To understand Chloe Kelly’s year and the series of game-turning inventions that led to the historic successes in Lisbon and Basel, you have to go back to her bathroom floor in Liverpool and the toughest period of her life. Kelly could not get up from it, sick with anxiety and struggling with panic attacks, crushed by the feeling of not being in control of her own future. It was January 2025, a few months before the Euros, and Kelly was desperate to move away from Manchester City and to get more minutes on the pitch. Not just that, she needed to take charge again.

Even at her lowest, she knew the determination and talent were still there; what was missing was a sense of purpose and the joy she first felt dribbling a ball when growing up in the five-a-side street cages of west London. A journey that began by trekking across the city after school with Lotte Wubben-Moy to get to Arsenal’s academy, taking the underground, a train, a bus and finally a walk over the M25, was in danger of fizzling out as the hours ticked towards the transfer deadline. She felt as if the door to getting out was closing. At the age of 27, she was prepared to walk away and quit.

But, clearly, that was not Chloe Kelly’s year, not after a summer that was shaped by how both she and the Lionesses refused to bend or break but then rose above everything in their way.

To mark International Women’s Day, Kelly has been named top of The Independent’s influence list, in recognition of the role she played in England’s Euro 2025 triumph. The Lionesses successfully defended their European crown and became the first senior England side, men’s or women’s, to win a major tournament on foreign soil.

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“It’s not the action, it’s the reaction,” Kelly said during the rollercoaster of England’s run. The match-winner in the transformative Euro 2022 final at Wembley three years before, Kelly was reborn from the resilience and strength she had shown when all had appeared lost. By the end, her growth and England’s survival in Switzerland came to mirror each other.

“My journey and taking control of my own destiny, writing your own script, was really important,” Kelly tells The Independent. She has a powerful sense of what her message is and what it represents: that speaking up when feeling down can be the first step towards turning a story around.

For Kelly, it was posting where she stood and where she was coming from. Her situation at City, she told her millions of followers on Instagram, was having “a huge impact on not only my career but my mental wellbeing” – it was not necessarily a cry for help, but a vow to not suffer in silence. “The world’s full of social media where you see great things all the time, but sometimes you have to see the realness,” she says. “I’m proud I did do that, because I don’t think I’d be in the position I am in without it.”

It led to her deadline day return to Arsenal, initially on loan, as well as a reframing of her season. At Arsenal, she told her new coach, Renee Slegers, that she wanted to enjoy her football again. At the Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman took the pressure off trying to make her Euros squad away by letting her know she had time. Outside of her close bubble of family and friends, there was understanding, too. “It’s important, especially for young girls, to see that not everything is bright and daisy, not everything is about winning,” Kelly says. “Sometimes it’s the dark moments that get you to those winning moments.”

Not that it was immediately clear how dark those moments were. Kelly recently told Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast that her hair was falling out due to the stress of her situation at Manchester City, and that she was conscious of covering the patches during her first few games at Arsenal. But after settling back into a familiar environment, the smile returned, and Kelly started to put things together piece by piece. A starring role in Arsenal’s comeback against Real Madrid was followed by the full-circle moment of helping the Gunners become European champions again in Lisbon, following the example of her idols Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey from 18 years before.

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And then there was the Euros – “the most chaotic tournament ever”, as Wiegman famously said. “Going down, it didn’t phase us,” adds the super-sub whose arrival off the bench would signal a shift in mentality from the Lionesses and bring a change-changing moment. There were two assists to rescue England against Sweden, and another crucial penalty in that quarter-final shoot-out. Coming on again against Italy, Kelly scored the winner at the end of extra time. Then, in the final and another shoot-out, the ball was again placed in Kelly’s hands. And yet it is in those moments, where time stands still, that Kelly thrives the most.

But for confidence to be declared unbreakable, it needs to be tested. Kelly’s was. At the Euros, other moments would become just as iconic because of how she responded; to standing on the touchline until the 78th minute against Sweden, as England trailed in the quarter-finals; to putting a last-minute corner into the side-netting against Italy, as the Lionesses desperately chased an equaliser; to missing three penalties in training on the day before the Euros final, knowing she was still going to be given the fifth if it went to the shootout.

These were also the moments that made Kelly’s year, as they gave her the opportunity to show that what comes next is always what matters. “The action is always the one you think about, but the reaction is what makes the story even better. I think that does shape the whole of 2025 for me,” Kelly says. “You have to ride the wave at times, and speak out, and be proud of speaking out too. Hopefully, it inspired many women and young girls this year to achieve great things. For me, it’s just being real.”

Read The Independent’s influence list for International Women’s Day 2026 here.

Liverpool suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Tuesday, a result that felt depressingly familiar. After a flat first-half display, the Reds fought back from an early deficit only to concede an injury-time winner. For Arne Slot, the match epitomised a season of inconsistencies and underperformance, raising serious questions about the club’s position in the Premier League this year.

‘The same old story’

Slot described the Wolves loss as “the same old story,” and his frustration was evident. From predictable lapses to late-game collapses, the pattern of disappointing performances has persisted all season. The team that once won the Premier League title now finds itself under real threat of finishing outside the top five, a dramatic fall just 12 months after reaching the summit.

Can Slot turn it around?

The critical question is whether Slot can reverse this slump. Evidence so far suggests it may be unlikely. The argument for extending his tenure beyond the current campaign is weakening, as Liverpool’s recent form has undermined confidence in the Dutchman’s ability to maintain success.

Emotional Loyalty vs. Rational Decisions

The club’s tradition of backing managers through hard times also plays a role, in line with Liverpool’s ethos of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” However, past achievements cannot mask the present reality: Liverpool’s current struggles put Champions League qualification, and the club’s financial stability following a record-breaking £450 million investment in players and wages, at risk.

Contextual challenges

Slot deserves credit for several mitigating circumstances. He navigated the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, managed injuries to key players including Alexander Isak, and handled tensions with star forward Mohamed Salah. Additionally, his tactical adjustments transformed a squad that had finished third under Jurgen Klopp into Premier League champions.

Yet even with these considerations, Liverpool’s current form is unacceptable for a team of their calibre. Sitting fifth, 16 points behind an average Arsenal side, is a stark indicator of regression.

Poor results and underwhelming performances

Slot’s future may depend not only on results but also on the quality of performances. Unfortunately for the manager, the Reds’ displays have matched their disappointing outcomes. Between late November and mid-January, Liverpool went 10 league games undefeated but only secured four wins, posting underwhelming performances against newly promoted sides like Sunderland, Leeds, and Burnley.

Even during a short three-game winning streak, the results were misleading. Victories at Sunderland and West Ham were aided by late goals or set-piece situations, while the win at Nottingham Forest relied on a 97th-minute strike by Alexis Mac Allister. Underneath the surface, Liverpool’s performances have lacked consistency, creativity, and dominance, highlighting deeper issues in both mentality and execution.

Liverpool’s season has been a stark contrast to their title-winning campaign. While Arne Slot has earned respect for his achievements and handling of exceptional challenges, his ability to maintain elite performance is under scrutiny. With the top-five finish under threat and Champions League qualification in jeopardy, the club faces a critical period in evaluating whether past loyalty can outweigh present underperformance.

Two women’s tennis players were sent threatening messages, each receiving a photo of a gun and being ordered to lose matches.

Panna Udvardy and Lucrezia Stefanini detailed the disturbing messages in which they and their families were threatened.

“Last night around midnight I received several very disturbing messages on WhatsApp from an unknown number on my personal phone. The person told me that if I didn’t lose my match today, they would harm members of my family,” Udvardy posted on Instagram, along with screenshots of the messages, regarding her match against Anhelina Kalinina at the Megasaray Hotels Open, which she lost in two sets.

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Lucrezia Stefanini and Panna Udvardy both received threatening messages, ordering them to lose recent tennis matches. (Flaviu Buboi, Robert Prangevia Getty Images)

“They said they knew where my family lives, what cars they drive and that they had their phone numbers. They even sent photos of my family members and a picture of a gun.”

The message Udvardy received said the culprit or culprits “know everything about your family and you” and were “ready for war if necessary, and we won’t hesitate to send them to your mother’s house to kidnap her until she returns the money we would lose because of your disobedience.”

Udvardy said she contacted the Women’s Tennis Association, and three additional police officers were sent to her match “which I’m extremely grateful for.” Police also went to her parents and grandmother’s homes, she added.

Panna Udvardy of Hungary in action against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Women’s Singles first round match on Day 2 of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2024, in Paris, France.   (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

The message Stefanini received was eerily similar.

“I received a WhatsApp message in which I was threatened over winning yesterday’s match. They threatened me and my family and named my parents, the place where I was born, and they sent me a photo of a gun,” Stefanini said in an Instagram post of her own. 

Stefanini, too, told the WTA about the situation, and she also received boosted security.

“I’m making this video and explaining what happened because I don’t think it’s right to put me under this pressure and unease before a match,” Stefanini said.

Lucrezia Stefanini of Italy in action during day one of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2024 on Jan. 28, 2024, in Linz, Austria. (Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images for MatchMaker)

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Udvardy said the messages are “not normal.”

“Even as athletes or public figures, it’s not acceptable to receive threats against our families, especially not on our private phone numbers and alongside disturbing images. We should not normalize abuse like this in sport.”

Stefanini lost her Indian Wells qualifying match in three sets.

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India’s Lakshya Sen (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Lakshya Sen delivered a gritty performance to book his place in the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, becoming only the second Indian shuttler to reach the title clash twice after defeating Canada’s Victor Lai in a demanding semifinal on Saturday. The 24 year old, who had previously reached the final in 2022, battled both a determined opponent and painful blisters on his right toe to seal a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 victory in a contest that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. Sen’s achievement puts him in rare company alongside his mentor Prakash Padukone. The legendary Indian had reached the final in 1980 and 1981, famously winning the title in his first appearance in the championship match. Saturday’s semifinal turned into a test of stamina and resilience for both players. Sen and Lai were involved in several exhausting rallies, some stretching beyond 50 shots, as neither competitor was willing to give ground. The opening game remained closely contested until the score stood at 17-16 in Sen’s favour. The Indian then shifted gears, reeling off four consecutive points to take the first game. Lai responded strongly in the second game. The Canadian, who holds the distinction of being the first player from Canada to win a medal at the BWF World Championships, moved ahead 11-7 at the mid game interval and maintained his advantage despite Sen drawing level at 16-16 while dealing with blisters. Lai eventually forced the match into a deciding game. In the final game, Sen’s experience began to show. Mixing patience with calculated attacking shots, he built a healthy 15-9 lead. Lai continued to fight back and reduced the deficit to 17-15, but Sen finished strongly, claiming four points in a row to seal his place in the final. In the championship match, Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei. The left handed shuttler, who recently won the India Open, advanced to the final after defeating Thailand’s second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in a semifinal that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

What started as a routine benchmark race at Rosehill in July has proven a defining juncture for Dylan Gibbons prior to piloting class act Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.

Having resumed riding a short time after shoulder operation, the young hoop rode Good Banter to the post in that winter affair.

Subsequently, he thanked co-trainer John O’Shea, which opened doors, and together with close colleague Zac Lloyd, he now does the stable’s work every Tuesday.

“Me and Zac are there every Tuesday together sending most of them around,” Gibbons said.

“They took me under their wing, which I’m very grateful for, and you’ve seen the winners we’ve had lately.

“Now having a couple of his good horses in one race, Zac can’t ride them all, so I’ve been fortunate to borrow Linebacker off him on Saturday, and he will obviously be a great hope.”

The Randwick Guineas winner from 12 months prior on the matching card, Linebacker begins anew post interrupted spring, peaked with Silver Eagle glory over Saturday’s route.

A mile specialist primarily, he thrives in sprints off a break, once accounting for Ka Ying Rising in a trial en route to that rival’s Everest conquest.

No matter if Saturday’s mount is fleeting, Gibbons aims to capitalize completely, not ruling out Linebacker figuring in the placings.

“I’ll just go out there and do my job and if we can get a result, great,” Gibbons said.

“He’s a good horse starting his preparation so as long as we get things right and start him off well, that will keep the team and connections happy.

“I had a sit on him on Tuesday to get a feel for him and his work impressed me a lot. I’d be confident in saying I don’t think sharpness will be what beats him on Saturday off his work.

“I’m very happy with how he is going into it and I’m really looking forward to the race.”

Interestingly, Gibbons reconnects with Good Banter for the initial time since Rosehill, contesting the Aspiration Quality (1600m), plus More Territories under O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).

Bookmakers favor his Ciaron Maher-prepared Piggyback ($5.50) most in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m), where he eyes another forward showing after the Parramatta City Cup (2000m) success.

“She did a really good job the other day. I didn’t know much about her with it being first time on her, but the crew told me you just have to leave her alone,” he said.

“I had to back their judgement, and it was obviously the right call because she got out, and she motored to the line beautifully.

“We will adopt the same tactics, and a nice, low draw means I’m going to have plenty of options.

“There’s no reason she can’t reproduce what she did.”

Discover competitive racing betting markets ahead of the Canterbury Stakes.

England, South Africa and West Indies are set to depart India over the weekend on chartered flights arranged by the ICC following disruption to commercial air travel due to the ongoing conflict involving US, Israel and Iran.

A source told PTI that England, who went down to India in the second semifinal on Thursday, are expected to leave from Mumbai on Saturday evening on a direct flight to London.

West Indies and South Africa are the other two teams still in the country despite their campaigns having ended.

While the Windies were knocked out of the T20 World Cup after India defeated them by five wickets at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, South Africa’s campaign ended after their defeat to New Zealand here in the first semifinal on Wednesday.

Both South Africa and West Indies will travel together from Kolkata on a another charter flight.

The two sides are likely to fly first to Johannesburg before the West Indies contingent continues onward to Antigua.

The exact departure time is yet to be confirmed but the flight is expected to leave on Sunday.

A section of the South African group, including members of the team management along with players Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith and George Linde, will head to New Zealand on Sunday for a limited overs tour beginning on March 15.

The Cricket West Indies had on Thursday confirmed that arrangements were being made for a charter flight to take the team back home after they remained stuck in the city for more than four days due to international airspace restrictions in the Gulf region.

“During a high-level call earlier today involving CWI, ICC officials, a representative of team management, and a representative of the players, it was confirmed that a charter flight is currently being arranged for the team’s departure from India, with the expected departure scheduled within the next 24 hours,” CWI had said in a statement.

“The departure time remains subject to final air traffic approvals. The team remains safe and well as arrangements continue to be finalized,” the governing body had added.

The CWI said it had been in constant touch with the players, team management and the International Cricket Council while working on travel arrangements.

“While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI assures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the safe return of the team to the Caribbean,” the board had said.

The development had come hours after West Indies head coach Daren Sammy voiced his frustration over the delay on social media in a post that he “just wanna go home”.

Following the arrangement he had posted “Got an update. That’s all WI wanted.

Racing from the rear by instinct puts Bauhinia at the mercy of race tempo and luck, which has been in short supply for her.

Co-trainer Lee Curtis is optimistic that this autumn will bring brighter days for the mare, commencing with Saturday’s Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick.

“Her work has been as good as ever, if not better,” Curtis said.

“Her trial was really good. She finished behind Peter Snowden’s horse, Raging Force, and she beat home Arctic Glamour in the trial.

“She’s going super. We only gave her one trial but we’re happy.”

Boasting two triumphs in 11 appearances, Bauhinia proved competitive with Sydney’s leading mares in spring, settling for a tough fifth behind Stefi Magnetica in The Invitation (1400m) and only just missing Arctic Glamour in the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).

Curtis plans to afford her a midfield position from the draw on Saturday, setting her up ideally for the explosive finish she possesses.

“It’s a six furlong race, so she will be getting back anyway,” he said.

“She’s third in the betting so she is a chance.”

In the Wenona Girl betting, a trio of horses command single-digit quotes, led marginally by Gangsta Granny ($3.20) ahead of Idle Flyer ($3.50), while Bauhinia lurks third at $9.50.

Visit top betting sites to find the keenest racing odds for the Wenona Girl Quality.

Brentford right-back Michael Kayode has revealed that his dream is to play for Italy’s senior national team, although he remains proud of his Nigerian background.

Kayode was born in Borgomanero, Italy, to Nigerian parents, Victoria and Anthony. Because of his background, the young defender is eligible to represent both Italy and Nigeria at international level.

The 21-year-old has already played for Italy’s youth teams, featuring for the country at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 levels. His performances have made him one of the young players being closely watched by both countries.

Despite Nigeria’s interest, Kayode has admitted that his main ambition is to represent the Italian national team.

“For every player, it is a dream to be in the national team, especially now because of the World Cup qualifiers. I really hope we qualify,” Kayode said.

The Brentford defender explained that his focus right now is to perform well for his club, as that will improve his chances of receiving a senior call-up.

“It is important to do very well at your club because if you don’t do well there, you will not get called up. So my focus is on Brentford, and if I get the opportunity with Italy, that will be great,” he added.

Kayode, however, said he appreciates the support he receives from Nigerians despite his wish to play for Italy.

“I’m happy that the Nigerian people are happy for me. The opportunity to be able to play for both countries is amazing,” he said.

The young defender made a name for himself in Italy’s youth setup when he scored the winning goal in the final of the 2023 European Under-19 Championship.

With his career continuing to grow at Brentford, Kayode will hope that strong performances in the Premier League can help him achieve his dream of representing Italy at senior level.