And Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj was reported to have said that “we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope” after the attacks, without announcing a boycott.
Image: Players celebrate a goal during Iran’s World Cup Asian Qualifiers game. File pic: Reuters
US Soccer CEO JT Batson told Sky News: “FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared over the weekend the intention of a safe and secure World Cup where all teams are participating. And we’re certainly very supportive of that.”
Iran are due to play group-stage games in Los Angeles and Seattle at the World Cup, which is also being held in Canada and Mexico.
Will fans feel safe going to Mexico for the World Cup?
Advertisement
Asked about potentially playing later in the tournament, Mr Batson said: “We played Iran a number of times in the World Cup and just like any other team of the 47 other teams we could play in the World Cup, our goal would be to win. And so we look forward to doing just that.”
FIFA is monitoring the situation and remains hopeful that all qualified teams can still be part of the tournament.
Mr Infantino told Sky News: “I hope so much it will be a moment of peace, I hope we can contribute to unite a little bit the world. I think the world really, really, needs it.”
The US could also benefit from football bringing the country together in a politically-charged environment as it stages the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1994.
Advertisement
Image: Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj and Tehran’s mayor Alireza Zakani with the World Cup trophy. File pic: Reuters
“Our team wants to win and so that’s what they’re focused on,” Mr Batson said. “And they want to have as many Americans who can support them and get behind them and rally behind them.
“Our players, of course, are human. And we all have our own beliefs and we all have our things that we care about. But at their core, they want to win. That’s why they’re here. And they want to represent US soccer with pride. They want to inspire the next generation.”
Overseeing the US team is former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, but he is constantly linked with a move back to the Premier League – particularly Spurs for next season.
Asked about any approaches for the Argentine, Mr Batson said he is “fully focused” on the task of trying to win a first men’s World Cup for the Americans.
Advertisement
“We knew when we hired Mauricio that he was a coach who was in demand and for good reason,” he said.
“And so he was in demand when we hired him and he’s still in demand now and he’ll be in demand years to come and now having worked with them, I fully understand why.”
Move over Pokémon, Wikipedia card collecting is the new hotness (WikiGacha)
Fan site WikiGacha is already overwhelmed with traffic as it offers the joy of opening trading card booster packs without charging you a penny.
One of the big problems with collectible trading card games, like Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, is that they’re a huge money sink if you want to play competitively or are a completionist.
That’s partially why Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket for mobile is so appealing. since you can earn cards daily for free, but the game still tries to tempt you to part with money. to more frequently open booster packs.
But the premise of an entirely free collectible card game is now a reality, thanks to one of the most charmingly strange fan creations we’ve seen in a while: a Wikipedia gacha game.
Advertisement
Labelled Wikipedia Gacha, or WikiGacha for short, and created by someone known only as Harusugi, the website lets you open up to 10 booster packs a day; each of which contains five cards.
You can open more packs by completing daily missions, like opening five packs or actually visiting Wikipedia, and there’s also an achievement list to complete.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
The cards don’t just exist to be collected, though, as the site has its own battle system. It’s not super complicated, but every card does have its own attack and defence stat.
However, you don’t build decks, you just pick one card to fight another and whichever depletes the other’s health first wins. So it’s more like Top Trumps.
Attack is determined by a Wikipedia article’s popularity, with the number of pageviews it has multiplied by the rarity of the card. Defence, meanwhile, is determined by the content length of an article multiplied by card rarity. So, the more popular and dense an article, the stronger its associated card.
Advertisement
The cards can literally be anything, from trains and politicians to fossils and award shows (WikiGacha)
As for how the game determines the rarity of each card, it’s based on another unofficial website, WikiRank, which grades Wikipedia articles on their popularity.
Currently, there are options to have a random battle (it’s unclear if it’s against other players or just an AI opponent) or take on a raid battle, with the site promising plans for a story mode of consecutive battles.
Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Advertisement
GameCentral has been delivering unique games news and reviews for over a decade
We weren’t able to open many packs or test the battle system out much, since the website seems to be struggling with heavy traffic at time of writing, but that’s go to see.
The simple act of opening booster packs is inherently moreish and since it’s all completely free, all you’re losing is time. Although there is an option to donate to the creator’s Buy Me A Coffee page.
Plus, with how many Wikipedia articles there are, there’s a surprise factor to seeing what cards you’ll obtain. What other game has cards based on author James Maxey, the 1986 Virginia Slims of Arizona tennis tournament, and Hurricane Waldo?
Advertisement
There are millions of Wikipedia articles so collecting a full set will take some time (WikiGacha)
WINDER, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man who gave his teenage son the gun he’s accused of using to kill two students and two teachers at a high school was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter Tuesday.
Jurors took less than two hours to find Colin Gray guilty of all charges in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, northeast of Atlanta. Gray is one of a number of parents prosecuted after their children were accused in fatal shootings across the country.
Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children. Gray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.
Another teacher and eight other students were wounded. Gray was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.
Advertisement
He showed little emotion as the verdict was read and then as he watched each juror being polled by the judge. Deputies then handcuffed him behind his back as he stood at the defense table, consulting with his lawyer. He will be sentenced at a later date. Second-degree murder is punishable by at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison.
Some relatives of victims wept as the verdicts were read. They declined to comment after court. Gray’s defense lawyers left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
“We talk a lot about rights in our country,” Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said after the verdict. “But God gave us a duty to protect our children, and I hope that we remember that, as parents, as community members, to protect our children because that is our God-given duty.”
Advertisement
The teen’s mother, Marcee Gray — who testified that she had urged Colin Gray to take any guns and lock them inside his truck so they were not accessible to their son — declined to comment when reached by phone after the verdict. She and Colin Gray were separated in the months leading up to the shooting, and Colt lived mostly with his father during that time. She wasn’t charged in connection to the shooting.
Prosecutors said Gray gave his son, Colt, access to a gun and ammunition “after receiving sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger the bodily safety of another.”
Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was indicted on a total of 55 counts, including murder. He has pleaded not guilty and the judge in his case has set a status hearing for mid-March.
Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.
Advertisement
He boarded the school bus with a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle in his book bag, the barrel sticking out and wrapped in poster board, investigators said. He left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the gun and then shot people in a classroom and hallways, investigators said.
Colin Gray had given his son the gun as a gift the Christmas before the shooting and allowed him to have access to the gun and ammunition, despite his awareness that his son’s mental health had deteriorated, a prosecutor said.
Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, prosecutors said.
Gregor Poynton has met with Blair McDougall, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation), to press for urgent action to secure the future of Uphall Post Office.
Livingston’s MP has raised the Uphall Post Office closure directly with the UK Government’s Post Office Minister.
Advertisement
Gregor Poynton has met with Blair McDougall, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation), to press for urgent action to secure the future of Uphall Post Office.
Mr McDougall holds ministerial responsibility for the Post Office. During their meeting in Westminster, Mr Poynton outlined the impact the closure of Uphall Post Office is having on local residents, older people, and small businesses who rely on services in the village.
The Uphall branch on West Main Street closed following the resignation of the previous postmaster.
Mr Poynton raised concerns about the disruption this has caused and sought assurances about what support the Government can provide to help Post Office Ltd secure a new postmaster and restore services as quickly as possible.
He said: “The closure of Uphall Post Office has had a real and immediate impact on local constituents. For many residents and small businesses, the services provided by the Post Office is essential.
“I met directly with the Minister responsible for the Post Office to make clear the strength of feeling locally and to ask what support can be offered to help secure a new postmaster for Uphall.
“It is vital that Post Office Ltd moves at pace to appoint a new operator and restore full services. I will continue working at every level, locally and nationally, to secure the long-term future of post office provision in Uphall.”
Mr Poynton has pledged to remain in close contact with the Minister and with Post Office Ltd while a new operator is sought.
It is not yet known how long the West Lothian village will be left waiting for the restoration of the service.
The Post Office area change manager wrote to residents and local representatives in February to inform them of the decision.
Advertisement
He said: “We are writing to inform you that, regrettably, following the resignation of the postmaster.
“The provision of a Post Office service to our customers in the local community is important to us, and we will continue to work hard to restore services in the area as soon as possible.
“We would welcome any applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on our behalf.
Advertisement
“We apologise for the inconvenience the closure may cause. We hope that our customers will continue to use Post Office services and details of possible alternative Post Office branches in the area.”
A statement released by West Lothian Council earlier in the week said: “Uphall Post Office on West Main Street, is set to close from 6pm on Wednesday, February 18, following the resignation of the postmaster at the branch.
“The Post Office is welcoming applications from interested parties to ensure a post office service can be continued in the area.”
The surge in oil prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East has increased the chance of higher fuel prices for motorists.
The price of oil increased after Iran warned vessels not to cross the Strait of Hormuz, an essential waterway in the south of the country where approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas is shipped.
There have been reports of garages running out of fuel, however, it’s not yet known whether this is because of a rise in demand or unrelated supply issues.
In February, all petrol stations were instructed to publish their prices every day to enable motorists to source the best deals.
Advertisement
Under the Fuel Finder Scheme, garages and fuel stations were requested to report their prices to third-party apps and websites within 30 minutes.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the scheme could save the average household £40 a year.
There is not a specific government app to direct motorists to the cheapest forecourt or garage. However, open source data is available for established apps and websites that already map out and compare pump prices across the UK.
At the end of January, a litre of petrol in the UK cost an average of 131.91p, according to figures from RAC.
Advertisement
The last time the fuel dropped to these levels was in July 2021, when it averaged 131.81p per litre.
The RAC said that the average price of petrol had fallen by more than 5p since the start of December, meaning drivers can save nearly £3 every time they fill up the average 55-litre family car compared to two months ago.
Diesel prices, too, dropped by 3p per litre since the start of January to 140.97p.
The RAC attributed this money-saving shift to the falling price of oil, which dropped below the $60 per barrel mark on January 7 for the first time since February 2021.
Advertisement
The reduction in petrol prices is said to be down to the drop in the price of oil
PA Wire
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Seeing the price of petrol dip under 132p is a genuine boost for drivers, rewinding prices to those we last saw four and a half years ago.
“With even lower prices available depending on where drivers fill up, this is a positive start to the year for household budgets.
A price comparison site petrolmap.co.uk analyses the cost of petrol across different petrol stations throughout London and beyond.
Advertisement
Users can search for the price of petrol around them. It is one of the sites set to benefit from the fuel finder scheme.
Here are the 10 cheapest petrol stations in the capital (when a central London post code is imputed):
Where to find the cheapest petrol prices in inner London:
1. Morrisons Camden, North London 123.9p per litre
Advertisement
2. Asda Kent Road Automat, South East London 128.7p per litre
3. Tesco Southwark, South East London 128.9p per litre
4. Tesco Canada Water, South East London, 128.9p per litre
5. Shell, Southwark, South East London, 129.9p per litre
Advertisement
6. Morrisons, Peckham, South East London, 130.7p per litre
7. Stapelton, S/stn, North London, 131.7p per litre
8. Camberwell S/stn, South East London, 131.8p per litre
9. Mfg Hopfields, South East London, 131.9p, per litre
Advertisement
10. Grove Vale F/stn, 131.9p, per litre
The reduced petrol prices will come as a relief to Londoners struggling with the spiking cost of living
PA Archive
6. Tesco Southwark, South East London 128.9p per litre
7. Tesco Canada Water, South East London 128.9p per litre
Advertisement
8. Sainsbury’s Charlton Riverside, East Greenwich, South East London 129.9p per litre
9. Southwark Shell station, South East London 129.9p per litre
10. Texaco Park Deptford, South East London 129.9p per litre
11. Sainsbury’s New Cross Gate, South East London 129.9p per litre
Advertisement
12. Morrison’s Peckham, South East London 130.7p per litre
13. Harvest Energy Stapleton Station, Finsbury Park, North London 131.7p per litre
South East London is the cheapest place to find petrol, the analysis shows
PA Wire
14. Applegreen Service Station, Camberwell, South East London 131.8p per litre
Advertisement
15. BP Hopfields, Old Kent Road, South East London 131.9p per litre
16. Esso Loamput Vale, Lewisham, South East London 131.9p per litre
17. Esso Foxberry, Brockley, South East London 131.9p per litre
18. Esso East Dulwich Road, South East London 131.9p per litre
Advertisement
19. BP Grove Vale, South East London 131.9p per litre
20. Tesco Camden Express, North West London 132.9p per litre
Tributes have been paid to people killed in a mass shooting at a Texas bar – as it was confirmed a third victim has died.
Austin Police announced on Monday evening that Jorge Pederson, 30, had died from his injuries.
The other two victims of the shooting on Austin’s West 6th Street have been identified as Savitha Shan, 21, and Ryder Harrington, 19, who were both university students.
Though police said it was too early to identify Diagne’s motive, the shooting is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that Diagne was wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah”. He had not been on the radar of authorities, federal and local investigators said on Monday.
More than a dozen people were also wounded in the shooting, during which Diagne drove past Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden before circling back and firing with a pistol from his SUV at people on the footpath and inside the bar.
Police say he then got out of the car and began shooting at people with a rifle.
Advertisement
Image: Buford’s bar where the shooting took place. Pic: Reuters
Mr Harrington’s brother paid tribute to youngest victim, on Facebook, saying it was “unfair, to say the least, that my little brother was only given 19 years on this earth”.
“Watching the man he had become, and seeing all the lives he touched, leaves me certain that this world was robbed of a great future,” Reed Harington said.
Mr Harrington joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Texas Tech University in 2024, the fraternity said in an Instagram post.
“Ryder had a rare ability to truly enjoy life to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger, and to make ordinary days unforgettable,” the fraternity said.
“If anyone embodied what it meant to live fully and love deeply, it was Ryder.”
Advertisement
Texas Tech said in a statement that Mr Harrington had been enrolled as recently as the autumn 2025 semester but had not been taking classes during the current semester.
“Our thoughts are with Ryder’s family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating situation,” the statement said.
Image: A police officer at the scene of the shooting. Pic: AP
Ms Shan’s LinkedIn profile said she was a dual-degree student majoring in management information systems and economics at the University of Texas at Austin.
The university’s president Jim Davis said her death was “devastating” and that several other students were wounded in the attack.
“Some of these are very serious and we are hoping for the best outcomes, while others are on the path to recovery,” he said.
Advertisement
“I have met with many of these families and will continue to pray for them.”
Image: A bar worker repairs a bullet hole on West 6th Street, Austin on Monday – the day after the mass shooting in the city’s entertainment district. Pic: AP
The shooting took place a day after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, and authorities are investigating a potential link to global political events.
The narrative from members of the US administration seems to be built on shifting sands. What is the real reason for America’s intervention in Iran?
“Our ultimate goal in everything we do is to determine the motive,” Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, said during a news conference.
Advertisement
Investigators are examining thousands of hours of video and police said there are more than 150 witnesses to interview.
“We are still in the early hours of this investigation,” said Austin Police chief Lisa Davis.
Image: Austin Police chief Lisa Davis. Pic: AP
The gunman legally bought the weapons used in the attack – a rifle and a pistol – several years ago in San Antonio, Ms Davis said.
Advertisement
Diagne was from Senegal and first entered the US in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa, before becoming a lawful permanent resident six years later after marrying an American, the US Department of Homeland Security said.
Three people were taken to hospital in a critical condition, though police said on Monday one victim would be taken off life support, Sky News’s US partner NBC News reports.
Spring is almost here, so it’s the perfect time to jet off for a sunny escape or a cheeky city break
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Advertisement
Spring is almost here, so it’s the perfect time to jet off for a sunny escape or a cheeky city break in warmer climes, and you can do so from Wales.
There’s no need to go all the way to Heathrow when Cardiff Airport is offering flights and holidays to an array of destinations this spring and beyond.
Cardiff Airport is an important hub for travellers to and from Wales. Situated just 40 minutes from Cardiff city centre, it’s convenient to reach for a European city break and beyond.
Fly direct from Cardiff and enjoy the perfect TUI package holiday from just £345 per person, and spoil yourself with some vitamin D, or head for a city where you can enjoy spring weather.
Advertisement
Benalmadena, Costa del Sol
Sunny Benalmadena is a popular destination in the Costa del Sol, and you can book a TUI Holiday from Cardiff.
The town is divided into three main areas: the traditional hilltop Pueblo, the central Arroyo de la Miel, and the seaside Costa, and there’s plenty to do here.
Sure, like most places in the Costa del Sol, you have bars for boozed-up Brits with blaring music, souvenir stores hawking tat, and vape shops, but there’s also a gorgeous seafront, swish marina and tasty tapas.
Advertisement
Plod along the 10-kilometre stretch of sandy beaches, including Blue Flag options like Santa Ana Beach. The palm tree-lined promenade is also dotted with ocean-view restaurants and bars where you can buy an Aperol Spritz and watch the waves.
Puerto Marina is also worth a visit. The major, uniquely designed marina features shopping, dining, and the Sea Life aquarium (when it’s not closed due to rain, despite the marine life living in tanks).
Attractions in the area include the 33-metre-tall Buddhist Stupa, Colomares Castle, and the Teleférico (cable car) to Mount Calamorro for panoramic views. Read more about my trip to Benalmadena here.
Paphos, Cyprus
Located on the southwest coast of Cyprus, Paphos (Pafos) is a lively coastal city with a temperate climate and plenty of fun activities. It’s one of my favourite places in Cyprus!
You can fly to Cyprus from Cardiff Airport on a TUI holiday and book with no deposit.
Paphos is divided geographically into two parts. Connected by a busy traffic artery, Kato Pafos (Lower Pafos) and Ktima (Upper Pafos) are two contrasting and distinctive districts in Paphos.
Kato Pafos is the more tourist-oriented part of the city. It’s where you’ll find swish hotels, resorts, restaurants, and a palm-fringed promenade and seafront.
Advertisement
Culture fans can marvel at the various mosaics, catacombs, ruins and archaeological sites at this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sun worshipers will find beaches, bars, boat trips and resorts to entertain them.
I find it best to embrace the contrasts and enjoy a mix of the two in this sprawling, intriguing city. Walking shoes by day, party shoes by night. Sorted.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Dutch capital has plenty to offer visitors seeking out history, art and culture this spring, and you can fly direct with KLM.
You can lose many hours just wandering or biking the canal-woven streets, lined with historic and distinctive Dutch architecture.
Some of the main highlights include the iconic Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, Foodhallen, and, of course, the moving Anne Frank Museum.
Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, so one of the best ways to explore it is to rent a bike and get around like a local.
Advertisement
Spend some time stopping at cafes, boutique stores and galleries as you bike along the excellent cycle paths in the city.
Make sure to read up on the rules of the road here, as bikes are treated just as importantly as cars. Pop into Amsterdam’s Tourist Information Centre to find out more about how to bike in the city and what guided biking tours you can book.
Faro, the Algarve
Faro is the gateway to the Algarve, and while many people just fly there and head straight to the resorts and beaches, the city itself is also worth exploring.
Advertisement
The city offers history and culture as well as cafes, restaurants and bars serving delicious Portuguese cuisine and local tipples.
As it’s not a huge tourist hotspot, you can explore the historic centre in relative peace, away from the Algarve crowds.
Spend a day wandering the cobbled streets looking for neoclassical architecture, historic cathedrals and the impressive range of chic boutiques, cafes and great value seafood restaurants.
You can also hop on a bus to Praia de Faro [Faro beach] if you fancy a spot of sunbathing. Faro is also an excellent base from which to explore the wider Algarve region, and you can take many day trips and organised excursions from the city.
Advertisement
Alicante, Spain
Alicante is an underrated port city in Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca and is the capital of the Alicante province. Its old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, is known for its narrow streets, colourful houses, and energetic nightlife.
The main port also has an impressive range of restaurants, bars and pubs serving local dishes, including seafood, tapas and Spanish wines.
Spring and summer are perfect times to visit the city, making the most of the beaches and enjoying cultural events, al fresco dining, concerts, and street theatre.
Advertisement
You can fly direct to Alicante with Ryanair for as little as £70 return in April.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Head to the historic city of Dubrovnik, affectionately dubbed the City of 1,000 Monuments and well known as a Game of Thrones filming location.
Dubrovnik draws vast crowds with its distinctive Old Town, where massive stone walls, built in the 16th century, still encircle the historic city.
Advertisement
Visitors can admire its well-preserved architecture from the baroque St Blaise Church to the Renaissance Sponza Palace and the Gothic Rector’s Palace, which now houses a history museum.
For a city, Dubrovnik has a surprising variety of beaches ranging from pebble to gravel, stone, and concrete, where you can swim, kayak, and sunbathe near clear waters.
Some popular options include Banje beach, renowned for its proximity to the old town and impressive views, and Sveti Jakov beach, which offers a peaceful escape with crystal-clear waters and stunning sunset views.
Watch the sun go down at one of Dubrovnik’s many beach bars. The best bar for outdoor drinking in Dubrovnik is the uber-cool Buza bar, located on a secluded beach outside the city walls, with tables set among the rocks.
Advertisement
This Unesco World Heritage site is just a three-hour flight from the UK, and you can fly there from Cardiff Airport with KLM with a connection in Amsterdam.
Tunisia, Africa
Tunisia has been one of the main centres of Mediterranean culture for 3,000 years and has epic beaches, as well as the village of Douz, gateway to the Sahara.
Located at the footer of the desert dunes, which is what earns it this title, you could really be in another world from Cardiff if you’re heading here sometime soon.
Advertisement
You can fly direct from Cardiff Airport with TUI and stay in a fancy all-inclusive with no deposit. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
While Hampshire Flag Company (HFC) has grown its portfolio far beyond flags, this work remains a core focus for the team, with expertise dating back to their founding in 1981. Recently, they assisted Premier Marinas with a large-scale project, leading a complete overhaul of their flagpoles at Port Solent.
Liverpool head to Wolves with a Champions League spot still firmly in their sights
Liverpool will be looking to close the gap on the Premier League top four when they travel to Molineux to face bottom of the table Wolves on Tuesday night.
Advertisement
Despite a difficult season for the reigning champions, Champions League qualification is still very much up for grabs for Arne Slot’s side.
Those hopes have been aided by four consecutive victories in the Premier League, including an emphatic 5-2 victory against West Ham United last time out. This, combined with losses for both Aston Villa and Chelsea, has left the Reds fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Villa.
The Merseysiders will be facing a Wolves side that are sat bottom of the table on just 13 points – 16 points from safety. Despite their precarious league position, Wolves will be buoyed following positive results of late, taking a point against league leaders Arsenal and a 2-0 victory over West Midlands rivals Villa last Friday night.
Here is everything you need to know about the clash…
Advertisement
What time is Wolves v Liverpool kick-off?
The game will kick off at 8:15pm on Tuesday, March 3, at Molineux, Wolverhampton.
Will the Wolves v Liverpool game be broadcast on TV?
The game will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 7pm.
The game will also be available to stream through Discovery+ if you have the TNT Sports package.
Short highlights will also be available on the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel with extended highlights available on Match of the Day on Wednesday, March 4, at 10:40pm.
Advertisement
Watch the Premier League on TNT Sports
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
TNT Sports broadcasts select Premier League fixtures and fans can stream each one on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel. A monthly subscription also includes select Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup games.
Team news
For Wolves Brazilian midfielder Andre is a doubt for the encounter but the Brazilian could still feature. Aside from that the home side have no other injury concerns ahead of tonight’s match. Manager Rob Edwards also confirmed that South Korean winger Hwang Hee Chan is fit and available.
Advertisement
Slot has confirmed that Liverpool are likely to be without German midfielder Florian Wirtz for the game but was optimistic to have him back for the FA Cup match against the same opposition on Friday.
Right-back Jeremie Frimpong was back in the side against West Ham having recovered from an injury.
What the managers are saying
Going into the match, Edwards tasked his side to carry on the positive momentum following their victory against Aston Villa. Edwards stated: “Some good results and performances have been creeping in more and more this calendar year and that was a big moment. Felt it at the whole club, a really nice moment to share with the supporters.”
Edwards stated that they would also need this positivity when facing Liverpool, adding “we’ve got to be at our best to threaten, they’re the champions, an amazing football club and it’s really exciting for us that we get to face them twice but we know the size of the task as well”.
Advertisement
Edwards also touched on the brilliance of Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes. “I think he’s a wonderful player who’s shown real glimpses. It’s been hard for him in a team that has struggled to get results and it can be challenging,” he said.
In the build-up to this match, Slot was asked about the state of his side in regards to the return of Frimpong and about the form of winger Cody Gakpo.
On Frimpong Slot stated: “Right-back isn’t the only position that we have struggled but it stands out most. Having Jeremie back is nice. We have to take into account a lot of games especially players who come back from injuries. But we know the importance of every game now. But I’m not the only one to have that. I prefer to manage how many minutes he can be given rather than see him with the medical team.”
On Gakpo Slot said: “I don’t only judge them on the goals they score, attackers are judged on fact we keep a clean sheet just as defenders are judged on scoring. But I know attackers want to score goals. I was happy as it was the 4-1 so that gave us a more comfortable cushion but even more happy for him to score. He needed that goal.”
Advertisement
Slot added: “I don’t think his confidence was gone in that regard, but I did see a few times recently he made a few different decisions that I’m used from him. That doesn’t mean lack of confidence. But when players are not scoring they start to think more and usually overthinking is not the best thing you can do.”