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Liverpool have bought a defence for the future – but have a big problem right now

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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.

The immediate problem for Arne Slot is that, while he acquired Alexander Isak, he is now injured and while Liverpool have just secured the signature of Jeremy Jacquet, he will not arrive until the summer. But Marc Guehi, who eluded Liverpool in September, will instead face them in the colours of Manchester City on Sunday. Lutsharel Geertruida, who excelled for Slot at Feyenoord, was targeted as an emergency addition, but it proved impossible to get him from RB Leipzig via Sunderland and he could be on the opposite side on Wednesday.

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.”

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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

Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi to Man City (Getty)
Ibrahima Konate has endured a mixed campaign for the Reds

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.

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“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

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.

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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.

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13 penalties handed out in massive Battle of Florida brawl

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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.

Mikkola headed to the bench to change for Matthew Tkachuk, and moments later, a full line brawl broke out. The players involved included Lightning players J.J. Moser, Jake Guentzel, Darren Raddysh, Yanni Gourde, Brandon Hagel and Kucherov, along with Panthers players Donovan Sebrango, Gustav Forsling, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett and Tkachuk.

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.

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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.

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Rams QB Matthew Stafford wins NFL MVP award

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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“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.”

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McLaughlin: BYU Done Enough to Contend for Big 12 Again?

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Big 12 logo

BYU has not made some huge noise in the portal, bringing in nine players for the No. 41 class in the country.

Are they ready to contend for another conference title?

BYU Cougars logo‘Locked On BYU’ host Jake Hatch joins to discuss.

This segment is from Thursday’s episode of Locked On College Football with Spencer McLaughlin.

PORTAL CHATTER: Did BYU Cougars make enough transfer moves to win the Big 12 Championship in 2026?

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Reports: Nets waive G Cam Thomas after trade deadline

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NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Utah JazzJan 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.”

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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.

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–Field Level Media

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‘She has gone through a lot’: Shreyanka Patil dedicates RCB’s WPL triumph to Smriti Mandhana | Cricket News

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‘She has gone through a lot’: Shreyanka Patil dedicates RCB’s WPL triumph to Smriti Mandhana
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.

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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.

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What do you think was the key factor in RCB’s WPL title win?

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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.

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“Babe is it happening???” – Aryna Sabalenka sparks engagement rumors with boyfriend Georgios after fans spot crucial detail in new glam-up photos

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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.

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The pictures were enough to set off some engagement rumours for the couple, with fans showcasing their curiosity in the comments section.

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“Babe is it happening??? 💍☺️,” one fan wrote.

“Wait….what’s that big sparkly yellow thing on your finger???? 💍😮,” another added.

Via @arynasabalenka on Instagram Via @arynasabalenka on Instagram
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)Sabalenka and Frangulis at the WTA Finals 2025 (Image Source: Getty)
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.