Mohamed Salah patted the badge on his chest as the Kop chorused his song. It was a rare feat, even by his standards: just the third time in his Liverpool career he had scored, assisted and won a penalty in the same game.
As Salah was able to celebrate with his public again after scoring, his 252nd goal for Liverpool was only his second since his incendiary interview at Leeds. The process of reintegration began with a cameo against Brighton in December. It accelerated with a spot-kick against Albion in February.
He won it and scored it, tripped by Pascal Gross, rifling his shot into the roof of the net. He had only struck once in his previous 12 games for Liverpool, and that was against Qarabag. He had not found the net against a Premier League club since Aston Villa’s visit at the start of November. This meant a lot. “It was very big for the confidence,” said Salah. “It was very big, for sure.” It felt like another step in the healing process. “It is very nice to have him on the scoresheet again but what I like is that he is helping the team defensively,” said Arne Slot.
Whatever the summer holds for him, Liverpool could enjoy the sight of Salah looking irrepressible. Perhaps, too, they could be grateful that what looked a crisis was defused. That may reflect well on Slot and if the Dutchman has had too few games this season when every decision he has made has brought a rich reward, this victory came with sweet vindication.
As the Liverpool manager fielded his latest line-up without a specialist right-back, the assumption might have been that Dominik Szoboszlai was in the back four and Curtis Jones in midfield. Instead, it was the other way around.
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Each was on the scoresheet, and in a way that reflected the role Slot had given him. Jones scored for the first time since 2024 by materialising at the far post. Szoboszlai used his running power to burst through the inside-right channel and unleash his second unstoppable shot in as many weeks at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai thundered home Liverpool’s second goal (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Mohamed Salah’s penalty was his first goal against an English club since 1 Novemebr (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
In the process, Slot may have learned a lesson from a game when his choices backfired. At the corresponding stage of the FA Cup a year ago, he selected too much of a weakened side and suffered the embarrassment of defeat to Plymouth. Twelve months on, he started with nine of his strongest available 11 and, while Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch began on the bench, the Dutchman’s rest permitted Jones’ return and allowed Szoboszlai to play in midfield.
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The context has changed from Slot’s first taste of the FA Cup, which ended so ignominiously in Devon. Now it is Liverpool’s most realistic chance of silverware this season, and they swept into the fifth round. Their league position remains unsatisfactory but they have only been beaten twice in 18 outings in all competitions and, after the frustration of last week’s loss to Manchester City, they have conjured a response by beating Sunderland and Brighton.
Their season has been a story of makeshift right-backs and, for all the issues injuries have posed, they have added some productivity. Szoboszlai has twin spectacular free kicks against Arsenal and City when deployed as a defender. Jones ended a lengthy drought when – in theory, anyway – stationed further from the Brighton goal. “There have been times I’ve scored more but not played as well as I am now,” he said after getting a first goal in 58 games.
The Liverpudlian had come agonisingly close with a left-footed shot from 20 yards. Then, meeting Milos Kerkez’s inviting cross on the half-volley, he crashed in a shot off the underside of the bar. “It was very pleasing the first goal was an assist from the left-back to the right-back,” Slot said.
Kerkez ended up being overshadowed – not least by his fellow Hungairan – but he was terrific. He married deft skill with dynamic runs. He had drawn a fine save from Jason Steele with a rising, rasping half-volley. Then came his assist.
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Curtis Jones produced a lovely finish for his first Liverpool goal in 57 games (Getty Images)
“The second goal was even nicer than the first one,” Slot said. Salah cushioned a pass into the path of the surging Szoboszlai and, without breaking stride, he drove a shot past Steele.“He is one of the best players in the world right now,” said Salah. Szoboszlai earned a fourth assist for the Egyptian since his return from the African Cup of Nations.
When the 33-year-old then scored himself from the penalty spot, it was cue for Slot to substitute him, to a rousing ovation. His replacement Rio Ngumoha had a goal ruled out for offside; there was no VAR to prove he was onside. Meanwhile, Brighton objected to Salah’s spot kick. “Poor decision,” said Fabian Hurzeler. “Never a penalty.”
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Salah received a standing ovation as he exited stage left (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
He could also lament moments either side of the interval. “We had enough chances to score a goal,” added Hurzeler. But Alisson saved from Diego Gomez, coming to Jones’ rescue after he slipped. He clawed away Lewis Dunk’s header. After his error against City, it was a redemptive return to Anfield for Alisson, and justification for Slot in selecting him, rather than Giorgi Mamardashvili.
So there was no seismic double for Brighton, conquerors of Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round, no cup run deflect from underachievement in the Premier League.
“We are not in a good moment,” Hurzeler said. But now Salah is.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scans the field during fourth-quarter action against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cousins set up to deliver a pass as pressure closed in late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports..
The Atlanta Falcons will probably release Kirk Cousins in the next few weeks, and his next team can sign him for cheap. Because Cousins will basically be free in 2026 — he’s already been paid by Atlanta — so media members have already speculated that a reunion in Minnesota is on the table. Well, that’s an awful idea.
A Cousins return sounds familiar, yet Minnesota’s 2026 priorities at QB point toward younger upside and smarter team-building value.
Cousins might have a decent season or two left in the tank, but he should play them out with a squad outside Minnesota.
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Why a Cousins Reunion Fails the 2026 Test
The idea of a Cousins reunion is unflattering.
Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) brings down Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) during second-half action on Nov. 17, 2024, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Bonitto closed quickly off the edge and finished the sack as the Broncos defense pressured Cousins late in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.
The Age — 38
Cousins will turn 38 this summer. His talents will not increase as he ages; this never happens for athletes, except in rare cases of GOAT behavior like Tom Brady.
The Vikings turned the page on Cousins three offseasons ago because age and injury had entered the equation. It would be silly for decision-makers to convince themselves that an age-38 Cousins would have some big reclamation tour waiting.
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The Jared Allen Quote
With Cousins’s name floating around Minnesota’s rumor mill, Kay Adams asked Vikings Hall of Famer Jared Allen about a Cousins reunion.
Allen replied, “No — no. In his prime, we weren’t winning championships with him.”
This is the correct stance, a common Allen dub. The Cousins’ plan in Minnesota didn’t work to the tune of a Super Bowl in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023. Hell, Minnesota only reached the postseason twice in those six campaigns. Allen is right. Why would the Vikings start contending with a Super Bowl in 2026 if they did no such thing with Cousins from 2018 to 2023? How would that work?
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Minnesota already has proof that Cousins can’t guide the team to the Promised Land. Six years of proof.
Already a Lightning Rod among Fans
Because of his ability to habitually maximize his pocketbook while usually offering the 11th- or 12th-best quarterback play in the NFL, Cousins represented a divisive creature in the Twin Cities during his run. Re-upping with Cousins would force the 35%-%40% of the fan base that didn’t care for him to get inspired all over again. Instead, most of that camp will groan and grimace.
The vibes would not be off the charts.
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He Can’t Move
Most of J.J. McCarthy’s fantastic moments in 2025 arrived when he operated off schedule, using his legs to flee a collapsing pocket. There’s no reason to believe that a Vikings quarterback won’t be asked to do that again in 2026. Cousins cannot do that. He’s old.
Wherever Cousins lands next season, he’ll be a classic pocket passer — almost a caricature of it — and nothing more. His mobility hasn’t really been showcased since the Washington Commanders days. He likes to sling the rock from the pocket, and late into his 30s, that’s all he’s got.
Minnesota will need a nimble quarterback. Cousins is not nimble. In his late 30s, he’s one of the least nimble players in all of football.
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The Optics
This one might be lame, so bear with us.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) reacts following a win over the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 29, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Cousins celebrated with teammates on the field after securing the late-season victory in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images.
In the court of public opinion, Minnesota will be perceived as striking out on McCarthy and crawling back to Cousins. His signing will resemble the boxing towel-throw of McCarthy’s early development. It really doesn’t matter if folks roast the Vikings for reuniting with Cousins — but they will roast, rest assured. It will be a terrible look for McCarthy.
Cousins Was Not Good in 2025
Thirty-five quarterbacks threw the ball as much or more than Cousins in 2025, and he ranked 30th of those 35 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per play when the season concluded.
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Assuming the Vikings take the Cousins bait this offseason, they will knowingly and willfully sign the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback from the season prior, expecting the plan to translate into Super Bowl contention.
It might be the worst idea imaginable to think that’s wise. “We need a good quarterback to contend for the Super Bowl. Let’s sign the fifth-worst one then from 2025 — who’s also 38 years old and can’t move.”
It just doesn’t add up.
What Would It Really Achieve?
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Unless Minnesota has changed its mission statement without telling the public, the goal is to win a Super Bowl and end a 65-year drought. Signing Cousins might allow the club to contend for a 10-7 or 11-6 record if everything goes well and high-profile players stay healthy.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) shares a postgame moment with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell on Dec. 8, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The two exchanged words near midfield following the matchup between Cousins’ Falcons and his former team. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The goal should be finding a quarterback who keeps the Super Bowl window open for multiple seasons — not loading up around a 38-year-old whose team couldn’t win a non-competitive NFC South in 2025.
Rolling with a Cousins would signal a concession that 10-7 seasons are good enough.
Scotland bounce back from their Six Nations defeat by Italy last week to blow England away with a bonus-point win in a pulsating Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield.
Former WWE star Ash by Elegance (fka Dana Brooke) has been making headlines with her work on TNA lately, and her recent run as the leader of the Elegance Brand has been phenomenal. Fans of the former Knockouts World Champion have been wondering what the future holds for her now that she is back after announcing her retirement.
TNA Hall of Famer Mickie James announced her retirement three years ago. However, the veteran star shocked fans at TNA No Surrender with an unexpected comeback. Moments after the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Title match involving The Elegance Brand, James made an appearance and blindsided Ash by Elegance. The sudden assault turned the post-match celebration into chaos and immediately sparked rumors of James’ potential in-ring return.
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Following her massive return, James took a shot at Ash by Elegance, sending a message to the latter on Valentine’s Day. The WWE legend asked the 37-year-old to be hers, dropping a massive tease for a potential feud between the two women in the near future.
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“Be mine ❤️@Ashamae_Sebera @ThisIsTNA,” she wrote.
Check out the post below:
Will Mickie James return to the ring against a former WWE star?
Following her massive return at TNA No Surrender, it is clear that Mickie James is not really done with the incredible in-ring work she does. The veteran’s attack on the former WWE star Ash by Elegance makes it clear that TNA could book a singles match between the two women very soon. While the match has not been made official yet, the excitement among fans makes it clear that a potential battle between them could steal the spotlight.
Fans will now have to wait and see what the company has in store for both women in the near future.
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Rafael Nadal recently spoke at length about his passion for golf. The Spanish tennis legend joked that his wife Maria ‘suffers’ from his love for the game and dropped an important update about when he will start competing in golf tournaments.
Nadal is largely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The 39-year-old’s time on court saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles, making him the second most successful men’s singles player in the Open Era. Throughout his tennis career, the Spaniard also nursed a love for golf and he has recently been engaging with the sport to a greater extent.
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In an interview with Punto de Break, Rafael Nadal opened up about his passion for golf, saying
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“I watch golf every week, and my wife suffers from it. I saw Jon Rahm play this week in Riyadh, who achieved a spectacular final in the second round and almost won. I was sometimes tempted to play, because several times they wanted to give me an invitation. But so far, circumstances have not arisen. In the future, you never know, but I should feel like I’m playing without making a fool of myself and with the illusion of being able to at least compete, even if it’s only with myself.”
While Nadal hasn’t yet stepped out onto the golf course as a professional, he has made appearances at several small tournaments and in 2024 he won the scratch category title at the Robinson Classic, an amateur event that featured 74 other golfers.
Rafael Nadal launches charity golf initiative
Nadal at the 2026 Australian Open (Image Source: Getty)
Rafael Nadal recently launched Spin & Swing by Cantabria Labs, a charity golf series. The series will typically feature 15 corporate teams of six players. The money raised from the event will be used by the Rafa Nadal Foundation, a non-profit organization.
Speaking about the series, Nadal emphasised that the initiative was close to his heart due to his love for golf, saying,
“This initiative is personal because of my love for golf. It’s a way to generate ongoing support for the Rafa Nadal Foundation and continue helping children and teenagers in vulnerable situations. Golf is unique because you can enjoy it with people of all levels. The series will be a shared experience, giving time to connect with other companies and build networks. We want it to be fun, enjoyable and something that lasts for years.”
The Rafa Nadal Foundation supports children from underprivileged and vulnerable backgrounds, providing them with education and sporting programmes. The organisation was launched by Rafael Nadal and his mother Ana Maria in 2010.
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What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — It was the offseason of Collin Morikawa’s life — the reset and recharge designed to springboard Morikawa’s return to world dominance.
And then he woke up on Saturday at the Sony Open without a tee time.
“I went into this year feeling really good about myself,” Morikawa said. “You go out and play two rounds at Sony and I missed the cut and you realize, man, do I need to redo everything that you thought you were doing for the last two months?”
Professional golf can be unusually cruel in this way. The margin between the best players in the world and the guys who spend their 40s as insurance brokers is less than 10 shots a week — and the margin between those at the very top and the very bottom of golf’s many statistical categories is, on average, less than 1.5 shots per round.
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Morikawa has lived on both sides of the totem. He arrived on the PGA Tour on a rocketship, winning a pair of major championships before his 25th birthday to announce himself as one of the game’s preeminent young talents. He has spent the back half of his twenties mired in the innermost circle of golf hell: putting woes (to go along with an unpleasant cocktail of poor form and near-misses and swing changes and caddie changes).
On Saturday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, though, Morikawa came alive. He shot a blistering 10-under 62, recording 11 birdies to just one bogey, to vault into the final pairing for Sunday’s final round with Akshay Bhatia. Sunday will mark Morikawa’s best shot to record a signature victory in some time, perhaps since his near-miss at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2025.
But before he can get there, he’ll have to overcome the challenges that have marred the last several years of his golfing life: The ones arriving with the putter in his hands.
“Yeah. I think I might be [uncomfortable with my putter] for the rest of my career,” an unusually candid Morikawa said Saturday afternoon. “It’s a comfort thing for me. I think I play a lot with my feel and I play a lot with my gut and unfortunately that changes a lot.”
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Morikawa’s putting challenges have manifested in particularly painful ways: After winning five times in less than two years to start his career, Morikawa has recorded just one victory in the last five years, which arrived at the comparatively light field at the Zozo Championship in Japan, and has watched as other stars from his rookie class (notably Scottie Scheffler) have ascended into the upper-echelons of the sport.
In that time, the putter has fallen from a solid complement of Morikawa’s otherworldly ball striking to a legitimate liability. He ranked 156th on Tour in SG: Putting in 2025, the third time he ranked worse than 100th on Tour in the same category since the winning drought started in 2022.
But putting is an art — and art is fickle. Some weeks, it can be enough to derail an entire tournament — and this week, it has hardly moved the needle. On Saturday, Morikawa ranked near the bottom of the field in most putting stats, making just 55 feet of putts all day, and he recorded one of the best rounds of his year.
The lesson, he said, came not from a shift in putting technique or ability but from a change in mindset.
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“[Mental coach Rick Sessinghaus] reminded me yesterday when I first came out and turned pro, like I didn’t care about honestly making cuts or top-20s, I came out to win,” Morikawa said Saturday. “When he told me that yesterday, there was that mindset switch going into today. I wanted to come out and win, win the weekend, win the tournament.”
Morikawa certainly looked the part of a Pebble Beach winner on Saturday, displaying the same dizzying iron play that made him such a formidable foe in the early days of his career. He also benefited from a third round played before a whipping wind blew in from the south, altering the course conditions so much that the final group played the 18th hole in 36 minutes.
Good putting is part of winning, but good fortune is too. The latter has been on Morikawa’s side as he prepares for Sunday’s final round in the final pairing. The last group off on Sunday in Pebble may find themselves quickly in a rock fight, with conditions expected to deteriorate further throughout the afternoon. Only the strongest competitor will survive the chaos — putter be damned.
“I’m out here to win When you finish 30th, 15th, 3rd, at the end of the day like I want to win,” Morikawa said. “I’ve got to set that mindset at the beginning of the day, at the beginning of the week and now I think we’ve given ourselves at least a chance come tomorrow.”
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities are in Los Angeles, and the main event is Sunday evening as the 2026 All-Star Game itself unfolds. The NBA All-Star Game format is different again in 2026, with this year’s event being a round-robin tournament between three different rosters — two comprised of USA players and the third being Team World.
The action tips off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. The latest 2026 NBA All-Star Game odds via FanDuel list USA Stripes as the slight +155 favorites to win it all, with Team World at +160 and USA Stars at +200. In terms of individual game lines, USA Stripes is -2.5 against USA Stars in the first tip, while the World is -2.5 vs. USA Stars. The World is then -1.5 vs. USA Stripes.
Hartstein is SportsLine’s senior analyst and a founding member of the Early Edge podcast. He’s excelled in multiple sports, and enters the All-Star break on an 8-5 run on NBA props. Anyone following his NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
The NBA has changed format for its All-Star Game multiple times in recent years, and 2026 brings a new wrinkle. The 28 All-Stars have been divided into three teams — two comprised of American players and the third representing the rest of the world.
Team USA Stars features primarily younger NBA stars like Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham, while Team USA Stripes is more veteran players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Team World is headlined by Victor Wembnamyama, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, though this roster has taken some hits via injury with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both out.
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The teams will all play either other in a round-robin format, with those games last 12 minutes. The top two teams will advance to the championship game to determine the overall winner. If there’s a tie after the round-robin portion, point differential will be the deciding factor. See who to pick here.
USA Stars (+200) Scottie Barnes Devin Booker Cade Cunningham Jalen Duren Anthony Edwards Chet Holmgren Jalen Johnson Tyrese Maxey
USA Stripes (+155) Jaylen Brown Jalen Brunson Kevin Durant Brandon Ingram LeBron James Kawhi Leonard Donovan Mitchell Stephen Curry (injured)
Team World (+160) Deni Avdija Luka Doncic Nikola Jokic Jamal Murray Alperen Sengun Pascal Siakam Karl-Anthony Towns Victor Wembanyama Normal Powell Giannis Antetokounmpo (injured) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injured)
The biggest American star aiming for a medal on Sunday will be Mikaela Shiffrin, as the legendary skiier looks to capture her first medal of the 2026 games in the giant slalom. Shiffrin is the most decorated alpine skiier in history, with more than 100 World Cup wins, but hasn’t picked up a medal since the 2018 Games.
Also in action on Sunday will be Erin Jackson, a breakout star of the 2022 Olympics who looks to defend her gold medal in the women’s 500m speed skating final.
The Milan Cortina Games will run through Sunday, Feb. 22, and in total of 119 events will take place with 245 medals handed out to the athletes. Fans can find the action on NBC and their streaming service Peacock, with an account or a cable login.
The Winter Games have eight main sports, with 16 disciplines. With so many events to keep up with, it can get overwhelming, but that’s where we step in with the overall medal tracker and daily schedule.
Winter Olympics schedule for Sunday, Feb. 15
Curling
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Men’s round-robin: Germany vs. Great Britain, Norway vs. Italy, USA vs. Sweden
3:05 a.m.
No
Alpine Skiing
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Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1
4 a.m.
No
Bobsled
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Women’s Monobob Run 1
4 a.m.
No
Snowboarding
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Men’s Slopestyle Qualifying
4:15 a.m.
No
Freestyle Skiing
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Men’s Dual Moguls Finals
4:30 a.m.
Yes
Biathlon
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Men’s 12.5km Pursuit
5:15 a.m.
Yes
Ski Jumping
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Men’s Long Hill Training 3
5:30 a.m.
No
Bobsled
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Women’s Monobob Heat 2
5:50 a.m.
No
Ice Hockey
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Men’s Preliminary, Switzerland vs. Czechia
6:10 a.m.
No
Alpine Skiing
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Women’s Giant Slalom Run 2
7:30 a.m.
Yes
Snowboarding
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Mixed Team Cross Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals
7:45 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.
Yes
Curling
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Women’s Round-Robin: Japan vs. Korea, Denmark vs. Italy, Great Britain vs. Sweden, USA vs. China
8:05 a.m.
No
Biathlon
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Women’s 10km Pursuit
8:45 a.m.
Yes
Speed Skating
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Men’s Team Pursuit Quarterfinals
10 a.m.
No
Ice Hockey
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Men’s Preliminary: Canada vs. France
10:40 a.m.
No
Speed Skating
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Women’s 500m
11 a.m.
Yes
Skeleton
Mixed Team
12 p.m.
Yes
Ski Jumping
Women’s Long Hill Individual – Round 1
12:45 p.m.
No
Curling
Men’s Round-Robin: China vs. Canada, Norway vs. USA, Italy vs. Czechia, Great Britain vs. Switzerland
Kylian Mbappe came through for Real Madrid again, converting a penalty kick 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and move Madrid back within a point of Spanish league leader Barcelona.
Vinicius Junior also scored for Madrid on Sunday after again being jeered by fans early on at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jude Bellingham, also booed when the lineup was announced, had to be replaced 10 minutes into the match because of a left hamstring injury.
Madrid was coming off a 4-2 loss at Benfica that dropped the team out of the eight automatic spots for the round of 16 of the Champions League. It will face Benfica again in the playoffs.
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“We came from a tough defeat, one that nobody ever wants, in the Champions, a competition many of us aspire to win,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said.
“We wanted to change that image, today we had the first opportunity, and I think we played a great game.”
It was a thriller at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Mbappe giving Madrid the victory by coolly converting the last-gasp penalty for his eighth goal in five matches.
The result allowed Alvaro Arbeloa’s side to keep pace with Barcelona, which won 3-1 at Elche on Saturday.
“It was a victory in which the players put a lot of energy, their soul,” said Arbeloa, who took over after replacing Xabi Alonso last month. “We needed the help of the fans and without their push we would not have achieved it.”
The boos toward Vinicius were subdued after he scored a superb goal in the 15th minute. The Brazil international cleared a couple of defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the top corner.
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Rayo, which played a man down from the 80th after Pathe Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized through Jorge De Frutos in the 49th.
Vallecano, which threatened at times at the Bernabeu, also saw Pep Chavarria shown a second yellow in the final minutes of added time.
Rayo, which has lost four straight in all competitions, had lost only one of its last five games against Madrid in the league. It dropped to 17th place, just outside the relegation zone.
Bellingham injured
Bellingham was on his own when he seemed to pick up the injury. He immediately grabbed the back of his leg with his left hand before going to the ground. He received medical assistance and seemed emotional as he left the field under his own power.
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Madrid did not provide a timetable for Bellingham’s recovery but Spanish media said he is not likely to recover in time to face Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.
The England international was replaced by Brahim Diaz, who five minutes later set up the Vinicius goal that made it 1-0 for Madrid. Diaz also prompted the foul of the penalty converted by Mbappe.
Mbappe had missed an open net in the 68th, hitting the crossbar after getting past the goalkeeper.
With the game tied 1-1 in the 64th, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came up with a crucial save on a one-on-one following a Rayo breakaway.
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Basque Country derby
Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta scored an 88th-minute equalizer as Athletic Bilbao salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Basque Country rival Real Sociedad.
The visitors had taken the lead with Goncalo Guedes’ goal in the 37th. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 83rd after Brais Mendez was sent off with a straight red card.
Athletic, winless in six league games, moved to 11th. Eighth-place Sociedad was trying to win its fourth consecutive league match.
Other results
Pablo Fornals scored an 88th-minute winner to give fifth-place Real Betis a 2-1 win over 15th-place Valencia, which had won three in a row in all competitions. Chimy Avila also scored for the hosts, three minutes after Luis Rioja had given Valencia the lead.
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Seventh-place Celta Vigo drew 0-0 at 16th-place Getafe, which hasn’t won in nine consecutive matches across all tournaments. Celta stayed winless in three straight games.
Akshay Bhatia holds a two-shot lead after the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am as fellow American Collin Morikawa’s round of 62 moved him into contention for his first victory in almost two and a half years.
Bhatia had been tied for top spot on 15 under with Ryo Hisatsune going into the day’s play, but six birdies in his first seven holes helped him on his way to a lead that was as many as five shots at one point.
Battling blustery conditions in California, a bogey at 17 saw his advantage cut to two.
Gusts then slowed play down considerably on the final green and a missed putt for birdie saw Bhatia card 68 to stand at 19 under.
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Morikawa’s round, 10-under-par, saw him climb the leaderboard into second at 17 under.
An eagle at the last hole – having managed the same at the first – moved another American, Jake Knapp, into joint-second with his round totalling 66.
Austrian Sepp Straka made it a three-way tie with a 67.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy, six back at the start of the day, fell further behind the lead despite starting with two birdies in the opening three holes.
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A three-over-par seven at the fourth and a double bogey at the last saw him shoot an even par 72 and trailing by 10.
With heavy rain and strong winds forecast for Sunday, start times for the tournament’s final round have been moved forward and will now run from 07:22-09:45 local time, with threesomes off split tees.
Rio Ferdinand has made it clear who he wants as the next Manchester United manager
Mark Whiley Sports Reporter
13:34, 14 Feb 2026
Rio Ferdinand’s call for Manchester United to appoint one of his favourite managers has moved a step closer to reality.
While his former United teammate Michael Carrick has impressed in his spell as caretaker boss, Ferdinand has long championed former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, who reportedly held confidential discussions with the club in 2024 before joining Marseille.
“More than someone like [Thomas] Tuchel, because Tuchel would be one of my biggest picks as well, is De Zerbi. I’m telling you. Any formation he wants to play, the guy is a proper coach who gets players working and playing.”
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Marseille, currently sitting fourth in Ligue 1 and trailing PSG by 12 points, released a statement saying: “Following discussions between all stakeholders in the club’s management – the owner, president, director of football, and coach – it was decided to make a change at the helm of the first team.
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“This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club, in order to respond to the sporting challenges of the end of the season.”
De Zerbi has reportedly had confrontations with senior management at former clubs. When questioned about whether United require a combative manager, Ferdinand remained steadfast, declaring: “I’d bring fire to the party, I’m telling you.
“I’d bring fire… I wouldn’t bring craziness, but I’d bring [in] someone who’s bringing that fire, that passion. But really, really backed up by someone who’s shown that they can coach the life out of a team. They can coach the hell out of a team.
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“They can coach individuals, improve players and can really put down a way of playing football. I really do believe you need someone who is strong on their own identity.”
United face competition for De Zerbi’s signature, with the Italian also emerging as a candidate for the Tottenham job following Thomas Frank’s departure. Spurs have installed former Juventus manager Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season while they consider their long-term managerial options.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
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![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
