After the summer deadline day defined by the striker Liverpool bought and the defender they did not, the January transfer window ended with the centre-back they recruited and the right-back they did not.
And so Dominik Szoboszlai, who played as a false nine against City a year ago, is likely to line up at right-back against them on Sunday. Liverpool have conducted their transfer business for the future, but not for the present. Slot may be one more defensive injury away from seeing Liverpool’s season condemned to disappointment. As he admitted, it is a task simply keeping his remaining options fit.
Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are out for the season, Jeremie Frimpong for a while yet. The injury-prone Joe Gomez may be able to be on the bench on Sunday, but he will not start. Ibrahima Konate volunteered to return early from compassionate leave after the death of his father to face Newcastle last week. Three different midfielders have operated in the back four in the last two games. Liverpool stand accused of neglecting the immediate issues and leaving Slot short-staffed.
“I’m very happy with the squad, let that be clear,” countered Slot. “But it’s all clear and obvious that we have three long-term injuries. That’s why we’ve tried to strengthen the squad in winter and the player you mentioned [Geertruida], in the end, wasn’t available. But that we’ve tried to strengthen the squad; that is clear. And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we’re not going to sign players that are not good enough to play for this club.”
Advertisement
Of course, Liverpool did think Guehi was good enough. They bid £35m in the summer; yet they left their move so late that Crystal Palace pulled out when they could not get a replacement. They did not intervene when City bought the England international for £20m in January, although there was a case that their need for him was greater, with Konate enduring a distinctly mixed campaign.
Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi to Man City (Getty)
Ibrahima Konate has endured a mixed campaign for the Reds (AFP/Getty)
City could fund bigger wages in addition to a transfer fee. Liverpool shifted their attention to next season and the next generation. Jacquet will cost £55m, but is just 20. “A very big talent,” said Slot. Jacquet is still older than Leoni; when you include Noah Adekoya, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Liverpool are bringing in five centre-backs under 21. They are searching for Virgil van Dijk’s successor even as Slot suggested his captain could stay for “maybe even longer” than the remaining 16 months of his deal.
Advertisement
“This club is not stupid,” he said. “We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil.” Yet life now is ever more reliant on Van Dijk. The 34-year-old has played every minute of all 32 Premier and Champions League matches this season. “What a compliment to him at his age to play every three days,” said Slot.
What a relief for Liverpool that he can. The alternative could make Slot’s job all the harder. “But it’s clear and obvious that if we have an injury crisis, even more than we already have, then that makes things even more difficult,” he said. “So we know what the situation is, but this squad is able to do better and more than we’ve done until now, in my opinion. But then they all need to stay available, and that’s going to be a hell of a challenge because we have three games in seven days coming up.”
Virgil van Dijk has played every minute of all 32 Premier League and Champions League matches for Liverpool this year (Reuters)
There is a contrast with City who, when John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias were sidelined, swooped for Guehi. The England international was a long-term target for both clubs. He is also 25, experienced in the Premier League, able to slot in straight away.
Advertisement
Like Leoni, Jacquet will come from another country, earlier in his career, perhaps needing time to adjust. They could be the successors to Van Dijk and Konate.
For different reasons, Slot can call upon neither now. He nevertheless insisted he buys into Liverpool’s strategy. “I have always worked the same. I always want the best for the club, even if in the short term it is not ideal for me,” he said. “I knew which club I went into; this club has a model of signing talented players younger.”
In the short term, though, his life may be easier if he had Guehi and Geertruida, the defenders who Liverpool missed out on at the end of either window.
It wouldn’t be a Battle of Florida without some chaos going on.
Early in the third period of Thursday’s matchup between Florida and Tampa Bay, things boiled over after Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola shouldered Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov to the ice.
13 penalties were issued as part of the mess. Lightning players Guentzel and Kucherov got 10-minute misconducts. The rest of the penalties issued were two-minute minors.
Advertisement
A total of 124 penalty minutes were handed out on the play.
Tampa Bay went on to cruise to a 6–1 victory. This marked the two teams’ final meeting of the season, with the Lightning winning two of the three matchups.
The last time the two teams faced off, they combined for 136 PIMs. Thursday’s matchup had a total of 143 PIMs.
In a pre-season meeting in October, the Panthers and Lightning combined for an absurd 322 penalty minutes.
It took him 17 seasons, but Matthew Stafford has finally won an MVP award.
The Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback was named the NFL’s most valuable player at the NFL Honors on Thursday night.
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence and San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey were the other finalists for the league’s top award.
Stafford led the NFL this season with 4,707 yards passing and 46 TDs. He threw eight picks and finished second to Maye with a 109.2 passer rating. Stafford was also first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Advertisement
His strong play led the Rams to a 12-5 record and the NFC’s No. 5 seed in the playoffs.
The Rams won their first two post-season games before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.
Stafford did all he could in the loss, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns against the vaunted Seahawks D.
The 37-year-old pivot spent the first 12 seasons of his career, then was traded to the Rams in 2021.
Advertisement
In his first year in L.A., Stafford led the Rams to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. After missing the playoffs the following year, the Rams have made the post-season the past three seasons.
What comes next for the QB remained to be seen before Thursday, but Stafford confirmed at the end of his speech that he would be returning for the 2026 season.
Still under contract for another year, Rams head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead were cautiously hopeful that Stafford would stick around to continue their five-year partnership for at least another season.
Stafford said after the NFC championship loss that he would take some time before deciding on his future.
Advertisement
“He’s going to take his time, talk with (his wife) Kelly and the girls and see what’s best,” McVay said last week. “But man, is he still playing at an incredible level. Our hope is that he does (return), but with respect to his timetable … whenever he feels ready to make that announcement, we’ll let him be able to do that.”
Jan 30, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
The Brooklyn Nets ended their sometimes sour relationship with guard Cam Thomas on Thursday by releasing him to allow him to be a free agent, according to multiple reports.
Thomas signed a $5.9 million qualifying offer last summer after he and the Nets could not agree to contract terms. Brooklyn reportedly tried to shop him before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Now he is in an unrestricted free agent instead of being restricted, which would have given the Nets the right to match any offer sheet.
“Super excited, ready to actually help and contribute to another team,” Thomas, 24, told ESPN. “My next team is getting elite scoring, good playmaking and a good combo guard.”
Advertisement
Thomas ranked second on the team with a 15.6 scoring average and averaged 3.1 assists and 2.0 turnovers per game in 24 contests (eight starts) this season after missing 20 games because of a strained left hamstring.
He was Brooklyn’s leading scorer in the 2023-24 regular season (22.5) and averaged a team-best 24.0 scoring average in only 25 games in 2024-25 before he was limited by hamstring issues.
For his career, Thomas averages 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 23.3 minutes in 239 regular-season games (88 starts).
Brooklyn selected Thomas with the 27th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft.
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana after winning Women’s Premier League title. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed a historic second Women’s Premier League title with a stunning win over Delhi Capitals in Vadodara on Thursday, but for spinner Shreyanka Patil, the triumph meant something far more personal — a tribute to skipper Smriti Mandhana, who delivered a match-winning performance after navigating a turbulent phase in her personal life.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Mandhana, who recently faced turmoil after her wedding was called off, responded in the most emphatic way possible — smashing 87 in the final, the highest individual score in a WPL title clash. Her knock, alongside Georgia Voll’s 79, powered RCB to a record-breaking chase of 204, sealing the trophy in dramatic fashion.
T20 World Cup | ‘Our flight is booked and we are going’ – Suryakumar Yadav on Pakistan’s boycott
After the victory, Patil dedicated the title to her captain, underlining the emotional weight behind the win. “Would love to mention three people — number one, Smriti, because she has gone through a lot in the last couple of months. Would love to dedicate this win to her. Malo and Anya… Today is Anya’s son’s first birthday. And again, Malo — first time he’s the head coach and it’s a special win for all of us,” she said.Calling it a “very special” season after her comeback, Patil thanked fans for backing the team despite the daunting 200-plus target. She finished the 2026 campaign with 11 wickets in nine innings, playing a crucial role in RCB’s title run.
Poll
What do you think was the key factor in RCB’s WPL title win?
Advertisement
Mandhana’s heroic innings not only anchored the highest successful chase in a WPL final but also reinforced her status as one of the league’s biggest match-winners. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, were left searching for answers after ending their fourth straight season without a trophy.All-rounder Radha Yadav praised the management’s backing and the team’s situational training sessions, saying the hard work behind the scenes played a big role in the title run.For RCB, however, the night belonged to Mandhana — a captain who turned personal adversity into championship glory.
Aryna Sabalenka has sparked engagement rumours with her new batch of photos. As the Belarusian shared some snaps from her latest glam session, fans were quick to zero in on an crucial detail and speculate if she had gotten engaged to long time boyfriend Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka and Frangulis have been a power couple of the tennis world for quite some time now. The Brazilian is the four-time Grand Slam champion’s biggest fan and is a constant presence in the audience when she’s competing. Recently, Sabalenka took to Instagram to share some glammed-up photos from her time at the Crown Towers and eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the flashy piece of jewelry she sported on her ring finger.
Advertisement
Thanks for the submission!
The pictures were enough to set off some engagement rumours for the couple, with fans showcasing their curiosity in the comments section.
Advertisement
“Babe is it happening??? 💍☺️,” one fan wrote.
“Wait….what’s that big sparkly yellow thing on your finger???? 💍😮,” another added.
Via @arynasabalenka on Instagram
Aryna Sabalenka and Georgios Frangulis first began dating in early 2024. Rumours of their relationship caught fire sometime in April after the duo were spotted together in Madrid. The speculation found further purchase over the next few months as Frangulis began making regular appearances in the World No.1’s player’s box. The couple made their relationship Instagram official in July, 2024 and have since been vocal about their love for each other.
Aryna Sabalenka reflects on the beginning of her relationship with Georgios Frangulis, reveals why she was hesitant to date the Brazilian
Sabalenka and Frangulis at the WTA Finals 2025 (Image Source: Getty)
Aryna Sabalenka recently opened up about the beginning of her relationship with Georgios Frangulis. In an interview with Alexandre Cossenza, the Belarusian revealed that the duo knew each other for some time before they went on their first date. She also revealed the reason she had been hesitant about dating the Brazilian, saying,
“We met actually long before we actually went for the first date. So I just knew him from (when) I started working with Oakberry. And then we met a bit later and went for dinner and I felt really connected. Because before I wasn’t sure if I can handle a relationship with someone who doesn’t speak Russian and then I felt really connected to him, his mentality. I think we are really similar. He’s very kind and I fell in love and somehow he got me.”
On the tennis end of things, Aryna Sabalenka was last seen in action at the Australian Open. The World No.1 claimed her second-consecutive runners-up finish at the event, losing to Elena Rybakina in the finals.
Harry Potter fans may have dreamed of soaring across a pitch on a broomstick, and while that fantasy remains out of reach, a close alternative is taking shape in Uganda, where a real-life version of Quidditch is being played in a village. Now known as quadball, the sport unites boys and girls around a shared ambition of competing in the Quidditch World Cup, as Clarisse Fortuné reports.
The complex “bone bruising” injury in his left arm meant Draper had to take the tough decision to miss last month’s Australian Open as he was not yet ready for five-set matches.
But rather than watch contemporaries Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic in Melbourne, Draper took a step back from the sport.
“In all honesty, in this period. I haven’t really been following it too much,” he said. “It’s something I put my whole life into and so I knew that when this injury came about, I had to maybe take a step back and not be so intense with it.
Advertisement
“I think that’s helped me off the court and to keep on improving on the court as well, because tennis is a bubble and sometimes you can get kind of distracted, and that it’s all that matters in life.
“Whereas when you have this kind of injury, you have time out and I used it wisely, I think, to try and make sure that when I come back to tennis and my arm is OK, that I’m ready to go all the way again.”
Jack Draper looked sharp on his return to the court (Getty Images for ITF)
Draper, who has played just one singles match since Wimbledon last year, needed just 59 minutes to wrap up a 6-2 6-2 win and give Great Britain a flying start in the first qualifying round.
Advertisement
It was hard to gauge precisely what Draper’s level is against Durasovic, ranked a lowly 313. However, eight aces, just 10 points dropped on serve and a healthy smattering of forehand winners was certainly an encouraging start.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been able to compete on the match court and today was a great opportunity to do that,” he added.
“Obviously it’s been a difficult time for me, but I’m glad with the way I came back and I’m proud of my performance today.”
Advertisement
Draper helped Great Britain make a flying start before Cameron Norrie won his match for a 2-0 lead over Norway (Getty Images for ITF)
British number two Cameron Norrie, fresh from his run to the third round down under, had by far the tougher match against teenager Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, a former Wimbledon juniors champion, in the second singles rubber.
But the 30-year-old ground out a 6-4 6-4 win to put Great Britain 2-0 up going into day two of the first-qualifying round tie.
Leon Smith’s team can take an unassailable 3-0 lead if Wimbledon doubles champions Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash win the opening match on Friday afternoon.
TORONTO — Featuring a lineup anchored by Josh Naylor, Tyler O’Neill and Owen Caissie and a pitching staff fronted by Michael Soroka, Jameson Taillon and Cal Quantrill, Canada unveiled a promising 30-man roster for this spring’s World Baseball Classic on Thursday.
Most of the Canadians’ top choices from the provisional rosters submitted Dec. 3 have so far held, although power-armed Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Brash was a notable recent withdrawal.
All-star Freddie Freeman, the son of Canadian parents who wore the Maple Leaf at the past two tournaments, starter Nick Pivetta, relievers Cade Smith, Eric Sabrowski and Jordan Romano and pitching prospects Jonah Tong and Mitch Bratt are also among the notable players who either withdrew or turned down invitations.
But the Canadians have thus far sidestepped the insurance issues that have plagued other countries and this edition of the national team is marked more by who will be there, rather than who won’t.
Advertisement
Bo Naylor, Edouard Julien, Otto Lopez, Abraham Toro, Denzel Clarke and Jared Young are among the 14 other position players on the squad that will play out of Pool A in San Juan against host Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba and Panama.
Veterans James Paxton and Phillippe Aumont, prospects Adam Macko and Eric Cerantola and experienced arms like Rob Zastryzny, Jordan Balazovic and Logan Allen help fill out the pitching staff.
The top two teams advance from each pool and, separated from the powerhouse United States for the first time at the Classic, Canada has a real pathway to its first appearance in the quarterfinals.
Watch the World Baseball Classic on Sportsnet
The World Baseball Classic is back for its sixth edition, running from March 5-17 in Miami, Houston, San Juan and Tokyo. Catch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
“We feel in this pool every night we have a chance to go out and compete with whoever we’re playing and we don’t have to make some tough choices,” said Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada’s director of national team programs. “You had to make tough choices every time you’re dealing with the U.S. in your pool and especially if you had the U.S. and Venezuela or the U.S. and Mexico. There wasn’t much room.”
Advertisement
That was the case in 2023, when Canada finished 2-2 and lost a win-and-advance game against Mexico, just as they did in the inaugural edition of the event. The Americans knocked them out in 2013.
There is more room this time and if Canada moves on, a lineup Hamilton described as “a clear strength,” will likely do the heavy lifting.
“It’s pretty much a major-league lineup, with impact in it,” he continued. “And we’re going to have options to have guys that are experienced major-league players that add depth and can certainly play roles and have impact. So the depth of our starting lineup is definitely going to be a strength.”
Soroka, Taillon and Quantrill give the Canadians three legitimate starters and Balazovic is a candidate to be the fourth if they don’t go piecemeal with the final slot, depending on how the tournament plays out.
Advertisement
Paxton, Aumont, Allen and righty Noah Skirrow give manager Ernie Whitt more flexibility as their usage will be less strict since they aren’t part of a big-league system.
“The ability to run out, by and large, round-by-round major-league starters that have impact at the big-league level is very important,” said Hamilton. “That’s certainly a strength and we’ve got experience in the bullpen around it. Do we have Brash? No. Do we have Cade Smith? No. You’d love to have those guys but we do have guys with upper-level experience and some depth and we have right-left balance.”
Catchers: Liam Hicks, Bo Naylor
Infielders: Tyler Black, Matt Davidson, Adam Hall, Edouard Julien, Otto Lopez, Josh Naylor, Abraham Toro
Advertisement
Outfielders: Owen Caissie, Denzel Clarke, Tyler O’Neill, Jacob Robson, Jared Young
Pitchers: Logan Allen, Micah Ashman, Phillippe Aumont, Jordan Balazovic, Eric Cerantola, Indigo Diaz, Antoine Jean, Carter Loewen, Adam Macko, James Paxton, Cal Quantrill, Noah Skirrow, Michael Soroka, Jameson Taillon, Matt Wilkinson, Rob Zastryzny
Nov 23, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A general view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys will participate in the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro in 2026, the league announced Thursday.
The 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium, which has hosted World Cup matches and the 2016 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, will host the game. The league previously announced Rio as one of its new international markets; at least three regular-season games will be played there in the next five years.
The Cowboys’ opponent and the game date will be announced at a later date, but it’s likely to be early in the season. The NFL came to Brazil for the first time in 2024, and its Sao Paulo games in 2025 and 2026 were played on Friday of Week 1.
The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo in 2024 and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs there this past year.
Advertisement
The NFL is adding International Series games in Melbourne, Paris and Rio for the first time in 2026 while continuing series in London, Madrid, Mexico City and Munich. Earlier Thursday, the NFL announced the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers would contest the Melbourne game, the league’s first in Australia.