1. Liverpool win Super Cup
Newly Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian was the hero as the Reds beat Chelsea on penalties in the Uefa Super Cup. The match in Istanbul finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and both sides scored in extra time to send the match to a shoot-out. Adrian, who allowed Chelsea to equalise in extra time after conceding a penalty, made amends as he saved from Tammy Abraham to clinch Liverpool’s second European trophy of the summer.
2. Lord’s turns red for Ruth
The first day of the second Ashes Test was a washout but the forecast is good for day two and Lord’s today turned red in memory of Andrew Strauss’s late wife Ruth, who died of a rare form of lung cancer last year. “Fans coming to Lord’s have been encouraged to wear red — Ruth’s favourite colour — and the teams will wear special shirts with red names,” explains the Evening Standard. The aim is to promote the Ruth Strauss Foundation which is working to providing greater understanding of the illness through research and pre-bereavement support for families.
3. More trouble for Kyrgios
Australian tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios is in hot water again after losing his cool as he slipped to defeat against Russian Karen Khachanov. Kyrgios won the first set but went to pieces as the second set slipped from his grasp. He feuded with umpire Fergus Murphy, smashed two rackets during a bathroom break Murphy had refused him permission to take, before appearing to call the umpire a “f****** tool” at the end of the match. He now faces more sanctions from the ATP.
4. Joshua calls Lewis a ‘clown’
With his rematch against Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr shrouded in confusion boxer Anthony Joshua has taken aim at another opponent, branding Lennox Lewis “a clown” over his criticism of the British fighter after his shock defeat to Ruiz earlier this year. “Lennox is a clown. I don’t respect Lennox,” Joshua said on Sky Sports documentary AJ: The Untold Truth. Meanwhile, Ruiz has rubbished claims he has agreed to fight Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
5. Triathletes disqualified
British triathletes Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown were disqualified for crossing the line hand-in-hand as they came in first and second at a test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The pair were denied their victory under rules designed to prevent a “contrived tie”. Five Britons had made it into the top 11, and compatriot Vicky Holland was elevated to third after the disqualifications. The running section of the race was cut from 10km to 5km because of the extreme heat in the Japanese capital.
6. Bolton down to five players
Bolton Wanderers now have just five senior players on their books after midfielder Erhun Oztumer left the club. The Trotters have been in administration since May, but could be sold to consortium Football Ventures after a court ruling on a separate takeover bid paved the way for the deal. The League One side, which started the season with a 12-point penalty, fielded a team with an average age of 19 against Coventry at the weekend.
7. QPR walk off over racism
Queen’s Park Rangers have called for more action over racism after revealing that the club’s under-18 side walked off the pitch during a friendly match in Spain last week following racial abuse by opposition players, reports The Times. The Championship club’s chief executive Les Hoos told the paper: “We take a very strong stance against racism and will not tolerate one of our players being subjected to the despicable comments experienced. I applaud Paul and his staff for reacting in such a manner and doing everything within their powers to protect the players. I am also very proud of our under-18s, who showed such maturity in the face of unacceptable provocation.”
8. Premier League stars are ‘easy targets’
With Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac embroiled in a “gang war”, a security expert has warned that Premier League footballers have become the “easiest of pickings” for criminals, who scour players’ social media accounts and fixture lists. Alex Bomberg told the Daily Telegraph: “Criminals are studying social media accounts because they know when the players are going away. They might as well be handing over the keys. They are the easiest of targets and the clubs have a duty of care here. That’s the major issue, which is sadly lacking. Footballers are in a category of their own when it comes to risk.”
9. Gayle still not retired
West Indian batsman Chris Gayle, who hit 72 in his 301st one-day international yesterday, has said he will continue playing “until further notice”. The 39-year-old announced his retirement after the World Cup only to change his mind. But it was widely assumed the match against India would be his last. “Gayle, who usually wears the number 45, wore a specially-printed shirt with the number 301 on the back,” says the BBC. “Gayle left the field waving his bat aloft, soaking up the warm and prolonged applause from the crowd, a gesture indicating that would be the last time he would be wearing West Indies colours.” But after the game, that India won, Gayle said: “I didn’t announce any retirement.”
10. All Blacks ring the changes
The All Blacks have dropped three key players ahead of their must-win game against Australia on Saturday, with two other changes due to injury and suspension. Wingers Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane have been dumped, along with centurion prop Owen Franks, in what The Guardian calls a “sensational” move. “In a potential changing of the guard five weeks out from the World Cup, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has introduced young flyers Sevu Reece and George Bridge to the wing. Nepo Laulala claims Franks’ tighthead berth.” Australia beat the reigning world champions 47-26 in Perth last week.
