Author: INDEPENDENT

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter A retirement game for Casemiro, another reckoning for Erik ten Hag and – maybe even more importantly – an arrival match for Arne Slot. The new Liverpool manager’s biggest win and easiest game so far was the one that was supposed to be the most testing: a 3-0 at his club’s greatest rivals. Then again, this was just another in a modern series of handsome Liverpool victories over Manchester…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSir Ian McKellen has said he is taking the rest of the year off from acting after he sustained wrist and neck injuries in a dramatic fall while performing onstage.The two-time Oscar nominee, 85, lost his footing during a play’s fight scene in June at the Noel Coward Theatre and has since been dealing with a chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist.In a new interview, the actor, best…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Pep Guardiola claimed not even a defender with a gun could halt “unstoppable” Erling Haaland after his latest Manchester City hat-trick shot down West Ham 3-1.The 24-year-old scored the 24th treble of his career as City made it three wins from three Premier League matches.“We are happy for another hat-trick and the quality of the finishing but he was so involved with the game today,” said Guardiola.“He didn’t lose…

New signing Joao Felix is ‘player that will help us’ says Chelsea boss Enzo MarescaThe transfer window is heading for a frantic conclusion tonight as Premier League clubs scramble to complete last-minute business up to and after the 11pm deadline.Arsenal are hoping to get a loan deal over the line for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling in a sensational switch between the London rivals. The Independent reported that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is an admirer of Sterling from their days at Manchester City, and the deal is almost complete after talks late on Friday night.Sterling has been told he will not play…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter It was in the USA this summer that Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot first met as managers of England’s two biggest clubs, where they also spoke happily about some of the common experiences so far. There were evidently no hard feelings from Ten Hag’s interview in May, when he said “people have been going overly lyrical about” Slot’s Feyenoord and that PSV Eindhoven had been better.It is hardly…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Lee Carsley has plenty to ponder ahead of selecting his first England squad as interim manager on Thursday.The Euro 2024 runners-up are entering a new era after Gareth Southgate called time on his eight-year reign following July’s deflating final defeat to Spain.The Football Association’s recruitment process for his permanent successor continues, leading England Under-21s boss Carsley to be temporarily promoted to oversee the senior team.The 50-year-old will speak to…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter The venue for Wales’ Nations League trip to Montenegro could be changed less than two weeks before the September 9 fixture because of the poor condition of the Podgorica National Stadium pitch.UEFA inspectors visited the Podgorica pitch on Sunday and are understood to have serious concerns about the game going ahead in the capital.Photographs show the pitch cratered in places with large areas of grass missing, and local club…

The Traitors contestant Diane Carson has declared “You only live once” as she prepares to make her stage debut.The TV star and retired teacher, 63, shot to fame on the BBC show on which “Faithfuls” work together to try and banish “Traitors” and win a grand prize.Carson told Good Morning Britain on Monday, 26 August: “You know, I’m of an age, it’s been offered so I’m going to have a go and see.”She will star in Mothers Of The Brides at The Central Theatre in Chatham, Kent, in March 2025.

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Arne Slot has enjoyed an excellent start to life as Liverpool head coach with two wins and two clean sheets but the Dutchman admitted “there’s still a lot for us to prove”.Luis Diaz finished off a lightning breakaway before Mohamed Salah scored for the second week running as the Reds claimed a 2-0 victory over Brentford in Slot’s first competitive home match.Having beaten Ipswich by an identical scoreline last…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Ange Postecoglou urged Yves Bissouma to stay on the right track after the Tottenham midfielder took his first steps on the road to redemption with a wonder strike against Everton.Spurs boss Postecoglou had likened the midfielder to a naughty child who was now behaving himself, having been suspended for one match by the club for taking laughing gas.Restored to the starting line-up, the Mali international instantly repaid Postecoglou’s faith…