Expert Sports News & Commentary

Jurgen Klopp, the architect of Liverpool’s modern resurgence, may be poised for an unexpected return to club football. According to a report from Spanish outlet Defensa Central, the 58-year-old German is high on Real Madrid’s shortlist to become their next manager and is close to signing a deal with the European giants. The speculation has intensified following news that Klopp has purchased a sprawling €4 million villa in Mallorca. The 5,000-square-meter property, now undergoing extensive renovation, is being transformed into what the report describes as Klopp’s “family eco paradise.” While Mallorca is not within Madrid itself, its proximity to the Spanish capital is being interpreted as a logistical hint that the former Liverpool boss is positioning himself for life in Spain. Klopp departed Anfield having fulfilled his vow to turn “doubters into believers,” leaving behind a squad robust enough for successor Arne Slot to guide to a Premier League title. Despite stepping away, Klopp’s competitive fire appears undimmed. Sources close to the coach note that, at 58, he remains younger than José Mourinho—currently thriving at Benfica—and is eager for a fresh challenge. Although many observers have tipped Klopp to take the reins of the German national team after the upcoming World Cup, Defensa Central insists Real Madrid’s hierarchy is pressing ahead with efforts to convince him to lead the Bernabéu project next season. Club officials reportedly view the German’s charisma, tactical acumen and proven record of building winning cultures as the ideal combination to carry Los Blancos forward. For now, nothing is official, but the convergence of Madrid’s interest and Klopp’s new Mediterranean foothold suggests that European football could soon welcome back one of its most magnetic figures—this time in the white of Spain’s most decorated club.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur renew a lopsided rivalry on Saturday when they meet at Old Trafford in an English Premier League kick-off scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET. The contest will be televised nationally on USA Network and is available to stream live via DIRECTV, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. The Red Devils enter the weekend hoping to snap a winless run that has stretched well over a year. United have failed to beat Spurs in their last eight competitive meetings, a sequence that dates back to October 2022. That barren spell has coincided with a broader period of transition at the club, and three points against a top-four rival would provide a timely statement of intent. Tottenham, meanwhile, arrive in Manchester looking to deepen United’s frustrations and maintain their own push for European qualification. The Londoners have relished recent trips to Old Trafford, where swaggering counter-attacks and clinical finishing have become a recurring theme. Kick-off: Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET TV: USA Network Live stream: DIRECTV (free trial available)

Old Trafford is braced for one of the Premier League’s headline acts this weekend as Manchester United welcome Tottenham Hotspur, a fixture that historically delivers drama and, more often than not, decisive implications at the top end of the table. Both clubs arrive with momentum gleaned from contrasting fortunes last weekend. United recorded a home victory, tightening their grip on a European place, while Spurs had to settle for a draw in front of their own fans—an outcome that keeps the pressure simmering on Ange Postecoglou’s side as they chase a late-season surge. With Champions League qualification still mathematically attainable for either outfit, Sunday’s showdown carries added weight beyond local bragging rights. United’s recent Old Trafford form has turned the Theatre of Dreams back into a genuine fortress; Spurs, however, have shown on multiple occasions this campaign that they are capable of explosive bursts that can flip a match in minutes. Team-news whispers will dominate the buildup, yet the clubs have remained characteristically tight-lipped over the status of key knocks. What is certain is that any late fitness failures could tilt the tactical chess match: United’s depth on the flanks and Spurs’ reliance on a high back line mean that a single enforced change might reshape the entire game plan. Head-to-head history leans narrowly in United’s favor at Old Trafford, but the past five league meetings have produced two wins apiece and a draw, underlining how evenly matched these giants have become. Goals have rarely been in short supply—four of those encounters featured three or more—and both managers will drill their defenders on avoiding the early lapse that so often ignites this fixture. Predicting a definitive outcome is a perilous task given the razor-thin margins. Neutral pundits foresee a high-tempo, end-to-end contest, with the likeliest scoreline settled by a moment of individual brilliance or a set-piece gambit. Expect both sides to press aggressively from the whistle, mindful that dropped points here could prove terminal to their top-four aspirations. Whatever the result, the reverberations will ripple well beyond Manchester and north London. Rivals with lingering hopes of gate-cracking the Champions League places will watch anxiously, knowing that a slip-up here could swing the pendulum toward a dramatic final-day scramble.

Frank Warren marked 45 years as a licensed promoter this year, a journey that began in circus tents and ballrooms and now spans stadium sell-outs and more than 200 world-title fights. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Saturday’s WBA featherweight defence by his Queensberry fighter Nick Ball against Brandon Figueroa in Liverpool, the 73-year-old Hall-of-Famer insists the sport must keep evolving if it is to remain relevant. Warren, who will turn 74 later this month, has guided the careers of icons from Prince Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton to current heavyweight Tyson Fury. Yet he is adamant that nostalgia offers no roadmap for the next four-and-a-half decades. “If you live in the past that’s where you wind up, dead. The past is dead,” he says. Central to his vision is a unified, global database of fighter medicals and anti-doping records, an issue highlighted when Francisco Rodriguez Jr failed tests before and after beating Galal Yafai in July 2025 but continued to compete while jurisdictions failed to share information. “People can’t just sod off and go and fight in a different area, country or jurisdiction,” Warren argues, rejecting calls for a single world governing body but urging the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF to co-operate on safety. The recent arrival of Zuffa Boxing, backed by UFC president Dana White, WWE executive Nick Khan and Saudi finance, proposes a league structure and one belt per division. Warren doubts the practicality of a single-title model, recalling eras when fewer belts left elite fighters frozen out, yet concedes four sanctioning bodies is “too much”. “When an unification fight happens, it’s a big, big thing,” he notes. Queensberry’s switch to streaming service DAZN in 2025 reflects Warren’s belief that consumption habits have irreversibly changed. “EastEnders at one time had 15 million, 20 million people watching. They’re lucky to get three now,” he says, adding that his grandchildren source entertainment almost entirely through YouTube. With Netflix entering the market—having already screened Anthony Joshua v Jake Paul and preparing to show Tyson Fury’s April comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov—Warren predicts technology will reshape both broadcast and live-event presentation, citing football’s 3D big-screen trials as a possible template. Despite the digital shift, Warren maintains that ticket revenue will remain the sport’s financial bedrock. “The live gate’s always going to be there,” he says, stressing that promoters must harness new tech to enhance the in-arena and home-viewing experience and, ultimately, fighter earnings. As Ball steps into the ring on Saturday, Warren’s focus is fixed forward. “The name of the game for any sport, any promoter is to capitalise on how technology is changing, generate income that makes the show a bigger show, makes it successful. And the bottom line of it is the fighters do really, really well.”

Old Trafford is bracing for a lunchtime showdown that feels anything but routine. Manchester United, unbeaten in three matches since Michael Carrick returned to the dugout, welcome a Tottenham side that has not lost to the Red Devils in eight consecutive meetings across all competitions. The 12:30 p.m. GMT kick-off carries the weight of history and urgency in equal measure. Carrick has overseen three straight victories, re-energising a fan base that had grown restless during an indifferent start to the campaign. Tottenham, now managed by Thomas Frank, arrive in 14th place yet with the comfort of knowing they have won on their last two Premier League visits to M16. The visitors’ solitary away defeat this term came at Turf Moor; five of their seven league wins have been secured on the road. Team news confirms Carrick sees no need to tinker. André Onana is replaced in goal by youth product Thomas Lammens, while the back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw sits in front of the midfield axis of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha complete an attack-minded lineup designed to stretch a Spurs defence that has conceded 18 first-half goals—only Burnley and Wolves have shipped more before the interval. Frank opts for experience between the posts with Guglielmo Vicario, protected by a back line of Archie Gray, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie. In midfield, João Palhinha and Yves Bissouma’s stand-in, Sarr, will attempt to shackle Fernandes, the league’s leading creator with 12 assists. Ahead of them, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Gaston Pereira Simons and Dominic Solanke—who has five goals in his last five appearances against United—form a fluid front three. The numbers lean United’s way at first glance: the hosts are unbeaten in nine league fixtures when enjoying minority possession this season, winning seven of those in which their share dropped below 45 per cent. Yet Tottenham’s recent dominance in the head-to-head cannot be ignored. United’s last victory over Spurs came in October 2022; since then, three draws and three defeats have left Carrick’s men searching for a first triumph in this fixture since Erik ten Hag’s departure. Off the pitch, Barcelona formally notified the remaining European Super League stakeholders of their withdrawal, leaving Real Madrid as the sole hold-out from the doomed 2021 breakaway. La Liga, meanwhile, postponed Rayo Vallecano’s home meeting with Real Oviedo after heavy rain rendered the Vallecas surface unplayable. Rayo players had earlier protested against owner Raul Martin Presa, citing unsafe training and match-day conditions. Back in England, the Women’s Super League serves as the curtain-raiser, with second-placed Manchester United visiting Leicester at noon. Marc Skinner’s side, spearheaded by new signing Elisabeth Terland, seek to keep pace with leaders Chelsea, while Leicester aim to climb into mid-table after a bright start under Amandine Miquel. By the time the women’s final whistle blows at the King Power Stadium, attention will shift entirely to Old Trafford. Can Carrick extend his perfect start and end Tottenham’s hex, or will Frank’s Spurs compound United frustrations and keep their own season alive? The answers begin to unfold at 12:30 p.m. sharp. SEO keywords:

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its 2026 class of five on Thursday night at NFL Honors, honoring quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in their first year of eligibility, linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri in their second, and 1980s dual-threat star Roger Craig as the lone senior selection. Yet the announcement was overshadowed by a name not called: six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick, who fell short in his initial year on the ballot after at least 11 of the 50 voters withheld support. The omission triggered fresh criticism of both the electorate and a selection process that has grown stingier under recent rule changes. Belichick’s résumé—333 combined regular-season and postseason victories and more Lombardi Trophies than any coach in history—was deemed insufficient this cycle. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, the executive who imported Belichick to New England and launched a two-decade dynasty, also missed the cut among contributors. “His stats speak for themselves,” Vinatieri, who spent six seasons under Belichick and delivered the clutch kicks that ignited the Patriots’ first two titles, said after learning he had earned bronze immortality. “I thought he’d have a real good chance to be up there as well. The people who voted made their votes and I think he’ll be up here one day.” The downsized class of five continues a new, more restrictive era for Canton; only four were enshrined last year after more than a decade of seven-or-more inductee classes. Under the revised format, the 15 modern-era finalists are trimmed to 10, then to seven, before voters select a maximum of five. The top three vote-getters and any additional candidate surpassing 80 percent approval earn jackets. Craig, in his 28th year of eligibility, finally cleared that bar. The former 49ers running back became the first player to post 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season (1985) and amassed 2,036 scrimmage yards in 1988 while helping San Francisco secure a championship. His 410 scrimmage yards across Super Bowl victories in the 1984 and 1989 campaigns trail only Jerry Rice and Franco Harris historically. Brees, who passed for 80,358 yards and 571 touchdowns—second only to Tom Brady—guided New Orleans to its lone Lombardi Trophy after the 2009 season and earned 13 Pro Bowl invitations. Fitzgerald, a lifelong Cardinal, sits behind only Rice in career receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492) and authored a record-setting 2008 postseason (546 yards, seven touchdowns) that carried Arizona to its only Super Bowl appearance. Vinatieri, the NFL’s all-time leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599), provided the snowy 45-yarder in the 2001 divisional-round “Tuck Rule” game and the 48-yard walk-off in the subsequent Super Bowl against the Rams. Kuechly, a 2012 first-round pick, led all linebackers over his eight-year Panthers tenure in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66), earning five first-team All-Pro nods and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshal Yanda, plus edge rusher Terrell Suggs, survived to the final seven modern-era finalists and will auto-advance to the 2027 ballot. While the five newest Hall of Famers celebrated, debate over Belichick’s absence—and the evolving selection standards—figures to rage well beyond this February night in San Francisco.

Anfield, 4.30pm GMT on Sunday, will stage the 200th competitive meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City, and no individual narrative burns brighter than Mohamed Salah’s quest to extend a personal dominance that has become woven into the fabric of this modern rivalry. The Egyptian has had a hand in 15 of Liverpool’s last 20 Premier League goals against City—nine scored, six assisted—the most goal involvements any player has managed against a single opponent in the competition’s history. That record is set against a backdrop of wider Liverpool supremacy at home. The Reds have lost only once in their last 22 league encounters with City at Anfield, winning 14 and drawing seven, and have won all eight of their February Premier League fixtures at the ground since 2022. Arne Slot’s team, unbeaten in six on Merseyside since Nottingham Forest’s November upset, have lost just one of their last 12 league matches, collecting five wins and six draws. Salah’s influence is not limited to this fixture. His assist for Florian Wirtz against Newcastle was his 152nd Premier League goal involvement at Anfield, the highest tally any player has recorded at a single venue. Across all competitions since joining Liverpool, he has contributed more goals only against Manchester United. Hugo Ekitike has provided fresh impetus. The 23-year-old French forward has 10 goals and two assists in 1,342 minutes—an involvement every 112 minutes—the best debut-season rate by a Liverpool player since Salah’s 2017-18 campaign. Ekitite reached double figures at 23 years and 225 days, the youngest Red to do so in a league season since Michael Owen in 2000-01. Cody Gakpo, two goals shy of a half-century for the club, offers another cutting edge. City arrive with curious form: only one defeat in their last 12 league games, yet only one victory in their last six. Pep Guardiola’s side top Liverpool in goals scored, shots on target, shooting accuracy and conversion rate this season, but a stark split has emerged in 2026. City are the only Premier League side yet to concede in the first half of a league match this calendar year, scoring six before the interval themselves, yet they have failed to score after the break and have conceded six second-half goals. Erling Haaland has four goals in nine appearances against Liverpool, though only one came at Anfield—in October 2019 for Red Bull Salzburg. Liverpool’s capacity to rally remains a hallmark; since the start of last season only three teams have earned more points from losing positions than their 28, while only Brighton have scored more goals when conceding first. With the 200th chapter of this rivalry poised to add fresh drama, Salah’s personal plotline promises to be decisive once again.

Since exploding onto the scene in 2013, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has become the second-most-streamed artist in Spotify history, captivating global audiences with Spanish-language tracks that transcend linguistic borders. His catalog—built on irresistible rhythms and emotionally charged storytelling—now serves as a roadmap for newcomers who want to sing along in English while keeping the party going. Below, five of his biggest hits are presented with key lyric excerpts and their English translations, offering a window into the themes that have powered his rise from SoundCloud hopeful to stadium headliner. 1. Tití Me Preguntó English excerpt: “Auntie asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends… Today I have one, tomorrow I’ll have another, hey, but there’s no wedding.” The track’s rapid-fire listing of past flames underscores Bad Bunny’s playful take on modern romance, while the chorus warns listeners not to expect permanence. 2. Yo Perreo Sola English excerpt: “She likes to twerk alone… If the boyfriend ain’t no good then she throws him away.” An anthem of female empowerment, the song flips the reggaetón script by celebrating a woman who controls her own narrative—and her own dance floor. 3. Callaíta English excerpt: “Baby, I already found out, it’s noticeable when you look at me… Tell me what you want to drink, you are my baby.” Built on a hypnotic minor-key groove, the track captures the tension of a low-key romance that refuses to stay quiet. 4. I Like It (with Cardi B & J Balvin) English excerpt: “I like dollars, I like diamonds… I like million-dollar deals, where’s my pen? B---- I’m signin’.” This bilingual blockbuster fuses trap swagger with Latin pride, name-checking designer socks, Caribbean accents, and seven-figure briefcases in a single breath. 5. Ojitos Lindos English excerpt: “Just look at me with those pretty eyes… today I have been reborn.” A sun-drenched love letter, the song slows the tempo to highlight Bad Bunny’s softer side, proving that even global hit-makers still swoon over a lingering gaze. From heartbreak to hedonism, these translations reveal why millions who don’t speak Spanish still press repeat: the emotion is universal, the beat is undeniable, and the hooks—once decoded—stick just as hard in English as they do en español.

London’s Emirates Stadium will stage a pivotal Premier League encounter on Saturday, February 7, when league-leading Arsenal welcome Sunderland for a 3 p.m. local kickoff. The fixture carries significant weight at both ends of the table: Arsenal enter the weekend six points clear of Manchester City, while eighth-placed Sunderland are just five points adrift of the top four and eager to close the gap. The sides last met in November at the Stadium of Light, where they played out a dramatic 2-2 draw. Arsenal, aware that any further slip-ups could tighten the title race, will be determined to collect all three points in front of their home crowd. For viewers in the United States, the match will not be carried on linear television. Instead, supporters can stream the contest live exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s platform that also features NFL Sunday Night Football, NBA action, Olympic coverage, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, Premier League soccer, golf, and more. U.S. kickoff time for Arsenal vs. Sunderland is 10 a.m. Eastern, placing it between two other Premier League fixtures scheduled earlier that day: Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (7:30 a.m. ET) and Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace (9 a.m. ET).

Madrid, Spain – The clock is ticking on Dani Carvajal’s future at Real Madrid. Once viewed as an automatic extension candidate, the 34-year-old club captain now faces an uncertain road to a new contract, with performances between now and May set to decide whether he remains in white beyond the summer, according to a report published by AS. Carvajal has taken the field only twice for Los Blancos in 2026 despite being named to the squad for every official fixture. Medical staff and management, wary of a relapse, have opted for a conservative approach, leaving the right-back to watch from the bench even though he insists he is fit and eager for a larger role. Club sources hope February will offer more minutes, yet the return to full health of Trent Alexander-Arnold adds another obstacle to increased playing time. The timing is critical. Carvajal’s current deal expires on 30 June, and while previous assumptions held that Madrid would swiftly reward their long-serving skipper with another season, no negotiations have taken place. The club hierarchy, per AS, will wait until the season’s decisive stretch before determining whether his on-field output still merits a renewal. A year ago the scenario was markedly different. After a serious late-season injury, Madrid immediately announced a fresh contract, confident Carvajal remained among the world’s elite in his position. That certainty has eroded. The upcoming months are now framed inside the dressing room as a personal playoff for the Spaniard: recapture peak form and fitness, and a new agreement could follow; fall short, and an emotional Bernabéu exit looms. For a player who has collected every major trophy with his boyhood club, the challenge is clear—earn the right to continue leading the team he has represented for more than a decade. Keywords:

Harry Brook has described the last two months as “pretty horrendous” after the disclosure that he was involved in an altercation with a Wellington nightclub bouncer on the eve of an England match and subsequently misled reporters about the presence of team-mates. England’s T20 World Cup captain, preparing to face Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday, spoke publicly for the first time since confirming that other players were with him during the November incident, an admission that emerged during the recent tour of Sri Lanka. “It has just not been easy,” Brook told BBC Sport. “People have been able to support me around the group, but it’s not been a very nice time of my life.” The 26-year-old was fined by the England and Wales Cricket Board and issued with a final written warning once the details surfaced in January, but the matter remains under investigation by the sport’s regulator, limiting what he can say publicly. Brook conceded the episode has underlined the weight of leadership. “I’ve definitely learned there’s a hell of a lot more responsibility on your shoulders when you’re captain,” he said. “Anything you do can really turn against you, so you’ve got to be on the ball pretty much all of the time.” Despite the distraction, Brook enters the tournament in prime form, having struck an unbeaten 136 from 66 balls in the final ODI against Sri Lanka last month. England arrive having won 10 of their last 11 T20 internationals, including a 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka that secured dual white-ball series victories under Brook’s captaincy. Phil Salt, who missed the last T20 of that tour with a back spasm, has been declared fit, while left-arm quick Luke Wood edges out Jamie Overton in the only change for Sunday’s opener. England will play their entire Super 8 schedule in Sri Lanka should they advance. Brook insists his batting has not suffered. “When you get out to the wicket everything just seems to float away,” he said. “Luckily I got into that bubble and I managed to bat fairly well.” England have opted against a final training session on Saturday, unwilling to undertake a three-hour round trip to Navi Mumbai while the Wankhede Stadium hosts India’s curtain-raiser against the United States. England team to face Nepal: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.

Barcelona have fine-tuned their Champions League roster ahead of the Round of 16, taking advantage of the post-league-phase window that allows up to three new registrations. Finishing fifth in the standings meant the Catalans bypass February’s knockout playoffs, and sporting director Deco moved swiftly to ensure Hansi Flick has every option available once the competition resumes. The headline adjustment is the inclusion of Portuguese full-back João Cancelo. Signed on 13 January, Cancelo missed the closing league-phase fixtures against Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen because his registration was completed after the deadline. He has since logged 133 minutes across three domestic outings and, with his paperwork now approved by UEFA, is eligible to feature from the first leg of the last-16 tie. Conversely, Marc-André ter Stegen has been removed from the A-list. The German goalkeeper, on loan at Girona, underwent surgery this Friday for a hamstring injury and will remain at Montilivi for the remainder of the campaign, ending any speculation of an early Camp Nou return. A minor clerical curiosity remains: UEFA’s published squad still lists midfielder “Dro” among Barcelona’s B-list players, even though the 20-year-old officially completed a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. Club sources expect the anomaly to be corrected in the coming days. With the amendments submitted, Flick’s squad is set for the next phase of European action, where small margins could decide whether the five-time champions mount a serious assault on the trophy.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A few months ago, a New England Patriots playoff game or two in January was more than enough. Now, the stakes have risen well beyond the confines of a single postseason contest, signaling that the franchise and its followers are confronting pressures and expectations that transcend the usual gridiron narrative.

In a candid and wide-ranging conversation for the BBC’s new series The Football Interview, Granit Xhaka has described the “dark nights” he endured at Arsenal and explained why a surprise return to the Premier League with Sunderland has restored his joy for the game. The 33-year-old Switzerland midfielder, currently sidelined by injury, has been instrumental in Sunderland’s impressive start to life back in the top flight after an eight-year absence. Yet it is the seven turbulent seasons he spent at Arsenal, from 2016 to 2023, that still cast the longest shadow over his career. “There were dark days and dark nights,” Xhaka tells host Kelly Somers, reflecting on the fallout with sections of the Emirates crowd in October 2019 that saw him stripped of the club captaincy. “Every time these things came up I just wanted to deal with it alone – looking to myself and saying: ‘Why has this happened? Why is it me? What did I do wrong to the people?’” Despite winning two FA Cups and reaching a Europa League final with Arsenal, Xhaka believes the incident defines him in too many minds. “People just think about this moment in 2019,” he says. “But to be part of a football club for seven years makes me proud.” Mikel Arteta, the current Arsenal manager, is credited with reviving Xhaka’s fortunes. “He was the guy who kept me in the football club,” Xhaka says. “I will never forget what he did for me.” After leaving north London, Xhaka signed a five-year deal at Bayer Leverkusen and promptly helped the German club win a league-and-cup double. A planned long-term stay was cut short when Sunderland’s ambitious owners persuaded him to return to England. “I came back because I love the challenge,” he explains. “After 20 minutes on the call with the owner I wanted to go to Sunderland. I’m not coming here to play one year and go down. I’m coming to push this project.” Xhaka’s combative reputation precedes him – “Everyone hates you,” laughed Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida after a recent Bundesliga encounter – yet the midfielder insists the image is only half the story. “I’m maybe different on the pitch. I just want to win. After the game I think I’m the easiest guy you can meet.” Away from football, Xhaka credits his parents – who fled Yugoslavia and rebuilt their lives in Switzerland – for instilling humility and resilience. His father, imprisoned for three-and-a-half years for political reasons, advised teenage Granit to “head down and just work” when homesickness struck after first moving to Germany at 19. The lesson stuck. Now, with Sunderland exceeding expectations and his family settled in the north-east, Xhaka is adamant he has never been happier. “I just want to see the smile on their face,” he says of his wife and children, revealing that he still cannot sleep alone in the bedroom when they are away. “I hate to be alone – maybe because of the dark nights I had.” As for the future, Xhaka refuses to look beyond tomorrow. “Everything I achieve today was a big dream. I achieved maybe much more than God wanted for me. I’m very, very thankful.” The full interview airs on BBC One at 23:55 GMT on Saturday 7 February (00:55 Sunday in Scotland) and will be available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website.

Austin — Texas football is officially reviving its annual Spring Game in 2026, the university confirmed earlier this week, ending a one-year hiatus that had been prompted by concerns over potential tampering with current players. The program and administration elected to shelve last spring’s intrasquad showcase amid worries that opposing programs—primarily those from the Big Ten—might use the public setting to poach talent from the Forty Acres. With those fears now addressed, the Longhorns will welcome fans back to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 18, for the first time since 2024. Kickoff times and additional logistical details have yet to be released, but athletic department officials emphasized that the return of the Spring Game is intended to re-engage the fan base and provide a live evaluation period for a roster that has undergone significant turnover. Spring practice will commence on March 9, giving head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff six weeks of on-field work before the public exhibition. The April 18 date falls deep into the evaluation window for the 2027 recruiting cycle, and program sources expect a heavy visitor presence on campus. Texas currently holds the nation’s top-ranked women’s basketball recruiting class and is pursuing elite talent across multiple sports; football recruiting analysts anticipate that the Spring Game will double as a major recruiting weekend for the 2026 and 2027 classes. AD Chris Del Conte has made expanding fan-friendly events a priority since taking over the department, and the Spring Game’s revival aligns with his broader vision of accessibility. The athletic department is also exploring a potential switch from turf to a natural-grass surface inside DKR, though no timeline has been set for that transition. For a program that played a nation-leading seven one-score games in 2025, the extra live reps—and the energy of a sold-out stadium—could prove pivotal as the Longhorns eye a deeper postseason run in the expanded 16-team College Football Playoff. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer through the Texas athletics website.

Sunderland head to the capital this weekend knowing history offers them a slither of encouragement, even if the league table does not. The Black Cats have followed every one of their six away defeats this season with a victory on Wearside, a quirk that has delivered 18 of their 36 points and underlines a squad that refuses to wallow in setbacks. The question now is whether they can transfer that resilience to a ground where points have proved priceless for visiting sides. Arsenal, top of the Premier League and chasing a first championship since 2004, have conceded the fewest goals in the division and scored the second-most, trailing only Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side arrive in rampant form: eight wins from eight Champions League group games, a League Cup final place sealed via a mid-week thriller against Chelsea, and an FA Cup fourth-round date with Wigan Athletic looming. Critics have labelled their football cautious, but with a 2/9 price tag to win today, bookmakers see little prospect of a slip-up. Sunderland’s last foray to a heavyweight produced mixed memories. After losing at Old Trafford they stunned Wolves, then repeated the trick at Stamford Bridge, proof that organised defence and swift counters can trouble elite opposition. Le Bris is expected to adopt a similarly pragmatic shape, mindful that open games at Brighton, Liverpool and Palace have yielded only draws in this bounce-back sequence. Team news from the last meeting between the clubs—a 5-1 Arsenal win—suggests squad rotation is likely. The Gunners lined up with Leno between the posts, a back line of Soares, Tavares, White and Holding, and youngsters Balogun, Smith-Rowe and Patino pushing for minutes. Sunderland, meanwhile, gave starts to Burge, Winchester, Wright, Flanagan and Doyle, with Broadhead replying after Nketiah’s 17th-minute opener. No television or online stream will carry the contest live, but BBC Radio Newcastle will provide full commentary, and the Roker Report Twitter feed will chart every tackle, twist and turn. A 12/1 away victory price indicates the scale of the challenge, yet the visitors’ habit of confounding odds away from home keeps hope alive. If the pattern of defeat-response-defeat-response continues, a positive result in north London could set up another promotion-boosting run. For now, though, the focus is simple: contain Arsenal’s fluid attack, stay compact for 90 minutes, and try to give the Premier League pacesetters an afternoon of uncomfortable questions. Arsenal v Sunderland, Premier League, Emirates Stadium—expect fireworks, but most will expect them to come from the home side.

Dallas: Pakistan captain called correctly at the flip of the coin and wasted no time in inserting the Netherlands on a sweltering Saturday afternoon that marked the formal start of the T20 World Cup. The decision to bowl first was made moments after the toss, setting the tone for a tournament opener that has already been clouded by political undertones back home. While the players took their positions on the field, officials in Islamabad confirmed that the team has been instructed to boycott its scheduled group-stage encounter on February 15, adding a layer of uncertainty to Pakistan’s campaign before a single delivery had been bowled. For now, however, attention in the host city remains fixed on the action in front of a lively crowd eager to see the first ball of this year’s competition. The Netherlands, having prepared for the challenge throughout the week, will look to post a competitive total and test Pakistan’s much-vaunted pace attack under lights. With both sides aware that net-run-rate could prove decisive in a tight group, every over carries extra weight from the outset. Pakistan, historically strong in global T20 events, will hope an early breakthrough justifies their captain’s choice, while the Dutch aim to spring an upset that would reverberate well beyond the opening night. The result here could shape momentum for the remainder of the group stage, making this inaugural fixture more than a mere curtain-raiser. Keywords:

The much-anticipated Milan Cortina Olympics have officially commenced, marking the beginning of a unique and expansive Winter Games. The opening ceremonies, a traditional spectacle that heralds the start of the global sporting event, took on a distinct character this year with a multi-site approach, reflecting the spread-out nature of the competitions themselves. This innovative multi-site ceremony is a defining feature of the Milan Cortina Olympics, setting a new precedent for how the Winter Games can be inaugurated. Instead of a single, centralized event, the decision to host the opening across multiple locations underscores the geographical distribution of the various sporting venues. This approach not only showcases the diverse landscapes and cities involved in hosting the Games but also potentially allows for a broader engagement with local communities across the host region. The official opening signifies the culmination of years of planning and preparation, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete on the grandest stage. For the Milan Cortina Olympics, the 'spread-out Winter Games' concept implies a broader geographical footprint for the events, which the multi-site ceremony effectively communicates from the outset. This strategic choice aims to integrate the Games more deeply into the fabric of the host territories, rather than concentrating all activities in one singular hub. As the world turns its attention to Milan and Cortina, the official opening ceremony serves as the symbolic gateway to weeks of thrilling winter sports action. The multi-site format promises a fresh perspective on Olympic traditions, emphasizing inclusivity and the vastness of the host region. This commencement not only ignites the competitive spirit but also invites global audiences to experience the unique character of these particular Winter Games, defined by their distributed nature and innovative ceremonial approach.

The European football transfer market is heating up with a significant rumor suggesting a fierce battle is brewing for a coveted FC Barcelona star. At the heart of this high-stakes pursuit is German powerhouse Bayern Munich, reportedly locked in a multi-club contest with Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. This developing story has sent ripples through the football world, dominating recent Bayern Munich news, transfer discussions, and general rumor mills. The prospect of Bayern Munich battling such esteemed English clubs for a single player underscores the intensity and competitive nature of modern football transfers. Each of these clubs represents a formidable force in European football, known for their financial muscle, global appeal, and ambition to secure top-tier talent. The mere mention of these four titans vying for an FC Barcelona star immediately elevates the significance of this particular transfer rumor. While the specific identity of the FC Barcelona star remains part of the ongoing speculation, the fact that such a high-profile player is reportedly attracting interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea indicates a potential blockbuster move. Such a transfer would undoubtedly command a substantial fee and significantly impact the squad dynamics of whichever club ultimately secures the player's services. The 'transfer, rumors, and more' aspect of this news suggests that the situation is fluid and subject to continuous updates, keeping fans and pundits alike on the edge of their seats. This reported battle highlights the relentless pursuit of excellence by Europe's elite clubs. For Bayern Munich, engaging in such a contest signifies their continued ambition to strengthen their squad with world-class talent, even against the stiffest competition. The coming weeks and months will undoubtedly be filled with further speculation as this intriguing transfer saga unfolds, promising to be a major talking point in the global football landscape.

On a rain-slicked Old Trafford forecourt, several thousand supporters stood in silence as Bruno Fernandes and Maya Le Tissier, respective captains of Manchester United’s men’s and women’s teams, laid wreaths beneath the memorial clock. Around them, Michael Carrick and Marc Skinner led their coaching staffs, first-team squad members and junior players, including Klay Rooney. Former stars such as Denis Irwin, Lou Macari, Darren Fletcher and Edwin van der Sar were joined by civic leaders, among them Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. The ceremony, repeated every 6 February, has grown from a gathering of barely a dozen loyalists in the 1990s to a cornerstone of United’s modern identity. The transformation is striking. Three decades ago, Cliff Butler and a handful of familiar faces would pause for two minutes on the forecourt before dispersing; the club itself marked the date only at the nearest home fixture. Today, up to 3,000 fans attend the stadium service, while between 500 and 1,500 supporters make the annual pilgrimage to Munich’s Manchesterplatz, the small snow-lined square near the site of the 1958 crash that claimed 23 lives, among them the Busby Babes. United now sends former players, lays wreaths, funds billboards reminding visitors that the memorial is alcohol-free, and invites supporters to view artefacts from the lost team managed by Matt Busby. Critics argue the scale risks turning solemnity into spectacle, pointing to crates of beer carried by a handful of fans last year. Yet organisers, including the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation, insist the growth reflects a deepening commitment rather than commercialised mourning. The foundation channels donations into community projects in Manchester and Munich, ensuring remembrance translates into tangible good. Speaking at this year’s commemoration, lifelong fan and journalist Andy Mitten told the crowd that fresh stories still surface 66 years on. He recited an email from 94-year-old Martin Gordon, who as a boy in rural Ireland heard his priest announce the crash and later founded the Manchester United Memorial Cup tournament. Such anecdotes, Mitten argued, illustrate why collective memory must be continually renewed. In Munich, Bayern icons also champion the tradition. At the 60th anniversary, former player and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge addressed English and German supporters: “Manchester United are more than wins, defeats, titles and lost trophies… the memory of those who were lost is passed on by fans.” He noted that post-war relations between England and Germany were still raw in 1958, yet the compassion shown by Munich residents, doctors and Bayern officials became “an important social and political contribution” to reconciliation. Local residents maintain the memorial with equal devotion. Michael Stapf, who lives on Manchesterplatz, tends the site year-round, welcoming travelling Reds whose journey has become, in Mitten’s words, “a pilgrimage.” One such traveller, Graham Larkin, asked friends to push his wheelchair around the square shortly before his death; his funeral was held three miles from Old Trafford on the day of this year’s service. The club’s evolving ritual now includes junior academy players, ensuring teenagers born six decades after the disaster understand its place in United’s narrative of tragedy and triumph. As supporters sang the Flowers of Manchester beneath the stadium’s cantilevered roofs, the message was clear: remembrance is no longer optional; it is woven into the fabric of match-day culture. From a dozen stalwarts to thousands of pilgrims, Manchester United have ensured the Busby Babes are never merely history—they are present, every February, in rain, snow or shine.

London — When Frank Lampard took interim charge of Chelsea in April 2023, the club was hurtling toward its worst league finish of the modern era, yet the outgoing caretaker manager offered a ray of optimism. “Enzo gets it,” Lampard said of the then-22-year-old Argentine. “I’ve got a lot of faith that Enzo will be a big part of what happens here in the future of the club.” Barely 30 months later, Fernandez has not merely vindicated that prediction; he has morphed into the most prolific goal-scoring No. 8 to wear blue since the man who uttered those words. The transformation is so pronounced that Opta data now places Fernandez second only to striker Joao Pedro for “cross-receiver runs” into the penalty area at Chelsea this season, a metric that quantifies the sort of ghosting movements Lampard once turned into an art form. From Single Six to Shadow Striker Signed from Benfica in January 2023 as Jorginho’s replacement, Fernandez was initially deployed as the deepest midfielder. Lampard quickly flagged the mismatch. “He probably has more to offer than to be a single six,” the caretaker noted, urging a shift to a double-pivot or advanced eight where “he can join the game more.” Successive head coaches have taken the hint. Under Mauricio Pochettino the positional creep began; under Enzo Maresca and now Liam Rosenior it has become full-blown liberation. Touch-maps show Fernandez’s activity migrating steadily into the final third, while the average distance of his shots has almost halved since his debut campaign. The payoff: a conversion rate that has leapt from six per cent in 2023-24 to 17 per cent in 2025-26. Late Runs, Cold Finishes Fernandez’s last 11 Chelsea appearances have delivered six goals; three from the penalty spot, three from open play. That already equals his non-penalty best for a Premier League season with 14 fixtures remaining. Should he add four more, he would join Cole Palmer and Mason Mount as the only Chelsea midfielders to reach double figures without penalties since Lampard in 2012-13. The similarities do not end in the spreadsheet. Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Fernandez admitted he has studied hours of Lampard footage, fixating on “how he got into those last metres of the pitch.” The homework shows. Against Manchester City last month he mirrored the iconic Lampard surge, prodding in a stoppage-time equaliser after sprinting beyond the last defender. Days later he settled the London derby with West Ham, timing a diagonal burst to sweep Joao Pedro’s cut-back first-time between two retreating centre-backs. Rosenior, the latest coach entrusted with unlocking Chelsea’s latent talent, believes the Argentine’s athletic profile makes the role switch sustainable. “The distances he covers, in terms of the data, is absolutely top,” the Chelsea boss said. “He can recover really quickly. That allows us to push him into the box knowing he can still press on the reverse transition.” Numbers That Echo History Context sharpens the achievement. Lampard scored 27 goals in his first 151 Chelsea appearances; Fernandez sits on an identical 27 after the same number of games. The Englishman finished with 211 in 648 total. Fernandez’s trajectory suggests a comparable hunger, if not yet the same avalanche. Crucially, this output arrives in a squad devoid of a 20-goal striker. By becoming the secondary goal threat Chelsea have lacked since the Mount/Havertz era, Fernandez eases the creative burden on Palmer and gives Rosenior’s side a multifaceted attack. Opponents can no longer mark one outlet; they must track a midfielder who could pop up on the back post, the edge of the D, or the penalty spot. The evolution is still accelerating. Fernandez has already registered 26 first-time shots in 2025-26, more than in any previous Premier League campaign, and five of his six league goals have arrived after the 75th minute, testament to both supreme conditioning and an instinct for decisive moments. Lampard’s legacy at Stamford Bridge is immortalised in bronze outside the Matthew Harding Stand. Fernandez, still only 25, is carving a living homage on the pitch, one late run and crisp finish at a time. If he maintains the current cadence, Chelsea may finally possess the goal-scoring midfielder they thought had left the building with their record-breaking No. 8.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s press conference on Tuesday veered far beyond tactics and team news, taking in Palestine, Russia, Sudan and the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by U.S. federal agents. For a profession that usually treads carefully around anything outside the white lines, it was a striking departure—yet for Guardiola, no longer a surprise. The Catalan has previously addressed Catalonian independence and used a University of Manchester honorary-degree speech to spotlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Last week he appeared at a pro-Palestine concert in his native Barcelona. Such openness remains the exception rather than the rule: England head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he wants to “focus on football”, while Aston Villa’s Unai Emery sidestepped political questions surrounding a recent European tie against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior believes reticence should not be automatic. Between 2017 and 2021, while transitioning from player to pundit, Rosenior wrote for The Guardian on topics ranging from homophobia in football to police brutality, penning an open letter to then-U.S. president Donald Trump after George Floyd’s murder. “If you have a platform and you believe in something, why shouldn’t you speak about it if you’re being respectful?” he asked on Friday. Craig Foster, former Socceroos captain and now Adjunct Professor of Sport and Social Responsibility at Torrens University, applauds those who do. “We need as many high-profile football people as possible to show some courage and actually say something,” he told The Athletic. Foster, who campaigns on Iranian and Gazan human-rights issues, says players and coaches rarely receive guidance on global affairs and fear backlash from sponsors, clubs and social media mobs. Paul McCarthy, founder of sports-PR agency Macca Media, sympathises with managers wary of exposing a perceived weakness. “They don’t want to give away any vulnerabilities,” he said, stressing that silence “doesn’t make their views any less valid.” Kelly Hogarth, whose clients have included Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, warns that commercial contracts can be imperilled by political statements. Footballers are “governors of the brand”, legally obliged not to bring partners into disrepute; breaching that clause can end endorsement deals. She advises clients to weigh legal, financial and emotional consequences, noting that advocacy can also open new markets and humanise athletes—such as a recent Alzheimer’s-awareness piece featuring Xavi Simons. Foster cites David Beckham’s Qatar World Cup ambassadorship as an example of inconsistency: a long-time LGBTQ+ ally promoting a tournament in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal. “If Beckham had said, ‘I support the World Cup here, but I also support LGBTI rights globally’, the Qatari government wasn’t going to sack him—his brand is too valuable,” Foster argued. The stakes are similarly complex for Guardiola: Manchester City are owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, a state itself scrutinised over human-rights issues. Yet Guardiola continues to speak, accepting the tension as part of the modern manager’s remit. McCarthy believes reducing coaches to tactical sound-bites is reductive. “They’re part-time psychologists, social workers, communicators. To view them just through the prism of football is doing them a disservice.” Whether more will follow Guardiola and Rosenior into the political fray remains uncertain. What is clear is that every statement carries potential reward—enhanced relevance, new commercial pathways, moral leadership—and risk, from sponsor flight to relentless online abuse. In an era when the touchline and the global stage increasingly overlap, the choice to speak, or stay silent, has never carried greater consequence.

Anfield’s most modern grudge match returns on Sunday, yet when Liverpool welcome Manchester City the stakes feel recalibrated. Between them the clubs have claimed every Premier League crown since 2017—Liverpool twice, City six—but this year they enter the weekend a combined 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, who top the table with a six-point cushion over second-placed City and an 11-point buffer over sixth-placed Liverpool. The gap has transformed the fixture from a prospective title decider into a dual rescue mission: City clinging to hopes of a fifth straight championship, Liverpool scrambling simply to stay in next season’s Champions League. Is the rivalry still special? “Not in the way that it used to,” says The Athletic’s Sam Lee. “The passion in the stands will be the same and the game should be entertaining, but both teams have dropped in quality and the stakes are nowhere near the peak Guardiola/Klopp level.” Colleague Andy Jones agrees: “It has shifted, much like Liverpool’s rivalry with Chelsea did once the clubs stopped fighting for the same prizes. The desire to beat City remains, yet when you’re not going toe-to-toe for the title every May, the dynamic changes.” Who needs the points more? Jones argues City, citing the razor-thin margin for error in a title chase. “Dropping points when you’re already six behind has greater consequences than slipping in a top-four/top-five fight,” he notes. Lee concurs: “City are still tangibly in the race. Liverpool could qualify for the Champions League by finishing fifth, a target that allows more wiggle room.” Key battles and absences Erling Haaland, scoreless in three previous league visits to Anfield, heads for Merseyside needing better service. Creativity could come from summer target Rayan Cherki or in-form Florian Wirtz, whose budding partnership with Hugo Ekitike has pepped up Pep Guardiola’s attack. Liverpool, meanwhile, are relieved that November tormentor Jeremy Doku is injured, though they may still have to handle Antoine Semenyo. Individual threats aside, both camps admit the occasion itself can fluster City. “This fixture has always been a banana skin,” Lee says. “Liverpool’s best Klopp-era sides plus the Anfield atmosphere made it a nightmare; the aura lingers.” Weak links Both defences wobble under sustained pressure. City have lost a league-high nine second halves and coughed up a 2-0 lead to Tottenham last outing; Liverpool’s thin bench has seen late goals conceded pile up. Slot’s side do arrive a week fresher, however, after City’s midweek Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle. Managerial sub-plots A poor second season has put Arne Slot under scrutiny at Liverpool, where failure to reach the Champions League—via league placing or tournament victory—would trigger serious boardroom review. Guardiola’s future is also gossip-fodder, yet Lee bucks consensus: “I’m one of the few journalists who believe Pep will still be at City next season.” Predictions Jones: “Liverpool 2-1. City’s long-standing Anfield demons and current second-half issues play into the hosts’ hands, though a high-scoring draw wouldn’t shock.” Lee: “Probably a Liverpool win. Even when City are at their best that’s how it tends to go, and right now they can’t string together 90 solid minutes.” Whatever the outcome, Sunday’s clash will not redefine the title race of old; instead it offers City one last sprint lane and Liverpool a lifeline to Europe’s elite. SEO keywords:

Interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick will aim to extend his perfect record to four straight wins when Tottenham Hotspur travel to Old Trafford on Saturday in a pivotal Premier League encounter. Since stepping in for Ruben Amorim until the end of the season, Carrick has orchestrated victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham, re-energizing the red half of Manchester. The fixture carries added narrative weight for Carrick, who left north London for Manchester as a player in 2006 and now faces his former club from the technical area. Spurs, meanwhile, arrive buoyed by last weekend’s dramatic 2-2 comeback against Manchester City and will hope to build on that resilience under Thomas Frank, who is eager to ease mounting pressure on his long-term tenure. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford, translating to 7:30 a.m. ET for viewers across the Atlantic. Canadian audiences can stream the match live exclusively on Fubo, which offers a 79-channel sports package, unlimited Cloud DVR and monthly plans starting at CAD $19.25. The game headlines a Saturday triple-header that also features Brighton and Hove Albion hosting Crystal Palace at 9 a.m. ET.

North Dakota State and the Mountain West Conference are on the verge of a landmark agreement that could move the FCS powerhouse to the Football Bowl Subdivision as early as this season, according to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Sources tell Dellenger that the Mountain West has engaged in serious, year-long negotiations with the Bison about joining the league as a football-only member. A deal could be finalized as soon as this weekend, though a substantial entrance fee remains the final sticking point after Mountain West presidents voted to extend an invitation. The potential move would mark a seismic shift for a program that has dominated the FCS level. North Dakota State owns 10 national championships, including a stretch of nine titles in 11 seasons from 2011-21. The Bison rolled to an unblemished 12-0 regular-season record in 2024 and earned the No. 1 playoff seed before a stunning second-round loss to Illinois State, which ultimately finished as national runner-up to Montana State. Since elevating from Division II in 2004, North Dakota State has built a 9-5 record against FBS opponents. The Bison famously reeled off six consecutive wins over FBS programs from 2010-16, defeating Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State, Iowa State and Iowa. Their most recent FBS tests ended in narrow defeats to Arizona in 2022 and Colorado in 2024. The Mountain West is poised for significant turnover after Boise State’s conference-title triumph over UNLV. The Broncos, along with Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State, are set to depart for the Pac-12 next year. UTEP has already committed to joining as a full member, while Northern Illinois will enter for football only. Adding North Dakota State would replenish the league’s football inventory and inject a perennial championship contender into the membership. Formal acceptance of the invitation would accelerate the Bison’s long-rumored jump to the FBS and reshape the postseason landscape for both the Mountain West and the FCS. With negotiations entering their final stage, officials from both sides are working to resolve the financial details before a potential announcement.

Syracuse, N.Y. – Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central left no doubt about which side of the city owns the rivalry this winter, completing a season sweep of Bishop Ludden-Grimes with a 65-61 road win that turned senior night sour for Gaelic Knights star Jahzar Greene despite his dazzling 30-point outing. The victory, played out before a packed gym as the syracuse.com boys basketball Game of the Week, lifts the Class A No. 23 Eagles to 2-0 against the Class AAA No. 23 Knights and evens ITC’s overall mark at 12-5. Greene, who missed the first meeting—a 56-55 ITC squeaker on Jan. 11—returned to average form with a game-high 30, but the Eagles countered with balance, poise and a timely shooting burst from senior Antwan Aiken Jr. “He needs so much attention because he can go out and score 50 if you let him. But our guys were really locked in,” ITC coach CJ Hodge said of Greene, who entered averaging better than 28 a night. Locked in proved prophetic. After trailing by two at halftime and by six midway through the third quarter, ITC called timeout and promptly ripped off back-to-back triples from Aiken Jr. to flip momentum. The surge stretched into a 47-42 lead by the close of the third, and the Eagles opened the fourth on a 9-4 spurt that gave them just enough cushion to survive a frantic finish. Aiken Jr., held scoreless in Tuesday’s 69-47 loss to defending Class B champion Marcellus, finished with 17 points on Friday. “He’s a big shot maker… we don’t win this game without him,” Hodge said. The win also signaled a welcome departure from recent offensive trends. In their last three defeats, ITC had leaned heavily on seniors Nyquan Gilbert and Tyquanne Harris, who combined for 65.6 percent of the scoring. On Friday, seven Eagles recorded multiple field goals; Gilbert and Harris accounted for just 40 percent of the offense, freeing others to shine. “We played team ball, we fought through adversity too,” Gilbert said. “We knew we couldn’t back down … so this win right here meant a lot.” Hodge singled out seniors Azir Germany and Kaleal Richardson, plus junior Zier Nowell, for exceeding their season norms. “Huge efforts tonight by Zier Nowell… Azir Germany had huge rebounds and huge buckets… Kaleal Richardson stepped in and played magnificently,” he said. The collective effort embodied the program’s one-word mantra: together. “After our loss, we came together to bond, and we all said what we had to work on,” Gilbert explained. “We call each other family. We all say ‘together.’ We’ve got to stay together in the end.” As Gilbert spoke post-game, teammates surrounded him, echoing the sentiment that carried them to a signature road victory. ITC returns to action Monday at PSLA @ Fowler. Bishop Ludden-Grimes, now 13-5, will try to rebound Feb. 13 against CBA.

The Baltimore Ravens are actively shaping their future, meticulously constructing a coaching staff designed to complement the vision of new head coach Jesse Minter. In a significant development for the team's offensive strategy, reports indicate that Marcus Brady, currently serving as the Chargers' offensive pass game coordinator, is expected to join Baltimore’s offensive staff. This anticipated move signals a clear intent from the Ravens to fortify their offensive unit with experienced and specialized talent as they prepare for the upcoming season. The process of filling out a coaching staff under a new head coach is a critical phase for any NFL franchise. It involves identifying individuals who not only possess the necessary tactical acumen but also align with the overarching philosophy and leadership style of the head coach. Jesse Minter, in his new role, is tasked with assembling a cohesive group that can effectively implement game plans, develop players, and ultimately drive the team towards success. The expected addition of Marcus Brady represents a key piece in this intricate puzzle, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports was the first to report this anticipated hire, highlighting the ongoing efforts by the Ravens to finalize their coaching roster. Brady's background as an offensive pass game coordinator with the Chargers suggests a focus on refining and enhancing the aerial attack, an area that is increasingly vital in the modern NFL. His expertise in this specific domain could bring a fresh perspective and specialized knowledge to Baltimore's offensive schemes, potentially unlocking new dimensions for their passing game. The role of an offensive pass game coordinator is multifaceted, often involving the design of passing concepts, the development of quarterbacks and receivers, and the strategic integration of the passing game with the overall offensive philosophy. Bringing in a coach with this specialized skill set underscores the Ravens' commitment to evolving their offensive identity. As the team continues to work diligently on filling out their coaching staff, the expected arrival of Marcus Brady is a strong indication of their strategic direction. It signifies a move to inject specific expertise into their offensive operations, aiming to optimize performance and capitalize on the talents within their roster. This hire, once finalized, will be a crucial step in building the foundation for Jesse Minter's tenure and the Ravens' aspirations for the seasons ahead.

The world of Formula 1 is perpetually in motion, but the horizon of the 2026 season promises a seismic shift unlike almost any other in the sport's storied past. As teams begin the monumental task of preparing for this transformative era, early experiences, even those fraught with challenges, are proving invaluable. Such was the case recently, as attention turned to Oscar Piastri's initial run in the McLaren MCL40, an outing that reportedly encountered problems. While the specifics of these issues remain internal, their occurrence underscores the immense undertaking facing every constructor on the grid. The 2026 Formula 1 season is not merely an evolution; it is being heralded as one of the biggest resets in the sport’s history. This isn't just a minor tweak to regulations; it involves sweeping changes to both car architecture and power units. These fundamental alterations mean that, in essence, every team on the grid is effectively starting from zero. The competitive landscape, the design philosophies, and even the very nature of how these sophisticated machines perform are all set for a radical overhaul. For a team like McLaren, and a driver of Oscar Piastri's caliber, every moment on track, every data point gathered, and every problem encountered, no matter how minor or significant, contributes to the colossal learning curve ahead. The MCL40, while a current iteration, serves as a crucial testbed for understanding dynamics and systems that will inevitably inform the development of future machinery. The reported problems from Piastri's first run are not just isolated incidents; they are early indicators of the complexities and hurdles that must be overcome as teams navigate this unprecedented technical reset. The implications of starting from zero are profound. It levels the playing field in a way rarely seen, offering both immense opportunity and significant risk. Teams that can adapt quickest, innovate most effectively, and troubleshoot their way through the initial development phases will gain a critical advantage. The challenges faced by Piastri in the MCL40, therefore, are not just about a single car or a single driver; they are microcosms of the broader struggle and intense competition that will define the run-up to and the beginning of the 2026 season. The journey to mastering the new car architecture and power units is long and arduous, and these early experiences are merely the first steps on a path that promises to redefine Formula 1. The entire grid is bracing for this reset, and every team is acutely aware that success will hinge on their ability to overcome the inevitable problems that arise during this foundational period of development.

VAN BUREN – The Van Buren Lady Pointers needed their full arsenal on Friday night, and the effort proved enough to secure a hard-fought victory over Siloam Springs. In the nightcap, the Panthers added another local triumph by topping the Pointers, capping a doubleheader sweep for the home crowd at Van Buren.

Boulder, Colo. — Deion Sanders, the headline-grabbing architect of Colorado’s high-speed roster overhaul, removed any doubt about his professional ambitions Tuesday, declaring on ESPN’s First Take that the NFL holds zero appeal for him. The blunt dismissal came after host Shae Peppler asked whether anything could lure Coach Prime to the pro ranks. “Not whatsoever,” Sanders replied. “What transpired with my son last year? Ain’t no way in the world.” The reference was unmistakable: Shedeur Sanders’ precipitous draft-day slide from projected first-round lock to fifth-round selection by the Cleveland Browns still stings inside the Sanders household. Deion began to elaborate, then stopped mid-sentence, telling the laughing studio crew, “When I stop like that, that don’t mean I’m lost for words.” The exchange reinforced a growing trend among elite college coaches. While Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban once viewed the NFL as the sport’s apex, contemporaries such as Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney have stayed on campus, building empires insulated from the league’s volatile politics. Sanders, 16-21 in three turbulent seasons in Boulder, now counts himself firmly in that group. After a breakout 9-4 campaign in 2024—powered by Shedeur’s precision passing and two-way superstar Travis Hunter’s historic Heisman Trophy season—Colorado flirted with College Football Playoff contention and appeared poised for a sustained rise. A 3-9 record in 2025 stalled momentum, yet Sanders remains one of the sport’s most recognizable recruiters, mining the transfer portal for instant-impact talent and setting sky-high expectations for 2026. Whether his long-term future includes another run at double-digit wins or another roster reset, one path appears closed. For Deion Sanders, the NFL conversation is over.