Van Dijk ‘Ready’ to Start for Liverpool at Newcastle

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 13, 2023 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 13, 2023 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
TT
20

Van Dijk ‘Ready’ to Start for Liverpool at Newcastle

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 13, 2023 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 13, 2023 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)

Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk is on track to start at Newcastle on Saturday after sitting out for nearly six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Netherlands captain hasn't played since early January though he was on the bench against Everton in a 2-0 win that Liverpool hopes will reboot its top-four hopes in the Premier League.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was asked Friday if van Dijk is ready to start against fourth-place Newcastle. He replied: “I think so, yeah.”

“Yesterday, he looked absolutely ready. I think today he will look the same and then we make a decision,” Klopp said at a press conference.

Liverpool is in ninth place but has played at least one game fewer than most of the teams above it.

Real Madrid visits Anfield on Tuesday night in the Champions League round of 16.



Apple Bids for Formula 1 US Streaming Rights

Apple has made a generous offer to acquire the rights to broadcast Formula 1 (AP)
Apple has made a generous offer to acquire the rights to broadcast Formula 1 (AP)
TT
20

Apple Bids for Formula 1 US Streaming Rights

Apple has made a generous offer to acquire the rights to broadcast Formula 1 (AP)
Apple has made a generous offer to acquire the rights to broadcast Formula 1 (AP)

Apple has submitted a bid worth at least $150 million a year for the US rights to stream Formula 1 races starting in 2026, Business Insider reported on Friday, citing a source familiar with the negotiations.

The iPhone-maker is poised to win the rights as the leading bidder, the report said, as Walt Disney's ESPN, which currently holds the rights, will not try to match or beat it.

Apple declined a Reuters request for comment, while F1 and its owner Liberty Media did not immediately respond.

The news follows Apple's success with its "F1: The Movie" film starring Brad Pitt, that has grossed over $300 million worldwide as of Friday, according to IMDb's Box Office Mojo.

ESPN holds the US broadcast rights for these races through the year's season, though Reuters has reported in February that its exclusivity period to negotiate a new contract with F1 has expired.