After their Irish Cup humiliation against Limavady, Linfield have since played four and won four, scoring 14 goals and conceding one.

Linfield manager David Healy knows his squad have what it takes to go to war for the Irish Premiership title.

After beating arch rivals Glentoran at Windsor Park on Saturday night, the Blues boss insisted his men have the belief now to push on for glory.

Healy knows most of his side have been there and done that. Indeed, the former Northern Ireland striker says that winning mentality has to be there from day one for all Linfield players.

“You have to have a champion mentality to sign for Linfield, be at Linfield for the length of time that some of these players have been and try and maintain success because the demands have been set for 140 years,” said Healy.

After their Irish Cup humiliation against Limavady, Linfield have since played four and won four, scoring 14 goals and conceding one. The Blues are now five points behind league leaders Larne who have only picked up one point from a possible nine of late.

“I said in the press about it being unlikely but not impossible, and it’s not,” Healy insisted. “We were written off a number of weeks ago and probably rightly so. With the level of performance we put in away to Limavady in the cup. Our league form has been good from the turn of the year.

“The table looks a little bit better, the players have more belief now. We’ve got to buy into the end of the season drive, where we’ve been before. We’ve been in the trenches, we understand what it takes.

“That’s why it’s important for me at times, amongst the chaos, amongst the noise, amongst the criticism, to try and remain as calm as I need to be. Because if not, then it gets out of hand and into players’ performance levels.

“I’m pleased for the players, they took a bit of a battering, they’ve responded well. We now have basically 10 cup finals coming up – nine league games and the cup final against Cliftonville.”

Matt Fitzpatrick was the matchwinner at Windsor on Saturday night. His poacher’s finish for his 17th goal of the season sealed a huge three points and it was nothing less than he deserved, said the manager.

“Fitzy’s popped up. His performance tonight was phenomenal, leading the line the way he does. He deserves that goal.

“I don’t think it was a great game but we found a way,” said Healy. “I thought second half, we were better.”

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories .

Aries 0904 470 1141 (65p per minute)*

Taurus 0904 470 1142 (65p per minute)*

Gemini 0904 470 1143 (65p per minute)*

Cancer 0904 470 1144 (65p per minute)*

Leo 0904 470 1145 (65p per minute)*

Virgo 0904 470 1146 (65p per minute)*

Libra 0904 470 1147 (65p per minute)*

Scorpio 0904 470 1148 (65p per minute)*

Sagittarius 0904 470 1149 (65p per minute)*

Capricorn 0904 470 1150 (65p per minute)*

Aquarius 0904 470 1151 (65p per minute)*

Pisces 0904 470 1152 (65p per minute)*

*Astro line horoscopes are updated every Thursday. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last approximately five minutes. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service provided by Spoke. Customer service: 0333 202 3390

There were also two tots named Kendrick and one Lamar after the US rap icon appeared in Glasgow in July.

Diehard Oasis fans have been naming their babies after frontman Noel in honour of the reunion gigs at Murrayfield. The highest number of babies named Noel for five years has been registered in Scotland following the three gigs last year.

Figures show four tots were given the moniker last year after 210,000 fans saw the Britpop legends in Edinburgh. It saw Noel on the verge of tears as he sang Talk Tonight during one of the shows.

The Wonderwall star’s name derives from the Latin word natalis meaning birthday. The Oasis gigs in the capital were part of their huge reunion tour which saw 41 shows across 14 countries.

There were also two tots named Kendrick and one Lamar after the US rap icon appeared in Glasgow in July. The Grammy winner played to 50,000 at Hampden Park.

Billie Eilish was honoured by two sets of parents after she had sold-out nights at the Hydro. Meanwhile an apparent Star Wars-loving couple named their daughter Skye Walker.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE

The Wuthering Heights film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi was filmed across the Yorkshire Dales, with historic ruins transformed into a stunning movie set

All eyes are on Yorkshire as Wuthering Heights, which was shot across the Dales, arrives in cinemas, with fans adding the area to their 2026 travel itineraries.

Hollywood actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi used the Yorkshire Dales as their location throughout the entire production, and many treasures of the Yorkshire landscape feature in the film.

While Emily Brontë’s novel was set primarily within the Yorkshire Moors, near to where the author lived, this adaptation opted to base its filming within the Yorkshire Dales.

However, it was particularly one Dale that proved to be the genuine star of the production, appearing repeatedly throughout the picture.

Swaledale appears to have several connections to the filming location for the 2026 film, and one heritage site which is accessible to visitors was converted into a film set for several scenes.

Save on the best holiday cottages in Yorkshire

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

From £31 per night

Sykes Cottages

See the deals

Famous for its dramatic landscapes, historic cities, hearty food, and rich cultural heritage Yorkshire is just waiting to be explored. Sykes Cottages has a large number of properties to choose from with prices from £31 per night.

Old Gang Lead Mines

High on the moors, positioned between Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, are the striking ruins of an 18th-century lead production facility.

It stands as one of the largest and most well-preserved lead-mining locations in the region, boasting a tall chimney and the remnants of a once-bustling mill.

The remains lie peacefully within open moorland and can only be reached on foot; it is typically a circular walk that takes you from nearby Gunnerside or Muker and across the moors.

As a heritage site, it is completely free to explore and accessible to the public, though, for the purposes of the film, several elements were incorporated into it.

Advertisement

Right at the start of Wuthering Heights, as a horse-drawn carriage travels across verdant countryside, it passes the Old Gang Smelt Mill in a stunning shot.

The location appears again in additional scenes, with lead actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi wandering across the fog-covered moorland.

Sarah Whiteley, Senior Historic Environment Officer at Yorkshire Dales National Park, was tasked with ensuring the site received proper protection throughout filming.

Her role involved monitoring how the cast and crew worked with this historic location, and she offered some insight into the process when speaking to Conde Nast Traveller.

Whiteley revealed ahead of the cast’s arrival, the site was shut to other visitors to allow time for preparation with additions including painted props and extra vegetation.

She said: “The locations team wanted to put an installation of a sort of cliff-face-type prop, so we decided which was the least damaging place to put that,” and clearly, it was the Old Gang Lead Mines.

Swaledale

Film fans are eager to bring the Wuthering Heights world they witnessed on screen into their everyday lives, and a visit to Swaledale offers the ideal opportunity for immersion.

Advertisement

From the opening frames of the production to several of its most powerful moments, the region was instrumental in transforming the beloved tale into reality.

In fact, just a short distance from the Old Gang site near Swaledale, nestled in the moorland above Langthwaite village, lies a winding road called Bouldershaw Lane.

From that lane, you can view the expansive field, which is in private ownership, where Margot Robbie’s dramatic scene takes place – walking through in her enormous wedding gown whilst carrying a bouquet.

The Melbeck Moors in Swaledale also served as a stunning backdrop, forming part of the magnificent Yorkshire Dales National Park.

It’s an exceptionally remote spot located in the upper reaches of the dale and consists mostly of completely isolated moorland, which proved challenging to access for the cast and crew.

This moorland area is scattered with other abandoned structures and quiet meandering roads, which are also believed to have been utilised for filming.

The natural conditions of these locations certainly played their part at times, with the actors having recalled memories on set of enduring freezing temperatures and lengthy walks.

Throughout 1,460 days of the Ukraine war, two figures have remained central.

The decisions made by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, their leadership styles, and their standing on the international stage have shaped a conflict soon entering its fifth year.

But how have the war’s two central figures changed in the past four years?

Sky News has explored each leader’s domestic and global image, as well as how the conflict has shaped them personally, in this piece.

Follow live updates of the Ukraine war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Mr Zelenskyy has undergone one of the most dramatic image transformations of any contemporary leader in the past four years, going from a relatively inexperienced president to a central symbol of resistance and democratic defiance.

While his background in acting made his rise to Ukraine’s highest office an unlikely one, Mr Zelenskyy fit the presidential mould in his early years, at least in appearance.

Often seen clean-shaven and suited, images of Ukraine’s leader from before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 now make him appear boyish compared to the hardened wartime leader of 2026.

Mr Zelenskyy is now rarely spotted in anything other than military fatigues, something that famously irked Donald Trump when he hosted the Ukrainian president for a disastrous meeting at the White House last year.

Zelenskyy at home

Domestically, the 2022 invasion saw Mr Zelenskyy experience an initial surge in approval and trust as Ukrainians rallied behind their leader.

His decision to stay in Kyiv and lead from the capital, even after offers to evacuate for his own safety, became symbolic of Ukrainian resistance, enhancing his credibility and sense of purpose.

“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” he reportedly told US officials as Russia’s 35-mile armoured convoy closed in on the capital.

From that moment on, Mr Zelenskyy has remained a central unifying figure in Ukraine, providing nightly video updates to inform and rally his people and making visits to frontline towns to inspire his troops.

Inevitably, as the conflict has progressed, economic strain, war fatigue, and high-profile political controversies (including protests over anti-corruption institutions and an investigation into large-scale bribery in the energy sector) have seen his domestic approval ratings decline slightly, though he still maintains broad support overall.

Zelenskyy abroad

Mr Zelenskyy’s global standing skyrocketed after 2022. He became not just Ukraine’s leader but the face of its diplomatic effort, repeatedly addressing parliaments, world leaders and public audiences to sustain foreign support.

By framing the war with Russia as a broader struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, Ukraine’s president positioned his country on the world stage as defending both European and Western values.

He’s been successful in his repeated attempts to bring financial and military support to Ukraine and maintained working relationships with key allies throughout the war. He even wrestled Donald Trump back from the brink after their disastrous White House meeting last February.

Advertisement

Share

Sky’s David Blevins takes us through the Ukrainian and US presidents’ meeting at the White House

Outside questions remain – largely from Europe – over Mr Zelenskyy’s ability to tackle corruption at home, while his reputation in Russia has remained negative, but his image on the world stage overall remains positive.

Zelenskyy the man

So, what about how the last four years have changed Mr Zelenskyy personally?

There is no doubt about the toll the war has taken on the president and his family, as it has for millions of Ukrainians.

In the early months of the war, his family were evacuated and taken to secret locations to keep them safe. That separation had a clear impact on Mr Zelenskyy.

According to First Lady Olena Zelenska, her husband now appreciates the simple things more, such as communication with his family.

“Send him a photo of his son or tell him what his daughter said. And it touches him very emotionally now,” she said in 2023.

“He wasn’t so sensitive to it before.”

Vladimir Putin

Despite hoping to see Ukraine capitulate within days, Russia’s invasion has now dragged into its fifth year. In that time, Mr Putin’s global standing has largely deteriorated to pariah status.

The Ukraine war has recast his image, both domestically as the wartime leader Russia “needs” (in state narratives) and internationally as a more marginalised, conflict-driven figure.

Personally, the Russian president has become more isolated since the invasion, both in terms of his public appearances and his demeanour – claiming he “jokes less” since the war began.

Putin at home

Inside Russia, Mr Putin’s popularity has been sustained by a mix of state-controlled messaging, repression of dissent and wartime patriotic mobilisation, even amid economic strain and military setbacks.

His approval ratings initially rose sharply after the invasion began, reaching some of the highest figures in years, with a surge in patriotic sentiment and support for “defending Russia”.

And while sanctions, mobilisation and economic pressures dented some support, independent and state pollsters still often report significant backing for Mr Putin among many Russians.

Even so, it can be difficult to gauge public opinion of the president inside Russia thanks to censorship and media control.

The Kremlin has demanded active participation in and support for the war from society since 2022, not just quiet compliance.

Opposition politics are outlawed, independent media has been almost entirely dismantled or subjected to strict “foreign agent” laws, and even mentioning the war in ways that contradict official narratives can lead to prison sentences.

But that hasn’t stopped some direct criticism. One woman wrote to Mr Putin demanding an explanation as to why her late son, an 18-year-old conscript, had been involved in combat.

The spiralling cost of living has also damaged Mr Putin at home. For many households, everyday essentials – from basic groceries to fuel and housing – have become markedly more expensive, squeezing incomes despite official assurances of economic resilience.

During his 2025 annual address, Russians sent messages for the president to answer, many of which raised concerns over the state of the economy.

Advertisement

Share

The key moments of Putin annual press marathon

Putin abroad

Outside Russia’s borders, Mr Putin’s reputation has worsened markedly.

While relations with many Western governments were already strained before 2022, the invasion of Ukraine transformed long-standing suspicion into broad diplomatic isolation.

Mr Putin no longer sits comfortably at global tables and forums frequented by world powers, while several Western governments have severed ties entirely.

In response, Russia’s president has kept relationships with his few remaining allies close, narrowing his diplomatic circle.

Read more: How Moscow and its allies are trying to display their immunity to Western pressure

He signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with North Korea in 2024 and signed a similar deal, promising future investment, with China in 2025.

The outlier is the US.

Mr Putin had no contact with the White House during the early stages of the war under Joe Biden. But the return of Donald Trump brought a shift in approach: several phone calls and a face-to-face meeting in Alaska have suggested a desire to redefine the two powers’ relationship.

Putin the man

As with Mr Zelenskyy, there is little doubt that four years of war have also taken a significant toll on Russia’s leader.

During his 2024 year-end press conference, he stated that the ongoing war in Ukraine had changed him, causing him to “joke less” and “almost stop laughing”.

He also said that his focus has shifted, stating his happiness would not be complete until all Russian forces return from the frontline.

Mr Putin also appears to have become more physically and socially isolated during the war, with fewer spontaneous public interactions and reduced foreign travel compared with pre-war years.

From Monday, residents can expect mostly cloudy skies with a few brighter intervals.

It should stay largely dry through daylight hours, with only a small risk of a light shower later in the day.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach around 9–11C, falling to between 6C and 8C overnight, though it will feel cooler in a fresh south-westerly wind.

Tuesday is likely to remain overcast, with thicker cloud at times bringing patches of light rain or drizzle.

There will be some drier interludes, but the day is expected to feel quite blustery as strong south-westerly winds bring locally gusty conditions.

Temperatures should again sit near 9–11C during the day, holding up at 7–9C overnight.

On Wednesday, conditions look more unsettled, with cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain or showers moving through, some of which could be heavy for a time.

Brief brighter intervals are possible between showers.

Daytime temperatures are expected to hover around 9–11C, before dipping to about 5–7C overnight as slightly cooler air moves in.

Winds will stay breezy from the west or south-west, easing a little later.

Thursday is set to bring a mix of cloud, some brighter spells, and scattered showers.

Many places should see several dry hours, but the showery nature of the day means the odd downpour cannot be ruled out.

Temperatures are likely to be a touch lower, with highs of 8–10C and overnight lows of 3–5C, giving a cooler feel, especially under any clearer skies.

Winds from the west or north-west will generally be moderate, occasionally fresh.

By Friday, cloud is expected to thicken again with further spells of light to moderate rain at times, interspersed with drier but still mostly cloudy periods.

Daytime temperatures should remain around 8–10C, with nights again near 3–5C.

A west or south-westerly breeze is forecast, mostly moderate but at times fresh, keeping things feeling on the cool side despite relatively mild readings for the time of year.

Mohamed Salah has received an instruction regarding his Liverpool future

Liverpool will already be planning for next season as the summer transfer window approaches. The Reds are aiming to secure a Champions League spot this term as the club nears the final stretch of the campaign.

While it has been a mixed season for the reigning Premier League champions following their eye-catching transfer activity last year, it could benefit the team in the long term. Several of Liverpool’s major signings will look to kick on in their second year at Anfield, but there is still work to be done with the squad.

Mohamed Salah is set to be the subject of speculation over his future as he enters the final year of his Liverpool contract. The experienced forward spoke out against manager Arne Slot after being dropped to the bench earlier this season, and has since been consistently linked with a high-profile move to the Saudi Pro League.

Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has also faced a difficult first year in Spain. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at some of the biggest stories surrounding the Reds.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Mohamed Salah verdict

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Rafael van der Vaart has weighed in on Mohamed Salah’s future and advised Liverpool’s talisman to leave the club. The 33-year-old is still contributing to Slot’s team, despite not replicating his goalscoring feats from last season, but Van der Vaart believes the time is right for Salah to bid farewell to Liverpool.

READ MORE: Arne Slot handed major Liverpool transfer boost as agent speaks out on moveREAD MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s failed Liverpool plan – ‘I realised what it meant to him’

“When I look at Mohammed Salah and the position he plays on the pitch, he has lost that extra half yard and the pace is gone with age,” he told Sky Bet. “When you look at Virgil van Dijk, age is less important for a defender.”

He added: “Having a big player and a big name (like Salah) is sometimes a problem for both the player and coach. When you expect certain things as a coach from him and he doesn’t do it, then of course you have the right to put him on the bench, but because it’s Mohamed Salah, this can cause a massive issue – in every press conference every question will be on Salah. It could be best for both sides if Salah goes somewhere else in the summer.”

Advertisement

Trent Alexander-Arnold regret

Alexander-Arnold decided to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid last summer, but the full-back has faced several issues during his debut season, with injuries and competition for places limiting his game time. His comments upon leaving the Reds hinted at regret over how Liverpool supporters perceived the move.

“I completely understand the feelings that go with that [leaving Liverpool], and I’ve felt it myself, so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset,” Alexander-Arnold said.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Advertisement

“Obviously, that went into the decision as well – it’s something you don’t want to do, you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down, you’re disappointing a lot of people. But I’ve had to make a decision for me, it’s as simple as that.”

There were previously claims that the England international could be moved on in the summer, though these have since been dismissed. New Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa has spoken positively about the ex-Liverpool star during the early weeks of his reign.

Join our LFC WhatsApp community and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£43

£35

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Advertisement