Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfieldhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5271315-liverpool-settles-1-1-draw-chelsea-amid-boos-anfield
Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Liverpool stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield to merely inch toward Champions League qualification on Saturday as the visitors snapped their six-game Premier League losing streak.
Enzo Fernandez's bouncing free kick found its way into the net in the 36th minute to equalize for Chelsea after Ryan Gravenberch's early goal, The AP news reported.
Arne Slot's team heard boos at the final whistle after another inconsistent performance — the type that has marked their season as defending Premier League champions.
Fourth-place Liverpool is still on course to secure Champions League qualification, which it can achieve with a victory in its next game — at Aston Villa next Friday.
Gravenberch opened the scoring by curling a shot into the top right corner from just outside the area in the sixth minute.
Fernandez equalized with a long-range free kick in the 36th. He curled a bouncing strike into the area, off the far post and into the net. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stood frozen in anticipation of Wesley Fofana's attempt to redirect the ball but the Chelsea defender missed it. The ball then bounced, hit the post, and went in.
Liverpool went close in the 79th minute when Virgil van Dijk's header hit the bar. Eight minutes earlier, Dominik Szoboszlai hit the post with a shot from outside the area.
Gauff's French Open Title Defense Ends while Osaka's Fashion Show Continues in Parishttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5278842-gauffs-french-open-title-defense-ends-while-osakas-fashion-show-continues-paris
Coco Gauff of the United States during her Women's 3rd round match against Anastasia Potapova of Austria at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
Gauff's French Open Title Defense Ends while Osaka's Fashion Show Continues in Paris
Coco Gauff of the United States during her Women's 3rd round match against Anastasia Potapova of Austria at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
A minor car crash couldn't sidetrack Coco Gauff before she began her French Open title defense.
It took a player who could match the American's court coverage in long baseline rallies to mark the end of the road for Gauff in Paris.
That player was Anastasia Potapova, who produced a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Gauff in the third round on Saturday.
“She was able to finish the points and I wasn’t,” The Associated Press quoted Gauff as saying. "Just not capitalizing on certain shots."
The match was played before mostly empty stands inside Court Philippe-Chatrier as French fans stayed away to watch the Champions League soccer final.
Gauff’s second Grand Slam title came with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros a year ago.
Before her opening victory over Taylor Townsend on Tuesday, Gauff was involved in a car accident on the way to the tournament grounds. She wasn't injured, but the car wasn't drivable anymore.
The 30th-ranked Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, improved to 3-2 in her career against Gauff. She's having quite a clay season after reaching a final in Linz, Austria, and the semifinals of the Madrid Open as a qualifier.
The fourth-ranked Gauff was coming off a run to the Italian Open final. She was beaten in Rome by Elina Svitolina — another player who can match her on long rallies.
“I lost the same way in Rome as I did here,” Gauff said. “You never want to lose the same way back-to-back times.”
When Gauff shanked a forehand wide on Potapova's first match point, Potapova fell on her back and covered her eyes as she stuck her feet up in the air in celebration. Gauff waved to the crowd and quickly walked off court when it was finished.
“Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much,” Potapova said. “I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am.”
It wasn’t a matter of mistakes for Gauff — she hit three double-faults to her opponent’s eight and had 46 unforced errors to Potapova’s 56. It was more that Potapova controlled more in the longer rallies and wore Gauff out.
Gauff ran a total of 2,309 meters (yards) to Potapova’s 2,090.
Earlier, Naomi Osaka beat 18-year-old American opponent Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4 after nearly three hours — in her 100th Grand Slam match — to set up a round-of-16 meeting with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5.
Naomi Osaka of Japan prepares for the third round women's singles tennis match against Iva Jovic of the US at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
For her second-straight match, Osaka wore a metallic gold bomber jacket over a sequined gold playing dress during her walk-on. But this time her outfit was offset by a tannish-gold colored train that stretched all the way down to the red clay on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
“It’s a surprise every time,” Osaka said of her fashion choices.
“For me, it would be weirder to wear a normal tennis kit, almost, at this point. It’s the fun of it.
For a long time, I didn’t have fun for a little bit. And you guys know that period of time in my life,” Osaka added, referring to how in 2021 she withdrew from the French Open because of issues with anxiety and depression. “Now I just want things to be fun, and I want to make it exciting for myself.”
Osaka’s outfits are planned a year and a half in advance and require at least four fittings.
“We have so many fittings throughout the year because your weight can fluctuate or the fabric can change a little bit,” she said. “There is a lot of effort that goes into it.”
For the seventh straight day of the tournament, it was hot and humid, with the temperature rising to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat is expected to break for Sunday and the second week.
In men’s action, Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory. Tabilo next meets Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat American opponent Brandon Nakashima 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1).
At No. 4, Auger-Aliassime is the highest-seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw after Jannik Sinner’s defeat two days ago.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo followed up his stunning victory over top-ranked Sinner with another five-set victory, beating Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (8) in 5 hours, 58 minutes — the longest French Open match in six years.
Cerundolo will next meet 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who required 5 hours, 13 minutes to defeat Francisco Comesana 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13).
Flavio Cobolli beat Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 and will next meet unsung American Zachary Svajda, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.
Another American advancing was Frances Tiafoe, who came back to beat Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2 in his second consecutive five-setter. He next meets Matteo Arnaldi.
Hundreds Arrested as Clashes Erupt in Paris on PSG Victory Nighthttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5278841-hundreds-arrested-clashes-erupt-paris-psg-victory-night
Police try to disperses PSG supporters who left off fireworks as they celebrate in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026 after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal that was played in Budapest, PSG won the game. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Hundreds Arrested as Clashes Erupt in Paris on PSG Victory Night
Police try to disperses PSG supporters who left off fireworks as they celebrate in Paris, Saturday, May 30, 2026 after the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal that was played in Budapest, PSG won the game. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
Police on Saturday detained more than 280 people in Paris after violent clashes erupted when thousands poured onto the streets during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final victory.
Some 22,000 police were deployed across France for the game, including 8,000 in Paris, after unrest marred PSG's win in the competition last year.
Paris tram lines were halted, several metro stations shut and bus traffic halted in places in a bid to minimize disturbances.
30 May 2026, Hungary, Budapest: Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates with the Champions League trophy following the UEFA Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal at the Puskas Arena. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
According to the French interior ministry, 416 people were detained nationwide, including 283 who were apprehended in Paris. It was not immediately clear how many of these individuals were remanded in custody to face further investigation, AFP reported.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez said seven officers had been wounded and called the unrest "absolutely unacceptable."
Six vehicles and two businesses were damaged.
A group of supporters also stormed the Paris ring road, the peripherique, bringing traffic to a halt for a time and letting off flares, an AFP photographer said.
As fans celebrated the dramatic penalty shoot out victory in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, some 20,000 people converged on Paris's iconic Champs-Elysees avenue, police said.
Shops boarded up their windows ahead of the match to avoid a repeat of disturbances last year when youths ransacked shops on the Champs-Elysees and other streets. Hundreds of people were arrested.
Two dozen flares and about 100 fireworks were seized Saturday, while a bus shelter was destroyed near the Champs-Elysees.
The match also came on a hectic evening in Paris, with singer Aya Nakamura performing at the Stade de France national stadium, rapper Damso at the La Defense Arena and the French Open tennis in full swing.
Police said a bakery and a restaurant were damaged near PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, where tens of thousands gathered inside to watch the match but 4,000 to 5,000 people loitered outside with projectiles which were thrown at officers.
About 150 people "attempted to enter through one of the gates" at the stadium but police pushed them back, a police spokesperson said.
Some also attempted to erect a barricade with rental bikes which was cleared by police.
An AFP reporter at the scene said clashes broke out between police and supporters near the stadium, and officers responded with tear gas when fireworks were thrown at them.
PSG fans react in Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. EPA/VALENTINA CAMU
The scenes angered the French far right, with three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen writing on X that "only in France does a football club's victory spark riots."
"Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence," she added.
Nunez said there was a "very robust, very solid system in place" to curb violence.
"Our responsibility is to guarantee everyone a festive celebration that is calm and fully secure," a police spokesperson said.
The players will take part in a parade on Sunday afternoon on the Champs-de-Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower with some 100,000 people expected, before being received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.
Liverpool Sack Slot, Iraola in Line to Take Overhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5278710-liverpool-sack-slot-iraola-line-take-over
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Liverpool Sack Slot, Iraola in Line to Take Over
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot sits on the bench prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool, in London, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool sacked manager Arne Slot on Saturday, saying the club were seeking a "change of direction", after a disastrous defense of their Premier League title.
The Reds finished fifth in the table, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, despite spending a Premier League record of nearly £450 million ($605 million) on new players in one transfer window last year.
Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is reportedly set to take over at Anfield after leading the Cherries into Europe for the first time in the club's history.
Just over a year ago Slot was heralded as a hero after taking on the daunting role of succeeding Jurgen Klopp and leading Liverpool to a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title in his debut season in charge.
Yet fans turned on the Dutchman this season after a series of lackluster performances.
There was also sign of dressing room disharmony, most notably from Mohamed Salah on his way out of the club.
In an explosive social media post earlier this month, which was liked by multiple members of the Liverpool squad, Salah called for a return to "heavy metal football", referring to Klopp's high energy style of play, in a perceived dig at Slot's more cautious approach.
Liverpool's return of 60 points was their lowest since the 2015/16 season.
Despite their troubles, it had been reported that Slot would be handed a stay of execution after securing Champions League qualification.
- 'Different approach' -
However, the club's owners, the American-based Fenway Sports Group, have succumbed to fan pressure to axe the former Feyenoord boss.
"We have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but," the club said in a statement.
"The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.
"Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield."
Liverpool added that "the process to appoint a successor is under way".
Many fans were keen for the return of Xabi Alonso to Anfield, but the club's former midfielder will instead take charge of Chelsea next season.
Iraola's stock is high after an 18-game unbeaten league run to finish the campaign in sixth, just three points behind Liverpool despite vastly inferior resources.
The Spaniard also worked together with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously held a similar role at Bournemouth.
Slot ultimately paid for failing to get a return on Liverpool's huge investment last summer.
British transfer record signing Alexander Isak was beset by fitness problems, while Florian Wirtz struggled with the transition to the Premier League after a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Slot, though, also had to deal with emotional turmoil caused by the death of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident in July.
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