28/04/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | APR 28, 2026

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CHELSEA could make a surprise return for Antonio Conte following Liam Rosenior’s sacking. The Blues are once again on the lookout for a new man ager, with the Italian rumoured as a potential option. Conte is currently plying his trade in Italy with Napoli, but there has been talk surrounding a possible exit this summer. The Salento-born coach is under contract with Napoli until the end of next season, and was responsible for delivering the Serie A title to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last year. VIRGIL VAN DIJK said he has no wor ries about the “outstanding” Alexander Isak despite his tough debut season at Liverpool and his lack of goals. But the Liverpool captain said their record signing has to score more in the future after finally getting a Premier League goal at Anfield for Arne Slot’s side. Isak, who cost a British record £125 million (RM650m), has only scored four goals in 21 games for Liverpool, three of them in the Premier League, in an injury-hit campaign. Van Dijk said: “In terms of what I’ve seen of him everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. “It is about getting games, confi dence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him. “I’m not worried at all about him whatsoever. We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep stay ing important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.” Isak suffered a fractured leg when scoring against Tottenham in December and underwent ankle sur gery. His goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace was his first in 2026. Van Dijk hopes to see more goals from the former Newcastle player next season, though he is wary that his Netherlands side face Isak’s Sweden in Houston in June. The defender added: “It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year. “He can probably explain it better but the injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad. “But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. “It is on him now to keep showing that – hopefully after the World Cup because at the World Cup we play against each other so he can take it a little bit easier then.” Liverpool’s two most expensive signings ever both scored on Saturday, with Florian Wirtz finding the net in injury time, and Van Dijk feels it is a good sign for the future. He said: “That was always the plan. These two particular players have been brought to the club to make an impact and it’s not been an easy season for anyone, including those two, but you see the quality they have.” – The Independent Van Dijk wants more from Isak Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Determined Gunners Arsenal focused on staying top of Premier League to the end, says Rice

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze celebrates after scoring the only goal against Newcastle during the Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

D ECLAN RICE insisted Arsenal were ready to remain at the top of the Premier League until the bit ter end after they reclaimed the summit off Manchester City. Eberechi Eze’s ninth-minute strike was enough for the Gunners to see out a much-needed 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium as they ended City’s three-day stay at the top of the table on Sunday. Arsenal are now three points clear of their rivals – having played a game more – and they could double their advan tage when they face Fulham at the Emirates this weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s side next in action at Everton on May 5 (3am Malaysian time). Matches against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace will fol low for the Gunners as they bid to win their first title in 22 years. And despite allowing City

going to be ready for that. “The three points (against Newcastle) were massive. After the week we had against Manchester City, we knew with five games left, we have to win all five. To tick that one off was a real boost, so we’re really, really happy with the win.” Prior to their home match with Fulham, Arsenal will head to Spain for the opening leg of their Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid Thursday (3am). Arsenal, who last featured in a Champions League final in 2006, have never won the compe tition. But Rice added: “We’ve played in tough games in the last three or four years at the highest level, so we know what to expect and what’s to come. “We’re Champions League semifinalists, let’s embrace it, enjoy it and bring it on. To be honest, you don’t think about it too much because you can’t be thinking about the future when you’ve got games like the one against Newcastle. “Obviously now I can focus on Atletico, but you can’t get too caught up with what’s to come, it just takes up too much of your energy. You need to focus on what we can control in the next game. “Now we focus on Atletico. We’ve got to keep going and be ready for what’s to come.” Arsenal will be sweating on the fitness of Eze for their trip to the Spanish capital after he was unable to continue against Newcastle. Eze took his tally for the season to 11 with his early strike at the Emirates, and Rice continued: “That’s what he’s been brought here to do. “I said a few weeks ago, his ball strik ing is unbelievable. What a player, what a guy and he’s going to be massive for us these next few weeks. We really need him.” – The Independent

back into the championship race, Rice said the mood in the Arsenal camp was only positive. “That’s what it’s been all season and that’s what we want it to be towards the end of the season – staying top, staying positive,” he said. “There are four

games to go and that’s what we want to do, keep winning more matches and we’re

Chelsea eyeing Conte to replace Rosenior in surprise twist

to take interim charge until then. Andoni Iraola is the current front runner to take over in the summer, while Felpie Luis, Cesc Fabregas and Oliver Glasner are also in the running. – Express Newspapers An outsider for the job is Frank Lampard, whose managerial stock rose after guiding Coventry City back to the Premier League. Lampard has been Chelsea man ager on two separate occasions (one permanent, one interim), with some suggestions he could be tempted by a third crack of the whip. – Express Newspapers

side the current qualification positions. That could change depending on how Aston Villa fare in the Europa League, but Chelsea currently find themselves in the midst of a terrible run of League form. Their mid-week defeat away to Brighton marked the first time since 1912 that Chelsea lost five consecutive League matches. They face a crucial test against Nottingham Forest on Monday, while a visit to Anfield awaits next Saturday. Matches against Tottenham and Sunderland will close out the season for Chelsea, with Calum McFarlane set

plete breakdown in communication with the club’s board said to have been the reason. Now, under new ownership, Todd Boehly & Co are said to be interested in bringing him back. But their shortlist could be dependent on whether Chelsea qualify for European competi tion next season, as the two-time European champions have given themselves an uphill battle to secure continental qualification. With 34 matches played this sea son, Chelsea sit eighth in the Premier League table, level on points with Brentford and Fulham, and one out

Conte has mentioned in conversa tions about the vacant national team position following the Azzurri ’s latest World Cup qualification blunder. However, as per Calciomercato , Conte is said to be on the shortlist of prospective Rosenior replacements at Stamford Bridge. Conte enjoyed a brief but success ful stint in charge of the capital club between 2016 and 2018, with the ex Juventus and Inter Milan coach guid ing them to the League title in 2017. He was quickly moved out after things started to go downhill during Conte’s second season, with a com