On the outgoing front, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof departed at the end of their contracts.
Evans, though, is remaining at the club, following his retirement, after being appointed head of loans and pathways.
Tom Heaton signed a fresh one-year deal.
Sam Murray completed a move to Carlisle United, playing under former Reds striker Mark Hughes.
Grief lingers over Anfield like a low mist. Just days ago, the talk on Merseyside was about momentum, about retaining the title, about what Arne Slot could conjure next with his Premier League-winning squad. But all that has stopped. Everything has stopped.
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The passing of Diogo Jota has shattered the rhythm of summer. Football has always existed in tandem with life’s trials, but some moments leave it as an afterthought. Jota was not just a gifted footballer, he was part of the heartbeat of this Liverpool side. The dressing room won’t feel the same. Nor will the Kop.
One minute, plans were being drafted, names discussed, hopes quietly rising ahead of the Community Shield and the new campaign. The next, silence. “Time has stood still,” one source said. And in truth, that feels about right.
Liverpool had already conducted smart business, with four new arrivals secured and another to return after a loan spell. The rebuild had been methodical, efficient and forward-looking. Now it feels irrelevant.
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There will be no imminent movement in or out of the club. Those close to the squad have made it clear that transfer activity has been put on hold, out of respect, but also because there is no appetite. The atmosphere is subdued and reflective.
Some within the group may want to protect what they have. To hold this squad together, not just for footballing reasons but for emotional strength. Jota’s death could become a rallying point, a moment that binds the group tighter than ever. “One of their friends is no longer here,” and that pain will linger.
This is not a tactical dilemma for Arne Slot. It is something far deeper. The man who brought the title back to Anfield in his debut season now has to lead a grieving team, to steady them not just for the rigours of the Premier League, but for life without a teammate and friend.
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Mohamed Salah’s message on social media was stark: “The idea of returning to Liverpool after the break actively frightened him.” That sentiment will be shared by others. Slot will need to be more than a coach in the coming weeks.
There is no manual for this. No spreadsheet can measure its impact.
Whether the club makes further signings or stands still will be shaped not by strategy but by emotion. Every option is valid. If the players need space, they will get it. If some feel the need for change, that will be considered too.
This is a unique moment in Liverpool’s modern history. Mistakes may happen. But unity must come first. And patience too. Because no one should be expected to carry on as if nothing has happened.
The game can wait. Right now, football feels very far away. Expectations should be left at the door. Grief doesn’t follow a fixture list. It follows its own timeline.
Fishlock believes the key to Wales shocking France will be nullifying their threat and picking their moments to strike, having failed to register a shot on target in their opening match.
“France are a great team,” she added. “They’ll cause us different problems to Holland. They’re very powerful, very comfortable on the ball, love wide areas.
“They’re very good but we can be very good too and we just have to work together and nullify them as much as possible and then try and expose them with the players that we have. So we’ll be doing a lot of work on that, I’m sure.
“We don’t have to win it in the first five minutes. We have to stay in it as long as possible and use the players that we have. We have some fantastic players that can cause damage to any team.”
Wales have received a boost for the game against France with the news that midfielder Ceri Holland is fit to start.
The Liverpool midfielder was substituted against Netherlands after going down with what appeared to be a muscular injury, but it was only cramp and Holland has said she is “ready to go”.
Perfect platform for spectacular premium experiences – The Amundi Evian Championship will attract the world’s elite women golfers to the Evian Resort Golf Club on the south banks of Lake Geneva from 10 to 13 July 2025. In front of a stunning mountain backdrop, the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour major provides the guests with, alongside top golf, an event experience of the highest class. And right in the middle of everything, Porsche as the Automotive and Mobility Partner presenting select brand highlights on the attractive stage.
“We’re looking forward to the tournament week and the opportunity to continue to establish this top event at the highest level jointly with all the stakeholders,” says Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG. “The high-class presence, the magnificent venue and the golfing excellence of The Amundi Evian Championship fits superbly to our brand. The global appeal as one of the most important tournaments in the game of golf also emphasises the successful internationalisation of our golf commitment.”
One of the highlights of the sports car attractions at the venue for spectators and players is the Porsche Taycan Turbo S as the spectacular hole-in-one prize. On the tricky approximately 140-metre 16th hole, the English golfer Jodi Ewart Shadoff last year fulfilled a dream by acing the par 3. “It’s incredible. Porsche has always been my dream car,” said the joyous Shadoff when talking about her prize, a Porsche Macan Turbo. This year, the professional players can win the sports car by hitting a hole-in-one during the tournament as can the amateurs in the Pro-am one day before the major starts.
In the tournament grounds, Porsche will present all the guests the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur’s wide-ranging individualisation options like for example the latest Heritage Design model, the “911 Spirit 70” and many other original exhibits, samples and textiles. International Porsche customers can gain unique experiences in the tournament week when taking part in the Pro-am on the superbly prepared Champions Course as well as when visiting the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The group can additionally follow the tournament action in the Porsche Sky Lounge with its wonderful view of the 18th green. During the event, all VIP guests will have the opportunity to test drive a 911 Carrera, a Macan and a Taycan around Lake Geneva and the Alpine peaks. A fleet of 30 Porsche courtesy vehicles will be available to shuttle players and guests to and fro between the event venue and the hotel.
The Amundi Evian Championship, where there is eight million dollars prize money at stake, has developed into one of the top and most renowned events worldwide in women’s golf since its inception in 1994. The only major in Continental Europe attracts the world’s elite women golfers every year to the spectacular Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains with a view of Lake Geneva and the surrounding Alps. All the world’s Top 25 players – including the leaders Nelly Korda (USA), Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand) and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) – will be competing. The defending champion is Ayaka Furue from Japan.
Porsche has been involved in golf since 1988 through the Porsche Golf Cup. One of the company’s most successful customer events, the tournament series has developed into an international event in which over 16,000 Porsche customers recently took part in 229 worldwide qualifying tournaments. The sports car manufacturer started its involvement in professional golf in Germany in 2015 when becoming the title sponsor of the DP World Tour’s prestigious Porsche European Open. Local car partnerships on the US PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour followed. Paul Casey has been complementing the Porsche family as the first Brand Ambassador from the game of golf since 2020. The year 2024 marked a huge milestone in Porsche’s commitment to the game of golf. To expand its global activities, Porsche became the title sponsor of the Porsche Singapore Classic held in the important Asian market. The sports car manufacturer, which has been committed to women’s professional tennis for decades now as the organiser of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, became involved in women’s professional golf for the first time in 2024 – as the Automotive and Mobility Partner of The Amundi Evian Championship, the only major played in Continental Europe. Launched in 2017, the Porsche Golf Circle is also highly successful. The international community for keen golf-playing Porsche customers gives members the opportunity to enjoy exclusive golfing experiences at unique locations and at professional tournaments.
Everton are closing in on an agreement to sign England winger Katie Robinson on loan from Aston Villa this summer, with an option to buy clause.
The deal is not yet finalised but all parties are confident of an agreement with Robinson planning to carry out a medical at Everton on Wednesday.
Robinson joined Villa on a free transfer from Brighton in 2024 and has a year remaining on her current contract.
The 22-year-old was the youngest member of Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad that reached the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
She made 16 appearances in all competitions for Villa last season but only started five matches under new manager Natalia Arroyo between January and May.
Robinson impressed during her time at Brighton and is considered a young forward with high potential.
Everton manager Brian Sorensen has worked with young English talent before, enjoying success with Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones and Manchester City’s Jess Park in loan spells at the club.
The Toffees are ambitious in this summer’s transfer window following the arrival of new owners The Friedkin Group and fresh investment.
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder scored an unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe before the stand-in captain remarkably declared 33 runs shy of Brian Lara’s Test record.
In his first match as South Africa captain in place of the injured Keshav Maharaj, all-rounder Mulder reached the stunning total – the highest by a player in his first Test innings as captain – as he arrived at lunch with the team on 626 for five.
But with Lara’s record in sight the captain declared. Mulder had been bowled when on 247 but was saved by a no-ball as Tanaka Chivanga overstepped.
Lara’s 400 not out came against England at St John’s in 2004. Lara’s feat, which has stood for 21 years, is one of sport’s great records, beating the previous record of 380, set by Australia’s Matthew Hayden in 2003, who himself had beaten Lara’s record of 375, set in 1994.
In June 1994 Lara also hit 501 for Warwickshire against Durham, which remains the highest first-class score of all time.
Mulder reached his triple century in just 297 balls, making it the second-fastest 300 in Test history, behind Virender Sehwag’s famous 278-ball effort against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.
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Mulder’s score also represents the highest by a South African, passing Hashim Amla’s 311 not out against England at the Oval in 2012.
Jofra Archer is poised to make his long-awaited comeback in the third Test against India this week, with Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, calling for Lord’s to deliver a pitch that has pace, bounce and sideways movement.
Archer, 30, joined the England squad at Edgbaston last week but was held back from what became a crushing 336-run defeat by Shubman Gill’s tourists. And now at one-all in the series, England’s seam attack seems likely to be refreshed amid a strong hint from McCullum that this means Archer’s return.
McCullum said: “He will certainly be available for selection, and if you look at it, our seamers have gone two Tests on the spin and we have got a short turnaround before we head down to HQ. We’ll let the dust settle on this one, but Jofra is looking fit, he’s looking strong, he’s looking ready to go, and he’ll come into calculations.”
As the scene of Archer’s electric debut during the 2019 Ashes – five wickets and a fearsome battle with Steve Smith that saw Australia’s master batter subbed out of the match with concussion – Lord’s represents a poignant setting for his Test career to resume.
But after a four-year absence triggered by elbow and lower back stress fractures, the great unknown is whether the bowler will be the same again. Since the last of his 13 Test caps in 2021, Archer has lived a diet of limited-overs cricket and has played just one first-class match for Sussex this season.
McCullum added: “We all know what he’s capable of achieving in Test cricket and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he’s able to recapture that and also improve on what he’s been able to do already in that form of the game.”
The seamer to make way is another question here, with arguably all three of England’s incumbent quicks – Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue – in need of a breather after being out-bowled by Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. India have also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will “definitely” return, ramping up the challenge.
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Whoever steps aside for Archer – and Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson being part of the squad means that more than one change is possible – McCullum is hopeful that Karl McDermott, head groundsman at Lord’s, produces a pitch “with a bit more pace, a bit more bounce, and maybe a little bit of sideways, hopefully.”
The subtext here was some disappointment with the pitch at Edgbaston, even if McCullum admitted he and captain Ben Stokes “got it wrong” when deciding to bowl first. “What we won’t do is react too strongly to it,” the New Zealander added. “We’re a team that likes to stay really level and we know we’ve got a big challenge in a few days’ [time].”
Away from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the International Cricket Council has confirmed the appointment of Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive. As first revealed by the Guardian two months ago, the head of cricket at ICC rights holders JioStar has replaced the outgoing Geoff Allardice after nearly four years in the role.
Defender Ola Aina has signed a three-year deal with Nottingham Forest.
The Nigeria full-back had one year left on his previous contract but is now tied down until 2028.
The 28-year-old played a key role in helping Forest finish seventh in the Premier League last season to qualify for the Europa Conference League play-offs.
“I can’t wait to continue this journey with the club. It’s always felt like a home ever since I joined and I’m happy to be here,” he said.
“Now my focus is on preparing for the new season well and getting back to hard work.”
Aina, who started his career at Chelsea, joined from Torino on a free transfer two years ago and has made 59 appearances, scoring twice.
He is the latest player to commit his future to Forest this year as the club ties down its key men.
Neco Williams penned a new deal last week while in January last season’s 20-goal top-scorer Chris Wood and defender Murillo also signed fresh terms.
Last month, manager Nuno Espirito Santo was rewarded for returning Forest to Europe for the first time since 1995-96 with a new three-year contract.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis added: “Ola has skill, determination and character in abundance.
“He epitomises the culture and hard work we expect from everyone associated with Forest.
“He has had a big influence since his arrival here and we look forward to continuing that journey together to help us achieve incredible things.”
Key events
149km to go: The TV coverage just showed a Tour fan on a bike suspended in the air by some sort of farm machinery or crane. Brave.
Over in the peloton, not much to report at the moment apart from the fact that Mathieu Van der Poel and his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates have taken positions at the front of the peloton. Could they be hoping for a hat-trick of stage wins? Jasper Philipsen won the first stage and Van der Poel took the second stage, so a third win in as many days would be a real show of dominance for the team.
Fans are out along the wet roadside:
157km to go: Oh, look at that. Max Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step) and Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) quietly opened up a gap of 20secs. But, they’ve been swallowed up by the peloton.
It’s going to be tricky for any breakaways to form and stick this early, especially given the cross headwinds for the first half of the route. There’ll be headwinds as they start heading north later on too.
160km to go: We have movement! Tim Wellens and Nils Politt of UAE Team Emirates accelerate away with grins, but Alpecin-Deceuninck take no chances and swiftly shut it down.
Over on the Soudal-QuickStep team radio, the riders have been advised not to hold on to the rain jackets for too long in case they overheat.
163km to go: The bunch are very much chilling (at 34.7 km/h), chatting away like they’re on a club ride in their rain jackets. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) stops for a quick mechanical.
David has emailed in. He says:
With it being a flat stage today, and the great chance of crosswinds (so we all get to shout “echelons!”) which might make the peleton very nervous. There’s a cat four near the end but I don’t think it’s going to be enough to create a selection there.
Feel a bit sorry for Damien T, no way to spend a birthday in the wind and rain!
Pogačar and Vingegaard looking imperious, we are in forms treat this year.
Have a lovely day
Thanks David. You too!
169km to go: Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) was alone out front for a bit but the peloton has caught up and the riders are together again. Not much is happening at the moment, just the riders rolling along nicely.
173km to go: Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) fancied getting away and has been followed by Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious). They’ve managed a modest 30secs gap so far.
175km to go: The flag has dropped and racing is officially under way on stage three. The start was delayed by six minutes due to a few mechanicals in the neutralised section and riders then getting back to the bunch.
There’s a birthday in the peloton! Joyeux anniversaire Damien Touzé of Cofidis.
On another note, TNT Sports’ viewer prediction poll has Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) as the favourite for today’s stage, but the presenters seem to be favouring Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step). Does anyone have any riders tipped for the win outside the top names? Let me know if you do.
Here’s a weather report from the Tour’s race centre:
Right now, it’s raining heavily on the outskirts of Valenciennes. Fortunately, the rain will ease off as the stage progresses … at the same time as the north wind picks up. It will blow sideways to the peloton until Lilliers (km 108.5). Then, it will be a headwind. Temperatures will range between 15ºC and 20ºC.
Stage three of the Tour de France 2025 is under way. The peloton have rolled out from a very rainy Valenciennes. There’s a 6.6km neutralised section before the racing begins.
Jem has been in touch fom Kenilworth, Warwickshire, and says:
Anyone else enjoying this year purely for the fact that it is free from the unbearable stress of waiting for Cav to get that 35th win?
I don’t mind who wins the sprints any more and I don’t have to worry about him hauling himself over an Alp within the time limits.
It’s Pogi for me from now on – but it’s TDF time which is always exciting for me.
That’s a good point Jem. Also, if anyone has been following Mark Cavendish’s posts and videos from the Tour on social media so far, you’ll have seen how the Manx missile is having the time of his life from the sidelines. It’s fascinating to see him discovering the buzz of the Tour from a fan’s perspective. He told Ned Boulting in an interview that the TdF is even bigger than he had realised and joked that he wished he’d retired five years ago.
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On that note, Rouleur’s Stephen Puddicombe has written about the Paris-Roubaix landscape that today’s stage will – and won’t – touch upon:
This landscape will be recognisable to cycling fans as Paris-Roubaix country – the Arenberg Forest, one of the most famous sites of that race, is located a mere 10 kilometres away from Valenciennes. Yet the organisers have chosen not to include any of that race’s notorious pavé sectors; much to the disappointment of fans who’d have relished the rare and thrilling spectacle of cobblestone racing at a Grand Tour, but to the relief of many GC contenders and their staff, anxiously aware of how one piece of bad luck on such a chaotic stage, be it a crash of puncture, can see their dreams of a high GC finish unravel even this early in the race.
Instead, he writes, the peloton will cover flat, tarmacked roads to Dunkirk – the northernmost point of this year’s Tour.
Talking about Paris-Roubaix, I can highly recommend going to watch on the roadside. It’s absolutely thrilling and has a great atmosphere. Also, it’s worth seeing some of those cobbles up close.
A stage three briefing, via Thierry Gouvenou, ex-professional cyclist, director of the race and architect of the Tour de France race route:
Third stage of the Tour de France, Valenciennes to Dunkirk, [is] certainly the flattest stage, but perhaps not the least tricky.
We’ll pass through places like Orchies, Mons-en-Pévèle, and the roads of Paris-Roubaix without the cobblestones. And then quickly, we’ll head towards the Flanders Plain. We’ll have the climb of Cassel, which will be the highest point of the stage. But right after Cassel on the way to Dunkirk, we’re in very flat areas but also very windy and we can expect echelons.
Everything will depend on the wind, but it will still be a moment of caution for the Tour de France leaders, and for the sprinters it will still be a chance to win another stage.
Oh dear, the sun is not shining in Valenciennes:
Not to be smug, but the weather looks decidedly better out of my window in London. Where are you all following along from?
Here’s the profile of stage three of the Tour de France 2025:
Here’s a look at today’s stage, Monday 7 July: Valenciennes to Dunkirk, 178.3km, with William Fotheringham’s preview:
A third very accessible day for UK fans, another ascent of Cassel, but the safe money is on a bunch sprint in Dunkirk, famed among cycling fans for the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque stage race which actually lasts six days. The same proviso as day one: a westerly equals crosswinds on the final exposed 35km and splits in the field. These early days will be packed with crashes and tension, but Philipsen and company will be licking their lips.
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Also, you can look ahead to every stage with this handy guide:
Welcome back to the Guardian’s Tour de France 2025 live blog! Join me for coverage of stage three – the flattest of the entire race this year. The 178.3km route from Valenciennes to Dunkirk features just one category four climb and 800m of elevation gain. The rollout is expected at 1.10pm CEST (12.10pm BST) and the finish should be about 5.18pm CEST (4.18pm BST) – although often the peloton go faster than the predicted speeds.
Does that mean it’ll be boring? Hopefully not. I think it’ll be fast and, possibly, furious. The GC contenders will be vying to stay out of trouble, while the sprinters will have their eyes set on a stage win. There’s a prediction of windy conditions too, which could cause a bit of tension in the peloton.
So, who might ride to victory today? Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) is a firm favourite with pundits, but it’ll be worth keeping an eye on Ineos Grenadiers’ Sam Watson with him having triumphed at the Four Days of Dunkirk stage race in May. Other sprinters looking to contest a sprint finish? Obviously there’s stage one winner, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), as well as Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula), Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty). Although the latter might be feeling sore after a crash on yesterday’s stage. I would love to hear your predictions so please email me your thoughts.
While we wait for the live TV coverage to kick off, here’s Jeremy Whittle’s stage two race report from Boulogne-sur-Mer:
CNN
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Wimbledon organizers have apologized and explained that “human error” was the reason behind the electronic line-calling system being turned off during a match on Sunday.
During the first set of the fourth-round clash between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal on Centre Court, a backhand from Kartal went long but there was no “out” call from the electronic system, which has replaced human line umpires at Wimbledon this year.
Pavlyuchenkova, who was one point away from winning that game, stopped playing with the ball landing outside the court. Umpire Nico Helwerth called for the match to be paused, while the automated system said “stop, stop,” leading to confusion from both players and the fans in attendance.
Helwerth informed the crowd that he was going to check if the system was “up and running” before spending time on the phone.
After a short delay, he said that the electronic system “was unfortunately unable to track the last point,” which was subsequently replayed.
Kartal went on to win the point and break Pavlyuchenkova to take a 5-4 lead. In the change of ends, the Russian could be heard saying to Helwerth: “You took the game away from me … they stole the game from me. They stole it.”
The automated system did not pick up on balls landing out on three occasions in the game, with Helwerth calling the other two. The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) said that Helwerth did not know the system had not been running.
After the match had finished – with Pavlyuchenkova eventually winning 7-6(3), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals – a spokesperson for the AELTC said that the system had been deactivated in error by “those operating the system” and that a full investigation had taken place.
“We have apologized to the players involved,” the spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “We continue to have full confidence in the accuracy of the ball tracking technology.
“The live ELC (electronic line-calling) system relies on the Hawk-Eye operators, the Review Official and the technology to work in harmony. This did not happen. In this instance there was a human error and as a consequence we have fully reviewed our processes and made the appropriate changes.”
It added that Helwerth had “followed the established process” of replaying the point if the system goes down and it’s unclear whether the ball was in or out.
After booking her spot in the next round, Pavlyuchenkova called the whole situation “confusing,” in particular when the umpire ordered the point to be replayed instead of awarding it to her.
“I think it’s good to raise this subject for the future,” Pavlyuchenkova told reporters.
“Because if anything like that happens in a very important moment of the match, I think we should have a wire system like in football. Then it’s clear for everybody and we can move on right away instead of just guessing.”
The automated line-calling system has been a big talking point at this year’s Wimbledon. Great Britain’s top-ranked players – Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu – have both expressed their doubts about the system, with Raducanu calling it “dodgy.”
Switzerland’s Belina Bencic said that the new automated system has been a topic of discussion among players in the locker room.
The introduction of technology to replace line judges at Wimbledon follows many other tournaments around the world, including the Australian Open and the US Open.
Following her win on Sunday, Pavlyuchenkova said that Helwerth “probably was scared to take such a big decision” with the technology not working and called for more human intervention.
“That’s why we have a chair umpire,” she said. “Otherwise, I think soon let’s just play without them and then we’re going to have everything automatic. I think we are losing a little bit of the charm of actually having human beings, ballboys.
“Like during Covid, we didn’t have ballboys. It just becomes a little bit weird and robot sort of orientated.”
