LIVERPOOL FEEL THE BURN Considering how long it took them to finally get their hands on some domestic silverware after a 70-year pause, in the end it was remarkably easy for Newcastle United. While the supercilious slogan “this means more” is more readily associated with Liverpool Football Club, prevailing in Fizzy Cup on Sunday clearly … Read more
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow will have his top two targets with him for some time. A source told the Associated Press that Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, earning $161m, including $112m guaranteed. That surpasses the $40m … Read more
Player of the tournament Maro Itoje (England). Played every minute of every England game and, in his first championship as skipper, helped guide his side to four consecutive wins. The more responsibility he is handed the better he seems to perform. An attribute which will not have escaped the notice of Andy Farrell, the British … Read more
It wasn’t supposed to be that straightforward. Newcastle United have suffered so much disappointment at Wembley that the assumption had been that the end of a domestic trophy drought that stretched back to 1955 would be fraught, that they’d have to drag themselves over the line, nails bitten to the quick, the countdown to the … Read more
In a season dominated by the Premier League’s legal battles, the Football Association is about to get in on the act. Today it will begin prosecuting England’s most high-profile corruption case since Bruce Grobbelaar was acquitted of conspiring to fix five Premier League games, in two trials at Winchester crown court 27 years ago. Lucas … Read more
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrated St Patrick’s Day by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun to capture his second title at The Players Championship on Monday morning. McIlroy took a one-shot lead when he birdied the par-five 16th hole, and the task of protecting that advantage became much easier when Spaun hit … Read more
They did little wrong, but fortune refused to shine on them. Lukas Hradecky spread himself with authority, denying Ermedin Demirovic’s finish, but his block cannoned straight into the onrushing Granit Xhaka and the ball nestled in the net in front of the Cannstatter Kurve. Bayer Leverkusen have been bowed far more often than is habitual … Read more
There was no timidity left in the city of Bergamo, no desire to hide behind underdog status. The thousand Atalanta fans who descended on the team’s training ground on Saturday brought a banner insisting: “We Believe”. One day later, as their team prepared to kick off against Inter, another was unfurled in the north stand … Read more
1 Bompastor’s mentality boosts Chelsea Chelsea’s unbeaten manager Sonia Bompastor felt there was “room for improvement” in their display despite winning the League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday. Asked about her winning mentality the Frenchwoman said: “I know this team has more than what we showed. But my first experience as a coach … Read more
Marc Márquez expects his younger brother, Alex, to be his main rival as he chases a seventh MotoGP world championship crown and is convinced it is just a matter of time before the Gresini Racing rider wins his first race in the premier class. Alex, at 28, is four years younger than Marc, has won … Read more