Liverpool’s Ekitike in Doubt for Arsenal Clash

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 1, 2026 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 1, 2026 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
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Liverpool’s Ekitike in Doubt for Arsenal Clash

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 1, 2026 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Leeds United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 1, 2026 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot sounded doubtful he will have striker Hugo Ekitike for Thursday's Premier League trip to leaders Arsenal, with the Frenchman yet ​to return to training following a hamstring issue.

Ekitike, who has eight league goals this season, missed Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham due to what Slot described as a slight injury, and the Dutchman said time was running out for the forward to be ready as Liverpool face a quick turnaround.

"He hasn't trained ‌with us up ‌until now," Slot said. "Let's see ‌if ⁠he ​can ‌train with us today. Two or three days ago, when we played against Fulham, I said he wouldn't be out for long but it's hard because the games come so fast.

"He is in-between maybe training with the team or it maybe taking him one or two days extra."

Ekitike's ⁠potential absence would be another blow for Slot, who is already ‌without Alexander Isak due to a ‍leg fracture and Mohamed Salah ‍because of Africa Cup of Nations duty.

In the ‍absence of Ekitike, Slot may again turn to Cody Gakpo as his most advanced attacker.
The Netherlands forward has scored five Premier League goals and provided three assists this season and ​could lead the line as holders Liverpool attempt to derail Arsenal's title charge.

Slot's fourth-placed team trail ⁠Arsenal by 14 points.

Despite their injury concerns, Liverpool head to north London on a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions, though Slot lamented that not all those games have been wins.

"It is nine games unbeaten but we have definitely had two draws too many," Slot said. "Where are we? I think I've said so many times that the answer to that question is we aren't where we want to be, but I feel we have a ‌very talented squad.

"If everyone's available and ready, then I think we can do special things."



Playing at Real Madrid ‘Not for Everyone’, Says Bernardo Silva

Pre-Season Friendly - Schalke 04 v Real Madrid - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - August 16, 2026 Real Madrid's Bernardo Silva during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Pre-Season Friendly - Schalke 04 v Real Madrid - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - August 16, 2026 Real Madrid's Bernardo Silva during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
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Playing at Real Madrid ‘Not for Everyone’, Says Bernardo Silva

Pre-Season Friendly - Schalke 04 v Real Madrid - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - August 16, 2026 Real Madrid's Bernardo Silva during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Pre-Season Friendly - Schalke 04 v Real Madrid - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - August 16, 2026 Real Madrid's Bernardo Silva during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)

Bernardo Silva said playing for Real Madrid "is not for everyone" after the Portugal midfielder was presented by the 15-time European champions on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old, who joined from Manchester City at the end of his contract this summer, said he was proud to join the world's most successful club.

"I've already played quite a few times at the Bernabeu -- when you arrive and see the 15 Champions League titles they display there, it's very imposing, and having them here is very special," Silva told club television channel Real Madrid TV.

"Playing for a club that has 15 Champions League titles is not for everyone, so I'm very proud and now I'll give everything for this club."

Silva's former Manchester City team-mate Rodri joined Madrid's rivals Barcelona on Tuesday.

The Spanish midfielder had been linked with Real Madrid and new Los Blancos coach Jose Mourinho said he had spoken with Rodri earlier in the summer.

"I spoke with him a couple of times, and Real Madrid made him a very good offer," Mourinho told Spanish television show El Chiringuito this week.

"Rodri had doubts... and the doubts of Rodri created doubts for me.

"He's an extraordinary player and was very professional with us, nothing negative to say. But Real Madrid is a club of a stature that can't have players who think twice about it."


Tennis Player Kyrgios Suspended after Failing Test for Cocaine

(FILES) Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 31, 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)
(FILES) Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 31, 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)
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Tennis Player Kyrgios Suspended after Failing Test for Cocaine

(FILES) Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 31, 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)
(FILES) Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 31, 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a cocaine metabolite during an ATP event in Mallorca, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old acknowledged the finding on his ⁠Instagram account, telling ⁠his followers: "I wanted you to hear this from me first."

"I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca ⁠after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility for it," he wrote.

Kyrgios provided a sample at the ATP 250 tournament in Spain on June 22 and ⁠a ⁠World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory subsequently detected benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, the ITIA statement read.

Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and a substance of abuse under WADA rules and is prohibited in competition.


Club: Paul Pogba to be Released by Monaco

Monaco's French midfielder #08 Paul Pogba on the pitch ahead of the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 9, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Monaco's French midfielder #08 Paul Pogba on the pitch ahead of the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 9, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
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Club: Paul Pogba to be Released by Monaco

Monaco's French midfielder #08 Paul Pogba on the pitch ahead of the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 9, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Monaco's French midfielder #08 Paul Pogba on the pitch ahead of the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 9, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will be released by Monaco after a series of injuries, the French club said on Wednesday.

Pogba, 33, won the World Cup with France in 2018 but since serving a ban for doping has struggled to return to the elite level.

According to AFP, Monaco said in a statement that the objectives they had set for Pogba were "only partially achieved" and the Ligue 1 club were therefore ending his contract that would have run until June 2027.

Pogba is currently sidelined with a thigh injury, just after returning from a knee problem.

Monaco paid tribute to the player's "remarkable mindset, determination and unwavering high standards" and said even when injured he had had a positive influence on the Monaco squad by "sharing his experience and know-how" with the other players.