It has been a chastening week for Liverpool after deserved defeats in two competitions, highlighting their flaws amid a season of Premier League domination. Paris Saint‑Germain outplayed them in the Champions League and Newcastle’s muscle left Arne Slot needing to wait a few weeks longer for his first trophy in England. The Dutchman has indicated … Read more
Sergio Ramos may have won the Champions League four times, five La Liga titles, the World Cup and two European Championships but once again the defender is in the headlines for the wrong reasons. On Sunday night, the 38-year-old defender was sent off for his new club, Monterrey, in Liga MX – taking him to … Read more
There was a little swipe of Diego Simeone’s foot and the ball was in the net. As Conor Gallagher had dashed up the left and provided the pass, Atlético Madrid’s coach accompanied him from the other touchline. As Alex Sørloth provided the finish he did too, black dress shoe joining his striker’s red boot guiding … Read more
While applauding the boom in chess (Editorial, 14 March), may I put in a word for bridge? It has everything chess has (including a booming online community) and much more. It is a partnership game, and cooperating with a partner teaches skills that chess players can’t comprehend. Played in a club (either online or face … Read more
It was a nightmare for Inter Miami. Bartosz Slisz had just fired Atlanta United ahead in the decisive match of their first-round playoff series last season. Try as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami might, they couldn’t equalize and were forced to watch as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. Their record-breaking regular season had quickly … Read more
1 Højlund finally ends goal drought He finally scored. Rasmus Højlund broke his 21-match goal drought – dating back to 12 December – with a composed strike to put Manchester United 1-0 up against Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Having received the ball from Bruno Fernandes around 40 yards out from goal, he carried … Read more
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