Joshua Smith

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool made a major recruitment error by signing El Hadji Diouf instead of Nicolas Anelka in 2002. Gerrard praised Anelka’s ability and argued that the decision was based on Diouf’s brief World Cup form rather than a longer record of performance. The comments have reignited the pair’s longstanding feud, which included reported dressing-room confrontations, while Diouf has previously defended his legacy by highlighting his role in Senegal’s 2002 World Cup run.

England retained the European Championship after defeating Spain in a penalty shoot-out, with Chloe Kelly scoring the decisive penalty after a 1–1 draw. An open-top bus parade for the Lionesses will travel along The Mall in London on 29 July, followed by a trophy presentation at the Queen Victoria Memorial hosted by Alex Scott and broadcast by the BBC, ITV and Sky. The Football Association and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy praised the team, while calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to declare a bank holiday remain unlikely to succeed.

England U21s face Germany in the European Under-21 Championship final at 8pm on June 28 at Stadion Tehelne pole in Slovakia. Channel 4 will provide free-to-air UK coverage from 7:30pm, with streaming available through its on-demand service. The article also lists international broadcasters and notes that Harvey Elliott, who played a key role in the semi-final, could be an injury doubt after hurting his knee during the celebrations.

Harvey Elliott scored twice, including a late winner, as England Under-21s defeated the Netherlands 2-1 to reach the European Championship final. His strong tournament has renewed speculation about his Liverpool future after limited opportunities under Arne Slot. Former England players Jermain Defoe and Joe Cole urged him to find a team where he can play regularly and express himself, while Brighton and Wolves are reportedly interested. Elliott said England must rest and prepare for Saturday's final.

Roberto Firmino could leave Al-Ahli this summer after being omitted from the club’s Saudi Pro League squad to accommodate January signing Galeno, despite helping Al-Ahli win the AFC Champions League Elite and scoring 21 goals in 65 appearances. Spanish reports claim Real Madrid are considering the 33-year-old as an experienced No. 9 and potential support for Kylian Mbappe, which could reunite him with former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold. Any move would depend partly on new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

Luis Diaz says he is very happy at Liverpool and would like to remain at the club for as long as possible, despite reported interest from Barcelona and Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The 28-year-old winger contributed 17 goals and eight assists in Liverpool’s Premier League-winning season. His future remains uncertain because he has two years left on his contract, and Liverpool may consider a sale or extension as it reshapes the squad and balances transfer spending. Liverpool has already signed Jeremie Frimpong and is negotiating for Florian Wirtz, while several senior players could also depart.

Liverpool’s transfer live blog reports that the club are said to be leading the race for Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, while also monitoring Jonathan David, Milos Kerkez and Raul Moro. Liverpool are reportedly unlikely to move for Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong because Arne Slot prefers a conventional right-back. Contract uncertainty continues around Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Liverpool said to have improved Alexander-Arnold’s offer while Real Madrid maintain interest. The updates also cover Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton, Caoimhin Kelleher’s performance, Federico Chiesa’s return from injury and praise for several players from pundits and former professionals.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker left England’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Brazil after 20 minutes with suspected hamstring tightness. His condition was due to be assessed over the following 36 hours, with uncertainty over whether he could play against Arsenal in a crucial Premier League title-race fixture. Gareth Southgate said the nature of the injury was not yet known, while Walker’s importance to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side heightened concerns.

Mohamed Salah scored against Sparta Prague to become the first Liverpool player to score at least 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons, surpassing Ian Rush's previous six-season record. Liverpool dominated the Europa League second leg, with Salah, Darwin Núñez, Bobby Clarke and Cody Gakpo scoring in a match that reached a 9–2 aggregate scoreline. Jürgen Klopp said Salah had recovered from a groin injury but would need to be managed carefully as he returned to full match fitness.

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is expected to miss around three to four weeks after injuring himself in the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield. He is likely to miss the league fixture against Arsenal and could also be unavailable for matches against Aston Villa, Wolves and the first leg of City's Champions League quarter-final. Stefan Ortega is set to replace him, having impressed as a substitute, with John Stones praising his saves and composure.

Mohamed Salah has been omitted from Egypt’s squad for an upcoming friendly tournament after Liverpool raised concerns about his hamstring recovery. The decision allows the forward to remain at Liverpool, where he can continue rebuilding fitness after returning from injury, as the club competes with Manchester City and Arsenal in a tight Premier League title race.