Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has heavily criticised Liverpool’s faltering Premier League title defence, branding Arne Slot’s side “bad champions” after falling 21 points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Merseyside club cruised to domestic glory last season but have struggled to maintain their dominance during the current campaign.
Hopes of retaining their hard-won crown were effectively extinguished following a disappointing weekend draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Missing the required standard
The outspoken pundit, who secured seven league titles during his time at Old Trafford, was scathing in his assessment of the Anfield outfit.
“Considering they were league champions last year and I have said it before, Liverpool are bad champions,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“They’ve been bad champions, they were bad champions a few years ago.”
That latest result leaves the reigning titleholders with a massive deficit to make up in their remaining eight fixtures.
Chemistry and consistency questioned
“To be 21 points behind Arsenal, what a drop off that is,” Keane added.
The former midfielder suggested that deeper issues are currently plaguing the club’s dressing room.
“I think there is stuff going on, I don’t think they are on the same page, there doesn’t seem to be the same chemistry with the players.”
A stark warning for the leaders
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal currently sit in pole position to claim their first top-flight crown in over two decades.
The North Londoners require just 16 points from their final seven matches after closest rivals Manchester City dropped points against West Ham.
However, the Irish football legend cautioned the prospective champions against resting on their laurels next year.
“When I see these teams winning trophies and then disappear for ten to 15 years,” Keane noted.
“You do not want Arsenal to disappear for the next three, four, five years.
“You’ve got to back it up, don’t be 20, 30 points behind the top team next year, you have got to compete, that is your challenge.”
Darius Acuff Jr scored 30 points as 17th-ranked Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 86-75 to claim their first SEC tournament title since 2000 and secure an automatic NCAA tournament berth.
The freshman point guard also provided 11 assists during a dominant performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
Victory for the Razorbacks secured a monumental milestone for their veteran head coach.
John Calipari became the first head coach in SEC history to lift the tournament trophy with two different programmes.
Calipari achieves historic conference double
He previously guided Kentucky to six SEC tournament crowns, with his last triumph coming in 2018.
His latest success brings his phenomenal career tally to 16 conference tournament championships.
The showpiece event developed into a fascinating battle between two highly rated guards.
Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner was tasked with containing the SEC player of the year, but struggled to restrict the dynamic teenager.
The mesmerising playmaker dazzled the crowd with a combination of fadeaway jumpers, deep three-pointers and intricate passing.
Razorbacks pull away in tense finale
Despite leading 41-39 at the interval, Arkansas found themselves trailing early in the second half.
A crucial three-pointer from AK Okereke sparked a 9-4 run that gave the Commodores their largest advantage of the contest at 55-49.
However, the 22nd-ranked outfit subsequently suffered a disastrous shooting slump.
They missed 12 of their next 13 attempts, allowing their opponents to mount a ferocious comeback.
With the match delicately poised at 66-66, the Razorbacks executed a flawless 12-0 scoring burst to emphatically seal the championship.
Supporting cast delivers on the big stage
Billy Richmond III contributed a vital 18 points to support the scoring masterclass from his backcourt partner.
Trevon Brazile added 16 points, while D.J. Wagner chipped in with 11 to ensure a comfortable winning margin.
Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel paced the scoring for Vanderbilt with 19 points apiece in a valiant losing effort.
The defeat denied the Commodores their first tournament title since 2012, when they famously defeated Calipari’s Kentucky side.
West Ham United and Nottingham Forest remain locked in a tense Premier League relegation battle after all four struggling sides secured crucial weekend draws.
While Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley look destined for the Championship, the four-team fight for survival above them remains impossibly tight.
Only goal difference currently separates the 18th-placed East Londoners from Forest, with both teams sitting precariously on 29 points after 30 matches.
Tottenham Hotspur sit just one point above the safety line following a dramatic late draw at Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Leeds United occupy 15th place on 32 points but remain deeply entrenched in the survival conversation.
Hammers secure vital point against Manchester City
The Irons demonstrated immense resilience to claim a 1-1 draw against title-chasing Manchester City on Saturday.
That impressive result temporarily lifted them out of the bottom three before Sunday’s fixtures pushed the capital club back into the relegation zone.
Their current resilience marks a stark contrast to early January, when a home defeat left them seven points adrift of safety.
Since that low point, Nuno Espirito Santo’s revitalised squad have gathered 15 points from nine matches.
A daunting home clash against league leaders Arsenal looms large on their schedule.
The East London outfit will then conclude their gruelling campaign by hosting Leeds in a potential final-day decider.
Forest frustrated by lack of attacking fortune
Elsewhere, the Tricky Trees experienced another frustrating afternoon in front of goal during their goalless stalemate with Fulham.
The result marked the 14th time in 30 league outings that the East Midlands club have failed to score.
They were denied a potential victory after substitute Dan Ndoye had two narrow offside calls go against him.
“Like in many other games, we’re creating good chances but it’s just not working right now,” full-back Ola Aina told BBC Sport.
“Hopefully in the games to come, those chances go in.”
The Nigerian international struck the crossbar during the second half but remains optimistic about reversing their attacking misfortunes.
“We’ve got quality and the spirit to change the team’s luck in front of goal. Honestly, I just think it’s the rub of the green that’s not going for us.”
“We’ve just got to keep believing in what we’re doing and ultimately in each other, because we’re the ones that are going to turn it round.”
Vitor Pereira’s side must now briefly shift their focus to European action as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Midtjylland in the Europa League.
A monumental domestic clash awaits them shortly after, with the Portuguese manager describing their upcoming trip to Tottenham as absolutely vital.
The United States have defeated Canada 6-2 to win Paralympic gold in Milan Cortina, becoming the first nation to sweep the ice hockey tournaments across both the Olympics and Paralympics.
This unprecedented achievement comes just three weeks after the American squad overcame their North American rivals in the Olympic final.
Jack Wallace was the standout performer during Sunday’s gold medal match.
The prolific forward netted a crucial hat-trick to securely dismantle the Canadian defence and guarantee a third consecutive Paralympic title for his country.
Open-gender tournament structure
Para ice hockey at the Winter Games is currently classified entirely as an open-gender sport.
Consequently, there is no separate women’s division contested at the international level.
This landmark victory in Italy cements an era of absolute dominance for the US national team program on the global stage.
Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard has secured his first Paris-Nice title after finishing second on Sunday’s final stage in southern France.
The 29-year-old was narrowly beaten to the finish line on stage eight by Frenchman Lenny Martinez, but his overall general classification lead was never in doubt.
Colombia’s Harold Tejada, who tasted victory on Friday’s sixth stage, crossed the line in third position as part of a small chasing group seven seconds behind the stage winner.
General classification dominance
The Dane finished a commanding four minutes and 23 seconds clear of Daniel Martinez in the final standings to comfortably seal the overall title.
His Colombian rival slipped drastically adrift in the general classification after suffering a crash with 50 kilometres remaining on the final day.
Conditions for Sunday’s 145-kilometre route, which started and ended at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, were significantly improved after heavy snow forced the shortening of Saturday’s summit finish.
Grand Tour ambitions
Vingegaard had initiated the decisive move on the final climb, leading Lenny Martinez away from the remaining peloton before the Frenchman found an extra gear to triumph in the sprint.
This early-season victory establishes a highly positive trajectory for the climbing specialist ahead of a demanding summer schedule.
He is now targeting a rare and ambitious Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double across May and July respectively.
Chelsea secured their fourth Women’s League Cup title by defeating Manchester United 2-0 at Ashton Gate, with goals from Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones ensuring Sonia Bompastor’s side retained the trophy.
The London club dominated proceedings against a lacklustre opposition to claim their first piece of silverware of the current campaign.
Victory in front of 21,619 spectators also marked the Blues’ seventh consecutive appearance in the final of this prestigious domestic competition.
James capitalises on defensive error
A frenetic start to the encounter provided early opportunities for both teams before a costly mistake broke the deadlock.
Manchester United defender Dominique Janssen hit a heavily miscued back-pass that sent James racing clear through on goal.
The England international made no mistake against her former employers, expertly dispatching a near-post finish past the flailing Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Marc Skinner’s outfit almost found an equaliser on the stroke of half-time following their best attacking move of the opening period.
Melvine Malard delivered a tantalising cross from the flank, but Ellen Wangerheim failed to convert from point-blank range.
Injury blow dampens Chelsea celebrations
The reigning champions asserted their authority after the restart but soon suffered a significant physical setback.
Swedish defender Nathalie Bjorn broke down in tears following a severe non-contact calf injury just two minutes after being introduced to the action.
The distressing incident marked a cruel blow for the player, who was making her first substitute appearance since November.
Beever-Jones seals the victory
Despite the disruption, the Blues effectively ended the contest when substitute Beever-Jones struck in the 75th minute.
The young forward latched onto a dangerous cross from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd to toe-poke the ball home and double the advantage.
A late flurry of stoppage-time chances proved completely ineffective for the Red Devils as they fell to their 16th defeat in 20 meetings with their fierce London rivals.
The comprehensive defeat means the Manchester side must continue their long wait to secure a second piece of major domestic silverware.
Roberto De Zerbi has delayed a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur until the summer, dealing a blow to the London club as current manager Igor Tudor faces mounting pressure.
The Premier League side are actively exploring their managerial options with Tudor expected to depart before the end of the month.
However, their leading candidate for the dugout is reportedly unwilling to accept a new position midway through the current campaign.
Tudor faces uncertain future
The Croatian coach has found himself under immense scrutiny following a turbulent period in the capital.
Reports suggest the current head coach is highly likely to be relieved of his duties in the coming weeks.
Consequently, the Spurs hierarchy have pinpointed the former Brighton and Sassuolo tactician as their primary target to rebuild the squad.
Summer wait required for leading target
Despite being heavily courted by the North London outfit, the 44-year-old insists on waiting until the off-season before committing to a new project.
Journalist Ben Jacobs provided insight into the managerial situation developing behind the scenes.
De Zerbi doesn’t want to join a club at this moment, despite him being a leading name under consideration by Tottenham.
This firm stance leaves the Tottenham board facing a difficult decision regarding their immediate leadership structure.
If the club proceeds with sacking their current manager this month, they may be forced to appoint an interim boss to bridge the gap until their top choice becomes available.
Liverpool have activated a contract extension for Alisson Becker to keep the Brazilian goalkeeper at Anfield until 2027 and fend off transfer interest from Juventus.
The 33-year-old’s previous deal was set to expire this summer, which could have allowed him to negotiate a free transfer to a foreign club.
However, the Premier League outfit have decisively exercised a one-year option to secure their first-choice stopper for a further campaign.
Juventus target Serie A return
Italian giants Juventus have reportedly made the acquisition of a new goalkeeper a primary objective for the upcoming transfer window.
According to reports in Italy, the Turin club had identified the former Roma star as a priority signing to bolster their squad.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is also believed to be on the Serie A side’s radar as an alternative option.
Juventus were reportedly prepared to meet the South American’s wage demands, which are estimated to be around £5.1m annually.
Mamardashvili waiting in the wings
Even if the Reds eventually decide to sanction a departure for their number one, they already have a long-term successor at the club.
Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili arrived on Merseyside in the summer but has found his minutes heavily restricted this season.
The 24-year-old has made just 12 appearances across all competitions while serving as an understudy.
The Georgian recently explained his mindset regarding his current lack of playing time.
“My ex-goalkeeper coach, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, when I was at Valencia told me I had to find a balance between ambition and patience.”
“I keep working hard and you never know when your chance is coming. It’s never easy because there is just one goalkeeper.”
“If I don’t play, I don’t mind – I have to work hard every day and that’s it. My time will come, for sure.”
A decorated Anfield career
Alisson has been a transformative figure for Liverpool since arriving from the Italian capital for £64m in 2018.
The Brazil international has amassed 330 appearances during a highly successful period on Merseyside.
His impressive trophy cabinet includes two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
The veteran stopper has also been instrumental in helping new arrivals settle into the squad, a fact praised by his current deputy.
“The most important thing for me was the support because I didn’t speak much English. Mac Allister, Alisson as well helped and now I speak much better.”