In the aftermath of Liverpool‘s Champions League exit to Paris St-Germain, Slot insisted the future is bright. Eyebrows were certainly raised after that comment but if Liverpool can put in a string of performances in their remaining games then perhaps the Dutchman has a point. Integral to that will be Isak and Wirtz.

Last Saturday saw both of the summer signings, who cost a combined £241m, score against Crystal Palace but Isak is yet to complete 90 minutes as a Liverpool player after a season plagued with injury while Wirtz has impressed in moments but is still awaiting a statement performance for the side.

German Wirtz is yet to score or provide an assist against any of the Premier League teams currently occupying the European places but when that was put to Slot on Friday, he insisted that’s a “coincidence” and said he is “100% sure” Wirtz will start delivering in the bigger games.

Meanwhile, Isak managed just 18 touches against Palace but that was still more than the nine he got against Everton and the five against PSG in the other games he’s started since returning from injury. The goal he scored – the Swede’s first in the Premier League for Liverpool at Anfield – will only do the 26-year-old’s confidence a world of good.

“In terms of what I’ve seen, everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him,” said Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

“The more he touches the ball, the bigger chance there is that we score goals,” Slot added on Friday.

“Having Alex more and more available would help with converting created chances into goals, which is something we haven’t done very well this season.”

For Wirtz, the emphasis on connecting more with Isak is clear, especially with Hugo Ekitike sidelined.

“It’s important that we feed him with balls because if he’s just there on top alone then it’s hard for him to score goals,” Wirtz said.

His own tally of seven goals and 10 assists this season is certainly no room for major concern but Wirtz, who turns 23 on Sunday, would be the first to admit that he must do better.

The finish against Palace was a timely reminder of his class. In mitigation, he initially struggled with the intensity and physicality of Premier League football but has bulked up considerably since making the move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Those at Liverpool, including Slot, believe there is so much more to come from a player they fought Bayern Munich and Manchester City for.

“The development Florian has made in his Liverpool career is so clear and obvious,” said Slot. “In the 93rd minute against Crystal Palace, making a duel on the sideline, winning a throw-in and then making a sprint from 40 yards and hitting the ball in the top corner… That is something I am not completely convinced he could do eight months ago.

“His improvement – and he was already an elite player – will only continue as he is only 22 so that makes complete sense. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player and he can only become better and that is the beauty of the signings we did last summer, that all of them are of a certain age where we can only expect them to get better,”

Crews have been battling the fire for several hours

Dramatic footage shows flames and smoke continuing to rise from a huge moorland fire that has raged for more than 12 hours near Snake Pass. Emergency services were called out to the scene, at Snake Pass Summit, close to the A57 in the Peak District shortly before 9pm last night (April 30).

Crews worked through the night to try and get the blaze under control, while people living close to the area were urged to keep their windows and doors closed. Firefighters say a ‘significant smoke plume’ is rising from the scene.

Residents across Greater Manchester have reported smelling smoke in their area – including Tameside, Oldham, parts of Stockport and even areas as far away as Little Hulton and Atherton. People are being urged to avoid the area, with the blaze covering a stretch of moorland covering 1,500 metres by 300 metres.

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The Peak District Moorland Group, which is made up of moorland managers and gamekeepers, is part of the effort to tackle the blaze. Sharing footage from the scene this morning, a spokesperson said: “The weather conditions today will only dry the moss out even more, moderate winds are moving the fire at pace.”

Crews were called out to the scene at 8.58pm last night. In an update issued this morning, a spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Five fire engines are now in attendance at a wildfire at Snake Pass Summit in the Peak District, supported by two water carriers, a command support unit, a welfare unit and a rural unimog.

“They are working at the incident alongside partners from the Fire Operations Group and Derby Mountain Rescue to tackle the fire. The fire is currently affecting approximately 1,500 by 300 metres of moorland. Please avoid the area.

“There is a significant smoke plume which is causing poor visibility on the roads in the surrounding area. Anyone who can see or smell smoke is asked to please keep windows and doors closed.”

A Derbyshire Police spokesperson added: “We are currently jointly dealing with a wildfire in an area off the snake pass, the A57 remains open. However, there is no parking at Snake Summit until further notice.

“Please do not stop or park on verges or lay-bys, and follow any instructions from emergency services on scene. Thank you for helping keep the area safe.”

Parts of Cambridgeshire will see highs of around 21C over the bank holiday weekend

Parts of the UK are set to bask in warm temperatures over the bank holiday weekend, including Cambridgeshire. The Met Office is predicting that temperatures in Cambridge, Ely, and Peterborough will reach highs of around 25C today (Friday, May 1), and this looks set to somewhat continue into tomorrow.

The forecast shows Cambridge and Ely will hit 20C at around 11am this morning while Peterborough will reach 21C at midday. The county will experience highs of 24C or 25C throughout the afternoon but some cloud is also forecast from 2pm onwards.

The hot weather continues into Saturday, May 2, with Cambridge reaching highs of 22C and Peterborough and Ely forecast to reach highs of 21C. The weather starts to get worse in the evening with rain forecast from 6pm onwards that will continue through the night.

On Sunday, May 3, the rain is set to continue for the majority of the day. However, if you are planning to get out, the temperature will still be warm with the county reaching highs of 18C or 17C depending on where you area.

The weather on Monday, May 4, will be drier with cities across Cambridgeshire reaching highs of 17C. The Met Office said: “More unsettled than recently, with rain or showers, some thundery. Gradually turning cooler. More sunny spells from Monday, but still also showers, these becoming lighter and further between on Tuesday.”

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A Tesco shopper couldn’t help but laugh after opening up her meal deal sandwich to discover a surprise inside – and it has sparked a discussion on social media

A Tesco shopper was left in stitches after opening up her meal deal sandwich and spotting something a little unexpected inside. Hoping for a quick snack, the woman picked up a simple option from Tesco – expecting the usual pair of sandwiches.

But when she unwrapped it, something felt off straight away. As well as two regular sandwiches, she realised she’d been given an extra slice of cheese in the middle. Sharing the moment on TikTok, she said: “I don’t know why but this is so funny to me, made me giggle for a full five minutes. It almost looks like three sandwiches but no.”

The clip quickly caught attention, with people just as amused – and slightly confused – by what they were seeing. One user joked: “I guess it’s a club sandwich… but with all cheese.”

Another added: “That’s a triple decker sandwich that is.”

Others were less impressed by the choice itself, with one writing: “Why would you waste money on the most basic sandwich a person can make.” A third said: “That literally looks like the worst sandwich mankind has ever made.”

Despite the debate, the supermarket’s meal deal remains hugely popular across the UK. Last summer, Tesco increased the price slightly, bringing it to £3.85 with a Clubcard, and £4.25 without.

A premium option is also available for £5.50 with a Clubcard, or £6 without.

For that price, shoppers can mix and match a main, a snack, and a drink – choosing from a wide range of sandwiches, wraps, salads and more.

The variety has even caught the attention of visitors from abroad.

American content creator Kalani recently introduced his friend Chris to the deal, explaining: “If you have a Clubcard, which we do, you get a main, a snack, and a drink, for a really good price.”

Chris was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, especially when faced with what Kalani described as a “wall of crisps”.

“It’s like when I go to Subway,” Chris said. “You can’t just expect me to go in there and pick… I need a minute.”

In the end, he settled on a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich, prawn cocktail Skips and an Irn Bru – and was stunned by the price.

“So I get all this for £3.85?” he asked.

Everything you need to know about Eurovision 2026 in Vienna — including the Grand Final date and UK’s entry.

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Eurovision 2026 is nearly here, with the 70th Song Contest scheduled to take place in Vienna this year and the grand final just weeks away.

Last year, Austrian performer JJ claimed victory after the competition was staged in Basel, Switzerland.

The UK will be represented by electronic music artist and technology innovator Look Mum No Computer, who will be performing Eins, Zwei, Drei.

The Song Contest has been embroiled in controversy thus far, with several nations pulling their entries and boycotting due to Israel’s participation, and Eurovision 2026 will now showcase 35 competitors.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Song Contest, including the final date and Eurovision 2026 odds, reports the Express.

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When is Eurovision 2026?

Leading up to the Eurovision 2026 final, the first semi-final will take place on Tuesday, May 12, at 8pm UK time, with the second scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at the same time.

During the first Semi-Final, the initial group of nations will battle for a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final. The 15 countries taking part are: Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, Finland, Montenegro, Estonia, Israel, Belgium, Lithuania, San Marino, Poland, and Serbia.

The second Semi-Final will showcase 15 different performers competing on stage in hopes of claiming a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final. British viewers will have the opportunity to cast votes for their preferred entries in this Semi-Final, while the UK representative LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER makes his Eurovision debut with the track ‘Eins, Zwei, Drei’, ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final appearance.

Taking part that evening are: Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Romania, Luxembourg, Czechia, Armenia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Denmark, Australia, Ukraine, Albania, Malta, and Norway.

Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon, standing in for Scott Mills, will present the BBC’s coverage.

Rylan said: “It’s the 70th Eurovision Song Contest and the biggest show on the planet. Being part of anything this big is something younger me could never have imagined.”

Angela added: “It feels like joining the greatest party on earth – equal parts thrilling and terrifying! I grew up watching the Eurovision Song Contest with my three sisters, making very serious (and wildly biased) scorecards from the couch, so to now be part of it – especially in its 70th year – is genuinely surreal.

“It’s one of those shows that’s always been there, evolving but never losing its magic or madness. I’ve been lucky enough to dip my toe into the Eurovision world before, so it feels great to be doing it again, just with higher heels and a few more sequins!”

While Graham Norton will be fronting the Grand Final, Sara Cox will spearhead coverage on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi will serve as the BBC’s Eurovision digital correspondent.

Eurovision 2026 final date

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 unfolds at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday 16 May.

Television presenter Victoria Swarovski and actor Michael Ostrowski will be presenting.

It will broadcast from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

The remaining 25 nations – those who haven’t been knocked out in the semi-finals and the big four (France, Germany, Italy, UK) as well as last year’s winner Austria – including the UK’s Look Mum No Computer, will be competing to claim victory.

Eurovision betting odds latest

According to Eurovision World, current odds indicate Finland is favourite to triumph, with a 29% probability of being crowned winner.

Greece trails with 13% and Denmark at 10%.

The United Kingdom is presently positioned in 20th place, with a 1% likelihood of winning, while Azerbaijan occupies the bottom spot.

The outcome of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will be decided by a combination of points from national juries and viewer votes in the participating nations, alongside a separate world vote.

Each national jury comprises a panel of seven music professionals in that country. Following viewers casting their own votes, a national spokesperson from each of the 35 participating countries will announce the points of their jury live to the world. The viewer votes and jury scores will subsequently be merged to produce a single score for each entry, building towards a thrilling conclusion as the victor is revealed.

The Eurovision 2026 final broadcasts on Saturday 16 May on BBC One and iPlayer.

At sunset on Phillip Island, 100 eastern barred bandicoots, noses quivering, took their first steps into their new habitat.

Once extinct in the wild on mainland Australia, the species is the star of its own comeback show – driven by a world-first genetic rescue programme that has rebuilt a population of more than 2,000 animals.

Previously widespread across southeastern Australia, by the late 1980s, just 60 remained, living among abandoned cars at a rubbish tip in Hamilton, Victoria. They were taken into captivity and, by 1991, declared extinct in the wild.

Three decades on, they are back – and that matters beyond the fact they are rather cute. Bandicoots are powerful ecosystem engineers, each turning over up to three tonnes of soil a year, improving soil health, seed dispersal and water retention while strengthening landscapes against flood and drought and helping keep insect populations in check.

The bandicoots will have a soft launch: Phillip Island has none of the predators key to the eastern banded bandicoot’s decline – foxes or feral cats – though with domestic cats roaming the island, the bandicoot must have its wits about it.

This bigger, better bandicoot is built to survive. The work, led by Odonata Foundation, Cesar Australia and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team and backed by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, has produced a tougher, more genetically resilient animal.

The programme works by breeding from previously isolated populations, mixing mainland bandicoots with a Tasmanian population to rebuild genetic diversity.

Dr Andrew Weeks of Cesar Australia said: ‘We’ve built a fit, feisty bandicoot population with far greater genetic health and a much better chance of survival than their inbred predecessors.’

The same approach could now help save endangered animals all over the world

Dog owners are being urged to be alert as the weather gets warmer

Dog owners across the UK are being encouraged to stay alert to the risks posed by ticks, with the arrival of warmer weather this week and into the bank holiday. The tiny parasites are more active during warmer months, meaning everyday walks now carry a higher risk of exposure.

Experts are warning that increased outdoor time and warmer seasonal conditions are creating the perfect environment for ticks to thrive, making regular checks and swift action more important than ever for protecting dogs. The vets at Dogs Trust, the UK’s leading dog welfare charity, are sharing practical advice on how to spot, remove and prevent these common parasites.

What is a tick?

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that suck blood from the skin of animals. They have eight legs and an egg-shaped body that fills with blood and can vary in size. They are found in woodland and grassland throughout the year, but they are more common between spring and autumn.

Although ticks can’t jump, they find their way onto dogs’ coats by climbing, dropping or through direct contact. Ticks can carry and spread infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, making prompt detection and safe removal especially important for protecting dogs and human health.

How do you know if your dog has a tick?

If your dog has been bitten, you’ll usually see the tick on their skin or a swollen area of inflammation. Regular grooming can be a good way of checking for ticks. Some dogs may even change their behaviour if they’ve been bitten by a tick, for example they might lick or chew a specific part of their body more than usual if the area is painful and inflamed.

How to prevent your dog from getting a tick?

Treating ticks is important, but preventing parasites in the first place is even more beneficial. Ways to help avoid ticks include:

• Avoiding places where there is a high risk of ticks, such as long grass
• Checking your dog regularly, especially after a walk
• Speaking to your vet about parasite prevention and tick repellents

How do you remove a tick from your dog?

Identify – Before you get to work, make sure it’s a tick you’re dealing with and not something else, like a lump or nipple. Do this by looking closely for the tick’s legs and contact your vet if you have any concerns.

Position the removal tool – slide a tick-removal tool under the tick, as close to the skin as possible. If it doesn’t fit neatly under the tick, try a different size.

Twist – Without pulling upwards, gently twist the tool two or three times in the same direction. Once you’ve twisted enough, the tick will let go.

Dispose – To make sure the tick doesn’t reattach itself to someone else, dispose of it safely in your bin. Do not squash the tick as this can release infectious material.

Clean and monitor – Clean the affected area with warm, salty water and monitor your dog for any signs of illness.

Tips from a Dogs Trust vet

• Never pull, crush, squeeze or burn a tick. Doing this can push blood back into your dog or cause more inflammation, increasing disease risk. And using a naked flame near your pooch could cause them physical harm.
• Create practice scenarios beforehand with positive reinforcement. Your dog won’t know you’re trying to help them when approaching them with a removal tool. So, it’s helpful to get them confident and relaxed with the situation to minimise any stress.
• If your dog finds it hard to cope, or if you’re worried about removing a tick yourself, speak to your vet for more advice.

Victoria Phillips, veterinary surgeon manager at Dogs Trust, said: “Ticks can be an unpleasant surprise for any dog owner, but they’re something we see regularly and they can be handled calmly and safely. The key is to check your dog often, especially after walks in long grass, and to act quickly if you spot one.

“Using the right removal technique helps reduce any risk, and taking the time to get your dog comfortable with being handled can make the process much less stressful for both of you. If you’re ever unsure or your dog is finding it difficult, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for advice and support.”

For more information, visit the advice page on Dogs Trust’s website.

People living nearby were advised to keep their windows and doors closed

The cause of a large fire at a building in a Cambridgeshire village has been confirmed. Eight Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue crews were called to a fire in Button End Road, Harston on Thursday (April 30) just before 10am.

Everyone was able to get out of the building and fire crews worked to get the blaze extinguished, as well as prevent further spread. Smoke could be seen over Harston, and people were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

The fire was extinguished by 3.30pm, and the cause was confirmed to be accidental. A fire spokesperson said: “Crews arrived to find a fire involving a workshop.

“Firefighters from Cambridge, the south roaming fire engine, St Neots, Huntingdon, Burwell and Gamlingay responded, along with crews from Newmarket ( Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service) and Royston and Baldock (Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service). Specialist appliances including the incident command unit and the incident support unit were also called.”

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