31 h. ago Luke Donald warns US team: Don’t expect ‘rinse and repeat’ from Europe at Ryder Cup

11 of 12 players who won in Rome will defend title in US‘It doesn’t mean we are going to roll out the same pairings’Luke Donald has warned the US team that it would be an error to anticipate “rinse and repeat” from Europe in the Ryder Cup this month despite ­confirming 11 of the 12 players who won in Rome two years ago will tee up at Bethpage.Donald named his six wildcards on Monday, all of whom played in 2023. Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka received the captain’s call. Rory McIlroy, Robert ­MacIntyre, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, ­Rasmus Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton qualified automatically. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Tom Aspinall’s dad tips UFC heavyweight champion for ‘very highly

Aspinall will defend the undisputed UFC heavyweight title for the first time in October, fighting Ciryl Gane

Sport

35 h. ago Lowry and Rahm headline Luke Donald’s six wildcard picks for Europe’s Ryder Cup defence

Hovland, Åberg, Straka and Fitzpatrick complete line-up11 of 12 players who won in Rome will defend title in USEurope will defend the Ryder Cup later this month with 11 of the 12 players who saw off the United States in Rome two years ago after Luke Donald unsurprisingly opted for experience with his wildcard picks. Europe’s captain has turned to Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Victor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick to complete his team for Bethpage. Donald confirmed his choices on Monday, five days after his US counterpart Keegan Bradley had done likewise.Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Rasmus Højgaard had already automatically qualified for the European side. In what is a quirk, Højgaard is the sole change from Rome where his twin brother, Nicolai, turned out in European colours.More details to follow Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Dominik Szoboszlai’s wonder strike sinks Arsenal and sends Liverpool top

If Liverpool are to successfully defend their Premier League title, they will look back on the moment when Dominik Szoboszlai sank Arsenal with a late and sensational free-kick as a foundation stone. There had been little between these rivals, the only clubs that maintained 100% records at kick-off time; pragmatism holding sway for long spells. Or maybe it was the fear of defeat.Would Arsenal have taken another Anfield draw beforehand? The answer was probably yes and it appeared that Mikel Arteta had placed the emphasis on being difficult to beat, first and foremost, with his line-up. He would use his new signing, Eberechi Eze, only as a 70th minute substitute. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Former Manny Pacquiao and Naoya Inoue rivals land Las Vegas world

Sebastian Fundora and O’Shaquie foster will both defend thier WBC titles on 25 October in Las Vegas

Politics

9 d. ago TV fans react to 'genius casting' of Amazon Prime’s Last One Laughing UK series two line

Bob Mortimer will return to Last One Laughing to defend his title alongside a host of big name comedians including David Mitchell, Mel Giedroyc and Romesh Ranganathan.

Politics

1 week ago Be brave: Black Ferns’ key message for Women’s Rugby World Cup defence

Six-times champions are aiming to play with courage as they seek to defend the title they won at home in 2022When New Zealand’s director of performance Allan Bunting took to the mic to sing a rendition of Dua Lipa’s hit ‘Levitating’ at Manurewa intermediate school, the Black Ferns’ last stop before travelling to England for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, he was not only making headlines but perpetuating the champions’ message for the tournament: be brave.Bunting has been putting himself out of his comfort zone in the lead-up to the competition, on another occasion performing a Haka in front of his players and staff. His karaoke turn caught the team’s attention with the wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga, who scored two tries in the World Cup final in 2022, cracking up laughing when asked about it. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Making sense of Aryna Sabalenka’s season and her curious position before US Open

After heartbreak at the grand slams this year, would Sabalenka’s season be considered a failure if the World No 1 does not defend her US Open title?

Politics

1 week ago Jamie Carragher tells Liverpool they 'will not defend' title unless transfer plan changes

Liverpool have spent big this summer but have lost more attackers than they've signed with Jamie Carragher adamant they cannot pin all their hopes on signing Alexander Isak

Politics

1 week ago Last One Laughing new series update as Bob Mortimer returns to defend title

Bob Mortimer is set to make a comeback on the UK version of Last One Laughing after viewers went crazy for the winning comedian's antics in season one

Politics

1 week ago Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori reaffirm supremacy to win US Open mixed doubles final

In a draw filled with many of the best singles tennis players in the world, the Italians made a decisive case for the importance of teamwork in this disciplineAcross two frantic days in New York, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani repeatedly made their intentions clear. As the only doubles specialist team in a tournament that had banished the rest of their kind, they were on a mission to prove their worth by succeeding on the court.Shortly before midnight on an Arthur Ashe Stadium still filled with raucous spectators, the mission was complete. They triumphed in spectacular fashion at the reimagined US Open mixed doubles championship by closing out the star singles pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the third seeds, 6-3 5-7 (10-6) in a supreme, intense tussle to defend their title. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Oleksandr Usyk finally responds after being ordered to fight Joseph Parker

The Ukrainian became a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion last month - but was quickly ordered to defend one of his titles against the Kiwi sensation

Sport

3 w. ago Virgil van Dijk names one thing Liverpool must do to defend their Premier League title

Liverpool will begin the defence of their Premier League title on Sunday against Arsenal and know what they need to work on after losing the Community Shield to Crystal Palace

Politics

3 w. ago Liverpool given reality check after summer transfers and tragedy | John Brewin

Despite goals from two new signings, Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat asks fresh questions of Arne SlotWembley was supposed to be a case of the men who weren’t there. It ended up posing questions of the team asked to defend the Premier League title.Alexander Isak may become a Liverpool player. That will be decided soon enough by the transfer market; a game of charades is being played before money eventually dictates its conclusion. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Frank Warren insists Nick Ball not getting credit he deserves ahead of title fight

FRANK WARREN COLUMN: Nick Ball will face Sam Goodman next weekend as he looks to defend his WBA featherweight world title

Events

3 w. ago Romelu Lukaku opens up on his 'revenge' mission that led to Zlatan Ibrahimovic clash

Romelu Lukaku has gone from growing up in poverty to becoming one of the most prolific strikers of his generation, now aiming to defend the Serie A title with Napoli

Events

3 w. ago Liverpool transfer news: Bradley Barcola truth emerges as star set for £50m move

Liverpool have already forked out more than £250million on seven new signings and Arne Slot is ready to continue spending big as the Reds look to defend their Premier League title

Economics

3 w. ago Where Nick Ball vs Sam Goodman is on TV plus live stream, PPV and full card info

Nick Ball will defend his WBA featherweight title in Riyadh this month and we've got all the information boxing fans need to enjoy the fight.

Politics

4 w. ago Scott McTominay blasts out Napoli motto on his return as Scotland stars feature in surprise draw

Midfielder back for Scudetto holders and can’t wait to defend title

Politics