Sports
‘Almost unbeatable’ – so will Liverpool turn wins and records into trophies?
When Arne Slot took charge of Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of last season, the Dutchman recognised he had “big shoes to fill”. After all, Klopp had delivered a Champions League and a long-awaited Premier League title as well as the FA Cup and a couple of League Cups. These are still…
‘Extraordinary’ Vinicius Jr ‘will win Ballon d’Or’
Minutes after Real Madrid fans were singing for Vinicius Jr to win the Ballon d’Or, the Brazil forward insisted he wanted to “stay at the club forever”. Vinicius Jr scored a sensational hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday to help his side come from 2-0 down to win 5-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu….
‘Slot’s more measured Liverpool pass biggest test yet’
Liverpool’s reshaped style under new head coach Arne Slot may be more middle of the road than the “heavy metal” of predecessor Jurgen Klopp, but it has taken them on a direct route to the top of the Premier League. Slot’s tempo is more measured than the full-tilt thrills that were Klopp’s trademark, but the 2-1…
Renault to end F1 engine programme after 2025
Renault will end its Formula 1 engine programme after the 2025 season, the French car company has announced. The decision means Renault’s Alpine team will have to buy engines from another manufacturer, which is expected to be Mercedes, from 2026. Renault’s F1 engine facility at Viry-Chatillon in Paris will instead be devoted to development of…
Eight-hundred-and-twenty-three! The spirit behind England’s record-breaking day
Two days ago, England had shipped 556, had an opener with a dislocated thumb and a stand-in captain out for a duck. They were feeling the heat, literally and figuratively, in the unbearable temperatures that have accompanied the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Questions over preparation, Ben Stokes’ hamstring and the lack of a…
Test dream helped Carse through gambling ban
Pace bowler Brydon Carse said the idea of playing Test cricket for England helped him through a three-month ban for historic gambling offences. The 29-year-old made his Test debut in the astonishing win over Pakistan in Multan, little more than a month after completing his suspension. Carse was banned in May for placing 303 bets…
Brook can be England’s best ever, says Anderson
James Anderson believes Harry Brook can become England’s best ever batter, surpassing even new record run-scorer Joe Root. Brook became the first England man to make a Test triple century for 34 years in the astonishing defeat of Pakistan in Multan. In the same Test, Root made 262, and in doing so he passed Sir…
Seamer Meredith agrees new Somerset deal for 2025
Australia seamer Riley Meredith will return to Somerset for the 2025 T20 Blast campaign. The 28-year-old impressed this year at Taunton, earning him an Australia recall. He took 14 wickets at an average of 22.78 as Somerset reached the final of the T20 Blast while he also claimed six wickets in the One-Day Cup. Somerset say dependant…
Goosebumps in 40C – Scotland women’s first World Cup
Sarah Bryce got goosebumps twice during Scotland women’s World Cup debut. The first time was when Flower of Scotland rang around Sharjah Cricket Stadium. For Bryce, who first played for Scotland in 2015, the arrival on the world stage represented the completion of a life goal. “The second verse when the drums come in,” she…
Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal: Pernille Harder hat-trick sinks Gunners in Champions League opener
Pernille Harder’s hat-trick ensured Arsenal’s return to the Women’s Champions League ended in defeat in an end-to-end encounter against Bayern Munich in Germany. The former Chelsea forward, who had failed to score in her previous five European games, met Carolin Simon’s corner to head her side into a 3-2 lead. This came eight minutes after…