Slot: Liverpool Premier League Win Was One of 'Best Days of my Life'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Liverpool - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 20, 2025   Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Liverpool - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 20, 2025 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Slot: Liverpool Premier League Win Was One of 'Best Days of my Life'

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Liverpool - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 20, 2025   Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Liverpool - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - April 20, 2025 Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match REUTERS/Phil Noble

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Friday that winning the Premier League title at Anfield was one of the best days of his life as he turned his thoughts towards next season.

The Reds crushed Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday to seal a record-breaking 20th English league title with four games to spare, basking in a sensational atmosphere at their packed home ground.

"Maybe for all the Liverpool fans, but for many of them, one of the best days of their lives, and I think it was the same for me," AFP quoted Slot as saying.

"The way the whole day went, arriving at the stadium, how intense the fans already were, then during the game going 1-0 behind, so it even felt like, 'Oh, they're not going to give it to us, we have to work for it'.

"Scoring the goals, seeing how much it meant to the players but also to the fans, for me, was really special to be part of."

Liverpool travel to face fifth-placed Chelsea on Sunday before taking on Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace in their remaining games.

"It's nice that we play some very strong teams with Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Palace, so that gives immediate challenge to those games," said Slot, 46.

"It's the end of the season but we also have to look at this as the start of next season already."

The Dutchman said he was surprised by the 22-point between his side and Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, whom he felt were the better team when they met in October, even though Liverpool won 2-1.

"We found a way to win, and that is a quality that we didn't need a lot, because mostly we were the better team on the pitch," he said.

"But in that game we had to suffer more than any other game, maybe. So to be so many points ahead of them is a big compliment for everyone here at this club."

The former Feyenoord boss said he would rotate in the final games of the season.

"Some of them deserve to play already earlier this season because they've trained so well," he said. "They are good enough to play for this club but I mainly chose the same players.

"And I think this is also a moment to see where they are, also looking towards next season maybe a bit already. But definitely also because they deserve to play this season."

Slot said Liverpool's Premier League triumph would be a boost in terms of recruitment.

"Winning the league, having these fans, I think this is a big attraction to every player we want to bring in, and that's definitely helpful," he said.

Captain Virgil van Dijk and top-scorer Mohamed Salah have recently signed new contracts to stay at the Liverpool but Slot said there was no update on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.



Ukraine’s Kostyuk Defends ‘Conscious Choice’ to Speak Out About War

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Ukraine’s Kostyuk Defends ‘Conscious Choice’ to Speak Out About War

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has defended her "conscious choice" to address the plight of her country during the trophy presentation of a pre-Australian Open event in Brisbane.

The world number 20 did not shake hands with top-ranked Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after being beaten in Sunday's final in straight sets.

Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians following Moscow's invasion of her homeland.

In her speech at the trophy presentation, the 23-year-old Kostyuk said: "I want to say a few words about Ukraine.

"I play every day with a pain in my heart and there are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now.

"It's minus 20 degrees outside and it's very painful to live this reality every day," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Post-final ceremonies usually involve players congratulating their opponents.

Kostyuk did however thank "all the opponents I've played this week".

Sabalenka, who has said in the past that she does not support the war, congratulated Kostyuk on reaching the final in her on-court speech.

Writing on Instagram, where some users accused Kostyuk of poor sportsmanship, she wrote: "The words I shared after the match sparked a lot of reaction.

"For me, it's a conscious choice to keep reminding people of what Ukraine and its citizens are going through.

"Thank you to everyone who showed support. And thank you to all the players I faced on the other side of the net this week."

Both players will be at the Australian Open starting on Sunday, where Sabalenka is favorite to win the title for the third time in four years.


Swiatek Avoids Setting Goals for 2026 Ahead of Australian Open

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
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Swiatek Avoids Setting Goals for 2026 Ahead of Australian Open

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA

Iga Swiatek heads into Melbourne Park with the Australian Open title the only gap on her Grand Slam resume, but the world number two is keen to avoid setting herself targets for the new season and says her main goal ​is to improve her game.

The 24-year-old Pole has won majors on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, the Paris clay and the grass of Wimbledon but has never managed to reach the final at the year's opening Grand Slam, going out twice in the semi-finals.

"For now I'm not setting results goals," she told Polish sports news website Sportowy24 last month.

"I am focusing on developing technically and in terms of my tennis game itself."

Swiatek is renowned for her grit and intensity on tour but the former world number ‌one was forced ‌to revaluate her approach after failing to secure a ‌semi-final ⁠spot ​at the ‌season-ending WTA Finals for a second straight year in November.

She has spoken about the physical and mental toll the punishing tour schedule takes on players and said in Beijing in September that the season was too long and too intense.

Just before Christmas she told Sportowy24 that she felt refreshed after spending more time at home than usual.

She has also worked with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, often crediting with helping shape her preparation and routines and publicly defending their ⁠work together amid questions about the partnership.

"I hope the preparation period will mean that in the new season I ‌will play well, solidly, and that I will learn something ‍new," said Swiatek, who suffered a heartbreaking ‍semi-final loss to eventual champion Madison Keys last year in Australia.

After the peace ‍of Poland, Swiatek will be plunged into the maelstrom of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park, which kicks off on January 18 and crowns a women's champion after two punishing weeks of summer heat.

The disappointment of a 3-6 6-0 6-3 loss to Swiss Belinda Bencic in the final of the ​United Cup on a similarly fast Sydney surface on Sunday was tempered by the fact that Poland ultimately won the trophy.

"I'm still here, nothing crazy ⁠happened," Swiatek reassured her fans.

"Everything is fine, just super sore. I guess, first tournament of the year it costs everybody a bit differently than during the season."

The Australian Open boasts 11 Grand Slam champions with top seed Aryna Sabalenka among the title favorites, and Swiatek will have little time to ease herself back into elite competition mode.

While Swiatek will be keen to avoid discussing it, the Pole could complete the career Grand Slam if she walks away with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.

The claycourt specialist has won four of her majors at Roland Garros and showed a different side to her game by winning on the hard courts of the US Open in 2022.

Her 6-0 6-0 thrashing of Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon ‌final last July showed she can adapt and it would be no surprise if she finally gets to grips with the Melbourne Park surface this time around.


FC Barcelona President Praises Saudi Arabia’s Sports Infrastructure

Laporta thanked Saudi fans for their strong support of FC Barcelona - SPA
Laporta thanked Saudi fans for their strong support of FC Barcelona - SPA
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FC Barcelona President Praises Saudi Arabia’s Sports Infrastructure

Laporta thanked Saudi fans for their strong support of FC Barcelona - SPA
Laporta thanked Saudi fans for their strong support of FC Barcelona - SPA

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established itself on the global sporting stage by hosting major events, most notably the Spanish Super Cup.

In a press statement, he praised the Kingdom’s advanced sporting facilities and infrastructure, noting that coaches and players found the training grounds to be of the highest quality, the pitches excellent, and the overall organization exemplary, SPA reported.

“We are delighted to be in Jeddah,” Laporta said, adding that the high standard of facilities is essential for teams competing over several days, and thanking the organizers for their efforts.

Commenting on Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Laporta predicted a highly successful tournament, citing the country’s safety, outstanding football infrastructure, and passionate fan base. He noted that while the culture is different, cultural diversity always enriches the experience, and a World Cup held in such an atmosphere is bound to be exceptional.

Laporta also thanked Saudi fans for their strong support of FC Barcelona and expressed hope of winning the Spanish Super Cup final to bring joy to supporters in the Kingdom and around the world.