Liverpool have confirmed forward Mohamed Salah will play for the club again this season after suffering a minor muscle injury against Crystal Palace.
Fears had grown that the 33-year-old had made his final appearance for the Reds after limping off during Saturday’s Premier League victory at Anfield.
The Egyptian is set to leave Merseyside on a free transfer this summer after reaching an agreement to depart a year before his contract expires.
However, the club has moved to reassure supporters that their talisman will feature again during the current campaign.
Minor muscle issue
A club statement verified that the issue causing his weekend withdrawal was not as severe as initially feared.
“Liverpool FC can confirm Mohamed Salah is expected to be available to play again before the end of this season.”
“The issue that caused his withdrawal has now been confirmed as a minor muscle injury.”
“It is, however, anticipated Salah will return to action ahead of the season’s conclusion and his departure from the Reds this summer.”
Anfield farewell beckons
The L4 icon has endured a challenging campaign under manager Arne Slot as Liverpool struggled in their Premier League title defence.
Friction emerged between the star forward and the Dutch coach earlier this term, culminating in incendiary comments from the player in December.
Despite those difficulties, the impending departure of the prolific winger will mark the end of an era for the Anfield side.
With just under a month and four league matches remaining, fans will now get the chance to bid a proper farewell to one of their greatest modern players.
Aston Villa have identified Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe as their primary target if Unai Emery departs for Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer.
The West Midlands club are bracing themselves for high-profile approaches for their current Spanish head coach.
Emery has overseen a remarkable campaign at Villa Park, guiding the club into serious European contention.
However, his recent success has reportedly attracted significant attention from both Old Trafford and the Bernabeu.
European giants monitor Villa boss
Manchester United are said to be evaluating the 52-year-old as they prepare for next season’s Champions League campaign.
Current reports suggest former midfielder Michael Carrick remains the frontrunner for the permanent position in Manchester.
Despite this, the current Villa tactician remains a highly viable alternative for the Red Devils’ hierarchy.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also monitoring the former Arsenal manager as a potential successor to Alvaro Arbeloa.
Howe lined up as potential successor
With top European clubs circling, the Villans are actively preparing contingency plans to avoid being left without a manager.
Newcastle boss Howe has emerged as the prime candidate to take over the Villa Park dugout.
The English coach has faced mounting pressure at St James’ Park following a challenging domestic season.
Rumours suggest the 46-year-old would eagerly accept the opportunity in Birmingham should the Magpies’ Saudi ownership opt for a change.
Financial frustrations could force exit
Questions remain over whether the four-time Europa League-winning coach is genuinely prepared to leave his current project.
However, growing frustrations regarding the transfer budget available to elevate the squad could heavily influence his final decision.
The club currently sit fifth in the Premier League, remaining strongly positioned to secure top-tier European football.
The Dutch football association (KNVB) could be forced to replay up to 133 Eredivisie matches following a major eligibility crisis involving dual-national players unintentionally losing their citizenship.
Around 25 players across the Netherlands have been implicated in the escalating scandal dubbed ‘Passportgate’.
Several individuals were stood down by their clubs while administrators frantically sought legal clarification from the governing body.
Court ruling threatens schedule
A Utrecht court judgment on Monday in a case brought by NAC Breda against the KNVB threatens to turn the domestic pyramid upside down.
If the judge rules in favour of the complainants, authorities face a catastrophic scheduling nightmare to accommodate over a hundred potential fixture replays.
The crisis stems from complex dual-nationality laws impacting individuals of Indonesian, Surinamese and Cape Verdean descent.
Unintended consequences of international duty
When athletes accept international call-ups for these nations, they are issued new passports to compete.
However, many clubs and representatives failed to realise that acquiring this foreign documentation automatically nullifies a player’s Dutch nationality.
Without an active European Union passport, these athletes suddenly lack the required work permits to legally take the field in the top flight.
Professor of sport and law Marjan Olfers explained that renouncing citizenship places the individual under an entirely different legal jurisdiction.
“In fact, you are then a foreigner.”
Players left in limbo
NEC Nijmegen attacking midfielder Tjaronn Chery was among those ordered to stay away from club facilities upon returning from a World Cup qualifying campaign with Suriname.
“I had to stay home for five days because I wasn’t allowed at the club.”
The 36-year-old veteran revealed his family were left utterly confused by the sudden suspension.
“My family were asking me, ‘Which passport do you have now, and what are you – are you Dutch or Surinamese?'”
The issue first gained widespread attention when a popular Dutch sports podcast pointed out that Go Ahead Eagles fielded Dean James against NAC Breda.
The left-back had recently accepted an offer to represent Indonesia, inadvertently putting his legal playing status in immediate jeopardy.
Manchester United have agreed a new contract with teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, while veteran Casemiro is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer.
The breakthrough star has been rewarded for a stellar individual campaign under Erik ten Hag.
According to prominent transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the paperwork for the academy graduate’s renewed terms is now completely finalised.
However, the midfield dynamic at the English powerhouse is set for a significant overhaul.
Rashford and Casemiro futures in doubt
The Brazilian enforcer is widely anticipated to depart the Premier League side in the upcoming transfer window.
His exit would mark the end of a turbulent spell for the former Real Madrid man in England.
Meanwhile, fellow star Marcus Rashford is reportedly pushing for a high-profile move to Barcelona.
The England international has endured a frustrating domestic season and could seek a fresh start in Catalonia.
Managerial searches and European targets
Away from Manchester, Chelsea are continuing their extensive search for a new permanent manager.
There is also renewed speculation surrounding Jose Mourinho, who is reportedly monitoring the managerial situation at Real Madrid.
In La Liga, Robert Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona remains surprisingly open as the club weigh up their attacking options.
Atletico Madrid are simultaneously pressing ahead with ambitious recruitment plans of their own.
Diego Simeone’s side are closely monitoring Brazilian midfield duo Ederson and Joao Gomes.
Premier League rivals plot moves
Newcastle United face a battle to secure the long-term future of influential winger Anthony Gordon.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Manchester City are growing increasingly confident of completing a deal for Elliot Anderson.
Antoine Griezmann will play his final home Champions League match for Atletico Madrid when they host Arsenal in an emotional semi-final at the Metropolitano Stadium.
The 35-year-old has agreed a summer transfer to Major League Soccer, signalling the impending end of a defining era under manager Diego Simeone.
Fellow veteran midfielder Koke could also be making his concluding European appearance in the Spanish capital, with the 34-year-old’s current contract expiring at the end of the season.
A modern European great
The impending departure of the French World Cup winner marks a significant transition for a club he has comprehensively helped shape during Simeone’s 15-year reign.
He will eventually depart European football ranked among the continent’s elite marksmen, boasting a remarkable tally of 44 goals across 118 Champions League appearances.
Rather than operating as a traditional focal point, the former Barcelona attacker redefined the forward role through his intelligent link-up play and tireless movement.
His infectious personality and creative flair have progressively altered international perceptions of a La Liga side previously characterised solely by their defensive rigidity.
Healing a deep wound
Supported by an increasingly expansive attacking line-up featuring Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman, the seasoned forward remains determined to secure elusive continental success.
This highly anticipated fixture represents the fourth time the Madrid outfit have reached the tournament’s semi-final stage under their current Argentine tactician.
“The word would be something way beyond love.”
Antoine Griezmann
Reflecting on his deep connection with the supporters, the talismanic forward described his affinity for the institution as something transcending standard sporting loyalty.
“Love for the club’s colours, the club’s badge and love for football, because the fans love football, and love for hard work – I think that’s why I quickly bonded with the club,” he explained to Uefa.
The intense emotional charge surrounding this milestone fixture will provide a formidable atmosphere for the visiting Premier League title contenders.
Arsenal must carefully navigate this passionate farewell as the hosts look to channel their trademark underdog spirit into securing a historic final appearance.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has had his doping case referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after formally appealing his Football Association suspension.
The Ukrainian international was initially banned by English football’s governing body in December 2024 following a failed routine drugs test.
Written submissions have now been exchanged between the relevant parties, although a final hearing date has yet to be scheduled.
Lengthy ban looms for Chelsea winger
The 25-year-old made his last appearance for the Blues during a UEFA Conference League fixture in November 2024.
His time on the pitch was abruptly halted after an adverse finding was discovered in his routine urine sample.
Having been formally charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations in June 2025, the forward is currently facing a potential ban of up to four years.
We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance.
Training in isolation amid ongoing investigation
Following the initial suspension, the former Shakhtar Donetsk player described the failed test as a complete shock and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Chelsea subsequently launched an internal investigation and have not permitted the attacker to train alongside the first-team squad.
Instead, the lightning-fast winger has been working in isolation to maintain his fitness levels while awaiting the outcome of his appeal.
He originally arrived at Stamford Bridge in a high-profile transfer worth up to £89m in 2023, registering 10 goals and 11 assists across 73 appearances.
Both the FA and CAS have been contacted regarding the upcoming legal proceedings.
Football’s global governing body Fifa is planning a revolutionary rule change that would force all professional clubs to keep at least one young homegrown player on the pitch during matches.
The ruling council agreed on Tuesday to develop a formal proposal over the next 12 months following extensive global consultations.
This drastic initiative is designed to boost first-team opportunities for academy products.
Top-flight teams currently often prioritise signing established international stars over trusting their domestic youth.
Strict new quotas proposed
The international federation has clearly defined its ultimate ambition for this regulatory shift.
A regulatory obligation that senior club teams are obliged to always have at least one homegrown player from the Under-20 or Under-21 category on the field of play.
This marks a significant departure from current European squad constraints.
Existing frameworks simply demand a certain number of locally trained individuals within a registered squad list.
There is currently no strict requirement for these prospects to actually feature in the starting line-up or step onto the grass.
Current European regulations
Continental organiser Uefa currently mandates that eight spots in a 25-man squad must be reserved for locally developed personnel.
To qualify, a prospect must spend three full seasons with their parent organisation or another domestic team between the ages of 15 and 21.
England internationals Bukayo Saka and Kobbie Mainoo serve as prime examples of academy graduates fulfilling these criteria.
Wider refereeing adjustments
The global governing body is simultaneously assessing several wider modifications to the sport’s established laws.
Video Assistant Referees will possess expanded powers at this summer’s tournament, including the ability to review corner kick decisions.
Match officials may also implement a five-second countdown to combat time-wasting during throw-ins and goal kicks.
A radical daylight offside concept, championed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, is also undergoing live trials in Canada.
Newcastle United’s Saudi-backed ownership group has arrived on Tyneside to hold crucial talks regarding the future of St James’ Park and strategies to boost club revenue by £100m.
Representatives from the Public Investment Fund and the Reuben family are spending three days evaluating whether to significantly renovate their historic 52,000-capacity home or construct a brand-new stadium in neighbouring Leazes Park.
Chief executive David Hopkinson confirmed the delegation’s presence during a sports business conference, highlighting the need to seize upcoming commercial opportunities.
“We are considering what to do with our stadium, whether that’s a significant renovation or a brand-new stadium,” said Hopkinson.
Infrastructure and commercial growth
“We need more capacity to drive revenue, and if we’re going to have a world-class ambition, we need world-class infrastructure.”
The Magpies are attempting to dramatically increase their financial power to comply with the Premier League’s incoming squad cost ratio regulations.
Building upon a 44 per cent surge in commercial revenue last season, the former Real Madrid executive aims to push annual income towards the £450m mark.
Chasing domestic supremacy
To unlock this financial potential, the North East outfit is actively seeking new partnerships, having recently sold the naming rights to their training base, now rebranded as The Knox.
“Stadium naming rights, expanding our digital audience, all of that can unlock revenue,” Hopkinson added.
These aggressive financial strategies are designed to support an ambitious long-term goal of challenging for both the Premier League and Women’s Super League titles by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, these high-level corporate discussions occur against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding manager Eddie Howe, whose long-term future remains a talking point following a challenging domestic campaign.