Rugby World Cup: Fiji win v Australia ‘worst result’ for Wales
The surprise result raises the stakes for Wales' upcoming clash with the Wallabies, fans say.
2023-09-18 17:53
Trent Alexander-Arnold close to new Liverpool contract amid Real Madrid & Barcelona interest
The latest update on Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract negotiations with Liverpool.
2023-09-18 17:48
Reece James committed to Chelsea despite Real Madrid interest
Reece James has no interest in leaving Chelsea despite interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona & Bayern Munich
2023-09-18 17:47
Daniel Levy to face questions from supporters at Tottenham Fans Forum
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will face questions from supporters at a Fans Forum at the club’s stadium on Tuesday night. It will be a rare public appearance from Levy with this set to be the first Fans Forum hosted by Spurs since Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte and now Ange Postecoglou all sitting in the managerial hotseat since. Postecoglou will be alongside Levy as part of a panel that includes new captain Son Heung-min, women’s head coach Robert Vilahamn and newly appointed women’s captain Bethany England, who helped the Lionesses reach the World Cup final last month. While Levy took part in a Q&A session at The Cambridge Union Society earlier this year, this will be an opportunity for Tottenham supporters to quiz the club’s long-serving chairman following a tumultuous 12-month period. Spurs have enjoyed an excellent start to life under new boss Postecoglou this season, but Levy was forced to part company with Conte in March while several fan protests occurred during the latter stages of the 2022-23 campaign with repeated chants at matches for the chairman to leave. A demonstration over increased match day ticket prices occurred before last month’s win at home to Manchester United and Tottenham remain without a director of football following Fabio Paratici’s resignation in April after he was given a worldwide ban for allegations of false accounting at Juventus. Levy also sanctioned the sale of record goal-scorer Harry Kane in August, but he did attend a Fan Advisory Board meeting with members from Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Spurs REACH and Proud Lilywhites earlier this month at Lilywhite House. It was revealed during the two-hour long meeting on September 5 that Spurs were set to replace Paratici with the appointment of a technical director while Scott Munn, the club’s chief football officer, will start later in September. Levy was asked during the meeting by THST representative Steve Cavalier what does success look like for the club and how is it measured? “This changes over time, but the most important thing for the club is to be a highly competitive team that wins and, importantly, entertains fans,” Levy replied according to minutes of the meeting. Levy later expanded: “The strategy to date has been to invest in the playing squads, build a new training centre and increased stadium capacity. “The focus now is to optimize those investments – both tangible and intangible – and drive revenues that enable the club to reinvest in players and create a winning club.” Meanwhile, Levy provided an insight into potential plans for the women’s team this season with scope to host more matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to the men’s side only having Premier League commitments between now and January. The most important thing for the club is to be a highly competitive team that wins and, importantly, entertains fans. Daniel Levy told a Tottenham FAB meeting “With no European fixtures this season, more women’s first team fixtures could be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” Levy told the FAB meeting. On the women’s team, Levy stated “it is a long-term project” and “while it currently loses a lot of money is a way of engaging a new fanbase” with an initial goal to challenge for the top-six in the Women’s Super League. Ahead of Tuesday’s Fans Forum, which will be a 90-minute Q&A session in front of 250 Tottenham supporters selected by a ballot, it was revealed by Spurs director Donna Marie-Cullen that a “full ticketing review” was in hand. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Scott McTominay emerges as alternative Bayern option On this day in 2020: Liverpool sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich The sporting weekend in pictures
2023-09-18 17:27
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to miss Japanese Grand Prix due to knee surgery
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will be absent from this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix as he undergoes knee surgery. The 51-year-old is set to have an operation in his native Austria to restore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg. Wolff damaged his knee a number of years ago and blamed it for a cycling accident during Formula One’s summer break which left him with a fractured elbow. Wolff’s role will be divided between a number of the team’s staff – including driver development director Jerome D’Ambrosio, the Belgian who took part in 20 F1 races in 2010 and 2011, and Mercedes’ long-serving British chief communications officer Bradley Lord – often seen shadowing Wolff at the back of the garage. It is understood Wolff will be on the team’s intercom across the weekend. Mercedes will head to Suzuka perhaps fearing that their best shot at victory this year may have escaped them following Carlos Sainz’s triumph at the Singapore Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Sainz became the first non-Red Bull driver to win this season – ending the world champions’ unbeaten streak and Max Verstappen’s record run of 10 consecutive victories. Lewis Hamilton finished third, just 1.2 seconds behind Sainz, after George Russell – who at one point looked likely to win following Mercedes’ roll of the strategy dice – crashed out on the final lap. Verstappen qualified 11th and finished fifth, 21 seconds adrift of Sainz. But Hamilton fears Red Bull’s lack of speed on the streets of Singapore is because they have already turned their attention to next season. While Verstappen can now not be crowned champion of the world for a third time in Japan, it is possible he could clinch the title in Qatar on October 8 with five rounds still left. And asked if Red Bull’s blip provided him with hope Verstappen’s dominance could be coming to an end, Hamilton, 38, said: “If you think about it, they probably haven’t been developing their car. “McLaren brought an upgrade here. Other teams are still bringing upgrades, and they’re working on next year’s car. They would have definitely migrated to 2024 before us. “So it is just one of those things. They are so far ahead that maybe they’re not developing their car, while we are still pushing to develop our current one.” Verstappen, who warned in the build-up to Sunday’s city-state race that the high-downforce street track would not suit Red Bull, said he expects to be back on top in Suzuka. Wolff, who is likely to return for the Qatar GP, added: “They will be strong again. The track in Singapore was an outlier for us when we were dominant and I have no doubt they will be strong on conventional race tracks.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lance Stroll to sit out Singapore Grand Prix after huge crash in qualifying ‘You can forget about that’ – Max Verstappen rules out another win in Singapore Lance Stroll crashes into barrier at 110mph in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying
2023-09-18 17:19
Football transfer rumours: Man Utd ready Gnabry bid; Arsenal plan Tottenham raid
Monday's football transfer rumours include Serge Gnabry, Yves Bissouma, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Thomas Partey, Reece James & more.
2023-09-18 16:20
Football rumours: Scott McTominay emerges as alternative Bayern option
What the papers say Potential ins and outs at Manchester United continue to attract plenty of attention with Scott Mctominay again linked with a move away from Old Trafford. The Daily Mirror reports the Scotland midfielder, 26, is a potential alternative for Bayern Munich if they are unable to lure Joao Palhinha, 28, from Fulham in the January transfer window. Israel youngster Oscar Gloukh is being linked with a move to Old Trafford, according to The Sun. Arsenal and Liverpool are also believed to be tracking the 19-year-old attacking midfielder from Red Bull Salzburg. Brighton are poised to swoop for Boca Juniors teenage left-back Valentina Barco, reports The Sun. The Seagulls are expected to make a fresh move for the 19-year-old Argentine before the transfer window opens. Nottingham Forest have reignited their interest in 17-year-old winger Tom Watson from Sunderland, according to The Sun. Social media round-up Players to watch Nico Williams: Aston Villa have joined Liverpool and Barcelona in monitoring the 21-year-old Spain winger at Athletic Bilbao. Hugo Ekitike: The 21-year-old Paris St-Germain striker is interesting West Ham and Crystal Palace.
2023-09-18 14:54
On this day in 2020: Liverpool sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich
Liverpool signed Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara from European champions Bayern Munich on this day in 2020. The Spain international was in the last year of his deal with the Bundesliga club and arrived at Anfield for an initial fee of £20million. Thiago’s signing had been anticipated by supporters for some time and he went straight into the squad to face Chelsea, playing 45 minutes in a 2-0 win. Thiago told the club’s website: “I think it’s an amazing feeling. “I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very, very happy to be here. “When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more. “I think this club describes what I am as well. I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible. “It also (has) this kind of family (feeling) that I need because we (like to) have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well.” Thiago, who played in Liverpool’s FA Cup final success in 2022, has made 97 appearances in his injury-hit three years at Anfield. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-18 13:24
NFL Rumors: Cracks are already showing in the Sean Payton-Russell Wilson relationship
Head coach Sean Payton aims to improve Denver Broncos' offense after tough loss to the Washington Commanders.
2023-09-18 12:23
3 NFL head coaches squarely on the hot seat after Week 2
Week 2 put several NFL head coaches on notice, including two whose teams fell back on old habits and even one whose team managed to win their game.
2023-09-18 12:22
Mostert runs for 2 TDs, Tagovailoa throws for another as Dolphins hold off Patriots 24-17
Raheem Mostert had a pair of TD runs, including a 43-yard romp in the fourth quarter, and Tua Tagovailoa added a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill to help the Miami Dolphins hold off the New England Patriots 24-17
2023-09-18 12:19
Blocked field goal, interception, lateral -- and Patriots' offense fails to capitalize on any of it
The Patriots' offense provided few highlights in a 24-17 loss to Miami that dropped them to 0-2 for the first time since before Tom Brady took over as the starting quarterback
2023-09-18 12:18