Sports
FSG Stance Clear on Hiring Xabi Alonso to Replace Arne Slot at Liverpool
Liverpool owners FSG have already made a private decision on appointing Xabi Alonso as the club’s next manager after Arne Slot, according to journalist Paul Joyce.
Liverpool‘s underwhelming defence of their Premier League title has peaked in recent weeks, with the club taking just one point from the last nine available in the top flight.
That run has included losses at bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion last time out, with their solitary point coming at home to Tottenham Hotspur – the only point Igor Tudor managed in 44 days as Spurs manager before he departed by mutual consent this week.
While Liverpool remain in the FA Cup and Champions League, albeit they face Manchester City and the holders Paris Saint-Germain next in those two competitions, their Premier League season is in danger of fizzling out.
The Red lie five points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa with seven matches left to play, although it is likely that a top-five finish will be enough for Champions League qualification.
What is more alarming is that less than 12 months after winning the Premier League, they are 21 points behind leaders Arsenal at the beginning of April.
FSG Make Xabi Alonso to Liverpool Decision
As the pressure mounts on Slot with a disappointing season following on from a huge 2025 summer spend in the transfer market, the external view is that Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso is next in line for the job.
The Spaniard has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, and has long been linked with a switch to Anfield following his success with Bayer Leverkusen previously.
However, according to Joyce, FSG internally don’t necessarily believe that Alonso is the right fit for the club.
They already decided not to pursue former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim as Jurgen Klopp’s successor previously because of his preference to play with a back three, something which Alonso likes to do.
Who are the Frontrunners to be Next Liverpool Manager?
FSG appear to be fully behind Slot as things stand and want him to emerge from a turbulent season that started with the devastating passing of Diogo Jota.
Should the season end badly and they decide to change their stance however, there are a number of managers who will be viewed as frontrunners for the job.
Alonso remains the favourite for the Anfield job, probably due to his Liverpool links and the fact he is available now, but there are other big names who could be in the running too.
PSG boss Luis Enrique has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, but he could also soon commit his future to the Ligue 1 giants following his huge success at the Parc des Princes.
As usual, Jurgen Klopp and Steven Gerrard will both be linked with returns to Merseyside, while Julian Nagelsmann could be an interesting option if he leaves Germany following the conclusion of the World Cup.
Aside from those names, you’d be looking at managers who have impressed at smaller clubs, like Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola, who are both out of contract this summer.
Sports
Food and Drink Prices at Shinnecock Hills
The food and drink prices at this year’s US Open have drawn widespread criticism after they emerged on social media.
Some have even compared the costs to the sky-high charges being levied on fans at the ongoing 2026 football World Cup, which will run alongside the major.
The price of concessions at big sporting events and concerts is frequently discussed in modern times, with the surprisingly cheap fare on offer at The Masters each year being the exception to an increasingly more expensive rule.
Journalist Josh Carpenter posted a series of photos on social media which revealed the prices. The images have been met with cries of “robbery” and “yikes” and “bring back The Masters!”
Food and Drink Prices at the 2026 US Open Golf
Every alcoholic beverage, including beer, will run into double digits (in local currency) at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York this week.
The official beer of the Open is Corona Premium, and enjoying one of those will be $12.95 (£9.65), as will the alternatives Modelo and Coors Light.
Don’t fancy a beer? In that case, canned cocktails and canned wine come in at $14.45 (£10.77), and basic cocktails like Jack Daniel’s and a mixer are going to hit the attendees at $15.95 (£11.89) a piece.
Soft drinks are slightly more reasonable, but still pricey compared to their typical cost.
A bottle of water will apparently set you back $6.45 (£4.81), while soft drinks like Sprite and Coca-Cola will cost $3.79 (£2.83) for a single can.
It is the same story with the food being served at the event; snacks like Kind Bars will be $3.69 (£2.75), and if spectators want to indulge in a single pretzel, that will be $7.49 (£5.58). If you were after something a bit more fulfilling than that, a Caesar salad will be $10.95 (£8.16) and adding chicken will be a dollar. A turkey sandwich will be $12.59 (£9.39), and a foot-long hot dog is going to cost almost $20! (£15).
How Do The US Open Food and Drink Prices Compare With The 2026 World Cup?
These prices are obviously ridiculous, but they do seem very aligned with what is being seen across the USA, Canada and Mexico during the World Cup. Prices for tickets were already something of a concern going into the tournament, with backlash coming from all angles during the build-up.
Photos circulating on X showcase the prices for concessions at multiple host stadiums, such as MetLife; a bottle of water is $5, and a soft drink is $6. Beers are priced at $16, and canned cocktails and seltzers will set back fans $19 (£14.16).
Food is no better with a chicken-tenders and fries combo meal with a Coca-Cola, which is priced at $19. If you visit the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, you can expect to pay $20 (£15) for a match-day pizza or $24 (£18) for a meatball sub!
Considering the prices for tickets are already emptying spectators’ pockets, they will be disappointed looking at the price boards if they fancy some refreshments.
Sports
15 Best Current Footballers That Could’ve Played For England But Chose Not to
England are one of the best nations in world football right now. Thomas Tuchel has a plethora of world-class players at his disposal, including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
The three aforementioned players chose to represent England over other nations. All three qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland, while Bellingham was also able to play for Kenya.
Rice even represented Ireland at youth level and even made three appearances for their first team before switching allegiances to England.
While the trio chose to play for England, others who were eligible to play for the Three Lions have snubbed them in favour of other countries.
With that in mind, GiveMeSport have named the 15 best footballers in the world right now that could have played for England but chose not to.
15-11
Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu, who was born in Exeter, was eligible to represent England, Republic of Ireland, Ghana and Wales. He chose the latter.
Folarin Balogun was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Nigerian parents. He spent his entire youth in England as he grew up in London. He represented England at various age groups, but was convinced to change allegiances to the United States in 2023.
Brennan Johnson and Alex Iwobi were both born in England but chose to represent Wales and Nigeria respectively.
Harry Wilson was born in Wrexham, Wales, but qualified for England through an English grandfather. Wales made the decision to tie him down early as he made his debut for the Dragons aged 16, making him the nation’s youngest ever player.
|
15 Best Footballers That Chose to Represent Other Countries Over England (15-11) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Club |
Nation |
|
15 |
Ethan Ampadu |
Leeds United |
Wales |
|
14 |
Folarin Balogun |
Monaco |
United States |
|
13 |
Brennan Johnson |
Crystal Palace |
Wales |
|
12 |
Alex Iwobi |
Fulham |
Nigeria |
|
11 |
Harry Wilson |
Fulham |
Wales |
10-6
Antonee Robinson was born in Milton Keynes and raised in Liverpool, but he chose to play for the United States. He would probably have played for England multiple times in the past few years, given England’s issues at left-back.
Felix Nmecha was born in Germany but moved to England at age six. He played for both Germany and England at youth level but eventually committed to the country of his birth.
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash is of Polish descent through his mother, who was born in the UK to Polish parents. Despite being born in Slough and spending his whole life in England, he decided to represent the White-Reds.
Jeremie Frimpong was born in Amsterdam but moved to England at age seven. He never had any intention of playing for The Three Lions, though.
Ademola Lookman’s story is truly inspirational. Born in Wandsworth, he was playing Sunday League football until the age of 16 when Charlton Athletic spotted him. He has risen through the ranks and, despite playing 11 times for England U21s, switched allegiances to Nigeria in 2022.
|
15 Best Footballers That Chose to Represent Other Countries Over England (10-6) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Club |
Nation |
|
10 |
Antonee Robinson |
Fulham |
United States |
|
9 |
Felix Nmecha |
Borussia Dortmund |
Germany |
|
8 |
Matty Cash |
Aston Villa |
Poland |
|
7 |
Jeremie Frimpong |
Liverpool |
Netherlands |
|
6 |
Ademola Lookman |
Atletico Madrid |
Nigeria |
5-1
Each of the top five would undoubtedly have been in England’s 26-man squad for the World Cup. You could make a case that all of them would start, too.
Scott McTominay has reached a whole new level after leaving Manchester United for Napoli. He was born in England but qualifies for Scotland through his father, and ultimately decided to represent the latter.
Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed an extraordinary rise in recent years. In 2018, he was playing for National League South outfit Bath City. In 2026, after excelling for Bournemouth, he completed a £64 million to Manchester City. He never represented England at any level before making his Ghana debut in 2022, while he was playing Championship football with Bristol City.
Jamal Musiala was born in Stuttgart, Germany, before moving to England at the age of seven. Learning his trade at Chelsea, he represented England at multiple levels up until the U21s. However, he moved back to Germany in 2019 as he joined Bayern Munich and ultimately decided to represent the country of his birth.
Michael Olise is arguably the world’s best winger. He enjoyed an incredible debut season at Bayern Munich in 2025/26 as he recorded 53 goal contributions (22 goals and 31 assists) in just 52 matches. He was eligible to represent France, Algeria, England or Nigeria at international level. Despite being born in England and spending his whole childhood in the country, he elected to play for Les Bleus.
The best player right now that could have represented England – but chose not to – is Erling Haaland. The lethal striker was born in England while his father, Alfie, was playing for Leeds. He moved back to Norway at age 3 and ultimately decided to represent The Vikings.
|
15 Best Footballers That Chose to Represent Other Countries Over England (5-1) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Club |
Nation |
|
5 |
Scott McTominay |
Napoli |
Scotland |
|
4 |
Antoine Semenyo |
Manchester City |
Ghana |
|
3 |
Jamal Musiala |
Bayern Munich |
Germany |
|
2 |
Michael Olise |
Bayern Munich |
France |
|
1 |
Erling Haaland |
Manchester City |
Norway |
Sports
Tottenham Set to Make Offer to Sign Koln Star Said El Mala
Tottenham are set to make a concrete offer to sign a new forward in the summer transfer window, according to reports from Germany.
In the opening weeks of the summer, Tottenham heavily focused on strengthening their defence after a disappointing few years.
Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson both arrived at the club on free transfers, adding experience and defensive solidity to Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Attention has quickly turned to strengthening their midfield and attack, with Spurs looking to bring in reinforcements in multiple positions this summer.
After finishing 17th in the Premier League two seasons on the bounce, new additions are needed, especially if they want to help De Zerbi fully implement his style of play.
Tottenham Set to Make Offer for New Forward
According to a report from Bild in Germany, Tottenham are set to make a concrete offer to sign Koln forward Said El Mala in the summer transfer window.
De Zerbi is believed to be very fond of the attacker, who enjoyed a phenomenal season in the Bundesliga despite being just 19 years old.
El Mala, who has been described as a ‘one in a million talent’, contributed 17 goals and assists combined in what was his first season playing top-flight football.
El Mala’s versatility could attract Tottenham to the German youngster. He’s predominantly played on the left-hand side of attack during his career, but can also play on the right, through the middle as a number 10, and even as a centre forward.
The 19-year-old was close to joining Brentford, but he has informed the club that he doesn’t want to join, despite having an agreement. That means his future is completely open again.
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World Cup History Quiz
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Tottenham Working on Multiple Deals
GIVEMESPORT sources have confirmed that Tottenham are willing to pay in the region of £85m to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali in the summer transfer window.
De Zerbi in particular is pushing to bring the Italian midfielder to North London, with Spurs already holding talks with Tonali.
Spurs have also reached an agreement with Brighton over a move to sign Jan Paul van Hecke in a £52m deal.
Tottenham certainly aren’t messing around after already bringing Senesi and Robertson to the club as they look to head back in the right direction after a difficult couple of years.
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