List of All Articles with Tag 'eppersons'

Jurgen Klopp reacts to ongoing Mohamed Salah transfer saga amid Al Ittihad interest.

Israel Adesanya returns this weekend, defending his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 293. Adesanya regained the belt by knocking out Alex Pereira in April, five months after dropping the gold to the Brazilian, and his second reign continues on Saturday as he headlines in Sydney. The Nigerian-New Zealander had his eyes on Dricus Du Plessis, but an injury to the South African means that grudge match must wait. Instead, Adesanya (24-2) defends the title against Strickland (27-5). The controversial, outspoken American is ranked fifth at middleweight, and he enters Australia on a two-fight win streak. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is UFC 293? The event is set to take place on Saturday 9 September, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The early prelims are due to begin at 11.30pm BST (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 10 September (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then scheduled for 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help: Get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Odds Adesanya – 2/13 Strickland – 9/2 Via Betway. • Get all the latest UFC betting sites’ offers Full card (subject to change) Main card Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland (middleweight title) Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov (heavyweight) Manel Kape vs Felipe dos Santos (flyweight) Justin Tafa vs Austen Lane (heavyweight) Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj (light-heavyweight) Prelims Carlos Ulberg vs Da Woon Jung (light-heavyweight) Jack Jenkins vs Chepe Mariscal (featherweight) Jamie Mullarkey vs John Makdessi (lightweight) Nasrat Haqparast vs Landon Quinones (lightweight) Early prelims Mike Diamond vs Charlie Radtke (welterweight) Shane Young vs Gabriel Miranda (featherweight) Kevin Jousset vs Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight) Read More Deja vu for Ciryl Gane as heavyweight scores statement win at UFC Paris UFC president Dana White hits out at ‘idiot’ who tried to break into his house UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year When is the next UFC event? UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year Deja vu for Ciryl Gane as heavyweight scores statement win at UFC Paris

Arizona, Miami and San Francisco are tied for the National League's last wild card at 70-67

Jeļena Ostapenko extended her impressive unbeaten record over world No. 1 Iga Świątek on Sunday, eliminating the defending US Open champion in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson insists the players have no concerns about “ultimate professional” Mohamed Salah’s immediate future as speculation of a potential world-record bid from Saudi Arabia continues. Pro League champions Al-Ittihad last week had a £150million offer rejected by Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, who now considers the matter closed. However, that has not done anything to prevent suggestions they could return with a bid around the £200m mark for the 31-year-old, who is the world’s highest-profile Arab player. Manager Jurgen Klopp reiterated the club’s stance after the 3-0 win over Aston Villa, in which Salah scored and had a hand in the other two goals, and Robertson said the squad were united in their belief there would be no departure before Thursday’s closure of the Saudi transfer window. “For us we block that out, Mo blocks it out. We let other people talk about that,” he said. “For us there is no concern. For us Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that is what is going to be the case for the foreseeable future. “He’s the ultimate professional. He does what it does, he is one of the best players in the world and he is professional. “He lets other people do the talking, let’s other people say what they have to say, but he’s always been committed to Liverpool and you saw that with the performance he put in. “The club’s position was that it knocked it back, it rejected the bid and that is what the stance was. For us there is no concern. For us Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that is what is going to be the case for the foreseeable future Liverpool defender Andy Robertson “For me Mo has been Mo all week. He’s not been affected; I’ve been around him a lot and he’s not been affected by anything. “Mo has reacted in the best way possible and I think you have seen that with his performance, I think he was pretty special.” At every media appearance over the last two weeks Klopp and the players have had to deal with questions about the future of Salah, who has two years left on a contract signed last summer which made him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. But Robertson said it had not been destabilising or affected the squad’s focus as they made it 10 points from a possible 12 to head into the international break in third place in the Premier League. “Look, there is speculation around a lot of players and it is how we deal with it and he (Salah) has obviously done well,” he added. “Our squad is what it is and that’s the squad that is going to go forward now with the window shut. “It is about getting the most out of the squad, it is about looking forward to the season ahead and trying to do better than what we did last season.” After some criticism over recruitment following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, coincidentally to Saudi Pro League clubs, Liverpool’s squad looks refreshed and re-energised. World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, both signed before the start of pre-season, are starting to look like the long-term future of midfield they were brought in to be, with the latter scoring his first goal for the club against Villa in an impressive all-round performance in a comfortable victory. “I thought it was probably our best performance of the season so far, which is pleasing,” said Robertson. “I thought they (the midfield) were excellent, but to be honest I thought every player was excellent – even the subs who came on – it was a complete squad performance.” On Szoboszlai’s goal, a sweetly-struck shot from the edge of the penalty area for which he built a reputation at previous club RB Leipzig, the Scotland captain added: “We’ve maybe not seen as much of it in games as we have seen in training but he’s got a pretty nice strike on him, that’s for sure. “Technically he is a very gifted player, we’ve seen that already and I think he’ll have a big career here and we are looking forward to being a part of it.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Police launch investigation following alleged assault on Roy Keane Marcus Trescothick backs struggling England pair to get back among the runs Football rumours: Door not closed on Joao Palhinha’s Bayern Munich move

The NL MVP race is going down to the wire

Jadon Sancho has claimed he is being made a “scapegoat” by Erik ten Hag after the Manchester United manager suggested the winger was dropped due to his performances in training. Sancho is yet to start a game for Manchester United this season and was left out of the squad entirely for their visit to Arsenal on Sunday which saw his side fall to a late 3-1 defeat after injury-time goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus. After the game, the United manager addressed the English forward’s absence, clarifying that it was down to his levels of performance in training in the week leading up to the match. “Jadon [Sancho] was absent [based] on his performance on the training,” Ten Hag said. “We didn’t select him. You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices on the frontline, so for this game, he wasn’t selected.” However, the 23-year-old has since hit back at the Dutch manager’s words, with a public statement on social media suggesting that other reasons were behind his dropping and refuting the claims of poor training. “Please don’t believe everything you read,” Sancho wrote. “I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter which I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair! “All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to the team. I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!” Sancho has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in United’s team since his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. The Englishman missed three months at the end of last season due to various physical issues. He has scored just 12 goals in 82 games for the club in all competitions. While Sancho watched from home, United extended their dreadful recent record at the Emirates. Having gone ahead through Marcus Rashford, they were pegged back instantly by Martin Odegaard’s strike. Having seen Alejandro Garnacho’s late strike ruled out by VAR for offside, Rice’s deflected strike from a corner – followed by Jesus’s composed finish on the break – secured a dramatic win for the home side. Read More Police launch investigation following alleged assault on Roy Keane Police investigate after Keane ‘headbutted’ following Arsenal win over Man Utd Arteta praises ‘magic’ Rice as £105m midfielder proves match winner vs Man United

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offers some unique advice to the struggling Kai Havertz.

The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into an alleged assault involving Roy Keane during Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates. Keane, who was working for Sky Sports on the day, was allegedly headbutted by a fan after an altercation during the game on Sunday afternoon. A clip has since emerged on social media, in which Roy Keane and fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards can be seen confronting a man. It is unconfirmed at what point during the game the incident took place. The clip does not appear to show the alleged incident taking place but it does show Richards holding the shirt of a man and confronting the individual. Keane appears in the background of the short clip talking with the man and Richards. The pair were working the game alongside former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott In a statement, the Met Police said: “Police are investigating following an assault that is alleged to have occurred at the Emirates Stadium during an Arsenal v Manchester United match on Sunday, 3 September. “There have been no arrests. Enquiries are ongoing.” Sky Sports have confirmed on their website that the former United captain and City right-back have given statements to the police. In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said: “We understand the police are investigating an alleged assault by a member of the public immediately preceding the footage circulating on social media. “In the footage seen, Micah Richards was acting to diffuse a situation.” On the pitch, it was Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus’s injury-time goals that secured a dramatic 3-1 victory for Mikel Arteta’s side against United. Arsenal conceded the game’s opening goal courtesy of Marcus Rashford’s curling effort but hit back less than two minutes later when Martin Odegaard swept home from the edge of the box. In the second half, Kai Havertz thought he had won a penalty after a challenge from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, only for the decision to be overturned after a VAR check. Erik ten Hag’s side then thought they had won the game late on when Alejandro Garnacho slotted home in the 87 minute. In a second contentious VAR decision, the Argentine’s goal was ruled out for offside before Rice secured the win for Arsenal with a deflected effort from a corner and his first goal for the club. Deep into injury time, the returning Jesus would add a third with a composed finish on the break. Read More Police launch investigation following alleged assault on Roy Keane Arteta praises ‘magic’ Rice as £105m midfielder proves match winner vs Man United Football rumours: Door not closed on Joao Palhinha’s Bayern Munich move

Carlos Sainz chased down thieves and retrieved his watch worth £500,000 in a scary robbery incident in Milan just hours after Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari star Sainz, still in his team kit, was targeted near the Armani hotel in central Milan at around 8:30pm on Sunday evening, reports in Italy detail. Sainz, alongside members of his entourage and the public, then chased the thieves and successfully recovered his Richard Mille watch worth in the region of £500,000. Local police have arrested two suspects. The unsavoury incident is a sour end to a largely encouraging weekend for Sainz – who was on pole after a storming performance in qualifying on Saturday – as the Spaniard was on the podium for the first time this season. Spaniard driver Sainz, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday, finished Sunday’s race on the podium in third place, with Max Verstappen victorious at Monza. It is not the first occasion an F1 driver has been targeted by thieves: Lando Norris had a £144,000 watch stolen outside Wembley following the Euro 2020 final between Italy and England in July 2021. Norris was also robbed whilst with friends in Marbella earlier this year. Sainz’s team-mate Charles Leclerc has also had a Richard Mille watch stolen, in the Italian resort of Viareggio last year. Read More Max Verstappen breaks new ground with record victory at Italian Grand Prix The moment McLaren failed with a ‘dummy’ pit-stop over shrewd Williams Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz gets goosebumps after landing pole for Italian Grand Prix

Fara Williams has said she is "immensely proud" of the Lionesses World Cup performance but has noted the different ways the women's game needs improvement to continue this momentum for future generations. The entire country got behind England as they reached the final where their campaign ended in heartbreak after they were defeated 1-0 by Spain. However, the side managed by Sarina Wiegman has had an impressive run after they won the Women's Euros at Wembley last year. Williams, the 39-year-old ex-England player was a Lioness for 18 years and had an impressive club career winning two WSL titles, some of the clubs she played for include Chelsea, Charlton, Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Reading. In 2016, Williams collected an MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours list and is now a popular pundit where she commentated for the BBC at the Women's World Cup this summer, these achievements have solidified her legendary status in the women's game. Now, Williams has collaborated with Sports Direct as a brand ambassador to improve how the sport is represented - with 44 per cent of fans thinking women’s sport should be better represented in the media. The former footballer has told Indy100 her thoughts on the Lionesses's performance at the World Cup, how representation has changed over the years and the importance of improving the representation in women's football from the grassroots. How did it feel to see England in the final, and the country getting behind the Lionesses? "Obviously immensely proud to see the Lionesses reach a World Cup final, a year on from the success of the Euros in England. "It was an incredible achievement to go two finals back to back the way they did, and I think they changed the perception of the women's game and put some respect on it finally, after so many years." From when you started playing football professionally up until now – have you seen a shift in attitude when it comes to representation? "Since I played to now, I think there's been a huge shift in mentality and how people view the women's game and see it. "There wasn't any respect or visibility for it before. I think the fact that there are now broadcasters that showcase it, brands that want to represent some of the players and highlight them - not just individually but collectively. "The representation of that has certainly changed and shifted over the years and is in a really good place, obviously still growing. So yeah, it's been really positive since I played and then since retirement." What areas of women’s football need improvement to continue the momentum the Lionesses have created from the Euros and the World Cup? "I think there are a few areas that need to improve in the women's game to continue the momentum of the Lionesses’ success. "The grassroots end of the game is something that I'm passionate about, trying to improve the quality that's down there. I think obviously, in the women's league structures, it's very top-heavy with the Lionesses, but in order to create a competitive, more balanced league and a future for the game, there are areas that need to be improved within that." "And then obviously each individual club and the way that they're supported as a whole has to be improved, in terms of staffing, facilities etc. "But it’s certainly changed, and there's obviously more teams now that are more supported than there ever has been before. "So it's in a good place but still room for improvement and, you know, hopefully, the steps after the success of the Lionesses will continue to improve." With the Women’s World Cup creating a buzz online, how has social media played a role in helping people wake up to the tournament and women’s football in general? "Yeah, I think social media has played a huge part in helping to grow the women's game and to grow interest in it. I think it's been a good way of showing individual personalities from each of the Lionesses, obviously club football as well - it's helped with that. "So yeah, it's played a huge part and now the fact that there's more females being seen on these platforms obviously highlights and increases interest moving forward." How is the Sports Direct Equal View campaign working to improve representation? "Sports Direct’s Equal View campaign is working to improve the representation of females in football. "It’s a huge move in terms of showcasing sportswomen and footballers in general, and the fact that it's going to be more equal in terms of showing men and women." I personally don't think I've seen it done before and it is massive progress that will allow young girls and boys to dream of being a professional footballer. What would your younger self make of the increasing representation in the women’s game? "I unfortunately didn't get the opportunity to see female role models when I was growing up, to aspire to be like any of them - now there are so many good female role models within the game and sport in general, that young girls can look up to and actually dream. "And not just dream, but those dreams can become a reality. So yeah, I would have certainly been buzzing as a younger me seeing all of it." How did you think England performed in the WC Final and the tournament overall? "I think England's performances in the World Cup, throughout the tournament, were a bit up and down. I think they played against opposition that we clearly could see they weren't used to playing against. "So obviously, giving them different challenges in terms of what they had to play up against. "But I felt they dealt with challenges really well for the tournament, they had a depleted squad going into it. I think a lot of us didn't expect or think that they would go as far as they did, given the fact of all the injuries they had going into the tournament, but I certainly think they showed maturity. "They showed a togetherness that allowed them to underperform and win games. And I think that's something that Lionesses have never been able to do before. "So I think it just showed great strength and character within the squad. Of course, in the final we all wanted the Lionesses to win and bring back the World Cup, but it wasn't to be and on reflection, I think the better team won - credit to Spain. "But I wouldn't say their preparation was any different. I just think the execution of the game plan was better than ours on the day. Games are made on moments, they had their moment and took it. "But as I said before, the fact that the Lionesses got there - they certainly changed the perception of the game and put huge respect on women's football in general, which I think can only be positive moving forward. "They captured a nation yet again, new followers, new interest, and that's only going to help with the growth. We saw the amount of fans that attended, the millions that watched worldwide. So it proves that there is an interest in our sport." Sports Direct is working with Getty to capture football fans across the world, seeking to improve the representation of women’s football fans by creating a digital bank of images that show an equal view of the WC23, available from August 24. 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.

Professional wrestler, Phil Brooks aka CM Punk, appeared to say the word 'goodbye' in his final match for All Elite Wrestling prior to him getting fired less than a week later. 44-year-old Punk had his contract with All Elite Wrestling terminated on Saturday following an investigation into a series of backstage incidents involving the star at the company's All In event held in Wembley Stadium on August 27th. Before his 'Real World Championship' match with Samoa Joe, which opened the show, Punk reportedly got into a physical confrontation with Jack Perry and was also said to have 'lunged' at AEW owner Tony Khan resulting in several monitors falling over. Despite this, Punk was said to have been calmed down by Samoa Joe and their planned match still went ahead with Punk prevailing. In his post-match celebrations, Punk signalled to the record-breaking 81,000 crowd in attendance with some fans believing that he said 'goodbye' in that moment to his supporters. However, some have speculated that the words might have been a small tribute to legendary wrestler Terry Funk who passed away that week. In a statement released on Saturday, Khan announced that Punk had been released from his contracts adding that he himself felt threatened by what happened at Wembley. 'I've been going to wrestling shows for over 30 years. I've been producing them on this network for nearly four years,' Khan said. 'Never, in all that time, have I ever felt, until last Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life, was in danger at a wrestling show." CM Punk is yet to comment on the incident or his contract termination. Sign up for 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.