Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson will meet Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil for the first time at Selhurst Park on Saturday – but revealed the two nearly crossed paths years ago at Craven Cottage. O’Neil, 39, played for nine different clubs during his senior career and hung up his boots in 2019 before joining Liverpool as under-23 assistant manager the following year. Hodgson, 75, recalled being so impressed by O’Neil that at one point the midfielder was seen as a potential Fulham target. “I have a lot of respect for him, I don’t know him,” said Hodgson, who managed the Cottagers from 2007-2010. “I remember him well as a player, and he was even on our radar several times at Fulham as a potential signing, so I should be pleased to meet him for the first time on Saturday.” Hodgson’s 12th-placed side are now mathematically safe and will be playing Premier League football again next season, while O’Neil’s Cherries are a point away from doing the same. In a season marked by the most manager sackings in top-flight history alongside one of the most unpredictable relegation battles in recent memory, O’Neil’s campaign feels like an anomaly. Initially hired on an interim basis following the departure of Scott Parker – who previously expressed a lack of faith in Bournemouth’s Premier League calibre – O’Neil was handed the permanent position after a impressive 11 game-run that saw his side go unbeaten in his first six. Like Palace, Bournemouth found themselves embedded in the relegation conversation earlier this year, but unlike ex-Eagles boss Patrick Vieira – and multiple other managers now looking for work – O’Neil was able to sustain his employers’ confidence. The first-time Premier League boss, who was born in the same neighbourhood where Palace train, rewarded that faith by steering the Cherries out of the drop zone and into 14th, nine points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining. That leaves them just one point behind Hodgson’s Eagles heading into Saturday’s contest, sparking calls from some corners for manager of the season consideration. Hodgson said: “It’s a fantastic achievement. There’s no question about it. I think everyone in football recognises the difficulty of the task that Gary’s had and really appreciates and respects the enormous job he’s done in confronting that task. “I’m certain that the people of Bournemouth Football Club must be absolutely delighted with him. He seems to have got a good relationship with the players on the field, they’re definitely doing what he is asking of them.”

Mikel Arteta says "everything is still to play for" as he prepares his title-chasing Arsenal team to host Brighton in...

Ryan Mason believes Harry Kane is right to highlight Tottenham’s lost values in recent seasons. Spurs travel to eighth-placed Aston Villa on Saturday knowing victory will virtually secure them a place in the Europa Conference League next season with hopes of a top-four finish long gone. It is a far cry from Tottenham’s best years under Mauricio Pochettino when they were regularly in the Champions League and one of the best clubs in the country. Kane has taken part in various interviews during the past week where he has spoken about the club losing the values they had under Pochettino and how he is determined to restore a strong culture and environment despite uncertainty over his future with only one year left on his contract. “Yep, absolutely I am fully with him on that 100 per cent,” Spurs’ acting head coach Mason responded when quizzed on Kane’s comments. “We can talk a lot about players but I think the environment, culture, it’s everyone, everything, the small details. We have to have many people driving that, not just one or two people. It has to be driven from within. “I agree with him because I was part of probably the change in setting new standards and a new culture within this place. “You can spend years trying to build something but at the same time it doesn’t take long to lose it. “Thankfully for us we still have many, many good people within these walls who know and feel what good looks like and probably more importantly want that as well. It is something we absolutely strive for. “It is important, it’s vital and it’s crucial that everyone who comes in here is pulling in the same direction and want the same things. I think that goes for every single football club as well. “We need that. Every club needs that, we need that. I agree with him. “I am happy that he has said it because he is one of the people I want to drive it because he is important to us, in terms of his stature at this football but also his understanding that there’s many people that can contribute as well.” Harry is still a Tottenham player and we are still focused on him achieving more great things for this football club Ryan Mason With speculation rife over Kane’s future, fans have taken comfort in his recent comments seemingly suggesting he would be at Tottenham next season. Last month, chairman Daniel Levy revealed his hope for Kane to have a statue outside the stadium one day, but Mason admitted it was premature for now. “I think that is probably a question to answer when he is not playing here because then you can recognise and appreciate the work he has done,” Mason admitted. “Right now it is probably a bit premature because the reality is, Harry is still a Tottenham player and we are still focused on him achieving more great things for this football club. Hopefully he can do that. “Our focus is on Harry until the end of the season – like it is for every player – and then we realise at the end of the season there are some decisions to make for different people and players.” Meanwhile, Mason called for punishment to be handed out to the spectator at last weekend’s home match against Crystal Palace who allegedly racially abused Son Heung-min. He added: “If there is anyone stepping out of line, they need to be punished.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Roy Hodgson ready for first meeting with former transfer target Gary O’Neil Eurovision Song Contest has disrupted Man City’s schedule – Pep Guardiola Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal focus to be on title charge instead of player futures

Tom Aspinall has revealed that he offered not to headline UFC London this July, after the UFC hesitated to book his fight with Marcin Tybura as a main event. The UFC announced this week that Aspinall will fight Tybura in a headline bout on 22 July, marking the British heavyweight’s third straight main event at the O2 Arena. However, the UFC was considering alternative options until recently, Aspinall told The Independent on Friday (12 May). “Me and Tybura actually know each other personally,” Aspinall said. “We were both looking for fights and believed that none of the heavyweights were really free, so we said, ‘Let’s get a fight going with each other.’ “I asked the UFC matchmakers when I was in London [for UFC 286 in March], and they were like, ‘We’re keen on it, we just don’t know if Tybura is a big enough name to do a main event.’ “I started seeing people were getting booked for this event, so I messaged the UFC again and asked: ‘What’s going on? Why have you not sent me a contract yet?’ They said, ‘We’re not overly thrilled on this for a main event.’ So, I said: ‘I don’t mind not fighting in the main event, just give me a fight.’ “They said they were gonna try a couple of other opponents first, because they wanted me as a main event. The opponents declined, so I’m fighting Tybura. That’s where we’re at.” Aspinall headlined UFC London in March 2022 – the promotion’s first event in Britain since the Covid pandemic began – and submitted Alexander Volkov in the first round. At the time, the Fight Night broke the record for the highest-grossing sports event in O2 Arena history. Four months later, Aspinall headlined at the venue again but suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into his fight with Curtis Blaydes. When Aspinall, 30, faces Poland’s Tybura on 22 July, the Briton will be returning to the ring 364 days after his ill-fated fight with Blaydes. It is a testament to the UFC’s belief in Aspinall that the promotion proceeded in booking his bout with Tybura as a main event, four months after UFC 286 took place at the O2 – the first UFC pay-per-view in Britain since 2016. And while Aspinall insisted that he is “thrilled” to be headlining under the dome again, and acknowledged that the UFC views him as a future “title contender or champion”, he also offered a self-deprecating take. “I think the UFC sells itself, really,” he told The Independent. “You could have two 10-year-old girls fighting each other, and they’d probably sell out the O2. Especially in this country now, when we’re in a massive boom for MMA, I think you could put basically anyone on and it would do well. But for them to have faith in me is a dream. I’m so privileged to be able to represent the UK again, I’m over the moon.” Aspinall’s professional record stands at 12-3 with nine knockout wins and three submissions. Eleven of his 12 victories have come in the first round, with the other occurring in Round 2. Prior to his injury against Blaydes, Aspinall had won eight fights in a row. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall: Year with injury was ‘one of the best of my life’ Tom Aspinall vs Marcin Tybura revealed as UFC London main event UFC London ticket prices as July fights are announced UFC’s Tom Aspinall: Year with injury was ‘one of the best of my life’ ‘Nobody really knows what I can do’ says fit-again Aspinall UFC London main event revealed as British star returns from injury

Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is due for a massive bump in pay.Although Patrick Mahomes is not the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL right now, he should be.The face of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise is the best and most important player in the sport. Only six ...

Two fishermen who were accused of cheating during the Lake Erie Walleye Trail fishing tournament last September -- after it was discovered their fish were stuffed with lead weights and fish fillets -- will serve jail time for the crime, according to court documents from a Thursday sentencing hearing.

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Pep Guardiola admits the Eurovision Song Contest has given him a headache as he looks to keep Manchester City’s treble bid on track. The Premier League leaders face a crucial trip to relegation-threatened Everton on Sunday, three days before they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. City boss Guardiola would have preferred the Goodison Park clash to be played on Saturday but, with Eurovision taking place in Liverpool city centre that day, that could not be sanctioned for security reasons. That means Real, who are out of contention for the LaLiga title and are in action on Saturday against Getafe, will have a day’s rest more than City heading into Wednesday’s encounter. Guardiola said at a press conference: “My thought is just Everton, no more than that. “Eleven months working for the Premier League, I don’t want to be distracted for Madrid because I won’t have time. “Well, not much, because we play Sunday – thank you so much. I don’t understand it, but I don’t want to fight for that any more. “We have to adapt to it. It doesn’t matter, I don’t fight any more the schedules. “In the end we can’t play Saturday because of Eurovision or something like that in Liverpool and we don’t have enough bodies to handle two important events sometimes. “OK, you have to adapt. What can I do? We’d prefer to play Saturday to be able to prepare but it is what it is. “I’m pretty sure the Premier League want to help the teams. I don’t think they make it uncomfortable.” Unlike Real, City will not want to ease up over the weekend as they look to keep Arsenal at bay in the title race. City go into the weekend fixtures with a clear advantage, leading the Gunners by a point with a game in hand. They could face a tough challenge against an Everton side fighting for survival and who claimed a significant victory by thrashing European hopefuls Brighton 5-1 in their last outing. Real defender Dani Carvajal has suggested the intensity of City’s fixtures could benefit the Spanish side – who drew 1-1 with City in Tuesday’s first leg – but Guardiola is confident his players can stand up to the challenge. He said: “Every player is ready to play and give his own absolute contribution. Everybody will be so important, we have a lot of games and everyone is ready Pep Guardiola “I thought a lot about a substitution in the Bernabeu. I decided on players on the bench that are so dynamic – Phil (Foden), Julian (Alvarez), Riyad (Mahrez). “But in the moment we didn’t need that, we didn’t need a player to increase our rhythm. “But everybody will be so important, we have a lot of games and everyone is ready.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal focus to be on title charge instead of player futures Sean Dyche admits decisions on players can not be made until end of season David Moyes admits there is ‘good chance’ Declan Rice will leave West Ham

Mikel Arteta has told his Arsenal players to put talks of their future on the back-burner and focus on their Premier League title charge. The Gunners head into the weekend a point behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more and with Europe-chasing Brighton travelling to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. While Arteta’s side have been in fine form this season, there are a number of issues outstanding heading into the summer. England pair Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka are believed to be close to signing new deals while Reiss Nelson is out of contract and Granit Xhaka has this week been linked with a move back to Germany. But Arteta batted away questions on the future of some of his key players on Friday and is keen for focus to remain solely on the challenge for a first league title in 19 years. “Obviously where we are with each individual is probably different in terms of timing but the clarity is there,” he said of deals for players that may be in the offing. “We have communicated to each of them what the intentions are and we are trying to get that done as quickly as possible but respecting and not losing any focus on what is the real deal right now. “The moment there is anything to announce with any individual, we will do that as a club like we always do. It’s not the moment to talk about that.” While the deals for Saka and Ramsdale are all-but finalised, Nelson could yet leave for free in the summer. Xhaka has been linked with a move away – with Bayer Leverkusen reportedly chasing his signature – but Arteta would not be drawn on the future of the Switzerland captain. “As you can understand I’m not going to be replying to certain stories,” he added. “I’m extremely happy with Granit, I think he is having an incredible season, probably the best season he has had at the club and we are really happy to have him.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sean Dyche admits decisions on players can not be made until end of season David Moyes admits there is ‘good chance’ Declan Rice will leave West Ham Man City boss Pep Guardiola focused on Everton rather than Champions League semi

Mayim Bialik is a stickler for proper pronunciation.

The Phoenix Suns ended their season the same way as last year — a blowout loss. They have a talented roster but need to make some big changes.With their season on the line, the Suns came out and laid a giant egg. They trailed by 30 at the end of the first half, drawing boos from their home...