Category Sports News

Liverpool have made initial contact with Bayer Leverkusen over a move for attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

The Germany playmaker is emerging as a primary target for Arne Slot as the Premier League champions already begin planning for next season.

Liverpool are set to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen and the Anfield club registered their desire to sign 22-year-old Wirtz during those discussions.

Formal negotiations are still to get under way but that is expected to happen in due course for a player that is valued by the Bundesliga club at more than £120m.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool would be willing to pay that sort of fee, which would eclipse the British transfer record fee of £107m Chelsea agreed with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in 2023.

Earlier this week, BBC Sport revealed Manchester City were no longer in the race to sign Wirtz, leaving Liverpool and Bayern as the frontrunners.

Liverpool boss Slot told the BBC this week that the champions would be “stupid” not to strengthen this summer.

“There are not many that can strengthen us, but the few that are out there, we will try to get them,” Slot said.

A fan who allegedly spat at a member of Ross County’s coaching staff during Thursday’s Scottish Premiership play-off has been given a lifetime ban by Livingston, who has also provided the details to Police Scotland.

A Livingston fan yelled and yelled right behind the visitors’ dugout after Top-flight County scored a penalty in the 96th minute to draw in West Lothian’s first leg.

County manager Don Cowie claimed Carl Tremarco, who had been allegedly arguing with him, was spat at amid the row that was being documented.

“Our thanks to a number of our own supporters who were quick to reach out and help identify the individual,” Livingston’s CEO, Dave Black, stated on the website.

We have now identified the person responsible, and we have given the details to the police, who will be looking into this further.

The Championship runners-up were “absolutely appalled by the actions of one mindless idiot,” according to Black, who “abhorrent, shameful, and tainted what was a hard fought, well-balanced game.”

He claimed to have called Tremarco to apologize and thanked the County assistant and the rest of the visiting coaching staff for managing to remain as restrained as possible despite what had transpired.

One of Cowie’s fans spit on our assistant manager’s face, Cowie claimed in a statement to BBC Scotland. That is not permitted.

Our employees want to protect each other when it occurs because it is a repulsive experience. I wanted to ease the stress.

Although Livingston manager David Martindale was not present, he claimed the incident would be “disgusting if true,” adding, “It’s vile. It’s disgusting. Really, really disappointing.”

Danny Wilson’s opener was cancelled out by Ronan Hale’s late penalty, and the teams met in Dingwall on Monday to decide which team will win the top flight next season. The game ended 1-1.

Police Scotland made the announcement following a Livingston incident.

Hove, second T20

West Indies 81-9 (20 overs): Arlott 3-14, Bell 3-28

England 82-1 (9.2 overs): Sciver-Brunt 55* (30)

England won the series by nine wickets and won it 2 for 2.

With a dominant nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies at Hove, England remained unassailable with a 2-0 lead.

England came within 82 runs to reach their goal, with Sofia Dunkley scoring 24 not out and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt unbeaten in 55 of 31 balls.

The only bright spot in another disappointing display from the visitors and a completely one-sided contest was Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who fell to the first ball of the innings.

West Indies struggled to contain England’s impressive discipline and aggression with the ball, falling to 29-4 before regaining it to 81-9.

In her second international start, Seamer Em Arlott finished with 3-14, including veteran batter Stafanie Taylor and Windies skipper Hayley Matthews for six.

From her four overs, pace bowler Lauren Bell took 3-28, and spinner Charlie Dean took a subpar 2-12.

Only eight boundaries were scored in their entire innings, which also included 74 dot balls, were Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi, the only two West Indies batters to achieve double figures, with 26 and 22 coming from them.

After a miserable winter, England’s seam attack under new head coach Charlotte Edwards appears to have rediscovered much-needed energy and life.

Bell continues to impress as the head of the attack and one of the few English players to win the Women’s Ashes with credit. With Qiana Joseph bowled for four in the opening over, she made the breakthrough.

In the opening game of the series against the Windies, Matthews recorded an unbeaten century in Canterbury, and a stunning lofted cover drive for four off Arlott made it seem as though she was moving forward, only for the seamer to remove the Windies captain’s leg stump the following ball.

England roared out in celebration of the dismissal, and the subsequent collapse demonstrated why.

West Indies were 30-4 after the six-over powerplay, with Zaida James superbly caught by a one-handed diving Dunkley at midwicket.

Campbelle and Gajnabi’s 34-ball fifth-wicket stand was just a waiting game, with Mandy Mangru being bowled next ball after Arlott had become frustrated with her 36-ball knock and being caught off Dean at long-on.

Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy era began with a victory in the first T20, but she also suffered a personal disappointment as a result. She handled the situation in this one in excellent style.

Sciver-Brunt reached her half-century from just 27 balls, her second-fastest total in T20 internationals, despite Wyatt-Hodge’s missed drifting delivery from James first ball.

She once more capitalized on a toothless West Indies attack by striking 10 fours all around the ground.

With 64 balls to go, England roared to victory in the second match thanks to Dunkley, who had a career-best 81 in the first one.

That is only enhanced by the 87 balls that Sciver-Brunt had to score in 2022, which included the winning runs.

“The camp has a great atmosphere, obviously.” A fantastic group of girls. They have welcomed me very warmly.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain, said: “We set a pretty high standard for ourselves in the first game, and we probably surpassed that here.” It helps us to build up our spirits.

Hayley Matthews, captain of the West Indies, says, “It’s obviously a little disappointing. We were aware that some of our veteran campaigners, like Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin, would be taking a tough tour with us when we arrived.

Before winning the first trophy for Spurs in 17 years, it was anticipated that the Australian would lose his job as a result of a subpar domestic campaign. The Australian is now in his second year with the club.

With just one game left, his team is 17th in the Premier League, and only the three relegated opponents have done worse.

The club is believed to have begun the search for potential Postecoglou replacements.

Fans who gathered for Friday’s victory parade through the streets of north London yelled out loudly for him while also expressing their gratitude to their boss.

Postecoglou, who spoke to fans outside the club’s stadium before the Europa League trophy was lifted, suggested better times were in store for them.

Season three of the best TV shows is superior to season two, he declared with cheers of approval.

The manager had promised to deliver silverware earlier in the season.

In my second year, I always triumph. Nothing has changed. In September, Postecoglou said, “I don’t say things until I believe them.”

However, critics were eager to remind him of this as the disappointing Premier League campaign progressed.

The manager, who defeated Manchester United in the final on Wednesday, celebrated the trophy with a parade on Friday to celebrate the win.

I explained to them. And they laughed, he said.

Postecoglou claimed this week that the team’s focus should have been on winning the Europa League, which is one of the causes of the disappointing league results.

Realistically, England was always going to have a week with few answers.

No matter how many runs are scored by Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope, or how many wickets are taken by the opposition, they come with a caveat. Zimbabwe shouldn’t be disrespected for it, but tourists simply cannot handle India and Australia’s upcoming challenges.

By far the most significant fact-finding was centered on captain Ben Stokes and his surgically repaired hamstring, even though England will feel like they are doing all the right things at Trent Bridge: runs for the top order, overs for Bashir, a return for Josh Tongue, and a look at Sam Cook.

Bashir’s sprained finger forced Stokes to take action as the Test meandered through Nottingham on a sunny Friday afternoon. The rest was thrilling.

The captain may not have used himself because this is his first year of playing. It appeared as though Stokes’ stubbornness would bowl the off-spinner into rhythm as Bashir entered the 13th over of his spell.

Bashir was forced to leave the field for a short while after being caught by a bowler on his own and receiving a gash on his right. Stokes removed his cap as the year was nearly over and began to offer England 20 more ounces of hope.

Stokes is English cricket’s main draw even when he isn’t playing. There was a ‘will he-won’t he’ over the white-ball captaincy as he went through his rehab. Superman eventually decided he needed to take a break while wearing a cape.

Stokes predominated in the run-up to this Test, firstly due to the revelation that he has been a total jerk since the start of the year, which may or may not be related to his investment in a non-alcoholic drinks company.

Then, on Wednesday, he responded to a question about Jacob Bethell with “put two and two together.” Everyone in the room assumed the captain’s statement, but Stokes made it seem unusually honest to say that Bethell would immediately join the Test team.

Stokes is a man who allows his cricket to do the talking, and the sight of the all-rounder scoring his run spooked Trent Bridge.

The well-known strategy involves limbs loose, arcing toward the stumps, and kicking up heels. The first ball was a step over, and the second ball was Brian Bennett’s edge. Joe Root was unable to read the script and accept the catch.

Stokes’ request would not be denied. Wesley Madhevere chopped on in the following over after Sikandar Raza edged in behind on his fourth legal delivery.

The best on-stage performer from England was the Durham man. He outperformed Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, and Gus Atkinson in both the air and off the pitch. His test-recorded 82.9 mph, which is his third-highest since the start of the summer.

Stokes has come to terms with his partially bionic body and almost 34 years old after realizing he cannot push himself like he did when he was younger. He was as good as he could be when he promised to limit himself to a few quick overs: all he bowled was 3.2%. Plenty of it.

It’s unlikely that Stokes will bat or bowl again in this match, where Zimbabwe are 30-2 in their second innings and 270 runs in the lead. He may play one of the two games England Lions have scheduled against India A starting on May 30 or June 6 to prepare for the series against India in June.

It will be necessary to make a decision regarding Bethell. One suggestion, to replace Bashir with Bethell’s left-arm spin, seems like a non-starter simply because it would put more strain on Stokes’ bowling.

England also needs the batsman to rediscover his game. His last Test century was in the second Ashes Test of 2023, and he averaged less than 28 since that time last year. When Stokes can bowl, England is a stronger team, but they still require his bat more.

England admitted last summer that they had been building for the Ashes despite the importance of the series against India. Without Stokes, it is difficult to imagine how England would fare in Australia.

A squad of players from the Under-19 Tests will accompany England on this occasion. If Mark Wood is unfit, Stokes will be the only bowler in the nation to have a five-wicket haul, just like Stokes.

Even so, away Ashes have yet to see England’s greatest talisman’s best performance. He made his debut in 2013-14 as the rookie, missed 2017-18 as a result of the incident in Bristol, and on his previous trip, he was hesitantly returning from a game break.

McCullum instructed England to practice humility earlier this week. In Australia, England needs the alpha at his most lifeless best, not a humble Stokes.

Without a doubt, Stokes’ greatest miracle would be conjuring victory for himself.

The England captain did not have the right to convert water to wine or whatever non-alcoholic beverage at Trent Bridge.

Gary Neville, a Sky Sports pundit, claims Nottingham Forest have forbade him from playing at City Ground on Sunday for their final Premier League game against Chelsea.

The broadcaster informed the former defender for Manchester United and England that Forest would not allow him to co-commentate or receive accreditation.

The 50-year-old added on Instagram, “I have no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.”

Nottingham Forest has been contacted by BBC Sport for comment.

After Leicester City scored a late goal in the 2-2 draw earlier this month, Neville addressed Evangelos Marinakis on X and exchanged heartfelt comments with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The incident occurred as a result of Marinakis’ anger over Taiwo Awoniyi’s continued play following an 88th-minute injury that required urgent surgery, according to the club.

In the last 14 years of working this job, I’ve received my fair share of criticism and praise, and this is never quite what I’ve seen,” Neville said.

It’s symptomatic of the things that have happened to the club over the past 12 months, despite the fact that they have every right to decide who is allowed into their own stadium.

If Forest defeats Chelsea at the City Ground and other factors are taken, seventh-placed Forest will be eligible for the Champions League on Sunday.

A great club like Nottingham Forest has been forced to make such a decision, Neville said, which is disappointing.

“I wish the club’s coaching staff, players, and supporters the best of luck in their pursuit of Champions League football.”