The Vikings’ QB plan involves embracing a specific strategy: welcoming a talented veteran to function as legitimate competition for J.J. McCarthy.

Former starter (and current Super Bowl winner) Sam Darnold was allowed to leave. Former backup Daniel Jones was desired, but he opted for the Colts. The lever that got pulled was to trade for Sam Howell, a decision that aged poorly in a matter of months.

Worse yet, basically all of the quarterback decisions — McCarthy, Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer — didn’t pan out in 2025. None of those players played as well as Minnesota hoped. There was a late move for Carson Wentz, but that was an instance of too little, too late.

So, the pivot now involves adding meaningful talent to that quarterback position. The problem is that the most coveted options — Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and so on — could end up heading elsewhere or nowhere at all, sticking around in their current location.

The Vikings’ QB Plan: Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and Others

The Pittsburgh Steelers look like the best fit for Malik Willis, at least to my eye.

The still-young veteran passer lands at No. 1 in the NFL list of top free agents (a cluster of talent that has a pair of Vikings). Consider what Gregg Rosenthal has to say: “I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur. Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof.”

The Steelers, a great franchise, made the befuddling decision to hire Mike McCarthy as the new head coach. Did that decision set up Pittsburgh to bring in Mr. Willis?

McCarthy didn’t overlap with Willis in Green Bay. There’s nevertheless the reality that a shared history of working for Wisconsin’s NFL football team would make the transition from the NFC North to the AFC North easier. Plus, the QB1 job is open in Pittsburgh and has been unsettled for a while, making the fit look crisp and clean.

Working with Kevin O’Connell may have some appeal. Presumably, throwing to Justin Jefferson does, too. But then there’s the need to compete with McCarthy, whom Minnesota has invested a ton into. Does Malik Willis opt for Pittsburgh instead?

ESPN’s Benjamin Solak jumped into the topic, dropping several teams in the analysis of where Willis fits. There’s a mention of a possible “bidding war” while describing the lack of QB talent in the 2026 NFL Draft. Solak brings his potential fits around to the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Miami Dolphins.

Nary a Vikings mention in sight (at least per the short clip).

Obviously, these opinions are just that: opinions. The great issue is that multiple teams all pursuing the same passer is going to involve a world where the Vikings get outmuscled quickly. Minnesota’s money isn’t ample, so Willis could need to leave money on the table if the Vikings really do want him.

If, for the sake of argument, Malik Willis travels elsewhere early in free agency, the Vikings may turn toward Kyler Murray. Is he even on the market?

Recently, Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network jumped into the issue. Rapoport describes the Murray rumblings as being based on assumptions rather than ironclad sources.

Sticking around in Arizona is an option, per Rapoport, while also indicating that teams in the NFL may pry him away with the belief that Murray is a cornerstone guy: “There have been many times in his career where we have seen and thought [that] Kyler Murray is a franchise quarterback.”

Digest those thoughts from Rapoport for a moment. Start off with the tidbit about there being a chance Murray continues to stick around in Arizona. Not likely, but possible. What happens if that’s not the case and teams get a shot at Murray?

If there’s a team out there that truly believes Kyler Murray is a franchise guy, then the Vikings are going to get outbid. In fact, a franchise passer who is only 28 and who could be shipped out is a very unique scenario. The Vikings can’t compete with (for instance) a Jets team that has better draft picks and way more cap space.

The Vikings’ QB plan involves added competition. Reasonable and fair. Urgently needed, in fact.

But then there’s the issue of how good that competition is going to be. Signing Malik Willis for a Sam Darnold deal — a single season at $10 million — isn’t happening if the reporting is accurate. How competent is the new passer? How much does that competence cost?

Missing on Willis and Murray means there’s a drop off in talent. Minnesota isn’t doomed to poor passer play, but the price for Mac Jones (as an example) could skyrocket even further as the market shrinks. Just takes two teams to send the trade price soaring. Furthermore, San Francisco could keep the QB2.

Stay tuned. Plenty more speculation and rumor is going to come out of the NFL combine. NFL free agency will get real on Monday, March 9th.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Advertisement

For years, David Benavidez has been in hot pursuit of a showdown with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, but to no avail. Now, after arguably replacing Canelo in the pound-for-pound rankings, the tables have turned and Benavidez has announced his own stipulation in order for him to take on Alvarez.

At super-middleweight, David Benavidez held the WBC Interim title and was Canelo’s mandatory challenger for over two years, but the champion refused to face him, eventually resulting in Benavidez moving up to light-heavyweight.

‘The Mexican Monster’ has since been installed as the full WBC world champion at 175lbs, but is now set to move up once again to cruiserweight, bidding for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified WBO and WBA titles in the 200lb division.

As a result, it seems as though the chances of him facing 35-year-old Canelo are slim, but in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Benavidez said that he would still be willing to face his foe in the light-heavyweight division.

“When I am at cruiserweight, I don’t want to go up too heavy and I don’t want to come in too heavy either, because I still want to go down to 175lbs.

“If the fight happens with Canelo, it is going to be at 175lbs, it is not going to be at super-middleweight. That is even if it does happen.

“That is what I am saying, I want to stay light. I want to be able to go up and down easy, I don’t want to gain too much muscle and then not be able to go down to 175lbs.

“My main goal is to be one of the best reigning champions at light-heavyweight in history.”

Advertisement

With a 25-pound weight jump in store, compared to the seven-pound difference between super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, it will be intriguing to see how Benavidez looks at cruiserweight and whether a return to light-heavyweight is realistic thereafter.

Ramirez-Benavidez takes place on Cinco De Mayo weekend on Saturday, May 2, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be available to watch live on Amazon Prime Video PPV. Canelo, meanwhile, is set to return in September, most likely in the super-middleweight ranks.

This Saturday, six men and women will step foot inside one of the most brutal structures WWE has to offer. In the city of Chicago, the fans will be on the edge of their seats as they find out who survives the Elimination Chamber and earns a title shot. 

Let’s take a look at the card and what WWE has to offer on its last (for now) show before WrestleMania.

The biggest bout on the card is for the World Heavyweight Championship. Hometown hero CM Punk will defend his title against Finn Balor. Now, there is a snowball’s chance in hell that Balor walks away with the gold, as it is reported that this is a placeholder feud until Roman Reigns returns in March. That doesn’t mean the build-up hasn’t been great, though. Punk is trying to knock some sense into Balor, telling him to split from the Judgement Day. Meanwhile, the Prince has become a somewhat conceivable threat to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Expect the second-city Saint to have his hand held high when the match is over.

Another hometown hero will be looking to capture gold in Chicago. AJ Lee takes on Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The odd part about this match is that it’s taking place at Elimination Chamber instead of WrestleMania. Rumor has it that the creative team will find a way to have this end in a no-contest, so they run it back at ‘Mania. So why even have the match take place? Their promo battles have been subpar at best. I suppose it’s an excuse to get the second-city Saints’ wife on the card in their hometown. Whether or not AJ wins, the crowd will be rooting for her.

Then there is the women’s EC match, where the winner takes on Jade Cargill for the Smackdown Women’s championship. That is expected to happen, as it appears that Liv Morgan will choose Stephanie Vaquer after winning the Royal Rumble. The blue brand’s women’s division has been booked terribly, so let’s hope WWE can offer the fans something for WM.

The first participant and most likely to win is Tiffany Stratton. Stratton has faced Cargill before, so there might be backlash from fans if she wins. The next two that don’t seem to have a chance are Asuka and Alexa Bliss. That leaves Rhea Ripley, who will probably get the biggest pop of the night. Raquel Rodriguez is a sleeper in the fight, as she could pull the upset and take home the title alongside her stablemate Liv Morgan at WM. Lastly, perhaps the most shocking is that Kiana James will be debuting inside the Elimination Chamber. She found a creative way to win the triple threat, taking Flair down with the pin to get the win.

In the main event, six men will wage war inside the Chamber. Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Jey Uso. Rhodes is the favorite to win the match, but expect everyone else to put up a fight. A very interesting fact is that Je’Von Evans is the first participant inside the EC to be born after it debuted. Look for him to shine inside the EC. The winner will take on Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

Lastly, don’t forget about what could be the biggest surprise of the night. For weeks, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis have been trading back and forth a crate. On the crate, it says “Do Not Open Until 2/28/26”. At first, people thought it’d be Chris Jericho inside the crate. However, Y2J is still under contract with AEW, and reports suggest he will be returning to WWE when no one expects it. A comical take was that Triple H would come out of the crate and declare a “New Era” in the WWE. Other suggestions are a new sponsor, something to do with WWE 2K26, or Danhausen.

No matter what is revealed, this year’s Elimination is looking to be a great one. Probably not as memorable as last year, when John Cena turned heel, but I digress. Feast your eyes on one of the most unforgiving structures in WWE, and get ready to see what’s inside that crate. Tune in at 7/ET on the ESPN App in the city of Chicago to witness the last checkpoint before WrestleMania.

The San Francisco 49ers have insisted this offseason that they have no real interest in trading quarterback Mac Jones, but their stance may be smoke, designed to raise his trade value. The Athletic‘s Matt Barrows claimed last week that the “stars could be aligning” for a Jones trade, despite the 49ers’ public rhetoric.

A mid-round offer might be enough if the Vikings want to rekindle Sam Darnold-like magic.

If so, most assume the Minnesota Vikings would be somewhere near the top of his destination list.

The Case for Mac Jones Is Alive and Well

Don’t cancel the Mac Jones trade theories just yet.

Barrows: SF May Not Refuse Trade Offer for Jones

Barrows just isn’t quite buying that Jones is untouchable.

He wrote last week, “The 49ers have stated that they don’t intend to trade Jones, who, after all, proved extremely valuable in 2025 and has a cap cost of only $3.1 million in 2026. Still, circumstances are aligning to create an offer that might be hard to refuse.”

“The first is that Jones didn’t just look like a starter in 2025 but someone who could lead an imperfect team, which is what any potential suitor would be. The win at the Rams — on a short week and in prime time — came at the height of the 49ers’ injury woes. They played without George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, and with Jones battling through a PCL injury. The second reason to trade for Jones is that the league just watched another Shanahan reclamation project, Sam Darnold, thrive on the national stage.”

Jones has already stated this offseason that he believes he’s a starter in the NFL — not a QB2.

Barrows added, “Darnold, who signed a one-year deal with San Francisco in 2023, served as Brock Purdy’s backup that season. The following season, he led the Minnesota Vikings, who run a similar offensive system, to a 14-win season.”

“In 2025, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and last week stood before the city with the Lombardi Trophy in his right hand, a beer can in his left and a wide grin on his face.”

Redoing the Sam Darnold Arrangement

In 2024, Minnesota signed Darnold as a “bridge” quarterback for McCarthy, and all he did was deliver 35 passing touchdowns and 4,319 passing yards. Seeking a big payday and guaranteed starting job, Darnold chose the Seahawks in 2025 free agency, leaving the Vikings to sink or swim with McCarthy.

Minnesota sank, at least in terms of missing the postseason, while Darnold won the Super Bowl. What a world.

In Jones, Vikings head coach and de facto CEO Kevin O’Connell would have a chance at a do-over. The 49ers groomed Darnold for a year in 2023; they did the same for Jones in 2025.

If O’Connell wants to rewrite history, he can finagle the Jones trade with San Francisco and restart the clock on his Darnold experiment — but with a different former 1st-Rounder in Jones.

2025 Rankings and Stats

These were the NFL’s top quarterbacks in 2025 per EPA+CPOE:

1. Drake Maye
2. Brock Purdy
3. Jordan Love
4. Josh Allen
5. Matthew Stafford
6. Sam Darnold
7. Daniel Jones
8. Dak Prescott
9. Mac Jones
10. Patrick Mahomes

The odds of Jones arriving in Minnesota and playing poorly like his earlier days are low. If Darnold could thrive in Minnesota, so can Jones — or so goes the theory.

The 49ers also compiled a 5-3 record on Jones’s watch in 2025, as he delivered 269 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns in 8 starts. The numbers would translate to a fringe MVP season if scaled to 17 games.

The Trade Price

This is the tricky part. San Francisco’s brass is already working diligently to drive up Jones’s trade price. Two offseasons ago, Darnold was “free” in free agency. Jones won’t be that way. At the very minimum, Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will have to send a 3rd-Rounder to The Bay for Jones. Truth be told, the price will likely be steeper than that, perhaps in the neighborhood of a 2nd-Rounder.

O’Connell and Brzezinski must ask themselves if the price tag is worth it. Minnesota has suffered from four underwhelming drafts in a row. They can’t easily donate high-round picks and feel great about it.

If Jones can be a years-long starter, the price will be worth it. If he’s more of a flyer, the club might be better off rolling with McCarthy, signing Malik Willis from free agency, or exploring Kyler Murray’s availability.

Jones will turn 28 just before Week 1 of 2026; there’s plenty of time for a team to christen him as the long-term QB1 and ask him to hold down the fort for a decade, akin to Darnold’s current trajectory.

Feb 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) play for the ball during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Our Current Best Offers

1

Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

T&Cs apply, 18+

2

Advertisement

ParlayPlay

100% up to $100

T&Cs apply, 18+

3

OwnersBox

100% up to $500

T&Cs apply, 18+

4

Advertisement

FanDuel Fantasy

$65 value with just a $10+ deposit

T&Cs apply, 18+

Our Current Best Offers

1

Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

T&Cs apply, 18+

2

Advertisement

ParlayPlay

100% up to $100

T&Cs apply, 18+

3

OwnersBox

100% up to $500

T&Cs apply, 18+

4

Advertisement

FanDuel Fantasy

$65 value with just a $10+ deposit

T&Cs apply, 18+

Our Current Best Offers

1

Advertisement

Underdog

Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!

T&Cs apply, 18+

2

ParlayPlay

100% up to $100

T&Cs apply, 18+

3

Advertisement

OwnersBox

100% up to $500

T&Cs apply, 18+

4

FanDuel Fantasy

$65 value with just a $10+ deposit

T&Cs apply, 18+

Following an up-and-down league phase, Liverpool booked a direct route into the last 16 of the Champions League and now wait to see who their opponents will be.

Arne Slot’s side ultimately won six and lost two of their eight games to claim third spot in the table, although endured a couple of rough spots during that spell – most notably when suffering a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to PSV in November.

But they are safely into the knockouts and in a season where a proper Premier League title challenge has failed to materialise, Europe offers an opportunity to still pick up some silverware.

Having been paired with the fourth-place finishers from the league phase, Tottenham, Liverpool know that their last-16 opponents will be one of four sides.

The Reds will face either Club Brugge, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus.

Club Brugge against Atletico is in the balance after a dramatic saw the Belgian side come from 2-0 and 3-2 to snatch a 3-3 draw on home soil, although Atleti will be confident of getting over the line in Madrid this week.

Meanwhile, Juve have it all to do in Turin after being thrashed 5-2 in the first leg in Turkey, where they had Juan Cabal sent off with 25 minutes remaining, giving Galatasaray a great chance of battling past the Old Lady.

When is the draw?

The Champions League last-16 draw will take place in Nyon at 11am GMT (12pm local time) on Friday 27 February.

How to watch online

The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website, YouTube channel and Champions League app.

What are the match dates?

The last-16 ties will take place in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:

Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026

Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

Team USA men’s hockey gold medalists Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski opened up about where their American pride came from as they celebrated their Olympic accomplishment.

Larkin and Werenski appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning, hours after celebrating their gold medal victory against Canada across Miami. The two opened up on what it meant to them to represent the Stars and Stripes.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Zach Werenski #8 and Dylan Larkin #21 of Team United States celebrate winning the gold medals after the team’s 2-1 overtime victory in the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

“I think a lot of us played at the U.S. National Team Development Program … When we were there, you get to put the jersey on every day for two years, before you’re drafted. We go through training. We’re not military by any means but they put us through some training and they really instill in you some pride,” Larkin said. “Once you go through that, you take the jersey off … and every time you take it off, for me at least, I don’t know the next time I’m going to put it on.

“So, every time I get the chance to represent the United States of America, I put that jersey on, I’m all in. I love doing it and it’s just something special. I could go on all day about how great our country is. Just being home and seeing our friends and family, it’s just special.”

Auston Matthews (34) of the United States, Zach Werenski (8) of the United States and Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States hold up the jersey of John Gaudreau after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

Werenski was asked whether playing in other countries made him more proud to be an American.

“I think you’re spot on. I remember my first World Championships with him was in Slovakia. I’ve been to Denmark, I’ve been to Czech (Republic) – these are all great countries and you play in them and it’s a ton of fun. The Olympics were in Italy, which is an unbelievable country,” he said. “You get reminded of how great the United States of America is when you get back here. And we love representing our country, we love wearing those colors.

“Like Dylan said, we learn about it from a young age. We’re allowed to live out our dream because of the military – the people that serve, the first responders. It’s just an incredible country. It’s the best country in the world and we love wearing these colors and you definitely get an appreciation for it when you go overseas and play.”

The United States celebrates after winning the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. (James Lang/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. men’s hockey team is expected to travel to Washington, D.C., to be at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article

While Peter Moody avoided forecasting a win for Ole Dancer over Tempted in the upcoming Surround Stakes on Saturday, one aspect particularly bolsters the celebrated trainer’s hopes for his filly.

The daughter of Ole Kirk pursues a follow-up Group 1 victory in the Randwick 1400m contest, after taking the 1600m Thousand Guineas last spring.

Tempted came unstuck as favourite in her lone run over 1200m, the previous year’s Golden Rose (1400m), and Moody believes a kind barrier will aid Ole Dancer following her resuming second over 1400m in the Desirable Stakes.

“The good thing about my girl is she’s going to be strong at the end of 1400, isn’t she?,” Moody said.

“I just hope we draw a barrier, that’s the main thing.

“The other day we had to go back from seven, you don’t want to have to go back from 10 or 12 and give it (Tempted) a start. I’d rather be three in front of it on the turn than three behind it.”

Ole Dancer remains unexposed to Sydney’s track direction but impressed her trainer Peter Moody, alongside Katherine Coleman, in a clockwise workout at Pakenham on Saturday.

Zac Lloyd picks up the Surround Stakes ride, substituting for the out Luke Nolen.

In the Desirable Stakes under Nolen, Ole Dancer surged late from last, missing by 2-1/2 lengths to Sass Appeal at 59.5kg—a result Moody sees as perfect preparation.

“Had she had a run under her belt we would have rolled forward and sat outside her (Sass Appeal) and we would have beat it like we did with Apocalyptic (in the Guineas),” Moody said.

“But because she hadn’t had the run, you’ve got to be mindful of where you’re going and she ran enormous.”

Ole Dancer lurks at $8 third in Surround Stakes all-in betting, with Tempted ($1.50) and Apocalyptic ($4.50) ahead.

For the Surround Stakes, compare betting sites offering the keenest racing odds.

It was the sort of substitution that may assume a symbolic status. Off went Mohamed Salah, on came Rio Ngumoha. And if it wasn’t quite as simple as that, given that Cody Gakpo departed at the same time and Federico Chiesa was also brought on against Nottingham Forest, or that Salah is a right winger and Ngumoha tends to ply his trade on the left, the temptation is to portray them as the past and the future respectively.

Ngumoha’s sparkling cameo was arguably his most significant appearance in the Premier League since his sensational debut in the division against Newcastle in August. It might have yielded an assist, or a part in the winner, but first Hugo Ekitike’s header from his cross was saved by Stefan Ortega and then, when the ball rebounded in off Alexis Mac Allister’s elbow, the goal was disallowed; the Argentinian’s eventual winner came still later.

Yet Ngumoha’s impact, his willingness to run at defenders, his dynamism, prompted calls for Liverpool’s youngest ever scorer to become a starter. So far, each of his Premier League appearances have come from the bench, though a capacity to make something happen can also equip him for the role of a super-sub.

“I know I need to at least do something and try and impact the game,” said the 17-year-old. “Whether that is on the ball or off the ball. So whether it is like trying to put in a tackle or press to win the ball back, put balls into the box, have shots on target or just beat my man.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

Which he did to give himself room to cross for Ekitike. It was the sort of ball Liverpool have provided too rarely this season; once again, Ngumoha seems capable of offering something different.

He has been confined to cameos, though; five months on from his 100th-minute winner at Newcastle, he is yet to start a Premier League game. Some may think Arne Slot is holding him back. The Liverpool head coach feels he is pushing him forward.

“He has incredible potential. Otherwise at 17 years of age you don’t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool,” the Dutchman said. “I don’t think there’s any other 17-year-old that has played so many minutes this season in the Premier League as he did. For him to show this already at 17 years says something about his talent.”

And, in Slot’s defence, when Ngumoha started against Barnsley in the FA Cup, he came off with cramp. Yet his total minutes in the Premier League is only 89; officially, anyway, because that excludes injury time, in which his finest moment lasted. But his outings have been brief; the earliest he has come on in the Premier League was the 70th minute.

There can be a temptation to rush such prodigies into the team. Slot has taken the patient approach and Ngumoha has few complaints. “I think it has gone really well,” he said. “I am learning a lot every day and playing with and training with some of the best players in the world. I can’t ask for much more as a young kid. So I just think I need to carry on proving, working hard in training and showing what I can do to the manager.”

Ngumoha believes he is benefiting from Slot’s input. “The manager is very important to me and he gives me a lot,” he said. “After training, he always gives me the right things. We always have a meeting and he tells me how well I am doing and he just shows me certain clips of training. I just need to keep pushing and keep gaining the manager’s trust and hopefully that leads to more minutes.”

open image in gallery

Perhaps the brevity of some of Ngumoha’s appearances suggested Slot did not fully trust him; even with Liverpool shorter of wingers this season, with Luis Diaz sold, and with fewer forward options, with Alexander Isak invariably injured, the teenager and Federico Chiesa tend to be summoned late, charged with rescue acts. The Italian obliged early in the campaign, but they have had the feel of back-ups.

In other respects, they are an odd couple. But if there are long-term reasons to give Ngumoha more exposure to first-team football, there are short-term ones, too. That spectacular start, with the winner he swept in at St James’ Park, four days before his 17th birthday, was an extraordinary introduction to the team. Thereafter, Ngumoha became a fringe figure: he played 12 minutes in November, none in December.

Of late, however, Ngumoha has figured more and suggested he could be a catalyst if granted a bigger role. He had a goal wrongly disallowed in the FA Cup win at Brighton. He was arguably Liverpool’s brightest attacker at Forest. “Every single time I am called on for the team, I just want to show everyone what I can do,” he said. And with the glimpses of that talent, the Liverpool public want to see more.

*Sighs, bows head and rubs temples with middle and ring fingers.* Okay, fine. Fine.

It’s the year 2026, and Floyd Mayweather is going to fight Manny Pacquiao again. Mayweather turned 48 on Tuesday (happy birthday) and Pacquiao is 47. This is happening, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it, so… let’s… Let’s just get into it, alright?

It should go without saying that this is a rematch about 10 years too late, one that makes even the first fight look timely. Because yes, Mayweather vs Pacquiao 1 was the most-lucrative fight in boxing history, but it was also years late itself.

Well, not for Mayweather, you could argue. When “Money” outpointed Pacquiao in 2015, the American and the Filipino broke the records for most pay-per-view sales (4.6m) and highest gate ($72.2m) – records that still stand today – showing there was still so much intrigue and hype for that showdown, yet there was a feeling among many that Mayweather had timed it to perfection to face an older, slower, broken-down Pacquiao.

Many had craved the bout for years but knew, deep down, there was a great chance that Mayweather would be able to stay out of danger against “Pac Man”, frustrating his fellow icon and a significant portion of the fans. This is not to dismiss Mayweather’s own fandom, but he himself would admit he weaponised and monetised ill will towards him, building a career on many viewers’ desperation for his downfall. “May-Pac” was the apex of this.

It ended with Mayweather winning a comfortable decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, as Pacquiao – struggling with a shoulder injury, which would soon require surgery – failed to produce the finish that so many fans yearned for. There were accusations that he had deceived fans by not declaring the injury in advance; he and his team dismissed the idea that they had been dishonest. Pacquiao said he was denied a shoulder injection before the fight; Mayweather dismissed the idea that he needed one.

open image in gallery

There was enough controversy to create some interest in a rematch, but once the year mark had passed – once Mayweather had reached 38, and Pacquiao 37 – there was little dispute that a second showdown would not be worth it. There had been murmurs over the past two years, but largely of an exhibition rematch.

But what’s that coming down the Strip? It’s the Sphere, bowling towards you at speed, wrapped in Mayweather and Pacquiao’s giant, pixelated faces, kicked into motion by a crowd of Netflix executives.

*Sighs, takes a breath.* So on 19 September, we will see Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2.

The news broke late on Monday, just three days after a truly stunning development in the boxing world: that Conor Benn was leaving his promoter Eddie Hearn, to join rival promoter Dana White. This was despite Hearn’s years of allegiance to the British star amid a controversial drug-test saga, during which the Matchroom boss lent Benn hundreds of thousands of pounds and went to bat for him time and again.

open image in gallery

That news was genuinely jaw-dropping, barely comprehensible. So when rumours swirled on Monday that another big piece of boxing news would ensue, minds were sent racing. And then came the Mayweather vs Pacquiao announcement.

Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing

Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.

Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing

Advertisement

Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.

Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

For all of the layers that make the Benn story (which is still developing) so enthralling, one such layer is this: it is consequential. The same cannot be said of Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2.

Never mind that it will be a professional fight, instead of an exhibition; if Pacquiao is able to beat his old nemesis, it will simply be (here come those words again) too late. “I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” said Pacquiao on Monday, but there would still be those who would view Mayweather as technically undefeated, regardless of what happens at the Sphere.

To many, Mayweather’s last real pro fight will always be his stoppage of UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017, even though that fight itself was so contrived. In fact, there are those who would even dismiss the McGregor fight, and point to Mayweather’s preceding bout against Andre Berto.

The American has competed numerous times since facing McGregor, but solely in exhibitions, while Pacquiao ended a four-year absence from the pro game last summer, drawing with then-champion Mario Barrios in a WBC welterweight title fight.

open image in gallery

The impressive nature of that performance, given the context, conjures faith that Pacquiao could win on 19 September. And for some fans, even now, that will be enough to make them watch.

Then there is the fact that the show will stream live on Netflix; when it is so easily accessible, when you’re not paying extra for the potential to be disappointed, you’re more likely to tune in. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson showed that in 2024, and Paul vs Anthony Joshua proved it again in December.

The other X factor in all this is the Sphere. Even if you’re not easily sucked in by spectacle, the visuals that can be produced inside the domed Vegas venue are captivating, and they will be talked up in the build to May-Pac 2.

Will any of this be enough to convince you to watch? Believe us, we’re not trying to convince you. Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 is a fight no one asked for, and despite any other musings, that is the long and short of it.