Richard Cusack

Federico Chiesa is expected to meet new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola this summer to discuss his future after another season with limited playing time. The Italy international did not start a Premier League match in 2026 and made only three late-season appearances, accumulating 726 minutes, three goals and three assists. Chiesa said he may seek a move if he cannot establish consistency in England, with Juventus and Como reported as possible destinations. He also acknowledged Liverpool’s decision to retain him in January because of squad needs and said he maintains a good relationship with the club.

Luke Littler defeated Luke Humphries 11–10 at London's O2 Arena to win his second Premier League Darts title and the £350,000 prize. The 19-year-old became emotional during his post-match interview, explaining that difficult performances, crowd pressure and an incident involving Gian van Veen had made him consider quitting darts. Humphries described the final as one of the best in Premier League history and said the emotion reflected how much the competition means to the players.

Manchester City will rename the Etihad Stadium’s newly built 7,000-capacity North Stand the Pep Guardiola Stand after confirming that Guardiola will leave at the end of the 2025/26 season. The club will also create a statue of the manager, who is expected to become an ambassador for its owners. Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak praised Guardiola’s ten-year tenure, citing his influence on the club’s identity, success and relationship with supporters. The expanded stadium will increase capacity to 61,000 and become part of a wider development featuring a hotel and museum.

Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City after Sunday's match against Aston Villa, ending a decade in charge and a tenure featuring 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the 2023 treble. He has agreed to depart one year before his contract expires and will become an ambassador for City Football Group, providing technical advice and working on projects with its clubs. Former Chelsea assistant manager Enzo Maresca is reportedly the leading candidate to replace him.

England’s Aaron Rai won the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club by shooting a final-round 65 to finish nine under par, three shots ahead of Jon Rahm. The victory gave the 31-year-old his first major title, made him the first English PGA Championship winner since Jim Barnes in 1919, and earned him the $3.69 million prize and Wanamaker Trophy. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler remained among the leading storylines, while players including Shane Lowry and McIlroy criticised or reassessed the demanding course setup.

Karren Brady has stepped down as vice-chair of West Ham United after 16 years, citing the close of a chapter while saying her passion for football remains. Her departure follows fan protests over the club’s performance, with West Ham sitting 17th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone. Brady was credited with helping oversee the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, securing its tenancy and contributing to major commercial and sporting developments, including the transfer of Declan Rice. Joint-chairs David Sullivan and Daniel Křetínský praised her leadership and wished her well as she turns her attention to other businesses and her House of Lords duties.

Frank Lampard has dismissed reports linking him with the vacant AFC Bournemouth head coach position, responding that his focus is exclusively on securing Coventry City's promotion and winning the Championship title. Coventry are one point from a return to the Premier League, while Bournemouth are searching for a successor to departing manager Andoni Iraola. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has also declined to discuss speculation connecting him with the role, and former RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose is reportedly among the leading candidates.

Roy Keane accused Michael Carrick and Manchester United of using Lisandro Martinez's contentious red card as a distraction from their poor performance in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United. Martinez was dismissed for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair after a VAR review, leaving him suspended for the match against Chelsea. Carrick called the decision one of the worst of the season, while Keane said the dismissal was harsh but argued United should have focused on being 2-0 down before the incident. Manchester United remain third, but Aston Villa have drawn level on points.

The opening day of the 2026 Grand National Festival at Aintree featured seven races and three Grade One contests. Winners included Mange Tout, Koktail Divin, Jango Baie, Barton Snow, Brighterdaysahead, Ryan's Rocket and Nan's Choice. Lulamba, the favourite for the Manifesto Novices' Chase, unseated Nico de Boinville, while Pied Piper and Nick Rockett were withdrawn from the Grand National. The live coverage also previewed Saturday's seven-race card and reported reactions from jockeys, trainers and ITV analysts.

Jurgen Klopp thanked Liverpool supporters for their backing during his nine-year tenure, saying both he and the fans look back on the period with pride and affection. Speaking to Peter Crouch, Klopp reflected on Liverpool's gradual development, the time needed to build a title-winning squad and the major trophies won, including the 2020 Premier League title and the 2019 Champions League. He also recalled the connection with supporters during his return to Anfield for a Liverpool Legends charity match and praised the attacking group featuring Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and Salah. Klopp now leads global football at Red Bull and remains an honorary ambassador for the LFC Foundation.

Keely Hodgkinson won her first world title in the women's 800m at the 2026 World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, setting a championship record of 1:55.30. She led from the start and defeated Switzerland's Audrey Werro, while American Addison Wiley took bronze. Hodgkinson later anchored Britain's 4x400m relay, recording the fastest split despite the team finishing fifth. Her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell also won the 1500m, and Molly Caudery reclaimed the pole vault title, giving Great Britain a highly successful evening. Hunter Bell highlighted her comeback from working in tax sales, while Caudery described her victory as a major relief after injuries and Olympic disappointment.

Ronnie O'Sullivan set a new professional snooker record by making a 153 break against Ryan Day in the opening frame of their World Open match in Yushan, China. Using a free ball to create a 16-red clearance, O'Sullivan surpassed Jamie Burnett's previous record of 148 from 2004. He led Day 4-0 in the best-of-nine quarter-final, while Day and commentator Neal Foulds reacted with admiration to the historic achievement.