The Los Angeles Dodgers have dismissed talk of breaking the Major League Baseball regular-season wins record as they target a historic third consecutive World Series championship.
The reigning champions have started their 2026 campaign with a 4-2 record during their opening homestand.
This steady start comes despite uncharacteristically quiet offensive performances from the top half of their star-studded batting order.
Embracing the villain role
A third consecutive blockbuster offseason has intensified the immense scrutiny surrounding the Californian franchise.
The organisation has actively leaned into a “bad guy” narrative through a pre-game stadium video featuring Hollywood actor Jason Bateman.
However, the clubhouse remains divided on whether to acknowledge this polarising reputation.
“You can call us whatever you want to call us. The game will determine who wins and who loses,” Mookie Betts said.
The veteran shortstop insists that external perceptions remain irrelevant outside noise once the players step onto the diamond.
October remains the ultimate focus
Conversely, long-serving infielder Max Muncy believes the squad draws vital strength from the hostility of opposing fanbases.
“You have to want to be out there and get everyone’s best every single night. It just creates a challenge that you’ve got to find a way to embrace,” Max Muncy stated.
Speculation has mounted over whether this powerhouse roster could surpass the 116-win milestone shared by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 2001 Seattle Mariners.
The franchise won 211 combined games across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, only to suffer premature playoff exits in the National League Division Series both years.
“Anything’s possible, certainly with this team, but that’s not our north star,” Dave Roberts explained.
The manager is instead guiding his team toward becoming the first National League club to secure a three-peat, prioritising October glory over summertime statistics.
Manchester City host Liverpool in a highly anticipated FA Cup quarter-final this weekend as Barcelona face a crucial La Liga title test at Atletico Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s side welcome their Premier League rivals to the Etihad Stadium holding a psychological advantage from two previous victories this season.
The Carabao Cup winners recently secured domestic silverware against Arsenal following a tactical masterclass from their manager.
However, out-of-form striker Erling Haaland must rediscover his scoring touch against unpredictable opposition.
Salah seeks final flourish against familiar foes
Arne Slot’s team travel to Manchester battling severe inconsistencies and growing unrest among the fanbase.
Departing forward Mohamed Salah hopes to deliver a memorable performance against the Citizens during his final season on Merseyside.
The Egyptian international boasts a remarkable record of 20 goal involvements across nine campaigns against the domestic champions.
Recent international performances from Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike provide a timely boost for the current English champions ahead of this massive encounter.
I don’t think either team is doing great this season so far and both have been so inconsistent, but City at home will be hard to beat for this Liverpool side.
Julien Laurens
Catalan title ambitions face severe Metropolitano test
Attention shifts to Spain where Diego Simeone’s men aim to derail the current league leaders.
The capital club recently suffered defeat against Real Madrid but remain formidable opponents on home soil.
The visitors arrive holding a precarious four-point advantage over their fierce rivals at the division summit.
A significant injury blow complicates matters for the table-toppers following Raphinha’s recent five-week lay-off.
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has turned down the opportunity to manage Crystal Palace at the end of the season as the south London club search for Oliver Glasner’s successor.
The Eagles are actively seeking a new manager after Glasner confirmed earlier this campaign that he will depart Selhurst Park when his contract expires this summer.
Reports indicate that Palace have now been forced to move on to alternative targets after failing to lure the highly rated Spaniard away from the south coast.
Cherries confident of retaining boss
The Basque tactician is widely regarded as one of the brightest tactical minds in the Premier League and Palace viewed him as a primary candidate.
However, the Selhurst Park hierarchy increasingly believe the former Rayo Vallecano coach will only leave his current post for a team competing in European competition.
The Cherries have already offered their coveted manager a new contract, though the fresh terms currently remain unsigned.
Despite this high-profile rejection, the early confirmation of Glasner’s impending exit has provided the Eagles board with ample time to identify the right appointment.
Focus shifts to alternative candidates
With their primary target seemingly out of reach, Palace are now reportedly considering former Brentford manager Thomas Frank for the upcoming vacancy.
The Danish coach earned widespread acclaim for transforming the Bees into an established top-flight side who frequently punched above their weight.
Securing a replacement of comparable pedigree will be a crucial task for chairman Steve Parish over the coming months.
Bournemouth could also enter the market for similar managerial profiles if their current head coach eventually decides to pursue an elite opportunity elsewhere.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker will be sidelined until the end of the season with his latest injury setback, manager Arne Slot has confirmed.
The Brazilian international was absent from the recent Premier League trip to Brighton and will now miss crucial upcoming fixtures.
He is officially ruled out of the FA Cup clash against Manchester City and the Champions League meeting with Paris St-Germain.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Reds boss delivered a sobering update on his first-choice stopper.
“He will not be part of the PSG game either, he is out for a bit longer,” Slot stated.
“Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit.”
Salah returns for crucial cup tie
While the news regarding the goalkeeper is a significant blow, the Anfield club have been boosted by the return of key attacking personnel.
Mohamed Salah is fit to rejoin the squad for the Manchester City tie after sitting out the recent defeat on the south coast.
The upcoming fixture marks the Egyptian forward’s first appearance since announcing his intention to leave Merseyside when his contract expires.
“Yes he is available, he trained with us yesterday, he will train with us today and is available for tomorrow,” Slot confirmed.
Isak back after lengthy absence
Alongside the returning winger, Alexander Isak is also back in full training following a broken leg suffered last December.
The Swedish striker has spent 101 days in rehabilitation and will have his match minutes carefully managed upon his integration back into the first team.
Slot was quick to urge caution regarding the forward, ruling out an immediate return to the starting lineup.
“It’ll be too soon to expect him in the starting lineup, it was first time training yesterday after 101 days out,” added the Dutch coach.
“It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes, but we will make sure we do the right thing to build him up.”
With the possibility of extra time in the domestic cup competition, the coaching staff are reluctant to risk a premature introduction from the substitutes’ bench.
Furthermore, right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been declared fit for action, though his playing time will also be subject to strict monitoring.
Fenway Sports Group remain fully supportive of Liverpool manager Arne Slot despite a challenging domestic campaign that leaves the reigning champions fifth in the Premier League.
The Dutchman secured the title during his debut season but has struggled to replicate that phenomenal success this year.
Despite a massive £446m summer outlay on premium talents including Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, the Merseyside club have fallen significantly short of expectations.
Tragic circumstances and severe injuries
The club’s American ownership group firmly believe their head coach has been dealt a remarkably difficult hand over the past few months.
According to reports, the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota during the summer deeply affected everyone connected to Anfield.
Decision-makers felt the 47-year-old demonstrated immense leadership in handling the heartbreaking situation and keeping the squad unified.
This emotional toll has been heavily compounded by long-term injuries to key personnel such as Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and marquee signing Isak.
Planning for the upcoming window
A noticeable decline in form from established stars, alongside the impending departure of Mohamed Salah, has further complicated the tactical setup.
Consequently, the hierarchy have no intention of changing leadership and are already strategising for further investment in the upcoming transfer window.
Directors are not treating the remainder of this campaign as a trial period for the former Feyenoord boss and have set no specific targets to secure his job.
Former Anfield captain Steven Gerrard has echoed this boardroom sentiment, insisting the current coach absolutely deserves time to rectify the situation.
“He has with me because I know more than anyone on the planet how difficult it is to win a league, and for him to come in and win a league, in his first season, he’s got a lot more credit with me.”
No athletes have recorded a positive doping test during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, marking the first time in 28 years that a Games has concluded without an immediate anti-doping violation.
More than 3,000 samples were collected from almost 2,000 competitors throughout February’s showpiece event in Italy without a single anti-doping rule breach being reported.
This remarkable statistic makes the Italian festival the first Winter Games since the 1998 edition in Japan to avoid a positive test during the competition window.
Shadow of retrospective testing
Despite the initial clean bill of health, officials caution that describing the recent competition as the cleanest in a generation may be premature.
All athlete samples are retained in secure storage for 10 years to allow for retrospective analysis as scientific testing techniques evolve.
The history of elite athletic competition is littered with delayed disqualifications, notably following the 2012 London Olympics where 31 medals were eventually withdrawn.
The subsequent McLaren report exposed a massive state-sponsored doping programme operated by Russia, which severely tainted the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Pre-Games strategy yields results
Anti-doping authorities attribute this dramatic drop in positive results at the event itself to a massive increase in targeted screening before athletes even arrive.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) successfully assessed 92% of all participants at least once during the six months leading up to the opening ceremony.
ITA director general Benjamin Cohen described the comprehensive build-up strategy as the most extensive implemented programme to date.
“We used to test athletes only when they reach the Olympic Games. Today, the system is completely different.”
“We monitor the athletes throughout a much longer period – in fact, the most sensitive period, when athletes want to qualify for the Olympics.”
The Passler exception and past heartbreak
This rigorous pre-tournament screening did uncover one alleged violation just days before the sporting festival began.
Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler was provisionally suspended on 2 February after testing positive for a Letrozole metabolite, a drug commonly used to lower oestrogen levels.
The home nation competitor successfully appealed the temporary ban to compete, though the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed a full hearing will take place later.
Strict testing protocols aim to prevent future tragedies like the delayed justice experienced by the British bobsleigh quartet at Sochi 2014.
John Jackson, Bruce Tasker, Stuart Benson and Joel Fearon were denied their podium moment, only receiving their upgraded bronze medals six years later after two Russian crews were disqualified.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has dropped Enzo Fernandez for the club’s next two matches after stating the midfielder crossed a line regarding team culture.
The Argentinian international will miss the upcoming fixture against Port Vale tomorrow.
He will also be absent for the highly anticipated showdown with Manchester City next Sunday.
The severe disciplinary action follows recent undisclosed comments made by the 24-year-old World Cup winner.
Maintaining standards at Stamford Bridge
Rosenior confirmed the suspension during his latest media briefing, emphasising the absolute importance of maintaining elite standards.
The Blues boss revealed that the strict decision was made collectively alongside the club’s hierarchy.
“As a football club, with me as part of the decision, he won’t be available for tomorrow’s game or Manchester City next Sunday,” said Rosenior.
“A line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.”
Midfield reshuffle required against champions
Fernandez’s sudden absence deals a significant blow to the West London side’s tactical plans.
The former Benfica star has been a central and expensive figure in the squad’s engine room since his record-breaking transfer.
Navigating the impending clash against Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions without him will severely test the team’s midfield depth.
Brazilian forward Neymar is facing widespread criticism after making sexist comments about male referee Savio Pereira Sampaio following Santos’ 2-0 victory over Remo.
The 34-year-old gave a controversial post-match interview where he expressed frustration at the officiating despite his team securing the win.
During the outburst, the former Al Hilal attacker suggested the match official was “on her period”.
Neymar had picked up a booking during the match after reacting angrily to a challenge from Remo midfielder Diego Hernandez.
Frustration boils over
The Brazilian international provided an assist and played a crucial role in Santos’ second goal before being named Player of the Match.
However, the veteran forward focused his post-match attention on the performance of the officials.
“He’s the kind of referee who wants to be the star of the game. He shows a great lack of respect toward all the players.”
He continued his criticism by targeting the referee with derogatory language.
“I think the referee was on her period, and that’s why he officiated the match like that.”
The winger defended his initial on-pitch reaction, claiming he was unfairly penalised after suffering repeated fouls.
“This is really unfair. I just get a nasty tackle from behind, totally unnecessary at the end of the match.”
Widespread condemnation
The derogatory remarks have sparked immediate controversy across Brazilian media and social networks.
ESPN Brazil journalist Mariana Pereira strongly condemned the player, highlighting the damaging nature of his prejudiced language.
“For years, women have been shamed for menstruating. A simple biological process seen as something dirty, hormonal fluctuations and physical pains invalidated.” Mariana Pereira
The incident occurs as the forward continues his push to secure a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s 2026 World Cup squad following a return from a serious knee injury.
He has recorded three goals and three assists in six matches this calendar year, though an international recall remains elusive.
Disciplinary consequences
The caution was his third yellow card in four Brasileirao appearances, triggering an automatic suspension for the upcoming fixture against Flamengo.
Authorities could also take further disciplinary action against the superstar over his post-match comments.
Last month, Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques received a 12-match ban from the Brazilian Serie A for similar sexist comments.