Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday following a 4-0 aggregate defeat by Paris Saint-Germain as manager Arne Slot faced severe criticism for his tactical decisions.
The Reds’ European campaign ended with a whimper in front of their home supporters.
The reigning French champions confirmed their dominance over the two legs to comfortably secure their place in the semi-finals.
Any pre-game hopes of a famous Merseyside comeback were rapidly punctured by a ruthless performance from the visitors.
Slot faces scrutiny over team selection
The Dutch head coach opted for significant tactical changes to try and overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
Talismanic forward Mohamed Salah was surprisingly left on the bench for the crucial European knockout tie.
Instead, Alexander Isak was handed a shock start alongside Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
The newly assembled forward trio had previously shared just 88 minutes on the pitch together this season.
A failed attacking experiment
The bold tactical gamble failed spectacularly against a well-drilled Parisian outfit.
Isak managed a mere five touches and completed just two passes before being abruptly substituted at half-time.
A disastrous evening was further compounded by a serious injury sustained by Ekitike.
Football analysts immediately questioned the logic behind fielding a disjointed attack completely lacking natural rhythm.
“Starting Isak will go down as one of the worst decisions a Liverpool manager has made in recent seasons.”
Julien Laurens
Semi-final lineup confirmed
Liverpool must now quickly recover from this heavy continental setback.
Their focus immediately pivots towards securing a vital top-five finish in the Premier League.
Elsewhere, the Champions League semi-final picture is now fully complete.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid all successfully navigated their respective quarter-final ties to join the Parisian giants in the final four.
Arsenal have qualified for consecutive Champions League semi-finals after a goalless draw against Sporting on home soil secured a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side did just enough to advance and will now face Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the last four.
However, the lacklustre performance leaves lingering questions ahead of a crucial domestic trip to Manchester City this weekend.
The north London outfit managed merely a single shot on target during a surprisingly low-key European tie.
Unconvincing display before Etihad trip
David Raya looked occasionally shaky in goal throughout the tight contest.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice appeared to be struggling with full fitness in the middle of the park.
The Gunners’ attacking contingent remains far from their fluid best both individually and collectively.
A similar performance against Pep Guardiola’s defending Premier League champions will almost certainly not yield a positive result.
Eze shines upon starting lineup return
There were, however, promising signs from Eberechi Eze in the opening exchanges.
The returning playmaker constantly looked to break lines and inject urgency into an otherwise cautious attacking display.
The England international created early opportunities, though combinations with striker Viktor Gyokeres frequently broke down.
With club captain Martin Odegaard sidelined by injury, Eze has staked a strong claim to retain the central creative role.
Deploying Kai Havertz in a deeper midfield position has proved ineffective, suggesting the German must operate further forward.
Injury concern for Madueke
Adding to the Spanish manager’s worries is a fresh injury concern on the right flank.
Noni Madueke was forced off in the second half following a heavy collision with Pedro Goncalves.
The winger required lengthy treatment on the pitch before being replaced by teenager Max Dowman.
Medical staff will now face a race against time to assess the forward’s availability for the impending clash in Manchester.
BBC Sport pundit Stephen Warnock has described Paris St-Germain’s midfield trio as the best in the world following their dominant 2-0 Champions League quarter-final victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Joao Neves, Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery orchestrated proceedings as the French champions secured a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate win.
They are the best three midfielders in world football right now.
Stephen Warnock
The former England international believes their influential performance was the primary catalyst for eliminating the Premier League giants.
Controlling the Anfield engine room
The Parisian visitors systematically dismantled the home side’s renowned pressing game to silence a typically raucous Merseyside crowd.
The youthful dynamism of Zaire-Emery perfectly complemented the deep-lying technical mastery provided by his Portuguese team-mates.
This cohesive central unit ensured the Ligue 1 leaders maintained absolute tactical control throughout the demanding European tie.
European ambitions firmly underlined
The emphatic quarter-final triumph further cements the French outfit’s status as formidable contenders for this season’s elite continental prize.
Leaving Merseyside with a clean sheet and a two-goal victory is a rare feat that highlights their exceptional collective resilience.
Liverpool ultimately had no answer to the fluidity and precision consistently demonstrated by the visiting engine room.
The future of LIV Golf is in serious doubt following an emergency executive meeting in New York amid reports that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is considering withdrawing its financial backing.
Executives from the breakaway circuit held urgent discussions on Tuesday to address mounting concerns over the project’s long-term viability.
The sovereign wealth fund has reportedly poured almost $5bn into the controversial league over the past four years.
However, the UK-based entity behind the enterprise posted significant operating losses of £461.8m in 2024 alone.
Mounting financial pressure and strategic shifts
Speculation surrounding the tour’s potential demise aligns with a broader strategic shift from its primary financial backers.
The Saudi fund, which manages nearly $1tn in global assets, recently outlined a revised investment blueprint for the remainder of the decade.
This new approach mandates a strict focus on achieving sustainable value and increasing overall investment efficiency across their vast portfolio.
Consequently, tour executives are believed to be evaluating an exit strategy while determining the immediate next steps for the golf venture.
Mexico City disruptions and player reactions
Despite the backstage turmoil, preparations for this week’s scheduled tournament in Mexico City are continuing.
Yet the atmosphere at the venue has been notably strained, with Tuesday’s media obligations abruptly cancelled.
Officials blamed local power outages for the sudden closure of the media centre and the abandonment of scheduled press conferences.
Meanwhile, competitors remain officially in the dark regarding any impending collapse of the Saudi-backed circuit.
Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia insisted that the roster still trusts the reassurances provided earlier this year.
“Honestly, we aren’t going to listen to anything except for what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan] told us at the start of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project for many years.”
The Spanish veteran acknowledged the swirling rumours but maintained that players have received no official updates regarding an imminent shutdown.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will compete at this summer’s World Cup in the United States despite the ongoing military conflict between the two nations.
The head of world football’s governing body made the definitive declaration during an investment forum in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
Doubts had heavily surfaced regarding the Asian nation’s participation following the outbreak of war in late February.
Request to relocate fixtures rejected
Iranian government officials previously suggested their national team could not safely travel to American soil.
Requests were subsequently made to move their group-stage matches south of the border to co-host nation Mexico.
However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed last week that those appeals were firmly rejected by Fifa.
“The Iranian team is coming, for sure. Yes.”
Infantino stated while speaking to delegates at the Invest in America Forum.
“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Building bridges through sport
Prospects of the squad fulfilling their tournament obligations improved after a recent visit to their training camp in Antalya, Turkey.
The 54-year-old Swiss executive met with the players and stressed his belief that sport must remain entirely separate from geopolitical matters.
“If there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that.”
Infantino added, reiterating his commitment to global sporting unity.
Tournament schedule and logistics
The Iranian team secured their qualification for the expanded global showpiece in March 2025.
Their delegation is strictly expected to arrive at a designated base camp in Tucson, Arizona, no later than 10 June.
The squad will open their campaign against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, five days later.
Subsequent group fixtures will see them face Belgium at the same venue on 21 June before travelling to Seattle to play Egypt.
United States President Donald Trump has offered mixed messages regarding the team’s arrival, fluctuating between welcoming the players and questioning their safety.
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes Declan Rice has the necessary leadership qualities to rescue the club’s faltering season and secure major silverware.
The Gunners have endured a dismal recent spell, suffering eliminations from both domestic cup competitions before a shock Premier League defeat by Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta’s side now face a pivotal Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP, holding a slender 1-0 advantage from the first encounter.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the crucial European tie at Emirates Stadium, the legendary French midfielder urged the current squad to remember their early-season form.
Arsenal urged to rediscover early-season momentum
“I think I would remind them about what they’ve been doing since the first game of the season,” Vieira said.
“I would remind them that the majority of the coaches and the teams will want to be in their shoes.”
The former Invincibles skipper acknowledged the recent dip in performances, citing mounting injury problems and a drop in individual levels.
“It’s true that they’re having a really difficult run at the moment, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t win it,” he added.
Rice and Gabriel identified as crucial leaders
To navigate this challenging period, the 48-year-old insists that senior figures within the dressing room must now step forward.
He specifically highlighted the England international midfielder alongside Brazilian defender Gabriel as the necessary catalysts.
“I don’t know how he is in the dressing room but something I like on the field, he is the engine of the team, the drive of the team,” Vieira noted regarding the former West Ham captain.
“His natural leadership will be really important for the rest of the season.”
A return to attacking fundamentals
Beyond individual mentalities, the three-time Premier League winner also questioned recent tactical adjustments at his former employer.
He noted a concerning shift towards sterile possession, urging a swift return to the clinical, forward-thinking approach that defined their dominant autumn displays.
It’s true that at the moment they are a little bit too much on having the possession but there’s not the end product.
Despite the recent domestic stumbles, belief remains high that this talented squad possesses the required quality to reach the latter stages of European competition.
Four-time Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson has signed a historic three-year, $5m supermax contract to remain with the Las Vegas Aces.
The groundbreaking deal is the largest in WNBA history and fully guarantees her future with the reigning champions.
Negotiated by Klutch Sports Group, the agreement ensures the franchise cornerstone will earn $1.4m for the upcoming season under the league’s next collective bargaining agreement.
Her salary will steadily increase over the subsequent two years, anchored to a 20% share of the team’s salary cap.
Paving the way for a new financial era
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell is currently the only other athlete on a supermax contract, although that arrangement is strictly for a single season.
These newly agreed terms solidify the financial future of a player who recently became the WNBA’s first-ever four-time MVP.
Aces president and general manager Nikki Fargas praised the American’s unmatched impact on the organisation.
“A’ja is truly one of one, who has led this franchise to where it is today,” Fargas stated.
“Not only has she catapulted into the history books and surpassed almost every record in existence, but she does so with the utmost confidence, authenticity and grace.”
An unprecedented run of dominance
The South Carolina graduate enjoyed a phenomenal 2025 campaign, becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season.
During that historic run, the dominant centre averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.
Securing her signature means Las Vegas will officially return 90% of their scoring power as they prepare to defend their title.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist had previously dismissed any speculation about a potential departure during a recent USA Basketball training camp.
“I love Vegas. I’m not leaving Vegas,” she told reporters last Friday.
“I’m looking to win another one. I’m looking to defend a championship that we have in Las Vegas.”
Drafted first overall in 2018, the 29-year-old has comprehensively transformed the Nevada-based franchise into a modern basketball dynasty.
Amateur referee Javier Ortega has been fatally shot by armed attackers during a football match in the Ecuadorian city of Pasaje.
The 48-year-old match official collapsed on the pitch after perpetrators stormed the field and opened fire in front of horrified players and spectators.
Paramedics arrived swiftly at the sporting ground in the El Oro province but were unable to resuscitate the victim.
The fixture was immediately abandoned as terrified members of the public scrambled to safety.
Police investigate targeted assassination
Local authorities have cordoned off the area to conduct forensic testing and secure the crime scene.
Investigators currently believe the brutal public murder may have been a premeditated hit.
“[We are] interviewing witnesses to identify the perpetrators. This is a cold-blooded crime committed in a space meant for community and sport.”
Ecuadorian Police
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the shooting.
Surging violence across the nation
This tragic incident occurs against a backdrop of sharply escalating national crime rates.
Ecuador recorded its highest number of violent deaths in history last year, registering 51 homicides per 100,000 residents.
That staggering statistic makes the South American country the most deadly in the region, vastly outpacing neighbouring nations.
Football community demands answers
The host club has suspended all upcoming fixtures out of respect for the grieving family.
Refereeing authorities have expressed their outrage, urgently calling for improved lighting and tighter security at local venues.
“To lose a life over a game of football is unacceptable.”
Refereeing Authorities
Vigils have been held in the official’s neighbourhood as friends and family mourn his sudden passing.