By CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, TV CRITIC

Published: 22:20 BST, 2 August 2026 | Updated: 23:27 BST, 2 August 2026

Richard E. Grant’s Very Modern Odyssey (Channel 4)

Rating: Five stars out of five

How grand to think that, wherever you go in the world, there’ll be an Englishman in elegant attire, clasping a book and bestowing his approving gaze upon the sights.

In Europe, that will be Michael Portillo, with his Bradshaw’s railway guide, fedora and wardrobe in all the colours of a sweet shop. 

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Further afield, we’ll meet the urbanely charming Michael Palin with his kit bag slung over one shoulder.

Following their lead, as he voyages around the Med on his Very Modern Odyssey, actor Richard E. Grant struck a pose on every street corner, to admire the architecture or declaim from Homer.

Everything he saw pleased him, especially the cathedral of the Knights of St John in the Maltese capital, Valletta. ‘This is baroque on steroids,’ he chirruped. ‘It out–Sistines the Sistine chapel.’

The Caravaggio in one of the side chapels thrilled him. I can never see the appeal of this 17th–century artist — too sordid, a horror movie director born before his time — but his depiction of St John the Baptist’s execution moved Richard almost to tears.

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The actor, a life–long teetotaller (despite that rambunctious performance as a permanently sozzled thesp in Withnail And I), is a delightful travelling companion. He’s arch, he’s fascinated by history, he’s unafraid to fool around and he’s plainly out for a good time.

Richard E. Grant’s Very Modern Odyssey is a four–part Channel 4 travel and history documentary series that follows actor Richard E. Grant as he retraces the ancient, legendary Mediterranean route of Odysseus from Homer’s epic poem

Grant travels through Turkey, Malta, Sicily, Italy, Tunisia, Corfu, and Ithaca, tracking the 10–year voyage home from the Trojan War

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He has an amusing turn of phrase, too. Malta looks as though ‘the whole island has been dipped in honey’. Cheekily, he refers to the locals as Maltesers, so perhaps they’ve been dipped in chocolate.

Tucking into a dish of braised pigeon in butter, he went into ecstasies before asking the chef — a burly chap called Clint — to marry him.

Richard is a man who believes in dining well and travelling light. Wherever he went, from the ruins of ancient Troy to Queen Elizabeth’s favourite Med hotel, the Phoenicia, he wore the same brown calfskin leather jacket.

This seems to have been from necessity, not choice. He told travel podcaster Tanya Rose recently that, since having his suitcases stolen in New York a couple of years ago, he has vowed never to fly with more than hand luggage.

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Crude gags of the weekend: 

Sweet, witty, touching and clever, the original Ghosts, with Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith–Bynoe, was the perfect family sitcom. 

Ghosts Australia (BBC3) is the same concept, but with obsessive toilet and sex jokes. They’ve ruined it. 

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Given how stingy airlines are these days with overhead locker space, he probably wasn’t carrying much more than a change of undies and a toothbrush.

He also told the podcast that staying in hotels is, ‘one of the sexiest things you can do, because you feel anonymous. There’s room service and your bed is changed every day. You’re divested of all responsibility.’

Certainly he appeared to be blissfully at ease wherever he went, though the show must have been shot on a tight schedule. The day after filming finished, he headed to Claudia Winkleman’s Scottish castle to begin filming Celebrity Traitors.

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If she has picked him to be one of her murderers, hiding that cloak in his hand luggage won’t have been easy.

Police, fire crews and paramedics were called to the serious crash on the B1281 Hesleden Road near Blackhall Colliery just before 7.15pm on Sunday (August 2).

The road was closed between Hesleden and Yohden Hall Nursing Home with the air ambulance seen landing nearby.

Four people were injured, with three taken to hospital. The nature and seriousness of their injuries is not yet known.

Firefighters assisted paramedics and made the scene safe before leaving around 8pm. Durham Police said the road is expected to be closed for some time while crash investigators work at the scene and advised drivers to find alternative routes.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called just before 7.15pm today (Sunday, August 2) to reports of a car overturned on the B1281 Hesleden Road near Blackhall Colliery.

“We dispatched three ambulance crews, the air ambulance, a rapid response paramedic, a clinical team leader and an advanced paramedic.

“We treated three patients before conveying all three to hospital.”

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “We were called just before 7.20pm to reports of an RTC involving a car overturned on the B1281 Hesledon Road, Blackhall Colliery.

“We dispatched two fire engines from Peterlee and Durham and one flexi duty officer to scene. On arrival, fire crews supported North East Ambulance Service colleagues in making the scene and vehicles safe before leaving the incident shortly after 8pm.”

Durham Police has been contacted for comment.

DETROIT (AP) — Michael Thorbjornsen pumped his right fist after making a 26-foot putt for birdie on his last hole to shoot 7-under 63 and reach 18 under to win his first PGA Tour title by two shots at the final Rocket Classic on Sunday.

“Perfect pace, perfect read,” he said.

The 24-year-old Thorbjornsen sealed his spot in the FedEx Cup playoff after rolling into the Motor City No. 69 in the standings. The top 70 advance to the postseason after next week’s Wyndham Championship.

Thorbjornsen started the fourth round three shots behind leader Davis Riley, whose rough start opened opportunities for the field.

“The start got the best of me and kind of put me behind the eight-ball early unfortunately,” Riley said.

Thorbjornsen took advantage, surging into the lead at No. 14 with his third of four birdies in a six-hole stretch and closing with a clutch, curling putt that went in the right side of the cup.

He’s the eighth first-time winner this season on the PGA Tour and the second straight, following Jackson Koivun’s victory last week at the 3M Open.

“It was such a battle, playing with some great players,” Thorbjornsen said. “Everyone was in the mix after nine holes.”

Xander Schauffele (65) briefly led during the final round and finished second, two shots behind Thorbjornsen.

“I played really well and he just beat me straight up, so hats off to him,” Schauffele said.

Riley (70) was another stroke behind in third, falling out of the lead with four bogeys.

Rasmus Hojgaard (68) was alone in fourth, four shots back.

Hideki Matsuyama (64), Matt Wallace (67), Kristoffer Ventura (68) were another stroke back, tied for fifth.

Thorbjornsen was born in Cleveland, grew up in Massachusetts and attended Stanford. He won the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur over Akshay Bhatia, who has three PGA Tour wins.

Thorbjornsen chipped in from 35 feet for birdie at No. 12 on a day when he accurately aimed for pins that left him with some short birdie putts before his long one on his 72nd hole.

He had a bogey-free round, an accomplishment many other players on the leaderboard were unable to pull off on a day that started with rain and became windy when the clouds cleared.

Riley started with a one-shot lead and quickly lost it — and couldn’t find his ball in fescue at No. 4 after about a dozen people helped him try — with three bogeys through six holes.

He rallied with three birdies in a seven-hole stretch before giving back a stroke with a bogey at No. 17, taking away his chance to possibly force the tournament into a playoff.

The eighth and final Rocket Classic drew its strongest field and biggest crowds.

The PGA Tour is moving to a new model for 2028, effectively creating two tours and Rocket Mortgage decided not to exercise its option to host another tournament next year. The Detroit-based company isn’t interested in continuing to spend $15 million a year to be part of the second tier in the new era and didn’t want to double the costs to be part of the elite tier.

“There have been some conversations about having a tournament here again,” tournament director Mark Hollis said. “Michigan deserves to have professional golf.”

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

A fast withdrawal casino can process a payment within minutes and recent advancements in the casino industry’s ability to payout instantly has led punters to seek out the best instant withdrawal casinos.

We have evaluated the best fast payout casino options for UK bettors, assessing factors such as withdrawal speeds, processing times, verification policies and payment methods to help readers choose the ideal quick withdrawal casino for them.

MrQ

Fastest payout method: Debit card, PayPal & bank transfer

Typical processing time: Instant

Minimum withdrawal: £10

Maximum withdrawal: £10,000

Welcome offer: 200 free spins

Lots of instant withdrawal casino sites promise payments will be completed in minutes, but very few operators are willing to put their money where their mouth is. All except MrQ.

They only have a small pool of payment options, but guarantee that all payments will be made instantly, or they will issue bettors with a £10 casino bonus in compensation.

MrQ are also a pay by mobile casino, but doesn’t offer withdrawals using this method, as explained in the excellent information pack available on payment options.

Some of the information does need updating, but bettors will find enough to give them a clear idea on what to expect when using MrQ.

Pros

✓ Guarantee instant bank transfers or a £10 casino bonus

✓ Payment system well laid out and easy to understand

Cons

✗ Fewer options for withdrawals than some competitors

✗ Minimum withdrawal limit could be lower

Bet365

Fastest payout method: Apple Pay

Typical processing time: Instant

Minimum withdrawal: £5

Maximum withdrawal: Up to £50,000, depending on method

Welcome offer: Up to 500 free spins

Bet365 ranks among the best options for a secure online casino with fast withdrawal options, and it offers one of the widest ranges of accepted withdrawal methods on the market, with several options available for instant withdrawals.

Apple Pay users will find that this online casino pledges to process withdrawals in a matter of minutes, and they can also unlock the bet365 welcome offer with an Apple Pay deposit. The withdrawal limit of £20,000 using Apple Pay should satisfy most high rollers too.

Away from Apple Pay, Bet365 have other speedy withdrawal methods, with all other processed within four hours. That includes PayPal, Trustly and Paysafecard, with bet365 one of a handful of Paysafecard casinos to allow bettors to make withdrawals.

Pros

✓ Offer one of the biggest collections of fast withdrawal options

✓ Apple Pay instant withdrawals will suit users of casino apps

✓ Withdrawals from £5

Cons

✗ Google Pay and Skrill not accepted

Grosvenor

Fastest payout method: Debit card, Apple Pay, instant bank transfer & PayPal

Typical processing time: Instant

Minimum withdrawal: £5

Maximum withdrawal: £30,000

Welcome offer: Deposit £20, play with £40

No fast withdrawal casino has as many instant options as Grosvenor. The UK casino claims that nearly all withdrawals are processed instantly and should appear in a bettor’s account within 15 minutes.

That service is available using debit cards with fast withdrawals, Apple Pay, PayPal and instant bank transfer service, with the latter available at all major UK banks.

Withdrawal limits at Grosvenor should suit all types of bettors and the majority of fast withdrawal methods can be used to unlock the Grosvenor sign-up offer, with the exception of PayPal.

The sign-up offer isn’t as good as some of those available at rival online casinos, with the £20 casino bonus and £20 deposit needed to unlock the welcome bonus carrying 10x wagering requirements.

However, Grosvenor makes up for that with daily offers for existing customers, a great selection of casino games, and, most importantly for those seeking fast withdrawals, a good selection of banking options offering instant payments.

Betfair Casino

Fastest payout method: Pay By Bank, debit card & Apple Pay

Typical processing time: Instant

Minimum withdrawal: £5

Maximum withdrawal: No published maximum

Welcome offer: 50 free spins no deposit + bet £10, get 100 free spins.

Betfair could be the best online casino with instant withdrawal options, depending on a player’s preferences, with three instant options.

Withdrawals made via debit cards tend to be slower than those made via other methods, but all Visa and participating Mastercard card users can expect instant withdrawals from Betfair.

Pay by bank instant withdrawals are also available on Betfair, while Apple Pay is the third casino fast withdrawal option. There are plenty of other methods bettors can use to make a withdrawal, and most transfer requests are processed in four to 24 hours.

All payment options are eligible for the Betfair casino welcome bonus, making Betfair one of the most flexible online casinos around when it comes to real money transactions.

Pros

✓ Pledge to process the majority of withdrawals instantly

✓ Wide range of withdrawal methods on offer

✓ All payment methods eligible for welcome bonus

Cons

✗ Some withdrawal methods are slower than competitors

✗ Payment information could be more concise

Ladbrokes Casino

Fastest payout method: Pay by Bank

Typical processing time: Instant

Minimum withdrawal: £5

Maximum withdrawal: No published maximum

Welcome offer: Bet £10, get a £30 casino bonus

Ladbrokes is one of the most well-established names in UK gambling and continues to perform at a high level, offering instant payouts via Pay By Bank, while transfers using e-wallets and debit cards are completed within hours.

Ladbrokes have steadily improved payment speeds, with debit card transfers taking around four hours if the user’s bank provides the fast funds service. Withdrawals using PayPal are expected to take around eight hours to complete, which is a little slower than some rival casino sites.

Ladbrokes’ withdrawal limits are noteworthy too as they are one of only a handful of online casinos to allow withdrawals from as little as £5.

Pros

✓ Great selection of fast payout options

✓ Withdrawals from £5

✓ Payment system well laid out and easy to understand

Cons

✗ E-wallet withdrawals can take longer than some rivals

✗ Can’t make withdrawals with all deposit methods

O’Reels

Fastest payout method: Debit card, Apple Pay, PayPal

Typical processing time: Under four hours

Minimum withdrawal: £10

Maximum withdrawal: £10,000

Welcome offer: 100% welcome bonus

O’Reels, one of the latest releases from the Betable Group, claims to process over half of all withdrawal requests instantly, with the other half being completed in around four hours.

During our review, it took over an hour for our withdrawal to arrive, but given that it takes the majority of online casinos the best part of a day to process a withdrawal request, this is still pretty quick.

There’s a good selection of payment methods available on O’Reels, but they could give more information on which are the faster withdrawal options, as this isn’t entirely clear.

Pros

✓ Majority of payments completed in under four hours

✓ Good choice of payment options

✓ Large withdrawal limit

Cons

✗ More information on withdrawals is needed

✗ Can’t make withdrawals with all deposit methods

Below is a list of all the casinos that can complete a payment in under one hour. These casinos have been tested and we will continue to keep this list updated for all those looking for under one hour withdrawal casino sites.

There are some small differences between a fast withdrawal casino and an instant withdrawal casino: ‘instant’ withdrawals are understood to be those processed in 15 minutes or less. At the same time, ‘fast’ withdrawals are usually thought to be anything under an hour.

The average UK withdrawal speed across all casinos is typically between 12 and 24 hours. That is due to some casinos now processing payments instantly, while others require 1 to 3 business days.

UK-licensed casinos must follow strict identity and anti-fraud regulations from the UK Gambling Commission, meaning even instant withdrawal casinos must carry out verification checks before releasing funds.

To that end, users should complete all KYC checks before making withdrawals to enjoy the full benefits of a fast casino withdrawal.

In this section, we provide additional details on the fastest withdrawal methods available at UK online casinos.

Note that Fast Funds and Pay By Bank methods are much quicker than traditional debit card and bank transfer options.

Trustly

Instant transfers are available with Trustly, with no bank details needed and limits between £10 and £10,000. However, not a huge number of fast payout online casinos accept Trustly.

PayPal

Some operators offer PayPal casino instant withdrawal options, and this method is more widely accepted than rival e-wallets. However, recently some major online gambling outlets, such as Betfred, have removed PayPal from their list of accepted payment options.

Apple Pay

Mobile casino users will be delighted by the way some online casinos have embraced Apple Pay, and, to a lesser extent, Google Pay. Withdrawals can be made with just a few taps on mobile and the limits have increased to cater to more bettors.

Visa/Mastercard Fast Funds

Old debit card payments can take between 1-3 working days. Fast funds can see payments reach a user’s account in under an hour. Nearly all Visa debit card providers and some Mastercard providers now offer this function.

Pay By Bank

Bank transfer was formerly the slowest kind of withdrawal, taking up to a week at times to reach a user’s account. Pay By Bank has transformed this option now with bettor’s still getting the high security and option to make large withdrawals that came with a traditional bank transfer, only with funds arriving in a matter of minutes.

We use a range of criteria to evaluate each fast withdrawal casino, independently testing each of our recommended operators to confirm that they meet our expectations in terms of payouts, licensing and overall player experience.

UKGC licensing: Only licensed and regulated fast withdrawal casinos are recommended. Never use an online casino that doesn’t have a UK Gambling Commission license, or a payment method not accepted on licensed casinos, such as credit cards.

Payment method testing: We test fast payment methods to verify any claims they make over withdrawal times.

Transparency of terms: Choosing a fast withdrawal casino is much easier when an operator gives you information on the banking options available, how to use them and the expected deposit and withdrawal times.

Player experience: To give us a better insight into instant withdrawal casinos, we check Trustpilot and Reddit to see if fast withdrawal casinos live up to their name when used by punters.

Simple KYC process: We make sure KYC checks can be completed smoothly and without causing a huge inconvenience to the user. The best fast withdrawal casino provide assistance to bettors during the KYC process.

Responsible gambling compliance: Fast withdrawal casinos must comply with responsible gambling guidelines to be recommended.

Even at a fast payout casino, some withdrawals can get held up for various reasons. However, any hold-ups tend to be caused by routine checks or human error, rather than technical problems, and can easily be avoided.

Common reasons for payment delays include:

Account verification (KYC): UK-licensed casinos must verify a player’s identity before processing withdrawals. To avoid any delays, complete the KYC steps during sign-up.

Anti-Money Laundering: All licensed casinos are required to follow strict anti-money laundering regulations. This may require checks on the source of funds or account activity.

Payment method alterations: Many casinos require withdrawals to be made using the same method as the deposit, which can slow down the process if an alternative is selected.

Active bonus wagering: Any outstanding wagering requirements must be completed before funds can be released.

Timing of the request: Some online casinos don’t process withdrawal requests at certain times of the day, or outside of usual business hours.

Large withdrawal amounts: Higher-value payouts are often subject to additional internal checks.

Whatever gambling platform you’re using, it’s important to remember to take a safe and balanced approach to gambling online.

Setting personal limits and sticking to them can help you stay in control. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and when the fun stops, stop.

The most reputable instant withdrawal casino sites in the UK offer built-in safety tools, such as deposit caps, cooling-off periods, and full self-exclusion options.

These features make it easier to manage your bankroll, take breaks when needed, and ensure gambling remains fun. Remember not to get too carried away by free bet offers or casino bonuses.

If you start to feel gambling is affecting you negatively, reach out to support services like GamCare or BeGambleAware for confidential help.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

The Italians are preparing for their maiden campaign in the top division and view the Algerian international as crucial to their survival hopes this season

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Celtic’s initial offer for Fares Ghedjemis has been turned down by Frosinone, according to reports.

The Hoops have been in discussions with the Italian club regarding the winger, who was omitted from the Serie A side’s squad for their weekend friendly against Benevento.

Celtic were believed to be stepping up their pursuit after failing to secure Ghedjemis in January, and have now tabled their first bid in an attempt to bring him to Glasgow this summer.

However, Sky Sports Italy now report that Frosinone have knocked back the opening proposal and are intent on retaining the 23 year old.

They are preparing for their maiden campaign in Italy’s top division and view the Algerian international as crucial to their survival hopes this season, reports the Daily Record.

Nevertheless, there remains scope for further talks and the circumstances could yet shift.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has been open about his ambition to sign Ghedjemis, acknowledging the champions were extremely eager to complete a deal.

He said: “We have a very, very strong interest in him,” O’Neill said. “I don’t know how close we can get, but we are genuinely making really good progress.”

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LIVERPOOL 2-4 LEEDS UNITED: Daniel Farke’s men scored four goals in 25 second-half minutes to stun the Reds and win in the Premier League Summer Series on Sunday

Liverpool were left stunned as Leeds United produced a scintillating second-half comeback to come from 2-0 down and beat the Reds 4-2 in the Premier League Super Series.

Fresh off the back of beating Sunderland and Championship side Wrexham, Andoni Iraola’s side started on the front foot against Leeds and opened the scoring inside the first seven minutes. Luke Chambers was the goalscorer for the Reds as he smashed home from close range.

Although Leeds did have some opportunities, Liverpool controlled most of the first half and ended up doubling their advantage just before the break. Florian Wirtz found the net for Iraola’s side, as he finished off an excellent team move, tucking the ball home into the corner.

Both teams made four substitutions at half-time and it was Leeds who came out as the stronger after the break. Brendan Aaronson capitalised on a mistake to pull one back for Daniel Farke’s side on the hour mark, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised with a finish from inside the box.

The comeback was then complete soon after with Sean Longstaff firing home following some neat play from Aaronson. Calvert-Lewin added his second and Leeds’ fourth late on to ensure the Whites were crowned as the winners of the 2026 Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

Mirror Football looks at the big talking points from the game…

Fast Liverpool start

Liverpool scored the first goal in each of their first two pre-season friendlies and that theme continued against Leeds. Chambers, who has come into central defence since Joe Gomez suffered a new muscle injury in the 4-2 win over Sunderland last week, was the man who gave the Reds the lead.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s outswinging corner was flicked on by Milos Kerkez and Chambers was there free inside the box to slam home from eight yards. In truth, it was a smart finish from the 22-year-old, who could have easily got underneath the ball but he kept his head over it before lashing beyond goalkeeper Alex Cairns.

Huge Leeds injury blow

One of Daniel Farke’s main wishes going into the fixture against Liverpool would have been to avoid any fresh injuries with three weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season. Well, unfortunately for him and the Whites Gabriel Gudmundsson hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring problem.

After going down in the opening stages with a knock, Gudmundsson carried on before being substituted in the 34th minute. The Sweden international went down appearing to hold his hamstring and was treated by the Leeds medical staff before going off and being replaced by Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Impressive Wirtz

Following a mixed first season and Liverpool’s lack of attacking transfer business so far this summer, it does feel as though there is some pressure on Wirtz to produce in 2026/27. But the German showed in his first appearance back after the World Cup that he can step up and deliver after scoring the Reds’ second against Leeds.

It was well-worked move by Liverpool as Trey Nyoni’s cross-field pass found Jeremie Frimpong who cut the ball back for Wirtz to sweep home first time from inside the box. With just seven goals in 49 matches in his debut season at the Reds, Wirtz will be no doubt wanting to improve on that total this term.

Liverpool punished for mistake

Although it’s much better to iron out mistakes in pre-season, of course, Liverpool won’t want to give too many goals like the one Leeds scored against them in Chicago.

Milos Kerkez, who endured a difficult first season at the Reds following his move from Bournemouth last summer, gave the ball away inside his own half and Leeds punished them. Ampadu collected the ball and drove at the Liverpool back-line before playing in Aaronson and he slotted low past Giorgi Mamardashvili. It was a slack piece of play from Kerkez and he must eradicate them if he wants to be a success at Anfield.

Impressive comeback from Leeds

Leeds were much-improved after Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson, Sean Longstaff and Harry Wilson came on at half-time and they produced a scintillating comeback to stun Liverpool.

After Aaronson pulled one back, Calvert-Lewin levelled for the Whites in the 71st minute. A long-throw from Ampadu caused chaos in the box and Joe Rodon’s flick-on was hammered home by Calvert-Lewin from close-range.

Then, just two minutes later, the fightback was complete as Leeds took the lead for the first time in the game. Longstaff was the scorer on this occasion for Leeds, as he swivelled inside the area before drilling home.

The Whites would go on to score a fourth goal to seal the win and it came from another long throw. This time it was Bornauw who got the flick on and Calvert-Lewin was there once more to tap home from four yards.

It was an impressive comeback from Leeds and excellent character after falling 2-0 down and looking like the game was over at half-time. But Farke has instilled some belief into his side and it was on show in full flow again.

Liverpool transfer priorities clear

If it wasn’t clear before that Liverpool need to sign some players, it certainly is now. The Reds have got to bring in at least two, if not, three ready-made first-team starters before their Premier League opener against Newcastle United.

They have been among the quietest clubs in the top flight when it comes to signing players this summer and it’s seen Iraola’s squad look threadbare with Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah moving on. Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have come in, but neither have made an appearance for the Reds so far.

The Reds are so light in a number of areas and the one that looked the weakest against Leeds was the centre-back area. While Jacquet is coming in to join Virgil van Dijk and the returning Giovani Leoni, Gomez’s latest injury blow should see Iraola’s side dip into the market to sign another central defender. That is a must.

As well as that, the Reds are lacking a serious right winger following Salah’s departure, while it does still feel like they need a new left-back to help Kerkez and a high-profile central midfielder.

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Amid Argentina’s post-match celebrations, clips soon circulated of Bellingham hitting Barco seemingly without provocation on the back of the head as the new Chelsea signing joined his team-mates on the pitch, prompting an angry response from the midfielder and those around him.

Team Scotland proudly wore their cone heads as flags were waved in the air from around the Commonwealth.

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games reached its finale with a spectacular Closing Ceremony at the city’s Ovo Hydro on Sunday, which saw a wealth of Scottish musicians handover to next year’s hosts in India.

The Games, which saw around 3000 athletes from 74 nations take part, left Scotland in fourth place in the final medal table.

The competition took over the city for eleven days, with pop ups and special events at Glasgow cathedral, the City Chambers, Scotland House and the Merchant City.

Scotland’s top talents made sure the Games finished in style at a spectacular closing ceremony as supporters, volunteers and communities came together for one last celebration.

Singer Sandi Thom kicked off the closing ceremony and opened the show to chants of no Scotland no party wearing a Saltire dress.

She then sang ‘I’m proud to be from Scotland’ to the tune of her hit ‘I wish I were a punk rocker’ surrounded by pipes and drums.

Cammy Barnes then launched straight into Whisky Roll on the big screen asking whose up next just before Australian Delta Goodrem took over on the live stage.

Pyrotechnics fired off as a flurry of colour filled the stage representing each nation of the Commonwealth as she sang Ecliose form the Eurovision and Warrior.

Team Scotland proudly wore their cone heads as flags were waved in the air from around the Commonwealth.

Leading Indian performers including singer composer Shankar Mahadevan, actress Manushi Chhillar, singer Bhoomi Trivedi and musicians Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan thrilled the audience.

Simple Minds provided one of the evening’s biggest highlights by reminding people ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, while Australian singer and songwriter Delta Goodrem represented original hosts Victoria who had to pull out due to financial restrictions, raising the roof with Eurovision style vocals.

Delta said: “Closing ceremonies have such a special energy – they’re a celebration of everything the athletes have achieved and of all the people who have come together through sport. It feels especially meaningful to return to a Commonwealth Games ceremony 20 years after performing “Together We Are One” at Melbourne 2006.”

Inverness folk group Elephant Sessions kept things traditional adding a bit of funk along the way.

BBC presenter and singer Shereen Cutkelvin also took part, alongside Rapper Bemz.

And to ensure the crowd showed up for the party, Radio DJ and GBX’s George Bowie kept things upbeat with a set worthy of an arena and had the crowd moving with his classic tune, Bits and Pieces.

Dance group Diversity also showed off some impressive moves with an energetic performance, bringing their well known choreography and dramatic style to the Hydro stage.

The diverse and upbeat ceremony was the final celebration from the city following an impressive run of events.

And the mix of rock, pop, folk, rap, dance, and broadcasting alongside some typical Glasgow cultural references was the perfect send off.

India received the Commonwealth Games flag as the centenary edition of the multi sport event will be held in Ahmedabad in four years time.

The President of Commonwealth Sport, Donald Rukare, officially passed the Commonwealth Sport flag to Neeraj Chopra of Team India.

It was handed over as the Shiamak Davar Dance Troupe performed a dance and song production that was worthy of the biggest Bollywood movie, with illuminated batons twirled in the air as around a hundred dancers filled the stage.

A collaboration between sitar player Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and bagpiper Ross Ainslie, closed the ceremony with a musical tribute to the Indian 2030 host city.

The whole event also recognised the achievements of the athletes who had competed during the Games, from swimming and netball, boxing and judo to gymnasts, bowlers and the para athletes.

Volunteers and organisers, who took part in a mass ceilidh. were also acknowledged for the important role they played in ensuring that the event played out brilliantly.

George Black, chair of Glasgow 2026, said: “We have created an unforgettable games now from Glasgow to Ahmedabad – two great river cities.

“As we say in parts of Scotland ‘slanjevar to your good health’ until we meet again.”

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Harry Styles proved he is every inch the showman as he managed to rectify a stage fall while performing his Together, Together tour in Mexico this weekend.

The crowd gasped as the singer, 32, went flying into the air after slipping while performing his song Are You Listening Yet?

Harry looked horrified as he realised what was happening midway through the song, with his arms flailing as he skidded across the stage.

But somehow he managed to land in a perfect pose on his side with his head resting on his cheek, as he seamlessly continued the track.

The incident happened during night two of the Mexico City leg of his tour, at the GNP Seguros Stadium, during the opening song of his gig.

Harry appeared wearing a red blazer with a black shirt and trousers, teamed with a colourful tie, in typical stylish fashion.

The crowd gasped as the singer, 32, went flying into the air after slipping while performing his song Are You Listening Yet?

Harry looked horrified as he realised what was happening midway through the song, with his arms flailing as he skidded across the stage

It is possible that the floor was wet following storms that hit the city before the show began on Saturday. 

Addressing the 68,000-strong stadium, he said: ‘Viva México! Thank you so much for being here. Is everyone all right? OK, it’s just like sweating if you think about it. You survived the rain. Thank you for being here. It means so much to us.’

Harry was forced to delay the concert after heavy rain swept through the city and concerns for safety were raised. 

British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith, who is opening for Styles in Mexico, was unable to perform due to the timing changes. 

Before heading to Mexico, Harry was forced to cancel his concert in São Paulo, Brazil on due to a ‘health issue’, which he did not disclose.

He offered refunds to fans after the last minute cancellation and a small batch of tickets for the next show were made available.

A statement from Live Nation Brasil confirmed: ‘We deeply regret to inform you that the Harry Styles show scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at MorumBIS has been canceled due to a health issue on the tour. 

‘Tickets for this show will be refunded through the same purchase channel. An email with more information will be sent by @ticketmasterbr to all ticket holders.

‘The Friday show, July 24, 2026, will take place as scheduled. 

‘Ticket holders for the Tuesday show (July 21) will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive batch of tickets for the Friday show (July 24), while supplies last. More information will be provided in the email sent by Ticketmaster Brasil to buyers.

But somehow he managed to land in a perfect pose on his side with his head resting on his cheek, as he seamlessly continued the track

Harry’s fall wasn’t the first time he has sparked concern during his tour, during one of his 12 Wembley nights he choked on water before collapsing to the ground 

‘We have worked with the event venue to release as many tickets as possible for the Friday show, but please keep in mind that availability is extremely limited.’

Harry’s fall wasn’t the first time he has sparked concern during his tour, during one of his 12 Wembley nights he choked on water before collapsing to the ground.

In a clip posted to TikTok, he could be seen blowing water out of his mouth for his famous ‘whale’ spit before visibly choking.

Harry is then captured falling to the floor while he continues to choke for a few seconds.

Thankfully, the star managed to get back up to a seated position, but many fans were left worried about the hitmaker. 

One concertgoer told the Daily Mail: ‘As Harry ran down the stage for the final time in preparation for his famous whale, he sprayed the crowd before he then started to cough. 

‘Managing to suppress his chokes, he performed the whale before falling to the floor where he lay on his back and continued to cough and splutter. It was quite worrying but he quickly got up to continue with the gig.’

Commenting on the heat at the concert, they added: ‘After the first two songs, he took off his jacket and his shirt was already soaked with sweat, and he was like “oh god look at that! I’ve only done two songs!”

In a clips posted to TikTok, the singer could be seen blowing water out of his mouth before visibly choking

Harry is then captured falling to the floor while he continues to choke for a few seconds

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Worried fans took to the comments on the video 

Worried fans shared their concerns on social media, penning: ‘When he fell to his knees, my heart stopped in shock. Harry is incredible, it surely takes immense strength and stamina to perform in these temperatures, and yet he always gives it his all ❤️’,

‘He’s too dedicated to us, just Breathe Harry,’

‘I nearly had a heart attack watching the live stream!! Thought he collapsed from heat or exhaustion!!! Love you dearly Harry!!’ ‘I was soo worried about him,’  ‘I was so scared, i was like oh noo,’ ‘I got so scared for a second,’ ‘I thought he passed out,’ ‘I DONT LIKE THIS’, ‘Is he okay?’

The Daily Mail contacted Harry’s representatives for comment.