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THE Masked Singer final has had viewers begging for one performance to stop, just seconds after the ITV show started.

The final of ITV‘s The Masked Singer has kicked off, but viewers at home have been less than impressed with the show’s opening number.

ITV

Masked Singer viewers beg for the ITV show to ‘make it stop’ just seconds into the show’s final[/caption]

ITV

Masked Singer host Joel Dommett sang Blondie’s ‘One Way or Another’ as he kicked off the show, before joining last year’s winner Danny Jones on stage[/caption]

TV host Joel Dommett kicked off the show with a rendition of Blondie’s ‘One Way Or Another’ as he walked through the studio flanked by dancers.

He gave each of the panellists a go at singing too as Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Maya Jama all took turns at belting out lyrics to the iconic song.

The song then ended with McFly singer Danny Jones taking over, as the winner of last year’s show returned to the stage.

However viewers at home weren’t impressed with the performance, as some asked the show to ‘make it stop’.

Writing on social media one viewer wrote: “Oh no! Who on earth thought that it would be okay to let Joel sing? It’s bad enough when he speaks!”

Another posted: “Oh my ears, someone gag Joel…”

“That opening was exactly like a karaoke session after bottomless brunch,” said a third.

Another shared: “I love Joel, but good lord the singing.”

“Love Joel but he can’t out sing Danny there’s no contest,” said another.

Tonight fans will finally learn who has been masquerading as Wolf, Pufferfish and Dressed Crab for this series.

Theories for who the three mystery singers could be have been thrown out by fans of the show.

So far the guesses range from Wet Wet Wet superstar and Sweet Little Mystery crooner Marti Pellow as Wolf to West End superstar Samantha Barks as Pufferfish.

For the third singer, Dressed Crab has had many viewers have been convinced it’s Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gregory Porter.

The final show also sees the three mystery singers duet with previous Masked Singer stars, including last year’s winner Danny Jones.

Danny also joins as a guest panellist, replacing comedian Mo Gilligan who is absent due to being on his comedy tour in the US.

ITV

Masked Singer judges got in on the singing action with Davina McCall belting out lyrics to the iconic hit song[/caption]

ITV

Masked Singer’s Maya Jama also joined in on the opening number[/caption]

ITV

The Masked Singer saw the final three singers take to the stage[/caption]

THE Welsh Open is closing in on a thrilling finale in Llandudno – with Ali Carter facing Stephen Maguire in a semi-final RIGHT NOW!

Earlier, former world champion Mark Selby produced his best form against another ex-world champion in Luca Brecel – the match was stopped for a lengthy delay after Brecel was forced to leave the table due to a migraine.

Selby beat the Belgian Bullet 6-3 and will face the winner of Maguire vs Carter on Sunday.

A new champ is guaranteed to be crowned this weekend after 2024 Welsh Open winner Gary Wilson crashed out in the opening round.

• Start time: From 1pm GMT
• Live stream: discovery+ / BBC iPlayer
• TV channel: BBC Red Button

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LIVERPOOL’S Premier League title bid is being fuelled by daily coffee-shop chats.

Arne Slot’s Kopuccino kings — who have bean top of the table since November — built a coffee bar for the players at their Kirkby training centre.

AFP

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed coffee is fuelling his side’s title bid[/caption]

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Trent Alexander-Arnold and Co can take advantage of a new coffee bar installed at their training ground[/caption]

This is where they can meet, eat and sink some caffeine when they are not roasting opponents on the pitch.

The foundations of championship-winning sides are built upon strong bonds within the dressing room.

In the 1980s and 90s, players would head to the pub to socialise but these days, modern ultra-professionals will meet as a group over a cuppa.

Liverpool manager Slot said: “They have always had breakfast together. What has changed, and what you see a lot, is we have created a coffee bar here.

“Players sit down over there, talk to each other, have a lot of fun together.

“If you have a coffee bar and you don’t have results, probably you don’t see the same vibe there. But I think it all adds towards success.

“I believe you need to have a good training ground. You need to have a good programme.

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“You definitely need to have good people. I took a few people to this club who I think are doing their jobs really well and are good human beings. But the ones who already worked here are great professionals and great human beings also.

“Add that to a great facility, great players and a great mentality, then that can lead to a successful period.”

Normally so cool and calm, Slot was surprisingly enraged by Everton’s wild celebrations following the 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the last Merseyside Derby at Goodison on Wednesday.

Post-match, Slot was sent off and faces a possible ban after being charged by the FA with abusing ref Michael Oliver and his assistant.

Slot has refused to apologise but accepts he would have acted differently with the benefit of hindsight.

The Dutchman, 46, said: “In general or 99 per cent of the time, I can cope with my emotions quite well.

“But yeah, it’s clear that I couldn’t cope with my emotions well enough during the game.

“Especially after the game. That had all to do with how the intentional five minutes ended up being eight extra-time minutes.

“Emotions took over after these seven or eight minutes, which I don’t think will ever be the same again in terms of all the games I’m going to play as a manager.

“But still, if, if, if it happens next time, I should act differently. That’s completely clear.

“I saw players coping much better than they did last season. Mentally, I mean. That’s the biggest win and gain we could have gotten from this game.

“That gives us a lot of confidence for the upcoming 14 games.

“Because we already knew that in terms of playing football, we’re quite good at that.”

Before hosting Wolves at Anfield today, Liverpool’s lead at the top was cut to four points following Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Leicester yesterday.

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Getty

Slot was sent off by Michael Oliver at the end of the Merseyside derby[/caption]

The Reds are on the longest current unbeaten run in English league football — 20 games — as they chase a second Prem crown, although they did exit the FA Cup at Championship side Plymouth.

Slot added: “In general, the second half of the season for everyone is harder because teams are coming closer to the line.

“So they’re fighting maybe harder to stay up, for Europe or league position.”

RUGBY league hero Rob Burrow spent four years battling motor neurone disease while courageously raising awareness of the condition and more than £20million for charity.

Yesterday, in an exclusive interview with The Sun, his widow Lindsey told how she and kids Macy, 13, Maya, nine, and six-year-old Jackson, made forever memories with the Leeds Rhino player in his last hours.

Paul Tonge

In her new book, Lindsey recalls the dark days after Rob’s death (pictured on their wedding day in 2006)[/caption]

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Lindsey was at Rob’s side throughout his motor neurone disease battle[/caption]

Paul Tonge

Lindsey and kids Macy, Maya and Jackson last month[/caption]

Today, in extracts from her new book, Take Care, Lindsey recalls the dark days after Rob’s death, and how moving it was as thousands turned out to pay respects.

Thursday 12 December 2019

This was the day our lives were blown apart. We had just moved into our dream home in Pontefract and life seemed perfect.

Macy was eight and dreamed of playing the lead in a West End musical while Maya, just four, fancied becoming a movie star. Jackson was about to turn one.

I knew Rob secretly hoped Jackson would follow him into rugby league and play for Leeds Rhinos.

Rob played almost 500 games for Leeds and won eight Super League Grand Finals and 18 international caps before retiring after a winning Grand Final in 2017 and taking up a coaching job.

We had an appointment at the Nuffield Hospital in Leeds with neurologist Dr Jeremy Cosgrove after Rob began slurring words. He had been exhausted for a few months and his mum Irene and former teammates had also noticed a slur in his speech.

‘Honesty of a child’

I became acutely aware of Rob’s speech problem when I heard how hard it was for him to say the word “solicitor” while buying our home.

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Rob was convinced the occasional slurs in his speech were a side effect of painkillers he was taking for an old injury[/caption]

Of course, I knew Rob wasn’t indestructible. I had seen him take brutal knocks over the course of his career, saw the impact on his body, and it was a relief when he played his last game.

But he was a little superman. When he held me close and told me everything would be all right, it was easy to believe him.

He was convinced the occasional slurs in his speech were a side effect of painkillers he was taking to cope with an old shoulder injury.

As we walked into Dr Cosgrove’s office, I noticed he’d been joined by a nurse. He looked steadily at Rob, maintaining eye contact, and told Rob he believed he had motor neurone disease.

Rob looked at him blankly because he had no idea of the severity of this sentence.

It was very different for me. As soon as I heard the words “motor neurone disease”, it was as if a bomb had fallen from the sky and blown me apart. I knew our glorious life together was over.

I found it difficult to look at Rob, the man I loved, because I understood what it meant. Rob would be buried alive in his own body. He would be trapped and paralysed beneath the rubble of MND.

Soon, he would no longer be able to dress or feed himself or go to the toilet on his own. Even while his brain remained alert, a time would come when he could no longer talk or move.

He would eventually struggle to breathe and swallow. An oxygen mask and intravenous feeding tube would be the only ways to keep him alive — if such an existence can be called a life.

On the walk to our car, Rob put his arm around me and said: “Thank God it’s me and not you or the children.” He didn’t say: “Why me?” There was no pity.

On the way home, Rob hit the speaker-phone button to call his parents Geoff and Irene.

Geoff, in particular, had such pride in the way his tiny son ripped up presumptions that he could never become a professional rugby league player.

The shock in Geoff’s voice at the devastating news filled the car. We heard him talking to Irene and she started crying. Geoff was so distraught it sounded as if he had collapsed.

Rob’s sister Claire came on the line and he told them everything was going to be OK. We then focused on the children and agreed we would not say anything to them until a few days after Jackson’s birthday party on Saturday.

Monday 15 December 2019

Christmas was coming and we faced the horrible challenge of picking the right time to explain to the children that their dad would soon need special care.

Jackson, having just turned one, was too young to be included in our chat. But I called the girls’ school to explain our situation and the assistant headteacher gave me some pointers on how to talk to Macy and Maya.

Soon after they had demolished their tea, Rob and I sat down with Macy and Maya. We spoke as sensitively and thoughtfully as we could.

The girls listened quietly and then Maya piped up, saying: “Why are you telling us all this? It’s boring. Can we watch some TV?”

Paul Tonge

Lindsey was dreading talking to the children about their dad needing special care[/caption]

We couldn’t help but laugh. Her innocence, delivered with the blunt honesty of a child, wiped away our anxiety and dread.

I hugged her tight, and Macy too, and allowed them to turn on the television. Macy, four years older than Maya, absorbed the news in a different way.

She didn’t say much at first but later came to find me with a serious question. “Mum,” she said, “is Daddy going to die?”

I tried to give her the answer she deserved. We sat down and I explained that her dad’s disease was serious and that, yes, he would eventually die.

But I stressed that Rob and I believed this would not happen for many years. Her dad was a really determined person and would do all he could to look after himself.

“And Daddy’s got us, hasn’t he?” I said. “We’ll take special care of him, won’t we?”

Macy smiled, giving me a sudden burst of sunshine. “We will, Mum,” she said. “We really will.”

Sunday 7 July 2024

Today we say goodbye to Rob.

While we wait for the hearse I am anxious and can’t quite fulfil Rob’s example of living in the moment.

I desperately want the service to go well and do justice to Rob. Most of all, I am worried about the children.

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Even death cannot dent, let alone erase, my love for Rob, writes Lindsey[/caption]

Penguin Random House

Take Care: A Memoir Of Love, Family & Never Giving Up, by Lindsey Burrow, will be released on ­February 27[/caption]

I took them to the crematorium yesterday, as I felt it was important to show them what to expect and give the girls a chance to practise the eulogies they had prepared.

Macy and Maya look drawn and pale, while Jackson is just uncertain.

He clutches the worry worm that the nurses gave him the night before we lost Rob. It’s almost as if it will protect him because he now won’t leave home without it.

Maya always goes to bed with the knitted heart that she had placed in her dad’s hands in hospital, and sleeps with it under her pillow every night.

Macy, meanwhile, treasures the lock of her dad’s hair she had cut, so tenderly, before he slipped away. It is her most important keepsake.

For me, different memories help me through the pain. Of course, the more recent images in my head are sometimes harrowing, as I cared for Rob for years when he could no longer feed himself or go to the toilet. But I loved him beyond measure.

I had first gone out with Rob when we were 15 and we’d lived together for more than half of our 41 years of life.

There are so many snapshots of our sunlit joy in my head. Even death cannot dent, let alone erase, my love for Rob.

The funeral cortege crawls from our home in Pontefract to the local crematorium and thousands line the streets in Rob’s honour.

They wear rugby shirts of all colours, people step forward and touch the hearse, or leave flowers on it. Others stand and applaud with heartfelt warmth.

I feel choked up, seeing all these people. I remind the kids how their dad was admired and even adored but Macy speaks for all of us when, softly, she asks: “Why did it have to be my dad?’

It is beyond me to talk at the funeral but, somehow, here Maya and Macy are, willing to raise their young voices in honour of the father they have just lost.

A strange composure envelopes both girls.

Maya looks up at us. Her voice rings out, clearly and beautifully: ‘Thank you, everyone, for joining us to celebrate the life of our amazing dad.”

Macy talks about how her dad was the children’s “number one fan,” who “always had a smile on his face, especially when listening to Michael Jackson, drinking caffeine or watching the NFL”.

She continues: “Thank you for being our dad and looking after us.

You are without doubt the most bravest, loved dad in the whole world. I hope I grow up to be like you.”

Maya’s voice also fills the crematorium with love as she tells her dad how much he meant to her, adding: “We know that you will be with us every step of the way.

“Daddy, you will continue to inspire us every day and we will do our best to always make you proud. You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

Later, I think back to how Rob fought so bravely against MND, inspiring millions of people, from the day he was first diagnosed. 

• Adapted by Grace Macaskill from Take Care: A Memoir of Love, Family & Never Giving Up by Lindsey Burrow, published by Century on February 27, £22. ©Lindsey Burrow 2025

I’M A Celeb’s Maura Higgins dished up a Valentine’s Day jibe at her ex Pete Wicks.

Asked where the 37-year-old Strictly hunk was as she left a restaurant, she was caught on video replying: “Dunno, probably cheating.

Click News and Media

Maura stuns in a red mini-dress with rose motifs for a meal with hairstylist pal Carl Bembridge in London[/caption]

BackGrid

Glum-looking Pete was pictured with his mum in Essex[/caption]

This comes as Maura, 34, sent herself flowers on a lonely Valentine’s Day following her split from TV star Pete, 37.

The Love Island and I’m a Celeb beauty yesterday shared a picture of a bunch of red roses the day after it emerged her romance was over.

A note on the bouquet read: “To Me, Love Me.”

Meanwhile glum-looking Pete was pictured with his mum in Essex. He wore a baseball cap bearing the words “smoke and mirrors”.

Maura and Pete were in a relationship for months after knowing each other for six years.

But was revealed on Friday they had split despite a romantic Christmas break together in her native Ireland.

That evening the model slipped into a red mini-dress with rose motifs for a meal with hairstylist pal Carl Bembridge at a restaurant in London’s Mayfair.

Asked by a fan about where Pete was, she was filmed saying: “I don’t know, probably cheating.”

Neither Maura nor Pete have publicly commented about their separation but it was claimed they had had a series of arguments.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Maura was suspicious of Pete and whether he might have been messing her around.

“There’s been some rows over trust. Although they have both been coy about their relationship, she really liked him and saw a future.”

Maura discussed the budding relationship during her time on ITV1’s jungle show in November and December, but their romance was never made official.

They were caught sharing a kiss during a Soho dinner in August and in October they were spotted in another clinch after a date in Shoreditch, East London.

They were snogging again later that month at at the Pride of Britain awards after-party at Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.

Maura told a podcast she “adored him”, while former Towie star Pete called her “super intelligent” and “incredibly witty”.

Confiding to GK Barry on I’m A Celeb, Maura said: “Well, we’ve already been papped, tongues down each other’s necks, and we had no idea.

“The funniest part was I had a vape in one hand and a cigarette in the other, living my best life.”

BackGrid

Pete and Maura were spotted beaming as they headed off on a festive getaway just weeks ago[/caption]

The Mega Agency

I’m A Celeb’s Maura dazzles in a red-rose minidress holding her Valentine’s Day flowers[/caption]

Later, on Loose Women, was asked: “Is there anything going on with Pete?”

Coy Maura responded: “He’s got better hair than me to be fair!

“There’s not really much to tell, I know that’s very boring. We’ve known each other for what, six years?”

Tattooed Pete became a viewers’ favourite while reaching the BBC’s Strictly semi-final with pro dancer Jowita Przystal, 30.

He had a string of romances on Towie — with Megan McKenna, 32, ditching him over sexting claims.

He recently confessed that he fears being alone forever and said he needs to work on himself.

Meanwhile, Maura, who became a household name in 2019 after becoming a finalist on the fifth series of Love Island, has said she struggles in romance because every man she gets involved with lets her down.

She left the ITV2 dating show in a relationship with dancer Curtis Pritchard, 29, but that hit the skids shortly afterwards.

Then she dated fellow Love Islander Chris Taylor followed by former Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, both 34.

Opening up about her disastrous love life, straight-talking Maura said her ability to pick a good man is so bad, she once told her mum she would end up dating a serial killer.

The cheating jibe came just weeks after the couple were spotted beaming as they headed off on a festive getaway at swanky hotel Glasson Lakehouse in Co. Westmeath in Ireland.

PA

Pete became a viewers’ favourite while reaching the BBC’s Strictly semi-final with pro dancer Jowita Przystal[/caption]

BUYING an EV doesn’t necessarily mean you’re picking up something dull and uninteresting.

Indeed, there’s a large selection of electric motors that put the fun factor into driving – from the cool-looking MG Cyberster to the recently released Alpine A290 hot hatchback.

As many petrolheads will already know, the upcoming ZEV mandate in the UK has manufacturers scrambling to do away with their petrol engines and release solely EVs in the coming years.

This has been great news for large, heavy vehicles – such as SUVs – but many car fans have bemoaned the lack of all-electric, lightweight sports cars.

But fear not, because a host of models have already been sounded out – with the following being some of the most eagerly anticipated to be released in the coming years.

Alpine A110 EV & Alpine A310

Instagram @alpinestore_gent

Alpine has already hinted at the look of the upcoming A110 EV[/caption]

The world’s most exciting lightweight sports car is going electric, with the widely celebrated Alpine A110 set to be released as an EV with a single, 239bhp motor – boasting a range of 261 miles, according to Renault.

Granted, it will be 258kg heavier than the current A110, but it will no doubt retain much of what makes the A110 so revered; agile, responsive, nimble, and engaging.

Drivers also have the A310 to look forward to – an EV GT that borrows the name and ethos of the original 1970s model.

The French brand, best known for its Formula 1 team, is looking to expand its line-up to seven vehicles – with the A310 among them.

Due in 2027, it will offer a little more practicality than the A110, including 2+2 seating.

Caterham Project V

Caterham

Caterham’s bold, three-seater sports car has already impressed car fans[/caption]

Little-known racing car maker Caterham stunned attendees at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2023 when it unveiled its bizarre, three-seater Project V sports car.

The EV, boasting 249 miles of range and a reportedly price tag of less than £80,000, has been pencilled in for a 2026 release, although just 2,000 models a year will be produced.

Lotus Type 135

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The motor was previously teased to fans with a simple look at the rear spoiler[/caption]

Lotus has been lining up the spiritual successor to the iconic Elise for some time – but last year admitted it needed technology to catch up with its bold plans.

The iconic lightweight two-seater, which was first produced in 1996 and ran all the way through to 2021, is adored by petrolheads for driving like a pocket-sized supercar.

Codenamed Type 135, the model will have a similar ethos – but it seems Lotus believes the current battery technology used for EVs hasn’t advanced enough for them to feasibly create it just yet.

To put it plainly, the Norfolk-based car maker is essentially waiting for a time when smaller, lighter EV batteries become available.

Still, late last year they showed off their Theory 1 concept, an aggressive-looking supercar being held up as a “blueprint” for what their future EV sports car could look like.

Volkswagen Scirocco

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The VW Scirocco is reportedly set to make a comeback[/caption]

VW’s very cool-looking, compact coupé, which was revived in 2008 and discontinued in 2017, is due a comeback as an EV.

That’s according to reports last year that suggested the famed model – a cult favourite with petrolheads – would sit above a future electric Golf in the brand’s line-up from around 2028.

Little else is known about VW’s plans for the model, although it’s been suggested it will be based on the Porsche Boxster with some retro 1970s styling thrown in.

Porsche Boxster

Alamy

The current petrol-powered Porsche Boxster is planned to be discontinued this year[/caption]

Speaking of the aforementioned 718 Boxster, the long-promised electric iteration of the widely adored model has faced delays and setbacks in recent times – with its release date uncertain.

Porsche, one of the forebearers of electric power in the mainstream car industry thanks to the release of the Taycan in 2019, as well as its success in the Formula E series, has started to struggle with its battery technology.

According to reports, the German giant is struggling to balance the performance expected from its sports cars with the requirements of an EV.

What’s more, it is also said to be reassessing its ambitions around electrification – due to slower-than-expected global EV sales.

That’s already affected the development of other models, including the electric Cayenne.

Other issues include maintaining the driving dynamics of the petrol-powered Boxster while transitioning to an all-electric platform – like Lotus, the increased weight from the electric motors.

As a consequence of these delays, the current petrol-powered Boxster and Cayman models may remain in production beyond their initially planned discontinuation in 2025.

However, the electric Boxster is still very much in the works.

FORGOTTEN Chelsea star Lewis Baker left fans stunned as he scored from inside his own half.

Baker, 29, joined Chelsea at the age of nine in 2005 but made just two appearances for the senior team following a string of loan moves once he became a professional.

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Lewis Baker scored a stunning goal from inside his own half[/caption]

AFP

Baker, 29, was at Chelsea from the age of nine until leaving in 2022 after making just two appearances[/caption]

EFL

Baker showed his class with a goal from inside his own half for Stoke[/caption]

EFL

He punted the ball forward first time from the centre circle[/caption]

EFL

It came after he spotted the Swansea goalkeeper off his line[/caption]

EFL

The goalie was unable to backpedal in time for the incredible shot[/caption]

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It caused jubilant celebrations from Stoke stars[/caption]

Getty

It was Baker’s 100th appearance for Stoke and his 300th senior appearance overall[/caption]

The midfielder eventually left permanently in 2022, joining Stoke on a free transfer.

Baker spent two seasons with the Potters before being sent on loan for the ninth time in his career in the summer.

After 13 appearances and one goal for Rovers, Baker then returned to Stoke in January.

And in his most recent appearance against Swansea, Baker scored an outrageous goal from inside his own half after coming on in the 62nd minute.

With Stoke winning 2-1 in injury time at the Bet365 Stadium, Baker picked up the ball near the centre circle, around 65 yards away from the opposition goal.

But Baker spotted Lawrence Vigouroux off his line and without taking a touch punted the ball forward.

The ball curved to the right as Vigouroux backpedalled before it ended up in the back of the net to confirm a 3-1 win for the home side.

Viewers could not believe what they had seen, with one fan on social media saying: “Lewis Baker, that’s outrageous.”

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A second said: “Really was unbelievable.”

A third added: “What a strike.”

Another said: “The audacity to hit it from there in the 93rd minute is just mental hahahahaha. Lewis Renard Baker go on fella.”

A fifth said: “Charlie Adam 2.0.”

A sixth said: “Still can’t get over that.”

Baker scored the goal to mark a century of appearances for Stoke, and 300 senior career appearances overall.

A WOMAN was pushed to the floor and sexually assaulted by the entrance to a historic castle in a horrific attack.

The young victim had been walking along Lenton Road in Nottingham city centre shortly before 1am on Thursday morning when she was assaulted by a man.

Close to the entrance to Nottingham Castle, the man approached her before pushing the young woman to the floor and sexually assaulting her.

A 20-year-old man was later arrested and remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Nicole Milner, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a distressing incident for the young woman involved and we have been working hard over the last 48 hours to understand exactly what happened.

“As a result of our investigations so far we have identified a car – potentially a BMW – that passed by this incident.

“The driver of that car then kindly offered the victim a lift home.”

Detectives are desperately appealing for this passing driver to come forward as he may have seen at least part of what happened.

DI Milner added: “Although he is not a suspect, we believe that this man has vital information about what happened and we urge him to come forward without delay.

“We would also like to hear from anyone else who was driving in the Lenton Road area at about 1am on Thursday morning to come forward with any relevant dashcam footage they may have.”

Police have asked anyone with information about the attack to call 101 quoting incident 27 of 13 February 2025.

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The young woman was sexually assaulted in the horror attack on Lenton Road in the heart of Nottingham[/caption]

EVERTON fans hailed a second unexpected goal hero in the space of three days as Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a debut to remember.

The former Southampton man marked his first Toffees start with an assist and the winner as David Moyes and Co pulled off another great escape.

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Carlos Alcaraz’s late goal sealed a 2-1 win for Everton at Crystal Palace[/caption]

Reuters

The Eagles were left empty-handed at the final whistle[/caption]

Alcaraz wouldn’t even have been playing had not Abdoulaye Doucoure not been sent off for goading Liverpool fans on Wednesday night.

Toffees fans arrived in south London on a high following James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in Goodison’s final Merseyside derby.

But they will also know that Palace had enough chances to have given Moyes’ men an utter spanking but somehow threw it away.

Literally in fact as Beto’s opener, cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta, was the result of Tyrick Mitchell’s duff throw all added up to quite a week for Everton, who had Jordan Pickford to thank for denying Mateta early on.

Both Toffees centre-halves were especially grateful as each was guilty of a ricket.

Tarkowski’s careless flick off a boot put Jarrad Branthwaite under pressure and the England hopeful made a right mess of trying to clear.

That left Mateta with all the goal to aim at but Pickford smothered his low drive.England’s Number 1 soon had to scramble again, this time to deny Justin Devenny. Palace tails were well and truly up.

Everton didn’t exactly heed the warning either and required a Pickford-VAR combo to remain level with just 20 minutes on the clock.

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Pickford kept out Marc Guehi’s header at the expense of a corner that Jefferson Lerma headed in.

A linesman ruled the delivery into the box had gone out of play first however – and VAR footage couldn’t prove otherwise.

Henderson had been a spectator at the other end but Pickford’s Three Lions understudy did well to bat away Jesper Lindstrom’s volley.

He got an accidental knee in the head from a team-mate in the process but was cleared to carry on after medics bunged some padding up his bleeding bugle.

Normal service was quickly resumed in the Everton box with Pickford racing out to stop Mateta going clear – and Tarkowski ending up on his backside in a scramble seconds later.

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Beto opened the scoring in the 42nd minute[/caption]

Reuters

The goals sparked jubilant celebrations[/caption]

And once again the Everton goal had a charmed life as Palace did everything but score.

Centre-back Chris Richards showed quick feet to dribble his way into the box and Mateta’s prod set up Ismaila Sarr for a shot he pinged off the bar with only Pickford to beat.

Within seconds of the that let-off Mitchell gifted Everton a 42nd-minute lead from a clanger of a throw-in.

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Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised for the Eagles[/caption]

PA

His goal came early in the second half[/caption]

The left-back managed to chuck it behind Lerma, who hadn’t been paying attention, and Alcaraz gleefully raced away down the right to set up Beto for a cool dink past Henderson.

The came VAR intervention number two, with Mateta’s smart close-range finish seconds into the restart examined for an age.

Had the Frenchman been off when Guehi flicked on? Eventually the answer came: this couldn’t be proved either and Palace were level.

Reuters

Alcaraz pounced with just 10 minutes left[/caption]

Reuters

The goal saw Everton soar to 13th in the table[/caption]

Henderson had to make saves from Lindstrom and Beto to prevent the Toffees nicking another lead.

Mitchell was replaced by winter window addition Ben Chilwell on the hour – but was clapped off by Palace fans willing to overlook his earlier error.

Chelsea spare part Chilwell soon burst down the left and Pickford flapped a none too venomous effort round for a corner.

The sting in the tale arrived with 10 minutes to go when Alcaraz was in the right place to net the winner.

Jake O’Brien nodded down Jack Harrison’s ball to the back post and when sub Ashley Young saw a shot blocked by Will Hughes the Argentinian was on hand to ram home the rebound.

HOME favourite Jack Catterall is in a Manchester boxing ring TONIGHT – with a shot at the WBO super lightweight title on the line.

Chorley-born Catterall, 31, finds himself in a title eliminator as he returns to Co-op Live Arena, Manchester – the place of his last fight.

PA

After beating Regis Prograis last October, Catterall, nicknamed ‘El Gato’, closes in on the chance to fight for the world title.

Teofimo Lopez is the current holder of the WBO super-lightweight strap that the 31-year-old fighter is eyeing.

• LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr – all the action plus the undercard as it happens

Before the Prograis fight, Catterall exacted revenge on Josh Taylor in their rematch, and promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that he is now targeting Lopez.

But first, attention turns to Arnold Barboza Jr.

27-year-old Barboza Jr is a worthy opponent – eleven of the American’s 30 professional fights have ended in knockouts, and he has won all 30 of them.

Here’s the information on when the two will step out for their bout.

What time will the fight start in the UK?

• Catterall vs Barboza Jr will take place on Saturday, February 15.
• Official start times are yet to be announced but the card is expected to get started at around 7pm UK time.
• The main event between is set to begin at around 10pm UK time.
• The event will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, with PPV available to buy now at £19.99 in the UK.
• Alternatively, you can tune into SunSport’s live blog for updates on the night.

Who else is on the card?

• Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr – for vacant WBO Interim super-lightweight title
• Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr
• Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens
• Pat McCormack vs Robbie Davies Jr
• William Crolla vs Ayoub Zakari
• Conner Tudsbury vs Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano
• Aqib Fiaz vs Lydon Chircop
• Alfie Middlemiss vs Caine Singh