The best players available to sign from the three teams relegated from the Premier League in 2022/23. James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Romeo Lavia are among those who could be available.

Elvis Andrus hit a game-ending RBI single in the ninth inning, helping the Chicago White Sox top the Boston Red Sox 5-4

Peter Crouch has opened up about the weird habits of one of his former Tottenham Hotspur teammates who had passion for crisps, croissants and cars – but didn’t even like football. Benoît Assou-Ekotto played 202 games for Spurs between 2006 and 2015, and became something of a cult hero at the club. But on many of those occasions the stylish left back didn’t even know which team he was playing until minutes before the match because of his total disinterest for the sport. Crouch said: “He would tell us straight out that he had no interest in football whatsoever. He genuinely didn’t like it. At 1.30pm on a Saturday he’d have no idea which team you were playing.” But perhaps the French-Cameroonian player’s strangest habit, Crouch said, was his pre-match meal – usually something professional sportspeople take extremely seriously. “Benoît would turn up with a Tesco’s bag containing the same four items every time: a croissant, a hot chocolate, a full-fat Coke and a packet of crisps. “The croissant I understood. He is French-Cameroonian. The hot chocolate: same cultural backstory. He used to dip the first into the second. “But the crisps, and the Coke — it was like two discrete lunches, one belonging to a middle-aged Parisian and the other a 12-year-old on the Seven Sisters Road. “And it worked. He was always in great shape and rarely injured.” Crouch, 42, was speaking in an interview with the Mail, ahead of the release of a documentary about his career. Both players were fan favourites at the club, Crouch for his towering height and Assou-Ekotto for his flair-filled runs down the wing. Assou-Ekotto made 22 appearances for Cameroon during his 14-year career, which also saw him play for Queen’s Park Rangers, Lens and Saint Étienne. Crouch added: “We accepted it, along with all the other weirdness: the random cars he would turn up to training in, sometimes a Smart car, then a Lamborghini; the way he would refuse to take ice baths for recovery, on the rather basic premise that they were 'too cold'. “Benoît was a really weird guy but we loved him a lot.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A European Championship spot is within reach for England as Gareth Southgate’s team hosts scandal-hit Italy at Wembley in a repeat of the 2021 final

In today's NBA rumors, James Harden is likely to play with the 76ers on opening night, the Rockets could use newly acquired pieces in another trade and Bob Myers praised the Knicks transformation.

Sloppy Aston Villa crashed to a chaotic Europa Conference League defeat at Legia Warsaw. Ernest Muci’s second-half winner spoiled Villa’s debut in the competition as Legia pulled off a deserved 3-2 victory in Poland. Pawel Wszolek and Muci had twice given Legia a first-half lead only for Jhon Duran and Lucas Digne to peg them back. Muci pounced six minutes into the second half and Villa never recovered. Legia boss Kosta Runjaic had billed it as a David v Goliath tie, with Legia going into the Group E opener with hope rather than expectation. Captain Josue, pointed out the vastly different transfer values between the squads. Maybe it was reverse psychology but they were far from overwhelmed and picked holes in Villa’s sloppy defence. Villa are expected to not just qualify from the group with ease but challenge for the title in Athens next May but they will have to significantly improve if that is to be the case. It look just two minutes for the energetic hosts to unpick their visitors with worrying simplicity. Muci sent Patryk Kun scampering down the right and he crossed for the onrushing Wszolek to fire in from eight yards. That Legia conceded 13 goals while qualifying for the group stage would have given Villa encouragement for any comeback and, sure enough, it took just four minutes to level. Nicolo Zaniolo’s strike from 25 yards was turned onto the bar by Kacper Tobiasz and Duran reacted quickest to nod in from close range. Villa managed to steady themselves as game settled after a rapid start, until Legia regained the lead after 26 minutes. Again the threat came from out wide, this time from the right. Wszolek was given too much time by Digne to cross for Muci to smash in. Defensively Villa had been weak, switching off when it mattered most, and Ezri Konsa was the next to escape when Muci went down under pressure in the area but referee Evangelos Manouchos was unmoved. Still Legia found gaps in the Villa backline when Marc Gual tested Emi Martinez and the visitors looked far from tournament favourites. Duran’s goal had been their only serious chance but Unai Emery’s men levelled against the run of play six minutes before the break. Leon Bailey tricked his way through, John McGinn’s shot was blocked and fell to Digne on the edge of the box for the left-back’s deflected volley to find the top corner. Villa had taken their opportunities to redeem themselves and Legia still needed Tobiasz’s leg to deny Duran an undeserved third just before the break. Yet if they thought they had tamed Legia they were badly mistaken and, like the first half, the hosts wasted little time in the second. Emery would have despaired at how open his side were when Gual picked out Muci to run at Konsa, he was pushed wide by Calum Chambers but still managed to squeeze his shot across Martinez and in off a post. Reinforcements were needed and Ollie Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby arrived but Villa almost fell further behind when Gual just failed to turn in after Martinez parried Bartosz Slisz’s drive. From then there appeared little way back with Legia comfortable, Tobiasz never tested – even when Jacob Ramsey shot wide. Outside of their qualifiers, it had been a long 13 years to return to Europe for Villa. It was not worth the wait. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Liverpool come from behind to secure Europa League victory against LASK Harry Kane happy with Bayern Munich start in Europe – Thursday’s sporting social Durham are Division Two champions after bowling out Worcestershire

All-Stars Sean Murphy and Matt Olson homered as the Atlanta Braves bounced back from one of their rare losses over the past month by beating the Cleveland Guardians 8-1

Ruud van Nistelrooy, a bonafide Manchester United legend has quit his managerial position at PSV Eindhoven in bizarre circumstances. Despite lifting two trophies with the Dutch side - the KNVB cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield, van Nistelrooy has resigned with a game remaining in the Eredivisie, and will not see out the season at PSV. The club could still seal a second place finish in the Dutch league with a win over AZ Alkmaar (who have been in the news for their own reasons recently), but the ex-striker will no longer oversee that - a reward in itself behind a dominant and immovable Ajax side. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter PSV's statement read as follows: 'PSV regrets van Nistelrooy's decision and is grateful to him for winning the Johan Cruyff Shield and the TOTO KNVB Cup this season and hopes to close the football year with second place.' According to a number of outlets, friction behind the scenes is the cause of van Nistelrooy's dramatic departure. PSV lost two stars to Premier League sides - with Noni Madueke joining Chelsea and Cody Gakpo moving to Liverpool. Bold also state that van Nistelrooy chose to suddenly depart after realising a lack of support for his methods - following a series of meetings with the board regarding 'internal matters'. Van Nistelrooy leaves PSV having won 65 per cent of his games in charge, after a long stint as a backroom and youth coach at the club. It's not the first time he has departed PSV either - in 2001 he left the club to grow his legend at Manchester United. Perhaps something similar will follow now? Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Which MLB teams are lighting up the scoreboard, and which are having a tough time punishing pitchers?The MLB season is roughly one-third of the way complete. In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers stand proudly above the rest. In the NL, the battle for No. 1 is split three ...

Lionel Messi’s goalscoring streak lives on, as does Inter Miami’s winning streak

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has insisted that Dougie Freedman is not in talks with Manchester United over their vacant sporting director post.

A comprehensive review of Barcelona's 2022/23 season, including their full record, transfers, best players, best signing and biggest disappointment.