Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said he was "not angry" and there was "no panic" after his side's second loss in two games left them bottom of the Premier League – but it was a depressingly familiar story for the club's fans.
Goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa in a 10-minute second-half spell gave Newcastle a 2-0 victory, with thousands of Spurs supporters heading for the exits early.
They have every reason to be annoyed as they have now seen only three home league wins from their past 23 matches at their superb stadium.
Seventeenth in the Premier League in 2024-25, 17th in 2025-26, only avoiding relegation on the final day, but this season was meant to be different.
With more than £300m spent in the summer, Spurs fans were expecting a push to get back into Europe, having won the Europa League two seasons ago and been in the last 16 of the Champions League in March.

#zerbi

Nürnberg extended their winning start to the season with their fourth win in all competitions. Miroslav Klose's side scored three first-half goals on their way to beating Arminia Bielefeld 4-1.
Mohamed Ali Zoma put the hosts in front in the 11th minute with a solo strike. 2. Bundesliga's sought-after attacker easily dribbled past Bielefeld's defense after picking up the ball in Nürnberg's half before beating Jonas Kersken.
Tom Janisch doubled their advantage in the midpoint of the half with a superb finish from Finn Becker's cross. Since Zoma scored all the goals in the opening day against Dynamo Dresden, the 21-year-old became only the second player to score at Max-Morlock-Stadion this season.
Before the half-time break, Adam Markhiev, who was sent off in the last friendly against Real Oviedo, became the third player. The midfielder equalled his last season's tally with his long-range effort deflected by Stefano Russo on its way to the net.
Jan Reichert started the season in top form in Nürnberg's goal, and he made a couple of good saves to keep the visitors at bay. Markhiev scored another goal from outside the box after the restart, with no deflection needed this time for his superb attempt.

#season #zoma #superb

Liverpool drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in Andoni Iraola's first home Premier League game as their new head coach.
Here's how I rated the players and you can see how you scored them below.
Munoz rescues point for Liverpool at home to Forest
What do BBC Sport's player ratings mean?
Alisson: Well beaten for Dan Ndoye's goal but made a superb save to deny Igor Jesus on the brink of half-time and keep Liverpool in the game. Poor penalty to give away for Gibbs-White's goal. 5

#goal

Patrick Vieira has named the hardest player he faced while playing for ******* nal as one of their main players during the Premier League era.
The Frenchman played a key role for ******* ne Wenger's side, which dominated the English game across several seasons, and was on their books between 1996 and 2005, winning three Premier League ******* les among several other honours.
The former midfielder enjoyed a superb career in England and, in many matches, was the dominant midfield player. However, he faced several opponents who challenged him in different games.
Vieira went on to become one of the best midfielders in the game during his spell at ******* nal and gave the best years of his career to the Gunners before eventually leaving the club.
There were opponents who always gave him a tough time in matches, and the most notable of them all was Roy Keane. It is therefore no surprise that Vieira picked the Manchester United icon as his toughest opponent in club football.

#vieira #several #league #matches

Date: Saturday, 29 May 2026
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
After a tricky opening game away to Newcastle where a fortunate point was gained due to a last-gasp penalty, the summer transfer window edges towards closure with Bradley Barcola seemingly nearing completion, though not in time to make this matchday squad. The defensive midfield, right back and right wing positions remain unsatisfied with only hours remaining to recruit.
The second outing of this term sees the Merseyside giants entertain a Nottingham Forest team now marshalled by the excellent coach and tactician, Oliver Glasner. With a new system, some superb new parts, and a steward who seems destined to join the management top table, this is not just a game that catches the eye of the nation, but a duel between two new coaches in new settings, desperate to prove their respective worth.

#game #right #saturday #anfield

Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 last night at Selhurst Park with a good performance that was filled with plenty of positives. One of those was the performance of Phil Foden. Foden endured a frustrating opening half-hour in last night's match. However, he overcame that to put in a performance that helped his team make it back-to-back wins to start their 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
Manchester City took the lead last night in the 17th minute courtesy of a sublime header from Erling Haaland which came from an Antoine ******* yo cross. Following that goal, Phil Foden had two chances to double Manchester City's lead. He squandered the first in the 21st minute after being set free by Elliot Anderson after City played through the Crystal Palace defence. Foden inexplicably fired over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. Six minutes later, Foden failed to get sufficient contact on a header from close range after being set up by Rayan Cherki.
For a player who is striving to get back to his best, it was going to be a question of how Foden responded to those chances going by the wayside. Come the final whistle, the answer was emphatic as Phil Foden put in a performance that showed he was getting back to his best.
At times last night, Crystal Palace couldn't live with Manchester City's attacking interplay and fluidity. Phil Foden was at the heart of that. Foden combined superbly well with Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki from the right wing. You could see the confidence growing in Phil Foden as last night's match progressed. He was gliding around the pitch and his touch and passing was on point. He also grabbed an ******* ist when he played the ball to Rayan Cherki to do the rest to score his first goal of the evening. However, the best came late on from Foden.
Erling Haaland would seal Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace when he scored the fourth goal in City's 4-1 win in the 84th minute. Haaland's powerful near post finish came via an ******* ist from Phil Foden. It was that moment that was the crowning moment of Foden's night. It was also one that showed that Phil Foden is getting back to his best.

#last #back

Photos by Yamaha Racing.
MotoGP is seen as the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, but as the 2027 grid fills up, several proven premier-class riders are finding themselves without a seat. For those awaiting new contracts, the production-based World Superbike Championship is emerging as the obvious alternative.
Jack Miller is the most recent example, as previously reported, after Yamaha confirmed it will part ways with the four-time MotoGP race winner at the end of 2026. The team is promoting Moto2 standout Izan Guevara to partner with Toprak Razgatlioğlu at Pramac for 2027. Miller, an 11-year veteran from Townsville with 210 Grand Prix starts, 23 podiums, and four wins, is considering several options for next year, including a move to WSBK.
"I'm looking at options over in WorldSBK, trying to swap over there and with my experience on the Michelin tire over the last 11 years, hopefully I'll be able to take some of that experience over there and see what we can do in a different form of racing," Miller said ahead of the Aragon Grand Prix. "There's some stuff over there, sure, but we're not in a massive rush to try to secure something tomorrow, it's about making the decision that I like the most going forward. It has to suit me, where I see my career going in the next few years and what sort of route I'd like to take."
Álex Rins, an eight-time MotoGP race winner and 2020 third-place finisher, is another odd man out for 2027. Yamaha's factory team has signed Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura, leaving him without a ride. Rins confirmed ongoing talks with WorldSBK teams and hinted at additional suitors outside the paddock.

#worldsbk #several

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised his team for displaying the character and mental strength required in Test cricket after Shubman Gill's side secured a 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka. India had a chance to complete a 2-0 sweep after winning the series opener in Galle, but Sri Lanka mounted a spirited fightback in Colombo to force a draw despite being asked to follow on.
Following the conclusion of the series, Gambhir took to social media to acknowledge India's performance while also highlighting the impact of Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha.

"Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that's shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance," Gambhir wrote on X.
Dinusha was the central figure in Sri Lanka's resistance. He scored centuries in both innings of the Colombo Test, including an unbeaten 133 in the second innings, frustrating India's efforts to wrap up the match.
India made a dominant start after choosing to bat first in Colombo. Devdutt Padikkal led the charge with a superb 117, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added 63 and captain Gill contributed 50 as India amassed 503/9 before declaring. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 290 in their first innings, but Dinusha once again stood out with a composed 103. Pasindu Sooriyabandara also played an important role, scoring 80, while India's Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each. Asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 218/6 and India appeared to be closing in on another victory. Dinusha, however, refused to give India an opening.
Dinusha joined forces with Keshara Nuwantha to produce a crucial 112-run partnership. Nuwantha's 46 came from 150 deliveries as the pair absorbed pressure and consumed valuable overs. Sri Lanka's lower order then provided further support, allowing Dinusha to remain at the crease until the close.

He finished unbeaten on 133 from 264 ****** , with eight fours and two sixes, as Sri Lanka reached 429/9 to secure the draw. The result ended India's hopes of a clean sweep but secured them a 1-0 series victory.

India had established their series advantage in the opening Test at Galle, where they secured a 165-run victory. Manav Suthar was the star of the contest, claiming his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket, while Padikkal played a pivotal role with a 167 in India's first innings.

#dinusha #lanka #victory

Leeds United Women began their FA WNL Cup campaign with an important three points in Group T of the competition, beating Halifax Women away from home.
With the scores level at 2-2, Chloe Dixon scored a superb strike to put the Whites ahead, which was enough to seal three points on the night.
Speaking after the match, Dixon gave her thoughts on the win.
"I think tonight it was nice for everyone to be getting minutes and involved in it.
"You can try different things, you can get your rotations in, and it's a bit less pressure than the League, I'd say. So it's a nice way to play fluently.

#points #united

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer is really high on Bo Nix ahead of the quarterback's third season in the NFL
Nix, coming off a broken ankle, is looking to break into the top half of signal-callers, and Plummer says there's no concern on his end about Nix getting right back to form this fall.
"I think we're going to see the same Bo we've seen," Plummer said at a USAA boot camp at the Broncos' facility on Wednesday. "The kid loves football. He's a great leader. He plays a game with a ton of passion... hopefully he can go through the season without getting hurt because we saw how important he was to this team."
Nix's importance to the Broncos cannot be overstated, going into one of the most anticipated seasons for the franchise since 2015. Nix's statistics are hard to ignore as well, as his numbers match up with some of the best in the NFL over the past two seasons. Plummer praised Nix's superb athleticism and smarts when he's under center.
"The kid plays the game at a really high level," Plummer said. "He's smart with the ball. He can stay in the pocket, throw the ball. I'm hoping he gets a little more anticipation this year, maybe not having to rip it all the time, but taking a little bit off and leading guys and knowing when the holes are opening in the passing game. But then outside of that, he's just amazing at what he does with his legs. He's so smart when he runs. He picks the right times and he's also very elusive, a lot more elusive and quick than people give him credit for in this league that's full of so many mobile athletic gunslingers and quarterbacks. I think Bo ranks right up there with the tops."

#high #getting #going

Michigan basketball ended its foreign tour on a bittersweet note.
After dropping its first two exhibitions against Lithuania teams, the Wolverines capped their Europe trip with an 84-81 win over Serbia's Mega Superbet on Aug. 27 at the Sportski Centar in Herceg Novi, Montenegro but lost one of their standout freshmen in the process.
Brandon McCoy Jr., a five-star guard and one of the team's two incoming McDonald's All-Americans, exited 20 seconds into the game with an injury. After coming away with a steal on the first possession, he slipped as he drove to the basket in transition.
McCoy stayed down for several moments and was tended to by trainer Chris Williams. He got up favoring his right leg and didn't put any weight on it before he was carried off the court back to the locker room. He never returned to the bench.
The program didn't provide an immediate postgame update on McCoy's injury.

#mccoy #superbet

How Pelle Larsson impressed Klay Thompson ahead of his decision to join the Miami Heat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo was a big deal for the Miami Heat because it took away a lot of their depth. Players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware were superb during their time in Miami, but it also led to some of their teammates getting overlooked.
One of those teammates is Pelle Larsson, who has been a rock-solid player over the past few years. Thankfully for Larsson, he will get a bigger role this season, and he is already getting rave reviews from players who are just becoming teammates with him.
As one of the NBA's most experienced players, Thompson has a unique perspective on the league. He loves seeing role players shine, as he played with those kinds of players throughout his career, especially during his time with the Golden State Warriors.
Thompson knows what winning basketball looks like, and he sees that with how Larsson plays and works behind the scenes. Heat fans have been talking about Larsson for a long time, and how he fits into their system as a hardworking player.

#time

Barcelona star Fermín López has taken to social media on Monday, to show his appreciation for the efforts of new teammate and attacking partner-in-crime Anthony Gordon.
This of course comes after the latter got his stint in the famed Blaugrana red and blue underway in nothing short of superb fashion.
Barcelona kicked the defence of their La Liga ****** le into gear on Sunday night, courtesy of a trip to the Estadio Martínez Valero to face Elche. When all was said and done, Hansi Flick's troops made short work of their hosts, to the tune of a 5-0 drubbing.
The aforementioned Anthony Gordon was forced to watch on from the bench from the off in Alicante, but was introduced to proceedings for his debut during the 2nd-half.
And the England international wasted little time in providing the Barca faithful with a glimpse of his talents, laying on a pair of ****** ists within six minutes of stepping onto the pitch.

#short

Robert Sanchez has cost Chelsea once again, and is very lucky his team have been good at the other end.
If you enjoy Talk Chelsea coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.
Chelsea are 2-1 up against Fulham after the first half against Fulham at Craven Cottage, but it could have been very different.
The Blues took the lead within 30 seconds with a superb Cole Palmer ****** ist to Joao Pedro, and after that there were a few chances for Xabi Alonso's team to extend their lead.
But just as they got comfortable, the same old villain returned. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez looked nervy on the ball, spreading panic though the defence as usual.

#robert #fulham #lead #cottage

There was a number of spectacular goals on show, on Sunday as Celtic FC Women ran out 3-0 winners over Montrose.
In what could have been a frustrating afternoon for the Hoops, Grant Scott's side showcased their quality with three superb strikes late on in the win at their new home in Kirkintilloch.
Casey Howe was the first to get the scoring underway, with her 82nd-minute strike firing the Hoops in front.
It was a special strike from the winger, who grabbed her first in green and white in style, powering an effort home off the underside of the bar.
And that was followed by another sublime strike going in off the underside of the woodwork, this time from Maria McAneny.

#first #sunday #montrose #grant

Enzo Maresca's Manchester City came from behind late on to win his first Premier League game in charge. It was also Marco Rose's managerial debut for Bournemouth.
Below is how I rated the players, and then how you rated the players.
What do BBC Sport's player ratings mean?
Gianluigi Donnarumma: Could do nothing about Bournemouth's opener but made superb saves to deny Justin Kluivert's low effort and Daniel Jebbison's flicked header. 6
Rico Lewis: Inverting into midfield from right-back, Lewis got forward and had an early effort saved but lacked quality overall before being taken off. 5

#lewis #players #enzo #marco

West Bromwich maintained their perfect start to the Championship season with a convincing 3-1 victory over Burnley at The Hawthorns.
The visitors struck first after just eight minutes when Callum Styles inadvertently turned a Burnley cross into his own net following a quick break.
West Brom responded impressively, drawing level before the half-hour mark. Jimmy-Jay Morgan picked out Harry Whitwell, who calmly finished to register his first league goal at The Hawthorns.
The visitors threatened to restore their advantage before the interval, with Armando Broja hitting the post, but the Baggies came out strongly after the break.
They completed the turnaround just two minutes into the second half when Isaac Price found the net with a superb finish after Morgan's involvement once again helped create the opening.

#hawthorns #half #bromwich

Celtic vs LASK, 19.August.2026 – UEFA Champions League, play-off, Celtic Glasgow vs Linzer ASK. Image shows Viljami Sinisalo Celtic. Photo: GEP pictures/Manuel Binder IMAGO
Superb strikes by Benjamin Nygren, and Camilo Duran have put Celtic within touching distance of the money laden group stages, but admittedly Celtic did ride their luck at times, as the Austrians had two goals ruled out for offside, as well as passing up a host of other chances.
The Finnish International said: "I think we can be better, as weird as it may sound. The big moments went for us and there's a lot that we can do better.
"Ultimately we've come away with a 3-0 win so we've got to be happy, but I think there's a lot more to come from the group."
Despite Duran, and Nygren taking the plaudits thanks to their magnificent strikes, Sinisalo played his part by pulling off a couple of vital stops that went a long way in maintaining our three goal advantage.

#nygren #group

Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey said his side "stood up to the test" as they came out on top against Stevenage to claim their first three points of the League One season.
The U's opened the scoring in the second half when Gatlin O'Donkor found the net before Cameron Brannagan added a second from the penalty spot.
Stevenage scored late in added time but Ramsey's side held on for his first victory as United boss.
"It was a really tough place to go to but [it was] a test that we stood up to," Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford.
"Particularly in the first half we knew that we would have to be on it from an out-of-possession point of view and I thought we were brilliant, we defended the box superbly.

#second

Italy international Francesco Pio Esposito got in on the act with a superb flick as Inter began their Serie A ******* le defence with a statement 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Monza on Saturday evening.
The reigning Serie A and Coppa Italia champions began their 2026-27 campaign with a visit from Ivan Juric and his newly-promoted Monza side in San Siro on Saturday evening.
The teams went in for the interval level at 1-1 after a Hakan Calhanoglu screamer and a well-taken equaliser from Gustavo Varela half an hour in. The Nerazzurri struck back with three goals within 20 minutes of the start of the second half, courtesy of Piotr Zielinski, Esposito and Yann Bisseck.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Hakan Calhanoglu of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Esposito's goal was particularly pleasing to watch, positioning himself well on the corner of the six-yard box, where he was able to flick out a foot and put a well-improvised finish onto Andy Diouf's low cross into the area.

#well #hakan #calhanoglu #Milan

As of right now, Manchester City are short of midfield options ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season getting under way this weekend. Looking at Enzo Maresca's squad, there is Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Rayan Cherki who will form City's midfield against Bournemouth. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders left earlier this week, and Bernardo Silva departed when his contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. It has now been revealed that Nico Gonzalez has been informed that he can leave Manchester City. If that report is correct, yet another midfield option could leave Enzo Maresca's squad.
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail has reported that Nico Gonzalez has been informed that he can leave Manchester City this summer. Furthermore, it is reported that Newcastle United maintains a strong interest in signing the Spanish midfielder and he is becoming open to the move. Lastly, it is also reported that some of Nico Gonzalez's City teammates are trying to convince him to shun Newcastle's interest and stay at City.
If Craig Hope's report is on the money, Nico Gonzalez is heading for an exit from Manchester City. He'd be another midfielder that City would have to replace. It is seemingly City's plan to replace any player who leaves from this point onwards.
It does seem harsh that Nico Gonzalez has been told he can leave the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. The Spanish midfielder is the only number six in Enzo Maresca's squad. Also, Nico Gonzalez showed during the first half of last season that he can play a role for this City team. He held down the fort superbly well while Rodri was out last season playing in Rodri's role. So there is evidence that Nico is good enough to play in an Enzo Maresca side.
It is hard to see why Pep Guardiola cast Nico Gonzalez aside during the second half of last season. Enzo Maresca seems to prefer Mateo Kovacic in midfield rather than Nico. Maybe Nico isn't thought to be physically strong enough to compete consistently in Manchester City's midfield. Perhaps the issue is that Nico's work in possession isn't up to standard. I'm not sure what the issue but clearly there is something that the majority are missing.

#city #manchester #midfield #season

LONDON — ***** nal eased past Coventry City on Friday, as they opened up their Premier League ***** le defense with a routine 3-0 win in north London as a new signing Christos Tzolis dazzled.
The Greek winger, 24, was superb on the left as he had more touches in the box and more shots than any other player on the pitch as he created so many chances.
He set the tone early in the first half as he skipped inside and curled a shot just over before being involved in ***** nal's opening two goals.
The second came after his dangerous, teasing cross was pushed out and finished by Bukayo Saka. We are going to see that a lot this season between those two.
With Saka able to cut inside and beat his man to the byline with his pace and trickery on the right, ***** nal now have exactly the same on the left with Tzolis.

#arsenal #tzolis #city

Two fourth-quarter goals from Spanish forward Marc Reyne were enough to end Ireland's hopes of a top-eight finish at the World Cup as Mark Tumilty's side fell to a 3-1 defeat.
Needing a draw to make it through to the upper end of the crossover phase of the tournament, Ireland were more than holding their own against the world-ranked six side after 45 minutes.
After Spain had taken the lead through Nicolas Alvarez, the Irish dominated the second quarter and deservedly equalised when Lee Cole converted a penalty stroke.
Defensively solid, Ireland were 15 minutes away from pulling off the first major upset of the World Cup.
However, Reyne had other ideas, pouncing on a corner rebound and then producing a superb finish on the reverse stick to give the Spanish a 3-1 win.

#World #spanish #quarter

We asked for your views after Celtic took a firm grip of their Champions League play-off with a 3-0 first-leg win over LASK at Parkhead.
Here are some of your comments:
Gavin: Superb going forward, solid in midfield but far too open at the back. We need more back-up and we will need to score in the away game. Overall they are a new team starting to knit together.
Brandon: Easily one of the best European nights in a while at Celtic Park, what an atmosphere!
Gordy: Fantastic performance and result, still a bit lax in defence at times but we are starting to build an exciting team. Camilo Duran stole the show with his goals and display, but the performance of Kasper Hogh was vital as he was the link from defence to attack and kept both centre-halves busy all night. Hopefully get the job done next week and then a few more signings, magnificent European night.

#team #starting #champions

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill hailed Camilo Duran as exceptional after he produced a magnificent display to fire his side towards the Champions League group stage.
The Colombian scored twice as Celtic swept aside LASK 3-0 at Parkhead on Wednesday night.
Celtic are firmly in control of their play-off tie ahead of next week's second leg in Austria.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring for the Hoops with a superb volley before Duran produced a near-identical finish 12 minutes later, firing into the top corner from outside the box.
His second was even better.

#produced #second #league #colombian

Pete Crow-Armstrong is ascending to heights Chicagoans could only have dreamed of. The Chicago Cubs centerfielder hit a leadoff home run and a walk-off blast last night against the rival Chicago White Sox, electrifying the Wrigley Field crowd like he has all season.
The 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong has been the most impactful position player this season. His 7.7 WAR is by far the best in MLB, and his .929 OPS ranks only behind Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani in the National League.
Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are battling for NL MVP honors and both have a strong case. Here's the tale of the tape.
Crow-Armstrong is an elite five-tool player whose only flaw is chasing outside the strike zone too frequently. He's improved each season, making the All-Star Game the last two, and this feels like the right time for his first MVP. The Cubs sit comfortably in the top Wild Card spot thanks largely to his excellence, as Crow-Armstrong is batting .281/.379/.550 with 30 home runs and 78 RBI.
The MVP case for Ohtani isn't quite as overwhelming as it usually is, mostly because he hasn't pitched since July 3 due to lingering knee soreness. But while Ohtani hasn't been on the mound in a while, he's been superb at the plate. The 32-year-old is batting .295/.392/.556 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI this season. Ohtani was also pitching exceptionally well prior to his injury, tallying an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 85.2 innings. USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale reports Ohtani is expected to return to the Dodgers' rotation in September, and if he gets back to where he left off, Ohtani could very well secure his fifth MVP.

#Cubs #Dodgers #star

Liverpool are expected to reward one of their most exciting young talents with a new long-term contract and ***** per pay rise at Anfield.
One of the few positives from the 2025/26 season was the emergence of Rio Ngumoha as a genuine first-team star for the Reds, with the 17-year-old going from Premier League debutant to England international in just over nine months.
The teenage winger routinely got fans off their seats in L4 with his habital charging at opposition defenders who were often left bamboozled by his dizzying dribbling ability, and he's in line to be rewarded for those superb displays with a demonstrable show of faith from his employers.
On Tuesday, Paul Joyce reported for The Times that Ngumoha is expected to sign a new five-year contract at Liverpool once he turns 18 later this month (29 August).
Minors are only permitted to sign for a maximum three years, with the winger's current deal (agreed last autumn) running to 2028, but he's set to extend his commitment to the Reds to 2031 once he offically becomes an adult.

#contract

Of all the recruitment decisions a Premier League club makes in a given summer, the one that most often defines its season is also the one clubs seem least equipped to get right.
Not the marquee striker, not the midfield general, but the goalkeeper. It is the position where a single error is replayed for a week, where the qualities that matter most are the hardest to measure, and where the cost of indecision is paid in dropped points long before it shows up in a highlight reel.
The modern game has quietly made the job more complicated than it has ever been, and the clubs that treat goalkeeper recruitment as a straightforward search for the best shot-stopper are increasingly finding themselves a step behind.
For most of the sport's history the brief was simple. A goalkeeper kept the ball out of the net, and the best ones kept out more than the rest. That version still matters, but it is no longer the whole job, and in some systems it is not even the most important part of it.
The shift toward playing out from the back has turned the goalkeeper into the first phase of a team's build-up. Managers now want a keeper who can receive the ball under pressure, draw a presser in and break a line with distribution, and hold a high defensive line's worth of nerve when the alternative is a hopeful clearance. Those are different skills from reflex shot-stopping, and occasionally they pull in opposite directions. A brilliant shot-stopper who is uncomfortable in possession can be a liability in a possession-based side, while a superb passer who is shaky under a high ball can undermine a team that defends deep.

#ball #best

Manchester Super Giants clinched their maiden men's ******* le while Trent Rockets Women lifted their first-ever trophy as The Hundred's sixth season reached a dramatic conclusion at Lord's. The Hundred's sixth season signed off in style at Lord's, with Manchester Super Giants and Trent Rockets sharing the spotlight on a Finals Day that produced two contrasting ******* le deciders.

Manchester Super Giants, formerly known as Manchester Originals, survived a late collapse to defeat Trent Rockets by five wickets in the men's final, while Trent Rockets Women produced a ruthless display to crush Sunrisers Leeds by eight wickets and claim their maiden ******* le.

The Trent Rockets also walked away with an additional prize, winning the inaugural Helix trophy for the best combined franchise performance across the men's and women's competitions.
The men's final looked to be slipping away from Manchester Super Giants before Tim Seifert intervened with a breathtaking ******* ault. Trent Rockets posted 158 for 8 from their 100 ******* , with Aneurin Donald leading the recovery with a rapid 38 off 19 ******* , while captain Lewis Gregory contributed 32 from 19.

The Rockets had made a steady start through Ben Duckett, but their momentum was checked by a double blow. Spinner Noor Ahmad was involved in the dismissal of captain Sam Billings before removing Tim David for a duck, leaving Manchester with an opening to seize control.

Donald and Gregory then rebuilt the innings with aggressive strokeplay, pushing Trent towards a competitive total of 158. Manchester's response began with a clear intent to attack.

Seifert turned the chase into a spectacle, smashing 72 off just 38 ******* , including seven sixes. His calculated aggression kept Manchester ahead of the required rate and put the Rockets under immense pressure. Paul Walter provided valuable support, adding 22 off 14 ******* , with the pair putting together a blistering 66-run stand from only 31 ******* .

But just when Manchester appeared certain to cruise home, the final overs produced a dramatic twist. Mohammad Amir dragged the Super Giants back into the contest with a superb spell, conceding just 29 runs and helping create six consecutive dot ******* . Heinrich Klaasen and Michael Bracewell also departed as the pressure suddenly mounted.

With Manchester needing a boundary to settle the nerves, Liam Dawson delivered. He launched a towering six over deep midwicket with just two ******* remaining, taking Manchester Super Giants to 162 for 5 after 98 ******* and sealing their first men's ******* le.

Noor Ahmad finished with three wickets for Manchester, while Amir claimed three for Trent Rockets, but it was Seifert's extraordinary innings that ultimately defined the final.
If the men's final went down to the wire, the women's contest was almost the complete opposite. Trent Rockets Women dismantled Sunrisers Leeds, formerly Northern Superchargers, to secure a commanding eight-wicket

Ireland missed an opportunity to seize control of their World Cup future after losing 3-2 to Spain in a thrilling opening World Cup Pool C game in Wavre.
Ireland went behind twice after goals from Laia Vidosa and Sophia Keenan but fought back with Hannah McLoughlin and Niamh Carey scoring from penalty corners.
Despite Gareth Grundie's side being in the ascendancy, a superb strike from Xantal Gine with five minutes remaining broke Irish hearts.
"We were very disappointed with our second quarter of that game," Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw told BBC Sport NI.
"We thought we started quite well, and in the second half we dominated most of the momentum of the game. But the second quarter, we were disappointed with that. It put us on the back foot.

#pool