Category: Sport

LIVERPOOL, England — It took lower than a minute for Alexander Isak to make his intentions clear.

With simply seconds on the clock in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton on Tuesday, the Sweden worldwide took the ball in his stride and drilled it goalwards, solely to see his effort tipped over the bar by the stretching Alex McCarthy.

Barely 40 minutes later, although, McCarthy was choosing the ball out of his personal web as Liverpool’s latest marksman wheeled away in celebration, having notched the primary purpose of what many on Merseyside hope can be an illustrious Anfield profession. Within the second half, Isak watched from the bench as fellow summer season signing Hugo Ekitike scored the successful purpose for the hosts, reserving the membership’s place within the fourth spherical of a contest they’re bidding to win for a record-extending eleventh time.

After weeks of debate about how Slot will be capable of preserve his two big-money strikers completely happy, each Isak and Ekitike delivered to make sure the Liverpool boss ended the evening with a smile on his face — even when the Dutchman was left to lament Ekitike’s “pointless” second-half dismissal for selecting up two yellow playing cards.

– Ogden: Liverpool must be affected person to see the very best of Wirtz
– Laurens: The Henry-like change that helped Dembélé win the Ballon d’Or
– First-month grades for all 20 Premier League groups: From A+ to F

Contemplating the likes of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz had been afforded a uncommon likelihood to observe the motion unfold from the consolation of their very own sofas, it’s no exaggeration to say Slot now has a humiliation of attacking riches at his disposal.

Nonetheless, the Liverpool head coach was as soon as once more made to attend to see his workforce clinch the victory, with Ekitike’s 86th-minute strike marking the sixth event in seven video games this season the Reds have scored a successful purpose within the remaining 10 minutes of a sport. The disjointed nature of Liverpool’s show on Tuesday evening can, partially, be attributed to the actual fact Slot made 11 adjustments to the facet that beat Everton 2-1 in final weekend’s Merseyside derby.

In addition to a begin for Isak, Slot handed debuts to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and defender Giovanni Leoni, with the latter, specifically, impressing earlier than he was substituted with what gave the impression to be a knee damage late within the second half. However, despite the massive gulf in assets between the 2 golf equipment, Southampton carried out admirably and nearly took the lead shortly earlier than the break when Leo Scienza nodded large after Adam Armstrong’s preliminary strike got here crashing off the publish.

Simply 39 seconds later, Will Nonetheless’s facet discovered themselves behind, with Isak sweeping previous McCarthy after the Southampton goalkeeper’s miscued go was picked off by the energetic Federico Chiesa. Because the Sweden striker slid throughout the Anfield turf in celebration, it seemed as if a weight had been lifted.

After discovering himself on the centre of the summer season’s most poisonous switch saga earlier than his acrimonious Newcastle United departure, Isak is now enjoying with a goal on his again. After all, having joined the Premier League champions in a British file deal, there’s an expectation the ahead will ship for Liverpool on far grander phases however, in scoring towards Southampton, he has now formally introduced his Anfield arrival.

“It’s good,” Slot mentioned of the striker’s landmark purpose. “It is just six or seven days in the past he made his debut, so time goes so quick, however we received him not in the very best circumstances by way of match health. You can not play him 90 minutes and in the event you solely play him 45 it would take some time earlier than he scores his first purpose.

“The very best second we begin to see what he’s hopefully is when he comes again from the Sweden nationwide workforce. Then we are able to count on much more from him, however till now very completely happy.”

It was Ekitike, although, who made certain of the win, tapping residence from Chiesa’s lay-off after Shea Charles had restored parity for the guests within the second half. It was the Frenchman’s fifth purpose in eight video games since becoming a member of the membership in a £69 million deal from Eintracht Frankfurt however, if his cool end provided additional proof of his high quality, then his impetuous determination to take away his shirt throughout the celebrations — having already been proven a yellow card for dissent — confirmed he’s nonetheless a participant with loads to study.

“It was pointless and silly,” Slot mentioned. “The primary one was already pointless and to a sure extent silly as a result of you need to management your feelings. I understand how arduous it’s when you’re a No. 9 when the defender can to a sure extent do something he likes.

“It’s all the time the very best to regulate your feelings. For those who can’t, do it in a method that doesn’t result in a yellow card.”

Ekitike’s antics imply he can be unable to function for Liverpool in Saturday’s Premier League conflict with Crystal Palace. However, with Isak now off the mark, it could possibly be the proper alternative for the Reds’ new No. 9 to essentially make an announcement.

Sacking Dak Prescott could be bittersweet for Micah Parsons.

The 2-time All-Professional go rusher downplayed his upcoming return to Dallas and expressed his emotions about probably taking down his buddy and former teammate in a dialog with The Related Press on Tuesday.

Parsons and the Inexperienced Bay Packers (2-1) face off towards Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys (1-2) in entrance of a nationwide tv viewers on Sunday night time.

“It’s going to be painful,” Parsons advised the AP about getting an opportunity to sack Prescott. “That’s my man. He was at all times like mentor for me. However you understand how it’s. He at all times advised me if I ever confronted him that it’ll be an incredible matchup, so I’m excited to see what Sunday brings itself.”

Parsons plans to deal with it like an abnormal recreation, although it’ll be his first time inside AT&T Stadium as a customer.

“I accepted my destiny weeks in the past when the commerce occurred,” Parsons mentioned. “So, for me, it’s simply all about enjoying one other recreation and simply doing what I do greatest, and that’s simply be a disruptive soccer participant. I believe the media and the followers try to blow it as much as be such an enormous factor. However I simply have a look at it as simply one other recreation at AT&T.”

Only a recreation that was circled on everybody’s calendar after Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones traded Parsons to the Packers one week earlier than the NFL’s season opener, ending a prolonged contract dispute.

The Packers elevated their Tremendous Bowl hopes with Parsons and made the 26-year-old the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past by signing him to a four-year, $188 million contract that features $136 million assured.

The Cowboys (1-2) have struggled with out Parsons, particularly on protection. They’ve allowed the third-most yards (397.7 per recreation), most passing yards (288) and sixth-highest factors (30.7).

Regardless of lacking all of coaching camp and arriving in Inexperienced Bay per week earlier than the primary recreation, Parsons made an instantaneous influence on protection in a 27-13 win over the two-time defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions in Week 1. The Packers defeated the Washington Commanders soundly 27-18 4 days later. However the offense couldn’t get on monitor in a 13-10 loss on the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.

“Apart from the followers, simply the teammates, the help employees, I imply they made this transition so nice and I’m simply extraordinarily honored and blessed to be with such an incredible group of fellows that need to win and that simply need to play soccer and I believe we’ve been enjoying actually good soccer up to now, in order that helps and I simply hope we proceed that,” Parsons mentioned.

The 2025 NFL commerce deadline is on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET, and we’ve got you coated on each deal till the ultimate second. We even have the newest buzz from our staff of NFL reporters on which gamers may very well be moved subsequent and which groups could be seeking to improve — or add additional draft picks.

Groups didn’t waste any time on making trades this season, as a handful of 2024 draft picks have already discovered their means onto new rosters. The Eagles and Saints made offers, respectively, for Jaguars working again Tank Bigsby and Patriots large receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. And most lately, the Jets bolstered their secondary by buying Titans cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

Listed below are all of the offers main as much as the deadline, and preserve checking again for updates.

Extra protection:
Commerce grades | Transactions
Depth charts

Addressing their disappointing secondary, the New York Jets traded Tuesday for cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., beforehand a full-time starter for the Tennessee Titans.

The Jets acquired Brownlee and a 2026 seventh-round draft choose in change for a 2026 sixth-round selection.

When Brownlee, 24, recovers from a latest ankle harm, he might push Brandon Stephens for the beginning job reverse Sauce Gardner. If nothing else, Brownlee will give them a backup with beginning expertise.

Might Tyreek Hill or Kirk Cousins be on the transfer? Right here’s our way-too-early have a look at who may find yourself getting dealt between now and the deadline, together with the place they might find yourself.

The New Orleans Saints traded for New England Patriots large receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, a 2024 second-round choose on injured reserve with a shoulder harm.

The Saints will obtain Polk and a 2028 seventh-round choose, whereas the Patriots will obtain a 2027 sixth-round choose, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Polk was chosen thirty seventh general after the Patriots had traded down three spots, giving up the No. 34 choose to the Los Angeles Chargers, who chosen receiver Ladd McConkey.

The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired working again Tank Bigsby from the Jacksonville Jaguars in change for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks.

The deal for Bigsby marks the fifth commerce the Eagles have made since mid-August. The flurry of roster strikes additionally introduced receiver John Metchie III, quarterback Sam Howell and offensive lineman Fred Johnson to the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.

The WNBA semifinals are underway, and the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever made a press release within the opening sport.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 34 factors to steer Indiana to a 89-73 upset of No. 2 seed Las Vegas, simply hours after Aces star A’ja Wilson was topped this season’s MVP.

Prime-seeded Minnesota can also be up 1-0 after coming from behind to beat fourth-seeded Phoenix.

The WNBA semifinals is a best-of-five with a 2-2-1 setup. The upper seed will host Video games 1, 2 and 5.

For the primary time, the WNBA Finals — that are scheduled to start Oct. 3 — will develop to a best-of-seven sequence (2-2-1-1-1) through which the upper seed would host Video games 1, 2, 5 and seven.

We’ll replace every sequence as video games are performed and every spherical as matchups are determined.

Soar to spherical:
First Spherical | Semifinals | WNBA Finals

MORE: Semifinal preview | Teaching carousel | Prime 25 gamers

Recreation 1: Lynx 82, Mercury 69
Recreation 2: Mercury at Lynx, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Recreation 3: Lynx at Mercury, Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Recreation 4*: Lynx at Mercury, Sept. 28, TBD (TBD)
Recreation 5*: Mercury at Lynx, Sept. 30, TBD (TBD)

* If crucial

Recreation 1: Fever 89, Aces 73
Recreation 2: Fever at Aces, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Recreation 3: Aces at Fever, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Recreation 4*: Aces at Fever, Sept. 28, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Recreation 5*: Fever at Aces, Sept. 30, TBD (TBD)

* If crucial

Recreation 1: Lynx 101, Valkyries 72
Recreation 2: Lynx 75, Valkyries 74

Recreation 1: Aces 102, Storm 77
Recreation 2: Storm 86, Aces 83
Recreation 3: Aces 74, Storm 73

Recreation 1: Dream 80, Fever 68
Recreation 2: Fever 77, Dream 60
Recreation 3: Fever 87, Dream 85

Recreation 1: Liberty 76, Mercury 69
Recreation 2: Mercury 86, Liberty 60
Recreation 3: Mercury 79, Liberty 73

* If crucial

Friday, Oct. 3

Recreation 1: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 5

Recreation 2: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Recreation 3: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 10

Recreation 4: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 12

Recreation 5*: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Recreation 6*: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 17

Recreation 7*: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

* If crucial