Head coach Arne Slot expects the improving form of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to drive Liverpool forward in the future after seeing significant contributions recently.
The two most expensive signings in the club’s history – costing a combined £241million – have had largely underwhelming first seasons due to Isak’s ongoing injury problems and Wirtz’s struggles adapting to the physicality of the Premier League.
But the pair both scored in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace and look set to start their fourth successive match together at Manchester United on Sunday, which is their longest run of the campaign.
Slot accepts the new arrivals have had their difficulties, not helped by an underperforming team around them, but in the last month has seen glimpses that both are finally starting to find their feet.
“Converting chances into goals is something we haven’t done very well throughout this whole season but one of the players (Isak) we always thought could score goals for us was hardly available,” said Slot.
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“Last week you could see it was a chance but it wasn’t the biggest chance we’ve had this season and he finished that one off really well by scoring the 1-0 and scoring a goal which is vital in football as it sets you in the right direction.
“Happy to have Alex back. I think there are some other players that haven’t scored the amount of goals that I think they are able to, or they have shown in the past they are able to, and that will go back to normal in a certain moment and the sooner the better.”
Wirtz would come into that category with seven goals and 10 assists – none of which have come against Premier League opposition currently occupying European places – representing a lower-than-expected return for a £116m player hailed as a generational talent when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen.
“For me the development Florian has made throughout his Liverpool career, which has only been 10 months, is so clear and obvious,” added Slot.
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“In the 93rd minute against Crystal Palace making a duel on the sideline, winning a throw-in and then making a sprint from 40 yards and hitting the ball in the top corner – that is something I am not completely convinced he could do the same eight months ago.
“That improvement will only continue as he is only 22. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player now and he can only become better.”
As part of the improvements for next season there are plans afoot to bolster the backroom staff with the club being linked with Etienne Reijnen, with whom Slot worked at Feyenoord and would have followed him to Anfield had there not been work permit issues which have now been resolved.
“We are always keeping our eyes open to improve the club and that means it could be a player but also a staff. We always look around to see how we can strengthen,” added Slot, who lost Aaron Briggs from his coaching team in December after he paid the price for poor set-piece performances.
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Slot also said it was “a big relief” the departing Mohamed Salah’s hamstring injury was only minor and he was likely to play again this season, while admitting goalkeeper Alisson Becker remained a doubt for Old Trafford as he had not yet trained after seven matches out injured.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta has reacted to the team’s first loss of IPL 2026. PBKS went down fighting against Rajasthan Royals in their final home game at Mullanpur on Tuesday. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will play its remaining home fixtures at its second home, Dharamsala. Taking to X, Zinta spoke on the loss, highlighting that her team is still top of the table despite the defeat, and adding that there are many more games ahead to be won.
“Last home game in Punjab didn’t turn out as we wanted at our home ground but Koi na …. Lot more games ahead of us. Thanks to the incredible performance by our Sher Squad, we are sitting on top of the points table, half way into the tournament, which makes me very happy,” Zinta captioned a video.
Last home game in Punjab didn’t turn out as we wanted at our home ground but Koi na …. Lot more games ahead of us.
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Thanks to the incredible performance by our Sher Squad, we are sitting on top of the points table, half way into the tournament, which makes me very happy
The veteran Bollywood actress also shared a heartfelt note for the PBKS fans, expressing gratitude for their unconditional support of the team.
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“Our fans have showed us so much love n support in & outside the stadium, & have been beyond incredible. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you that came out to support PBKS in the stadium, on social media & everywhere else. Our only goal is to make IPL 2026 memorable for all of you…. that’s why – Bas Jeetna Hai,” she added in the post.
Zinta wore a red dupatta for the game against Rajasthan and went on to reveal the reason behind it.
“This red Phulkari Dupatta is 26 year old & was gifted to me by a Punjabi fan who insisted I wear it for the game so here it is. I’m sure this will make her happy, as it made me, wearing a part of her very special memory. Phulkari is a beautiful but dying art of vibrant folk embroidery by local artisans & I hope to promote & represent them by wearing these dupattas for our cricket games. I hope I can help in reviving this tradition in a small way so we never stop being proud of where we come from & who we are,” said Zinta.
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The Confederation of African Football has postponed the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, which was earlier scheduled to take place in April in Morocco.
The competition will now be held from October 12 to October 21.
The decision has caused disappointment among several teams and football officials across Africa because there was no official public announcement from CAF. Instead, participating countries reportedly received the information through internal communication channels.
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Many national teams had already started serious preparations for the tournament before learning about the new dates. The sudden change has forced countries to adjust their training plans, travel arrangements and other preparations.
The postponement has also increased criticism of CAF’s organisation and communication, especially after similar schedule changes affected other competitions in recent months.
Morocco will still host the tournament later this year. The North African country has become one of the major centres for futsal in Africa after successfully hosting previous editions of the competition.
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The tournament is expected to take place in Rabat, where Morocco’s national team will try to defend the title in front of home supporters.
Despite the disruption caused by the postponement, participating nations are now expected to continue preparations for the competition ahead of the new October dates.
Wrexham midfielder Matty James is drawing on past experiences as the club faces a nail-biting final day of the Championship season, with a play-off spot hanging in the balance.
The Welsh side, currently sitting sixth, will host Middlesbrough on Saturday in a tense three-way battle for the last coveted position, competing against Hull and Derby.
The permutations for Wrexham, who are chasing an extraordinary fourth successive promotion under the stewardship of Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, alongside manager Phil Parkinson, are unusually complex. They could secure a victory and still miss out on the play-offs, or conversely, suffer a defeat and yet find themselves in the top six.
Veteran midfielder James, 34, is no stranger to such high-stakes scenarios. He famously scored in Leicester’s 3-2 final-day triumph at Nottingham Forest in 2013, a result that saw the Foxes sneak into the play-offs. However, that campaign ended in heartbreak with Troy Deeney’s memorable stoppage-time winner for Watford.
“We snuck in and got to sixth on the last day of the season,” James recalled. “After that we had the play-offs against Watford, which is a retro moment on TV that pops up every now and again that I don’t enjoy watching.”
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Matty James hopes Wrexham can use their promotion experience to their advantage (Getty)
Despite the disappointment, Leicester achieved promotion the following year.
“But we got promoted the year after and those experiences I can call upon, as well as numerous other lads who have been through the league,” he added. “This football club is also used to winning promotions and hopefully we can bring that experience on Saturday.”
James, who joined Wrexham in October 2024 and played a key role in their promotion from League One last season, has provided a crucial stabilising influence during the run-in.
This comes despite missing two months with a broken toe sustained against Millwall in February, an injury that still requires him to wear boots a couple of sizes too large due to swelling.
“For me it is just get your boots on, forget about it, go out there, play and perform,” James stated, downplaying the ongoing discomfort.
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“The adrenaline is running and I manage it through the week. Everyone’s excited when you’ve got big games. That’s what we train for, that’s what we play for.”
He emphasised the significance of Wrexham’s current standing.
“The achievement of being in this position is a big one. It’s about taking the opportunity now and the message for quite a long time has been about us.”
As the final whistle approaches, James insists the focus remains internal: “I’m sure there’ll be things up and around the stadium and you’ll hear different things and stuff like that. But for us it’s about concentrating on our performance and our result.”
The Nigeria Football Federation has released the fixtures for the playoff stage of this year’s President Federation Cup, officially setting the competition in motion.
The matches will begin on Wednesday, May 6, at different centres across the country after the completion of the State FA Cup competitions that produced winners and runners-up.
According to a statement signed by the NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, the men’s and women’s matches will be played at the same time in various venues nationwide.
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One of the biggest matches in the men’s category will see Lagos club G12 FC face Dokkal Khairu FC of Osun State at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Ondo champions Sunshine Stars U19 will also battle Harmony FC of Ekiti in Osogbo.
Other fixtures will see Westgate FC of Edo take on Amanda FC of Anambra in Enugu, while Zamfara United Feeders face Kanta Warriors of Kebbi in Sokoto.
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Adamawa Academy are scheduled to play against Elkanemi Junior from Borno in Bauchi, while Sporting Supreme U19 from Abuja will travel to Lafia to face Reigners FC of Kogi State.
In the women’s category, NAF Queens FC from Abuja will meet Model Queen FC of Kwara, while Kada Queens of Kaduna face Mighty Jets Mata FC from Plateau State.
Bayelsa Princesses FC will go up against Ikukuoma Queens FC of Imo, while Zorha Queens FC of Enugu are set to battle Esthington FC of Ebonyi.
The playoff stage will decide the teams that qualify for the main competition of Nigeria’s oldest domestic football tournament.
R Ashwin believes the entire vaping incident involving Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Riyan Parag could have easily been avoided. The 24-year-old was caught by the cameras vaping in the dressing room during the team’s IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 28.
He empathized with Parag and remarked that he would not want a youngster to go through a situation like this. However, the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star opined that the players should not engage in such activities in public spaces.
“I think this is a situation that could have been avoided. I don’t want the players to get trapped in such things. I don’t really want that for a young player. And this is a bit sensitive as well. I think, in all quadrants, if we look at many things, this could have been avoided. Sometimes it is a personal choice, but your personal choice should be in your personal space. If you do all this in a public space, that can very well be avoided.”
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The video of Parag vaping in the dressing room went viral. Apart from criticism from fans, the all-rounder was also fined 25 percent of his match fees and handed one demerit point by the BCCI.
“There is a responsibility” – R Ashwin’s advice to Riyan Parag amid vaping controversy
R Ashwin mentioned that Riyan Parag should have been more responsible as the captain of an IPL team. He added that the Guwahati-born cricketer should keep in mind that he is an inspiration to many young cricketers.
The legendary spinner said in the same video:
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“As an elder brother, I just want to tell Riyan Parag that whatever happens in your personal life, nobody has any concern over it. No one can say anything about it. But whatever you want to do, do it in your personal space because you are a captain, the leader of a franchise, and probably an inspiration for many cricketers and young people around the world.
“So, there is a responsibility. I have my deepest empathy and sympathy for the young kid, but at the same time, I totally believe all these things should and can be avoided.”
Parag has struggled for form in IPL 2026. The talented batter has scored just 117 runs across nine games at a strike rate of 124.46.
Heinrich Klaasen: ‘You’ll be on the floor!’ Furious Heinrich Klaasen loses cool as fan films his family, ugly confrontation caught on camera – WATCH | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad star Heinrich Klaasen lost his cool at a fan who was trying to take pictures of him and his family. Klaasen, who retired from international cricket in June last year, is currently in fine form for SRH in IPL 2026. He appears to be travelling with his family for the team’s next match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, where the incident occurred.In a video that has gone viral on social media, Klaasen can be heard issuing a stern warning to the fan attempting to click photos.“Listen to me very carefully. Don’t do it okay. I said to you, NO. Please leave,” Klaasen said.
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James Franklin post-match PC: SRH surprised by pitch, hails Nitish-Klaasen rescue act
“Don’t take a photo. If I turn around and you take a photo of me and my family, I promise, you will be on the floor. ok. So turn around and walk away please. Listen to me very carefully. Stop it. No photo. This is my family. Put the camera away,” he added.This is not the first instance of a cricketer dealing with fans taking pictures without permission.SRH wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan also faced a similar situation recently when a fan approached him for a selfie.Ishan, however, declined the request politely.Despite the refusal, the fan continued to insist, prompting a visibly upset Ishan to respond calmly, “No ka matlab no hota hai, sir.”More recently, SRH opener Abhishek Sharma was also approached by a fan for a picture, with a girl pulling him by the hand. The young cricketer looked surprised but remained composed and walked away without creating a scene.Ahead of the IPL, former India captain Rohit Sharma encountered a similar situation.The incident took place while Rohit was seated inside his car and acknowledging fans gathered nearby. He waved at them and even extended his hand to greet them. However, one fan, after shaking hands, tried to pull his arm out for a selfie. A visibly upset Rohit immediately pulled his hand back, issued a stern warning, and rolled up the car window.
Normally on the diamond, jewelry isn’t much of an issue for baseball players, but Michael Wacha’s necklace broke and caused an explosive chain reaction.
In the first inning of the Athletics’ 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park, Wacha’s chain broke. As Wacha was standing on the mound, he gathered the broken chain from his neck and put it in his back pocket.
Immediately after putting his chain away, Wacha started his delivery to beat the pitch clock and fired a sinker in for a strike.
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However, Athletics left fielder Carlos Cortes was not ready for the pitch because he thought time might be granted for Wacha’s broken chain.
Home plate umpire John Libka ejects Athletics hitting coach Chris Cron during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals in West Sacramento, Calif., April 29, 2026.(Scott Marshall/AP Photo)
Athletics coach Chris Cron took issue with Wacha’s quick pitch and let John Libka hear it. Cron was ejected almost immediately after complaining to Libka.
“I’m not listening to you, not you,” Libka said, his comments heard on a broadcast. “Get out of here!”
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay then walked out to Libka to clarify which member of his coaching staff was ejected.
Athletics’ broadcaster Dallas Braden was impressed with how seamless Wacha’s delivery was after putting his chain away.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning in West Sacramento, California, April 29, 2026.(Scott Marshall/AP Photo)
“How about that. All in one fell swoop. Michael Wacha gonna put the chain in his back pocket,” Braden said.
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“What (Cron) is upset about is the fact that Cortes was standing in the box, and then he waited because Wacha was clearly dealing with an issue, dealing with something, didn’t step off and all in one motion took the chain off, put it in his back pocket and then stepped right into his windup, delivery and came home,” Braden said.
“At no point was Cortes engaged after Wacha decided to get the motion going.”
Athletics left fielder Carlos Cortes, center fielder Zack Gelof and right fielder Lawrence Butler celebrate the Athletics’ win over the Kansas City Royals in West Sacramento, Calif., April 29, 2026.(Scott Marshall/AP Photo)
Cron couldn’t just turn around and walk down the tunnel into the clubhouse. Because the clubhouse is in the outfield, Cron had to walk through the field. As he walked, fans gave him a round of applause.
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Cortes ended up walking in that at-bat, so no harm, no foul. He went 2-for-3 in the A’s win.
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has assured Bundesliga strugglers that his side will take Saturday’s home game with bottom side Heidenheim seriously, despite a huge Champions League semi second leg against Paris Saint Germain next week.
The German giants host the European champions on Wednesday following an epic 5-4 loss in Tuesday’s first leg in Paris.
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Bayern players could be rested against Heidenheim, who will be relegated if they lose and St Pauli win at home to Mainz on Sunday.
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However, Kompany pointed to last weekend’s comeback win at Mainz to show that his side will give their all despite the Bundesliga title already being wrapped up.
“This was a topic last year too. It’s also a good thing because it means we’ve done our job, but we don’t want to give anyone any gifts. We showed that in the last game against Mainz. We showed with our mentality that we’re doing everything to be ready,” he told a news conference on Friday.
“The game against PSG was obviously very intense and the anticipation for the second leg is very high in all of Munich. My job is to keep the focus on Heidenheim, which I’m trying to do every day.”
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Kompany said utility player Tom Bischof is fit to face Heidenheim after injury and Alphonso Davies is back training normally, but winger Lennart Karl is still out. He may be available against PSG “but we’re being cautious with his situation.”
Reserve goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will start in goal on Saturday as Bayern continue to talk to Manuel Neuer, 40, about signing for one more year.
JAIPUR: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after being caught using a vape inside the dressing room during the game against Punjab on Tuesday. Parag was found guilty of violating Article 2.21, which pertains to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute”.
Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Amit Sharma, the BCCI said in a statement, adding that it was exploring the option of further punitive action. “The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and player/s to ensure that thereputation of IPL remains intact,” the release added.
Parag’s error of judgment comes less than two weeks after RR team manager Romi Bhinder was Rs 1 lakh for using his mobile phone in the team dugout.
Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara broke his silence on the string of disciplinary issues, saying, “I think it is, of course, a reflection that is not positive on the team when you have a controversy of any kind. All I can say is that both of those have been addressed by the BCCI and the franchise.
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“You always try to have a very positive, healthy culture. We have our own values that we adhere to. And the constant reminder to the players is to make sure that they are responsible to the franchise and to our culture and our values,” Sangakkara added.
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