Sport
Spurs approach Liverpool for defender in cut-price deal
Tottenham have made an approach to sign Andrew Robertson from Liverpool, who are open to allowing the long-serving left-back to leave with only five months remaining on his contract. Liverpool respect Robertson’s wish to sort his longterm future as...
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Solskjaer set for face-to-face talks at United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have face-to-face talks with Manchester United today regarding becoming the interim manager until the end of the season. The Norwegian is vying with Michael Carrick for the role and is expected to meet Omar Berrada, United’s...
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Rosenior opens door to Chelsea job with praise for owners
Liam Rosenior has opened the door to becoming Chelsea’s head coach by admitting there are no guarantees he will remain at Strasbourg for the rest of the season. The 41-year-old is the leading contender to replace Enzo Maresca and progress is expected...
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Slot backs Reds to fix set-piece weakness and keep climbing
Arne Slot has claimed Liverpool have much more to offer this season and can become the dominant team he envisaged – once their set-piece failings have been eradicated. Liverpool stemmed a sequence of nine losses in 12 games – the club’s worst run in...
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United could need ‘10 or 11 years’ to win title again
Sir Alex Ferguson has stated it could take Manchester United another “10 or 11 years” to win the title, prompting Ruben Amorim to publicly disagree with the club’s most successful manager. Ferguson won 13 of United’s 20 league titles, the last in...
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Salah back for Liverpool after Slot meeting
Mohamed Salah will be back in the Liverpool squad when Arne Slot’s team host Brighton today with the head coach admitting the past week has been far from enjoyable. Slot and Salah held face-to-face talks at Liverpool’s training centre yesterday having...
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Familiar foes
England will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World Cup campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L. England will also play Panama, another side they faced at the Russia World Cup,...
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Iran to boycott draw after US visa snub
Iran are to boycott next week’s World Cup draw in Washington after the president of the country’s football federation was denied a visa to enter the United States. A spokesperson for the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) described the decision to...
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Ashes begins with 19 wickets in the day as Stokes leads fightback
Not since Old Trafford in 1909, when 20 batters were sent packing, have more wickets fallen on the first day of an Ashes Test. There were 19 here, a fast-bowling festival, and those England supporters back home who woke up midway through could have...
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Tuchel may stay on regardless of World Cup fate
Thomas Tuchel has opened the door to staying on as England’s manager after next year’s World Cup and has said his future does not necessarily depend on leading the team to glory. Tuchel, who handed recalls to Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden yesterday,...
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Australia deny ‘whingeing’ England’s claims
Australia’s captain, Harry Wilson, dismissed accusations his team are guilty of illegal breakdown tactics before England’s meeting with the Wallabies at Twickenham today and suggested it was English “whingeing”. The England head coach, Steve...
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Wednesday given hope for future despite 12-point hit
Sheffield Wednesday fans say their club have endured “one of the most bittersweet days in our 158-year history” after the Championship side were placed into administration by the owner, Dejphon Chansiri, and deducted 12 points. The Owls will have a...
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Postecoglou appeals for more time at Forest
Ange Postecoglou has urged the Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, to maintain faith in him, doubling down on his belief he will win silverware at the club by saying: “If you let the story play out, I’ll tell you how it...
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Brook sees boost in injury to Cummins but stays wary
Harry Brook believes Pat Cummins potentially missing the start of the Ashes would play into English hands but warned that Australia’s depth in pace bowlers means any replacement should not be underestimated. With only six weeks to go until the first...
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No room for Bellingham as Tuchel targets ‘best’ England team
Thomas Tuchel has said the best players do not always make the best team and suggested Jude Bellingham might have been excluded from the latest England squad even if the midfielder were in peak condition after his return from a shoulder...
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Europe block out noise as Rahm and Fleetwood lead blue charge
Bethpage Black became Bethpage blue. Europe had waited 21 years to lead at the end of a Ryder Cup’s opening day on American soil. In 2004, they romped to victory at Oakland Hills. There should be no sense of a similar procession for Luke Donald and his...
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Maresca tells exiles: real hardship is my father’s life
Enzo Maresca has told his exiled Chelsea players, Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, that they should try working through the night as a fisherman – like his father – if they want to understand real hardship. Sterling and Disasi have been cast into a...
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Haaland hits out at City’s form as derby looms
Erling Haaland has described Manchester City’s start to the season as “not good enough” and described tomorrow’s derby as a “perfect” opportunity to start turning things around. After an impressive opening-day victory at Wolves, City have lost to...
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Tuchel says Stones must stay fit for England role
Thomas Tuchel has thrown John Stones’s hopes of going to the World Cup into doubt after the defender’s latest injury setback forced him to pull out of England’s qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Stones is one of the squad’s leading figures but he...
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Amorim can’t promise he will stay at United
Ruben Amorim admits his temperament means that on some days he “hates” his players and wants to quit and that on other occasions he loves his squad and feels he would like to be Manchester United’s head coach for 20 years. Amorim offered the insight...
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Postecoglou in frame as Nuno fears for Forest future
Nuno Espírito Santo has cast doubt over his future at Nottingham Forest by conceding his relationship with the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, has deteriorated and acknowledging there is “no smoke without fire” amid reports he could be sacked. Nuno...
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Arsenal will strike gold if they keep pushing, says Arteta
Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal will strike gold if they “keep digging” as they start their push to win a first Premier League title since 2004 with a trip to Manchester United tomorrow. In May, Arsenal completed a run of finishing second in three...
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United players admit new £50m training hub must spark success
Diogo Dalot says there will be “no excuses” if Manchester United do not succeed after the opening of a new £50m training facility. The minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe cut the ribbon on the building for the men’s team at Carrington after Sir Alex...
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Newcastle reject offer but Reds hold firm
Liverpool have had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle and do not intend to submit a second offer in this transfer window. Despite long-held interest in the Sweden striker and his desire to move to Merseyside, Liverpool’s first formal...
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Rivalry for the ages can provide a fitting climax in finale of fine margins
Few could have predicted the rollercoaster of emotions England would take us on across five games, and trying to guess an outcome of a mouthwatering final between the European Championship holders and World Cup winners is futile as a result. The...
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Sexton certain Russell can lift Lions in first Test
The British & Irish Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton has insisted that Finn Russell is still “flash” but believes the Scotland playmaker has the temperament to shine on his first Test start for the tourists against Australia today. Sexton described...
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Uefa kicks Palace out of Europa League
Crystal Palace have been banned from the Europa League and moved into the Conference League after Uefa concluded the FA Cup winners were in breach of its multi-club ownership rules. The Palace chair Steve Parish described the decision as “probably one...
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Rashford and Garnacho told not to return for pre-season
Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are among five players who have asked to leave Manchester United and been told they do not need to return for pre-season training next week. Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho have also requested transfers...
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FA says Wiegman can stay whatever happens at Euros
Sarina Wiegman has the backing of the Football Association to stay in charge of England until at least 2027 regardless of how her Lionesses perform at the Women’s Euros. The defending champions are in the so-called group of death alongside France, the...
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Liverpool splash out on Wirtz and Kerkez
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The German will cost a club record £100m and his price could rise with add-ons to £116m, which would make him the most expensive British transfer. Leverkusen had wanted €150m...
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Rugby’s top flight rebrands and eyes America
Premiership Rugby has rebranded England’s top division as the Gallagher Prem as part of a wide-ranging reboot that includes plans to take a fixture to the United States in the coming years and kicking off next season on a Thursday night. Unperturbed...
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Postecoglou pays the price
Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou as their manager, describing it as “one of the toughest decisions we have had to make”, and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause. Marco Silva of...
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Liverpool make record £109m Wirtz bid as Frimpong signs
Liverpool have started ambitious plans to build on their Premier League title triumph by submitting a club record £109m bid for Florian Wirtz and signing his Bayer Leverkusen teammate, Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m. The moves came on the day Liverpool...
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Alexander-Arnold must take defensive role ‘very seriously’
Thomas Tuchel has told Trent Alexander-Arnold he must bring a single-minded focus to the defensive side of his game because one slip at the World Cup next summer could see England pack their suitcases and go home. The head coach said he saw...
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Salah calls booing of Alexander-Arnold ‘harsh’
Mohamed Salah has criticised the “harsh” reception Trent Alexander-Arnold received at Anfield last Sunday and called for Liverpool fans to give the departing defender the sendoff 20 years of service deserves. Salah admitted he was surprised and...
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England open to hosting rest of IPL matches
The England and Wales Cricket Board is open to hosting the remainder of the Indian Premier League in September after escalating crossborder tension between India and Pakistan prompted the suspension of the world’s most lucrative Twenty20 tournament...
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Join the Pool party
Arne Slot believes the emphatic nature of Liverpool’s title triumph and the emotional celebrations that followed will help the club beat off competition for their main transfer targets this summer. The Liverpool head coach gave his players two days...
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Eubank Jr fined £375,000 for missing weight
The controversial and dangerous issue of weight cuts surrounding tonight’s fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn has intensified after the former missed two attempts to make the 160lb middleweight limit yesterday morning. The 35-year-old Eubank...
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Amorim turns to youth with focus on Europe
Ruben Amorim will use younger players in Manchester United’s next three Premier League fixtures as he prioritises the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao. United play at Athletic on 1 May and host the return a week later. Matches against...
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Salah extends contract with praise for Slot
Arne Slot has said Mohamed Salah’s dedication combined with Liverpool’s determination to improve next season will maintain the forward’s phenomenal output for two more years. Salah ended uncertainty over his Liverpool future by signing a new two-year...
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Guardiola hails a City all-time great
Pep Guardiola lauded Kevin De Bruyne as “one of the greatest” players in Premier League history and said it was a “sad day” after the Manchester City captain announced he would depart at the end of this contract in June. The Belgian is one of the...
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Guardiola: City don’t deserve a bonus this year
Pep Guardiola has said that if Manchester City win this summer’s Club World Cup he, his players and staff do not deserve even “a watch” as a bonus given their disappointing season. The champions travel to Bournemouth for tomorrow’s FA Cup...
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Reading face threat of EFL expulsion
Reading could be thrown out of the English Football League if their owner, Dai Yongge, does not sell the club before 5 April. The Chinese businessman was disqualified as an owner under the league’s owners’ and directors’ test last month, an action made...
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Manager calls on Rashford to maintain focus
Thomas Tuchel has included Marcus Rashford in his first England squad to capitalise on the forward’s upsurge in form at Aston Villa and try to ensure he does not fall back into the bad habits that undermined his game at Manchester United. His other...
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Midfielder likely to reject United deal
Kobbie Mainoo is minded to reject the offer of a new contract at Manchester United and seek a move abroad. The midfielder has two years on his deal but the club would be open to selling the England international, who is valued at about £70m, to help...
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Captain steps down and paves way for Brook
Jos Buttler will lead England’s white-ball team for the last time against South Africa today, with his resignation on the eve of their final match of this failed Champions Trophy campaign paving the way for Harry Brook to potentially take on the...
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Liverpool ready to spend to upgrade squad
Liverpool are plotting for a busier summer of recruitment as they look to mould the squad to Arne Slot’s demands, the Dutchman has said. The club have been quiet in the market since Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp but he has pinpointed the positions the...
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Premier League APT rules declared void
Manchester City have struck a substantial blow in their battle against the Premier League, after a tribunal ruled that the entirety of the original rules related to associated party transactions (APTS) were “void and unenforceable”. The result creates...
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Premier League faces fresh legal action
Manchester City have initiated new legal action against the Premier League, as the champions challenge rules on associated party transactions (APT) for a second time. The news comes as the two parties remain in dispute over an initial challenge to...
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Tech billionaires splash £144m on London Spirit
The Hundred is set to deliver an eye-watering windfall for English cricket that exceeds all projections after a Silicon Valley consortium featuring the chief executives of Microsoft and Google claimed a 49% share in London Spirit for £144m. It was the...
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Guardiola bemoans loss of City’s fear factor
Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City have lost their fear factor and need to “recover who we are” but backed his team to challenge for honours next season, while Kyle Walker’s loan move from the club to Milan was confirmed. The reigning Premier...
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United legend Law, last member of ‘Holy Trinity’, dies aged 84
Great names from Manchester United and Scotland have paid tribute to Denis Law, a legendary figure for both club and country, following his death at the age of 84. Law, who was diagnosed with dementia in August 2021, scored 237 goals in 404...
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Moyes agrees Everton return on deal to 2027
David Moyes has agreed in principle to become Everton’s new manager and is set to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract. Moyes met representatives from the Friedkin Group (TFG), Everton’s new owner, yesterday to discuss a return to the club he managed...
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Maguire handed new deal
Ruben Amorim has said Harry Maguire’s one-year option will be triggered “happily” but has warned the former captain to improve his leadership and form to help Manchester United turn around their poor results. The head coach also said that the club...
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‘It’s a catastrophe. Everyone will be hit by it, including football’
The Inter and Denmark player wins our award for her climate activism and readiness to take on Fifa over Saudi human rights If the football had not worked out, perhaps Sofie Junge Pedersen could have run away to the circus. When her after-school youth...
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Beaumont appointed interim chair as rebels clash
Sir Bill Beaumont has been appointed as the interim chairman of the Rugby Football Union after Tom Ilube stepped down, sparking a civil war within the organisation amid accusations of “bullying, entitlement and elitism” between RFU council...
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Mourinho hits back at Guardiola’s titles jibe
José Mourinho has delivered a withering response to Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager noted he had won twice as many Premier League titles as his long-time rival. Mourinho said he had secured his three titles with Chelsea “cleanly and...
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Day of reckoning
Pep Guardiola believes he has avoided the sack at Manchester City after five consecutive losses and a draw because eight years of success there have given him a “margin”. City threw away a three-goal lead in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord when...
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‘I’m the right guy … but I need time’ Amorim says he can’t win league within 2½ years
Ruben Amorim has denied that being Manchester United’s head coach is the impossible job but says his twoand-a-half-year contract is not long enough to win the title. Amorim is United’s sixth permanent appointment since they were last Premier League...
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New United ‘identity’ Amorim admits he needs a fast start
Rúben Amorim has said Manchester United cannot rely on their history and that his most important task is to create a new identity for the club. The head coach admitted he had taken on a long-term project but that there was an immediate need for...
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Mourinho eyes Howe’s position at Newcastle
José Mourinho is targeting the manager’s job at Newcastle if Eddie Howe leaves St James’ Park. The Fenerbahce head coach has unfinished business in the Premier League and has identified Newcastle as his best chance of another job in England, having...
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Call the young dude
Manchester United hailed Rúben Amorim as one of Europe’s “most exciting and highly rated young coaches” after appointing him on a contract to 2027. The 39-year-old revealed last night that he originally wanted to take over at Old Trafford at the end...
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Top England players want workload addressed
England players including the captain Jamie George have voiced “extensive concerns” about their workload to the Rugby Football Union and raised player welfare issues facing international stars before agreeing their new contracts. George has also...
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‘Board is not happy’ Ten Hag admits to United’s unease
Erik ten Hag has admitted that Manchester United’s board are “not happy” with a start that has left his side in 14th and with only three wins in 10 games in all competitions. The form meant the manager’s job was under scrutiny again going into the...
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‘We tried, it did not come off’ Carsley set to revert to type after Greece loss
Lee Carsley intends to return to a more familiar system against Finland in the Nations League tomorrow, as he looks for a reaction to England’s shapeless display in Thursday’s 2-1 Wembley defeat by Greece. The interim manager went with an attacking...
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Ten Hag’s United future ‘not my call’, says Ratcliffe
The Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has added to the uncertainty of Erik ten Hag’s future by declaring any decision on the manager is “not my call”. Speaking in Barcelona, in the aftermath of the Ineos Britannia, the sailing team he...
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