Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend made 13 changes to his side to face Romania in the Rugby World Cup this weekend...

Jurgen Klopp has shrugged off Mohamed Salah’s tweet that there was “no excuse” for Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League as a “completely normal” reaction to their disappointment. After six successive top-four finishes, which led to three Champions League finals and victory in the competition in 2019, Liverpool were condemned to fifth place this season when Manchester United beat Chelsea on Thursday. And then Salah tweeted: “I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum.” But Klopp insisted it was just a spur-of-the-moment reaction and said his top scorer is fine now. He said: “It is completely normal. In the world of social media so many bad things happen constantly and I don’t think that was one of them. It was just a normal description of his situation, of his feeling, and in that moment directly after the game he’s right. It’s not the moment to immediately any send optimistic messages but maybe an hour or a day later. “The moment when it is a fact you cannot qualify for the Champions League anymore... even when I knew after the last game [against Aston Villa] they [Newcastle and Manchester United] need only one point, for me it was clear they would get that point. So I drew kind of a line underneath it. I’m a very optimistic person but, in this moment, I couldn’t see it. “It was just a normal description of his feeling, and he’s right, but I saw him in the canteen an hour ago and he was smiling. He is not in a bad mood.” Liverpool’s season will end at Southampton on Sunday when Darwin Nunez may be fit again to feature and Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate are doubts. Klopp has admitted that Fabio Carvalho could leave Liverpool on loan next season after a tough first year at Anfield. He said: “This was not Fabio’s best year in his career but it might have been Fabio’s most important. No player has impressed me more. It is true. This talented boy came here with big dreams and big expectations. It didn’t work out but his work ethic will give him a fantastic career. I am not sure if he goes on loan or we keep him.” Klopp believes Liverpool, who want to sign two midfielders this summer, could struggle to get their top transfer targets straight away but is unconcerned providing they arrive by early July. Liverpool often make early signings in windows and Klopp added: It’s always possible things don’t go as quick as you want. It’s not only possible, it is probably likely. The better the players you want the lesser is the desire of the other club to let him go. “And that’s exactly what we are prepared for. But it’s a long window and a long pre-season and a long break in between so we have time if we get in players tomorrow or in six or seven weeks it is not a game-changer for me.” Read More Mohamed Salah ‘devastated’ as Liverpool fail to qualify for Champions League Roberto Firmino ends glorious Liverpool career with imperfect goodbye Manchester United owe Champions League return to one man

Dennis Allen’s New Orleans Saints hoped to wrap up a perfect preseason when they hosted the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Baylor Scheierman scored 21 points and Oklahoma City native Trey Alexander added 20 as No. 15 Creighton rebounded from its first loss of the season with a 79-65 victory over Oklahoma State on Thursday night.

Unai Emery believes Aston Villa can end a 27-year wait for silverware on their return to European football this season...

Austin Ekeler has the most scrimmage touchdowns in the past two years and became the fifth running back in NFL history last season to have at least 100 catches in a season

An exhibition in how to win a World Cup and a final that delivered a painful example of what England need to do. Sarina Wiegman took her side to the very brink, but something was still just missing against a brilliant Spain. The Women’s World Cup has new champions, but it isn’t England. Spain had the one element that the European champions still lack, beyond that glorious trophy itself. They are the only women’s side with a profound football identity, which amplifies everything they do from within and was visible in the divine Olga Carmona goal that settled this contest. It was a fittingly divine strike to win a fixture like this. Against that, Wiegman could only try and rearrange the pieces to give Spain more of a puzzle to solve. It has been her great strength, but it wasn’t enough. She sadly faces defeat in successive World Cup finals, this one may be all the more painful because her side had seemed more primed for it. It was only 1-0 but the gap in pure football terms felt far greater. This is the immense challenge in facing this Spain, what space to protect, how far you can go. Even Wiegman eventually found a problem she couldn’t solve. It was a challenge - and game - too far. Follow LIVE: Latest reaction from England vs Spain in Women’s World Cup final There is no shame in that. Spain are undeniably the finest squad in the world, as symbolised by that trophy. There will be a far bigger discussion about the meaning of it all, especially as that squad won in spite of an unprecedented series of problems, culminating in this grand debate about the manager. Jorge Vilda was booed when his name was called out before the game. That won’t matter to him or the divisive Luis Rubiales amid the cheers of victory. Such is the Spanish football identity that precedes both, though, that the Spanish players essentially make him a passenger in their journey. That, lamentably, is also what they did to England for long stretches of this final. Georgia Stanway chased everything, Millie Bright won so many important balls, Jess Carter made some crucial interceptions, but it constantly felt like there was another Spanish player over. Their ability in the tightest of spaces is truly special. It very quickly became apparent that this entire game would come down to Spain maximizing their majority of possession, or allow a resolute England to play on those remaining doubts. It is after all a basic fact that Spain have by far the most sophisticated football identity in the women’s game, and that translated into some supremely choreographed passing moves. There was one made up of one-touch balls right up the pitch after about 10 minutes that was really an exhibition of how football should be played. It was also a warning to England. It was not heeded, as it was through that exact area on the right that Lucy Bronze decided to surge into it. She only ran into a phalanx of Spanish ball-players, leaving a huge gap behind. It was quickly exploited in the most exquisite fashion. This was the kind of goal that should come in a World Cup final, a moment of quality befitting the stage. Teresa Abelleira lofted over a luscious cross-field ball, the immediate contrast with Maria Caldentey’s quick touch inside only made it all the more impressive. Then, without breaking stride, Olga Carmona arrowed the ball into the corner. It was all so thrillingly fluid. If that was the perfect goal that had been coming, it wasn’t quite the perfect performance. For all that Aitana Bonmati did to make the World Cup final stage her own, Spain didn’t have complete control. They were susceptible to those sudden breaks from Alessia Russo, although the energy required for them left her looking exhausted by half-time. There was also the issue that, as majestic as 99 percent of Spain’s passes are, they so often struggled with the final ball from out wide. There were about three occasions that could have put them out of sight. When one ball did get through, Salma put it just the wrong side of the post. As it was, at 1-0, England still had a chance. The longer it stayed at that scoreline the likelier Spain were to let it get to them - something that became apparent after Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty miss. Wiegman, for her part, had proactively looked to improve that chance. She again displayed the type of assertiveness that makes her the best coach in the women’s game, switching to a 4-2-3-1 by bringing Chloe Kelly and - of course - Lauren James on for Russo and Rachel Daly. Keira Walsh began to come into the game much more, which made it all the more unfortunate that it was her innocuous handball that brought a penalty. The length of time referee Tori Penso needed to rewatch it showed how debatable it was. It may well have created doubt for Hermoso. Her penalty was poor, but Mary Earps - yet again - made the right decision. The goalkeeper understandably celebrated as if, well, she’d saved the World Cup. There was still some way to go. England were still in it. It was the sort of moment that can completely scramble the psychology of a game. England were beginning to break through more. James forced Catalina Coll into a reaction save. That was about it, though. England got a little desperate by the end, but that is perhaps inevitable from the physical and mental fatigue that comes from chasing the ball this long. These Spanish players have come through too much themselves. Alexia Putellas came on to get them over the final hurdle and enjoy the moment her own career deserves. They show how the game should be played. They show you how to win a World Cup. England should not look at that with shame. They should look at it as the final step required. Read More England v Spain LIVE: Women’s World Cup final score and updates as Lionesses search for equaliser Anti-Putin protest interrupts Women’s World Cup final Women’s World Cup golden boot: Who’s leading the top-scorer standings? Anti-Putin protest interrupts Women’s World Cup final Why are England wearing their blue kit against Spain? Sarina Wiegman has already made the biggest decision of England’s World Cup

UEFA has fined Barcelona $560,000 and Manchester United must pay $336,000 for breaking Financial Fair Play rules

Pep Guardiola has challenged his Manchester City side to achieve something special and win back-to-back Champions League titles. The treble winners begin the defence of their European crown as they host Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. City finally put years of near-misses behind them to win the competition for the first time last season but, while Guardiola is proud of their achievements, he feels their mission is not yet over. The City manager said at a press conference: “I’d like to say that for our club to win the Champions League is incredible – the first time in our history – but, in perspective, how many teams have won the Champions League once? “A lot have won two, three, four, five. In perspective, we did nothing special. It’s just one. “Let’s go. Let’s try to win tomorrow against a team so aggressive, so fast up front.” Guardiola is viewing the challenge as nothing different to past seasons, although he accepts the pressure of trying to defend the trophy will be easier than when trying to win it for the first time. “It’s most difficult to win the first one,” he said. “But every season we start the competition in the first game with the target to win the first game, then the group stage, then try to win the Champions League. Nothing changes from before. “The same for Red Star tomorrow. It depends on our performance and our level. “We’re incredibly happy to defend this crown but this competition doesn’t allow you mistakes. “But always we were so strong at home, nine points from nine. When that happens you can win just one game away and you qualify. Tomorrow is the first step.” City reached the European summit, and capped a glorious treble, when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final in Istanbul in June. Yet the club have not sat back and dwelt on their success, adding the UEFA Super Cup and starting the new Premier League campaign with five successive wins. Guardiola admits he has not even watched back the final, which was won with a single goal from Rodri. He said: “People say we won it and it’s done. It’s not done. They’re happy, we’re happy. Every time we come here, people take pictures with the four trophies. “That makes us so happy, you cannot deny, but if I wanted to live for the memories I wouldn’t be here. I’d be at home or on a beach. “I didn’t watch the game, no. Not at all. The competition gives us a new challenge so let’s at least try – and I don’t have any doubt we will try.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Conor Murray: Ireland squad in ‘unbelievable nick’ ahead of South Africa clash Eddie Jones says Australia ‘under the pump’ heading into crunch Wales showdown Scotland step up preparations ahead of second World Cup match with Tonga

Leeds United and Sam Allardyce have mutually agreed to part ways following their relegation from the Premier League.

Mason Mount has taken a surprising shirt number following his move from Chelsea to Manchester United. The 24-year-old has joined the Red Devils on a five-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.

NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris