Liverpool are keen to open formal talks with Antony Areola this week as they step up their interest in appointing the Spaniard as a successor to the sacked Arnie Slott.
VfB Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens’ Pierre Sage are also under consideration at Anfield but Iraola is the initial front-runner after Slot was dismissed on Saturday.
Antony Areola left Bournemouth at the end of the season. (P.A)
Now Liverpool are moving fast as they look to schedule an immediate appointment and, unlike Hoeness and Sage,
The 43-year-old is available after leaving Bournemouth, where he led the team to a sixth-place finish, their highest in history, during the previous season.
After a successful three-season spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano, Liverpool director of football Richard Hughes signed him to Bournemouth in 2023.
But Liverpool face competition for Areola, with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also interested and Crystal Palace pushing hard to sign him as a replacement for the departing Oliver Glasner.
Erraola also worked with Liverpool left-back Milos Krákyes at Bournemouth, helping the Hungary international move to Anfield.
In the end-of-season review that led to Slott’s departure, Liverpool concluded they wanted more immediate and attacking football – something that suited Areola’s fast-paced style of play.
Meanwhile, some of Slott’s backroom staff are chasing him, with performance coach Robin Peters confirming he is leaving. Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Sipke Hulshoff are also expected to depart.
The 47-year-old, who won the Premier League in his first season in charge, was sacked after Liverpool slipped to fifth this season, collecting just 60 points in all competitions and losing 19 games.
Europe’s premier club competition concludes on Saturday when the UEFA Champions League final takes place. From qualifying to the wider league stage and then the knockout drama, the tournament has now reached its final two teams.
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Al Jazeera tells you the top 10 things you need to know about the showpiece event of European football’s governing body, UEFA.
Who is playing in the Champions League final?
This year’s final will feature English Premier League club Arsenal, who defeated Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, and French giants Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated Bayern Munich in their last-four clash.
Who is the current Champions League winner?
PSG is the defending champion, having won the tournament for the first time last season.
The French club defeated Inter Milan in the final by an incredible 5–0 scoreline, humiliating the Italian Serie A club at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Desire Du scored twice to cement his place as one of the biggest names in the game, even at the age of 19.
Achraf Hakimi was also on the scoresheet along with Khvicha Kvaratskheliya and Seni Mayulu. Incredibly, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele missed the target despite being one of the star names to reach the final.
Who is the favourite to win this year’s final?
PSG are the favourites to defend their title, but Arsenal are considered one of the rising forces in European football.
The Gunners have never lifted Europe’s most coveted football trophy, yet they have finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
Who are PSG’s key players for the Champions League final?
Doue and Dembele remain key figures for PSG, although they are injury doubts for the final.
Hakimi is also one of the Parisians’ most recognisable players, but he is a major concern for the match, having missed both legs of the semi-finals and the last four Ligue 1 games of the season due to injury.
Khvitcha Kvaratskheliya leads PSG’s scoring charts in all competitions this season, one goal ahead of Dembele, who has 18. Bradley Barcelo has 13 strikeouts, while Dow has 12.
At the back, Brazilian international Marquinhos leads PSG.
Who are the key players for Arsenal in the Champions League final?
Declan Rice is seen as the heart of Arsenal’s team, not least because the England midfielder operates in the centre of the park.
Victor Gyöckeres has grown into a leadership role in attack, and the Swedish international has scored 19 goals in his debut season for the north Londoners.
However, England internationals Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze are often considered to have the magic touch for the Gunners, having netted 10 and 7 times, respectively.
Like PSG, Arsenal have a Brazilian powerhouse in Gabriel Magalhaes.
Where is the Champions League final being played?
The final is being played at the Puskás Stadium in Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
The stadium – named in honour of the country’s most famous footballer, Ferenc Puskás – was rebuilt in 2017, and construction was completed for its reopening in 2019. It has a capacity of 67,215 spectators.
Which trophies have Arsenal and PSG already won this season?
Arsenal won their first league title since 2004, when Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” remained unbeaten the entire season. The campaign went down to the final match when Manchester City failed to win at Bournemouth, which meant the North Londoners could no longer be caught. The Gunners also reached the League Cup final but lost to City.
PSG finished six points ahead of Lens in the French league and secured the trophy by defeating their nearest challengers in the final round.
This is their fifth consecutive league title and their 12th in 14 seasons, taking their total to 14 Ligue 1 crowns.
When is the Champions League final and what time is kick-off?
The match is being played on Saturday and will kick off at 6pm (17:00 GMT).
Will the Champions League final be watched for free?
No, the UEFA Champions League is part of a worldwide subscription package, as sold by the continent’s governing body.
How can I follow the Champions League final?
Al Jazeera Sport will bring you our comprehensive build-up to kick-off from 2pm (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, ahead of our text commentary stream of the match.
Donald Trump says talks with Iran are “progressing well” as he urges Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords.
The US President said it would only take one big deal for everyone or no deal at all – meaning “a return to the battlefield and firing, but bigger and stronger than ever”.
Trump said it should be mandatory for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to sign the Abraham Accords, noting “all the work the United States has done to try to pull this complex puzzle together”.
He said, “It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing it, and that will be accepted, but the majority should be ready, willing and able to make this deal with Iran a much more historic event than it otherwise would have been.”
I am requesting that all countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and if Iran signs its agreement with me as president of the United States, it would be an honour for them to also be part of this unique world alliance.
Manchester United could not be more generous in offering two potential new signings should they choose to move this summer.
Two current players who are obstacles are Sandro Tonali and Ederson. (Photo: Pedro Por/MB Media/Getty Images)
Manchester United are unlikely to be able to offer Sandro Tonali and Ederson their current squad numbers if they move to Old Trafford this summer.
Michael Carrick is keen to get midfield reinforcements early to replace the departing Casemiro and other possible costs. Reports suggest Newcastle’s Tonali and Serie A star Ederson are high on United’s preference list.
TalkSPORT claim United have agreed a verbal deal with Atalanta star Ederson on a five-year contract. People understand that the two clubs are in talks over a £43million move.
In recent months, Newcastle’s failure to reach European football has heavily linked Tonali with United and fuelled his pursuit. The Magpies are seeking £86m for the Italian midfielder but could be willing to sell due to their low position in the Premier League, with reports in Italy suggesting United are confident of signing both.
Ederson has just one year left on his contract with Atalanta but the Serie A side are apparently holding firm on their price. If United are to drop a combined £129m on the two midfielders, they will aim to settle them quickly.
But the club cannot give the two players their squad numbers, so it cannot give them a possible welcome gift. Tonali has worn the number eight since his days at AC Milan, but there is a giant star he won’t be removing from that number at United.
Bruno Fernandes holds the shirt from the 2022/23 season after wearing the number 18 for his first three years at the club. The United captain also previously wore his current number at Sporting CP and Udinese and is undoubtedly Carrick’s star man.
Sandro Tonali will almost certainly be barred from taking his current squad number at United. (Photo: Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE / AFP via Getty Images)
The Portugal international has been linked with a move away before, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be going anywhere at Old Trafford anytime soon. The number 18 shirt is now available after Casemiro’s departure, which Tonali can claim.
Ederson, meanwhile, has worn No. 13 full-time in Atlanta. He has been out of No. 15 and No. 40 at previous clubs but has been rapping single digits for the past six years.
However, Patrick Dorgo claimed that when he joined United in the 2025 winter window, he had worn it throughout his senior professional career. Dorgu is currently tied up until at least 2030.
Ederson may be forced to reconsider the cut number. (Photo: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Patrick Dorgo is the current owner of No. 13. (Photo: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/Noor Photo via Getty Images)
Ederson is the next number 12 after the club confirmed the departure of Tyrell Malacia. Nos. 19 and 22 are also vacant if the Brazilian opts for a complete switch to United.
Both Fernandes and Dorgo appear to feature in Carrick’s long-term plans as he looks to a future with United. The former club captain’s permanent appointment was confirmed earlier this month, and he is keen to help any newcomers settle in seamlessly.
But Carrick will have to rely on something other than squad numbers if he is to land Tonalley and Ederson in a double swoop this summer.
London’s fire service responded on Wednesday to a blaze in the Golders Green neighbourhood, home to a large Jewish community that has been the target of several arson attacks in recent months, but police said the fire was “non-suspicious.”
Pictures from the scene showed flames from the Kosher Kingdom Jewish supermarket and plumes of black smoke rising above the area’s main shopping street.
Amid widespread reports of the fire being caused by an electrical fault on Wednesday morning, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter told reporters at the scene that “the circumstances of the fire do not appear to be suspicious at this time”.
“We are now able to confirm that the fire at a warehouse in Golders Green is non-suspicious,” London’s Metropolitan Police later said in a social media message. He said the force understood that “this incident will cause concern and disruption to the local community. … We would like to reassure residents that there is no indication of any targeted or deliberate act.”
The fire brigade had earlier said it had mobilised 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters after receiving dozens of calls about the fire.
The scene of a fire at Kosher Kingdom, a Jewish supermarket in the Golders Green section of London, on May 27, 2026.
“The fire has affected the ground floor shop and the storage area at the rear of the shop,” the statement said.
“A large amount of smoke is coming out from the fire,” it said. People are also urged to stay away from the area “while firefighters work to extinguish the blaze”.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire, but fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.
Local residents walk through the cordoned-off area where a supermarket fire broke out in the Golders Green neighbourhood of London on May 27, 2026.
It follows a series of arson attacks in recent months at synagogues and Jewish community sites in and around Golders Green in northwest London.
the area saw knife attack. Two Jewish men were targeted in late April, prompting Britain to increase your national threat level from “substantial” to “severe”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack as “despicable” and a “despicable act of terrorism.”
A little-known group linked to Iran, Harakat Ashab al-Yameen al-Islamiyya (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for several incidents.
In response, the London Police created a new “Community Protection Team” to protect the Jewish community in the capital, initially consisting of 100 additional officers. The force said last month it would combine neighbourhood policing with “specialist security and counter-terrorism capabilities”.
Community members have described living in fear and shock. Following a recent series of anti-Semitic attacks.
Police said officers were at the scene of Wednesday’s fire “assisting firefighters with road closures and evacuations”.
Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final and by ending their wait for the Premier League title, the Gunners have banished the fear, tension and doubt that plagued previous campaigns, writes betting guru Lewis Jones. He has three tips for big…
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal, Champions League Final, Saturday 5pm
Arsenal winning the Premier League is a significant shift for me in terms of betting on the game.
Arsenal are 11/10 with Sky Bet to win Saturday’s final – whether in 90 minutes, extra time or on penalties – and complete the double. PSG are 8/11 favourites to lift the trophy for a second consecutive time.
I think these odds should be closer to each other, as the psychology of this Champions League final feels largely lacking in betting. I was expecting the market to move more favourably towards Arsenal since they won the Premier League – but that hasn’t moved at all.
Image: Mikel Arteta has overcome a major psychological barrier by winning the Premier League.
Arms has almost taken the full force of being a man. But winning the Premier League changes everything.
That monkey is off their back now. Finally, the emotional release of ending the line matters. You could see it at events – it can now suddenly be a detachment from the fear of failure.
This final is now framed as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
Winning the Champions League and completing the double would take this season into legendary territory – but if they fall short, they are still Premier League champions.
Weapons are chasing a bonus reward. This approach makes weapons dangerous.
And even with just one tactical setup, I think Arsenal are very well equipped to stop PSG from having the space and territory to really hurt them. Mikel Arteta will make it ugly and create a game where whoever defends best wins.
The Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in their last 14 Champions League games – the axis of David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel is as world-class in their work as the PSG front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué.
Arsenal have yet to relinquish open play in the knockout stages – and three of the four goals they scored in the league stage came in the last two games when qualification was confirmed and they were on the prowl.
This is a defence that can lead them to glory.
When it comes to prop markets, these value matches are full of betting opportunities.
One angle I always like to focus on in the final is the foul. The increased risk, extra incentive and good chance that a game of this magnitude goes horribly wrong mean these markets tend to see more false averages than price-maximising algorithms.
The average of the last 30 Europa League and Champions League finals is 28.5 fouls per 90.
For context, the average Premier League game this season has seen 21.5 fouls per 90 games. The Champions League has averaged 22.5 fouls per game.
So from a basic lack of data on a very good sample size, you could probably add six fouls to the expected average of a major European final.
This means there is a great opportunity to back a player in player-foul markets.
Bukayo Saka is the best bet to score two or more fouls at 11/10 with Skybet.
As with all bets in the player foul market, the matchup is absolutely key and Saka’s fight with Nuno Mendes is sure to ‘file’.
Mendes is drawing 1.7 fouls per 90 this season and readily falls with minimal contact. Sacca, a heavy foul-drawer himself, can be quite a nuisance with his tackling, especially in big games, and is working to a 1.4 per 90 strike rate over his last 20 games.
He had two or more fouls in his last two starts against Burnley and West Ham – and to top it all off, Saka picked up two fouls in both knockout matches against Mendes last season with PSG.
Image:
long shot…
Set-pieces are another area where Arsenal have an advantage over PSG.
The Gunners have scored the most set-piece goals (24) and goals from corners (18) in the Premier League.
If you go back to the second leg meeting between these two last season, Arsenal scored 0.77 expected goals from set pieces in Paris. It was raining in the long throws – it was a very set-piece-heavy strategy. Expect the same again.
So all the usual tactics for a set-piece-based bet are on the table here with Gabriel being the obvious starting point. However, the odds of 15/2 for him to score are quite slim with Skybet. We can be greedier than that.
If he is going to score, the goal is obviously likely to come from a corner, so the way to play Gabriel Angle is to play two bets with the BuildABet function.
Gabriel to score and Declan Rice to assist – that’s 25/1.
And Gabriel to score and Saka to assist – also 25/1.
Image: Gabriel is 25/1 to score, assisted by either Declan Rice or Saka.
In the last two seasons, this exact type of bet has happened five times in the Premier League and Champions League.
And the chances created for a Rice-to-Gabriel or Sacca-to-Gabriel combo have happened 39 times over the past two seasons.
Of course, we also have the added bonus of two bets being able to land at separate times in the match – so, if Gabriel scores and Saka or Rhys assists another Arsenal goal, the bets will still land the same. Source link
While Trump hosted a Cabinet meeting that aired live, he linked the two countries.
“I don’t go to war; I go to conflict,” he said, referring to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and rising tensions between the US and Iran, as no peace deal has yet been negotiated.
He then added: “Despite the conflict with Venezuela, which lacks a navy, lacks an air force, and lacks many of the people who were taking the country to terrible places.”
When the President made this mistake, he did not panic nor correct himself; he referred to Venezuela while talking about the destruction caused by the US in Iran, which he has widely claimed.
“His leadership is gone. His second leadership is gone. We’re dealing with half of his third because half of his third is also gone,” Trump said.
The moment has gone viral online, with social media users calling it “alarming” and also claiming it is further evidence of the president’s “cognitive decline.”
Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for another health checkup, his third medical appointment in 13 months.
Despite concerns, Trump embraced TruthSocial as soon as the appointment ended.
He wrote, “Just completed my 6-month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out perfectly. Thank you to the wonderful doctors and staff! We are going back to the White House. President DJT.”
Although the leader confirmed that he is fit and healthy, doctors have analysed the president’s behaviour and fear that something is wrong.
On several occasions he has been caught dozing off during Cabinet meetings.
“Chronic insomnia is a serious disease. It can result in an increased risk of dementia and decreased cognitive performance in older people,” Dr Jonathan Renner told CNN.
