Federico Chiesa has declared his commitment to Liverpool following growing speculation over his future, insisting he is fully focused on the new era under manager Andoni Iraola.
The Italian international scored during Saturday’s 4-2 friendly victory against Sunderland as the Reds began their pre-season preparations.
His goalscoring return comes amid intense scrutiny regarding his position on Merseyside after a highly frustrating spell under previous boss Arne Slot.
Seeking consistency in the Premier League
Across two seasons working with Slot, the 28-year-old managed just a single top-flight start and recorded five goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.
This lack of regular game time led the former Juventus winger to publicly admit last month that he would have to look elsewhere if his situation did not improve.
However, following a promising early display under Iraola, the attacker has now firmly clarified his immediate intentions.
Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.
I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see.
At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.
Overcoming past frustrations
Iraola arrived at Anfield in June following the dismissal of Slot, presenting a crucial clean slate for players previously on the fringes of the squad.
The £12.5m signing, who remains contracted to the club until 2028, appears determined to prove his worth to the newly appointed Spanish coach.
When questioned about whether this summer represents a genuinely fresh start, the forward offered a remarkably honest assessment of his recent history.
Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager.
Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not.
The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football.
This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for highly-rated left-handed pitcher Connelly Early ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The American League East franchise parted ways with a consensus top prospect to secure the breakout batter.
Early has enjoyed an impressive start to his major league career across his first 34 starts.
However, Boston management has opted to bank on advanced tracking metrics rather than traditional valuation models to finalise this high-stakes exchange.
Fenway Park fit for reformed hitter
The much-travelled infielder has completely overhauled his approach at the plate this season.
Standing more upright and closer to the plate, the right-handed batter has transformed into a dangerous flyball-heavy pull hitter.
These mechanical adjustments have resulted in a significant spike in isolated power alongside vastly improved walk and strikeout rates.
The iconic dimensions of Fenway Park are notoriously favourable to right-handed batters who consistently lift the ball into the air.
Nationals capitalise on pitching potential
While the incoming batter is enjoying a stellar campaign featuring a 137 OPS+, his defensive and base-running limitations remain a notable concern.
The Washington outfit possesses ample offensive firepower to comfortably absorb his mid-season departure.
Acquiring a talented southpaw with immense team control remaining represents a significant coup for the National League side.
Many traditional baseball evaluators view this swap as a lopsided victory for the team residing in the nation’s capital.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted the highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua must take place in the UK unless their legally binding contract is renegotiated.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is reportedly keen to stage the fight later this year at a time that guarantees maximum global viewership.
This ambition has led to Madison Square Garden in New York emerging as a preferred alternative venue for the monumental showdown.
Alalshikh would require special exemption from Wembley Stadium’s strict curfews to host his proposed 2am UK start time in London.
Contractual obligations stand firm
However, Joshua’s camp remains adamant that the current paperwork specifically locks the blockbuster bout into a British location.
The two-time former world champion recently maintained his winning momentum with a swift second-round stoppage of Kristian Prenga.
That victory occurred just 24 hours after his heavyweight rival comfortably dealt with Mariusz Wach in Thailand, keeping their meeting firmly on track.
“There’s a reason we put contracts together,” Hearn stated following his fighter’s recent victory.
“We insisted that this fight was in the UK. I know that AJ will sometimes want to be a little bit of a peacekeeper, but the reality is he said to me, ‘I want the fight in the UK’.”
Preserving a domestic legacy
While acknowledging Alalshikh as a crucial partner in the boxing landscape, Hearn stressed that any venue change requires complete mutual agreement.
The Matchroom boss recognised the immense prestige of fighting at Madison Square Garden.
Despite that global appeal, he emphasised the generational importance of hosting this specific domestic rivalry on home soil.
Joshua himself believes that moving the long-awaited meeting abroad would significantly tarnish the legacy of both fighters.
The Olympic gold medallist confirmed that the national stadium was the sole location discussed when negotiations initially commenced.
“When these conversations started, there was no other venue or location that was ever mentioned,” Joshua explained.
“This is the road map. You fight, come back, fight, and then providing you’re victorious, you’ll be fighting Tyson Fury in the UK, basically Wembley.”
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has dismissed Liverpool’s hopes of signing Michael Olise this summer, insisting the winger will remain in Germany.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as the Premier League club reportedly search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.
Real Madrid have also shown strong interest in the Frenchman following a superb individual World Cup campaign where he provided seven assists in eight matches.
Stunning debut season in Germany
Olise enjoyed an outstanding previous campaign under manager Vincent Kompany, registering a combined 48 goals and assists across 52 appearances.
His prolific attacking output helped the Bavarian giants secure a domestic double, lifting both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Consequently, the German champions are eager to retain their star attacker and are reportedly preparing to offer him a lucrative new contract.
Real Madrid speculation dismissed
When questioned about claims that the highly-rated forward was pushing for a move to Spain, Freund remained completely relaxed about the situation.
“This is absolutely not an issue for us.”
“We’re delighted that Michael is back from his holiday. He’ll play an important role for FC Bayern this season, just as he did last season, too.”
The sporting director’s comments followed a surprise 2-1 friendly defeat for a youthful Bayern side against third-tier outfit Wehen Wiesbaden.
Senior figures such as Olise and England captain Harry Kane were absent from that fixture but are expected to feature later in the pre-season schedule.
Alternative targets identified
Real Madrid recently issued a formal statement denying reports that they had submitted a £130m bid for the coveted attacker.
The Spanish club highlighted their excellent institutional relationship with Bayern and expressed regret over the circulation of unfounded speculation.
Given the firm stance from Munich, both Liverpool and Real Madrid are now actively exploring alternative attacking options in the transfer market.
The Merseyside club are reportedly monitoring Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to bolster their forward line.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have reportedly rejected an £85m bid from Los Blancos for Yan Diomande, demanding a fee closer to the £100m mark.
Andoni Iraola began his tenure as Liverpool manager with a 4-2 pre-season victory over Sunderland in Nashville, though the result was overshadowed by an early injury to Joe Gomez.
The Spanish tactician watched his new side secure a high-scoring win in the United States courtesy of goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.
However, the celebratory mood quickly dampened when the Reds’ captain for the evening went down in the eighth minute.
Gomez was immediately withdrawn, compounding an already precarious defensive situation for the Premier League giants.
Defensive crisis looms for Iraola
The Merseyside club are desperately short of senior options at centre-back following a string of high-profile absences.
“Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe,” said the former Bournemouth boss.
We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we’ve lost Joe straight away.
With Virgil van Dijk given extended leave following the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign and new signing Jeremy Jacquet rested, two 18-year-old debutants were forced to hold the defensive line.
Mor Talla N’diaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe performed admirably, but sporting director Richard Hughes will be acutely aware of the need for immediate reinforcements.
Teenager Giovanni Leoni also remains sidelined as he recovers from a severe anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Attacking flair shines in Music City
Despite their defensive frailties, Liverpool demonstrated plenty of attacking intent to entertain the American crowd.
Sunderland had initially threatened an upset, with Enzo le Fee and Timur Tutierov finding the net for the Championship side.
Yet the introduction of Szoboszlai at half-time shifted the momentum firmly back in Liverpool’s favour.
The Hungarian playmaker marked his return with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area to level the contest at 2-2.
Harvey Elliott also impressed upon returning from a loan spell at Aston Villa, providing the assist for Morrison’s opening goal.
Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, the 19-year-old Northern Ireland international highlighted his potential as a valuable attacking option for the upcoming campaign.
Jack Grealish’s hopes of a return to Aston Villa appear over after the club signed winger Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old Argentine has agreed a season-long move to Villa Park with an obligation to buy next summer.
His arrival follows Chelsea acquiring Morgan Rogers for a record £117m fee, initiating a domino effect in the transfer market.
Injury struggles and loan spell
The 30-year-old England international spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Everton from Manchester City after falling out of favour.
The former Villa captain regained his creative spark on Merseyside, registering six assists in 22 appearances before suffering a momentum-halting stress fracture in his foot.
Now back at the Etihad Stadium, the playmaker must decide whether to fight for his place under Enzo Maresca or seek a permanent departure.
A closed door at Villa Park
A romantic homecoming to the club he joined as a six-year-old had been heavily touted as the ideal solution.
Former team-mate Robert Snodgrass recently suggested a deal was a “no-brainer” for both parties.
“It’s well-documented that he is a die-hard Villa fan who is incredibly passionate about that club, so if the chance arose, you really have to think why not?”
Robert Snodgrass
However, Garnacho’s presence on the left flank provides a younger, faster alternative who will naturally command significant playing time.
Having made 213 appearances for his boyhood side before a £100m exit in 2021, the three-time Premier League winner may now have to look elsewhere for his next challenge.
Dallas Wings standout Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will headline opposing teams as the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game tips off at Chicago’s United Center.
Legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon take the reins as general managers for the marquee exhibition event.
Bueckers secured her place on Team Coop after finishing as the leading vote-getter in this year’s All-Star balloting.
Meanwhile, the second-most popular choice among fans, Clark, has been assigned to lead Team Spoon.
MVPs and rising stars share the stage
The showpiece fixture features a formidable lineup of established talent, including three former Most Valuable Players and eight previous WNBA champions.
Las Vegas Aces talisman A’ja Wilson joins New York Liberty duo Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones on the court.
That celebrated trio has remarkably combined to win the last six regular-season MVP trophies.
A glimpse into the league’s future will also be on display, with current Rookie of the Year favourite Olivia Miles earning a selection.
All-Star weekend festivities
The main event follows an action-packed Friday night of skills competitions in the Windy City.
Sharpshooter Azzi Fudd already claimed early bragging rights by winning the prestigious 3-point shooting contest.
Fans and analysts alike are now poised for a thrilling contest between the meticulously assembled squads of Team Coop and Team Spoon.
Magomed Ankalaev delivered a dominant fifth-round stoppage victory over Bogdan Guskov at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi as he looks to reclaim the light heavyweight championship.
The former champion completely outclassed his opponent at the Etihad Arena, securing the finish two minutes and 41 seconds into the final round.
Guskov, stepping in on short notice after Khalil Rountree Jr withdrew with an injury, essentially surrendered under a barrage of heavy ground strikes.
It marked a vital return to the win column for the 34-year-old Russian, who was making his first octagon appearance since losing his divisional crown last October.
Frustrating pursuit of a reluctant opponent
The 205-pound main event was rarely competitive, characterised largely by the Uzbekistani fighter continuously circling away to prevent any meaningful striking exchanges.
Ankalaev completely controlled the statistical battle, out-striking his overmatched rival by 122 blows to just 42 across the bout.
“He wasn’t engaging in the striking. I was trying to find him but he kept getting away. I’ve said this before, when a striker comes out against me in a fight, I have to go hunt and find them.”
Forced to change tactics, the number one ranked contender utilised his wrestling in the championship rounds to keep his elusive opponent grounded.
Guskov offered minimal resistance to the late takedowns, eventually prompting his own corner to desperately plead with him not to give up.
Title ambitions and heavyweight dreams
Ankalaev approached the contest fuelled by nine months of frustration following his devastating knockout defeat to Alex Pereira.
“I was out for a long time, but now I’m back and I’m going to start my hunt for the thing I lost.”
With current light heavyweight king Carlos Ulberg sidelined indefinitely by a knee injury, the immediate path to a championship bout remains slightly unclear.
However, the Dagestan-born martial artist has set his sights far beyond simply regaining his lost 205-pound hardware.
He remains determined to secure a trilogy bout against Pereira, publicly confirming his willingness to follow his Brazilian rival up to the heavyweight division to settle the score.