Steven Gerrard says he ‘wishes’ Liverpool had signed Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side won the race to sign Rice in the summer of 2023 with the midfielder joining from West Ham in a £105 million deal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were about to embark on their final season under Jurgen Klopp, who left Anfield the following summer.

Rice has established himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s midfield and is on track for a successful campaign as the Gunners are still in all four competitions.

The England international scored a superb goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and former Liverpool captain Gerrard feels the 27-year-old has now cemented his place as one of the world’s elite midfielders.

‘He’s going from strength to strength,’ Gerrard told TNT Sports.

‘I think he’s one of the best in the world. I think he has become one of the best in the world.

‘It was a fantastic move for him. I wish we [Liverpool] signed him here, actually.

‘West Ham did a great job under David Moyes, I think David Moyes has really schooled him in how to play the position tactically.

‘His confidence from playing well for England and being around that group of players, he’s just gone to the next level now at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

‘Fantastic coaching from him and he’s up there now in the shout to be one of the world’s best in that position and in that role.’

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman added: ‘I think when you think of his role and you look around Europe, you have Pedri who is beautiful, Vitinha is great, but he way he [Rice] plays I’d certainly say he’s the best because he’s a different type of player to them.

‘But he’s so effective, last year he was amazing and he’s stepped up again this year.’

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If you’re struggling with the latest Strands puzzle, then you’ve come to the right place.

Strands is a daily word game available from the site that brought you Wordle and Connections.

Each day there’s a different theme, and the aim is to find all of the words connected to the theme contained within a grid of letters.

The theme words cover the entire board, and none overlap. Likewise, there’s also a spangram that stretches from one side of the board to the other. The spangram describes the board’s theme. Get it early and you should have an easier time finding the words in the grid.

Keep on reading for the latest set of hints for the March 19 Strands, which is titled ‘Bring a Plate’.

And don’t worry, because we won’t reveal the answers, or give you the full list of letters from each word.

SPANGRAM HINTS

Today’s Spangram is made up of 7 letters.

It begins with the letter ‘P’

It’s a popular saying that is believed to date back to the 16th Century.

THEME WORD HINTS

Here are the first two letters for each theme word in the March 19 Strands puzzle.

1. AP

2. BE

3. CA

4. DE

5. VE

That game is followed by an international break, with Liverpool then travelling to Manchester City in a blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final tie in early April ahead of their latest two-legged meeting with PSG, the winners of which will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the last four of the Champions League.

The joint US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the father of Mojtaba, at the beginning of the conflict

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Iran’s new supreme leader has issued a statement after some believed he may have died or sustained serious injuries.

In his statement, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a warning to Washington and paid tribute to top security official Ali Larijani who died in strikes on Iran days earlier. It was believed that Mojtaba himself had been killed.

“It is with great sorrow that I received the painful news of the martyrdom of Mr. Dr. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the Leader’s representative on that council, as well as his distinguished son and some of his colleagues,” Mojtaba said in a statement on Wednesday, March 18.

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Iran has been in conflict with the United States and Israel since February 28. The US and Israel carried out joint strikes on key sites in Iran and killed Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the father of Mojtaba, at the beginning of the conflict. Iran responded by attacking targets across the Middle East, plunging the region into war.

Mojtaba went on to describe the security official as “a learned, far-sighted, intelligent, and committed individual with diverse experiences in various political, military, security, cultural, and managerial arenas.”

“The enemies of Islam should know that shedding this blood only makes the mighty tree of the Islamic system stronger, and of course, every drop of blood has its price, which the murderous killers of these martyrs will soon have to pay,” he added, reports the Express.

This is the second time Mojtaba has released a statement in recent days after reports surfaced that he had lost a leg and was in a coma.

He did not feature on camera on this occasion. It’s highly probable that Khamenei is concealed at an undisclosed location to avoid assassination attempts.

Mojtaba has been regarded as an even more stringent hard-liner than his father. The possibility of him becoming the next supreme leader was seen as a potential regression to Iran’s former hereditary monarchy but with a religious dimension.

The younger Khamenei took on the position of supreme leader with his military at war but also with reserves of highly enriched uranium that could be utilised to build a nuclear weapon.

‘We are against any discrimination in any form’

Kneecap rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh has said that labelling the group as antisemitic means people “water that term down”.

The group were interviewed by the Big Issue after it was ruled the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, will not face a terror trial after being accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig.

O hAnnaidh told the magazine: “When you start labelling bands and people who speak out against Israel as antisemitic, what you do is water that term down. We are not antisemitic.”

O hAnnaidh also said it was “impossible” to remember everything that happens during a performance.

“When you’re playing a gig it’s impossible to be perfectly conscious all the time. I don’t remember all – and that’s not just from drink, that’s pure adrenaline,” he told the Big Issue.

Band member Moglai Bap said the group is “from the north of Ireland”.

“We know about f****** religious conflicts, people using religion as a way to murder, maim and all this stuff,” he added.

“We are against any discrimination in any form.”

The alleged offence was said to have taken place at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, on November 21 2024.

But the case was thrown out in September last year, with chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling the proceedings were “instituted unlawfully”.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the decision at the High Court at a hearing in January, with the rapper opposing the challenge.

In a judgment last week, two judges at the High Court upheld the decision and dismissed the CPS appeal.

The full interview can be read in Monday’s Big Issue, on sale from street vendors and online via bigissue.com.

Graffiti artist 10Foot has created new artwork, which will feature on the cover of the magazine.

He has also contributed an exclusive print, which will come free with each magazine sold.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.

It can help breakdown grease and keeps sinks looking shiny

Cleaning the kitchen sink can be an annoying chore, as it doesn’t last long until it needs a good scrub again. However, I have found a hack that costs just 70p and keeps my sink looking clean and smelling fresh.

I like to keep on top of cleaning my sink, especially as I don’t have a dishwasher. Some products on the market can get expensive, so I decided to test how well the humble washing-up liquid could work as a sink cleaner.

To my surprise, it worked better than other disinfectant products I had used in the past. It helped bring a shine back to my sink and provided a fresh lemon scent.

I find it works best to clean the sink with washing-up liquid regularly. All you need is a bottle of washing-up liquid and a sponge.

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I use Sainsbury’s own washing-up liquid, which is priced at 70p. Then, clear the sink before squirting a generous amount of washing-up liquid over the whole area.

I wet my sponge with warm water and scrub the areas I covered with washing-up liquid. It soon starts to fluff up, making the sink look shiny again.

Once I have scrubbed the whole area, including the tap, I rinse my sponge with warm water and wipe over the sink. You can leave it to air dry or use a dry cloth.

Plus, washing-up liquid can help prevent clogs in the drain. When cleaning my sink with washing up liquid, I squirt a generous amount down the plug hole.

I let it sit for around 15 to 20 minutes before flushing with hot water, as this can help break down any grease.

I haven’t had any blocked drains since trying out the hack, as I remember to do it when cleaning the sink, so it’s become a regular task.

If you have stubborn sink stains and want a deep clean, you can still use washing-up liquid, but add baking soda as well. This enhances the cleaning power, helping remove stains.

For limescale, you can add white vinegar or lemon juice. These can lift soap scum or limescale build-up on taps and sinks.

Your passport might look valid, but a little-known rule could still stop you boarding your flight this Easter, and it’s catching out thousands of Brits

Brits heading abroad this Easter are being urged to check their passports now, as a little-known rule could derail travel plans at the last minute. It turns out that even documents that appear valid could still see you fail a number of countries’ entry requirements.

With Easter Sunday falling on April 5, many holidaymakers are entering the final countdown to their trips. However, experts warn passport checks are often left too late, increasing the risk of being turned away at the airport.

The issue centres around strict validity rules enforced by many countries. According to the UK Government’s official travel advice, what matters is not just the expiry date, but how much longer your passport is valid for after your trip.

Andrea Platania, travel expert at Transfeero, says many Brits misunderstand how the rules work. He explained: “A lot of travellers look at their passport, see that it expires later in the year, and assume that means everything is fine. But for many destinations, that is not how the rule works.

“Across Europe, the 29 countries in the Schengen Area, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Greece, all require British passports to be valid for at least three months beyond the day you leave the country. On top of that, these countries also enforce a separate rule: the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years on the date of entry, creating an additional layer of confusion for travellers.

The UK Government confirms these rules apply across Schengen countries. Travellers who fail to meet them can be denied entry, even if their passport has not yet expired.

Beyond Schengen, similar rules apply in other popular destinations. Platania says countries such as Cyprus, Albania and Montenegro typically require around three months’ validity, while Turkey requires at least 150 days from arrival.

Further afield, requirements can be stricter still. According to the UK Government’s travel advice for Thailand, many long-haul destinations require at least six months of validity remaining.

Data from ABTA shows millions of Brits travel abroad during peak periods like Easter each year. Experts say this surge increases the likelihood of last-minute passport issues.

Platania warns that many travellers only check documents days before departure. He says this is when people realise they fall within the three or six-month rule, leaving little time to fix the problem.

The HM Passport Office advises travellers not to book trips without a valid passport. It also notes that renewing online is typically cheaper and faster than applying by post.

Experts say the safest approach is to check your passport as soon as you book a trip. Renewing early can help avoid costly delays, stress, or even missing your holiday altogether.

The King has paid tribute to the contribution of people of Nigerian heritage as he held a state banquet for the country’s president.

President Bola Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu are in the UK for a two-day state visit.

The King said Britain was “blessed” that many people of Nigerian heritage are “at the heart of British life through excelling at the highest levels of business, technology, academia, law, science, sport, literature and the arts, and public service”.

He said he had met “so many of these quiet heroes in our schools, businesses, National Health Service and universities”.

“From Afrobeats filling our concert halls and Nollywood captivating our screens, to stars competing in our Premier League and adjudicating our highest courts, so much of Britain’s culture is, in truth, profoundly enriched by Nigeria,” said the King.

Guests at the banquet tucked into a menu that included quail egg tartlet, fillet of turbot, lobster mousse wrapped in spinach, and iced blackcurrant souffle.

A mocktail called Crimson Bloom was also served, using West African beverage Zobo and other ingredients.

President Tinubu is Muslim, so he did his toast with a soft drink, and the King also wished him “Ramadan Mubarak” to mark the end of the Islamic holy month.

Alcohol was available at the banquet for those who wanted it.

The King last visited Nigeria – a country of some 230 million people – in 2018.

He told guests at tonight’s banquet that the country had “arrived” and was “transforming at a remarkable pace”.

The Nigerian dignitaries were earlier welcomed to Windsor by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

There was an impressive guard of honour and a carriage ride in the sunshine.

Nigerian and Union flags also adorned the streets of the Berkshire town for what is the first state visit by a Nigerian head of state for 37 years.

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The King and his visitors later viewed items from the royal collection and met organisations promoting dialogue between different faiths at an event in The Vicars’ Hall.

Representatives from the Mosaic programme, set up by The King’s Trust charity, were part of the gathering.

The scheme brings together Muslim men and women in positions of religious authority – from across ethnic and theological differences – for a leadership programme.

The gripping detective drama has been a huge hit with viewers and one star has opened up about returning for a potential third series

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Channel 5’s Ellis has been a massive hit with viewers and as Series 2 of the gripping drama concludes, fans have been left speculating if it will return for another series.

Series 1 first graced our television screens back in 2024 and at the time it became a favourite among detective drama enthusiasts, who couldn’t get enough.

It was a success after featuring the UK’s first black solo female lead as award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke led the cast. Following the triumph of Series 1, Channel 5 viewers were treated to another season that aired last week.

Fans once again saw DCI Ellis (Sharon D Clarke) and DS Harper (Andrew Gower) investigate the disappearance of a local lad, a murder that unearthed a lot of old resentments and the death of a student who was found crushed beneath scaffolding. As the show concluded tonight, everyone has been left pondering if Ellis and Harper will make a return to our screens again.

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As of now, Channel 5 are yet to confirm whether the show will continue, however, the good news is Andrew Gower, who portrays DS Harper, is very eager to return to his role and the show, reports the Mirror.

When speaking to Radio Times on the prospect of him filming the show again, he said: “Oh yeah, that’s a very easy ‘yes’. To work with Sharon and to keep giving life to Harper and Ellis.”

He continued: “I’ll keep reiterating this but it’s the audience, they always say it’s all about the audience, right? If we can keep entertaining audiences and they keep wanting more, then that’s what we’ll do with Ellis.

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“I think the more series we have or the more episodes we have – films, whatever people call them – then that means that we’re doing something right and that means that this relationship can grow.”

The star added: “At some point maybe grow apart to come together, whatever. That’s the exciting thing about British detective shows, there’s scope where you can build from one series to however many. Long may it continue.”

Discussing the legacy of the detective drama, co-star Sharon D Clarke previously said: “The thing I love the most about Ellis is that she is on our screens! I love playing Ellis because I didn’t grow up seeing anybody like her on my television screen.

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“So that is my joy, that this is a first, and I am getting to lead that brigade and hopefully pass that baton on to people coming behind me. We’ve waited a long time, but we’re here, and we’re here to stay.”

Channel 5 has since revealed what programme will be taking Ellis’ place next week in the 9pm slot on Tuesday evening. On Tuesday, (March 24) the broadcaster will screen Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, a feature-length drama featuring Martin Clunes, Osian Morgan, Sian Reese Williams, and Jason Hughes.

Channel 5 stated: “Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is a major, feature-length factual drama exploring the story of how a vulnerable 17-year-old boy was groomed by one of the most powerful figures in television – Huw Edwards.

“Starring Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Wuthering Heights, Manhunt) as Edwards, the drama delves into the newsreader’s double life as it spirals out of control, leading to his complete departure from public life following his conviction for making indecent images of children.”

Ellis is available to stream on Channel 5

The airline has now abandoned most flights to the region until June as US and Israeli strikes across Iran are continuing.

In the latest update, British Airways told its passengers it has extended the temporary reduction in its flying schedule due to “continuing uncertainty”.

The airline has now announced it will not fly to Bahrain, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan, until after May 31.

Meanwhile, Doha flights have been axed until April 30.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi flights remain cancelled until much later in the year (October).

British Airways extends Middle East flight suspensions from UK

In a statement post on its travel updates page, British Airways said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

“Since the situation in the Middle East began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home and operated eight relief flights from Muscat in Oman.

“We are also operating additional flights to and from Singapore (x4) and Bangkok (x3) and continue to review options to bring back more customers who have been disrupted.”

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You can see the latest Foreign Office travel advice for Brits heading to the likes of Dubai on the UK government’s website.

The new travel update came as BA confirmed last week that it would stop running rescue flights from the Middle East because of “reduced demand”.

The UK airline had been running daily flights from Muscat in Oman to London’s Heathrow Airport since March 5.

But it said it was going to “pause” the flights after Thursday’s (March 12) departure.

BA does not usually serve Muscat, but the capital has emerged as a key location for tourists stranded in neighbouring countries because of the current conflict.

British Airways reveals new flights to Australia from UK

Elsewhere, the airline revealed this week it will introduce direct flights to Melbourne as part of an expansion of its long-haul links.

British Airways shared it will operate a daily return flight between London Heathrow and the Australian city from January 9 next year.

This will be in time for the 2027 Australian Open tennis tournament and Australian Grand Prix.

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The flights will be an extension of the travel company’s existing service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The only Australian destination served by the carrier at present is Sydney via Singapore.

Were you due to fly with British Airways to the likes of Dubai from the UK in the coming weeks? Let us know in the comments below.