: 37

Remaining fixtures:

• Saturday 9 May: Brentford (h)
• Wednesday 13 May: Crystal Palace (h)
• Saturday 16 May: Chelsea (FA Cup final)
• Tuesday 19 May: Bournemouth (a)
• Sunday 24 May: Aston Villa (h)

When could Arsenal win the Premier League?

It’s not done yet, but it’s advantage Arsenal in the title race. If Arsenal beat West Ham on Sunday and Manchester City fail to beat either Brentford or Crystal Palace at home in their next two games, it would mean the Gunners would be able to lift the title at the Emirates with a victory over relegated Burnley in their final home game of the season. If City lose to Brentford, and Arsenal beat West Ham, it could be over by next Wednesday if Guardiola’s side then fail to beat Palace, leaving Arsenal as champions before their final home game.

How can Man City take it down to the wire?

By winning their next three games, Manchester City would be able to take the title race to the final day of the season, where Arsenal are away at Crystal Palace and Guardiola’s side host Aston Villa. Arsenal dropping points would also mean City have the title in their hands again. Sunday’s game at West Ham looks Arsenal’s trickiest game by far, as the Hammers are battling for survival. After that, the Gunners will play relegated Burnley and finish their season at a Palace team who could be preparing for a European final a few days later.

Chelsea need a player like Manchester United star Casemiro according to former Blues player and manager Ruud Gullit.

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Having had a quiet January, the Blues now face a critical summer with a new head coach needing to be appointed, and reinforcements to the squad required.

Chelsea are thought to be in the market for a centre back, whilst they are believed to want to add another midfielder and attacker.

Chelsea told they need a player like Casemiro

The Blues have been heavily criticised for their youth focused transfer policy, but co-owner Behdad Eghbali has said the model will be tweaked.

It’s also been reported that Chelsea are prepared to target players with proven Premier League experience, and they’ve been linked with Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon.

The squad is suffering with a lack of quality, leadership and know how, and Gullit believes Chelsea need a player like Casemiro.

“It looks like they get a bunch of the best young players, and the coach who comes in has to deal with what’s there, with no input on who arrives.

“They need a Casemiro. ‘I need players with experience in midfield’ — and if you don’t have them, it’s going to be a problem,” he said as quoted on X.com.

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.

In other news…

Chelsea are facing an injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s game against Liverpool with Jesse Derry ruled out for the remainder of the season.

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Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst it’s unlikely Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho will feature.

That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers and what could be a makeshift lineup for an important visit to Anfield.

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

Between reaching the Champions League final and having a match point for the French league title, PSG today unveiled its new home kit for the 2026/27 season. 

In collaboration with Nike, a royal blue shirt with a broad red-and-white central stripe was designed, intended as a “tribute to the club’s fans,” as the club wrote in a statement: “With this reinterpretation of the iconic royal blue, combined with a wide red central stripe framed by fine white lines, Paris Saint-Germain powerfully reinforces its visual identity. The shirt once again puts an iconic aesthetic center stage, one that is deeply rooted in the club’s culture and especially cherished by its fans.”

According to PSG, the shirt was designed as a love letter to Paris and its fans and symbolizes the vibrant connection between the pitch and the stands. 

What do you think of the new PSG kit? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

"It was good, it felt right, it felt like it was meant to be."

Sonny Styles had just walked into the Washington Commanders' locker room at the team's Ashburn facility and had seen his jersey, his helmet. He was really in the NFL, and it felt so good for him. "So, I am excited," he told the media, sharing about that first time seeing his very own Washington Commanders uniform.

Seeing the uniform had led to excitement. Interestingly enough, Styles then said, when he walked onto the practice field for the first time, he had also had a feeling. "Just grateful, grateful to be here. I know there is a lot of work put in, to get here. But it is just the beginning. So I am just excited to keep putting work in and keep getting better."

Styles was asked what is his message to the fan base, the young rookie calmly, not raising his voice at all, replied, "I'm going to give everything I've got to this team. When I was at Ohio State, I gave everything I had to Ohio State University. I took pride in that. I'm going to take pride in being a Commander and giving everything to this team and do whatever I can by any means necessary to help the team win."

It's refreshing to see a young person who is not naive and thinks that because he has arrived, the team will win. His father, Lorenzo, played linebacker at Ohio State, was drafted in the third round, and played six seasons in the NFL. Listening to Sonny talk, it sounds like Lorenzo taught his son well about hard work, and that nobody owes you anything in this life, other than an opportunity to prove yourself through hard work.

Sonny is grateful to be here; realizing his father, his coaches have all contributed to his opportunity to prove he could get here to the NFL. Sounds like he understands now it is up to him, to make what he can out of his opportunity to make it in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles expresses gratitude

Celtic's on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach forward Tomas Cvancara says his "season is over".

The Czech Republic international, 25, has not featured since the 11 April Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren. He scored twice in 13 appearances for Martin O'Neill's side after joining in January.

He said on Instagram: "This season is over for me. Next week I'll undergo surgery after tearing my adductor.

"Honestly, this is not how I imagined my season at Celtic coming to an end, and not the way I wanted it to finish. But despite everything, I'm truly grateful that I had the chance to be part of this club, this team and these moments.

"I know there weren't as many individual moments as I wanted, but whenever I stepped on the pitch, I always tried to help the team and give everything for the badge.

"And to all the fans.. THANK YOU".

Celtic trail Premiership leaders Hearts by three points with three games left and host Rangers on Sunday (12:00 BST) before visiting Motherwell on Wednesday then taking on Hearts at Celtic Park next Saturday.

Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division)

Montreal, Quebec; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Canadiens -125, Sabres +105; over/under is 6

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres are in a 1-1 series tie in the second round of the NHL Playoffs. The teams meet Friday for the seventh time this season. The Canadiens won the last meeting 5-1. Alexander Newhook scored two goals in the win.

Montreal has gone 48-24-10 overall with a 21-11-3 record in Atlantic Division games. The Canadiens have scored 279 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank seventh in league play.

Buffalo is 21-8-5 against the Atlantic Division and 50-23-9 overall. The Sabres have a +43 scoring differential, with 283 total goals scored and 240 given up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Nicholas Suzuki has three goals and five assists over the last 10 games.

Rasmus Dahlin has 19 goals and 55 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has scored six goals and added four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 2.5 goals, 4.3 assists, 5.7 penalties and 12.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Sabres: 6-2-2, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.8 penalties and 11.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).

Sabres: Noah Ostlund: out (lower body), Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: day to day (arm), Justin Danforth: out for season (kneecap).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (43-33-6, in the Pacific Division)

Anaheim, California; Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Golden Knights -119, Ducks -101; over/under is 6.5

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Golden Knights lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Friday for the seventh time this season. The Golden Knights won 6-2 in the last matchup. Mitchell Marner led the Golden Knights with three goals.

Anaheim has gone 43-33-6 overall with a 20-14-1 record against the Pacific Division. The Ducks are sixth in league play with 323 total penalties (averaging 3.9 per game).

Vegas has a 17-6-6 record in Pacific Division games and a 39-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have allowed 242 goals while scoring 264 for a +22 scoring differential.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cutter Gauthier has scored 41 goals with 28 assists for the Ducks. Jackson LaCombe has two goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.

Marner has 24 goals and 56 assists for the Golden Knights. Jack Eichel has one goal and 12 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Ducks: 6-4-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 7-3-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Ducks: Radko Gudas: day to day (lower body), Petr Mrazek: out for season (lower-body).

Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: out (undisclosed).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Dusan Vlahovic is set to return to the Juventus starting XI for the first time in over five months as the Bianconeri seek a win against a Lecce side that is fighting for survival.

It kicks off at 20:45 CET (19:45 BST) at the Stadio Via Del Mare in Lecce.

The home side have a four-point advantage over the relegation zone, so a win would almost certainly allow them to secure survival, while Juventus sit fourth in the standings, but their lead over fifth-placed Roma has been reduced to just one point following back-to-back draws against Milan and Hellas Verona.

The Bianconeri have travelled to Lecce without the injured Arkadiusz Milik and Juan Cabal.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Serbia international Vlahovic is expected to start his first game since November 29, as reported by Sky Sport and Gazzetta.

Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceiçao will complete the Old Lady’s attack.

Medon Berisha, Kialonda Gaspar, Riccardo Sottil and Sadik Fofana are unavailable for Lecce, where Walid Cheddira is the favourite over Nikola Stulic for a starting spot as a lone striker.

LECCE, ITALY – APRIL 20: Walid CHeddira of US Lecce competes for the ball with Nicolò Fagioli of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Lecce vs. Juventus – where to watch on TV

The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, DAZN and HBO Max in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.

Lecce vs. Juventus – probable line-ups

Lecce (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Danilo Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Ngom, Ramadani; Pierotti, Coulibaly, Banda; Cheddira.

Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceição, Yildiz; Vlahovic.

A thorough search, with a list of five or six names that, in the hopes of Gian Piero Gasperini in particular, will lead to a definitive choice as soon as possible.

Time is running out, and Roma hasn’t yet fully identified the right candidate to replace Ricky Massara as sporting director.

Many professionals have been contacted, some like Manna and D’Amico identified as priority candidates, but there’s a new name on the horizon that could materialize if the main targets fall through.

As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, Cristiano Giaretta is among the five or six names the Friedkins are considering.

The former Udinese and Ascoli sporting director has chosen to move abroad in recent years and start over at Pafos, a club that has surprised European football by achieving excellent results and even playing in the Champions League.

In recent hours, Medhi Benatia has also been the subject of discussion, with speculation surrounding a sensational sporting director swap with Massara heading to Marseille and the Moroccan, conversely, heading to the capital.

Roma are looking for strikers to raise their attacking game.

For Gasperini, bringing in new players capable of adding quality, pace, and goalscoring skills was and remains a priority.

The Giallorossi will say goodbye to Ferguson, Zaragoza, and most likely Venturino.

Dovbyk remains on the way out, while Pellegrini and El Shaarawy’s contracts are expiring but could remain, especially the former.

Roma is closely monitoring several wingers, as there will be a real shakeup, with Malen the only one guaranteed a spot.

Among the names circled in red are Summerville of West Ham and Tsolis of Club Brugge, both members of the Dutch striker’s agency.

Roma is monitoring several wingers to give Gasperini an attacking lineup suited to his style of football.

As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, in addition to Summerville and Tzolis, the Giallorossi have also set their sights on Tottenham’s Tel.

The 2004-born player has scored three goals in the Premier League this year and has yet to fully express his talent for Spurs.

Roma already sought the player in January, and a significant resurgence is not out of the question.

While things around the NFL were mostly quiet on Friday, the Tennessee Titans made a minor roster move aimed at adding more competition, further crowding the wide receiver room. 

The Titans claimed and were awarded wide receiver Courtney Jackson off waivers from the New York Giants. Originally an undrafted rookie free agent with the Denver Broncos following the 2025 NFL Draft, Jackson had signed with the Giants early in the offseason after spending all of 2025 on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad. 

The @Titans have claimed WR Courtney Jackson off waivers.

The Titans waived WR Hal Presley.

READ https://t.co/b7F7VG2Gklpic.twitter.com/RJDns99CXH

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) May 8, 2026

The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Jackson is an experienced receiver and return specialist who earned an All-ACC mention from Pro Football Focus (PFF) after leading Syracuse in receiving in 2021, before eventually transferring to Arkansas State to finish his college career. He ended his time at Arkansas State with 81 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns, and added another 31 returns for 438 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons.

To make room for Jackson, Tennessee parted ways with wide receiver Hal Presley, who had signed a futures contract in January. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans juggle wide receiver room on their offseason roster

Celtic forward Callum Osmand, 20, who scored against Rangers earlier this season, could make the bench against the Ibrox side on Sunday after an extended period out injured. (Sun)

Former Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers, 31, reveals "confusing" messages about his future at the club played a part in his departure to Panathinaikos. (Record)

Blair Spittal, 30, is pushing for a Hearts start against Motherwell after recent impressive performances off the bench. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required)

Falkirk winger Calvin Miller, 28, is not getting pre-occupied about a lucrative move or a Scotland call-up. (Sun)

Hibernian wide man Nicky Cadden, 29, hopes not to be "unlucky" to be withdrawn following a red card again this season after the club's recent spate of dismissals. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required)

Sealing seventh place in the Scottish Premiership is Dundee United's clear goal when they face Aberdeen on Saturday, says Zac Sapsford, 23. (Courier - subscription required)

Forward Kevin Nisbet, 29, believes Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson's tactics can help him fulfil his potential. (Press and Journal - subscription required)

Cheick Diabate reveals he could not leave St Johnstone without helping them make an immediate return to the Scottish Premiership. (Courier - subscription require)

• Real hold talks over Mourinho return - Saturday's gossip
• Rangers alerted to midfielder Clark - gossip

Liverpool set the standards last season. The Premier League table provides some proof those standards have slipped on the pitch; so, too, the total of 18 defeats in all competitions. Yet the attention has been diverted to the standards off the pitch. Mohamed Salah said he felt the bond in the dressing room is changing; he spoke of his concerns about the mentality in the dressing room. A man whose chiselled physique is testament to his work ethic said players need to get in early to go the gym, which in turn will encourage others to.

For Arne Slot, the culture is not a problem; nor does he think it will be next season when Andy Robertson and Salah, two of the stalwarts of Jurgen Klopp’s great side, depart. Slot argued that there are enough cultural architects already in his side to weather the loss of two influential figures.

“What Mo is saying is that standards are really important for a football club,” said Slot. “I cannot agree more with him. I did not hear him say that the standards are not okay now. I’m not worried that the standards will be lower next season than they were this season, last season or the season before.”

That mention of those three campaigns may have been a coincidence. But if the accusation was flying around that Liverpool were afforded too many days off, they have had fewer this year than in their title-winning campaign under Slot, or their final year under Klopp. One interpretation of their slide this year is that the culture Klopp and his senior players imbued is being dissipated and diluted with time. Slot does not concur.

“I think they [standards] are in a good place right now,” he said. “I think it also makes sense that younger players – it doesn’t have to be the new players, it can be the seven-year-old that comes from the academy – usually get the example of players like Mo and others for them to understand and to know what it takes to play every three days at this level. I see – and I think – that our younger players have improved in this already. I am completely convinced that we have enough players next season – and, add to that, the ones that we will sign – to put the standards exactly into the place they are needed. The standards are not only important in the gym.”

That may be pertinent, too. The declining standard of Salah’s performance, from scoring 29 league goals last season to seven this, is a reason for Liverpool's decline. Age has caught up with some, injury with others. There are others who have underperformed. But, Slot thinks, he has the right characters in the camp.

In interviews last week, Salah sounded nostalgic, reflecting on joining a club where the culture was set by men like Jordan Henderson and James Milner. Then Liverpool may not have just had the best team; they seemed to have the best dressing room, too. Now there is the chance that three of the four elder statesmen will go, with Slot saying that Virgil van Dijk will be at Anfield next season but, significantly or otherwise, not mentioning Alisson. There are questions about the future of Joe Gomez, the longest-serving player, and Curtis Jones, the local in the dressing room.

It may mean Dominik Szoboszlai, a leader in troubled times, becomes vice-captain. Others will also have to step up. Slot does not believe he needs to import players to set the standards in the summer; in any case, Robertson’s replacement is likely to be Kostas Tsimikas, returning from loan at Roma.

Nor, though, does he feel he needs to buy senior players. He sees culture setters in his current group. “I’m not saying that we need to sign them,” he said. “I am saying that we have them already. Senior players are not the only ones who set the standards at a club. If I look at Paris Saint-Germain: Desire Doue is 20, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is 25. Can they set standards for another generation or for a team? I don’t know what time they are in the gym, by the way. And this is what Mo did when he was 26. I don’t think it comes down to ages that only 32 or 33-year-old players can set standards.

“They have lived experiences and know what it takes to play at this level. But come on, we are not talking about Florian Wirtz or Hugo Ekitike or Alexander Isak and all these players we signed. They are not children, they are serious professionals that know what it takes to play at this level as well. They now know what it takes to play in the Premier League and Champions League at this level. It can only be better but it is not only down to 34-year-olds. They can definitely be a big help which they have been in the last two seasons and Virgil will still be next season as well. But standards are not only set by 34-year-olds. Standards can also be set by a 20-year-old, like Doue, or Salah who played for Liverpool when he was 26. That did not only start when he is what age he is now. It is not age related.”

Part of it has to come from Slot, too, as he readily agreed. “Players can help but it is definitely also that the manager sets standards as well,” he said. But his view is that the culture club, to borrow John Motson’s famous phrase in his commentary of the 1988 FA Cup final, will still have the right culture.

Victory is a must for Manchester City against Brentford if they are to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Though they salvaged a draw at the last, two dropped points against Everton could be costly for Pep Guardiola’s side with their rivals now five points clear at the top of the table.

While Manchester City still have a game in hand, they will need Arsenal to slip up and must take care of their own business against a visiting team with plenty to play for themselves.

Brentford appear to be battling with Bournemouth and Brighton for sixth place and a success here would be a significant boost to their chances.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Manchester City vs Brentford?

Manchester City vs Brentford is due to kick off at 5.30pm BST on Saturday 9 May at the Etihad Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

Team news

Manchester City remain without Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, though both are nearing a return, and Rodri continues to battle a groin problem. Mateo Kovacic may come into Pep Guardiola’s starting midfield.

Jordan Henderson is set to have some involvement in a significant boost for Brentford. Vitaly Janelt is also nearing a return, but Rico Henry is not ready yet.

Predicted line-ups

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Hickey; Jensen, Yarmolyuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Thiago.

Where to watch Sunderland vs. Man United live stream, TV channel, start time for Premier League match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sunderland host Manchester United on Saturday hoping to spring a surprise on the Red Devils and keep their European hopes alive.

The Black Cats sit 12th in the standings with three games remaining, but with Brentford in seventh place just four points above them, they still have an outside chance of snatching a Europa League or Conference League place.

United secured Champions League football for next season with last Sunday's 3-2 home win over Liverpool, so the pressure is largely off Michael Carrick and his players. That said, they will want to ensure a strong end to the season so they can claim third spot in the standings and a potentially better draw for the 2026/27 league phase.

The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the weekly schedule.

Sunderland vs. Man Unitedlive stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Premier League match in the U.S.:

TV channel: —
Live stream: Peacock

This match is exclusively available to stream in English on Peacock.

Peacock features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, the Tour de France and more.

What time does Sunderland vs. Man Unitedkick off?

This Premier League clash takes place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, UK and kicks off on Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:

Premier League fixture schedule this week

Saturday, May 9

• Liverpool vs. Chelsea (7:30 a.m. ET)
• Fulham vs. Bournemouth (10 a.m. ET)
• Sunderland vs. Manchester United (10 a.m. ET)
• Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (10 a.m. ET)
• Manchester City vs. Brentford (12:30 p.m. ET)

Sunday, May 10

• Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United (9 a.m. ET)
• Crystal Palace vs. Everton (9 a.m. ET)
• Burnley vs. Aston Villa (9 a.m. ET)
• West Ham United vs. Arsenal (11:30 a.m. ET)

Monday, May 11

• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United (3 p.m. ET)

What channel is Lakers vs. Thunder on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 3 of NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have not lost a game in 27 days. Since the playoffs began, the Thunder are 6-0, sweeping the Suns and taking the first two games from the Lakers.

While there were certainly allegations of flopping waged against OKC in Game 2, they still resulted in a 125-107 victory. The Thunder also had three starters who scored at least 20 points in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell. 

The Lakers have been scuffling, winning just one of their last five contests. In Game 2 against the Thunder, they were thrilled to have Austin Reaves back in the starting five. After missing the first round of the playoffs due to injury, Reaves scored 31 points in 38 minutes for the Lakers. 

Looking ahead to Game 3, the Lakers will need a more active presence on the boards after Deandre Ayton. He totaled 10 of the team's 30 rebounds with a -4 +/- in an 18-point loss. Should they gain the majority of possessions, find put-backs, and control the ball, the Lakers have a shot in this series.

For the Thunder, they need to stick to the plan. They distributed the ball well over a variety of players, without relying on Gilgeous-Alexander as a sole scoring threat. They also got excellent bench production in Game 2, with Jaren McCain and Cason Wallace scoring 18 and 12, respectively. 

Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between the Lakers and Thunder, including broadcast information and start time.

What channel is Lakers vs. Thunder on today?

• TV channel: ABC/ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN app

Lakers vs. Thunder Game 3 will be broadcast by ABC/ESPN and will stream live on the ESPN app.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.

Lakers vs. Thunder start time

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs series between Lakers and Thunder is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Lakers vs. Thunder series schedule

Oklahoma City leads series 2-0

* If necessary

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.

NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026

Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. 

* Can move up depending on earlier series

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

Juventus remain one of the biggest football clubs in the world and has regularly invested heavily in the transfer market in an effort to maintain its status among Europe’s elite teams. The Bianconeri have often spent significant amounts to secure their preferred targets and, on some occasions, have even been willing to pay above market value to strengthen the squad.

The club has continued working to rebuild a team capable of competing at the highest level in both domestic and European competitions. Juventus believe they possess the ambition and history required to challenge any opponent, but recent transfer decisions have created several complications ahead of the upcoming summer window.

Luciano Spalletti arrived as Juventus manager after the season had already started, limiting the amount of business he could complete during the January transfer window. As a result, the club is expected to be far more active during the summer as they attempt to reshape the squad.

Juventus Facing Difficult Transfer Decisions

However, Juventus may first need to generate funds before they can pursue major signings. According to Corriere dello Sport, the club currently has too many players who are no longer considered important parts of the project and must be moved on before new arrivals can be secured.

The report suggests Juventus are struggling with several disappointing signings made in recent years, leaving the club in a difficult financial position. Many of those players are unlikely to command transfer fees close to the amounts originally spent to bring them to Turin.

This situation could significantly affect the club’s ability to invest in higher-quality additions during the next transfer window. Juventus are therefore expected to focus heavily on improving recruitment decisions and squad planning moving forward.

The club understands that previous mistakes in the transfer market are now impacting their long-term strategy. Improving player recruitment and avoiding expensive errors will likely become one of the major priorities for the management team.

Champions League Qualification Remains Crucial

Juventus are also aware that qualification for next season’s Champions League could dramatically improve its financial situation. Securing a place in Europe’s top competition would provide the club with greater flexibility in the market and make attracting top players much easier.

Failure to qualify, however, would place the Bianconeri under even greater financial pressure ahead of the new season. That possibility has increased the importance of the remaining matches as Juventus continue fighting to secure their objectives before the campaign concludes.

The post Red Wings Prospect Finds Comfort Zone appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In the AHL playoffs with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit Red Wings 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is feeling comfortable. And when Brandsegg-Nygard enters into his comfort zone, the night tends to get uncomfortable for his opponents.

Discussing where his game is at today as compared to when he started the 2025-26 season with the Red Wings, that was the word Brandsegg-Nygard was choosing as the appropriate adjective.

“More comfortable,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “I mean, I feel like it helps with everything in the game. So, yeah, just more comfortable.”

That comfort came on Friday from a 5-2 victory that eliminated the Manitoba Moose from the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. Brandsegg-Nygard scored a goal and scored a technical knockout with his persistent physical presence.

If there was a scrum on the ice and someone on the Moose needed an attitude adjustment, Brandsegg-Nygard was there to apply some bone-jarring realignment.

Red Wings Prospect Likes It Rough

“Just kind of happens,” Brandsegg-Nygard said of embracing the physical side of the game. “I don’t think about going in the scrums or whatever you call it, but it just happens in the moment.

“You’re a little frustrated, and you’re starting to get to know the other guys in the other locker room, so you have a little rivalry against them. You start to get a little beef there. But that’s just fine.”

Fine and dandy as far as Brandsegg-Nygard said. If you want to play rough, he’s happy to play along.

“Yeah, I mean, the intensity goes a little up,” Brandsegg-Nygard said of playoff hockey. “That part of the game is so much more fun.

“I like it a little physical and stuff like that. As I said, with the little rivalries we have with guys, so that’s a lot of fun.”

Playoff Hockey Suits Brandsegg-Nygard

The rough-and-tumble world of postseason hockey isn’t a place for shrinking violets. But it’s the perfect place for Brandsegg-Nygard to find himself. He fits into that world like a glove.

“Yeah, he plays a North American pro style already in terms of his physicality,” Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson said.

It’s just one element of the package that has the Red Wings seeing a bright future ahead for the winger they chose 15th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

“He’s a really good forechecker,’ Watson said. “Obviously, we know he’s got a good shot. He’s still trying to find his way to get open to find those shots. But his overall awareness, his defensive play. I put him out there for the last couple of shifts.

“I trust him, and he’s going to do the right things. He’s strong on pucks, he protects pucks, he’s hard to knock off pucks. So, just all those intangibles he has make him a special player.

“There’s still room to grow, and I think that’s the exciting thing for him.”

The post Red Wings Prospect Finds Comfort Zone appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

As Barcelona prepare for one of the most important El Clásicos in recent years, Hansi Flick is facing one major tactical dilemma – how to stop an in-form Vinícius Júnior.

The Brazilian forward arrives into the clash in strong form after scoring four goals in his last three matches.

Within Barcelona’s coaching staff, there is a clear understanding that limiting Vinicius could dramatically reduce Madrid’s danger in attack. 

Because of that, Flick must analyse which player should take responsibility for containing the winger during the title-deciding showdown at Spotify Camp Nou.

Flick’s three options

As such, the manager currently has three serious options in mind, namely, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, and club captain Ronald Araujo.

Araujo has historically been Barcelona’s preferred solution against Vinicius in major Clásicos. 

Even during periods where the Uruguayan regularly played centrally, previous managers often moved him to right-back specifically to deal with the Brazilian’s pace and direct running.

Kounde is likely to start against Real Madrid. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

However, the situation appears different this time because Kounde has generally been Flick’s first-choice option at right-back and remains the favourite to start there again despite an inconsistent campaign by his standards. 

The French defender’s physical strength, recovery pace, and experience in one-on-one situations are seen as important qualities against Vinicius.

At the same time, Eric Garcia’s recent performances have complicated the decision for Flick.

The Spanish defender featured on the right side against Osasuna while Kounde served a suspension, and reports suggest the coaching staff were satisfied with his display. 

What already appears almost certain is that Eric Garcia will start the Clasico, although the remaining question is whether Flick uses him at right-back or alongside Pau Cubarsi in central defence.

If Garcia moves into the middle, Barcelona would likely have to break up a defensive partnership between Cubarsi and Gerard Martin that has become increasingly stable in recent weeks. 

That factor could ultimately push Flick towards keeping Kounde on the right side to neutralise Vinicius.

Arsenal’s players have consistently produced strong performances throughout the season, which has played a major role in the club’s impressive campaign across both domestic and European competitions. The Gunners remain in contention for major honours and could still finish the season as Premier League and European champions.

Arsenal have established themselves as one of the strongest teams in world football under Mikel Arteta, with the squad demonstrating quality, balance and resilience in important matches. As the season approaches its conclusion, the coming weeks are expected to define whether Arsenal can complete what has already been an outstanding campaign.

Although the squad has performed collectively at a high level, there are certain players who are viewed as especially important to the structure and success of the team. These individuals form the core of the side and continue to influence Arsenal’s performances in crucial moments.

Arteta Relies On Key Core Players

Arteta has built one of the strongest Arsenal teams supporters have seen in many years, with the manager clearly placing trust in a select group of players during the biggest matches. His team selections have often reflected the importance of maintaining a reliable spine throughout the squad.

The Arsenal manager has consistently relied on players who provide leadership, defensive stability and composure under pressure. Many observers agree with his decisions regarding which individuals are best suited to key fixtures during the season.

According to Mirror Football, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards recently highlighted the players he believes form the backbone of the current Arsenal side.

Speaking about the squad, Richards said: “We talk about the spine of the team, it’s Raya, Gabriel, Saliba and Rice.

“Also Saka. Saka has come back. He hasn’t been quite the same this season but in big moments in games he’s stepped up.”

Saka Praised For Big Match Influence

Richards also pointed to Saka’s growing influence during important fixtures despite the winger not always reaching his highest level consistently this season.

Continuing his assessment, Richards added: “He showed it against Fulham and gets the goal against Atletico. They’re coming into form at the right time and that’s the most important thing.”

Arsenal supporters will hope that the team’s key players can continue delivering strong performances during the closing stages of the campaign. With major trophies still within reach, the form and leadership of the squad’s core figures could ultimately determine whether the club finishes the season with silverware.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are just one win away from closing out Round Two against the Philadelphia Flyers, as they aim to accomplish just that Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The game is scheduled for 6:00 PM EDT.

In Game 3 on Thursday night, the Hurricanes took a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 4-1 win in the first tilt in the Flyers’ own barn. As with most games of the series, it was filled with penalties, including a two-minute minor boarding penalty against Taylor Hall (which underwent a review for a major penalty), several roughing penalties across the teams, and a 10-minute misconduct to the Flyers’ top line winger, Travis Konecny.

A rarity, the Hurricanes had the edge in power-play opportunities. Their special teams were dominant, with just one of their four goals having been at five-on-five.

You can read all about Game 3 here!

In the Crease

With both Frederik Andersen and Dan Vladar performing well in the postseason thus far, there is no reason to expect a change in net at this time.

Projected Carolina Hurricanes Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

Defense

Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen / Brandon Bussi

Projected Philadelphia Flyers Lines

Tyson Foerster – Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny

Alex Bump – Trevor Zegras – Porter Martone

Carl Grundstrom – Denver Barkey – Matvei Michkov

Luke Glendening – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway

Defense

Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York – Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler – Noah Juulsen

Goaltenders

Dan Vladar / Samuel Ersson

Special Teams

Carolina Hurricanes power play: 14.7% (10th, up two spots from previous game)
Carolina Hurricanes penalty kill: 94.6% (3rd)

Philadelphia Flyers power play: 9.1% (14th, down one spot from previous game)
Philadelphia Flyers penalty kill: 84.2% (9th, down one spot from previous game)

Hurricanes Game Notes

Embarking into a Game 4 against a cornered Flyers team, the general expectation is that the intensity will be the most seen this series. As such, there is a possibility that Nicolas Deslauriers may be added to the lineup for additional grit. If so, it will be the first time in his 13-season career that he has faced a former team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thursday, Jordan Staal’s two points propelled him up the Hurricanes’ franchise records list, pulling him into sole ownership of the fifth-most playoff points in franchise history, surpassing brother Eric Staal, with whom he was tied.

The Hurricanes’ top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis have a very unique and ironic all-time playoff goals record currently. Aho currently has 37 goals (which is Svechnikov’s sweater number), while Svechnikov has 24 (which is Jarvis’ sweater number), and Jarvis has 20 (which is Aho’s sweater number).

Frederik Andersen is the first goaltender since Hockey Hall of Famer Jacques Plante in 1969 to start his first seven games of a postseason 7-0 while posting a goals against average of 1.02 and .957 save percentage or better.

Though the rest of the postseason will only be available to watch via national broadcasts, local play-by-play announcer Mike Maniscalco and analyst Tripp Tracy will continue to call games on the Hurricanes’ radio partner. 99.9 The Fan.

How To Watch

TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO MAX
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Also Read:: ‘I’m Here Now’: Hurricanes’ Deslauriers Reflects on Surprise Playoff Matchup Against Flyers

Related Headlines

• NHL Playoffs: Chaos on Broad Street as Hurricanes Win Game 3 Over Flyers
• Hurricanes vs. Flyers: Round Two, Game 3 – Lines, Notes, Goalies, and How to Watch
• NHL Playoffs: Hurricanes Make OT Comeback Over Flyers Despite Shaky Game

The ambition for every Premier League team is to improve on the season prior, but which clubs have had the biggest improvement in 2025/26?

Manchester United secured Champions League qualification with a 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend, with the Red Devils rising rapidly under interim boss Michael Carrick.

United finished 15th last season, the club's lowest league position of the Premier League era, but are guaranteed a top-five finish this season.

Unsurprisingly, United lead the division for points difference compared to the same stage as last season (+22 points).Manchester City are the second-most improved team (+12), despite trailing Arsenal in the title race, while Everton (+9) complete the top three.

Remarkably, there are currently only five ever-present Premier League teams with a positive points improvement from last season.

At the other end, champions Liverpool have had the joint-biggest decline in points won (-24) after 34 games played.

OnlyWolves, relegated with five games to spare, can match that unwanted record. Liverpool lost just four times during their title-winning season, but have already suffered 11 defeats this season.

That duo are among four teams who are 20+ points worse off than at the same stage in 2024/25. BothNewcastle United (-20) and Nottingham Forest (-21) have struggled to match last season's level. West Ham are the only side in the league to have a zero change from last season.

Premier League points difference to last season - after 34 games

As Barcelona prepare for another crucial El Clasico against Real Madrid, one of the players carrying enormous confidence into the game is Fermin Lopez.

The Barcelona midfielder recently spoke to Mundo Deportivo about the title race, the rivalry with Real Madrid, his development under Hansi Flick, and the painful Champions League exit earlier this season.

With Barcelona just one step away from a consecutive La Liga title, Fermin admitted the squad is desperate to deliver a major result against Real Madrid and celebrate with the supporters.

“It’s a match that all of us players love to play in – a Clasico – and even more so given the situation we’re in. 

“We’re already looking forward to the match, to giving it our all and securing a win for the Culés.”

Barcelona could potentially secure another league title against their biggest rivals, but for Fermin, the timing is less important than simply getting the job done.

“It doesn’t matter; the sooner the better. Ultimately, what matters is that we’ve been very consistent throughout the year, and we need to win it as soon as possible, whatever it takes.”

The disallowed goal

Fermin is excited to play against Real Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Spanish midfielder also reflected on his unforgettable disallowed goal from the previous Clasico, where he dribbled past multiple defenders before beating Thibaut Courtois with an excellent finish.

Looking back on the controversial moment, Fermin admitted, “I didn’t quite understand it, but those are the decisions that get made. 

“The goal was disallowed, but the important thing was that it stayed in the memory of all the Barça fans, who celebrated it as if it were a title.”

Despite the presence of world-class players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. at Madrid, Fermin believes Barcelona’s success with young homegrown players makes the current project even more special.

“They’re two absolutely brilliant players, but I think Madrid are our main rivals.

“They are a formidable opponent with top-class players, and it’s a real achievement that, with homegrown players we’ve brought through and given the team we are, we can win two consecutive La Liga titles.”

Idols and improvement

The midfielder also revealed that Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi were always his biggest inspirations growing up.

“I’ve always looked up to Andres Iniesta and Leo Messi. They’ve been my two role models since I was a child. 

“It’s difficult to do what they did, I think it’s impossible, but within my own capabilities, I try to help the team with goals and assists, and this year it’s been going well for me, and I’m very happy.” 

The Barcelona midfielder also explained where he feels he has improved most under Flick this season.

“I think my decision-making has improved from one year to the next. As the years go by, you mature and come to understand the game better. 

“Thanks to Hansi and my teammates, I think I’ve been able to take another step forward in that area and I’m helping the team in the game with goals and assists.”

UCL heartbreak

Fermin has nothing but praise for Flick. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Fermin also touched on Barcelona’s Champions League disappointment against Atletico Madrid.

“The Champions League comes down to small details, and I think we need to improve on those small details. 

“It’s a competition where you can be out at any moment, but I think the team is aware of that and we mustn’t rush things either. I believe the Champions League will come.”

The midfielder also recalled the painful injury he suffered during the quarter-final clash after being struck in the face by Juan Musso.

“Yes, I did suffer. I suffered a lot because it was a hard blow. 

“I was able to keep playing because that’s my personality – to give it my all – and it was a Champions League tie and I couldn’t just walk off and leave the team there.”

When asked about the stitches, he added, “I think there were six – about three inside for cosmetic reasons and three or four on the outside.

“I can’t say for sure right now. Although for me it felt like a million because of the pain I felt.”

Finally, Fermin delivered strong praise for Flick amid discussions over a possible contract extension for the German manager.

“Hansi Flick is a very approachable, very ambitious and very demanding person. What everyone sees is what he conveys to the team. 

“We’re very happy with him; I think we’ve improved a lot both as a team and individually. The whole team is very happy with him,” he concluded.

Former Blue Shaun Wright Phillips has urged Joao Pedro to join Barcelona this summer if given the opportunity to do so.

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Chelsea signed Pedro last summer from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60m, and he’s been one of the only success stories at Stamford Bridge this season.

The Brazilian has scored 20 goals in all competitions, with 15 of those coming in the Premier League, including a brilliant bicycle kick in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Joao Pedro urged to join Barcelona

Pedro has made the number nine position his own, and has easily fought off competition from the struggling Liam Delap.

The Brazil international is without doubt Chelsea’s player of the season, and his form hasn’t gone unnoticed by other clubs.

Pedro has emerged as a target for Spanish champions Barcelona, although Chelsea’s stance is said to be that he’s not for sale.

However, with the prospect of no Champions League football, Wright Phillips has urged Pedro to join Barcelona if given the opportunity.

“I believe it would be fantastic for Joao if he were to go,” Wright-Phillips said as quoted by The Standard.

“Personally, given the way Chelsea has been run, if I were him, I would do everything to complete this transfer.

“Playing at Camp Nou, alongside Raphinha and [Lamine] Yamal, would be great for him. He would score many goals, since we have already seen what he did in a team that wasn’t as good as this Chelsea team.

“If I were Joao Pedro, I would want to play in the Champions League, and I can’t see Chelsea qualifying for any European competition.

“Joao has the level and deserves to be playing in the Champions League.”

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In other news…

Newcastle are reportedly willing to explore a move for Liam Delap, but Chelsea’s stance is the 23-year-old isn’t for sale.

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Delap joined last summer for £30m, but has managed just two goals in 38 appearances this season, with only one of those in the league.

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

Luis Suarez has said he "would never say no" to a return to international football if Uruguay needed him for the upcoming World Cup.

The striker, 39, stopped making himself available for his country in September 2024 after claiming head coach Marcelo Bielsa had "divided the whole group".

However Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer has now opened the door for a return after a 19-month absence from international football.

"I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up," Suarez told reporters as quoted by Spain's EFE news agency.

"At the time, I stepped aside to make way for the younger generation. I said something I shouldn't have said. I have already apologised to those I needed to apologise to."

Former Barcelona and Liverpool forward Suarez, who has 69 goals in international 143 appearances, has played in four World Cups for Uruguay since 2010.

He stopped a Ghana goal with a handball in the quarter-final of his first tournament in South Africa and was banned for four months after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil four years later.

Now at Major Soccer League side Inter Miami, Suarez said he still feels the desire to compete.

"You realise you still have a little bit of life left in you. You get the urge to keep competing," he added.

"You can see it on the pitch when you still get angry about the losses and the bad passes, and you still enjoy it when you score goals."

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Uruguay, who progressed in fourth from South American qualification, start their campaign against Saudi Arabia in Miami on 15 June, and will also face Cape Verde and Spain in Group H.

It will be a third World Cup for former Leeds coach Bielsa, with the 70-year-old having lead his native Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010.

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Caitlin Clark injury history: Complete timeline of missed games, from quad strain to groin issue originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There is no doubt Caitlin Clark has impacted the entire sport of women's basketball between her college and WNBA success, but the Indiana Fever are still hoping the best is yet to come.

After a promising rookie season that saw Clark continually improve, the former Iowa star was hampered by injuries in 2025 and missed 31 of 44 games. Considering the Fever still reached the doorstep of the WNBA Finals without Clark and other injured pieces, the ceiling appears to be limitless in Indiana — if Clark can stay on the court.

After a nearly pristine record of health at the college level, the hope is Clark's injury-riddled 2025 campaign was just an aberration.

Here's a complete look at Clark's injury history and timeline.

MORE:What WNBA's new CBA means for player salaries

Caitlin Clark injury history

November 2022: Ankle scare

Clark never missed a game during her time at Iowa, but her closest call came early in her junior season when she injured her ankle late in a loss to Kansas State. Fortunately, Clark was able to avoid a serious sprain and was able to play in the Hawkeyes' next contest.

May 2025: Quad strain

After playing every game in her rookie season, Clark suffered a strained squad four games into the 2025 campaign and was ruled out for multiple weeks. Clark would return three weeks later, but she missed only five games with the Fever getting some extended breaks on their schedule. 

June 2025: Left groin injury

Clark was hoping to settle back in and make a playoff push with the quad injury behind her, but she injured her groin in her fifth game back on June 24. Her outlook after the groin injury wasn't believed to be any worse than it was after the quad strain, and she only wound up missing four games before returning on July 9.

MORE:Caitlin Clark no longer tops WNBA GMs' franchise player rankings

July 2025: Right groin injury

The injuries persisted for Clark, as she suffered a right groin injury in her fourth game back from the left groin issue. Despite the Fever initially downplaying the injury and listing her as day-to-day, she never returned. Clark missed the remainder of the season, finally announcing in early September that she would not return.

I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back… pic.twitter.com/paD5sEYG1q

— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) September 5, 2025

The Fever announced after Clark's second groin injury that she underwent a more comprehensive medical evaluation to take a closer look at why she suffered so many soft tissue injuries, but no further issues were found.

Heading into 2026 and beyond, Indiana's hope is that Clark's run of injuries in 2025 was simply bad luck or the result of overcompensating after the initial problem.

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has enjoyed one of his best seasons in years.

Fine form

The England left back has suffered with injuries throughout his entire Manchester United career.

In spite of being the club’s longest-serving player, having joined the club in 2014, he has only played 322 times. This is two times fewer than Bruno Fernandes, who only joined the side in 2020.

Nonetheless, Shaw has been ever-present this season and has played all 35 Premier League matches this season, grabbing one assist. In an interview with the club media, Shaw went into detail about three Manchester United players who have inspired him over the years.

Inspirations

Reflecting on his childhood, Shaw recalled, “it’s just Becks, wasn’t it? I think he was so iconic. So cool. He was kind of different to a lot of footballers, because, you know, it’s not just on the pitch, but off the pitch, the way he was. And I think like, you know, like when you’re growing up and you’re playing football and you’re shooting, you’re always like shouting Beckham.”

Shaw then referenced another Manchester United legend, a player with whom he was able to share the pitch for a short time: Cristiano Ronaldo.

The left back explained, “I feel like I’ve been really lucky with the players I’ve played with. I could go through so many, but I think the top one is, and it has to be, Cristiano.”

He elaborated, “I feel like you can see so easily why he’s been at the top for so long. His dedication, how professional he is. He’s been one of the best players in the world for countless years now, but just seeing the way he lives, the way he prepares, you know, his dedication of what he does before training, after training.”

Finally, Shaw also revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic left a mark on him.

Like Ronaldo, the Englishman only spent a short period of time sharing a pitch with the Swedish legend, but it still made an impact.

He asserted, “his winning mentality was something I don’t think I’ve seen. A lot of top players have winning mentalities, but his was so, so big.”

Shaw continued, “even in little training games, he always wanted to win. I mean, if you didn’t win and you were on his team, then you would know about it.”

The defender also claimed he was a “proper good character” off the pitch and that “everybody loved him”.

Luke Shaw 25/26 season stats

Source: transfermarkt.com

Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images

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The New York Liberty opened their 30th WNBA season with a record-setting 106-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night at Barclays Center.

Breanna Stewart led the short-handed Liberty with 31 points and 10 rebounds. The forward became the second-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points. New York's 106 total points also established a franchise record for a season opener.

The 31-point margin marked the largest victory for a Liberty head coach on debut, securing Chris DeMarco his first regular-season win. New York overwhelmed Connecticut early, scoring 36 points in the first quarter. This represented the team's highest-scoring opening period since 2023.

Veteran guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton provided the standout moment of the match. She played her first regular-season game since missing the entire 2025 season following left knee surgery. Early in the contest, she executed a sharp dribble move that sent Sun rookie Gianna Kneepkens to the floor. Laney-Hamilton then scored a jump shot, igniting a sellout crowd that included Liberty Ring of Honour member Kym Hampton.

The 32-year-old Laney-Hamilton finished with 12 points and four assists, shooting 57.1 percent from the field. For Kneepkens, the match served as a stark introduction to professional basketball. The rookie previously led UCLA to the 2025-26 National Championship. She recorded seven points and five rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench.

The Liberty secured the commanding win despite playing without star guard Sabrina Ionescu. The organisation highlighted their squad depth on social media, praising their role players in the home victory.

New York will attempt to maintain their winning form as they celebrate three decades in the league. Connecticut returns to Mohegan Sun Arena for their home opener on May 10.

When the Washington Commanders re-signed kicker Jake Moody in March to a one-year deal, fans didn't think that was enough. It wasn't that the fans didn't like Moody, but they didn't believe he'd done enough in six games to win the kicking job outright.

The Commanders chose not to bring in another veteran to compete with Moody, who made 10 of 11 field goals in six games last season. He had a long of 56 yards.

Washington has had a revolving door at kicker for years. You can understand the angst of fans wanting to find a consistent kicker, especially after seeing teams like the Cowboys find an absolute weapon at kicker. Brandon Aubrey is a former soccer star turned NFL kicker. Now, he's the best in the NFL, and the highest-paid kicker ever.

When the 2026 NFL Draft passed, and the Commanders didn't select a kicker on Day 3, many believed that was a mistake. Not general manager Adam Peters. He invited Iowa kicker Drew Stevens to this weekend's rookie minicamp for a tryout. Once it was clear that the four-time All-Big Ten kicker was receiving interest elsewhere, too, the Commanders signed Stevens.

So, is he in camp just to push Moody, or is he a threat to win the job? According to head coach Dan Quinn, it's a full-blown competition.

"Yes, at a number of spots," Quinn answered when asked if Stevens was brought in to provide competition.

"It's one of the things I love, just promoting that type of competition, and what we'll do. And so, there'll be a number of positions that we'll talk about in the months ahead of where those competitions will be. I honestly feel like that's how we get the best out of one another. Those competitions at positions, different styles and roles, that's how it all kind of comes together. And so, whether we're talking about kicker or center or different spots along the way, we just keep battling for it, and we will see it all the way through."

This is the right move. While Moody was solid in his brief stint in Washington last season, that's not enough to commit to him for another full year. Make him earn it. And, in the meantime, you've left your options open for potentially finding the next Brandon Aubrey, Cam Little, or Cameron Dicker. If Moody wins the competition, then he will have earned it, and that's even better for the Commanders.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn confirms competition

European football is going through a spell in which not even the best screenwriter could have come up with these headlines: Mourinho is circling Madrid, Levante come back from the dead by miracle, and Aubameyang puts out his problems in Marseille with a fire extinguisher.

These are the five stories to get your Saturday started properly:

🇵🇹 Mourinho to Real Madrid: what they’re saying in Portugal

The Portuguese newspaper A Bola confirms that contacts between Florentino Pérez and the representatives of the 'Special One' are moving forward and that his return is "becoming more real by the day". Sport leads with a historic image of Mou and Florentino holding a white shirt, and the question is no longer whether Mourinho is coming back, but when.

🤔 Florentino Pérez’s inexplicable silence

In this Real Madrid vaudeville, there is one main figure conspicuous by his absence: Florentino Pérez, whose silence at the club’s worst moment is starting to become, according to Marca editor Juan Ignacio Gallardo, "deafening" and fueling the feeling that "the club has slipped out of his hands".

📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors

The editor of the outlet that has uncovered the latest scandals in the Real Madrid dressing room is asking the president to reconsider his intention not to travel to Barcelona because, in his own words, "the captain of the ship cannot hide his head under the pillow when the thunder starts crashing down".

💥 A wild and heroic Levante

Far from all the noise around Madrid, Levante wrote one of the wildest scripts of the season last night: they reached stoppage time trailing 0-2 against Osasuna and ended up winning 3-2 at the Ciutat de València.

Three points of pure oxygen that bring the Granota side closer to survival, something that just weeks ago looked like a miracle.

🧯 There’s never a quiet day in Marseille...

And if football gives us heroes, it also gives us surreal episodes: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been left out by Olympique de Marseille after spraying Bob Tahri, a representative of the club’s sporting management, with a fire extinguisher. 

OM have, of course, punished him, and he will not play on Sunday against Le Havre.

📺 Saturday’s best matches

• 13:30 - Liverpool - Chelsea
• 16:00 - Sunderland - Manchester United
• 16:15 - Sevilla - Espanyol
• 18:00 - Lazio - Inter
• 18:30 - Manchester City - Brentford
• 18:30 - Atlético de Madrid - Celta 
• 18:30 - Wolfsburg - Bayern Munich
• 20:45 - Lecce - Juventus
• 21:00 - Real Sociedad - Real Betis

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Liverpool vs Chelsea: Team News, Predicted Lineup and Injury Updates

Liverpool will welcome Chelsea to Anfield in a crucial Premier League clash, and there are some key updates regarding the team ahead of the fixture. Alexander Isak is back in contention, having missed the previous match due to a minor injury. After a week of training, the striker is expected to lead the line for Liverpool, potentially pushing Cody Gakpo to a left-wing role.

Key Injury Updates

In a positive development for Liverpool, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has recovered ahead of schedule from the cut he sustained in the match against Everton. His return, along with the fit-again Isak, provides a boost for manager Arne Slot. The manager spoke to reporters about the importance of regaining key players, stating, “The positive thing is a few of the players who can be really important for us are either coming back at the weekend or after the weekend. That will help us… It’s important we get at least one win over the line which might be enough [to qualify for the Champions League].”

Photo IMAGO

However, two notable absentees remain for Liverpool. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is sidelined with a hamstring issue, as is star player Mohamed Salah, who is also recovering from a similar injury. Both are expected to return before the season concludes, but this match will come too soon for them. Other players on the injury list include Ekitike, Bradley, and Leoni.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup

Given the recent injuries and returns, Liverpool’s predicted starting XI is expected to be as follows:Formation: 4-2-3-1Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Rio, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo

Chelsea’s Challenge

This match represents a significant opportunity for both teams, as Chelsea will look to bounce back from recent disappointments. With Liverpool aiming to secure a Champions League spot, this game could prove pivotal. 

Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points as the San Antonio Spurs moved into a 2-1 lead in the NBA's Conference semi-finals - while the New York Knicks are one win from progressing from their series with Philadephia 76ers.

France international Wembanyama took 15 rebounds and blocked five shots against the Minnesota Timberwolves, helping seal a 115-108 victory on the road.

The 22-year-old scored nine of the Spurs' first 11 points as they raced into an 18-3 lead, but Anthony Edwards, who scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, dragged his side back into contention and the match was tied at 51-51 at the end of the second quarter.

The Spurs led 106-103 with three minutes to go, before Wembanyama's third three-pointer and a flurry of free throws helped the Western Conference second seeds pull away from their hosts.

In Philadelphia, Jalen Brunson scored 33 points for the Knicks as they won 108-94 to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final.

The visitors had turned around a four-point first quarter deficit to lead 60-52 at half-time.

Quentin Grimes made a pair of three-pointers to bring the 76ers within four points in the fourth quarter, before Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart all scored to set up the victory for the Eastern third seeds.

The two best-of-seven series resume on Sunday, with the Knicks hoping to progress to the Conference final and the Spurs aiming for a third consecutive win.

• Thunder and Pistons extend leads in play-off semis
• Wembanyama shines as Spurs and Knicks win in play-offs

What channel is Cavs vs. Pistons on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 3 of NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There was a period where championship hopes looked incredibly rocky in Detroit. However, after three straight wins against the Magic on the brink of death, the Pistons are rolling.

The winning streak has now continued to five games after taking the first two from Cleveland, each by 10 points. In typical Pistons fashion, Cade Cunningham led the way in Game 2 with 25 points and 10 assists. Daniss Jenkins also continues to be a valuable force as a reserve, with 14 points to boot.

For the Cavs, after a back-and-forth seven-game series with the Raptors, they have been unable to keep up with Detroit. Donovan Mitchell had the best overall scoring performance in Game 2, dropping 31 on 11-24 shooting, but struggled at just 2-9 from beyond the arc. 

For the Cavs to turn it around, they'll need to have better shot selection. Mitchell has the primary target all night, meaning he took a handful of difficult looks. James Harden was in a similar boat, going just 3-13 from the floor and 0-4 from three. 

For the Pistons, the objective is to keep their foot on the gas and rely on their scoring depth. Four players took at least 12 shots and each of them made at least six. Of these, only Daniss Jenkins had a shooting percentage below .500, making six of 14 shots. 

Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between the Cavs and Pistons, including broadcast information and start time.

What channel is Cavs vs. Pistons on today?

• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

Cavs vs. Pistons Game 3 will be broadcast by NBC and will stream live on Peacock. 

Peacock features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, the Tour de France, and more.

Cavs vs. Pistons start time

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET

Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Cavs and Pistons is set to tip off at 3:00 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cavs vs. Pistons series schedule

Detroit leads series 2-0

* If necessary

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.

NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026

Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. 

* Can move up depending on earlier series

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
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• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

The Juventus Women's First Team are back in action on Sunday, 10 May, with a Serie A Women Matchday 21 clash against Inter in Biella.

Ahead of the 15:00 CEST kick-off, the Bianconere sit third on 35 points, with Inter in second but with an unassailable lead. 

Let’s get up to speed ahead of the weekend’s game with some pre-match stats.

INTERESTING FACTS

• Juventus could secure their place in next season’s Champions League with the right result against Inter: the Bianconere would be guaranteed third place with a win over Inter, or a draw, providing none of Fiorentina, Lazio nor Napoli win.
• Juventus (eight) and Inter (seven, the same as Fiorentina) are two of the three teams that have scored the most headed goals in this Serie A season.
• Juventus and Inter are, alongside Roma and Milan, two of the four teams to have had the most different players score in this Serie A season: 13 each.
• Only against Napoli (six) has Lindsey Thomas scored more goals than against Inter in Serie A: five (the same as against Empoli), whilst playing for Milan, Roma and Juventus.
• One of Lia Walti’s three assists in Serie A came against Inter in the first match; only the injured Chiara Beccari (21) has created more chances than the Swiss player in this campaign among Juventus players: 20, the same as Estela Carbonell and Eva Schatzer.

OPPOSITION FOCUS

• Inter are the team with the longest current run of away wins in Serie A (seven – already a club record in the competition); the last side to record more consecutive away wins was Roma, between October 2022 and April 2023 (nine).
• Inter boast the best attack (as well as overall) in the second halves of this Serie A season (28 goals), but they face the side that have conceded the fewest in the second half: Juventus (six).
• Inter have scored 11 goals from set-pieces in this Serie A season, second only to Roma (13); the Nerazzurri are also the side that have conceded the fewest from set-pieces (three, with Juventus just behind on four).
• Haley Bugeja has scored 17 goals this season, just five fewer than her total from the previous four seasons with an Italian club: 22 between 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24, while playing for Sassuolo and Inter.
• Tessa Wullaert is just one goal away from becoming Inter’s second-highest all-time goalscorer in the top flight: she has 23 goals to her name so far (13 in the current season), level with Tabitha Chawinga and trailing only Elisa Polli (27).

Champions League football has been secured for Manchester United, but the future of interim head coach Michael Carrick is yet to be decided ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Red Devils are looking to complete their ninth Premier League double over the Black Cats after winning 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford seven months ago.

No Premier League team has accumulated more points than Man United since the arrival of Carrick in mid-January (32), while the 20-time English champions have also won more league games (10) under the 44-year-old than they managed in their first 20 matches of the season under Amorim (W8 D7 L5).

Carrick has been heavily backed by several members of his rejuvenated squad to become the permanent Man United manager, and he suggested this week that he is expecting the club to communicate their decision on his future before the end of the month.

In the meantime, Man United will endeavour to claim a fourth successive Premier League win and improve their record at the Stadium of Light, where they have lost just one of their 15 visits in the top flight (W10 D4).

Matthijs de Ligt (back) remains out injured and Benjamin Sesko is a minor doubt with a shin issue picked up against Liverpool that forced the striker to be withdrawn at half time – Carrick did not address Sesko’s fitness at his pre-match press conference.

However, Lisandro Martinez is available to return from a three-game suspension and is expected to replace Ayden Heaven at centre-back, while Luke Shaw should continue at left-back despite the return to fitness of Patrick Dorgu.

Bruno Fernandes is just one assist away from the all-time record of 20 for a single Premier League season, and the playmaker is expected to continue in an advanced central midfield role, while Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and ex-Sunderland loanee Amad Diallo all battle for starts out wide.

Premier League Schedule

It’s an afternoon kickoff in the UK, which means a 10:30 a.m. kickoff on the East Coast of the U.S.

Premier League Channel

The match is on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK. Those Stateside can watch on NBC Sports or Peacock. For Spanish language coverage, tune into Telemundo. In Canada, it’s on DAZN and Fubo.

Everyone else, head on over to LiveSoccerTV to find your viewing options.

Predicted Lineup

Manchester United possible starting lineup: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Alan Shearer is backing Liverpool to extend Chelsea’s run of defeats in the Premier League to seven matches when the teams meet at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

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The Reds could potentially secure Champions League qualification today if they take all three points in the lunchtime kick-off and Bournemouth later fail to beat Fulham away, and they shouldn’t be lacking in motivation to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United.

Both Arne Slot and Calum McFarlane will be without a few first-team regulars for the game on Merseyside, although the form book points towards the hosts avenging their loss at Stamford Bridge from earlier in the season.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Shearer gives Liverpool v Chelsea prediction

In his Premier League predictions column for Metro, Shearer has predicted Liverpool to claim victory, writing: ‘It’s a big opportunity for Liverpool here. Chelsea look a mess, don’t they? I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but whatever happens at the top of the club always filters down onto the pitch, and that’s exactly what’s happening now.

‘It looks as if their players are trying to get through the season to the FA Cup final, and then see what happens. I can’t look past Liverpool to win this one, and that would secure Champions League football after what’s been a really disappointing season for them.

‘Having watched Chelsea v Forest the other night, Chelsea were shocking. They were abysmal and there has to be a massive improvement from that, because you can’t just turn it on and off. You can’t just turn up and think, ‘Oh, we’ll get through to the FA Cup Final and see what happens’.

‘They’re really struggling now for European football next season, let alone Champions League football. I just don’t know what to expect from Chelsea.’

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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Liverpool have a lot going in their favour, but can’t be complacent

The Blues’ atrocious form and the lunchtime kick-off both present Liverpool with what seems an ideal opportunity to take a massive step towards clinching a top-five finish with two games to spare, a luxury which seemed farfetched just a few short weeks ago.

The Reds will also have had an extra day to prepare for this game compared to their opponents, who were in action on Monday, and there was enough in their second-half performance at Old Trafford to suggest that they’re capable of victory if they can extrapolate that over 90+ minutes today.

The task will be made harder by the absences of Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike and potentially Alexander Isak depleting our forward line, and Slot’s team mustn’t be complacent just because Chelsea are on such a poor run of form.

The west Londoners still have enough quality in their ranks to trouble any side in the Premier League when they’re on it, and they may feel they have a point to prove considering the brickbats they’ve been taking in the media of late.

This won’t be straightforward for Liverpool by any means, but if the Reds play to their best over the full game (rather than in small portions), they should have enough to fulfil Shearer’s prediction of a home win and move to within touching distance of Champions League qualification.

Jose Mourinho looks like he might make a move back to Real Madrid this summer – one Chelsea favourite has suggested the Blues should try and land him.

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Joe Cole has done an interview with the Sun today where he suggested a retro choice as Chelsea’s new manager:

“The best move the club could make now, a realistic move as well, is to go to Jose Mourinho,” Cole said.

“Say that this is what we can do, and just let the man take charge of the club. Just say, ‘rebuild my club for me, we’re going to step back, you get us back on track.'”

Mourinho no longer a crazy idea for Chelsea

It may be a sign of how badly things are going at Chelsea at the moment that this doesn’t seem like the worst idea. Sure, he’s far from the cutting edge these days. But he’d have the respect of the players and the love of the fans.

If you’re looking for someone to establish a base level, we’re pretty sure he could deliver you regular top 6 finishes, something which would have been a sacking offence when he was at the club before, but would now be an improvement.

Sadly, both staying at Benfica or moving to Madrid look a better option for the veteran coach right now.

In other news…

Chelsea are set to compete with Crystal Palace for two of their top manager targets it seems.

Arne Slot has predicted how Chelsea will set up in tomorrow’s game as he prepares to take on the Blues at Anfield.

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

Borussia Dortmund sealed a second-place finish with a deserved 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night. Although the night was all about the departures of sporting director Sebastian Kehl and three of their players, Niko Kovac also had some time to discuss the actual game.

“We saw a very good finish to this last home game with a nice and deserved victory,” said the Croat. “We were caught cold right at the beginning, but had the game under control after 15 minutes, and also scored the goals before half-time, which was of course very important. The second half was an open game from both teams.

“The way the team has acted, I liked it except for the first 15 minutes, and that's why I'm also happy that we finished the season in second place. You can be very happy with 70 points.”

Borussia Dortmund will end the season away at Werder Bremen as Friday’s captain, Julian Brandt, set to play his last game for the club against his hometown club. The Black and Yellows end a fifth successive season without a trophy.

It was a collective failure from Bayern Munich that prevented them from reaching the final of the Champions League. Harry Kane’s goal in the 94th minute was a mere consolation as it wasn’t enough to get the Bavarians over the line, losing on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain.

If Kane’s goal meant anything, it means he’s tied Robert Lewandowski for most goals in a single season in all competitions since the turn of the millennium:

Only Gerd Müller with 66 competitive goals in 1972/73 stands ahead of Harry Kane 🤯 #FCBayern

The Englishman did reach the mark one game slower than the Polish striker (48 to 47) but Kane’s season is not yet done. There are two Bundesliga matches plus a DFB-Pokal final left to be played. It’ll be a tough ask for Kane to break Gerd’s record, but it just goes to show the heights he and the team reached and how invaluable he is to the team.

The former Tottenham Hotspur attacker is also trying to chase down Lewandowski’s 41-goal tally from 2020/21. Kane will need nine goals in two games to break it.

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…

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The biggest game of the season has arrived for Barcelona as they face Real Madrid in the third and final El Clásico of the campaign looking for a win or a draw to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles against their biggest rivals at Camp Nou.

Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Sunday’s battle:

Defense

Barça have had a full week to prepare for this game and Hansi Flick seems to have found his favorite team as of now, so we don’t think there will be many changes from the side that beat Osasuna last week.

There will be one likely alteration at the back, however, as Jules Kounde returns from suspension and will start this one at right-back ahead of Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo, and the rest of the back four will remain as usual with Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín as the center-back duo and João Cancelo starting ahead of Alejandro Balde at left-back.

Midfield

Flick has continued to trust the combination of energy and playmaking of the double pivot of Gavi and Pedri, so we think Frenkie de Jong will continue to wait for his chance to return to the XI. Dani Olmo and Fermín López have started together in the last two weeks as rotating number 10 and left wing options, and we think they’ll be in the lineup again for this one as Raphinha is not expected to start.

Attack

Marcus Rashford has made decisive contributions off the bench in the last two games and has outplayed Roony Bargdhji on the right wing, so we think Flick will pick the Englishman to start this one ahead of the young Swede. The only main doubt about the lineup is who starts up front, and we think Flick will go with Robert Lewandowski instead of Ferran Torres to begin this one.

Possible XI: Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Rashford, Olmo, Fermín; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Real Madrid? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!

Everything is now perfectly set up for Barcelona to complete their La Liga triumph in the biggest possible fashion – by sealing the title against Real Madrid in front of a packed Spotify Camp Nou.

After months of consistency under Hansi Flick, Barcelona head into El Clasico with complete control over the title race. 

The Catalans currently sit on 88 points, 11 points ahead of Real Madrid with only four league matches left to play.

That advantage means the equation is now simple for Barça. Avoid defeat against Madrid and the league title will officially belong to them. 

A draw would move Barcelona to 89 points while leaving Madrid on 78, creating an impossible gap to recover with only three matches remaining afterwards.

A victory, meanwhile, would make the celebrations even bigger. 

Optimism at Barcelona

If Barcelona defeat their rivals, the gap would grow to 14 points, mathematically ending the title race immediately while also delivering another major statement under Flick.

Within the club, however, the objective is not simply to secure the title with a cautious performance. 

Barcelona have everything working in their favour. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona want to finish the job with authority and continue pushing towards the symbolic 100-point mark this season.

The atmosphere surrounding the two clubs heading into the Clasico could also play a major role. 

While Barcelona arrive full of confidence after dominating most of the campaign, uncertainty continues to surround Real Madrid following a difficult week filled with pressure and internal criticism.

What if Real Madrid win?

Even if Real Madrid manage to leave Camp Nou with a victory, the title race would still heavily favour Barcelona. 

In that situation, the Blaugrana would remain eight points ahead with only nine points left available. 

Flick’s side would then have the chance to officially seal the championship away against Deportivo Alaves a few days later.

If Barcelona win against Alaves, they would reach 91 points. This means even if Real Madrid beat Oviedo, their tally would go up to 83, and still, they would not be able to catch the Blaugrana in the final two matches.

• Guardiola insists there is “no doubt” about Foden & wishes him a return to his best
• Man City boss draws a parallel with Bernardo Silva’s difficult 2019-20 season before comeback
• Catalan reveals he has told Foden his biggest quality is to “turn, go & attack the box”

Pep Guardiola has drawn a parallel with Bernardo Silva’s early-stage Manchester City ups and downs to predict that Phil Foden will “explode again” when he rediscovers his love for the game.

Foden has found regular starts hard to come by in the second half of the season, with Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo establishing themselves ahead of him in Guardiola’s attacking hierarchy since January.

However, the agreement of a new four-year contract keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030 and Guardiola’s extensive public backing of the England international sends an unambiguous message about the regard in which City hold their most decorated academy graduate.

“I asked my sporting director, they are close” – Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Phil Foden’s contract extension

Foden came off the bench in Monday’s 3-3 draw at Everton with City 3-1 down and contributed to the fightback that ultimately salvaged a point, with Guardiola using his press conference on Friday to highlight exactly what he saw in that cameo as evidence of a player finding his way back.

Guardiola: No doubt about Phil, from the bottom of my heart

Asked about the decision to offer Foden a new contract amid his difficult run of form, Guardiola was forthright in his backing of the Stockport-born attacker.

“I said many times, no doubt about Phil, about his impact,” Guardiola said. “He’s a homegrown player from our academy, he has been massively important in our seasons together and I wish that from the bottom of my heart he can come back to his best and play the next years with all of us, helping to continue to be that team being what it deserves to be.”

The reference to Foden as a homegrown academy player carries particular weight at a club that has long prided itself on the development of its own talent.

Since breaking into the Manchester City first-team in 2017, Foden has won six Premier League titles and was voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign as he drove the Blues to a record fourth successive league title.

Just go back to who you are: Pep’s advice for Foden

Guardiola then delivered his most expansive assessment yet of why Foden has struggled and why he is certain the turnaround is coming, using the example of Bernardo Silva‘s own difficult third season at City as a reference point.

How Hugo Viana agreed new Manchester City contract with Rafaela Pimenta for Phil Foden

“Always I’ve said to the players that in a career, a long career, except cases, for example, I remember Bernardo in his first season, and I put Bernardo as an example because he’s the player like can represent more the stability, in terms of mentality,” the Manchester City manager added.

“(Silva) didn’t play much (in his first season), the second season was for me the best, he was unbelievable – and the third season was like that. He said he didn’t have energy and said to me three quarters into the season, ‘Next season I’ll be back, I’ll be back’.

“Bernardo is special because he has incredible self-confidence but the third season was not good, really. And he came back. So with Phil, sometimes you have that period. It’s always what I’ve said to him, ‘Never forget who you are’.

“As a football player, never forget who you are, your skills, or your potential. It’s not new, right? Potential is your quality, your skills. Just do it again, and do it a thousand million times. So just feel free because it’s not about he’s lazy, it’s not about not having the work ethic, it’s not about like ‘I don’t care’ – it’s completely opposite!

“He’s a guy that’s like go and love and recovery every three days during many times, he has proven it! Just go back to who you are – nothing. Don’t pretend to be something different or something special, and it will come. I said, ‘It depends on you, I can help you and many people can help you’.

“Just visualise that biggest smile on your face, the joy you have to play’, because he’s one of the players as I’ve said many times that’s like Alex (Oleksandr) Zinchenko have, Riyad Mahrez, many players that go on the pitch and in the training sessions and now it’s, ‘Pep another competition, another game, stay more 10, 15 minutes’ because they love, they like it – and Phil is one of them!

Phil Foden’s numbers show adaptation rather than decline

“It’s just recover that spirit, that pleasure to be a football player, not because ‘I have a contract’, not because ‘I have duties to do’, not because ‘I have to win that game’ – forget about all of that!

“It’s just the joy to play football like when you were a little boy, or were on the streets, or in your school, or in the academy of Man City, and were enjoying. It’s just go back to that feeling.

“And when that happens, he will explode again, he will be back because he’s not a player like you and me we’re going to discover him. He’s not 35 years old, like your legs don’t run any more or you’re in a wheelchair.

“It’s not the case; he’s still young, he still has the energy, passion, and love and for that – and the moment he’ll do that, one time, he’ll be back, I’m pretty sure.”

Pressed on whether he sees signs of that return already, Guardiola pointed specifically to the Everton cameo this week and the direct message he has delivered to Foden about how to rediscover his impact.

Guardiola said: “Yeah, for example, the minutes he played in Everton, his movements, and his aggressiveness – we talked about that.

“He will come back” – Pep Guardiola backs Phil Foden to overturn Manchester City and England fortunes

“‘So Phil, who you are as a player? What is your biggest quality? It’s turn and go. Turn and go and attack the box and don’t lose that. It doesn’t matter if you are in better form or bad form. So you are not a player to control the game. Your quality is to be a machine attacking the ball with the sense of assists and goals. And make the keeper, threat that you’re going to shoot.’

“And it happened two or three times against Everton in that moment. Go on the pitch with 2-1 down or 3-1 is not easy, you know that – and he did really well.”

The clarity of Guardiola’s message to Foden is striking. Rather than asking him to do more or be something different, the City manager is actively stripping back the complexity, reminding Foden of the qualities that make him genuinely dangerous and urging him not to lose them regardless of circumstance.

For a player who was the best in England just two years ago, Guardiola’s conviction that the version of Foden capable of that is still in there, waiting to come back, will be the most important thing he has heard all season.

Khamzat Chimaev is less than 24 hours away from facing off with Sean Strickland at UFC 328, yet he may have already won his toughest battle.

You wouldn’t expect a former Welterweight to have a difficult cut to 185 pounds, but it’s no secret “Borz” looked a bit shaky at the scale on Friday. There’s also a bit of controversy about his weigh-in itself, as there’s speculation that Chimaev didn’t actually make weight, as the commission was quick to grant him the 185-pound weight. Chimaev has put on a lot of weight since his days at Welterweight, likely in anticipation of a 205-pound or Heavyweight move.

Chimaev hasn’t looked that rough on weigh-in day since he missed weight in his scrapped bout versus Nate Diaz.

Ahead of the weight cut, Khamzat’s friend and training partner Arman Tsarukyan revealed some shocking numbers. Per the top-ranked Lightweight contender, Khamzat cut roughly 21 kilograms or 46 pounds to make the Middleweight limit — that’s more than Paulo Costa in his 185-pound heyday!

“He cuts a lot of weight,” Tsarukyan admitted. “It’s not easy for anyone, even if you’re cutting three kilograms. Khamzat is cutting almost 21 kilograms this time. 21 kilograms is a big number.”

Why such a drastic cut? There are rumors that Khamzat was supposed to go up to 205-pounds and fight for the vacant belt right up until Strickland’s stunning victory over Anthony Hernandez (watch here), which changed the plan. Instead of bulking up, Chimaev would suddenly have to switch paths to losing weight.

Regardless of that gossip and Tsarukyan’s 21 kg figure, “Borz” clearly cut a serious amount of water here. Strickland surely intends to test his gas tank late in their five-round fight, and a bad cut could severely affect Chimaev’s ability to compete as fatigue sets in.

The growing turmoil surrounding Real Madrid has now reached social media, with club legends Iker Casillas and Gerard Pique becoming involved following reports of a serious dressing room altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.

The incident has reportedly created major unrest inside the Madrid camp, especially after claims emerged that Valverde suffered a head injury serious enough to require hospital treatment. 

The situation has only added to the pressure already surrounding the club after a disappointing period on and off the pitch.

Amid the growing attention around the controversy, Casillas shared his thoughts online while discussing the future direction of the club and the managerial situation at Madrid.

Posting on his X account, the former goalkeeper wrote: “I was asked at a LaLiga event with MovistarPlus who I would choose as Real Madrid’s manager: Xabi Alonso.”

Casillas then expanded further on why he believes Xabi Alonso would have been the ideal figure to lead the club project. 

While admitting that Real Madrid will ultimately decide what they believe is best moving forward, the former captain openly praised the former midfielder’s profile.

Pique’s response

However, it was Gerard Pique who quickly stole the spotlight afterwards with a sarcastic response that immediately went viral online.

Reacting to the reports surrounding the altercation between Valverde and Tchouameni, the former Barcelona defender replied with a short but pointed message: “And who do you think won the fight?”

The response instantly sparked reactions across social media, with fans from both Barcelona and Real Madrid weighing in on the exchange between the two former rivals.

For now, it remains unclear whether Casillas will respond publicly to Pique’s comment or allow the conversation to end there. 

But one thing is certain: the latest controversy has only increased the spotlight on the upcoming El Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou.

Drama

Contact

Hmm

Rory McIlroy says bringing back LIV Golf defectors would be "good business" for the PGA Tour amid doubts over the future of the breakaway series.

In April, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it will withdraw its multibillion dollar backing at the end of the year.

In response, LIV announced a "strategic evolution" - including a newly established independent board - as it bids to find replacement financial investors.

But Masters champion McIlroy, long a fierce critic of the series, has questioned its ability to find new backing, saying: "When one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you're too expensive for them, that sort of says something."

Earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau said he will focus on growing his YouTube channel and only "play tournaments that want me" if LIV does not survive.

"It's a question if [players] do want to come back," said McIlroy, speaking after carding a four-under-par second round of 67 to keep himself in contention at the Truist Championship.

"Obviously we have seen the quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it seems like it all depends on what happens to LIV.

"But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think [PGA Tour chief executive] Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that.

"That's just good business practice."

The six-time major winner added: "I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf. I don't think I need to rehash any of that.

"It's never been for me and, look, it doesn't mean that LIV is going to go away. They're going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like."

• Fleetwood one shot off lead at Quail Hollow
• DeChambeau to focus on YouTube if LIV Golf fails
• Is Saudi Arabia's sports revolution unravelling?

DeChambeau, who joined LIV in 2022, turned down the chance to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year under a returning member programme.

It was a opportunity that five-time major champion Brooks Koepka took up, while Jon Rahm has struck a deal to continue playing on the DP World Tour and ended a "stand-off".

Eight other players, including England's Tyrrell Hatton, had already agreed terms with the DP World Tour to continue playing LIV events without incurring sanctions, and are required to play at least six events on the European tour.

"I was probably too judgemental with the guys that went [to LIV] because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view," said McIlroy.

"But again, I'm not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.

"Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe? If that's a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that's my home tour, at the end of the day.

"But if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, [the PGA Tour] is the place to be. And if you don't want to play here, I think that says something about you."

LOS ANGELES — The party started before the first pitch ever crossed the plate Friday night at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. By the end of the night, it had turned into another October-feeling win in May for the Dodgers.

On Miguel Rojas bobblehead night, the Dodgers leaned on timely hitting, a bounce-back outing from Emmet Sheehan and a milestone swing from Freddie Freeman to beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, in the series opener.

And fittingly, it was Freeman, facing his former team, who delivered the signature moment.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.

Freeman launched his 100th home run as a Dodger in the sixth inning, a 413-foot no-doubter to center field off Braves ace Chris Sale that gave the Dodgers breathing room and capped one of their cleanest wins of the season.

“Facing a Cy Young Award winner,” Freeman said afterward. “We’re playing the team with the best record, we obviously put up a great game plan.”

Freeman later revealed he recently made a subtle adjustment to his batting stance, slightly turning his front foot inward in an effort to keep his hips closed longer and drive the baseball again. The results finally showed up Friday night.

It was Freeman’s first home run since April 6.

Before the baseball game started, however, the night belonged to Rojas.

Fans packed Chavez Ravine early to collect the bobblehead, and the emotional pregame ceremony reflected just how much he has come to mean to this clubhouse and fan base. Rojas’ son threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and moments later the infielder walked into center field during stretching, dropped to one knee and soaked in a standing ovation from the crowd of 51,255.

“I can’t really put it into words on how grateful I am of this fanbase and the love I’ve been receiving these past couple of months,” Rojas said.

Then the game began, and the Dodgers immediately needed a strong response from Sheehan.

After struggling through his previous outing in St. Louis, allowing four runs on eight hits while watching his velocity dip into the low 90s, Sheehan looked much sharper against one of baseball’s top teams in the league.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.

Sheehan again lasted 4⅔ innings, but the quality of the outing was vastly different. He allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven on 88 pitches. More importantly, his fastball velocity returned, sitting around 96 mph early in the game.

“Felt good,” Sheehan said. “Definitely wish I was a little more efficient and could go deeper in the game.”

The Braves scratched out their lone run in the second inning on an Austin Riley RBI single, but the Dodgers answered immediately.

After Teoscar Hernández singled, Kyle Tucker hooked a left-on-left slider from Sale down the right-field line for an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.

Tucker’s recent offensive surge continued, even if the swing itself looked more survival mode than highlight reel. Against Sale, survival counts.

Tucker is now batting .254 with four home runs and 20 runs batted in this season.

The game stayed deadlocked until the fifth inning when Shohei Ohtani finally broke through after two difficult at-bats against Sale. On the first pitch of his third plate appearance, Ohtani turned on a pitch and lined an RBI single into right field, scoring Rojas from second base for a 2-1 Dodgers lead.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits an RBI double during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.

That set the stage for Freeman an inning later.

Against the organization he once anchored for more than a decade, Freeman reminded everyone exactly why the Dodgers brought him to Los Angeles in the first place. The sixth home run of his career against Atlanta also pushed him into triple digits in Dodger blue.

Freeman now owns a .312 career average against the Braves, going 29-for-93 with six home runs in 24 games against his former club.

The Dodgers bullpen handled the rest.

Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Will Klein and Brock Stewart combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings, though Stewart had to escape the game’s biggest jam in the eighth. Entering with a runner aboard, Stewart allowed a walk before stranding two runners with back-to-back outs to preserve the lead.

Tanner Scott closed the door in the ninth for his third save of the season.

At 24-14, the Dodgers continue to stack wins against elite competition, and now they will hand the ball to Blake Snell on Saturday night for his season debut, appropriately enough, on his own bobblehead night.

Manchester City remain in the Premier League title race despite their 3-3 draw with Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last Monday night. Pep Guardiola’s side lost ground on Arsenal with their draw against David Moyes’ side. Heading into this weekend, City sit five points behind Mikel Arteta’s side, with a game in hand on the Gunners. City have four Premier League matches left to play, and Arsenal have three. All is not lost for City, although they now need Arsenal to drop points and likely have to win all of their remaining games to win this season’s Premier League title. No matter how City’s 2025-26 season ends, this season is a valuable learning experience for this City side. Pep Guardiola pointed that out yesterday, and his assessment is right on the money.

Pep Guardiola has pointed out that his team is still learning how to contend with the run-in and a tight title race.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked yesterday when he faced the media if this season has been a pleasing one for his team. Guardiola said it was, however he added that his team does need to live through a title race and a run-in to get better. Guardiola explained: “Absolutely. Even the guys with lots of experience can do mistakes but for Marc, Khusa, Gigio here, Antoine, it is the first time they’re in a title race.”

“The feeling we can’t lose that game and sometimes you need time to live that. Still we’re here, this season has been more than good so far. Let’s win the next game and then after see what happens, then see in the future.”

The lessons of the 2025-26 season will be of great value to this Manchester City side.

At times it is forgotten that this Manchester City side isn’t its predecessor. In years gone by, City would typically get the results they need to come out on top in a race to the Premier League title. That was a trait that Manchester City’s all-conquering side from 2017-18 to 2023-24 had in spades. However, the majority of this City side haven’t experienced a title race before. It is new territory for this group, and whatever happens from here, the experience that this City team gains will be huge for the teams development.

Against Everton on Monday night, you could see that the pressure of having to win did get to the Manchester City players, especially in the second half. Errors plagued City’s play as Marc Guehi gifted Everton an equalizer at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Mateo Kovacic made a rash challenge on the halfway line that led to Everton’s third goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. City did well to salvage a point from that match, but the lessons of staying calm under pressure learned from that match could prove to be huge for this City side.

Manchester City could still win the Premier League title this season. The title race is far from over. As Pep Guardiola pointed out, this City side is learning what it takes to navigate the business end of the season. That experience will be huge for this team and it could set them up for what lies ahead for the future irrespective of how this season pans out for Pep Guardiola’s side.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama plays with an agility and a gracefulness beneath his daunting wingspan that can make his dominance for the San Antonio Spurs on both ends of the floor appear almost effortless.

Fresh cuts and bruises on those long arms after fighting for paint position and jockeying for rebounds all night with the Minnesota Timberwolves made clear Wembanyama had to put in plenty of work to compile 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a 115-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday that gave the Spurs a 2-1 lead in their second-round NBA playoff series.

“It's going to happen," Wembanyama said. “They're Wolves, after all.”

The Spurs stayed unbeaten on the road in this postseason with their first win in a truly close game, after four victories in the first round over the Portland Trail Blazers with margins between 12 and 21 points.

“They just continue showing growth,” coach Mitch Johnson said.

Starting with Wembanyama. The 22-year-old phenom from France in his first NBA postseason has played in only seven playoff games, but he has wasted no time writing quite a legacy.

The only other players in NBA history to hit the 35-point, 15-rebound, five-block thresholds in a playoff game? Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal. And only Wembanyama has now done it while shooting better than 70% from the floor. The 7-foot-4 star was 13 for 18 — and 10 for 12 from the line.

“It’s good to be along with the big fellas,” said Wembanyama, who credited Olajuwon for teaching him a spin fadeaway he sank over his mentor Rudy Gobert during a 16-point fourth quarter.

He did that despite picking up his fifth foul with 6:18 left, sitting for only about a minute down the stretch while helping the Spurs pull away each time the Wolves were within one possession.

“Just staying calm, getting my senses back,” Wembanyama said. “Our coaches tell us what to do. They give us the recipe, so as long as we stay steady and we trust our process we’re going to be all right.”

Wembanyama set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocked shots in the series opener, but he lamented his lack of impact on offense after the 104-102 loss to the Wolves on Monday. He stormed out of the gate for Game 2 by immediately asserting his dominance on both ends of the floor that sparked the Spurs to a 133-95 victory on Wednesday, and the travel north did nothing to stem that.

With a pair of effortless slams off lobs to start, the first one done in reverse, Wembanyama scored the first seven points for the Spurs as they sailed to an 18-3 lead. But he was even more of a force on defense, lurking in the paint and frequently prompting the Wolves to alter their layups and floaters to avoid being swatted.

“He's a world-class defender. You’re always aware of him,” Wolves guard Ayo Dosunmu said. "Yeah, he’s a gift at that end of the court.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The 2026 World Cup is right around the corner and England will head to this summer's tournament expectant.

The Three Lions will enter the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA as one of the frontrunners andThomas Tuchel faces selection headaches ahead of the finals.

Tuchel must submit his provisional England squad for this summer's World Cup on Monday. FIFA rules dictate that competing nations must name a maximum of a 55-man provisional squad on May 11th, before the final selection later this month.

Here is everything you need to know.

When will England announce their 2026 World Cup squad?

Tuchel must submit his final 26-man squad no later than Saturday, May 30. However, England have confirmed that the official announcement will be made on Friday 22 May, with first release viathe official England app.

England's firstWorld Cup game, against Croatia, takes place on June 17. The Three Lions also face Ghana and Panama in Group L.

In addition to the 26-man group, Tuchel can take an additional nine players to the United States for training. This group will be potential replacements should any injuries occur prior to the opening fixture.

Who did Thomas Tuchel name in his last England squad?

The England manager opted for an expanded group during March's camp. There was recalls for Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Everton midfielder James Garner made his debut.

England squad for March's international fixtures

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).

Andoni Iraola is very attracted to Crystal Palace’s sporting project, and has been offered a very willing to accept the Eagles’ financial offer according to reports.

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The Spaniard, who will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, is also thought to be one of the leading candidates for the Chelsea job.

The Blues are once again looking for another head coach having sacked Liam Rosenior last month, with the 41-year-old lasting less than four months in the job.

Andoni Iraola attracted by Crystal Palace sporting project

There’s thought to be seven or eight names under consideration, with Iraola joined by Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso on Chelsea’s early shortlist.

Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Iraola’s agent, although it’s believed he’d need convincing to take the job.

Iraola has also been linked with Manchester United, whilst Crystal Palace would also like to appoint the 43-year-old.

It’s a real show of intent by the Eagles, and journalist Matteo Moretto has provided an update on their pursuit of Iraola.

He took to X.com and said:

“Iraola is very attracted to Crystal Palace’s sporting project.

“The English club’s financial offer is considerable: the coach seems very willing to accept it.”

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In other news…

Newcastle are reportedly willing to explore a move for Liam Delap, but Chelsea’s stance is the 23-year-old isn’t for sale.

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Delap joined last summer for £30m, but has managed just two goals in 38 appearances this season, with only one of those in the league.

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

Two big-hitting British heavyweights will collide for a world title in Manchester on Saturday as Fabio Wardley defends his WBO belt against Daniel Dubois.

Unbeaten Wardley, 31, makes the first defence of his title after the Ipswich fighter was upgraded from interim to full world champion last year.

Londoner Dubois, 28, is aiming to bounce back from his defeat by Oleksandr Usyk last summer, as he looks to become a two-time world champion.

With a combined 95% knockout ratio, it seems unlikely the judges will be needed at the Co-op Live Arena.

BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing world to get their predictions.