Liverpool's 5-2 win over West Ham still falls short of elite standard — and more

Liverpool's 5-2 victory over West Ham was a statement of efficiency, with three first‑half goals from corners and an xG of 1.75 against West Ham's 1.84. Yet the win did not translate into domination, as the side still struggles to meet the club's elite standard.

Arne Slot's initial vision of a PSG‑lite, vertical flair side has given way to a pragmatic focus on set‑pieces, with nine dead‑ball goals since January. However, defensive gaps in transition and an unsteady midfield balance show that the rebuild has not yet delivered the desired creative dominance.

Ferrari hat bei den Testfahrten zur neuen Saison in der Formel 1 überrascht. Ein WM-Titel scheint möglich zu sein. Die Tifosi dürfen hoffen - nach einer Durststrecke von fast 20 Jahren.[mehr]

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

Since taking over as general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted 17 offensive linemen, and he's drafted at least one offensive lineman in every draft, except for the 2023 NFL Draft. That figure will increase at the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.

A potential target in the upcoming draft is Kage Casey. The Boise State offensive lineman checks in at No. 55 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit and Oregon native, Casey finished his career at Boise State with 41 starts at left tackle and he took 38 snaps at right tackle during his first season on campus. During his time at the Senior Bowl, he took reps at guard.

Casey finished his career at Boise State with 41 starts at left tackle. He also played 38 snaps at right tackle during his first season on campus. He’ll likely see reps at both tackle spots and potentially at guard this week down in Mobile. He’s a technician who uses a timely punch and stays balanced in his pass sets.

"You could say a lot about how Casey fits the blue-collar culture Boise State fosters," Shaun Goodwin, the Boise State beat writer for the Idaho Statesman, said. "Ultimately leading to him becoming a team captain in 2025, but above all, he embodies availability and consistency. He became a starter for Boise State as a redshirt freshman at the start of the 2023 season and started all 41 games from then until the 2025 Mountain West Championship."

The Boise State product has excellent play strength and the grip strength to control defenders in the run game. He has a powerful lower half and creates movement to blast open running lanes. He shows no restrictions once he gets out into space.

"In part due to his availability in 2024, Casey was the primary blocker for Jeanty in his record-breaking season," Goodwin said. "With a firm base and good hand placement, Casey can set himself in position and hold his ground against onrushing linemen. While you’ll mostly find Casey at the line of scrimmage, he has the ability to take off and help block downfield, too."

Casey is a technician who uses a timely punch and stays balanced in his pass sets. The former three-star recruit has the lateral quickness to mirror speed rushers and protect the corner. He's quick out of his stance to get into his pass set. The Boise State prospect has a high football IQ and understands angles and pass sets. With his lack of length (32-inch arms), Casey will likely kick inside to guard at the next level.

A year after giving up zero sacks and just six pressures, Casey gave up four sacks and 10 pressures this past season. It's worth noting that four of those pressures came during Boise State's first game of the season against USF.

"The 2024 numbers were certainly boosted by opposing teams stacking the box and putting so much pressure on Jeanty and the running game, but he still earned a 99.3 pass blocking efficiency in 2024, which ranked third among FBS offensive tackles," Goodwin said. "He remained a bright spot on an offensive line that struggled at times in 2025, in large part due to his game awareness. In pass protection, he’ll often maintain his distance and delay engagement, allowing him to react better to post-snap stunts through quick vertical movement, hand placement and strength."

Fit with the Packers

The Packers are set to have Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan hit free agency, while Elgton Jenkins is expected to be a cap casualty. 

With those potential departures, the Packers are expected to invest heavily in the offensive line as they look for a new starting center, a swing tackle and interior depth.

Casey offers tackle-guard versatility. He's a technician in pass protection and a road grader as a run blocker. Due to the current makeup of Green Bay's offensive line, he could potentially challenge Anthony Belton for the starting right guard spot as a rookie, and could be the team's long-term answer at left guard.

"You’re getting what you see with Casey: A reliable offensive tackle who is efficient in both the run and pass game," Goodwin said. "Along with his consistency and availability, Casey is a no-trouble, locker-room presence — he’s not the loudest in the room, but his work ethic and ability speak for themselves."

The Packers have had a ton of success turning college offensive tackles into all-pro caliber offensive guards. Casey could be the next college tackle to join that exclusive group. While he could stick at tackle, if he were to land with the Packers, his best long-term outlook would be at guard.

The Boise State product could be a Day 3 target for the Packers as they search for interior depth and a player who could step in at left or right tackle if something happens to Jordan Morgan or Zach Tom. Getting a player with his versatility, experience and football acumen on Day 3 would be incredibly valuable.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 55, Boise State OL Kage Casey

Milan’s pursuit of Corinthians starlet André has taken a dramatic turn and a simple deal can turn into a legal battle which can involve FIFA.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Rossoneri and the Brazilian club are currently locked in a tense tug-of-war over the validity of the transfer. It had previously appeared that Milan had successfully closed a deal for the young midfielder, agreeing to a package worth €15m plus €2m in bonuses. However, the situation has since fractured, threatening to derail the move entirely.

The conflict centers on a internal power struggle within Corinthians. The club’s president, Osmar Stabile, has sensationally claimed that he never officially signed off on the transfer. This sudden resistance from the top hierarchy stems from the intervention of manager Dorival Júnior, who made his frustrations clear regarding the sale and the money on offer.

Despite the claims from the Brazilian presidency, Milan remain firm in their position. The Italian club maintain that they have all the necessary signatures on the official documents provided by the Corinthians legal team, arguing that these authorizations are binding regardless of the president’s subsequent stance.

With both sides refusing to budge, the dispute is now expected to head toward a legal showdown, with FIFA, likely called upon to arbitrate the validity of the contract.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Alabama softball had an extremely successful weekend during the T-Mobile Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama secured six total victories over the three-day span. The Tide held a record of 2-0 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as Alabama continues to turn a multitude of heads across the college softball world to begin the 2026 campaign.

Alabama currently holds an overall record of 20-0, as the Tide will look to keep things rolling prior to the start of SEC play.

Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s weekend series in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama records two shutout victories on Friday

The Tide were credited with a shutout against both St. Thomas and USF during Friday’s victories. Alabama was nothing short of elite in the circle, as the Tide held both teams to a combined three hits over the course of 12 total innings of play.

Alabama was able to start strong both offensively and in the circle, as the Tide opened the weekend with an authoritative 2-0 record in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama outscores opponents 16-1 on Saturday

The Tide were red hot at the plate during both of Saturday’s matchups against Kent State and USF. Alabama won each game by a score of 8-1 and 8-0, respectively, as the Tide continue to dominate at the plate on a nightly basis in 2026.

Alabama would continue to dominate into Sunday’s matchups following their success on Friday and Saturday, as the Tide have been widely regarded as a top team in the country throughout the first month and a half of play.

Alabama stays red hot against St. Thomas, Oakland

Alabama secured yet another 2-0 day on Sunday, recording a 7-0 victory over St. Thomas followed by a 8-1 victory over Oakland. Alabama was credited with an overall record of 6-0 on the weekend, as the Tide continue to cement themselves amongst the top teams in college softball prior to the start of conference play.

Alabama will face Ole Miss starting on Friday evening, as the Tide will look to stay hot at the start of SEC play.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama softball takeaways from 2026 Crimson Classic