Liverpool cruised into the Europa League knock-out stages with a match to spare as a 4-0 victory over LASK confirmed their place as group winners. Early goals from Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo were enhanced by a second-half Mohamed Salah penalty – his 199th goal for the club – and an added-time strike by Gakpo as Toulouse’s draw with Union Saint-Gilloise means a dreaded round-of-32 play-off was avoided. That mere fact alone will have delighted manager Jurgen Klopp, whose pre-match press conference had been littered with references to the intense December period ahead, but a club-record 12 points in the group stage shows how dominant the tournament favourites have been. The Reds’ 100 percent home record was extended to 10 games and a third successive Anfield clean sheet for the first time since October 2022 means they have only conceded four times in front of their own fans while scoring 30. In reality, that record was never in danger as the Austrians are the weakest side in the group and that frailty was exposed twice inside three minutes early on by a home side registering nine changes, with only Salah and left-back Kostas Tsimikas retained from the weekend draw at Manchester City. A move which started on the left ended up on the right from where Joe Gomez crossed for Diaz to stoop and power home a twisting header. The second goal came from the same flank as Salah, teed up by Diaz, picked out Gakpo at the far post for the simplest of close-range volleyed finishes. Tsimikas smashed a fierce drive against the crossbar and the overwhelming confidence of the hosts was exemplified by Gomez, who has never scored in eight years at the club, drilling a 25-yard shot just wide. Much of the half appeared to revolve in getting Salah to his double century as the team tried to pick him out at every opportunity, whether he be menacingly poised on the shoulder of the last defender or inside the penalty area. Two chances went begging when his angled shot turned into more of a cross but still evaded Gakpo before he fired tamely at the goalkeeper. Six minutes into the second half Salah finally found the net but he owed it all to Gakpo. The Netherlands international’s short through-ball to Diaz missed his intended target but the Dutchman was alert enough to chase his own pass and somehow get there before goalkeeper Tobias Lawal, who brought him down. Lawal showed a similar lack of reaction in watching Salah tuck the penalty into the corner of the net without even attempting a dive. That was enough to put the result beyond doubt but the feeling was there were more goals to be had as Gakpo hit the base of a post from outside the area, although the Dutchman eventually got a deserved second in added time. The arrival of Darwin Nunez, and to a lesser extent Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones, livened up proceedings, with the former putting in one of his now typical all-action hit-and-miss performances. It erred more towards the latter as, after Harvey Elliott’s deflected shot was repelled by the goalkeeper’s legs as he dived the other way, the Uruguay international had one effort diverted wide and then shot straight at Lawal from eight yards. Marin Ljubcic blazed over the visitors’ best chance with only Caoimhin Kelleher to beat and the Liverpool goalkeeper, set for his longest run in the side due to Alisson Becker being sidelined for a fortnight with a hamstring injury, did not have anything to do until the last 20 minutes. When he was called upon he was not flustered, coming out to smother Ibrahim Mustapha, repelling Moses Usor’s shot and producing a reaction stop from LASK’s top scorer Robert Zulj, but even Sunday’s shot-shy visitors Fulham – scorers of only 13 goals in as many games – will provide a sterner test. Read More Alex Moreno stars as Aston Villa progress in Europa Conference League You’ve got to dream big: Lewis Dunk eyes Europa League glory with Brighton David Moyes urges West Ham to finish the job and top Group A Tomas Soucek snatches late winner for West Ham in Serbia Joao Pedro penalty sends Brighton through to Europa League knockout stages Five bad weeks do not define a team – England’s Ben Duckett

Snapdragon will be Manchester United’s shirt sponsor from the start of the 2024-25 season

In a way-too-early look at offseason MLB rumors, here are three dark horse candidates to be traded this winter -- and the favorites to land them.In my last early MLB offseason preview, I speculated that star first baseman Pete Alonso, outfielder Alek Thomas and right-hander Corbin Burnes could a...

The Yankees traded Jordan Montgomery because Brian Cashman didn't think he'd make NY's playoff rotation. Now he's dominating the postseason for the Rangers.

Sarina Wiegman has named her World Cup squad with 23 Lionesses now confirmed to be on the plane - and a selection of big names missing out. There were already set to be more than one huge star missing, with Fran Kirby and captain Leah Williamson both injured and set to watch on over summer as the England women’s team look to add the game’s biggest trophy to the one they won at Euro 2022 last summer. But as ever, where big calls have to be made, the manager must always leave some out - here are the key unfortunate few who have missed the call this time around. Beth Mead The biggest question mark was over Beth Mead and despite being ahead of schedule in her recovery from an ACL tear, the talented forward was not deemed close enough to full fitness by Wiegman to take a place in the 23. The 50-cap Arsenal attacker was desperate to make it, but it’s an understandable - if massive - call to leave her watching on. Steph Houghton The former England captain was left out of Wiegman’s Euros squad following an injury-hit season with Manchester City, and has not been given the chance for a recall despite the loss of skipper Leah Williamson. Wiegman had already admitted it was unlikely Houghton will make the World Cup after the 34-year-old gave an interview to the BBC where she said she has not given up hope of being selected. Houghton could have brought experience to the England squad but Wiegman had long since made up her mind. Esme Morgan Tipped by Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor as a future England captain, Morgan had been in and out of Wiegman’s squad this season, so a World Cup omission isn’t the biggest of surprises. The versatile 22-year-old started alongside Williamson against Australia in April, in recognition of her impressive club form, but England weren’t as defensively secure as usual. Her time will come. Jess Park Wiegman has had plenty of looks at the 21-year-old at various times this season, including during the Arnold Clark Cup where she started in midfield against Italy. Selection for fixtures against Brazil and Australia was another huge vote of confidence, even if she didn’t see much game time. Wiegman perhaps saw Park as a potential replacement for Fran Kirby but a shoulder injury that ended her season came at a bad time. Definitely one for the future and she’s named on the standby list for this tournament. Nikita Parris The Manchester United attacker has clocked up more than 70 caps but hasn’t been involved in a squad since November last year, having been an option off the bench for Wiegman in the successful Euro 2022 campaign. Having moved from Arsenal last summer Parris was hoping to find her best form, but despite playing a regular role in the second half of the WSL campaign, hasn’t quite managed to reestablish herself on the international scene. Parris had failed to find the net in the league between late October and late April, though did score twice in the last four matches of the season. Maya Le Tissier Another who makes the standby list, Le Tissier received her first senior call-up in November last year and has since won two caps, following a move to Manchester United last summer. The 21-year-old defender - an FA Cup runner-up two weeks ago - was on the bench for the Finalissima penalty shoot-out victory over Brazil in April and clearly has a big role to play in future, but will have to wait for her first major tournament. Read More England announce Women’s World Cup squad England Women’s World Cup squad LIVE: Sarina Wiegman announces group Predicting England’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane? The key questions facing England ahead of Women’s World Cup squad announcement What time is England’s Women’s World Cup squad announcement? Making World Cup squad would be ‘stuff of dreams’, says Man City’s Laura Coombs

Imagine being able to make a bet with this level of specificity: the Yankees’ Aaron Judge will hit a home run on the fourth pitch he sees in a given at bat, which will be a curveball spinning at a certain speed

Chase Elliott says he can’t rely on repeating last summer’s success, starting with his home track at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as his path to NASCAR’s playoffs

Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul could be waived by the Phoenix Suns but he is looking to help a team win. Here are contenders that could benefit from adding him.Reportedly, star point guard Chris Paul could be waived by the Phoenix Suns in the next week or two. Paul is a 12-time all-star, five-t...

A rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk would reportedly not be for the status of undisputed heavyweight champion, due to a key ruling by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) this week. It was announced last week that WBC champion Fury and Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, will box each other in Saudi Arabia – likely before the end of March. ESPN reported this week that the contract for the fight, which is set to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 20 years, includes a two-way rematch clause. Therefore, the loser, whoever that may be, can ensure a second bout against the winner without having to fight a different opponent first. However, the IBF has ruled that the winner of Fury vs Usyk must box mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic before any rematch takes place, per ESPN. Otherwise, the winner of Fury vs Usyk will be stripped of the IBF belt, and their rematch will only be for the remaining belts. Croatian Hrgovic, who holds an unbeaten record, told ESPN: “The IBF wrote that if I won my last fight and if Usyk beat [Daniel] Dubois, the IBF would enforce my mandatory status to fight Usyk for the title. “The IBF has now allowed Tyson Fury and Usyk to do a unification first. The winner of that fight is mandated to fight me immediately after, with no other intervening fight, so I expect to fight for the heavyweight championship early next year. “I’m disappointed at the delay, but I will stay ready, and I won’t let it distract me from my goal of winning the title. Whether against Usyk or Fury, my time is coming.” Ukrainian Usyk, 36, retained his titles with a stoppage win over Dubois in August, after climbing off the canvas following a controversial low blow, which many viewers believed was a legal body shot by Dubois. Dubois’s promoter Frank Warren, who also promotes Fury, lobbied for a rematch but to no avail so far. Meanwhile, Briton Fury has not fought since December, when he retained the WBC title against Derek Chisora, whom he had already beaten twice before. Fury, 35, is set to fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou next, facing the mixed martial artist in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia on 28 October. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Tyson Fury contacts cruiserweight champion for help before Oleksandr Usyk showdown Tommy Fury explains why he has ‘never been fan’ of KSI ahead of crunch boxing match Let’s get ready to rumble! Inside the ropes with boxing’s ring announcers

Arcangelo was declared the winner of the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes in New York.

Anthony Edwards scored 21 points, Cameron Johnson added 13 and USA Basketball never trailed Friday in a 108-86 win over Greece in a World Cup tune-up game for both teams

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce set the Internet on fire on Sunday as she attended the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears. Swift is sitting with K