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Liverpool are at the end of an era and face a major squad overhaul despite tearing up the Premier League
IT’S a strange thing to say about a team cantering towards the Premier League title — but Liverpool are reaching the end of an era.
Five players remain from the team which secured the club’s sixth European Cup against Tottenham in 2019.
And all of them might have played their final Champions League match at Anfield in Tuesday’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
Boss Arne Slot did not appreciate being asked about that on TV immediately after the penalty shootout loss to the French champions.
But skipper Virgil van Dijk admits he has “no idea” where he will be playing next season, while fellow out-of-contract stars Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also tight-lipped on their futures.
The form of Andy Robertson, another of Klopp’s 2019 winners, has fallen off a cliff, with Slot prioritising a left-back upgrade this summer.
And Alisson — who kept Liverpool in the PSG tie with an extraordinary display in his team’s 1-0 first-leg win — is also under threat.
Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who arrives from Valencia this summer, is regarded as his eventual replacement.
It means the last vestiges of Jurgen Klopp’s 2019 European champions could soon be swept away.
It would be ludicrous to suggest too much doom and gloom at Anfield as Slot’s side romp towards only their second Premier League title and with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle up next.
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Klopp’s midfield revamp worked a treat the summer before last — with Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai all tearing it up in the Premier League.
Now similar overhauls may be needed in defence and attack — with two key defenders out of contract, along with goal-machine Salah.
Meanwhile, Darwin Nunez’s shootout miss accentuated the fact the Uruguayan isn’t good enough at the highest level.
Liverpool have been awarded nine penalties in the league this season — no other club besides Bournemouth has had more than four.
And yet spot-kicks proved their undoing against Luis Enrique’s impressive side.
PSG’s superiority over two legs showed the Premier League isn’t as mighty as we like to think.
There is now a high probability of no English club in the Champions League semi-finals for a second straight season.
The fact Liverpool are poised to win the title by a double-figure points margin yet were outplayed for three-quarters of the PSG tie was a wake-up call for the domestic game.
This after Real Madrid had hammered our four-in-a-row champions Manchester City in the play-off round.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s exit, Slot was moaning about the “unfairness” of having to face PSG so early in the competition — having topped the 36-team qualifying group.
Yet that has always been the nature of knockout football.
PSG, along with Real and City, struggled in Europe before Christmas and ended up unseeded.
Enrique’s side were supposed to arrive at the sharp end of the Champions League undercooked due to a lack of domestic competition.
But perhaps it was Liverpool.
This has not been a vintage Premier League season, with City in meltdown, Arsenal ravaged by injuries and indiscipline, Chelsea severely inexperienced, while Manchester United and Tottenham have disappeared without trace.
Slot’s first season in charge will be rightly considered a roaring success whatever happens in Sunday’s showpiece at Wembley.
But with Alexander-Arnold likely to miss out through injury, Ibrahima Konate a doubt and the entire team having played two hours of high- intensity football before the misery of a shootout defeat, Newcastle will fancy their chances a hell of a lot more than they did before Tuesday.
Liverpool’s players will still get to parade the Premier League trophy in front of a packed Anfield for the first time at some point in April or early May — their previous title win having come during the Covid pandemic.
Yet the team which defends that title next season might look very different indeed.
ITV’s Family Fortunes replacement revealed after Gino D’Acampo series was axed amid controversy
ITV’s Family Fortunes replacement has been revealed after the Gino D’Acampo series was axed amid his misconduct controversy.
The channel confirmed Celebrity Catchphrase, hosted by Stephen Mulhern, 47, will move to a new Sunday night slot this spring,
It has also recommissioned the celebrity edition of the long-running game show for an 11th series, with the 10th series set to air soon.
Each episode sees three celebrity contestants compete to “say what they see” for a chance to win up to £50,000 for their chosen charity.
Details on transmission dates and participating celebrities will be announced in due course.
ITV commissioner Gemma John-Lewis told TVZone: “We’re delighted to announce a further series of the much-loved family favourite, Celebrity Catchphrase.
“The only show where you say what you see, the hugely popular series continues to win legions of fans, and with Stephen’s infectious and playful humour, it’s a firm favourite with our viewers.”
Gary Chippington, Executive Producer and Creative Director of STV Studios Entertainment, added: “It’s testament to Catchphrase’s fantastic format and universal appeal that it’s still one of the UK’s most-loved entertainment shows, four decades after ITV first commissioned it.
“The incomparable Stephen Mulhern is a huge part of the show’s success, and we’re looking forward to getting back in the studio with him and a great line-up of stars later this year for what promises to be another brilliant series of Celebrity Catchphrase.”
The Italian chef remains under-fire after multiple women came forward, accusing him of “sexually inappropriate” and “intimidating” behaviour.
Dozens of allegations have been made against the TV personality, spanning over 14 years – and ITV News has seen evidence at least one production company was aware of concerns made by crew.
Gino says he “firmly denied” all allegations made against him.
Following the special investigation into the former This Morning star, Family Fortunes was axed.
ITV News reported episodes that were filmed in 2023 will not be broadcast.
The channel had planned to screen them this Spring, but now has ‘no plans’ to work with Gino again.
Family Fortunes ran from 1980 until 2002, with Les Dennis at the helm during its most successful years.
ITV execs revived the format in 2006 with a celebrity edition and Vernon Kay on hosting duties.
That was cancelled in 2015, but the channel offered it a second chance in 2021 by reintroducing the civilian run with Gino.
The full claims against D’Acampo…
- One woman claimed Gino told her he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter” in 2011.
- Another woman alleged he opened the door only wearing his boxer shorts and said “Oh, don’t worry, it’s only small” while pointing towards his penis.
- In 2018 while on set for the filming of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip, Gino allegedly said he “felt like f******” one morning.
- The same year Gino is alleged to have made a comment about another young female colleague who claimed he said: “Shouldn’t we be talking about her t***, they’re perfect, they’re like a mouthful.”
- Another alleged he told a young staff member: “When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together.”
- A woman told ITV she saw Gino appearing to threaten a young colleague over an ice cream in 2019, he allegedly said “if you don’t get me a Cornetto I will f*** your girlfriend”.
- In 2022 an internal investigation into Gino was launched at production company Betty TV in relation to alleged inappropriate behaviour and language on the set of Gino’s Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make.
- The production company Objective Media Group said in an email seen by ITV in 2024 that issues also arose in 2023 on the Emission Impossible set.
A statement to ITV News from Gino’s legal team, said: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo.
“He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of “power play” and an “aggressive act”.
“He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.”
Sex which puts on more weight after marriage revealed in major new study
MEN put on more weight than women after marriage, a study shows.
Blokes’ obesity rates were found to triple after tying the knot, while there was no increase for married females.
Husbands were 62 per cent more likely to be overweight than single fellas, and 3.2 times likelier to be obese.
Meanwhile, wives were 39 per cent more likely to be overweight than unattached ladies but obesity was no likelier.
Study author Dr Alicja Cicha- Mikolajczyk, from Poland’s National Institute of Cardiology, said: “Marital status has an undeniable impact on overweight or obesity in adulthood.”
Being married was a stronger weight trigger for men while age was bigger for women, according to analysis of 2,405 people aged 36 to 61.
She said married females may let things slide a little but get back in shape before becoming too fat.
Obese women are often stigmatised more than blokes, she added.
Dr Joanna Syrda, of the University of Bath, conducted previous research showing men’s body mass index rises post-marriage and falls around divorce.
She said: “Individuals who are ‘on the market’ have more incentive and exert more effort to stay fit than those already or still married.”
Most people in the UK are fat – about 35 per cent are overweight and 30 per cent are obese.
The flab problem has driven up rates of serious health issues including cancer, dementia and heart diseases.
The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight
FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes - most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss.
But burning fat can be easy and mostly free.
In fact, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all…
- Don’t skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry. - Eat regular meals
Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. - Eat plenty of fruit and veg
Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. - Get more active
Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone. - Drink lots of water
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need. - Eat high fibre foods
Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. - Use a smaller plate
Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it’s full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. - Don’t ban foods
Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There’s no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. - Don’t stock junk food
To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. - Cut down on alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain. - Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.
Pregnant MAFS Australia star drops secret hint she’s SPLIT from boyfriend – hours after baby reveal
A PREGNANT MAFS Australia star has dropped a secret hint that she’s split from her boyfriend – just hours after the baby reveal.
Domenica revealed with her excited fans this week that she’s expecting a baby.
Domenica Calarco and Jack Millar were hailed as Married At First Sight Australia’s “power couple” back in 2022.
The make-up artist Domenica, 28, and 26-year-old financial planner Jack had lots to connect them on Married At First Sight, including their Italian family backgrounds, a love of animals and vegetarian diets.
Yet the pair split after failing to make their relationship work.
Domenica then started dating Jarod Bogunovich and was last linked with him before her baby reveal.
But since her exciting news, fans have noticed that Jarod hasn’t posted about the news, and that she’s wiped all photos of him from her social media.
Jarod and Domenica haven’t posted together since Christmas – leaving some fans to speculate that they’ve called time on their romance.
On her pregnancy reveal post, many fans commented writing: “Where’s the father.”
But neither Domenica nor Jarod have spoken out about their romance.
In her video caption, she wrote: “Been a little MIA working on my greatest project yet…..Baby due September 2025.”
Podcast host Elizabeth Day then wrote: “Oh my god Domenica. I’m crying I’m so sorry happy for you. You’ll be the most amazing mother xxx”
MAFS UK Ella Morgan then posted: “Ahhh amazing news!!! Congrats Dom! I’m so happy for you.”
A fan then wrote: “Awwwww wow, congratulations Dom, what beautiful news. So happy for you xx”
Another posted: “Ooooooooooohhhh I’m so excited for you! CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER!”
Domenica was at the heart of one of MAFS Australia’s biggest-ever scandals.
Olivia Frazer showed fellow members of the cast a naked picture of Domenica without her consent.
Olivia shared the photo after discovering Domenica’s OnlyFans platform where she had uploaded the nude images.
Domenica admitted it felt like a “malicious attack” before she stormed off from filming and removed her microphone after being left blindsided by the scenario.
A petition was then created asking for the “e-safety commissioner to immediately take action against Olivia” and gained a whopping 55,000 signatures.
Domenica became aware of the petition and backed it whilst also confirming she had taken legal advice over the situation.
She eventually shut down the OnlyFans page, as per the Daily Mail, but was left gutted to lose out on the extra income.
City’s top two regulators follow Trump’s lead by ditching plans to bring in new DEI rules
THE CITY’S top two regulators have ditched plans to bring in diversity, equity and inclusion rules in the latest sign of the death of DEI in a post-Trump world.
It was announced in a bonfire of red tape yesterday along with:
- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) axing its controversial proposals to “name and shame” firms under investigation.
- The Payments System Regulator being scrapped after ministers asked if we had too many watchdogs.
- The Competition and Markets Authority consulting on its merger rules and saying only “truly problematic” deals would be blocked.
The series of shake-ups is a sign that regulators have been put on notice by the Government’s order that they should play a greater role in fostering growth.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has previously accused the system of “excessively focusing on risk”.
The Bank of England’s regulatory arm, the Prudential Regulation Arm (PRA) and the FCA both said they would stop work on new diversity and inclusion rules.
They would have hit all companies with more than 251 employees.
Sam Wood at the PRA said the decision was driven by “reducing regulatory burdens”.
Delighted Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Thank goodness.
“Giving something the label ‘DEI’ doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
“This was another example of a quango stepping outside its lane.”
Miles Celic OBE, chief exec of finance body TheCityUK, welcomed the move but insisted: “Our industry is committed to ensure it reflects the communities it serves.”
Consulting firm Accenture is among big firms who have already scrapped DEI targets following Donald Trump’s election as US President.
British defence firm BAE has also removed bonuses for bosses over inclusion targets.
BIZ BRAINS TAPPED
THE Government has reacted to criticism that is does not “get business” by backing a revamped Board of Trade that includes Allison Kirkby, the boss of FTSE 100 telecoms giant BT.
Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s Kitchen baby food, and The Apprentice interviewer Mike Soutar are also involved.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told The Sun in the autumn that business councils were tokenistic.
But the backlash to the Budget and the increasingly unstable trading environment in the era of tariffs has prompted a rethink.
He said: “This won’t be a chin-stroking talking shop because I’ll be urging them to boost exports.”
The Board of Trade also includes BAE defence chief Charles Woodburn, UnitedHealth exec Dame Vivian Hunt, CISCO’s Sarah Walker, SMMT car expert Mike Hawes, Small Business Britain’s Michelle Ovens, EY finance boss Omar Ali and City expert Catherine McGuinness.
Their opening task will be to answer Mr Reynolds’ call for evidence on the struggles small firms face in raising finance and beating barriers to growth.
PUMA KICKS BACK
TRAINERS brand Puma yesterday warned tariffs and “trade disputes” are hitting demand in key markets.
The sportswear group — which has collaborations with singers Dua Lipa and Rihanna — is betting on its new retro-style Speedcat shoe to reboot its sales.
Its shares yesterday tumbled by almost a quarter — after it warned investors sales and profits would be lower as geopolitical tensions grow.
Puma reduced its imports from China to the US and shifted production to other countries to avoid fresh tariffs triggered by President Donald Trump’s moves.
Its shares hit their lowest level in nine years after it said earnings could fall to £375million — £205million below analyst forecasts.
Puma said it would cut 500 jobs.
CLOTHES SLOW HIT
THE owner of Zara has spooked investors with a slowdown in sales growth since the start of the year.
Inditex yesterday toasted record annual profits of £4.9billion, while its annual sales rose by 7.5 per cent to £31.9billion.
However, shares in the retail powerhouse slumped by 7.5 per cent yesterday after it said sales growth had slowed to 4 per cent, compared with 11 per cent for the same time in 2024.
‘45 DAYS’ WILL KEEP GYMS FIT
NEW fitness club joiners who can stick to their goals for the first 45 days tend to stay as members long term, the boss of The Gym Group says.
That is the point at which their habit is formed and they do not cancel subscriptions, allowing the company to keep making money.
Chief executive Will Orr revealed the group is now using behavioural science to keep new starters onboard in those early days.
They are sent tips to help them set achievable targets.
The strategy is how The Gym Group has defied the wider gloom — yesterday reporting an 11 per cent rise in revenues and a swing into the black with £2.5million profit.
The firm plans to add 50 more gyms to its current 245 sites over the next three years.
Mr Orr is also calling on the Government to improve Britain’s health by getting more GPs to prescribe day gym passes on the NHS.
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Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid LIVE RESULT: Blancos vs Arsenal in quarters after MASSIVE penalty shootout CONTROVERSY
REAL MADRID will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals after incredible drama in the penalty shootout!
Julian Alvarez seemingly scored his penalty only to have it RULED OUT by the VAR for hitting the ball TWICE as he slipped.
Real Madrid eventually went through 4-2 on penalties but the shootout will be remembered for that intervention.
During an enthralling Madrid derby, Connor Gallagher had scored a record goal – becoming the fastest English goalscorer in the Champions League after just 28 seconds.
Vinicius then had the chance to win the game in normal time for Real Madrid but smashed an AWFUL penalty well over the bar to keep Atletico alive.
Arsenal now face Real Madrid in the next round after they went through 9-3 against PSV following a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.
Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain after an impressive 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while Borussia Dortmund also progresses after beating Lille in the early game.
- Kick-off: 8pm GMT
- TV Channel/live stream: TNT Sports 3 / Discovery+
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Follow our live blog for updates…
Atletico Madrid 1 Real Madrid 0 (agg 1-1, pens 2-4): Ancelotti’s men WIN after major penalty shootout controversy
REAL MADRID will face Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals following a nail-biting and controversial shootout victory over their local rivals Atletico.
The tie ended 2-2 on aggregate after extra time thanks to a 1-0 win for Atleti.
And Los Blancos ran out 4-2 winners in a tense and controversial shootout, which featured a stunning VAR intervention.
Atleti midfielder Conor Gallagher lit the blue touch paper a mere 28 seconds into the tie, tapping home from just outside the six-yard box.
Vinicius Jr had the chance to restore Real’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.
But the Brazilian blazed his spot kick high and wide of Jan Oblak‘s left-hand post, much to the delight of the Wandametropolitano Stadium faithful.
Both teams huffed and puffed for a winner in extra-time but were unable to breach the other’s goal.
Kylian Mbappe got the shootout ball rolling, with Alexander Sorloth quickly Diego Simeone‘s troops level.
Jude Bellingham re-established Real’s lead with a cool finish, but Julian Alvarez levelled the scores a few moments later – despite losing his footing.
VAR, however, sensationally ruled out the strike after judging the Argentine to have kicked the ball twice.
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That meant Federico Valverde‘s ensuing strike fired Los Blanco’s into a 3-1 lead – although the players and fans didn’t know it at the time.
Angel Correra kept Atletico within touching distance with a neat finish before Lucas Vazquez spurned the chance to send the visitors through with a poor finish.
Marcos Llorente wasted Oblak’s good save with a similarly poor finish and ended up being punished by a lucky Antonio Rudiger penalty, which narrowly evaded the keeper.
Real will be full of confidence ahead of their clash with the Gunners, despite never having beaten Mikel Arteta‘s troops.
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Shoppers dash to B&Q for patio cleaning must-have cheaper than Aldi or Lidl
SHOPPERS are rushing to B&Q to nab a patio cleaning must-have which is retailing for cheaper than at Aldi or Lidl.
The Bosch Aquatak Corder Pressure Washer, designed for “small to medium cleaning tasks around the home and garden“, is currently listed at bargain price.
The compact pressure washer is retailing for just £67 at B&Q and comes with a range of accessories.
Lidl has an alternative on sale for £119, almost double the price, while Aldi’s closest offering could set you back £89.
These include a wash brush, water filter, a large 6m-long extension hose, a self priming kit, and an aqua surf patio cleaner.
The pressure washer also comes with an optional water inlet filter, a high pressure hose, and can automatically start and stop.
It also has a 3m-long high-pressure hose, a variable fan jet nozzle, a rotary nozzle, a high pressure detergent nozzle, and a 450ml water filter.
The product’s description states: “Compact design and accessory storage for easy manoeuvrability.
“Selection of nozzles and a 110-bar pump offer versatile cleaning performance.
“450-ml High-Pressure Detergent Nozzle saves time by applying soap quickly”.
Bosch also claims the product can “easily tackle” small-to-medium-sized cleaning tasks, with its 110bar maximum operating pressure.
Its warranty can also be extended from two to three years if you register within 28 days of purchase on MyBosch.
One happy buyer said: “Bought one last year, doesn’t take much space and good enough for small patios and driveways”.
Another added: “I have one of these to wash my car and it does an amazing job.
“Also got the patio brush attachment and it lifts all the muck off the floor and decking without issue.”
From March 6, Lidl began selling the Parkside Pressure Washer, which is similar to the well-known Karcher brand of washers.
The discount supermarket is selling the powerwasher for £119, which is a whopping £190 cheaper than Karcher’s own version.
However, it is still well far above the £67 price tag for the Bosch washer at B&Q.
At Aldi, shoppers can get their hands on a super affordable Ferrex High Pressure Washer for £89.99 from March 13.
Larger than the Bosch product, this washer is similar to Karcher’s offerings, but does provide a large pressure output of 170bar.
On top of this, it has a high pressure hose that is twice as long as the Bosch one, and it can be wheeled around your garden, unlike the Bosch product.
Champions League quarter-finals CONFIRMED with Arsenal and Aston Villa both set for horror last-eight clashes
ARSENAL and Aston Villa are both set for horror last-eight clashes after the Champions league quarter-finals were finally confirmed.
The pair are English football’s final representatives in Europe’s top competition this season.
Manchester City crashed out in the playoffs to Real Madrid, while Liverpool were sent packing by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last night.
And both continental giants are now set to cause chaos for Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery in the final eight.
Arsenal defeated PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates this evening.
But their reward is a battle against record winners Real, who defeated rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties at the Wanda Metropolitano.
As for Villa, they cruised past Club Brugge 3-0 tonight for a 6-1 aggregate victory.
And they will now take on French kings PSG, who ran rings around Liverpool in both legs of their last-16 tie.
Amazingly, should Arsenal and Villa come through their quarters unscathed, the English duo will face each other in the semis.
On the other side of the draw, Italian champs Inter Milan will take on Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich.
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Inter beat Feyenoord 2-1 yesterday for a 4-1 aggregate win.
While Bayern battered German title holders Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate.
The final quarter tie sees Borussia Dortmund face Barcelona.
Dortmund edged past French side Lille 3-2 on aggregate.
While Barcelona completed a 4-1 aggregate rout of Benfica on Tuesday.
